Here are a few other items I tried on at the B&M last week.

Linen Cable-Knit Sweater – $79.50, Sz S, #71617, Caribbean Green – This is quite a lovely lightweight linen sweater but does run a size smaller than your normal size. I didn’t even try the Medium because just holding it up it look big. The Caribbean Green is perfect green for the Spring and the Navy is also quite saturated, IMO. I’ve paired it with the Matchstick Jean in Starlight Wash ($108, Sz 29R, #50499). I really liked these jeans. They have a little stretch to them and feel really nice on. It won’t really matter whether I get the Short or Regular as I’ll have to hem either one. I’m not in the market for jeans right now but I would consider these on sale.

Colorblock Stripe Boatneck Tee – $45, Sz S, #73911, Neon Pink Chalkboard – This fits like the other Boatneck and Vintage Bateau Tees. I need a size Medium to be comfortable in it. I liked the Navy Kiwi colorway more than the pink.

Striped Maxi Skirt – Sz S, possibly $79 – Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the tag for this skirt but I love it. It’s comfortable and the Small was the perfect fit and length for me. My guess is that this is an in-store only skirt.

Cotton Shift Dress – $148, Sz 8, #64991, RLE Retro Lemon – This is a cute little dress but may not work for taller ladies as the length is hitting about two inches above my knee. This is not online and I was told this will come in a pink colorway as well.

City Mini in Linen – $79.50, Sz 6, #64032, Neon Azalea – I was tempted to get the 9-inch Chino Short but I love the skirt more. I think I’ll wear it more. I tried on the size 8 for more length but since this is meant for warm weather a little more leg to show will be fine in the size 6. It comes in Navy, Ivory and Lemon Zest, which is much brighter IRL than online.

Raindrop Lace Tee – $110, Sz 6, #68394, Neon Azalea – Since my store did not receive the Navy color I tried on the Neon Azalea to determine size. The size 6 is a great fit and I’ll add the Navy to my wishlist.

Elinor Dress – $138, Sz 6, #72114, Cerise – I tried this on only because I was intrigued by the Elinor Dress in Polka Dot. This is too similar, for me, to the Cecelia Dress from last year and I am afraid I’ll snag this pretty cotton/linen dress.

I did get the Linen Cable-Knit Sweater in the Caribbean Green and may go back for the Navy. I’ll wait for a sale on the Raindrop Lace Tee but do hope the Striped Maxi Skirt is still in stock at the store when I go back. 
Unfortunately, the cotton Cafe’ Capris do not work for me at all. The size 6 is too tight in the booty and the size 8 is way too big in the front. I think the 8 Petite might be the best size for me but skirts and dresses are much more summer friendly for my area weather. It’s too bad because I wanted the Bright Dahlia since I love my wool Lolli pants.
What has caught your eye from the March roll-out?

A red pencil skirt has been one of those “unicorn” items on my closet wishlist. You know, the item you desperately want/need/have-to-have that will stay in your closet for years to come. It could be the perfect polka-dot dress, amazing Leopard print heels/pumps, or that LBD that fits like it was made for you no matter if you gain a little or lose a little weight.

I had a few specific criteria for this skirt. I wanted cotton or a lightweight silk, not wool or linen as that would limit the times I could wear it; a pencil or a-line shape and a true red color. J Crew is great at bold colors but I haven’t found a true true red in their color options. Modern Red, Cerise, Poppy, even Maraschino Cherry – all of these are a shade of red but not the true red I have been looking for.

Now, for Spring/Summer 2012, enter “Chili”. In the February 2012 catalog, we saw the Schoolboy Blazer in Herringbone in the Chili color. Well, in the March Catalog and in my local B&M this week arrived the Ultra Eyelet Pencil Skirt in Navy and Chili. Ladies, I have found a unicorn.

This skirt fits TTS as I am wearing a size 6. The length is just below the knee, which is perfect. And the color, well, it’s the red I’ve been looking for. I so like the eyelet and will be able to wear it Spring/Summer and early Fall.

And here are some Polyvore options I already have in my closet.
Red Eyelet Pencil Skirt

Do you have a “unicorn” you are searching for?

I haven’t been to Anthropologie for shopping or try-ons in a few months. I normally don’t shop their Winter selections as most items are too “Winter” for my part of Texas. But I’ve been intrigued by some other bloggers try-on selections and had an afternoon to myself on Sunday to spend some time there.

Kudzu Skirt – Sz 6 – This was the one item I wanted to try on and buy. I liked the concept of a photograph as a piece of clothing. In my head, I was pairing it with various greens, pinks and yellow blouses and shirts.  I really wanted this skirt to work for me but, as you can see, it gives off a fullness I don’t need.

Side View 
Back View

Madison Shorts – Sz 8 – I gravitate toward green a lot because it’s my favorite color. These shorts caught my eye because they were green and because of the stripes and contrasting dotted stripes. The fit was great on these too but I could never wear these after trying them on. I can see myself sitting outside, relaxing by the pool drinking some delicious Iced Sweet Tea and suddenly have to go potty. I’d never get out of these shorts in time before having an accident. The gold buttons you see are functional. And before I un-buttoned them I thought they might be a sailor-button type. But you have to loop one side under the other and then back out to the front to button. It’s hard to describe, or even take a picture of, which I tried to do but if you get these you can’t drink much of anything.

Goes from inside to the outside to button one side.
The end result for the right side. 

Polka Dot Dress – Sz M – I didn’t realize this wasn’t online and didn’t take a pic of the tag. I can’t remember who it’s by either. But I do know it’s 100% Polyester and runs really big. I could definitely size to a Small and maybe even an XS. I have been looking for a great navy polka dot dress for this Spring/Summer and I found a Ralph Lauren one at Dillard’s that I purchased with a gift card. It’s a great little wrap dress but it’s also poly. You can also see that you’ll need some sort of tank underneath as it is super sheet. Luckily I was already wearing one in Bright Dahlia from J Crew. The waist is elastic so there is some give to size down.

Bike Lane Dress – Sz 8 – The first shipment of this dress sold out quickly and I was not able to try it on until now. A-DOR-A-BLE…Just the cutest dress and I want to wear it bike riding. The 8 fit just a little loose but not enough to wear it would fall off. I couldn’t get the size 6 to button back up once I had it on. I have a feeling the 8 Petite (online) would be the best fit. I would wear it now with a bright yellow cardigan.

Honeyed Life Shirtdress – Sz 6 & 4 – Moulinette Soeur’s always has the most darling dresses. This bumble bee print is no exception. I was immediately drawn to it because it will great for our hot summers and I will still look put together. Now, the bees on the dress might be a little too young but I couldn’t pass up trying it on. I originally tried on a Size 6 and it ran a little big in the chest for me. The only thing I mind about this dress is the open back as I prefer my back to be covered. I loved how it was styled in the store. I do have a Jackie in Burnished Olive that will be a good substitute for the Traveling Stripes Cardigan.

Size 4 – Fit a lot better in the chest/top.

Striped Stripes Dress – Sz 6 – I think the colors in this dress are great together and I liked the fit overall on this dress. I do think the belt could have been a little bit longer as I was unable to snap it together. Also, the removable straps it comes with could be at least an inch wide and not so skinny. 

Mod Garden Dress – Sz 6 & 4 – This dress by Maeve is 100% Silk and I think I like the mustard and navy colors together more than anything. This dress was static-y and also ran big. The Size 6 was way to big in the top. The Size 4 was still a little blouse-y but I didn’t try on the 2 because I wasn’t too interested in it. Now that I see these pics again, I think I will go try on the 2 and wish-list it for sale. I do think it’s a great dress and I felt very Mod in it, even though the waist is elastic.

Size 6

Size 4

The unexpected surprise of the day…Crepe Myrtle Shirtdress by Sarah Ball. This print is so unique but I love it. It does need a belt, IMO, so the SA gave me the Skinny Cross-Stitch Belt in Pink to try with it. Like I said earlier, I really wanted to take home the other Sarah Ball item, the Kudzu Skirt, but it just didn’t work for me. I have on a size 6 and it fit great. It is a little blouse-y on top but adding the belt fixed that. I have several  J Crew belts that will work with this dress. I was not really liking the way it was styled in the store, with the Air-Born Cardigan, but I do like the color of it with the dress.

I am sizing down a bit from an 8 to a 6 so I think a size 6 is now my standard size for items at Anthropologie, at least for dresses and tops. I surprised myself when I went to the size 4 a few times.

Anything here peak your interest? As you can see, I currently like their dress offerings and hope a few of these items make it to sale in my size.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Husband and I don’t celebrate the day because our very first date was a week later. But, on Monday, the sneaky guy was going out of town for work, which also happened to be on the way by my office where I was for the day. He waited patiently in the lobby while I finished up a conference call and had a dozen roses in his hand and also a little gift. How sweet is that? Completely unexpected and absolutely adorable.

The “Floating/Blurry Rose” print is one of my favorites from J Crew. I was happy to pull this out of my closet for my office visit. I had created a Polyvore with this skirt and black boots but decided to go with brown instead. I paired it with the Cashmere Tee in Snow, my Corso Como boots and let the skirt have it’s day.

I contemplated pairing this with gray tights and booties but maybe next time with the dress

Hey there! How crazy is it that we are in mid-February already? Mother Nature is being coy with Winter in South Texas. We finally had a teeny little cold spell that allowed me to layer and wear my newest purchase.

I have not been able to get the Schoolboy Blazer in Neon Pink out of my mind. I went to my store a few days later and there were only 3!!!! left. I couldn’t believe it. They’ve since re-stocked but apparently it’s a pretty popular color.

On Friday, I wore it with an older ‘Crew cardigan that doesn’t see much love and my Navy Check Perfect Shirt. (My boots don’t match but I wanted to wear them and not my black ones.)

GAP Essential Jeans
Anthropologie Pebbled and Primped Boots

Schoolboy Blazer in Herringbone, Neon Pink, 8
I added an older J Crew navy and white striped jersey scarf for some neck warmth. I received a lot of compliments on Friday when I wore this. I really am pleased with this purchase and can’t wait to wear it again. 
Have a Great evening!