Calypso Sample Sale: Hits and Misses

In case you aren't on the Calypso mailing list and you haven't heard, Calypso is having a sample sale on their website. Sample sale is only a way to say that the prices are rock-bottom low, all the sales are final and it's only for a limited time (until Saturday). As you probably know Calypso is one of my favorite brands after JCrew so I couldn't resist ordering something from the sale. For a limited time they also lowered their minimum for free shipping (to $150 instead of the usual $250), so it was even more tempting (t is back to $250 now if I am not wrong).
Calypso can be very hit or miss but I know the brand well and I live near a store so even if I go there less than I used to I try things on from time to time (usually they have stuff that is not on sale but it comes handy when they have a sale like this one).
Anyway, with one exception, I am pretty happy with my order and because the sale is still going on I took pics of what I have received so far in case some of you is considering ordering.

The best of the bunch is a short-sleeve shirt that was up on the website the first day and sold-out almost immediately. This shirt, called "Cosia" is from two years ago and I remember trying it in store and "sale wishlisting" but in the end I could never find it on sale in my size and never got it (I remember last seeing it at $99 or $69). It was offered during the sample sale at $24.50 (down from $168) so when I saw it, I jumped on it.
This shirt is Calypso at its best. The print is a beautiful flowery print (it also came in another print) but the style of the shirt is military, with epaulettes and a vaguely oversized structure that manages not to be boxy. Add a rope belt (the Calypso "signature" belt that I now own in numerous exemplaires) and you are ready to go. The other day I paired it with my JCrew safari pants for a soft-military look:





But of course you can indulge its delicate and feminine side with a pair of chambray pants, for example:




Things popback on the Calypso website but it looks like this one is gone for good for now and won't popback during the sale (however, I wouldn't be surprised to see it in occasion of the next sample sale). For reference I ordered a XS and it "just fit" in the shoulders and arms (because of two pressure buttons the arms are pretty tight):



The other hit from my order was the Rachel handknit sweater. This one is still available and even if the price is not as low as the Cosia shirt I am glad that I got it. At first, when I opened the package, I was a bit disappointed in the color because I was expecting something more neutral (like a camel-caramel) but as the website description says, this it is really "in the shades of sunset", yellow and orange. The knit itself is rope-like (made of different stripes interwined together) but it is very, very comfortable to wear. The fit is great (this is the XS):





As you can see it is definitively sheer so if you plan to wear it in the city you need a cami or a tee underneath. However, this is the perfect beach sweater to throw over a bathing suit. Remember the JCrew sweater that came out last summer and was supposed to be a beach sweater but was scorching itchy (I loved the look of that sweater but couldn't get it off fast enough)? This sweater is what that sweater was supposed to be. It is a very high quality sweater and if you can wear this color you can't go wrong IMO.

And now the miss. I ordered the Cassandra silk dress as a ride-along, under the pressure of checking out fast so as not to lose the other items in my cart (including a suede navy belt that I haven't take pics of that was the Holy Graal in my order, something that I always regretted not buying FP). I love a nice kimono dress and this is 100% silk (not to mention that is was down to $49 from $350) so I took the risk.
Well, even if not a complete disaster I don't see myself wearing this dress elsewhere than on a beach vacation and I have more than enough things to bring on a beach vacation. The top opens up revealing a lot so that you need to wear a cami (again) or a bikini (it is probably better suited for bustier women). The skirt poufs out a bit strangely but the self-tie belt helps with taming it down (like in the first two pics, where I wore it lower that at the dress waist). I know that it doesn't look completely uninteresting in these pics but I wouldn't have bought it if I had tried it on. I paid with my Amex, so this is a possible return under the Amex buyer protection (that incredibly I haven't used yet this year). Anyway, this is the XS:





On the positive side, it is 100% washed silk lined in silk crepe (a rarity these days). Thoughts?
I am still waiting for another package with the Cashmere duster in ivory (it is now sold-out in many colors including ivory but there are still two colors available and for that price you might want to consider it, Calypso does cashmere very well).

Have you ordered anything from the Calypso sample sale? Do you like any of these? Please share!