Here are a few more items I was able to try on from the J Crew Fall roll-out.

See my other two posts here and here on some Fall items. 
Half-Placket Dress – It’s Viscose not silk and certainly not fitted at waist as CFS states. Fit well in a size 6 but needs a good belt and necklace to jazz it up some.  Pass

Silk Gingham Top – Fits great in a size 6. I was worried it would be tight in the chest but it’s perfect. I originally thought this was Black but it’s Navy. Purchase 

Silk Skirt in Beanstalk Stripe – One of my favorite pairings is Navy and Green. This skirt is super cute. I have on a size 6; Great fit, good length (17 1/2 in). Wishlist

Andie Chino with Tuxedo Stripe – Ummm, yeah…so I know lots of people love these but not so much for me. The whole fitted through hip and thigh is not a good look for me. I’ll stick with the Cafe Capri’s. I have on a size 8 and would probably size to a 10 so it’s not so booty-hugging. Love the Tuxedo Stripe. I had the Scout Chino’s like this before but it had no belt loops. I like that the Andie has a wide waistband with belt loops. Pass

You can see the pockets are opened. They would not lay flat which means I would definitely have to size up.

Schoolboy Blazer in Black – Love the black and the “new” length didn’t really seem to affect me too much. I have on a size 8 and it fits just like my Navy Schoolboy that I snagged during the Instant Gratification sale. As Navy goes with more in my closet I’ll keep that and pass on the Black. I sure do love it though.

  

Jeweled Short-Sleeve Sweatshirt – The jewels around the collar and sleeves certainly jazz up this sweatshirt. I sized down to a Small. MamaBella also bought this in the Athletic Gray. Purchase

Keeper Chambray Shirtdress – I tried this on at the request of my dear friend S. This is apparently selling out as my store didn’t have my normal sizes (6 / 8). This is a 4 and I was surprised at how well it fit in that size and how much I loved it. I would size to a 6 to have a touch more length and room in the arms.  Wishlisted

Jeweled Sweater Tee – Another surprise try-on for me. They seemed to have replaced ruffles with be-dazzling. I am wearing a Medium and though it’s a good slouchy fit, I would size down to a Small for a slimmer fit. The whole outfit made me feel dumpy due to the baggy and slouchiness. (Not sure why I am sizing down lately. I am maintaining my current weight but it may be distributing elsewhere.) Wishlisted

Vintage Straight Jeans – I know these aren’t the cropped because the sizing on the inside said 29 Regular. I definitely need to size down in these, as one of my wonderful SAs suggested. I have always loved the fit of the Vintage Straight Jeans. I don’t need a new pair of jeans but I’ve already Wishlisted these.

Scalloped Dress – I tried this on in the Navy (see 2nd pic below) when it originally came out in the Spring but never posted the image. I didn’t care for the fit at that time for some reason. But I love the Black version this Fall. I also think the cut might be a little curvier and not so straight. I also need a new LBD. This one is perfect. Purchase

Silk Tonal Paisley Dress – I am such a sucker for Shift dresses (because they leave room for the food-baby). This one is gorgeous and feels wonderful on. I have on a 6 and it’s perfect. It has a paisley pattern on it so it’s not just a basic Navy Shift. MamaBella was with me when I tried it on and she loved it on me too! Wishlisted

Merino Tippi Sweater in Foulard Dot – I didn’t give this sweater a second look when it came out with the new arrivals but after it went on promo and there was 30% I ordered the Navy Ivory colorway in a Medium. Now, IRL, I’m not so sure I made the right choice on color. I like that the Sweet Guava Black is tipped. Purchased but may exchange.
Silk Keyhole Top in Foulard – Foulard seems to be invading my closet lately. I ordered this as well in a size 8. Not a fan of the halter neckline nor the boxy shape. This would look pretty as a Pencil Skirt. Return

High Line Watercolor Map Tee – What a wonderful way to capture one of my favorites spots in NYC. Had the weather cooperated I would have grabbed a book and sat on a bench for hours enjoying this beautiful Park in the Sky. This tee is sold out but there are a few other items still available. I am eyeing the men’s sweatshirt now. Purchase
Have you tried any of these items yet? Get anything from the High Line section?

I may need an intervention…an Etta intervention. I am now on my third pair and am eyeing my fourth (the Collection Calf Hair Pumps). They are just so gorgeous. The beautiful Collection Etta Printed Cap Toe Pumps are now in my hot little hands. I was not about to pass these up on the first day like I did with the Hummingbird Etta’s.

As soon as I saw these in the catalog I knew I had to have them. The Foulard silk print is gorgeous.

I love the contrasting prints.

The heel is wrap completely in the silk Foulard.

I took my normal size 7. There’s about a quarter inch of space at the heel but the shoe fit well everywhere else so sizing down would not have been a good choice.

I am clumsy at times so I am afraid I will snag the silk at some point. Keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t. I cannot wait to wear these babies. I have worn my Etta Snakeskin Pumps (reviewed here) for a few hours and they were comfortable. The true test will be wearing these for an 8+ hour work day.
The count for the Etta’s now matches my Bronson Booties count. Best little booties ever. I wish JC had kept that style around. It was perfect for us shorties who don’t want to cut off their ankle, which most ankle boots do. It had such a flattering scoop front and an hidden platform. I love mine! Of course, buying multiples is standard when we love the shoe, cardian, blouse, skirt, leggings, etc. 
Have a Great Day!

I’ve been bad about posting my Que Bella’s so here’s one from last week during my office visit. I bought the Maeve Ring True Shell with my birthday discount and absolutely love it. The office visit was the perfect opportunity to wear it.

I took a size 6 based on the reviews. I wore it with my Jackie in black, No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Natural (I have found an 8 Petite is my best size) and my Lanvin Espadrilles.

And the Mason Jar Sippers I mentioned here? A huge hit at our party last Saturday. I made frozen margaritas and added a freshly juiced watermelon ice cube. I found more paper straws at TJ Maxx as well. I’m glad I did because even though they are thick they still end up tearing at some point and need to be replaced. The 8 ounces was just the right size for the evening. I will probably grab the bigger jars at HEB or Wal-Mart since the tops fit those too.

Have a Great Sunday!

And I found it at the J Crew Factory Store of all places! I had a three-day office visit and one evening my friend and co-worker S were shopping the outlet. Of course we stopped in J Crew. I knew that they had new arrivals for Fall but nothing caught my eye until we were walking out of the store. That’s when I saw the Madewell Western Jean Shirt in Nightsky Wash. Only one Medium was left among the Smalls and Extra-Smalls so I grabbed it to take to the fitting room. 

Though the online description states a shrunken fit I found no issues getting it on and moving around. The denim is very soft and I can’t wait until it becomes like a fine wine…better with age. The buttons are all snaps, just like a western shirt should be. The best part was that it was also 40% off of it’s price of $59.99. 

I loved my purchase so much I wore it the next day with the Collection Embroidered Neon Floral Skirt. The neon is pretty bright I love how the denim beautifully contrasts with it. I am wearing a size 8 in the skirt and could have probably sized to a 6 so I would say this is TTS. I finished off my outfit with my Lanvin Espadrilles. Shockingly enough I only brought 3 pairs of shoes with me compared to my standard 5 (one for each day, sandals for evening and an extra pair in case I change my mind on one of my day pair). Yes, crazy I know but you never know when you might need a different pair of shoes.

I’m so very happy with my first ever Madewell purchase. Other than a Tote I had been eyeing, nothing peaked my interest. Now I’ll really have to give them a good look in the future. 
Have a Great Evening!

It’s July and Fall is upon us. At least as far as retailers are concerned. Each season’s Collections seem to be released earlier and earlier each year. Last year’s J Crew Fall arrivals were a week later than this year’s. I think eventually Fall will be released in January. Last year’s first Fall arrivals brought us the Blythe in Polka Dot (still love!), the Tippi Bow Sweater that was a huge love across the JCAs and several Jules Dress options. Let’s see what I like from Fall 2013.

I did receive an early preview link last Monday and was able to order two items I lusted over in the August Style Guide: the Collection Mini in Jade Foulard and the Fluted Skirt in Double Crepe. I love both of them. The Mini is the perfect “menswear” addition to my closet. The pattern and color is lovely. I am wearing a size 8 which gives me a touch more length. There’s enough material to drop the length about an inch. I wish this had been made into a tie as well, for The Boy.

I don’t have a black skirt in my closet so The Fluted Skirt fills that need. There is no room to drop the hem but the length is good for me. I’m wearing a size 8. I definitely could have sized to a 6 for the waist but I think it might have been a touch tight in the hips if I had. 

These are both keepers for me. I don’t have a Fall shopping list yet but I was able to get some basics over the summer during some sale and percent off promos. We are also still in the heat of Summer so it’s very hard to think about, or even try-on, Fall items.

What do you think of these two skirts?