J.Crew's sequin stripe shell

Sequin stripe shell in green:  J.Crew, here
White jeans:  Banana Republic, summer 2010
Rio Navajo sandals:  Jack Rogers

Hello there!  I'm sorry I haven't responded to your comments...I promise I will soon!  It's been a whirlwind trip and one that I am so sad to see end, especially since we will be coming home to several inches of snow.  Until we leave, I am enjoying the mild temperatures in southern Florida.  I'm wearing J.Crew's sequin stripe shell that is still available. and I highly recommend it.  I am wearing a size small with room, so go with your normal size.  I love this green stripe so much, especially for Florida...very mermaid-y right?  See it also on Gigi here.  I can see loving it under a blazer at home too.  So sparkly and fun!

Hope you are having a fantastic Christmas vacation!  Thanks for reading.

Holiday red

Ribbon Grass dress by Sariah:  Anthropologie, spring 2012
Mid wedges in platinum:  Jack Rogers
Necklace:  The Limited, gift from my mom

Happy holidays to all my friends in the blogosphere!  There are certain shifts that happen as you grow older, which signify that you're the adult now and no longer the child.  One of those shifts, I believe, is being responsible for holiday dinners.  I made Christmas dinner tonight for our family and our in-laws.  Nothing fancy, chicken parmesean with homemade marinara and pasta, but for so many years, it was my mother-in-law who always cooked.  So these rites of passage, when changes occur, always feel significant.  Fortunately the meal went off without a hitch, and I didn't burn down the kitchen in our vacation rental.

It was a casual meal but I still wanted to look festive so I wore a red dress.  My mom surprised me with this new necklace, which I thought was very sweet of her.  All in all, it's been a wonderful Christmas, and I hope your holiday was special as well!

Merry pink and green Christmas!

Jackie cardigan in neon azalea:  J.Crew Factory, fall 2012
Strapless eyelet dress in succulent green: J.Crew, summer 2012
Mid wedges in platinum:  Jack Rogers

Christmas Eve, what a time of reflection!  I'm so thankful to be on the beach, with the people I love most in this world.  I know red and green are the colors of Christmas, but my preppy heart much prefers pink and green!  It's still festive, right?

I hope you are having a beautiful holiday with your families.  I'm so thankful to all of you for reading my little blog.  Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year!  Go kiss someone you love. xoxo

Feeling at home in FL in Lilly Pulitzer & Jack Rogers

Silk dress:  Lilly Pulitzer, 2009
Rio navajo sandals in turquoise/gold:  Jack Rogers, here
Earrings:  Banana Republic, summer 2012

Lilly Pulitzer and Jack Rogers feel more "right" in Florida than anywhere else to me.  Lilly Pulitzer created her whimsically printed shift dresses in Palm Beach, FL around the year 1960.  Jackie O.  wore both Lilly Pulitzer dresses and Jack Rogers sandals frequently while in Florida and around the world, hence the iconic legend of both labels.  (Did you know Jackie O and Lilly Pulitzer were boarding school friends? Interesting right?)

Much warmer today, on the beach and this evening.  So glad I could finally wear a pretty dress.  Merry Christmas Eve-Eve!  Thanks for reading.

Polka dot cashmere + colored denim

Collection cashmere polka dot sweater:  J.Crew, other colors here
Garment-dyed ankle-zip toothpick jean in neon rose:  J.Crew, neon pink here
Two pocket chambray shirt:  J.Crew Factory, here
Mid wedges in platinum: Jack Rogers, here

Hello from the Sunshine State!  We made it here, in more hours than I care to say...9 hours the first day, 9 hours the second day!  Of course that includes stops for lunch, snacks, gas, potty, etc.  Traveling with small kids is never a quick trip.  Fortunatetly our 2 year old flew down with my mom, since he is not good in the car and gets car sick easily.  So it was just my husband, my older two boys, and me in the SUV.  It wasn't too bad a trip. 

Proof that I have actually become a grown-up:  Rather than stubbornly wearing a dress simply because I'm in Florida, I dressed for the weather this evening.  It was a beautiful, sunshiney day, but the high was only 65 today!  We were the only ones in bathing suits on the beach...everyone else was bundled up.  This evening, I had to face the fact that I'm FREEZING and I put on jeans and a sweater.  Unheard of for me in Florida in years past. 

The weather is supposed to warm up everyday, until it reaches 80 on Christmas Day.  Horray!  Until then, I'm happy I brought some cozy options.  I actually love how this outfit turned out, with the neutral sweater and bright jeans.  (Although my mom helpfully asked, "Does that match??" ...when I walked out.  Thanks once again Mom!)  I can't recommend the cashmere polka dot sweater enough...it's fab!  Treat yourself this Christmas and grab one before J.Crew sells out completely.

Off for a cocktail.  It's 5:00 somewhere. 

Ba Ba black sheep, have you a critter sweater?

Critter sweater with sheep:  Old Navy, sold out online but check stores
Toothpick jeans in garment dyed twill:  J.Crew, fall 2012
Flats: Coach, old

My boys all loved the song "Ba ba black sheep, have you any wool?" when they were babies.  So when I popped into Old Navy the other day to grab some pajamas for the kids and saw this sweater, I fell in love.  I saw the owl and fox critter sweaters as well, and thought they were adorable too.  But sizing was very limited, only Mediums and Larges left, and this one I have on, in an Extra Small.  No smalls in sight, which is my normal size everywhere.  Now I will tell you right now that I am rarely, if ever, an XS.  That size is usually too small in the chest, shoulders, and/or arms.  But I tried on the medium and it was huge, so I figured it couldn't hurt to try on the XS.  I was surprised by how well it fit.  The arms are plenty long, the sweater itself is plenty long, it's not too tight.  Now I couldn't fit a button down underneath, but that's ok.  For $15, I will wear my little sheep sweater happily until it falls apart.

I'm typically not a fan of Old Navy for women's clothing.  I buy my boys pants, jeans, and shorts there, and they're great.  But the quality seems very spotty with the adult clothes.  So I was happily surprised by how nice this sweater feels.  Also, I already had to wash it once (a little incident with bacon grease, whoops) and it washed nicely and I dried it flat, and it came out perfectly.  (And the grease came out, yay.)

I know critter sweaters are a hot but fleeting trend, so it's fun to buy one at a low cost and just enjoy it.  Do you have an Old Navy critter sweater?  What are your thoughts?  Do you like my sheep sweater? 

Thanks for stopping by!

Blackwatch plaid + jeans

Schoolboy blazer in blackwatch plaid:  J.Crew, fall 2011
Natasha top in green:  J.Crew, 2011
Jeans:  Express, old
Willow riding boots in deep cognac:  Banana Republic, fall 2012
Necklace:  Gift from friend

My first day of Christmas vacation was spent attending my 5 year old's kindergarten Christmas party, taking  my 2 year old to lunch, and making dinner for my dad and his wife.  It has been a great day.  I was responsible for bringing the game in for the kindergarten party.  My boys and I made this adorable reindeer on posterboard last night and cut out a bunch of red circles for noses, and so the game was "Pin the nose on Rudolph."  The kids screamed with laughter everytime a blindfolded kid would try to guess where the nose went...it was a much bigger hit than I anticipated.  After the national sadness of the last few days, there is no where else I would have rather been today than to spend a couple hours with a class of happy kindergarten kids.

Plaid blazers are everywhere this year, aren't they?  Or maybe it's just this time of year.  I saw another mom at school with the Target version from this year of this blackwatch plaid jacket, and it looked great!  I absolutely love this blazer, even though it feels a wee bit on the short side...it didn't come in tall sizes. Blackwatch plaid is so perfect for Christmas time, isn't it?  Thanks for visiting!

Floating rose + white blouse

White ruffle blouse:  Banana Republic, here
Flair skirt in floating rose:  J.Crew, fall 2011
Red suede heels:  Banana Republic Man Men Collection, fall 2011

I have gotten quite a bit of use out of my J.Crew items in the floating rose print.  I loved the pattern so much last year that I had to have the dress, skirt, and silk tie-neck top...I'm such a hoarder like that.  The last time I wore this skirt, I paired it with gray and black, here.  I think I like it better with the white blouse.  What do you think? 

J.Crew isn't the only retailer where online prices vastly differ from in-store prices.  This blouse is still $69.50 on Banana Republic's website, but I picked it up for less than $30 in-store.  Whaaa?  Seriously...like a $40 difference.  Isn't that insane?  It's a great little top though, as far as basic white blouses go.  I have a tough time finding button down shirts that fit both my chest and torso...but this one fits perfectly all the way down.  I'm wearing a size 6. Some reviews online mention it runs small.  I didn't find that to be true, but maybe it depends on your proportions. 

Today was my last day of work for the year, and we leave for our Florida Christmas trip on Thursday.  I am grateful for the time to spend with my family.   Soon  enough my little boys will be too old to want to spend too much time with their mama...I need to appreciate it while I can.   Thanks for visiting.

J.Crew shawl-collar blazer + jeans & boots

Shawl collar crepe blazer in vintage berry:  J.Crew, fall 2012
Sleeveless silk top by Charlotte Taylor:  Anthropologie, summer 2012
Skinny jeans:  Seven for All Mankind
Willow riding boot in deep cognac:  Banana Republic, here

Sunday evening once again.  We had a busy weekend filled with holiday plans and it was nice seeing a lot of our friends, but I had an underlying sense of sadness all weekend, as I am sure everyone did. 

It seems so irrevelant to talk about fashion at such a sad moment, but it's also a nice diversion isn't it?  I wore this outfit just around town today to do errands, grocery shopping, and then my husband and I took the kids out and about and to dinner.  I love this shawl collar blazer with jeans!  It's such a fun piece to have.  When I was at the grocery store today, I was wheeling my cart down an aisle when a man felt it necessary to tell me, "Da-yum girl, you look sharp! THANK you for keeping America beautiful!"  It totally lifted me spirits, not because I long for compliments from strange men, but because the way he said it was so funny. 

Hope you got to spend the weekend with someone you love.  Thanks for reading.

Sparkly, shimmery holiday outfit

Silver silk top:  Banana Republic, 2009
Lace pencil skirt: Ann Taylor, here
Necklace and earrings:  Ann Taylor, 2010
"Snakeskin" clutch: Banana Republic, 2010
Red pumps:  Max Studio

Hello lovely ladies.  I wore this outfit for a holiday dinner with friends.  It's not as colorful as I normally go, but I felt fun and festive in it!  Thanks so much for all your open and honest feedback the other day about the J.Crew jewel-neck top and this skirt.  The top went back, and based on your opinions I decided to wear this top with the lace skirt rather than the sequin polka dot top. I like how the silver top matches the gray lining of the skirt, and I was proud of myself for shopping my own closet!  I want to say how much I love the blogging community, and the fact that I have yet to have a mean comment.  Everyone is always so kind and classy with their comments and opinions, and I just appreciate it so much.  So thank you! 

The holidays are my favorite time of year for dressing up.  When else can I wear a necklace made of gigantic sparkly globes with matching earrings?  I will be sure to get a close-up shot of this necklace next time I wear it, as it is just awesome for the holidays.  I remember finding it on sale at Ann Taylor after Christmas a couple years ago, and then randomly finding the earrings at a different Ann Taylor location.  It was meant to be! 

Do you love dressing up for the holidays?

Taking a pause for today

The three little boys you see here are the center of my universe.  Their innocent faces are the most beautiful sights in my world. I love them with a fierceness that I didn't know existed within myself.  There's a certain vulnerablity in becoming a parent and loving someone more than you love your own life.  I'm always thinking:  What if something happens to one of my boys?  What if one gets hurt, or lost, or worse?  How would I live through it?  I don't know if I could.  Today I have to take a pause from lighthearted blogging.  My heart is sick over the school shooting in Conneticut.  Such young, innocent children and adults killed...it is more than I can bear.  To think of these parents who sent their kids to school today, not knowing they would never see them again.  I don't know how anyone could survive that kind of loss.  You think your kids are safe at school.  School should be a safe place. 

Hug your kids extra hard tonight.  If you don't have kids, hug a friend, or a loved one.   And if you believe in a higher power, please say a prayer for all of these families who didn't know that this morning was the last time they would hug their own children.  

2 reviews: J.Crew jewel-neck top and Ann Taylor lace pencil skirt

Hello ladies!  At this time of the year, I am suddenly dazzled by all of the sparkley, lacy, and fancy party clothes.  I want to buy them all, and it is difficult to restrain.  So here are a couple pieces I recently picked up.  One I am definitely keeping, the other I am on the fence about so I need your honest feedback!  Please comment and let me know what you think!  Ok, the first up is the keeper:  This gorgeous, sumptious lace pencil skirt from Ann Taylor:

Lace Pencil Skirt:  Ann Taylor, here
Size 6

I mentioned yesterday how I popped into Ann Taylor and I was impressed by many items.  This lace pencil skirt caught my eye immediately.  It reminds me of an Anthro skirt from last summer, but even better quality.  Going through my holiday options in my closet, I've noticed I don't have many "fun" skirts.  Sure, I have many nice wool pencil skirts, but since I wear those everyday to work, I want something different for evening.  This pencil skirt is perfect for a night out.  It's sexy and fitted yet still totally classy, classic and ladylike.  It is $98, but click here for a coupon that will take 25% off any one full-price item!  That helped, so I paid $75 for this skirt.  A little on the pricey side, but worth it because I think it's such a classic piece.  It will be in my closet for a long time.  Here are a few more shots:

The lining is gray, which is a nice touch and it makes the black lace really pop. A note about fit: It definitely runs on the small side.  While I usually wear a size 6 with extra room, this is a 6 and the fit is exact...there is no way I could have sized down.  So if you carry your weight in your hips, consider sizing up. 

Ok, the next item is the one I am on the fence about, mainly because of the fit.  The jewel-neck top by J.Crew (item number 95649) is sold out online, but I snagged it on pop back so you may too:

Jewel-neck top by J.Crew
Size 4

I read a couple reviews online (LOVE blogger reviews, so helpful!) that said to size down in this top.  Sizing down is always risky for those of us with a larger chest, but normally I do size down in these boxier shapes from J.Crew, so I did go with the size 4.  I am so surprised by how big this is!  I can pull several inches of fabric away from the body of the top, there is ample extra room in the chest, even the arms are a bit loose.  On a positive note, it's a lovely wool crepe material and the jewel details are very nicely done:

I think this would actually look nice for work with a pencil skirt.  It is very conservative for a night out though.  So what is your honest opinion on this top?  It was $75.00 so I don't want to keep it if I don't love it!  But I want to love it...ahhh don't you hate that?  Please give me your honest opinion!

One more photo I want to share:  I may end up wearing this combo to one of the holiday parties we have coming up, with different heels of course: 

Sequin polka dot top, J.Crew, sold out online but check stores
Size small

How fun is this outfit? 

Thanks for visiting!

Haphazard gingham & schoolboy blazer

Perfect shirt in fuschia gingham:  J.Crew, here
Schoolboy blazer in gray heather flannel:  J.Crew, fall 2009
Wool No. 2 pencil skirt in vivid jade:  J.Crew, here
Intyce boots in black leather:  Steve Madden, here

This week has been crazy at work, and I'm fighting a nasty cold.  I just haven't been in the mood to take my normal time to plan my outfits at night.  Throw that in with my need to wear flats this week, and the outfit results are on the random and haphazard side.  On the bright side, I do love the color combo of this fuschia gingham and vivid jade skirt. 

Has anyone been to Ann Taylor recently?  I hadn't been there in forever, but I popped in there today.  There are actually a lot of cute items right now, if I have time later this week I will try to stop there again and do some fitting room reviews. Thanks for visiting! 

Limping along in tweed + flat boots

Chimera jacket in charcoal:  J.Crew, fall 2009
Tippi sweater in marrakech purple:  J.Crew, here
Plaid/tweed skirt:  Ann Taylor, old
Intyce boots in black leather:  Steve Madden, here

I've been working out pretty hard at the gym lately.  Amazing the motivation that comes with knowing I will be on the beach in less than 2 weeks.  While the working out may be good for my gut, I did something over the weekend that killed my right knee.  I've been a runner for years and years and have never had a problem with my knees, so this is a bit concerning for me.  Being in heels yesterday totally aggravated it, so much so that I was limping last night!  Today I wore flat boots and my knee felt much better.  It's not sore to the touch anymore so I think I'm on the mend.  I guess my mom was right when she said excercise can be hazardous to your health.  Maybe I should just go back to lounging on the porch with wine.  Ha.

This Tippi is totally reading blue in this picture but it's my purple one.  So strange how it showed up as blue.  I felt kind of mod in this outfit, and very comfy in tights and flat boots.  I think these boots will be in heavy rotation during the winter months, when walking on the icy sidewalks and parking lots can be hazardous for a tall, clutzy girl like me.  Black boots seem a little less casual and more work appropriate to me. 

Do you like flat boots?  Thanks for visiting!

Polka dots + Gingham

Intarsia charley sweater in dot:  J.Crew Factory, here
Gingham boy shirt in turquoise: J.Crew, similar here
Skinny jeans:  Banana Republic, old
Willow riding boots in deep cognac:  Banana Republic, here

Quick note beforeI begin:  Today and online only:  25% off and free shipping on any order with code MERRY at J.Crew!  They've been offering free shipping quite often lately and I could not be any happier about that!

Well clearly it's love for me and this sweater since I wore it the same day that I reviewed my Factory purchases.  I wore this outfit to do a little Christmas shopping and dinner with the family on Sunday.  I actually just had the sweater on without the shirt, and as I was heading out of my closet the gingham shirt caught my eye and I just had to see how it would look underneath the dots.  LOVE!  I am going to wear this same shirt and sweater combo with my retro jade wool capris later in the week...I know I am going to get a lot of use out of this sweater for both work and casual wear. 

Hope everyone is having a good Monday!  Christmas break is right around the corner! 

J.Crew Factory reviews: 2 shirts, 2 sweaters, and a J.Crew coat review

Hope everyone has had a great weekend.  Since we're lazing around, I finally have time to do some reviews of Factory items I have picked up over the last month.  To me, J.Crew Factory is very hit or miss.  But the four items I purchased recently have all been winners, and I bought them all for great prices.  Here we go:

Factory intarsia Charley sweater in dot, navy, here

Turquoise polka dots on navy?  Love.  At first I was a little disappointed in the blend of this fabric.  I didn't pay attention when I ordered it and figured it would be a 100% merino sweater.  Nope. The tag says 36% nylon, 35% viscose, 28% merino wool, and that pesky little 1% alpaca.  I'm still concerned about pilling., but it doesn't feel too bad on. I am wearing a size small, and the fit is great.  Not too short or tight.  Go with your regular Tippi size.  I paid $50.40 for this, with free shipping.  Kind of high for a Factory item...I guess I was blinded by polka dots.  I think this will look great with my retro jade skirt and wool capris. 

Factory classic crewneck cardigan in bright azalea, here

I needed a pink Jackie cardigan to throw over all of my Lilly Pulitzer dresses I have packed for our Christmas Florida trip, so I decided to try out the Factory version during a recent promo.  I paid $23.70 with free shipping.  It's on sale right now for a great price too, only $24.50 so if you need any colors now's a good time to stock up.  I was very happy with this cardi...it's nearly identical to the retail version, in fact I may like it better because it seems a bit longer to me than the retail Jackie.  It is a thin material, but not see-through.  I always size up to a medium in Jackie sweaters to accomodate my chest, and I did so here as well.  You can see the fit is spot on, so go with your normal Jackie size.  Love the color and fit, and it was well worth a mere $23.70!

Factory two-pocket chambray shirt in blue chambray, here

It kind of drives me bonkers how Factory prices are always changing.  This shirt is currently $59.50, but when I bought it I only paid $32.00 with free shipping.  So if you like it, hold off...it will go down again.  Since I have firmly jumped on the chambray bandwagon, I decided I needed another option other than that Banana Republic linen blend shirt I have.  I love this Factory version.  The color is a nice grayish blue, and the material is 100% cotton.  I am wearing a size small and it fits fine, sleeves and all.  So go with your normal button down size.  I really love this and am quite happy with the price I paid. 

Factory ruffle-trim button down shirt in pink, here

This may be too corporate-y for some ladies, but this is a great basic shirt to have if you work in an office environment.  I paid around $20.00 for it, with free shipping.  This is a size small, and I'm surprised by how long the sleeves are!  They may be too long for petite girls.  The material is very nice, not too thin, and I love the ruffle detail at the collar and cuffs.  This shirt has been languishing on the Factory website forever.  My only disappointment when  it arrived? The material is a very thin pink pinstripe, rather than the solid pink I thought it was.  Here is a close up of the ruffle and the color:

I would have preferred solid pink, but for $20.00 it's fine.  The ruffles will look cute peeking out of blazers.  A great deal for a great work wardrobe basic.

Those are my Factory reviews.  I now have one other review for you from J.Crew retail.  I hadn't purchased a new winter coat in two years, and I figured I was due for one.  I have mentioned before that I have commitment issues when buying winter coats!  I am always afraid I will make a wrong choice and hate my selection within a couple of months.  During a recent promo, here is the coat I picked out:

Double-cloth metro coat with Thinsulate, here

I bought this for $164.99, down from $325.00.  I think that is a fair price for a nice winter coat.  At first I was a little put off by how the material felt.  I imagined a thick, soft wool, and that is not what this coat is at all.  It is 75% wool and 24% nylon, and it has almost a rough feel.  I was kind of disappointed by that.  The vintage berry color is pretty, and the shape nice.  I am wearing a 6 Tall, and I was thrilled that it comes to my knees.  Not many coats do!  The sleeves are nice and long, and it is fitted without being too tight to fit a sweater underneath.  I'm not 100% sure I am keeping the coat, mainly because of how the material feels.  I guess I just didn't realize how the double cloth material felt. But I am leaning towards keeping it, because of the striking color and nice fit.  What do you think?

I hope my reviews were helpful to you today!  What do you think of these items? 

Cozy day featuring Anthro's Dimensional Petals Sweater

Dimensional petals sweater by Sparrow:  Anthropologie, here
AG Stevie skinny jeans, Anthropologie, fall 2011
Willow riding boot in deep cognac:  Banana Republic, here

I think in another life I lived in the pacific northwest...I seriously love rainy, gloomy days.  While everyone else is complaining how miserable the rain is, I am reveling in it.  I just think it's so cozy and romantic, especially on days like today when I don't have to be out working in it!  I worked from home today, which is a cherished rarity. Instead of sitting in front of my laptop in sweats, I decided to wear my new fave sweater for the first time.  I have been obsessed with the Dimensional Petal Sweater by Sparrow since I first saw it in Anthro's fall catalogue months ago.  At $168 it was way more than I'd be willing to pay for a wool-blend sweater.  Then it got marked to $129.95 and I thought:  LAME sale price!  So I held out...and snagged it this week on second markdown of 69.95.  NOW they're talking my language.  This sweater is everything an Anthropologie item should be:  Unique, flattering, and beautiful.  The material, like I said, is a wool blend, and some the flower petals are cut from the same blend, and others from a thick felt.  There's pretty beading too, and the buttons are fabric-covered.  For reference, I am wearing a size small, with room.  So go with your normal size, or if you are small-busted you may be able to size down.  I definitely recommend this sweater, especially for the sale price!  It is a wonderful, classic Anthropologie item.  Also see Molly of Anthromollogies looking beautiful in it, here.

In other thoughts, who else loves Spotify?  What did I do without it?  Happy Friday, thanks for stopping by!

The blues: Wool herringbone blazer + polka dots

Wool herringbone schoolboy blazer in watercolor blue:  J.Crew, fall 2012
Wool cafe capri in yacht blue:  J.Crew, 2011 (other colors here)
Polka dot bow blouse:  J.Crew, fall 2012
Reptile Colette Pumps:  Tahari

So in my profession all the men wear suits.  There's really no leeway.  We ladies, on the other hand, have a lot more freedom.  But I still feel most confident, professionally, when I am wearing a suit or separates that come together like a suit.  That's why I loved today's look.  It definitely gave off a "suit" vibe but was a whole lot more fun!  I can't believe there was once a time where I only wore black, gray, or otherwise neutral dress pants.  How boring!  While I will still wear regular dress pants, I feel so dowdy in them now.  I'd much rather wear brightly colored wool capris.  So fun yet still professional.  In fact, many more colors are now marked to $49.99 on J.Crew's website, and I plan on snagging a few the next time there's a promo.  If you would have told me 5 years ago that I'd be addicted to wearing brightly colored pants and jeans in the near future, I wouldn't have believed it.   That's what's so fun about style...mine is constantly evolving.  While I will always love the preppy, clean classic vibe, I never want to get stuck in a rut.  Life's too short to not wear bright pants, right? 

Thanks for visiting!

Broken blocks shift by Maeve + bubble

Broken blocks silk shift by Maeve:  Anthropologie, fall 2011
Bubble necklace in brilliant blue:  J.Crew, fall 2011
Boots:  Coach, fall 2009

Do you ever purchase something for an absolute steal...and then never wear it?  Yeah, me too.  This dress is a perfect example.  It poppoed back on Anthropologie's website after Christmas last year for the insanely low price of $29.95 ( original retail price was $228.)  I ordered it and hoped for its arrival. (you know how unfortunately un-dependable Anthro sale items can be online, right?)  Well the Anthro gods sent it to me, and I was so excited...then it sat lonely in my closet for nearly a year.  I finally pulled it out to wear for an event last night. 

Now I know this crazy dress isn't for everyone...in fact I was cracking up at one review online that said it looked like a clown and Lilly Pulitzer collaborated on it.  But I love it.  The full sleeves, shift shape, and silk material...beautiful. And for less the the price of taking all the kids to Subway...I love it even more.  Next time I will definitely wear heels rather than boots...I think it will look more streamlined. 

Look how long my hair has gotten!  Lordy I'm starting to look like a hippie.  Thanks for visiting!

Brown houndstooth + vivid jade

Brown houndstooth blazer:  Banana Republic, 2005 OLD!
Double serge wool No. 2 pencil skirt in vivid jade:  J.Crew, here
Ruffled silk top:  J.Crew, 2010
Leopard heels:  Nine West, similar here

I get a certain thrill when I pull out an old item from my closet and realize I still love it.  It makes me feel like I got a good ROI.  (Can you tell I'm in sales?)   The blazer I'm wearing is a little long in the tooth by my standards...7 years old!  But it is still a fave.  This outfit came together in about 5 seconds this morning after I realized that a newly purchased Anthropologie sweater I had planned on wearing was not working for me and I'd be returning it.  Don't you hate that?  Like Elaine on Seinfeld, sometimes I get tricked into thinking something looks really good in the store's dressing room, only to bring it home and realize it looks frightful.  Anyway, I was scrambling in my skirt and heels after that, and literally just grabbed a blazer I thought would decently match.   Only after throwing it on did  I realize how pretty this blazer still is and how flattering the fit...it definitely plays up an hourglass shape. 

It got me thinking:  How long do other women hang on to clothing?  For me it depends on the item.  As I've said before, I'm more likely to keep investment pieces like blazers and cashmere for a long time.  Items like silk tops are tougher to keep in good shape for that long...or maybe I am just hard on my clothes!  One thing I am not is a pack rat.  If it doesn't fit my body or my life anymore, out it  goes without any regret from me.  But if it continues to look good, year after year, I will keep an item for as long as I still love it.  What about you?  How long do you keep your clothing? 

Do you like my giant snowman in the righthand corner of the picture?  My husband loathes it, but the boys love it...so out it comes every year!  Thanks for visiting!

Ruffles in the rain

Ruffled short belted trench by Elevenses: Anthropologie, 2009 or 2010? 
Wool cafe capri pants in retro jade:  J.Crew, fall 2012
Pumps:  Vince Camuto

A rainy Monday calls for a simple outfit, right?  I came accross this old rain jacket from Anthropologie on our coat rack this morning, and since we're having a weird warm spell I decided to give it a whirl.   I can't remember if this jacket is 2009 or 2010 and I couldn't find it online.  If anyone knows what it is, leave a message in the comments, thanks!  You can't really tell from this picture but the ruffles on the coat are pretty big and over the top.  But being a ruffle-lover, that's ok by me. 

I will have a few J.Crew Factory reviews later this week. I'm waiting for one more package to arrive, but I've been really impressed with the quality of Factory items lately.  The prices are really reasonable too, with all the promos Factory has been running. 

Thanks for stopping by on this Monday!  I can't believe Christmas Eve is in exactly 3 weeks!  Time is flying!