JCrew April Stores New Arrivals (and an Easter Outfit)

I was downtown yesterday morning to see a friend and I stopped at the JCrew Soho on my way back home. I was very uninspired but took pictures for you of a few things that I hadn't seen/tried yet, in case some of you would be interested.

First, the already sold-out online Rococo top. Personally, I am not a fan of this top, the neckline in particular, but I appreciate the hem and the soft cotton fabric. If you are looking for one I saw plenty in stores. This is the 00 (in the first picture you can see the Scalloped shorts in honey brown, in a size 2. These fit big):

Next the Schoolboy blazer in seersucker. I really liked this new version of the schoolboy, I would consider it if I hadn't the summer stripe one from last year. I don't know anymore what size I am in schoolboys, I used to be a 2 but this year they are roomier so I would probably size down, especially in a summer fabric. This is the 2:

Another seersucker item, that I don't see online, are these new cafe capris. Very cute. Note that the color is a lighter blue than the blazer (which is a navy stripe) and the stripes are wider. This is my usual 0:

The following tee shirt was one that I was very excited about (love the colors!), but unfortunately it is very low-cut is and revealing, already in a XXS that felt small. I didn't bother trying a XS because I hate wearing camis under tee-shirts (plus, it wasn't cheap at $45):

I was vaguely interested in the Garment-dyed mini in collegiate green (I love the outfit in the catalog with the white Blythe). The store had it in pink and also in white (I think that the white is a store-only color). Boy, this one is short! I can wear a mini but this one is ridic. It is sized in jeans sizes, so I tried the 26:

It was slightly better in white, still I wouldn't wear it even on vacation:

The shirt is a new boy shirt in a cotton-linen blend that I don't see online. Very soft and summery (I think it was $88) but a bit jailman in my book (this is the 0).

If I had to buy a mini, I would probably get the mini version of the ultra-eyelet skirt. I don't see it online but it comes in white and navy and retails for $88. It fits like similar minis of years past (TTS to slightly small). The white one is beautiful for summer. It is approx. 2 inches longer than the denim one, still short but more weareable. This is the 0, I didn't have the time to try a 2 to compare but I could probably size up (the top is the Sequin tank in a XS):

They had also received the new Jules dress in silk stripe. Double meh on this one, it did nothing for me and I couldn't zip it up. On the positive side, the on-seam pockets didn't add bulk or weight. This is the 0:

And the best for the last. I haven't spent a lot of time on the website in the past month or so and I hadn't noticed that the Stripe blouson dress comes now in cerise, other than navy. If you are a blouson dresss collector, this cerise version is beautiful and will make a nice addition to your collection (especially if you haven't the navy one). Unfortunately, since I haven't worn my other two blouson dresses yet I can't justify buying it anytime soon (but I will consider on super-sale). While I was trying this I thought that it was strangely smaller on top that my other blouson dresses, then I realized that it was a 00 and not my usual 0 (it could fit if I were a smaller bra size):

I came home only with the Sunlit tank in black that was on my wishlist and went down to $19.99. I got a XS, even if there is a bit of room. I love the pattern on this tank, I just didn't want to pay more for sequins but $19.99 is really a good price and it's going to be great with white pants in the summer:

That's it. Have you sen any of these new arrivals in your local store? Which one do you prefer?

We are here for Easter, we didn't make plans because my husband is leaving in the late afternoon for a business trip. I have this outfit(that I have already worn to a baby shower a month ago) planned but nowhere to go (the skirt is the Big-shot circle shirt worn with the navy cashmere shell, Tod's flats and an old necklace):

We will see if we go out for brunch and I get to wear it. Happy Easter to you all!

Sunday Outfit (Comptoir "Doggies" Tee)

How was your weekend? I managed to stay away from Bloomingdales but I did go to the Comptoir des Cotonniers sample sale Saturday. It was disappointing in that they had nothing from the current season (I was eyeing a couple of things in store that I was hoping to get for a deeply discounted price). I was surprised to see a line when I got there (even if it was raining), I didn't know that they were so popular here. In fact it was quite crazy: line at the entrance, loooong line to try stuff on and line at the register. The prices weren't that good either: $109 for outwear, $80 for dresses, $65 for tops, $50 for bottoms, $40 for belts. The tee shirts were the real deal at $15 but I refrained myself and only got one. The shoes, while not exactly an incredible deal at $90, were quite worth it: all leather and quite beautiful designs.
I came home with a tee, a pair of jeans and a pair of shoes. I was tempted to buy more shoes but I am quite sure that the last day of the sale they will slash prices and I might go back to see what's left then. I live close to a store and at the end of the season prices are better than at the sample sale. In fact I got a beautiful dress back in January and paid $65 (it would have been $80 at the sample sale). I don't think that I ever posted pics of the dress but I tried it again yesterday with the new shoes. I know that many of you will find it short but I think that I can manage and I feel very pretty in it (also, it can be worn with tights in the Fall). The print is a very delicate flowery print and the cut (especially at the neckline) is quite refreshing and flattering. It reminds me of "Midnight in Paris" for some reasons:

It looks great with pearls:

These are the shoes. I have been looking for a pair of grey (not silver) sandals with a manageable heel for a while and these are exactly what I was looking for:

The jeans were a decent price and I couldn't resist this wash for the summer (they have the same this season and they are $165 in store). I have an old pair from Paul and Joe in a similar wash that I loved but they are bootcuts and I don't wear them anymore. These are REALLY skinny (aka super-tight) and it isn't easy to get them on because they have no stretch/give, but once on they look awesome. I tried a size up but they didn't look that good so I decided that I am going to hold my breath ;-). Definitively not everyday jeans (for reference these are a 36):

And now the tee shirt. Do you remember the JCrew "doggies" tee from a few seasons ago? Well, this one can be considered the French version of that tee (the bulldog was the leitmotif of the last collection and appeared on many tees/sweaters). The tee is very comfortable but a was a whooping $80 in store if I have to believe the price tag, $15 is definitively better. I love it and I wore it yesterday to brunch:

I wanted to show it off a bit but it was cold, so I wore an open sweater-coat from BR. This coat is very thick 100% merino wool coat and is very cozy but I have barely worn it since I bought it a few years ago for two reasons: first, I should have bought a petite size, this is the XS regular and it overwhelms me a bit; second, it is an open style and I never knew how to belt it properly to keep it close and warm. I tried it yesterday with the JCrew elastic clip belt (a popback of all the popbacks that I got a few weeks ago for $7) and it looked great:

I added my JCrew cashmere scarf and it was a good decision because it got chilly in the afternoon. If it weren't for the scarf and the belt, it would have been a 100% non-JCrew outfit, a rarity for me:

That's it. What of my find do you like the best? Have you ever bought something from Comptoir? The funny thing is, I have never bought anything from them in the 8 years I lived in Paris, they were a little bit too basic at that time (the trench, the stripes, the black pants). I think their style has changed a bit in the recent years (they remind me of Madewell, in particular the Alexa Chung collection), or maybe it's just that I am nostalgic of Paris and the French-chic.

OOTD: Yatch Blue and Peeble Dots (Plus TB Miller Thongs)

Another quick OOTD today. I bought the peeble-dots Blythe before Xmas and it was about time that I wear it (I bought it with the intention of wearing in the Spring). I am not sure that this was a very good purchase: I like the shirt and the color but it isn't the most versatile shirt ever. Basically it looks good with white (and ivory), navy and yatch blue or casablanca blue, if you happen to have the cafe capris in either wool or cotton or the pencil skirt. I have the wool ones in yatch blue and this is how I wore it today:

This is (more or less) how it was styled on the website, with white jeans (these are the cropped matchstick and either I got fat or they shrunk on me):

Please look down at the shoes. I decided that instead of buying another pair of Revas that I don't need this minute I would try to get the Miller sandals in patent white with the Bloomindgdales F&F 20% off discount. I said try because they are not currently available in white on the website and since my daughter is in Spring Break I had to drag her to Bloomis. At least we had a playdate before that wasn't far so we stopped at Bloomingdales on our way back home. They weren't on the selling floor but I had seen them the last time that I was there (months ago) so I asked and they did have them in my size. These fit TTS, there is a bit of space between the toe and the end of the shoe but I wouldn't size down (pardon my feet, they need a pedi):

I already had a pair of Miller in metallic gold and wore them to death but truth to be told the golden part on the insole came off pretty quickly and I was a bit disappointed that shoes that expensive would do that (I won't buy the gold again). Patent should last longer.

That's it! It is a weekend full of temptations: beides Bloomingdales. Milly is also having a F&F event (20% off everything with code SPRINGSALE) and for those in NYC the French brand Comptoir des Cottonniers is having its first sample sale ever (see details at www.clothingline.com). Happy shopping!

OOTD: Foulard And Paisley With Boxy Shirt

I only have the time for a quick OOTD today, I am heading out to a a playdate (my daughter is still in Spring Break this week).

I love this OOTD. I feel springy and I want to break out my foulard cafe capris and also another item that I bought recently, the shirt that I am wearing in these pics (the necklace is old JCrew and the shoes are old Tods that I don't wear often enough):

The shirt is another Joe Fresh great find. It is what it's called a "boxy" shirt, which is the shape that all the fashion designers seem to favor this spring (see Celine and Chloe just to mention two). I had never though about this but a shirt with this shape and length is made to wear untucked (I am usually a tucker-in and I usually like longer shirts). This one is extremely well made and flattering in its boxiness. Maybe it's the fact that the hem is longer in the back:

I actually hope that it is going to be my OOTD but I haven't checked the temperatures yey (it was suddenly very warm yesterday afternoon but it was freezing cold the day before, the weather is all over the places here). In any case I am going to wear a navy sweater, this one is from the Loft (last year):

I have to say, I don't feel like I am wearing disposable fahion when I wear Joe Fresh, but the prices are definitively on the low end of the spectrum (this one is only $29 and it's a very nice and crisp cotton, definitively comparable to the cotton used by JCrew). By the way, for the New Yorkers, they gave me a flayer that advertises the grand opening of their flagship store on 5th Avenue (at 43d St.) this Friday at noon. The first 200 customers will receive a $100 gift card with a $50 purchase that you can use (for example) towards the purchase of the shirtdress that I am wearing here. Not bad! If any of my readers make it, let us know (I happen to have a playdate in Midtown tomorrow morning but I don't think that I will make it there by noon)!

Have you been to Joe Fresh recently? Do you like this year's boxy shape for shirts?

Splurge of the Month: the Tory Burch Marcela Skirt

If you are a longtime reader of this blog you know that Tory Burch is one of my favorite brands, along with JCrew and Theory (and as of late, Lilly Pulitzer and Milly). Unfortunately, I can only afford to buy Tory clothes on sale and I haven't actually bought any piece of clothing since my days of going to her sample sales when I was still working. The shoes (and even bags) are more affordable and even a better investment, if you look at the cost per wear so I usually look at the clothes only for eye-candy and buy shoes.

I recently broke this long strike and bought the Marcela skirt. This is something that I fell in love with as soon as I received the email advertising the resort Collection back in January and decided that I had to have. I actually went to the store a few days later to try it on (because of the floor-length I wanted to see IRL if it would be too long or overwhelming on me) and almost bought it full price. The only thing that prevented me from buying it at full price (besides the price, duh!) was that summer was six months away and I figured that I would really feel like a fool if a couple of months later the skirt went on sale, before I could even have the chance to wear it. I was afraid that it would sell out, because the print is so striking and it is such a special piece, but I decided to wait patiently and keep an eye on it and sure enough it did go on sale just before my trip to Punta Cana and I could buy it for almost 50% off of the original price. I am really trying to buy less basic clothes or duplicates of what I already have and add more original and unique pieces to my closet that I can possibly wear for years to come and this one falls perfectly in this category.
The skirt is (obviously) 100% silk and is a wrap style with a few snaps hidden on the side down to the knee to make sure that it doesn't open up when you walk. However, if you feel audacious you can leave one or two snaps unbuttoned and reveal a bit of leg. I can wear it with platforms or heels without hemming it, but I would need to have it hemmed if I want to wear it with flats. The size it's a 0 (fits perfectly):

Channelling Angelina at the Oscars:

What makes the skirt really special is not only the print (even if it is inspired by the American Southwest's wildflowers it reminds me of South of Italy for some reasons) but also the self-tie fringed belt that it's a piece on its own. The skirt has belt loops but the sash isn't sewn on the skirt, so you can take it out and wear it differently; for example you can tie it around the neck or let it hang on the back like an evening accessory:

It is actually nice to leave the top untucked and tie it over it:

Because the print is loud it is best to keep things simple on top and a tank, like above, works the best. It is definitivly a summer skirt and I don't want to try to winterize it but I tried a couple of other options with sleeves for the days when I need a bit more coverage than a tank can offer. The Sophie shirt from last year has always truck me as very Tory Burch-esque and the muslin color is perfect for the city:

The other shirt I thought of is the Lucinda blouse because the skirt has some mustardy yellow in it:

In case some of you are interested the skirt is still available in all the sizes (I am shocked!) and if you are looking for a gorgeous print, I really recommend it (it also comes in a full-floor dress, a shorter dress, a blouse and a tunic and they are all on sale!)

On other Tory Burch-related news, you have probably heard that the Bloomingdales F&F event has started (use code FRIENDS to get 20% off almost everything through Sunday) and it applies to Tory Burch, including Reva flats that never go on sale (I did a mock checkout and it worked). A reader (I apologize, I don't remember who it was) asked me if the Revas in tumbled leather that I have in the Royal Tan color wear well and I have to say that even if I use a bit of caution (like, not wear them when it rains!) and I don't wear them everyday they are still like new one year after. So this is the occasion to get them for a good price. Personally, I am contemplating buying a new pair of black Revas (mine have 6 or 7 years) but I can probably wait until the Fall, as I tend to wear them less in the Spring-Summer.

What do you think of the Marcela skirt? Do you like this print?

Outfit Challenge: Dinner With Client

As those of you who work in an office that require business attire know, one of the most challenging things when coming back from a beach vacation is to go from wearing flip-flops and a tank to wearing heels and a blazer. Being a stay at home mom normally this is a non-issue for me as I can wear jeans and a sweatshirt and call it a day but yesterday night my husband had a business dinner that he wanted me to attend (this is very rare, he has at least a business dinner per week and I don't remember the last time that he asked me to go with him). A very high profile client was in town with his wife so he wanted me to be there as otherwise she would have been the only woman at the table, so to make her stay in NY more pleasant my services of "dame de compagnie" were required (not that I am very talkative but better than nothing). I normally jump at each occasion to go out and dress up (especially if, like in this case, the venue is Blue Hill, one of the best restaurant in town that was also my favorire pre-baby) but the only idea of squeezing my feet in a pair of heels and wearing something business-like (even if it was an after hours event) made me cringe.



Anyway, deciding what to wear took me almost the whole afternoon and I was really outfit challenged, not only because of the vacation mindset but also because my husband expressed the wish that I wear pants. I don't have many pants that I can wear in the evening in a pretty formal setting (I stopped buying suit pants when I stopped working), basically I have a pair and they are black. I soooo didn't feel like wearing black pants that at first I thought that I would just ignore my husband's recommendation and wear a dress. I have the perfect dress, the Origami in charcoal (even if it is quite elegant and my husband didn't want me to be too elegant) but when I tried it on I felt like I was trying to show off my tan (the Origami even if it can be considered "demeure" because it isn't low-cut uncovers a big portion of skin, almost like a strapless), in particular because my bikini tan lines were visible. So I rejected it as non appropriate.

My other candidate was a Joe Fresh sheat dress in a grey faux-suede that you have seen in my first Joe Fresh post back in the Fall. This dress, even if quite cheap, has an amazing fit because of the draping and I actually thought that it was perfect for the venue and occasion:

However my husband had never seen this dress before and as you know he can be very particular, so that was a risk. What if he didn't like it or found it a little bit too va-va-voom? When we go out on a date or with friends I don't care about his criticism but I was trying to help him in his work, so his opinion in this case was of the uttermost importance.


In the end I decided for a more neutral outfit, something neutral that wouldn't draw positive or negative attention. Black pants were fine after all, I just wanted to avoid the total-black look so I resorted to the heather lace shell as an alternative to black or white/ivory on top. I added a necklace in the same black/silver tone for some sparkle (it was called Northern Lights if I am not wrong):

Once I had settled on this outfit, another challenge was to find a jacket to wear with it (I didn't want to wear a cardigan). The only two jackets that I could wear with this shell and these pants were the flannel schoolboy blazer in pearl grey and the Bonnie blazer, which is a double-breasted blazer that was offered at JCrew last spring in a dark, almost black, navy and that married well with my Theory pants (you couldn't tell that it wasn't a suit).
I am growing more and more annoyed at my pearl grey schoolboy blazer, I pined for it for years before caving this Fall but in retrospect it wasn't such a good purchase as each time that I try it on I end up wearing something else instead. For starters, it isn't nipped enough at the waist; I know it's supposed to be "boxy" by definition but the result is that it looks good only with jeans or pants as demonstrated by this tentative of wearing it over my grey dress:

Also, the golden buttons that I tought were a nice touch in reality are a disturbance because of the color of the blazer itself (it's like wearing silver and golden at the same time). I am planning to replace them with something more neutral or silver-based.
Anyway, it still had its golden buttons yesterday night, and even if angry at them, I decided to wear it anyway because I knew that I would then take it off for dinner and I didn't have another option. Even if I liked the Bonnie, it was a bit too serious or too dark of an outfit:

So this is the outfit with schoolboy:

I was pretty satisfied with the result, this was a polished outfit that the wife of a CEO could appreciate if she was wearing a suit or an evening outfit but not be jealous about or feel intimidated by if she was wearing something more causal. I was imagining this wife as someone much older than me (based on the husband's age) and that as an out-of-towner could maybe be a bit intimidated by the New York scene. Well, I was wrong about her. It turned out that she was a much-younger-than-her-husband, second marriage, wife, barely in her thirties, wearing Gucci and definitively at ease on the NY scene. In handsight I should have worn the Joe Fresh dress, but it was OK. The conversation was very pleasant because the two of them spend their life travelling and they were married in Italy and all in all it was a very special evening and we had a great time (they had rented the private room where President Obama had dinner on a trip to NY. Incidentally I think the food was a bit weird if you are not a veggie or raw food lover). The CEO made my day by complimenting my necklace at the end of the evening (I didn't tell that it was a cheap JCrew, I let him think that it was an expensive gift from my husband).


What do you think of my two outfits? Which one do you think was more appropriate? Do you have a go-to outfit for this kind of "accompanying wife" dinners? Also, what kind of jacket do you wear with a grey dress?