/ Bella Picks

I am back from my mini-vacation just in time to see all the new cherry print items J.Crew rolled out for October. We had a little sneak preview when the Flutter-Sleeve Top (review) was put out in stores at the end of August. Now it’s truly rolled out along with all the other items in the print, but with a black background and red cherries. I was at the store Wednesday and tried on every piece I could find. Those reviews are coming soon.

I liked the Tippi Sweater but since I haven’t had the opportunity to wear my Embellished Bee Tippi I probably won’t buy it. I love the ruffle bottom of the wrap dress but the top is a little low-cut. A short block heel is on the Ankle-Wrap Heels and you can choose a necklace or bracelet with cherries. Finishing up the accessories are a pretty little silk scarf or socks.

I sure do wish J.Crew allowed more than 100 items in a wishlist. Or at least allowed you to create separate categories under your account. Mine is completely full and I’ll have to start making more purchases if I want to add anything from the November and Holiday rollouts coming in the next few months.

Have you tried any of the cherry print items? What is your favorite?

/ Reviews

To finish out the week, I have two dresses. I haven’t seen anyone in the Fatigue Dress so I thought I’d give that a try and I’ve been eyeing the Striped Ponte Dress for a while so I needed to try that on to gauge sizing. Take a look below.

~ Tiered Fatigue Shirtdress, Dark Driftwood, size 6 ~

I gave the size 6 a shot because I can usually wear a 6 in sleeveless tops. Unfortunately I need an 8 instead. The buttons are pulling and it’s tight across the chest and back. The tiered skirt portion is a bit bunchy in the first tier. Maybe sizing up would fix that and allow the tiers to lay a little flatter. I didn’t mind the length and it would probably be another 1/2 inch longer in the 8. This color is pretty drab on me. I would need something brighter. Overall, though I’m a fan of shirtdresses, I really didn’t like the look of this.

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~ Colorblock Stripe Ponte Dress, Small ~

This dress runs pretty big. I still have plenty of room through the arms and chest in the size Small. It’s highly possible I could fit into the XS, but I do like the roominess of this dress in the Small. The length is just above the knee on me. I can see using this a lot in late Fall and into Winter. It’s just the perfect throw-on-and-go dress.

JC_ColorblockStripePonteDress

J.Crew’s current promo is #WEEKOFSTYLE. You can take 25% off select items and 30% off sale. A few items from my wishlist now on sale are below. I’ve been waiting for the Gazebo Pant in Austrian Lace to go on sale forever. I am a little sad that the Sammie Pant in Polka Dot went on sale so quickly but I’ve worn mine three times already so I’m getting my use out of them.

A few other full-price items included in the promo are the Tie-Neck Secretary Top in Retro Chainlink. I have that and have worn it a few times too.

What do you think of the Tiered Fatigue Shirtdress? Are you shopping the #WEEKOFSTYLE promo?

/ Reviews

~ Harlow Cardigan, Vibrant Kelly, Medium ~

This is the new cardigan from J.Crew. It’s merino wool with grosgrain ribbon tipping and gold buttons, like the wool Jackie. It’s a little fitted but you can stay in your true size. The arms are fairly long on me so I’d have to cuff them or scrunch them up. The Harlow Cardigan comes in an array of colors from basic black to Neon Wildflower. It’s a cute sweater but I’d probably get tired of the grosgrain trim.

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~ Rainbow Stripe Sweater in Merino Wool, Medium ~

I’m on the fence with this striped sweater. I think I like it. The colors are good. The stripes match up from the body to the sleeves. It’s a lightweight Merino Wool. The Medium fits well, so it’s TTS. I can’t quite put my finger on it but I guess maybe there are too many colors, which makes it seem a little juvenile. It does work with the Sammie Pant in Corduroy in all colors.

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~ Ruffled Popover Shirt in Polka Dot, size 8 ~

I Love!! I Want!! This ones was really cute IRL. The dots are white and the ruffle is at the neckline and down the button placket. It’s a thin cotton so it’s nice and airy. I think I would stick with the size 8. I’m fluctuating between and 8 and 10 right now so I’ve got to try shirts on, if at all possible. There’s also an Indigo Gauze Popover.

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~ Structured Peplum Top in Stripe, Small ~

I really like both the stripes and peplum hem on this top. Since it’s structured and looks better fitted, I sized down to a Small. I feel the stripes make this top look a lot more flattering, especially the peplum portion. It’s also currently 25% off with code WEEKOFSTYLE.

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~ Ruffled-Sleeve Top in Black Cherry Print, size 6, #F5331 ~

I loved this top at first sight. It’s not online but I hope it makes it there next week. The background is ivory with black cherries all over. My favorite Kool-Aid flavor is black cherry. Yum! This top is just like the Ratti Top, which I thought fit odd because of the pleating at the back of the neck. I think the difference might be the material. This top is 100% silk and flows nicely. I paid full price for it and have already worn it. The style number is #F5331 if you can’t wait to see if this shows up online. I’d say to take the smaller of your two sizes, since the size 6 fits great. I was at my store yesterday and either they put them away or they’ve already sold out of them.

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What do you think of these tops? What about the black cherry print top?

Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

/ Reviews

I went matchy color again in pink with this next outfit.

~ Rhodes Blazer in Italian Wool, Wild Flamingo, size 8 ~
~ Margot Top in Airy Cotton Pique’, size 8 ~
~ Mini Skirt in Pink Houndstooth, size 8 ~

These images do not do the Wild Flamingo color justice. It is so nice and bright IRL. Compared to the Lexington Blazer I have in a similar color, the Lexi is just a little duller. The blazer runs TTS and since there is a Petite offering I would get the 10 Petite. The buttons are gold metal, very lightweight and cheap. But we already knew that. No Lexi buttons on these blazers any more. There are matching wool pants as well. I have the Lolli Pants from a few years ago and still wear them, usually around the holidays.

~ Mini Skirt in Pink Houndstooth, size 8 ~

I completely forgot to take detail of the mini skirt. I love the pink houndstooth and the French Blue of the Margot Top goes well with it. I didn’t like the red houndstooth skirt last year, with the black piping. But this pink is so pretty IRL. This is a mini skirt and hits me a few inches above the knee. It’s also lined. There’s also a matching Campbell Blazer and heels.

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Check out that striped lining…

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~ Margot Top in Airy Cotton Pique’, French Blue, size 8 ~

This fits much better in the size 8. If you are between sizes, take the larger of your two sizes. You can see the front ruffles are a little more fluffy than they probably were right out of the bag. I’m guessing they were steamed just a little bit. I’ve steamed the ruffles on my silk foulard blouse and it just makes the shirt so much more feminine. The material on this is cotton and feels nice and soft. One thing I forgot to mention in my other review is that there is a hook-and-eye closure at the top of the neckline. It is also offered in white.

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~ Merino Wool Sweater Blazer, Heather Dusk, Small ~

I wasn’t a huge fan of this sweater blazer once I saw it in-store. It runs big and you can see the Small is still a little big through the chest and body. I don’t mind the popped collar on this though I’m not sure how you would wear it not popped. Overall the sweater blazer seems too stiff. I guess I was expecting this to be more cozy sweater. It also comes in navy.

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Have you tried any of the Margot Tops? What do you think of the pink houndstooth?

/ Reviews

My VPS wasn’t in the store the day I visited so I was on my own styling outfits. I was pretty pleased with myself when I came up with this next set, varying the outwear.

~ Excursion Quilted Down Vest, Heather Tigerlily, Small ~
~ V-Neck Cardigan with Floral Patch, Navy, Medium ~
~ Perfect Shirt in Plaid, size 8 ~
~ Sammie Pant in Corduroy, Masala Chai, size 8 ~

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~ Excursion Quilted Down Vest, Heather Tigerlily, Small ~

The color of this is really a darker orange, IRL. It’s certainly a good match to burnt orange for Texas Longhorn fans out there. I have three of these in neutral colors – Black, from the retail; Navy from the Factory, and Wool Gray from the Factory. I prefer the original retail version, which is what the Factory version is now, both without the top pocket and gold buttons. The colors I have are pretty neutral and I switch them out often. There’s no change in the sizing in the excursion vest. I’m wearing my normal, retail and factory, size Small. This year, it is also offered with a corduroy trim. I saw it IRL but wasn’t a huge fan of it.

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~ Campbell Blazer in Houndstooth, size 8 ~
~ V-Neck Cardigan with Floral Patch, Navy, Medium ~
~ Perfect Shirt in Plaid, size 8 ~
~ Sammie Pant in Corduroy, Masala Chai, size 8 ~

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~ Campbell Blazer in Houndstooth, size 8 ~

The Houndstooth Blazer came out two releases ago and immediately went on my wishlist. My store finally got it in and I love it. I don’t have a Houndstooth blazer and I like that this one is navy and not black. And, this is offered in Petite sizing. The size 8 fits fine, though a little long in the arms so I would need the 10 Petite.

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And just look at the polka dot lining!

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~ V-Neck Cardigan with Floral Patch, Navy, Medium ~

J.Crew has done this tipped sweater for a couple of rollouts now. I haven’t bought any since I already have plenty of solid v-neck sweaters but I like that they added a little jeweled detail. Though you could accomplish the same thing with cute little Dragonfly Pin, that doesn’t really look like a dragonfly. This runs TTS, especially over a button-down.

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~ Perfect Shirt in Plaid, size 8 ~

I have this Factory plaid shirt that I could use to make a similar outfit but I really like the tighter plaid pattern on this shirt. I’m fluctuating between 8 and 10 in button-downs right now. The 8 fit fine but I think I’d like the 10 or 10 Petite.

JC_PlaidPerfectShirt_Navy

~ Sammie Pant in Corduroy, Masala Chai, size 8 ~

These pants are awesome! I think they are so flattering and they fit really well. My normal size 8 is a great fit and the length is full on me, which I don’t mind. I don’t know if I would try the 8 Petite to get the cropped look since these are such a great fit. I originally thought the pockets were sown shut but they actually have zippers. I didn’t really notice the rise being too high on these, compared to the Polka Dot. The Masala Chai color is what I’ll probably purchase, over the Navy.

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The Sammie Pant in Corduroy is not included in the current WEEKOFSTYLE promo but the Polka Dot and Chino Pant are.

Have you tried the Sammie Pant in Corduroy yet?

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