New for House & Home at Anthropologie

I haven't done much clothes-shopping at Anthropologie for the past couple of years. All of a sudden everything became too twee for me and all the tops and dresses were backless or had cut-outs that made it impossible to wear them with a regular bra. Plus, I can't wear all of those drapey and/or gathered knits. Too much flowy fabric on a big-boobed girl just makes your whole body look larger. Ask Jessica Simpson.

However, Anthro's shoes are like little works of art, and their household goods are too cool for school. They just rolled out some new items for the home, and here are a few of my faves....


Madagascar Wallpaper


Like some kind of weirdly-beautiful Rorschach test. The price is steep at $798 per roll, but I'd never do an entire room in this paper anyway. I'd cut one 18' long roll in half and either frame and hang the 2 pieces horizontally above a sofa, or mount them vertically on either side of a window or bed and surround them with 2" trim.

New Antiquitarian Wallpaper


Gosh, I love this. The pattern is perfect for a powder room or mud room. It comes with SureStick backing which promises to be "easy-on, easy-off" and great for renters, but I have no experience with using or hanging it. I think I'd probably stay away from using it in kitchens or baths in case the moisture makes it peel off the walls.

Magnifying Glass Sconce


I'd mount these on either side of the mirror in the powder room with the Antiquitarian paper.

Iron Industry Mirror


What a stunner! And it's made from a salvaged antique! I love multi-paned mirrors. Mirrors in general are awesome because they add visual depth to a room and reflect whatever light sources are available. If you have a giant bare wall in a two story living room or foyer, I'd hang this guy on it.

Abate Slatted Mirror


Love the look of this. More decorative than practical. Would be nice to use in a room with too many right-angles.

Splayed Cobbler Mirror


Now this is really special. Buy it because you love it and put it someplace where you'll see it every day. Would be especially cool on the landing of a staircase leading to bedrooms, especially if you can see it from the front door (guests will love it, too).

Stitched Mansoa Curtain


I'm a sucker for crewelwork and these colors are gorgeous. I'd buy an extra panel and make throw pillows or pillow shams out of it for the guest bedroom.

Mysia Rug


This kilim rug could go practically anywhere - neutral and beautiful.

Bianca Pillows


Great colors and patterns. Pillows can be expensive, but that's where you'll get the most bang for your buck, especially if you like to change your rooms around a lot.

Soren Chair


The shape of this happy chair is fun yet elegant, and the high back makes it perfect for the corner spot in a seating arrangement. I always like to have a slipper chair in the bedroom, both as a handy spot to put on shoes and as a catch-all for cardigans, knit blankets, and reading material. This guy fits the bill!

Rabbit II by Elizabeth Jardine


This sweet little decorative rabbit would look great on an occasional table or a bookcase, and he'd be a terrific addition to the centerpiece of a dining table at Easter Lunch.

Horse Bust Hook


Horses, always. I'd buy a few of these and mount them over a bench in a hallway or foyer.

Now, the next two items are cool...but kind of strange.

Large Tentacle Taper Holder


I kind of hated this when I first saw it. And then I looked at it again. Now I kind of love it. Not my personal taste, but the three sizes that Anthro offers could look awesome grouped together on a table in a beach house...or on your dining table in the midwest if you're quirky like that.

Chien Coffee Table


I get what they're going for here, I really do. But the first thing that popped into my head when I saw it was "puppy mill". The doggies look trapped and I'd spend all my time wanting to get them out of there if this piece were sitting in my living room! Maybe if they designed it with lizards or bugs, something that I WANT to stay trapped inside of a glass case....

What do you think of Anthropologie's furniture and accessories? Have you purchased a non-clothing item from them before? And if you have any experience with the SureStick wallpaper, I'd love to hear about it!

J.Crew Tippi Sweater Size Comparison

I've seen a few people in the blogosphere commenting that the new Swiss Dot Tippi Sweater runs bigger than last year's solid-colored Tippi sweater. Since I just received the FA12 Swiss Dot Tippi in the mail today, I thought that I would line it up with my Fiesta Purple Tippi from FA11 and do a little comparison.



Both sweaters are size Medium, 100% Merino, same weight, same thickness. The ribbed trim at the hem and cuffs is exactly the same. The major difference between the solid 2011 Tippi and the 2012 Swiss Dot is the neckline where, as you can see, the Swiss Dot has a banded finish as opposed to a ribbed one. It also has a little button closure in the back, which makes it a bit dressier overall, imo.



Here are the two sweaters stacked on top of one-another. I lined up the shoulder seams and it looks like:

Length from collar to hem = Same
Length of sleeves = Same
Width of sleeves = Same-ish
Width of body = Swiss Dot Tippi is roughly 1/2"-3/4" wider than last year's Solid Tippi

Trying it on, though, I couldn't tell a difference in fit.



Swiss Dot Front. It isn't sheer, but I'll probably wear a shirt or cami underneath it most of the time since I'm pretty wool-sensitive.



Side view. I only tried it on for a minute or two since it's a very hot day and not really suitable for a wool sweater. My hair is such a mess...I actually felt the moment it surrendered to the humidity when I hit the front door this morning.

I hope this helps some of you who are looking to order the Swiss Dot Tippi and don't live close enough to a B&M to try it on first. If anyone else has info on the way any of this year's solid/patterned Tippis compare to last year's Tippi's size-wise, please share your observations!

J.Crew Reviews: A Popback, Some Final Sale Stuff, and A Great White Shirt

It's still hot here in GA, so I've accepted the fact that I will just have to ignore all of the lovely woolens that have appeared in stores for Fall until perhaps early October, when most of these shiny new items will hopefully have started to hit the sale rack. In the meantime, I picked up a few wardrobe items that I needed and/or were on sale at J.Crew.

Tortoise Button Sweatshirt in Stripe


I'll start off with something that I did not need but bought anyway: the Tortoise Button Sweatshirt in Navy/Red Stripe. Navy, red, and tortoise-shell will always get my attention. It's cotton, so I can wear it all year long whenever I am cold. It's more like a heavy-knit tee than a sweatshirt, similar to my Saint James mariniere, so it looks durable and should last me for a long time.



Bought a Medium and it fits TTS. A little boxy, but the length is fine as long as it doesn't shrink in the dryer. The fabric is just a bit stiff, but - again - this is how my Saint James tee was when I bought it and it softened up nicely after a few washes.

Boy Shirt in Classic White


I know that what I really need is a tailor so that I can buy large shirts and have them altered to fit me and my big chest, but I am a silly human and continue to buy button-downs and expect them to fit right out of the box. Happily, J.Crew's Boy Shirt in Classic White did just that.



Size 8. I will never understand why the only J.Crew button-down that really fits me is a boy fit without stretch. Weird. Most of the time if I size up to fit my bust, the waist and shoulders are huge. If I size down to fit my waist and shoulders, the buttons gape like crazy over the chest (ah, the mournful tune of the busty girl's lament...). There is a little more fabric around the middle than I would like, but it's not nearly as sloppy looking as some others I've tried on. The fabric is thinner than both J.Crew's Stretch Perfect Shirts and a traditional Oxford button-down, but I had no see-through issues wearing it to work with a nude bra underneath.



Here is the shirt as I wore it to work last week, pictured with J.Crew's No.2 Pencil Skirt in Neon Tweed. I picked it up on Final Sale since the No.2's are pretty consistent in the way that they fit. However, this skirt fits small. I ordered a 6, but it fits like other J.Crew pencil skirts that I own in a 4. If you are between sizes, definitely take your larger size. I've been wearing it at work all day in this picture and it does show some wrinkles, but they seem to relax quickly after you stand for a bit. You can see more images of this skirt on other bloggers here, here, and here.



Side view. I'm really happy with both of these purchases, especially the Boy Shirt since it looks great for both work and play. Probably the nicest dressy white blouse that I own is one from Emerson Fry, and that is one that I DO plan to take to a tailor so that I'll have at least one button-down shirt that fits me perfectly.

The Edie Pursette from Holiday 2011 - Popback Score


After taking stock of my handbag situation, I realized that I was in need of something small that I could take with me on casual outings for day or evening. Giant envelope clutches are really "in" right now, but I'm not even interested in trying to deal with a strapless bag at, say, the grocery store. No thanks. I checked a few online sites, almost going with this bag from Fossil or this one from Madewell, but then the Edie Pursette popped back into J.Crew's Sale section one morning. In RED. The online copy for the item read:

"Trade your slouchy, shoulder-crushing carryall for this pretty, pint-size purse that packs all your essentials."

Exactly what I was looking for.



The Edie leather is really nice - so smooth and fine - and the colors are fabulous. And it held so much more than I expected!



Here is an image of everything that I am able to fit in the Edie Pursette, minus my phone, which fits nicely into the little front turnlock compartment. The fact that it is big enough to hold my wallet is a HUGE plus, since now I don't have to empty out my ID, cards, and cash if I'm just taking the smaller bag out for the day. The wallet is from Levenger. I've been buying my wallets there for about 10 years now and they are the best.



Here it is hanging on my shoulder - perfect size for errands or a day trip.

Stripe Silk Cami


Another Final Sale purchase, I bought this top to wear to work under blazers and cardis. Size 8, fits TTS. You can also see it on AJC here. It's 100% silk, lined in polyester. I like this cami but I don't love it, and I think that might actually be due to the fact that I have to wear a racerback bra with it. My racerback bra is not super comfy and the straps rub red marks where my neck meets my shoulders, so I'd probably like it a lot more if I could wear it with a regular bra.

That's all of my reviews for now...what have you purchased from J.Crew lately? The big buzz around the new Fall rollout has been all about the French Hen sweater, which is very cute, but I passed because it's made from Dream yarn (yuck) and also because I don't think it's really "me".

Shoe Review: Madewell Manuscript Mini-Wedges

I saw the Manuscript Mini-Wedges on Madewell's website and said "Shut. Up." out loud to no one in particular.



Peep toe. Tassels. Suede upper. Leather lining. A 1 1/4" wedge heel that would make them both work-appropriate and comfortable. And they come in RED (specifically Bandana Red, as well as Saratoga Blue and Amber Brown, which you can see on Rose HERE).

When they arrived, I lifted them out of the box and immediately morphed into this guy:



"I will call him George, and I will love him and pet him and squeeze him."


You can see for yourself how cute they look design-wise, but I was immediately impressed with how they feel in person. The suede is very soft and supple. I wore them to work the very next day with zero time for breaking-in, and there were no rubs, pinches, or blisters to be found 9 hours later. Plus, the leather lining feels SO NICE to sink your feet into. This is the only pair of shoes I have ever owned where I've actually considered buying an identical back-up pair in case something happens to them.



I bought my usual size 8 and they are on the roomy side of TTS. If you are in between shoe sizes, go with the smaller one. One bit of caution: if you have wide feet and/or thicker ankles, these might not work for you. Madewell shoes in general tend to run pretty narrow, and I'm wearing the ankle straps buckled into the last hole even on my little bird ankles.



I had texted my mom about my adoration for these new shoes, and she requested a picture after they arrived. The BF has been working nights recently and the bed was feeling kind of empty, so I decided that my new shoes could bunk down with me on their first night in a strange place. Here is the picture I sent to mom:



Mom: What, you didn't tuck them in?
Me: I was afraid they would get too hot.

J.Crew New Arrivals: Beautiful Jewelry...and Merino in June?

New online arrivals today at J.Crew! I have to say, I have been really taken with their jewelry this year, especially the necklaces (I know that RynettaPhD feels the same way, and you can see some great irl pics on her blog). I wear very little jewelry on a day-to-day basis, and I can't do the "arm party" trend since multiple stacked bracelets are too flashy and loud for my office, but these necklaces totally remind me of 1950's costume jewelry that you would find at an estate sale and could wear to special events for years. If the quality is there, I'd definitely classify these as investment pieces worth spending the money on if they catch your fancy.

Flower Lattice Necklace

This is awesome. Any plain sheath or strapless dress is immediately ready to party if you combine it with this necklace. I'd also love it if J.Crew would do a brooch in these colors!

Cabochon Fan Necklace

I saw this necklace and died. Ok, not really, but I did start drooling a little. It comes in this Spearmint color and Peach Blossom. You know where this would be gorgeous? On a bride with a very simple strapless or scoop-necked wedding dress.


Cabochon Pendant Necklace

...and all of the bridesmaids could wear this pendant version to match!

(I worked at a bridal shop for three years. Sometimes my mind just goes to "that place" automatically, I can't help it.)

Mini Ram Bangle

This little guy has been out for a few months and I luurrrrrve heem. Isn't he cute? He had a big brother that sold out really fast, unfortunately. I'd love to buy this bracelet because I'd feel like I had a little pet with me at work all day :)


Tippi Sweater in Heart Me

J.Crew had great success this past fall with their Merino Tippi sweater, and also with their wool-blend Heart Me sweater (thanks in large part to the lovely FLOTUS). They've combined the two to create the Tippi Sweater in Heart Me, and I think that it will also sell very well...IN SEPTEMBER. Seriously, it's not even July yet. Who wants to pay full price for a Merino sweater in the middle of summer??? I understand that fashion seasons don't mirror real-life seasons, but I think that most J.Crew shoppers are going to be cool with waiting until this sweater goes on sale before they buy it, simply because of the material. I seem to remember Mickey Drexler saying something to the effect of "If something ends up on the sale rack, that means that there is a flaw in the design". In this case, I think that they just should have waited until fall to introduce a wool sweater to their collection!

Now, I could be wrong. J.Crew has just started expanding into Canada and Europe, and those customers might just default to Merino as a four-season fabric for more northerly climes. Or perhaps they created a limited run of this sweater to test the waters, and will introduce more stock in the coming months. Is this the case? I guess I'll have to wait and see if all sizes end up in the sale section next month!

WANT

Crap, I knew this was coming. The Pom-Pom Confetti Top just popped up on J.Crew w/ today's new arrivals. I saw it on AJC's post here and it needs to get in a little box and show up at my door, like, yesterday. My mom has the original version and I've coveted it for years - I would have stolen it at some point if it wasn't too small for me, but I think I'll like this updated version even better because the neckline is slightly more open and that's better for my figure (mom doesn't have the same issues with her bustline that I do - the boobs and broad shoulders come from dad's side of the family).

Actually, I think I'll exchange the white linen Tessa Top for the Pom-Pom top since I'm already in love with it and I know I'll wear it all the time. Yay :)

J.Crew Reviews: No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Raj Paisley, Tessa Top, T-Shirt Dress in Ikat Print

After a month of being very good and not buying ANY clothes at all, I broke down and ordered a few things from J.Crew's recent 30% off Spring Sale promo. I also picked up two full-priced items that I've had my eye on as ride-alongs so that I could get the $175+ free shipping discount. It sucks having to play the shipping game, but I haven't been able to get to a B&M in weeks. Blergh.

No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Raj Paisley


I liked this skirt a ton when I first saw it on AJC here (more reviews here and here), and then my mom randomly sent me a text message of herself wearing the skirt with the caption "Have you seen this on J.Crew? You would love it." I immediately added it to my online shopping cart, but decided to wait it out for a bit in case of a stray promo. My patience was rewarded (for once) and I managed to get the skirt at sale plus 30% off, which ended up being $68.60. Mom was right (as usual) and I LOVE this skirt. The colors are beautiful, the design is interesting without being loud, and the quality is very, very nice. It is strong and lightweight - a four-season piece here in the south. I'm also totally fascinated by the fabric of this skirt (this is the part where I geek out on you...feel free to scroll down if textile construction is not relevant to your interests).



Here in this image, starting at the top, we have the red cotton lining of the skirt, followed by the reverse side of the fabric, a strip of hem tape, and the face of the fabric itself. At first glance, I thought that the skirt was a crinkly cotton plisse, but then I noticed the little extra warp threads running up and down the fabric so I turned it inside out to find that it is actually a sort of double-weave matelasse. A double-woven fabric is one that has two or more sets of warp threads (north/south) and/or weft threads (east/west) that are woven together to create intricate patterns or designs. A true "double cloth" fabric can be separated into two independent fabrics by cutting the warp or weft yarns that bind them, while your double-woven brocades, damasks, and matelasses cannot. In the case of the Raj Paisley skirt, we have a plain weave fabric on top, backed with clusters of weft threads, joined together by little tracks of warp threads. This is most similar to the construction of matelasse, which gives the appearance of being a filled, quilted fabric even though it isn't. NEAT-O!

Don't ask me about seersucker...we'll be here all day.


If I worked at a more creative/casual office, I would probably try to pair this skirt with fun tops like the gingham and striped ones shown above...



...but I work at the corporate headquarters for a financial company, so I will be wearing the skirt with solid-colored tops. Sad trombone.



Fits TTS. I wore the Raj Paisley skirt today with this blue 3/4 Sleeve Perfect Shirt that is, like, 10 years old. Old J.Crew really does wear like iron compared to new J.Crew. I keep having to mend the worn-out seams under the armpits and I'll probably cry when I have to throw it away. Funny enough, mom also wore her Raj skirt today, and we had a nice little mother/daughter "Haha, OMG!" moment 850 miles apart.


Mom is also wearing the Lace Stripe Shell in White :)


Tessa Top in White


I really like this top - doesn't it make you want to plan a beach vacay? It's 100% linen, not itchy, and not see-through even in white. Other JCA's have reviewed it in other colors here, here, and here.


I couldn't quite tell from previous reviews whether it ran TTS or not, so I bought my usual shirt size 8...and I think it's too big. That is a LOT of extra fabric, even over the bust where I usually have problems with the fit.


Side view. It really blouses out all over. Kinda reminds me of those one-size-fits-all smocks that you have to wear in art class, without the mildew smell.


Shown here with DiY jean shorts like on the model. Even casually tucked in, it's still too big and I think I'm going to have to exchange it for a 6 simply to see if I like the top enough to keep it. Bummer. I wanted to wear this top to a thing this weekend, but I'm not driving all the way to ATL after work.

T-Shirt Dress in Ikat Print


I don't feel like I even need to post an irl pic of this dress since it looks pretty much exactly like you see it on the model, just add boobs and about 3" of length to the hem. I bought a Medium, and I was actually really pleased at how much longer the skirt is on me than it is on the model. This way I can belt the dress and not worry about it being too short. It's a great dress for hot weather - feels like you're wearing nothing at all. Just make sure that you wear your nude undies because the fabric is pretty thin. $68.00 FP is pretty steep for a T-Shirt dress, but I like the print and I have someplace to wear it this weekend, so I'm keeping it. Plus, I was already patient about waiting for the Raj Paisley Pencil to go on sale, and I can't be expected to be patient all the freaking time.

Reviews of a sale skirt and sale sandals coming up soon....

Did you take advantage of the recent 30% off sale? Did you buy the Raj Paisley Pencil skirt? Have you tried on the Tessa top? Please share!