/ Que Bella

Yay! Not only are the J Crew Fall arrivals now in store but I received my rewards card today too!

Below are pictures…I’ll post better ones of the purchases later and add more comments but I wanted to get these out here.

Silk Frances Cami-Deep Rose Sz 6 (a little snug around the arms for me, got an 8)
Stretch Twill Minnie Pant – Black Sz 8 (very bunchy around the crotch and ankles & too big in waist, got a 6)

Merino Wool Evening Primrose Sweater – Burnished Olive Sz M (not online, think only B&M)
Wearing over Frances Cami

Close-up

With Velvet Eden Blazer – Iris Sz 8

Stretch Wool Schoolboy Blazer -Heather Carbon, Sz 6 (I think)
with Frances Cami

with Slub Cotton Imperial Tee (purchased but I’ll have a better pic later) & Evening Primrose Sweater

Silk Frances Cami – Dark Slate, Sz 8 (fits me much better)
w/Merino (?) Chiffon detail sweater, Sz M

Close-up of Sweater, in a light purple

Textured Jersey Boatneck Painter Tee – Mars (?) This is more orange than red. Sz M (I didn’t like the fit on me at all.)

Cotton tuxedo shirt

w/Ecole blazer
What I wore…Olive Slub Twisted V-Neck, Deco Dots mini, leather belt, leopard flip-flops.

I’ll post better pics of what I purchased along with prices later this evening.

/ Que Bella

So I’ve already broken my ban (thanks ebay sellers) but I found the most wonderful shoe I had to have it! More on those in a minutes.

I’ve not been anywhere since hubby’s been home on short-term leave due to his injury. No great outfits to post. Just shorts and tees and tanks and bathing suits. BUT today he had a doctor’s appt and I got to wear real clothes! I got ready in 20 minutes, including shower and light makeup. Pretty speedy and all before coffee.

Here’s what I wore:
J Crew Slub Twisted V-Neck in Olive Green
GAP distressed jeans
J Crew Leopard flip-flops
J Crew Grasshopper necklace
Lucky Brand belt

I love this Tee. It’s so comfy and my favorite color is green. I found the grasshopper necklace on ebay after I lost it in my shopping cart on J Crew. The jeans are a recent purchase from the GAP. I have a pair of the J Crew Vintage Slim distressed that I had altered shorter but they just don’t fit right on me. None of the J Crew jeans do.

I so wanted a pair of the Toothpick but I have my father’s legs and they were built for sports not jeans. I can’t buy normal boots. My calves are almost 15 inches and I always have to try them on to make sure they zip! Zip up past my calf! I’ve broken plenty of zippers. And my thighs, well we won’t even talk about them. They look great when toned but I can’t fit into a pair of “skinny” or “straight-leg” jeans to save my life without going 2 or more sizes up.

So, unfortunately, J Crew jeans are not my thing. But these GAP jeans (size 6A) are perfect. I love them. Most GAP jeans fit well on me but their Ankle size is almost always 2 inches longer than I need for flats. These were not and look great rolled up. I bought two pair. Yippee!

Now on to my next favorite purchase that helped break my ban on shopping. Shoes of course. Christian Louboutin to be exact. Love the guy. Love the shoes the guy makes and these are gorgeous and practical!

Mary Jane Peep-Toe FLAT! In Navy Blue

Oh I love these and can’t wait to wear them out. I think they look good with the rolled up jean too! The color is hard to find as well as this particular shoe style. Mary Jane shoes are a weakness for me and combine that with Christian Louboutin, well, just take my wallet, I give.

Find a pair of shoes you love and buy two!

/ Que Bella

Since hubby was still recovering from surgery he couldn’t take me to lunch or dinner for my birthday. That didn’t stop me though. The boy and I went to Mariposa Cafe at Neiman’s and then I picked up dinner from PF Chang’s. For lunch (and a little NM shopping) I wore my Jakarta mini and my Rosette Tee with my Corso Como Espadrilles. I think the Rosette’s and the swirly Jakarta print were a good fit together. You tell me if it went together. (I really need to do Polyvore.)


I finished the Birthday off with cake and my favorite wine, Santa Margherita Pino Grigio. And I saw the new fawns. They are over a week old and have grown a lot. They were half this size last week. (Sorry for the crappy image but when I went outside the momma and friends were 5 feet from me wanting food.)

They are still cuties.

/ Reviews

J Crew & Ebay, of course…I’m going on a shopping ban next week. I’ll only spend money on new clothes, shoes or accessories if I have been given it (birthday is tomorrow) or from sells on ebay. Otherwise, no más compras para esta chica. (Sounds better in Spanish, I think.) Self-imposed, yes…but also because hubby is on medical leave starting today and will be home for at least three weeks. Can’t have him asking “Who’s that?” when the UPS guy comes knocking, can I?

I received my latest (and LAST!) J Crew order today along with some ebay purchases (soaps from B&BW).

Silk Indigo Floral Blouse – Sz 8
I really loved the print on this the first time I saw it online. The skirt looks gorgeous too but I think I’ll get more use out of the blouse. I purchased a size up since I noticed the armholes on the model online looked a bit small and I’m glad I did. It does fit a little small in the underarm area. The print was almost like the one online. I know sometimes it “shifts” around.

 

Rosette Tee in Pewter – Sz M

Slub cotton twisted V-Neck Tee
I bought this in the tan color and it went well with my Delfine Pencil Skirt. I love green and this color was too pretty to pass up. IRL it looks just as pretty. 

I purchased this in-store last week.
Dual Rose Ribbon Tee in Gray
I originally saw this on JCBelleMarie in the Blue and White. I didn’t like the look or feel of the tee in those colors but the gray seems nicer, softer even.



On another note, I am on my 5th week of South Beach and have reached my goal of losing 10 pounds by my birthday (tomorrow/30th). I’m actually holding steady at 10 lbs. I still have more to lose but I have noticed all my shorts (mostly J Crew) are fitting a little looser. I purchased a pair of the tweed Bermuda’s (not listed online) in a 10 since the leg and booty made it run 2 sizes too small and it fits loose now. Today I also started taking the Bragg’s ACV, which I first heard about here. The taste, yucky; but I drank all I was supposed too. The water really should be cold like Gigi said. It does make a difference.

Tomorrow, I’m having lunch at the Mariposa cafe at Neiman’s with my son. Can’t wait! I’ll try to stay away from the Shoe Salon but it may be hard since the sale is still going on.

/ Reviews

J Crew has new arrivals in store starting today. I was supposed to have received an invitation to the store event but it never came in the mail. I don’t think all the items are in store. At least not mine. I can’t wait to see what is online. They went with a Navy blue theme and it’s so pretty.

Here are pics of what I tried on. I bought several items too. (Forgive me, I don’t know the J Crew names for these items.)

Sleeveless brown & tan ruffle collar shirt w/Navy Mica Mini
The fit was a little tight right at the underarms for me with a size 6. The 8 was o.k. but seemed too big. I liked it but not enough (you’ll understand once you see the other stuff.)


Zoom of the collar


Cream T & Blue Stone Flower
I’m a sucker for an J Crew beaded T. I have so many I really need an intervention. I didn’t realize the pattern were flowers until I looked on the inside of the shirt. This shirt should only be worn with good posture (shoulders back ladies) as the stones adjust the shirt if you are standing straight up.


Zoom of beaded flower.

Here it is in Grey w/Pink Stones.

 

Zoom of stones.

One of my favorites – Royal Blue & Black Calligraphy Mini
This didn’t appeal to me on the hanger but the SA recommended it so I tried it on. Loved it!

Podna Beaded T
Meh…THE/BRASS/BAND are all beaded.


Zoom
I’m going to call this Navy Ikat Print Short (3 in).
I love the pattern and they had this in a mini too which I loved more than the shorts but I went with the shorts (for now). I got a size bigger so they wouldn’t be so short on me.


Zoom of pattern

Navy Ikat Mini
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS (As I type I wish I had gotten it. So what if I purchased 3 skirts instead of 2.)


Denim Perfect Shirt
This is the most comfortable shirt I’ve ever tried on. The SA recommended it too. They had this exact pairing on a mannequin with a brown belt (no belt loops). Looked great so I had to try it on with the shorts too. It looks a little weird on me because I was in a hurry when I tucked it in.

Zoom of Demin Perfect Shirt

Navy Mica Mini
This is so much prettier than the picture shows. I got a size bigger so it wouldn’t be so mini on me.

I got all of these except the Podna T, Navy Ikat Mini (which I’m kicking myself for…I really think I’m going back and exchanging the short for the mini…I just have to remember what size I tried on) and the Brown/Tan Ruffle Collar shirt. I also got a few essential V-Neck T’s since they were on sale and the Ombre’ capri sandals in Hydrangea (grey).
They also had the Ombre’ pencil skirt but in Navy. The Daffodil was on sale. There were other new items but nothing really standing out. I’d love to see or know what was in other J Crew B&Ms in bigger markets/cities. They did not have the polka dot dress from InStyle magazine.