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I was not about to let the Collection Blakely Printed Pump slip out of my grasp like the Etta in Hummingbird did last year. I debated between the Printed Pump and the Shimmer Linen Pump but the Printed won out.

I chose my normal size 7 but will need to go down a half size. I am very consistent with a size 7 95% of the time. This time shoe is in that 5%. You can see the large gap at the heel. I added an insole and it didn’t help. I took two steps and the shoe fell right off my foot.

I suppose these are to be the new Etta pump. I don’t really see a difference between the two other than the fit.
Block, slightly tapered/cone heel. Same heel height as the Etta, 3 3/4 inches. 

The Printed Pump is the only one with gold on the inside of the heel. I like that little detail. 

Also, you’ll notice the print is not matched on the shoes. For $300, a little extra effort should have been taken to at least match them up a little. The right shoe (your left) is more white and blue while the left shoe is a rainbow of colors. There really should be a disclaimer if it’s known the shoe prints will not match up. Someone QCs these right? 

Overall, I do like the Blakely. They’ll be great for Spring. If I re-order these in a 6 1/2 I’d call in and ask that the shoe print match as best as possible. It doesn’t have to be exact.

What do you think of the Blakely Pump? 


Oh, and I eventually found the Etta in Hummingbird.

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Next from J Crew Spring 2014 we have some shirts and sweaters.

Tees
Fluted Skirt

My store didn’t have the French-Print Popover available when I stopped by so I ordered it. Super adorable and whimsical. I took my normal size 8 for shirts.

The Swiss-Dot Tuxedo Shirt is a bit sheer, more than the tees I reviewed, but I like the style and concept of it. I think it will be great for layering and I have been looking for a white shirt in a style that was not a plain button-down. This fits TTS as I took my normal size 8. 

A cute little styling option with the Factory Midrise Skinny Jean in Distressed Indigo and the Martina Calf-Hair Wedges.

The Cutout Floral Sweatshirt in Navy immediately caught my eye in-store; not-so-much online in the Heather Silver. I held this up and it looked like it ran big so I brought home a Small to try on. I was wrong as it ran really tight in the arms and layering was an even tighter fit. This sweatshirt definitely needs a layer underneath, even if it’s a cami. 

Here’s the Medium and it’s a much better fit in the arms. I would have like to have kept the fit of the Small throughout the body. That’s the Tory Burch Merrit Print Blouse underneath. Review coming soon!

The Collection Cashmere Button Waffle Sweater has been on my wishlist for quite some time. I finally decided to pull the trigger on it, in a size Medium. I probably could have sized to a Small for this sweater as it is a Relaxed fit but I like the slouchiness of it and should work with my Scalloped Leather Skater Skirt from Anthro.

The Merino Silk-Panel Sweater in Antique Floral is very nice and the silk panel is soft, especially against the skin. I grabbed a Medium and found it to run a little big. 
And the Small, as you can see is a much much better fit, especially through the body. For me, this is not TTS but runs a size big and I would say size down but others have already said it’s TTS. I’ll wait for Gigi’s review of this to be sure. 
And it works well with the Fluted Skirt in Pack Green and the Martina Calf-Hair Wedges. 
I think that wraps up most of the clothing items that caught my eye in this release. I saw the Sunburst Skirt in Stripe in-store but it’s 100% Poly so I’m passing on that for now; maybe on sale with a promo. I need more denim like I need more shoes and the “Ever Stretch” makes me think the sizing has been messed with. The Factory has been my go-to lately for denim, especially when it’s a blatant copy of the retail denim. Reviews to come on a couple of those as well.

So what has caught your eye in this release? Saving your pennies for March or Summer? 

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I am in super LOVE with the Fluted Skirt in Double Crepe. I have almost every color and even tried the Leather Skirt (obscenely short) and the Copper Bloom (material felt cheap and thin). The Embellished Skirt is cute but basically it’s just the Ivory skirt with pink jewels on it.

Love isn’t even the word that can describe how I feel about this skirt. Obsessed is more like it: Black, Ivory, Poppy, Navy, Pack Green. I’ve worn and styled the Ivory and Black more times than I’ve posted on my Que Bellas.

Still taking a size 8. The Pack Green should have come out for Winter as it’s a little dark. The Navy should have been saved for Spring. But with a lighter top this should work out alright for the Spring. 
I can’t wait to style the Navy skirt. I have several new and old tops that will pair nicely with this color. 

I would love to get the Pale Citrus color but I have the  Postage Stamp Mini in Embroidered Neon Floral from last Summer that is too close in color to justify. And, it would be great to see the Nightgarden Floral Print on this style.

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Let’s start with some graphic tees for the Spring 2014 arrivals.

The Linen C’est La Vie Tee runs big, so size down. I had gone into the store wearing a bunch of layers so I didn’t try on anything. I gauged the fit by holding it up and tried it on when I came home. I like this in the Soft Gray with the stripes on the letters instead of the floral letters. I grabbed a Small and it’s a perfect fit. it also feels soft and comfortable on. There are those dropped shoulder seams again, Gigi. That seems to make the sleeves a little more fitted than loose. A little sheer, but thicker than the other two below, so you’ll want to wear a nude, lined bra as unlined lace will show right through.

The Linen Baseball Tee in L’Amour Triomphe is a nice little casual tee. There were several different baseball tees in-store including the Lovebirds Tee. This runs TTS as I’m wearing my normal Medium. Again, another sheer linen tee. 
Number 15 on the back, just in case you hopped into a spontaneous Softball game at the park. 
Lastly, the Cotton blend Amour Tee. Stay with your normal size or go up if you want more slouch. It’s already long enough, maybe too long so I doubt many of you will do that. 
Check these out on Ina too!

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I stopped in to Banana Republic a few weeks ago and found the Sloan-Fit Windowpane Slim Ankle Pant. A lone item in the sale section in a size 6, that magically fit. These sold out quickly and I was excited I was able to find them. While there I also tried on the Hampton-Fit Medallion Print Crop in a size 8 and 6. The 8 was very big and saggy through the front and legs. The 6 was a much better fit. I did not buy them then as I knew to wait for Wednesday when BR is consistent to have 40% each week.

The pockets do pull out just a touch. The fit is better in the front and legs. This is one of the very few pants I’ve tried where it says it’s a crop and it fits me like a crop and not a regular length pant. I like that this is all one color and the Medallion print is not a different color from the pant itself.

   

I have had my eye on the Floral Jacquard Pleated Full Skirt since it popped up on the website in early January. I was hoping to find it in store to try on but had to take a chance on sizing when I ordering it online. I chose an 8 as the 6 was sold-out. That was the best choice. I did not realize this skirt was a mini skirt but should have if I had read the description (18″ long). It definitely has a full skirt but it’s kind of fun. I love the print, which reminds me of the Gallerista Skirt from J Crew a few years back. Sadly this skirt is now sold out and removed from the website. You can see the Polyvore image here. 
The Bold-Stripe Metallic Tee and the Luxe-Touch Piped Tee are great basics to have and don’t feel like they will get holes in them after a wash or two. They are very comfortable on and have some stretch to them. They feel like a structured jersey tee and seem to dress up an outfit over a regular cotton tee from J Crew.

I took my normal size Medium in both and grabbed the White and Navy in the Luxe-Touch. There is also Canteloupe, a pretty Orange, and Wild Orchid, a bright pink, that are now online and weren’t when I was in the store. The Stripe Tee is Black and White. I would have loved for it to have been Navy. Maybe that’s coming next. 
Other than sale discounts, the 40% off on Wednesday’s is a great deal at Banana. The only other item I wanted that was excluded was the Gold-Button Blazer in Cocoon. I would have bought it in-store but they were all sold out. 
Anything caught your eye at Banana lately?