Old Navy and Gap Review - 2 cute shirts

I don't shop at Gap and Old Navy very often - I'd rather just stick to retailers I know, love and trust (yes, I am becoming a curmudgeon in my old age). Plus, I recently tried on a ton of pants at Gap and I couldn't believe how poor the quality and fit was. I guess all retailers are cutting corners these days, but I'd rather take my chances with a J Crew or Anthro.

Anyway, I did want to try two cute little shirts that I saw. It's easier to get away with a lower quality shirt than a poor fitting pair of pants (in my humble opinion).

Fitted Boyfriend Cat Print Shirt (size XS) in Light Blue

Cats certainly seem to be having their day in fashion recently. This makes me chuckle a bit since I was always known as the crazy cat lady of my group of friends. I remember first dating my husband and one night he said, "Wow, it's so nice that you have cats but you are not all cuckoo about them." Ha ha. I digress. This shirt is very cute and made of a nice light cotton. The fit is definitely closer than other gap shirts so it looks quite tailored and perhaps a bit dressier.

Women's Lightweight Patterned Shirt (size XS) in Multi Daisy

 

Liberty prints are everywhere this season! Although this isn't technically a Liberty print it is so adorable and currently on sale in store for $17!!! The fit was lovely and the length gives you lots of options for tucking or leaving out. Reminds me of the Margaret Annie Floral from J Crew last year. 

Here it is paired with a J Crew pencil skirt. Pretty cute. 

Anyone else try this shirts as alternatives to some of the higher priced ones?

Madewell Reviews Part II - Dresses

Looks like many things popped back this morning and a bunch of stuff got marked down! Can you believe the Birdshow Dress already got a cut? I don't think it ever even came to my "local" store. Too bad. I would love to order it but definitely can't risk final sale. Boo.


Charade Blazer (size 2) in Black

Oops, sorry for the blur. I love this little blazer. The black is still full price while the blue (which I could have gotten for about $30 this summer, see my review here) is on sale for $99.50 online. I'd say this runs true to size. I don't really like it buttoned at all but adore it unbuttoned. Just the right length and very fitted. Adorable.

Silk Peasant Dress in Retrogrid (size 2) 

Um, gak. This horrible on me. Yes I know it needs a belt but seriously look like a reject from the Sound of Music or something. I realized, in retrospect, that it would have looked a lot better had I undone a few buttons. I do love this print but the shape is not really working on me.

 Silk Day Dress in Birdslife (size 4 on the left and size 2 on the right)

This was one of the main reasons I wanted to go to Madewell! I really like the print and the lovely navy background color. The fit is just ok. I think it looks passable in the pictures but it didn't feel very good. The size 2 is clearly too small and the 4 was a huge improvement. Unfortunately, that seam across the top of the chest is not so fabulous for the larger busted of us. All that shirring/pleating underneath that seam just adds to breast area. 

A close up of the print. Very cute and subtle (I like it better than the white/yellow one on the Silk Boyshirt in Birdslife .

Anyone try on that darn Birdshow dress before it went on sale? I would love a review (or at least an accurate picture of the color). 

Anthropologie Reviews - Charlie Trousers and other new arrivals

When I walked into my store this past week, it looked totally new! So many wonderful spring colors and shapes to enjoy. I've really been wanting to check out the Charlie pant, which Anthropologie seems  to be pushing full throttle. And perhaps a few of the horse inspired wares - very cute.

Lusitano Sweater (XS)

I like horses. I rode horses. I am not sure how I feel about this sweater. I think the shape is pretty blah and the colors are not great on me (but will be great on others) and it runs quite short. I have a short toros and I still felt like I was afraid to raise my arms. Something felt funny about a horse's head reaching over my boobs. Just sayin'.

Indigo-Ruled Buttondown (size 4) 

I'm almost positive this was a size 4. It is super duper cute. Love the roll sleeves, one simple pocket and the cute little dot pattern. Also - on the side - that is a different colored piece of fabric (bright pink) which adds a cute and quirky touch. As you can see, it will definitely require a cami. The fabric is very lightweight and I'm pretty lazy about wearing camis in the summer so...

 Jerez Silk Buttondown (size 0)

The colors in this blouse are gorgeous. The 0 was too tight for me but that is a size smaller than my usual top size (there were no others to try on). I can't quite tell if the pattern is cool and funky or a little old ladyish but it is a very easy blouse to wear. Would probably prefer a little more length but maybe a bigger size would help with that.

 Abilene Chambray Buttondown (size XS and S respectively)

I'm really loving Anthro's chambray shirts right now because they are made of Tencel. Even though I usually love cotton, the way the tencel drapes is so attractive. I like this Abilene shirt but do not love the seam that goes straight across the top. Sort of uncomfortable/unflattering. It also runs a bit small. The XS was gaping at the chest and pulling at the hips and the S wasn't so great either. Might work way better for less endowed ladies.

 Fitted Chambray Buttondown in Light Denim (Size S)

Miniflora Charlie Trousers (size 2)

The shirt is a size small and it was weirdly right across the top of the hips. The top part fit beautifully and I LOVED it but I almost couldn't button the bottom two buttons. Isn't that weird? I'm really not that hippy. I ordered the Medium in the blue green wash so we'll see how that goes. Otherwise I LOVE this shirt. Wish it didn't do the hip thing.

The pants are a lot of floral. The 2 felt a little too snug for my taste. I did notice that different incarnations of the Charlie pants felt different material-wise and so would probably fit differently. They are sort of super cute but also sort of out of my comfort zone (which is probably a good thing).

 Sateen Charlie Trousers (size 4) in Mint

The size 4 felt better but I think the legs look too wide. The mint is a beautiful color but I felt like it highlighted every lump, bump and panty line (thus the lack of bum shot). I'm not sure about these. I think I actually prefer the floral!

Anyone else try some Charlies? What do you think?

Madewell Reviews - Part I - Tops

I finally got to take a trip to Madewell - YAY! I always find the SA's there to be so delightful. They are  usually younger than your average J Crew SA but they are so sweet and really helpful. Here are some things I got to try on...


Madewell Silk Popover (XS)

I love this style of shirt. So easy breezy and able to be paired with anything from skinny jeans to a pencil skirt. It was on sale for $79.99 and sold out on the website. One thing to note, I am almost always an XS in shirts at Madewell and this one was really pulling across my chest and hips. Adorable though - great color.

Silk Peasant Blouse in Retro Grid (XS) in Heather Smoke

Hmmm, yeah. Not good. The print is so lovely but a top like this just doesn't drape well over a big bust. I'm not really sure who this would work on - very flowy though the body and snug up top. Did I mention I love the print?

Silk Boyshirt in Birdslife (XS) 

Fits like your average Madewell Boyshirt - which I love! I far prefer these to the Blythe Blouses at J Crew. This silk felt slightly poly-ish (even though it's not) and I think the colors are a little too drab for my skin tone. But, I love the idea and the fit. 

Close up of the print which is quite charming. Wish they would do it in another color.

Silk Popover in Print Stripe (XS) 

I really love the shape of this top. Same as above but in a funky print. This was also an XS and priced at $79.99. This XS fit a little better but was still a little snug at bust and hips. Tempted to get the size S and just have a tailor nip the sides in a bit. I don't know why, but I'm sort of obsessed with this print. I think it would look great with a lot of things.

Sweatshirt Sweater (XS) in Marled Wheat

I was a bit surprised by this one. It is extremely lightweight - good for the height of summer but not much else. Also, as you can see, quite transparent. It's also pretty oversized. I like slouchy but I felt like I was swimming in the XS. I think styled the right way - as a light throw-on over a cute tank top and little bright-colored shorts - this could be cute and summery.

There will be more coming - dresses!

Anyone else have some new favorites from Madewell?

J. Crew Reviews - more new arrivals!

A few more J. Crew items for your consideration. I am calling them new arrivals because they are new to me and my store but I realize some of these may have been out for a while.

Peter Pan Merino Sweater in Stripe (XS) in Silver Ivory

Will be adorable on some. Not my style at all. Fit like your basic Tippi Sweater. Sort of don't understand this new trend of sewn on collars. Perhaps will be enlightened by end of season.

Cafe Capri in Dot (size 2)

 Normally cafe capris don't work on me at all - wrong proportions. These I liked. I polka dots are so cute and subtle. I prefer the way the 2's look in the rear - although I suppose they will stretch out a bit - but the waist (as you can see in the 3rd picture) was really gapping.

Cafe Capri in Dot (size 0)

Sizing down cured the gap problem and I think overall these might fit a little better. I don't like the rear view as much but am assuming that would look a bit better as I wore them and they stretched out a little. Clearly they need to be worn with something other than clogs. I am truly lazy :) I will definitely be investing in a pair of these at some point. I can see them being in constant rotation this summer.

Anyone else have to size down in the new cafe capris?

J. Crew Review - some new arrivals!

My store is not exactly first to get new arrivals but I did spot a few things. I have to say, I was overall a little underwhelmed by this rollout. There was nothing I had to try on. Plus all the cute patterned shorts have 3 inch inseams and that is definitely a no go for me!

Tippi Sweater (XS) in Heather Turquoise

Of course the Tippi Sweater is not new but this color was new to me. They had a bunch of them sitting on a table in different heathered hues. I love the color. Something about the "heather" makes it look more springy and casual too. Really lovely. 

I forget the name of stripe shirt... 

I totally blanked on what this is called and of course with it being $24.99 and 40% of right now, it is gone. Anyway - very cute striped shirt and I liked the colors. I'm really trying to wean myself off of stripes, hard as that may be. 

Merino Colorblock Cardigan (S) in Grey Mint

I love the contrast of the neon - it's really eye-catching. The fit is a little dumpy on me. Granted this is a size up from my usual XS but the neckline is a bit too high for me taste. I'm still intrigued by the lightweight merino cardigan with neon trim but that wasn't available in my store. Great idea, not the right shape for my body.

Chambray Shirtdress (size 2)

I'm shocked that this is only available in size 00 online! It is much cuter than I expected but it is uber short - and this is coming from someone who loves short dresses! The shirttail hem is adorable and the dress skims the body nicely. I think I wore too much chambray in the 80's so it's hard to go back to this. I would like another 2 inches on the length. Cute though.

Cashmere Snood (Black) on sale for $99.99 

Adorable and very soft. You know what I finally figured out? I prefer infinity scarves to snoods. I love having two loops around my neck. Snoods are harder to style and get to lay right on top of your body. 

I have some more coming tomorrow. Good luck with the 40% off sale!

J. Crew Review - Liberty Art Fabrics

Give me liberty or give me death! Ok. Cheesy but I couldn't resist. Love liberty prints and this season's are no exception:

Liberty Perfect Shirt in June's Meadow Floral (Size 2)

This is a nice safe Liberty print with lots of workable neutral colors. I found this shirt to fit slightly smaller than the Tresco Floral which fits perfectly. Overall, a very nice shirt.

Liberty Schoolboy Blazer in June's Meadow Floral (size 2) 

My usual size 2 fit fine. I don't know what it is about the Schoolboy blazer but I really don't like it on me. Something about the shape makes me feel too "business-y" in it. That being said this blazer is a very cute spring blazer and I like that when you turn up the cuffs there is a nice navy showing.

Liberty Toothpick Jean in Emma and Georgina Floral (size 27)

Usually I do not like toothpicks because I have a booty and thighs and I think they emphasize that. For some reason I loved these! I'm afraid they are a little too trendy/youthful for me although the CS did recommend toughening them up with a chambray shirt. The denim was very soft and comfortable and the print really is cheerful. I usually size up in toothpicks and these were no exception.

Liberty Perfect Shirt in Tresco Floral (size 2)

Yes I just reviewed this yesterday but wanted to sneak in one more pic of it. It is crazy! But I love it. It's like loving rainbow colored anything - who can resist?

What is your favorite liberty print this spring?