OOTD With Mini-Me and a Few Try-Ons

Good morning! As you know I rarely post pics of my daughter but yesterday we ended up wearing almost the same outfit (it wasn't planned, it just happened) and we both found it very funny (she noticed herself that we were wearing the "same pants" and we were both wearing a similar striped top), so I took pics to post.

First, my outfit. You have probably already seen it (it features two of my favorite items, that are in constant rotation in my closet) even if I was breaking out my new pair of toothpick cords in champagne (I wore my matchstick in sea salt to death and I thought it was about time to get a fresh pair since the price is now more than a good deal). This is my only pair in this year version, with the zippers at the ankle, and I sized one up from the other three pairs that I have from last year (I figured that because they were fs and whit-ish, I'd better size up and have them gaping a little bit at the waist than look like a sausage, and I was right):

And this is with my mini-me, who is wearing Gap skinny cords (with ankle zipper!), Petit Bateau top and handmade cardigan (I took the pics with her before and I still had to wear my belt here):

In the afternoon after drop-off I stopped by the Collection store to checkout the new arrivals. The store was packed and I didn't feel like trying everything on, so I picked only a few things that really caught my interest. This year I am drawn to dresses more than usual, probably because my daughter is getting older and I have more freedom in my movements as I rarely have to carry her or even take the stroller.
So I picked up three dresses. I apologize for the rolled pants in these pics but I was lazy.

The first one is the beautiful Silk serenade dress in the lagoon blue color. Some of you have probably ordered the colorblock version that was very cheap during the last 30% off promo, but I didn't dare to order a fs dress that I had never tried on before (especially a colorblock one). In any case this is the 0. Needs steaming but fits TTS and beautifully:

The only thing that I find a little bit strange is the seam below the elastic waist (it looks like a crease in my pic but it's a seam and if you zoom on the website pic you can see what I am talking about). Besides the fact that I found myself trying to pleat it down like it was a crease, I don't have other complaints. It is low-cut so probably not appropriate for the office.

The second one I had I hopes for but it was a disaster on. It is a new short-sleeves cotton dress in a creamy colorway with red swiss-dots. It looked very cute on the hanger but as I said the fit was totally off on me. This is the XS and I would clearly need a XXS, but the XS was already too high-wasted on me so I didn't even ask for the size down. It is priced at $98:

You can see this dress also on dinster who agrees with me on the high-waist business.

The third and last one is the Cecilia dress, even if when I tried it I didn't know that it was on the website. This one deserved that I try it on properly and take my pants off ;-).
I thought it would overwhelm me with the full skirt doubled in the same cotton (a LOT of fabric here) but I fell in love, the 0 fit me perfectly even if it is much longer on me than on the model (I kind of like it better this way actually):

You can tie the sash in the front (it looks more like a party dress this way) and it has pockets:

What can I say about the color, orange it is just one of my favorite colors as you know (quite interesting, "retro orange" is more orange in this dress than in other offerings), but it also comes in white and black.
I put it on hold at the store but because we have a JCA event this Saturday I will probably order it with a % off.
You can also see this dress on AppGal (who liked it) and shopwithm (who disliked it. But look how cute the red dots dress looks on her!)

The last item that I tried on is a new schoolboy blazer in a madras fabric. I wasn't interesyed in this one but it was selling out and I figured that many of you might be interested so I grabbed the only one on the floor (which happened to me my blazer size, a 2). The fit is the same as the other schoolboy blazers, I just don't like this madras, personally (if I had to buy a summer schoolboy it would be the one with the scratchy sleeves)). Anyway, here it is (it retails for $168 if I am not wrong):

That's it for today. I will probably try more on Saturday. Any question let me know.

More March New Arrivals

My "stripes spring dance" didn't work, it was freaking cold yesterday, maybe I should try flowery prints?

Anyway, as I had mentionned at the end of my post yesterday, I went to a store the other day to checkout the new markdowns and I took advantage of being in a big store without my daughter to try some more new arrivals that I hadn't seen or tried on yet (the most you can try before finale sale hits, the better).

Let's start with the Lady lace popover since it is part of the sweaters promo. Besides the price I didn't really consider this sweater when it came out because of the very boring color choices (I have tons of sweaters in black, heather grey and some variation of pale pink). Had it come in white, agate and blue I would have given it a try. If I really had to buy one, I would probably buy the grey or the soft dune but not the black because the lace detail is a little bit lost in the black.
In any case the fit is good (TTS) and the merino is very soft. No tight sleeves syndrome. I am trying the XS here:

Next, two new shirts. The first one is the Madras popover. I didn't like it much, the color was darker (more navy) than expected and it fit a little bit small in the shoulders IMO. This is the XS:

On the other side, I loved the Maxi-check perfect shirt in blue (I believe that the blue colorway is new of this rollout). Fits TTS and it is very lightweight and comfortable to wear in the summer (added to sale wishlist). Trying a 0 here:

The next one is the Oleander lace shift dress. This dress was at the top of my wishlist until I tried it on. I saw it styled with flat sandals, a straw hat and a brown belt in the window of the Collection store and I couldn't help seeing myself strolling in that outfit in a hot summer day. Power of styling. In reality this dress is ill-fitting. It bunches at the seam between the skirt and the bodice creating very unflattering bumps. It was also gaping horribly around the armholes on me, so it would need a major alteration in order to fit properly. Basically, it is not worth it unless it goes down to $49.99 or something like that. I tried a 0 (for what it's worth the fit is TTS). I know that it doesn't look that bad in these pics but it is, believe me:

The next one was a surprise. I tried it on for the blog only because a lot of people showed interest in this one but I loved it so much that I am considering buying it at full price (since my size is sold-out in all the colors except for spice olive on the website). It's the lovely Tulip ruffle cami. Insanely flattering, even if a little bit low-cut (not sure that it's office appropriate). I just have to figure out if I can wear it in my everyday life of SAHM. In these pics I'm trying a 0 in the dragonfly blue colorway (the jeans are the Toothpick zipper jean in lagoon wash, on sale for $49.99. I was trying a 27, one size up from my matchsticks, and I really liked them but they are too similar to my skinny Ernst Sewn. Maybe I will pick up for $20):

And the same cami with the Gingham mini and tied in the front:

To my surprise the mini was $19.99 and for that price I am ready to come to terms with age inappropriateness. I wanted to try it with a real outfit to see if I would wear it, so I grabbed a vintage cotton raglan tee and a belt (I can easily recreate the look at home with a painter tee and another belt). Isn't it a cute and fresh spring outfit? I had a hard time choosing between the 2 and the 4 (yes, 4!) but in the end I went with the 2 because it looked better without the belt (the 4 was flairing out more without being longer at all):

I also took home two crosstown tees, that are on sale (already!) in store ($19.99). I saw them on my way out so I didn't try them on because I was late. The stores don't carry the XXS and these are still full price online, so I thought that I would give the XS another try. Unfortunately the XS is really too big for me and I have already returned them. I tried the ivory with my JBrand cargos:

I'm torn between ordering it fp just to try it on and see if the xxs fits better or wait for it to go on super-sale and take my chance. After all it's only a tee.

The already popular Dorrie skirt didn't work on me. Granted, I tried it in the worst conditions, ie with my pants rolled down and my merino turtleneck rolled up (not exactly a spring-y outfit) but I think that the shape and the length don't work on me. I tried both a 2 and a 0 in the modern red color (a lovely bright orange) and tofee. This is the 0 in modern red (it was the day before, at the Collection store):

And this is the 2 in toffee (which I like better than the red one in terms of fit):

Maybe I will try it again later in the season if it doesn't sell out but I can certainly live without this skirt.

Last, I try a new pair of pant, the Canteen pant. These are incredibly comfortable and they look great, a little bit like a similar pair from last year that I can't remember the name of. I tried both a 00 and a 0 and I liked both (but I was a little bit more comfortable in the 0). This is the 00:

I hope that you enjoyed the pics. Did you see something that you like and are considering ordering? Any full price love? Any question, let me know!
Have a great weekend you all!

JCrew March Catalog New Arrivals: Part 2 (Skirts and Dresses)

Good morning! This is the second part of the March new arrivals fitting room pics post that I started yesterday. To see the first part (jackets and tops) click here. I tried fewer skirts and dresses than tops so this post is going to be shorter.

The item that I was really excited about in this rollout was the Chambray Eyelet skirt that the model was already wearing with some tees of the last rollout (like this one) even if the skirt had not been officially released yet. So when I saw it in the store I grabbed it immediately in the grey colorway.
This skirt was a disappointment. It looks so cute on the model but I found it very unflattering on me (especially compared to the Dolby skirt). The two layers of fabric made it pouf and the lenght in both the 0 (too short) and the 2 wasn't right.
Here is the 2

:

It probably looks better with a belt, like on the model. I will try it again when it goes on sale and we are more in the season to wear it but it is a pass for me at full price. I must say, I am very happy with my Dolby so I don't need this.

Next skirt, the Gingham mini. OK, this one is adorable if you are a 20 something but I think it's a little bit age-inappropriate for the ones over 30, not to mention the over 40 (BTW, I think that the outfit on the model looks nerdy). I was very tempted, especially because IT IS ALREADY ON SALE IN STORES FOR $39.99 if you can believe it, but I resisted. I am sorry I don't have a full pic, but in this one you can see the length on me (it's a size 2):

At first I didn't try any dress on, but then I saw one that I really liked and made a second round of try-ons. I was a little bit tired by then, so I didn't take my pants off. Apologies if in all the following pics you can see my pants rolled down!
OK, my absolute fave was the Boathouse dress. This dress is super-comfy. It is made in a cotton twill that feels like a knit. I think that it is the same fabric of the Sailor-stripe boy shirt, that I didn't see in my store.
In any case I really liked it: it's mommy-friendly and fits perfectly (some of you might find it a bit short though). This is the 0:

It has a front snap-buttons closure and a zipper at the skirt (very nice detail):

I was very tempted but besides the fact that I find it a little bit overpriced, the Carly dress fiasco from last year (that I bought FP early in the season and wore twice) still hurts. So I am going to think about it and maybe buy it later if a promo comes along (or, of course, if it goes on sale soon).

I really shouldn't show you the next one. It has to be the most unflattering dress that I ever tried on so you have to promise that you won't post these pics on Facebook and make fun of me ;-).
It isn't a new arrival on the website but it is in stores and I almost ordered it before my vacation: it looked like the perfect easy summer dress. It's the Chambray dress. I tried a XS in the ble stone color. I will let the pics speak for themselves:

I adjusted it a little bit but it was still a disaster:

On the other side, I wasn't expecting to like the Delaney Eyelet shift but it is very flattering. I tried a 0 and it fits perfectly, especially in the bust which is rare for a v-neck dress:

The skirt is fuller than I usually like and it poufs out a little bit but without make my hips look wider. I felt very pretty in this dress.
This dress is a winner but because it is not something that I would get a lot of wear out of (it's a going-out-to-the-restaurant-with-hubby kind of dress) I had put it on my sale wishlist. I was lucky enough to find a EUC one in my size and in white (the only color I was interested in) on the weekly exchange yesterday for less than half the price, so I am pretty happy. Thank you jcrewjunkie!

That's it for this first round of new arrivals try-ons. I will probably go back in a couple of days with a list of things to check-out/see in person after perusing the new catalog and the website and I will probably write up another post.

Did you see anything that you like?" What do you think of the skirts ad dresses from this rollout?

JCrew March Catalog New Arrivals: Fitting Room Pics (Part 1: Tops)

Hello everybody! I am kind of busy today but I wanted to put up very quickly some pics from the fitting room that I took yesterday, since the new arrivals from the March catalog are now on the website. This is a huge rollout and I was a little bit overwhelmed in the store yesterday, so many new things to try on. I didn't want to buy anything impulsively and I will probably go back in the next couple of days to look for specific items that appeared on the website and I didn't see yesterday.

Let's start with the new jackets, in particular the Rialta tweed jacket. I am a sucker for tweed, so this one caught immediately my eye. I liked the fit and the tweed (even if it is more purple that it looks in these pics and I don't wear purple), but I am not sure about the zippers on the pockets. Trying a size 2 here (I would probably get a 0 though, it felt a little bit loose):

Close-up of the tweed:

They also made a pencil skirt in the same tweed that I don't see online. I didn't try it on, so I cannot comment on the fit (it looked TTS and shorter than usual) but I wanted to post a pic of the back because it has an exposed zipper that many of you won't like:

In any case this is the style number (it retails for $128):

I really liked the following eyelet jacket. I am surprised that it isn't part of the rollout on the website. If I hadn't the similar rose vine jacket from last year I would consider it but can't justfify two white summer blazers. I am trying a 2 here:

I didn't like the other colorway much (I think that if you have to buy this jacket you should go with the white) but you can see the eyelet details:

white

The Verona jacket is from the last rollout but I hadn't seen it in store yet and friend asked me to try it on for her, so I did. I really liked it and it is more stunning IRL than on the website/catalog pics IMO (it is more silky than what it looks, even if apparently that's not silk but poly). I tried a size 2 and this fits small IMO:

Close-up on the hook-and-bar closure (the bars are BIG even if hidden when the jacket is closed, kind of like them or hate them):

Last jacket that caught my eye and I tried on yesterday is not online and it is a fun take for spring on the moto jacket, in a sturdy twill with neon piping and golden hardware. Very fun! Trying a 0 here:

This is the style number and price:

On with the tops. My absolute fave, even if absolutely redundant in my closet, is the Shimmerveil tee, that reminds me of the silk and sequins scoopneck tee from the fall (I have two of these so I don't need more but maybe in super-duper final sale). I am trying a XS. It is big in the body but narrower at the bottom (not sure if on purpose to give it a blous-y look or not) so I wouldn't size down if you have some hips:

I liked the concept of the Silk utility chemise but not so much the fit. Size domw in this one, the 0 was very big:

I don't know how many will buy one of the Liberty shirts FP (they are insanily expensive IMO), but they are certainly cute. I tried the wildbloom one (the print is stunning IRL) in a 0. I could probably get away with a 2 too, since the 0 just fit (without being snug). In this colorway it is still a little bit sheer, so the ladies who are concerned by the sheerness factor would need a cami:

The following is not a new arrivals but I had bever tried it on and I was curious to see if I would feel the love. It's the Suckered plaid shirt. Well, I did feel the love and it's now on my sale watchlist. I thought I would need to size up because it looked small on the hunger but the 0 fit perfectly and as the description says it is incredibly soft:

Another item that isn't technically part of this rollout but I was very curious about and just hit the stores is the Crosstown tee. I almost ordered this tee during the last 20% off knit promo but I couldn't decide between sizes and I couldn't make up my mind on the color (my preference was the light sage one but I was planning to order the crochet tank in the same color). I liked it, but it runs very big, so definitively size down in this one. I liked the admiral blue color IRL more than I thought (it is more light navy than "blue collar") and I might order it with some promos. Here is the XS (I would need a XS):

In the sweaters department, I tried the deceptively simple Side-zip sweater in dark navy. It is just OK (definitively noth worth the price IMO) and the zippers on the side stick out a little bit weirdly (the metallic fabric trim is too sturdy and the zippers go way too much up):

Last item in this first part of the new arrivals post the Sun-drenched swaetshirt in the abstract blue color that we had seen paired with the paillette blue shorts in the Spring preview. Now I understand. This one has a lived-in look and needs some styling otherwise it will really look like your old sweatshirt from the 80s. The material is a heavy french cotton terry that gives it a feeling difficult to explain. Anyway, this is the XS on me with jeans (80a vibe) and with the cotton bell skirt (that I was trying for sizing purposes):

Did you see anything that you like among these new arrivals? Stay tuned for the next post where I will show you the skirts and dresses!