/ Reviews

I was able to try a few things on after the Holiday Fashion Show at Anthropologie.

~ Arboreto Peplum Top, Large, KAS New York ~

I originally tried the Medium in this and it was way too snug across the chest and the Large is super loose. I know I grabbed a Medium so I am no sure why there was such a huge gap, literally, in the chest area. According to one reviewer, who has the same chest size as me, she also sized to a Large but hers fit.

I liked the green color of this top and the cut-outs a the neckline and peplum hem. The material is viscose, look suede and feels a little like silk. The back is a deep V and may not cover your bra strap.

Anthro_KAS_Tunic

~ On the Town Swing Top, size 8, Maeve ~

Knowing I vary in Maeve I grabbed a size 8 since this looked both cropped and small in the arms. I should have probably grabbed a 10. The arms were super tight as well as above the chest. The chest and through the body were loose. It’s too bad since the print is so festive.

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~ Velvet Trimmed Swing Tank, Small, Moulinette Soeurs ~

Finally a shirt that wasn’t tight. This fit fine through the chest but them really swung out after that making it a little too wide for me. That’s too bad for me, again, because i really liked this for a Holiday party. The velvet at the body is a nice touch and the sequin design is cool.

Anthro_VelvetBandTank

 

Three strikes on tops for me this time. I wasn’t really looking for any but I wish I had chosen better sizes on these.

/ Uncategorized

Happy December! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had great week with a huge surprise. My brother flew in from Singapore to surprise MamaBella for Thanksgiving. Of course I knew since I had to pick him up from the airport. The shock on her face was priceless.

The Thursday before Thanksgiving I was invited to attend the Holiday Fashion Show at Anthropologie. I love these events and this was the first Holiday show for my store. Here are a few looks.

Goodies! They served a yummy Apple Cider Champagne Cocktail.

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The backdrop for the runway.

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~ Scooped Sweater Dress, Navy, Moth ~
~ Solstice Scarf ~

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~ First Snow Infinity Scarf ~
~ High-Low Turtleneck, Ivory, Moth ~
~ Chevron Sweater Skirt, Moth ~

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~ Fringe Stripe Tank, Gold, Sunday in Brooklyn ~
~ Pretty Polly Pouch, Miss Albright ~
~ Tartan Charlie Trouser, Cartonnier ~

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~ Faux Fur Cowl, White, Marta ~
~ Silviculture Pouch ~

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~ Embroidered Brocade Dress, Byron Lars ~

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~ Marlow Gown, Eliza J ~

Thanks for coming along with me to the Anthropologie Holiday Fashion Show!

/ Bella Picks

For Kate Spade’s Cyber Monday, I’m shopping for small gifts. Use code SHINE to take 30% off your purchase. Jewelry and catch-all trays are nice to have and not what people normally think to get for themselves. Something else I know I wouldn’t normally buy for myself but always seem to need one is a compact. I can pull out my phone and use the reverse camera but I like the look of a pretty compact instead. 

I also love giving gifts that are specific to a hobby or passion. For your favorite baker the 3-piece set or apron in Chocolates is cute. I have also found that unique bottle openers are always a good choice.

Use code SHINE for 30% off your purchase. Don’t forget to get cash back from Ebates before shopping Cyber Monday! If you don’t have an account you can sign up here (and I’ll get a referral bonus too).

/ Bella Picks

There are so many goodies to chose from at J Crew Factory with the current 50% off everything promo (SHIPGIFTS) it makes my head spin. I already have my Holiday party outfits planned but there’s always shopping for next year right? I have been obsessed with the Sea Glass Brulee’ Necklace for a while and am very delighted to see a similar one in the Crystal Drops Necklace at the Factory. And who doesn’t love Camel for Winter? I can’t decide between the Striped Knit Scarf or the Plaid Scarf.

The Cora Loafers with Bow not only remind me of Kate Spade but they are great to wear to those parties where you know you’ll be standing most of the time. I have some dressy flats already but would get these in a heartbeat.

I did order some items during the Early Access that I’ll share with you now.

~ Velvet Blazer, size 8 ~
~ Peacock Collector Tee, Medium ~
~ Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wool, Rhapsody Blue, size 8 Petite ~

The Velvet Blazer fit fine in the size 8 though I would have ordered a 10 Petite had it been offered. There’s a single-button in front which hits at a decent spot, not too low. The velvet is loose though and not structured like the old Schoolboy Blazer of yore, which is what I was expecting. The Faux-Fur Vest would be a fun option. The Peacock Tee fit fine in my normal Medium. The peacock is gold foil. I’m going to keep it as it’s fun and the gold foil on black background can be a little dressy.

JCF_VelvetBlazer

I returned the Patio Pant in Wool in Blue Stone since I really didn’t think I’d wear it too often. I have whittled down all my pants but still have quite a few dressy options that I really didn’t need another pair. This Rhapsody Blue in the Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wool is a great color duplicate. I prefer Petites in the pencil skirts at the retail and factory stores, when it’s offered, because the length is shortened to 19-20 inches instead of the 22+. That petite length hits me just above the knee and is so much more proportionate for my body. I do find the factory double-serge wool is a little thinner than retail but still a nice quality.

JCF_DoubleSergeWoolPencilSkirt

What are you shopping at the 50% off everything at the J Crew Factory? Are you shopping for you or gifts for friends and family?

/ Reviews

Since it’s always hard to find IRL Reviews of Tory Burch items I will share the few things I tried on, in case you are shopping the Black Friday THANKS promo.

~ Embroidered Linen Tunic, size 8 ~

I almost missed out on a tunic I wanted in the Spring and luckily found it on-sale in my store one day. I wasn’t about to miss out on this tunic once I saw it. The green embroidery on the linen is really pretty. The size 8 is TTS though the “mid-length” sleeves are full-length on me.

TB_EmbroideredLinen_Tunic

~ Silk Shirt, size 8 ~

I have a fun Kate spade silk blouse and absolutely love it. This one is different enough to add to my closet. You probably won’t be able to see the print layered under a sweater but a cardigan or blazer will be good to wear over this. The size 8 was just a little snug in the arms but a size 10 was fairly big through the body. I just stuck with the size 8.

TB_SouthwesternSilkShirt

~ Merino Oversized Mockneck Tunic, Wheat Melange, Small ~

I have seen this each time I went into the store but never tried it on. That was probably due to the weather not being cool enough to warrant interest in trying on sweaters. This is meant to be oversized so I decided to try a Small. Though the arms, with a drop-shoulder seam, are a little snug, the sweater fit well everywhere else. Sizing to a Medium would have been an excess-fabric-disaster. You’ll notice that the mockneck, and sleeves, are ribbed which creates a faux v-neckline; very flattering.

You’ll have to pick something else to get you to the $250 mark for the promo though, since it’s on sale at $177. As much as I also wanted the Gray I decided to order the Wool Henley Tunic in the Earl Gray Melange instead, along with the Wool Jacquard Tunic. I went with a Small in both of those as well.

TB_OversizeMerinoSweater

I love all of my items I buy from Tory Burch. I have returned a few things but only because I realized they were not practical in my daily life. I have only had one minor issue with the hem of a silk blouse unraveling but I find that to happen to a lot of my silk shirts. My dry cleaner is so good they always hem it back up for me at no charge.

Happy Tory Shopping! Don’t forget to use code THANKS for 30% off $250 or more.