/ Reviews

I was in Anthropologie getting a quick wedding gift (this, this and this) and saw the HD in Paris Laila Linen Shirtdress out of the corner of my eye. I had no time that day but went back a few days later to try it, and a few other items on.

~ Maeve Au Revoir Dress, size 8 ~

This is a dress that looked much better on the hanger than it did on me. I think it’s the pattern that makes me look wide. The size 8 fits tight across the chest as well as the hips so sizing to a 10 would make it look even more like a sack. The material is a viscose blend with a poly lining. A cropped jacket on top, like a denim jacket, might give this dress some hope, but overall, it’s a pass for me.

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~ HD in Paris Enid Swing Dress, Ivory, Medium ~

I thought this was a very pretty lace dress and was surprised by how well it fit, especially in the arms. The lace is a bit stretchy there. The lace is varying in pattern on each panel. The high-neck isn’t as bothersome or uncomfortable as I imagined. This comes in Black and Slate as well, which looks more blue online.

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~ Cynthia Rowley Padua Dress, size 12 ~

I could have chosen a 6 or a 12 to try on in this dress. I chose the 12 since I knew I would not be able to zip up the 6. Based on the 12, I think I would size to a 10. The dress is very structured and shaped with a defined waist. There’s no give whatsoever but I wouldn’t want that in a party dress like this. I loved the pattern and colors on it and it a different option from your LBD. Be warned that this dress starts out short, hitting me in the size 12 about two inches above the knee.

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~ HD in Paris Laila Linen Shirtdress, Red, size 8 ~

This dress gets me excited for Spring. It’s my style and fits into my daily-wear well. The size 8 fits very well and the belt at the waist is adjustable. The skirt is pleated and the dress starts out short, above the knee. I usually get Petite sizing when the length is longer but I would stay in my normal size in this dress. There is a cotton slip in the same matching color. I ended up buying this in both the red and white.

The only con I have is that I would prefer this to be short-sleeve or sleeveless so I may alter this at some point. I’ll get tired of rolling up my sleeves every time I wear it.

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~ Maeve Evangeline Sheath, Red, size 8 ~

Flattering. Sexy. On sale. Those are the only things you really need to know about this dress. Oh, and it comes in black too. I saw this dress on the hanger and knew it would be flattering. This is a poly-blend but I feel that is needed to have the slim silhouette. The size 8 fit quite well. I would add some Spanx for the mid-section.

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The back is nice but you will need to find a low-back bra to wear with this since the strap across the back sits above a regular bra strap.

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~ HD in Paris Picotage Sheath, size 2 ~

I grabbed the wrong size. I just noticed that now, looking back at my pictures. I didn’t even look at the price tag but the tag on the dress. The UK size is first, then the US size. So, not a bad fit if I’m being honest. But I would definitely go up to at least a size 6.

This was the first dress I tried on and loved it immediately. This dress is meant to be form-fitting and the material is a spandex-sweater type; maybe a little ponte. No Spanx needed in this dress. It’s going to hug and fit in all the right places. I’m even more amazed now at how well it fit.

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I would love to add the Maeve Evangeline Sheath in black to my closet and may return the HD in Paris Laila Linen Shirtdress in White. I have a white dress already in cotton.

What do you think of these dresses?

/ Reviews

As you know by now, Tory Burch is my new favorite brand. All the pieces I’ve purchased have held up well, fit well and I wear a lot of those pieces on a regular basis. It’s why I’m looking to add more Tory pieces to my closet this year, spending the money on items I know will last. Let’s take a look at three tops I tried on last week.

~ Embroidered Cotton Tunic, size 8 ~

I went to the store to specifically try-on this tunic. It’s shorter than Floral Linen Tunic I have and hits around the hip. The sleeves and hem are embroidered in multiple colors with red being the stand-out. I think it might have been nice to have some of that embroidery at the neckline.

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The size 8 was the best fit, and is my normal size. The boxy style seems a bit shapeless on me. I would prefer it to have a little bit more shape at the waist. I do prefer the sleeve hitting at the elbow. The neckline is low but still covers well, IMO.

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~ Smocked Peasant Top, size 6 ~

I wasn’t interested in this originally when it showed up online but after seeing it styled as an off the shoulder option I tried it on. Due to the smocking the top fits very loose. I ended up sizing down to a 6. I tend to shy away from smocked items that have it at the arms because it’s always too tight but the smocked on this blouse was fine and I barely noticed it.

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It really does look cute as an off-the-shoulder option and I actually think I would wear it this way during the Summer. There are ties at the neckline and the waist has a contrasted smocked band.

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~ Ruffle-Sleeve Cotton Peplum Top, size 10 ~

The SA brought this to me while I was in the fitting room. They had just gotten it in the store and she hadn’t seen it on anyone yet. It tried on the size 8 and it was very tight in the arms. I didn’t even get the top all the way on. The size 10 fits a lot better and the side-zip helps get it off and on with ease.

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The sleeves have two ruffles and on someone with a longer arms will hit 3/4-length while on me the sleeves hit at the wrist. The waist is smocked giving a little definition and the hem is a single ruffle. The blouse is lined in cotton so the sheerness you see in the arms is not in the body.

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I have my eye on a couple of other Tory tops as well.

I think my favorite is the Ruffle-Sleeve Cotton Peplum Top. To be honest, I didn’t like it when I tried it on but after seeing the pics a few times, I think it’s really cute, something I’ll wear quite a bit in the Summer and will look good with pants, skirts and shorts.

What do you think of these tops from Tory Burch?

/ Reviews

These are the last of my Ann Taylor fitting room pics I found on my phone.

~ Fringe Tweed Top, Medium ~

The fringe is at the neckline, arms and hem. The medium fit fine though the shirt doesn’t have much shape to it and is boxy. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I did not find this cropped, but if you are taller than me and wear a Medium on top, I’m pretty sure it will be shorter on you.

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~ Fringe Tweed Pencil Skirt, size 6 ~

The skirt is what I really wanted to try on. There was a J Crew Wool Pencil Skirt from 2009 that was similar to this. The color on this AT skirt is really pretty IRL and the tweed is substantial and not too thin. The size 6 fit me just fine and the length is hitting me just below the knee.

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If I was in the office daily, I would get the skirt and probably pair it with a chambray shirt.

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~ Geo Short Sleeve Sweater, Medium ~

I liked this pattern but feel it works better on the skirt than the top. The pattern gets a bit distorted around the chest. Since it’s a snug sweater it will show any bumps with the pattern probably accentuating them more than I would like. I was hoping it might work so I had another option for jeans.

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~ Geo Knit Pencil Skirt, Small ~

I loved the skirt and the pattern on it wasn’t distorted anywhere that I could tell (but I didn’t check the rear). Since the knit is woven tight, I went with the Small and it fit pretty well. I just have no idea what top I would wear with this skirt other than the matching Geo Sweater above.

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Are you a member of Ebates? Did you know that you can now get in-store cash back from Ebates? You link up a credit or debit card and link the offers available to your account. Then start shopping! Ann Taylor is one of the first stores to have in-store cash back. Currently there are a total of 5 stores with offers available to link. I prefer in-store shopping over online so I can’t wait until more offers and stores are added.
Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

Happy Shopping!


/ Reviews

As promised, though a bit late, here is a review of the Ann Taylor Embroidered Dot Perfect Shirt, as well as a few other items.

~ Embroidered Dot Perfect Shirt, size 8 ~
~ Striped Jacquard Pencil Skirt, size 6 ~

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~ Embroidered Dot Perfect Shirt, size 8 ~

This fit well in the size 8, just like the J Crew Perfect Shirts. Like I said in this post, I prefer the Ann Taylor version over the Onyx Dot. The dots on the Ann Taylor shirt are Navy and they are embroidered on to the white shirt. This shirt is also less see-through that the Onyx Dot shirt.

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~ Striped Jacquard Pencil Skirt, size 6 ~

This is a fairly stretchy skirt, from what I can recall. I liked the color and stripes on this. The length is midi on me hitting at the top of my calf. The size 6 fit me just a little tight so I would either size to the 8 or the 8 Petite. I always confuse brocade and jacquard but this is textured material.

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~ Embroidered Dot Perfect Shirt, size 8 ~
~ Fluid Stripe High Waist Flare Trousers, size 8 ~

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Clown Pants was what first came to mind when I saw them on the hanger and I had to try them on. I guess because they are high-waist pants the cut is different from ATs other pants. These were really tight in the size 8 and the length was super long. I do like the navy and gray vertical stripes though.

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~ Colorblock Pullover, Small ~
~ Kick Crop Jeans, size 6 ~

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~ Colorblock Pullover, Small ~

I really liked the mix of colors on this sweater as they reminded me of the Anthropologie Emperor Kiss Sweater from a few years ago. This was pretty cozy on and the Small fit very well to a little over-sized. I passed on it though but would reconsider it if it goes on sale.

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~ Kick Crop Jeans, size 6 ~

I grabbed these to try on with the sweater and they fit ok in the size 6. I would size to an 8 for more comfort. They are not cropped on me, of course, so they 8 would be just a touch longer.

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Ann Taylor has been having some sort of sale every week, usually 40% off but sometimes 50% off. That’s what it was in-store when I bought the Embroidered Dot Shirt. There isn’t a sale today but I would think another one is coming later this week.


/ Reviews

Up next is the matching skirt to the Tweed Jacket I reviewed yesterday.

~ Multicolored Tweed Skirt, size 8 ~

The size fit well and I still like the blue tweed. I’m not a fan of the dark navy waistband though. You know I love a good mini but the length seem shorter to me than most of the mini skirts in the past. Also, the back has an exposed zip. Thought we were going to be done with that J. Crew?

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~ Perfect Shirt in Onyx Dot, size 8 ~

The size 8 fit fine but the shirt seems just a little see-through. Of course, it’s white so I’m sure that’s why. It’s not thick like an Oxford. The dots are black. I am not a huge fan of this dotted shirt because Ann Taylor has a version that’s Embroidered Navy Dot.  I did buy that a few weeks ago and I see I have failed to review it so I’ll have that for you tomorrow. Today, everything at Ann Taylor site is currently 50% off with code PRETTY50. 

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~ Tweed Jacket w/Zippers, size 8 ~
~ Perfect Shirt in Onyx Dot, size 8 ~
~ Multicolored Tweed Skirt, size 8 ~
~ Elsie Leopard Pumps, size 7 ~

If you want to match the jacket with the skirt it’s a good look. There’s the dress too.

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I am off to a wedding shower and am loving our gorgeous day! I’ll be wearing my new AT Shirtdress, that’s also 50% off today.