Madewell Reviews: Sale and some new items

This first dress is from a while ago - oops. I have some back log to try to get through. Madewell and I are either totally simpatico or mortal enemies. They have really gotten into the cropped oversized swingy stuff and as a girl who is well-endowed - I have to say no to that. Nonetheless, I am always drawn to their cool-girl chic vibe and sometimes they just hit it out of the park.
I mean I know I keep talking about their leather jacket but it is so so good. Me wanty big time. But I desperately need it to go on some sort of sale. I'm also still really tempted by the J Crew Factory version because hey it's in navy and looks simple and fabulous too (and currently on sale for around $250 which isn't bad for a leather jacket). But I digress...

Old dress from early summer... (XS)

In the immortal words of mean girls, "Gretchen, stop trying to make fetch happen!" That's how I feel about this style of dress. I keep on trying and trying because I am so drawn to the groovy vibe and the embroidery and the easy summery-ness of it all. This one reminds me of the Embroidered silk colorstitch dress (review below). The panel in the front and the trim on the sleeves was lovely and the fit through the body was actually not bad either. It was the poufy sleeves that got me. And the girls don't look their best when there is pleating right at the top of them. If you are on the more petite side up top I think this could be a winner.

 Striped Knit Dress (XS)

Again, obsessed. Just perfect in all ways and I will also be waiting for sale on this one. I waited patiently for the Striped Vacances Dress to go on sale and schlepped into the store the moment it did - paid off because online there was no percent off and in store there was 30% + 20% educator discount. Woo woo!

Whisper Cotton Crewneck Muscle Tank (XS) in Utopian Pine

Truth be told these tees get holes in the front of them. Other truth is that I keep on buying them because they are so flattering and the colors are awesome. The XS felt slightly big although you can always shrink it a bit in the washer.

 Whisper Cotton Crewneck Muscle Tank (XXS) in Chocolate Raisin

LOVE this color and I like the fit better in the XXS. I also get the t-shirt version of this in XXS. Have many of them and they are my go-to's in the summer. Feel somehow cool and drapey enough to look good without being sloppy.

 Lakeside Peplum Shirt in Buffalo Check (XS)

I saw this on a mannequin and loved it. I didn't realize it had that peplum because they did the half tuck. The colors are a bit more exciting IRL, in a good way. Fits basically TTS/slightly small. Just too cropped on even 5'4" me. Prefer their ex-boyfriend shirts and am trying not to bite the bullet on this one yet.

 Silk Premiere Bow-Back Tee in Ascot Tile (XXS)

I love a little easy silk tee and the tie detail at the neck makes it special. Two complaints: I'm pretty sure this was the XXS and it was huge (although it may have been the XS) AND the sleeve was weird. I don't if you can tell in the last pick but the seam that joins the drop shoulder to the cuff doesn't lay right. It's not straight, it sort of bubbles. Hard to explain but it bothered me.

Embroidered Silk Colorstitch Dress (XS)

 Here's another attempt at embroidered flounceville. Mildly successful. Again, pleating right at the bustline is not great for me but would be adorable on the smaller chested. The embroidered is lovely, the vee flattering, the silk comfortable. The chest/shoulder area seemed to run slightly smaller than some of Madewell's dresses.

I'm looking forward to going and trying some more thing on soon. Plan my fall spending! What do you have your eye on?

J Crew Review: Tropical Floral and Flamingos

Just a few quickies that I've been meaning to get up and out there...

Ruffle Dress in Tropical Floral (size 2)

I loved this print when it came out and I think this dress is really lovely. The 2 felt a little big so I might take my usual shift size of 0 but I'm not sure about that. You certainly don't want a dress like this to be tight. I really like that the back dips down a bit. This also just got a second cut to $89.99. My one problem is the ruffle but that is just a my personal taste thing. I may be out of luck with J Crew this season since everything seems to have ruffles on it. As far as ruffles go, this one is pretty inoffensive.

 Floral Cotton Short (size 4)

I thought these were super cute. The cotton felt nice and like something that would stretch a bit with wear. The 4 was a little too big in the waist.

 Floral Cotton Short (size 2)

But... the 2 was a little too sausagey so I would say these run slightly small. 

Here's what they looked like after sitting down in them so they are clearly prone to a bit of wrinkling. I don't really mind that with shorts but if you're planning on dressing them up you may want to think about that.

Pleated Midi Skirt in Flamingo Print (size 2)

I ordered this a long time ago because I think the flamingos are pretty darn cute. The problem is the material! It really does feel like a shower curtain - just so cheap! That being said, the pleats lay fairly well and the overall look is cute.

Last time I saw this skirt in the sale section I believe it was $34.99 + whatever percent off so if you love flamingos and midi skirts I say go for it. For under $30 it's fun to try something trendy even if the quality is subpar for J Crew. 

If you're looking for high end flamingos, how adorable is this little skirt? 

This Alice + Olivia one is adorable with it's long, leggy version of flamingos. 

This little ASOS t-shirt is adorable and I love that it combines stripes AND flamingos. 

And these shorts might be my absolutely favorite with their adorable pink/green combo. 

Or maybe this dress is the best version of the quirky bird (and the closest to the J Crew print). Whoops, sorry. Got sucked into a flamingo vortex.

 Premium Stretch Denim Jacket (XXS) (Item E7377)

This was really cute although I would my normal size XS. I liked the length and the faded wash. I think it's sold out now but I really like this J Crew denim jacket which I tried on a while ago (wish it would go on sale).

Madewell Review: Stripes, Dresses and a Romper

Still trying to "make it happen" at Madewell. They are really nailing it on some of their dresses but a lot of their other stuff is just not working for me. I love slouchy but baggy is another story. I keep on hoping for a few of my favorites to go on sale (please please please let this jacket EVER go on sale) but in the meantime I keep on combing through the sale section. Here's what I found:

Summerstitch Pullover Sweater (S?)

I am a sucker for sweaters like this in the summer. This one is slightly weighty (makes me think cotton fisherman sweater) but still light enough. The S fit fine, I would probably opt for my usual XS though. The color is super neutral and the details of the stitching are really cute. Overall a big like.

Embroidered Indigo Mercado Dress (XS)

I love the colors and overall feel of the dress. So fun and bohemian. Off the shoulder on this one is pretty cute and it works on the shoulder as well. I just felt shapeless in it and since I am already losing my shape to the tune of a wine/beer and food-filled summer, I figured I'd pass. I do think this would be perfect for a beach vacation - swim cover-up/ could wear it to dinner with some jewelry.

Striped Vacances Dress (XS)

I've already professed my love for this dress. Thick enough to hide bumps but thin enough to work in heat. Perfect length (not too short for once!) and a perfect vee neckline. Madewell got it right!!

Embroidered Suncoast Dress (size 0)

I'm loving all this little embroidered dresses but this one runs pretty big. This is a size 0 (or one size down from my current size) and it still felt big through the armholes. I do love the embroidery on the front - very flattering IMO (as opposed to those tops that just have it above the boob-line and then lots of pleats below. Non bueno). I would maybe size down in this one and go for the white.

Swingy Tee Dress (XXS)

A little too small but if I was less well-endowed it would be fine. This is so easy to wear - comfy, swingy, lightweight. I was tempted but I really am trying to steer clear of dresses that fit at the bustline and then hang. Not good for my body type but adorable for someone else's.

Harbor Lace-Up Shift Dress (XXS)

They didn't have an XS to try but that would have been the right size (so this is TTS). I like the stripes and the overall shape just not a match for me style-wise with the lace-up placket.

Silk Petalplay Romper in Dotmix (XS), also find it here

I really want to get into rompers - I think they are so cute - but the fit has to be just right. This one wasn't bad and I liked the print and the longer shorts length. I just can't do ruffles but if you like ruffles this romper is adorable. And very on sale.

Silk Skyway Cami Dress (size 2)

This seems to be a little short-waisted. It is on super sale right now (plus 30% off) and the color is divine. I probably own 5 blue silk Madewell dresses, embarrassing but true. They just know how to do beautiful shades of blue. Because of my umbilical hernia, elastic waists are not my friend right now but I think this dress is a lovely, easy little summer number.

There's my sum-up. I have 2 striped dresses and a leather jacket on my wishlist there. I might make it in this week to try on some new stuff too. What do you think of Madewell's latest offerings?

Madewell Reviews: Sale!

In honor of the 30% off sale that is going on right now I thought I would get a few reviews up. I keep on crossing my fingers that this dress or this dress (review below) will go on sale but of course neither of them is. boo. I will have to wait longer or just give in and buy them. Madewell does stripey dresses so well!

Eyelet Nightbreeze Dress (size 2)

This is a really beautiful, well-made dress. I love it. My usual size was a bit snug (but I think that's from too much summer eatin') but mostly in the waist - a part of me that seems to still be recovering from pregnancy. Because of the fitted waist the dress is actually quite slimming. The neckline is LOW. It is barely covering me but I am also pretty well-endowed so it might be less offensive on someone with a smaller chest. The eyelet is beautiful and the dress is lined so thumbs up Madewell!

Striped Vacances Dress (size XXS)

I was just curious what the XXS would look like. I liked it but it's too short and it is a bit more grabby in the butt. I think I would go with the slightly slouchier XS. It is a great dress - the material has some weight so that it hides bumps but not so much that you feel like you would be too hot.

 Striped Knit Dress (XS)

Ugh. I love this dress so much. I already own 2 long-sleeve striped dresses like this (one from Madewell) but this one is even more num num. It just feels great on, looks good, is short enough but not too short and has cute little buttons at the shoulder. Please go on sale (ha ha, good luck)!

 Washed Leather Motorcycle Jacket (S)

Here's another UGH moment. This leather jacket is uh-mazing. Soft, perfectly fitted, enough hardware to be tough without making me feel like a motorcycle mama. Really perfect in all ways.

My new local Madewell is a bit small and the sale section is not impressive. I wish they would do away with final sale online. Every once in a while a sale piece will randomly NOT be final sale. I keep my eyes out for those pieces because then I can order with the free shipping.

Will you be picking anything up with the 30% off this weekend?