My Favorite Outfits

Ahh, lazy Sunday. I was playing around with the Paper by 53 App (super fun) on my iPad and thought I'd do a few illustrations of my favorite outfits.

Sunday Brunch

1.J.Crew Metallic Gold Leather Headband 2.Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses 3.Madewell Striped 3/4 Sleeve Tee 4.Men's Timex Metal Watch 5.Modalu Pippa Grab Bag 6.Madewell Skinny Skinny Jeans 7.J.Crew Cece Metallic Gold Flats

Thanksgiving Dinner

1.J.Crew Selvedge Chambray Shirt 2.J.Crew Bow Collar Necklace 3.J.Crew Cashmere Long Sleeved Tee 4.Men's Timex Metal Watch 5.J.Crew Wool Flannel Buffalo Plaid Miniskirt 6.HUE Opaque Black Tights 7.Frye Harness Boot

J.Crew Reviews: Collection Embellished Raglan Sweatshirt, Bow Collar Necklace

Intrigued by the idea of a sweatshirt with some sparkle, and appreciative of the fact that the sparkle wasn't smack-dab in the middle of the model's chest as usual, I decided to buy this sweatshirt when it rolled out on the J.Crew website last week.

Collection Embellished Raglan Sweatshirt

Cute, right? I love the way that they styled it online, with jeans, white collared shirt, red flats and red lips. I thought it would be great to wear this sweatshirt to my friend's Christmas party, or maaaaaaybeeeee I could even get away with it to work with last year's Cafe Capris in Wool Check during the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve when everyone will be out on vacay.

My first impression from seeing it through the plastic was that the gray color was darker than pictured online, and less heathered in appearance. Once I had it on, I was disappointed in how short and boxy it was. I liked the weight of the shirt, but the cut just made me look thick.

Side view. Size M. The bottom sort of hangs straight down from my chest, and the sleeves are just a touch short, although not really enough to bother me.

I do love the placement of the beading and the open crewneck. I think that you could size down if your chest is on the small side, and you'd get a more fitted shirt with bracelet-length sleeves.

Close-up of the beading. The crystals are a smoky color, which gives them a more subtle antique look as opposed to stuck on with a Be-Dazzler. The knit could stand to be a little softer, and it would soften in the wash, but how many times are you going to risk washing the shirt, and how soft will it even get with a few light hand-washings? I'd hate to ruin the beading.

 Here's a color comparison with another J.Crew sweatshirt that I bought a few years ago - I think it's one of the Haya sweatshirts but I can't remember (ETA: silver_lining let me know that this is actually the Jaspe Boyfriend Sweatshirt from 2009).

 The Jaspe sweatshirt is one of my favorites, and after I changed into it to walk the dog I knew I'd be sending the Embellished Sweatshirt back. As you can see, a longer length, slimmer fit, and lighter weight is much more flattering on my figure. I'm a little bummed out, but I'm glad that I got to try it on in person.

To change the subject, I had a birthday in October and my awesome mother bought me the Tory Burch bracelet I had been coveting:

Tory Burch Fox Head Hinge Bracelet

 Well, it arrived in the mail after a long backorder, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that it was a cheap piece of crap. It was about as heavy as a wad of tinfoil, and the hinge that allowed it to open and close over my wrist was set on an angle so that the fox's face was skewed to the right. It had cost my mother nearly $250.00 at retail plus tax and shipping, which was appalling to me once I saw it in person, so I said "Eff this!" and immediately called my mom who told me to ship it back. I'll think twice before ordering any Tory Burch jewelry again.

Mom suggested this necklace as a replacement after I pointed it out to her online:

J.Crew Bow Collar Necklace

 She said that it reminded her of a necklace that my grandmother used to wear in the 1950's (my grandmother later told me that her necklace was actually gold leaves with rhinestones, but the style was very similar to the Bow Collar Necklace). Mom was able to buy it on promo as well, making the total less than half of that overpriced bracelet.

 I LOVE it. It's the perfect counterpoint to some of my more tomboyish outfits, and also adds glitz to a simple solid-colored sheath dress. It's adjustable, so you can wear it sitting high over the collarbone...

...or dipped lower over the top of the chest, which is the perfect length to wear on the outside of a collared shirt. I wore it this way on Thanksgiving Day and got tons of compliments, so - in the end - I'm glad that the Fox Bracelet didn't work out after all!

Have you tried any of the items from J.Crew's most recent rollout? What hits or misses have you experienced lately?

J.Crew New Arrivals vs. My Better Judgement

I got into an argument with My Better Judgement this morning over J.Crew's new arrivals.

Sequin Birds Top

Me: I like that! I still like to put birds on things!

MBJ: Have you bought a J.Crew Tee in the past year that has not developed holes under the arms?

Me: No.

MBJ: Do you want to risk having to throw away an $80.00 tee shirt after one wear?

Me: *sigh* No.

MBJ: And let's not forget that 4 years ago you could buy a tee like this for $45.00 that would not get holes in it. 

Me: I know, you're right.

Colorblock Stripe Boatneck Tee

Me: What a pretty color!
MBJ: What did we JUST discuss, like, 8 seconds ago in regards to J.Crew's tee shirts???

Unidentified Silk Tee

Me: What a beautiful tee! And it's silk, so no holes!
MBJ: And it costs $495.00! Are you on crack?
Me: Well, I could get it for 30% off today.
MBJ: Just stop. You'd hate yourself tomorrow.
Me: I know.

Fair Isle Ski Sweater

Me: See, this is a winter staple, I could wear this for years.
MBJ: I'm not going to argue with you on that. Only...you don't wear all of the sweaters you own now.
Me: We've talked about how much that bothers me.
MBJ: It's ok, you're not going to be in the Deep South forever. There will be other sweaters.

Collection Embellished Raglan Sweatshirt

Me: Talk me out of buying this.
MBJ: I don't know if I can.
Me: It is ridiculously impractical, I can't wear a sweatshirt to work, even if it does cost $148.00.
MBJ: You can get it for 25% off if you add a pair of socks or something.
Me: You are really bad at this job.
MBJ: Sometimes I like to wear pretty clothes too, okay???

Boulevard Trench in Windowpane Wool

MBJ: You DO NOT need another coat.
Me: But I don't have any that are printed!
MBJ: Yes you do, remember the camel and red tartan Doncaster trench? Hanging in the closet in your parents' house because you knew you wouldn't get to wear it very much in GA?
Me: Oh.
MBJ: Yeah. Plus, look at that picture. That coat even makes the model look thick through the middle, so you know it would make you look like Mr. Staypuft. Is that what you want?
Me: *sigh* No, it's not.

Collection Sequin Feather Dress

Me: OMG.
MBJ: OMG. If you were cooler, you would totally have someplace to wear this dress over the holidays. Why are you so lame?
Me: Ok, now you're just being a bitch.
MBJ: Whatever, you can't afford it anyway.
Me: If it was a really special event, I'd buy it.
MBJ: It looks short-waisted.
Me: I'd buy a bigger size and get it fitted. Might as well if I was going to spend $1500.00 on a dress.
MBJ: A fabulous dress.
Me: Yes, it is a fabulous dress.
MBJ: I'm sorry for being a bitch before.
Me: Thanks, it's ok. Maybe someday I'll have an exciting reason to drop $1500.00 on a party dress.
MBJ: You'd better hurry, you're getting older and I don't think that saggy boobs go very well with sequins and maribou feathers.
Me: You're being a bitch again....

It is a truth universally acknowledged...

...that you can lose hours of time in the veritable black hole of visual delight that is Pinterest. The "Hey Girl" meme is pretty much played out by now, but - as an Austen freak and Colin Firth fan - I got a big  kick out of these images when I saw them on the Pinniverse:

And, although I'm a member of the "BBC P&P is the ONLY P&P!" camp, I like this image from the KK P&P because I have yet to tire of the "Call Me Maybe" meme:

For realz. I mean, Darcy and Lizzie knew each other for about a year before they got engaged, but most Regency heroines have no problem hitching their wagon to a total stranger after one mug of mulled wine so long as he can lay claim to $5,000 a year! Of course, back then most people died before they were 50, so making hay while the sun still shone was warranted.

I'll be seeing you.

This is a picture of my grandfather. He was 21 years old, serving as an MP in General Patton's 4th Armored Division in Europe during WWII. He passed away two weeks ago at the age of 89.

We shared a middle name, a love of dry roasted sunflower seeds, and a belief in the importance of honesty, reliability, and service to one's community. I never once heard him say the words "I love you" to me or anyone else in my family... but he was a man for whom actions spoke louder than words. If he loved you, you knew it. I miss him today, and I'll miss him for the rest of my life.

On this Veterans Day, I thought I'd do a little post in his honor. He wasn't much for goodbyes; he always said "I'll be seeing you." That was also the title to one of his favorite songs, which was published in 1938 and became a beloved anthem for American and British soldiers serving overseas during WWII. I think of him whenever I hear it.

Ill be seeing you;
In all the old, familiar places;
That this heart of mine embraces;
All day through.

In that small cafe;
The park across the way;
The childrens carousel;
The chestnut tree;
The wishing well.

Ill be seeing you;
In every lovely, summers day;
And everything that's bright and gay;
Ill always think of you that way;
Ill find you in the morning sun;
And when the night is new;
Ill be looking at the moon;
But I'll be seeing you.

J.Crew New Arrivals: I Like One Shirt

This one:

Boy Shirt in Grey Tartan

Depressing but true, this is the only thing from the entire new rollout that I really like. I'm coming to realize that I don't like Tom Mora as a designer...he and I don't mesh well together in regards to our style sensibilities. J.Crew's unofficial tagline has always been "classics with a twist", and now it appears that the "twist" part is "ugly". Blergh. Well, here are my runners-up:

The Emma Top is the newest variation of their sleeveless silk chiffon tops like the Naomi and the Natasha. They are great tops for work under a jacket or cardi, but I'm not sure how that big ol' clown collar will fit under another layer. I might try it to find out.

One of the few knee-length dresses they offer, this Peplum Dress in Stretch Wool is pretty and on-trend (maybe even a little behind the peplum trend, actually). Fit is another story, though, and I'm not sure this is right for my figure.

I do love flannel pajamas, and these Flannel Gingham ones come in navy and fuschia. Mom usually buys me a new set of pajamas for Christmas every year, so this is an easy pick. Also, doesn't that model resemble Katie Holmes quite a bit? I think J.Crew noticed how much she wears their clothes and they're trying to reel her in for some more free publicity ;)

This Cabochon and Crystal Bracelet is different and kind of cool - you can see a better shot of the cabochons on the model in the Bracelet Header. $78.00 for resin, glass, and brass isn't a bad deal; I hope they offer it in more colors eventually.

I like this playful Enameled Fu Dog Bracelet, but I wish they had done the enamel in red or chartreuse. I think it would make a bigger visual impact. What do you think about the new line? Are you a fan of Tom Mora? Can you believe how many freaking pastels they used TWO MONTHS before the big holiday season???

October 16, 2012

Today was the first day that the temperature in Southwest GA was low enough (high = 77 degrees) for me to wear one of my cashmere sweaters. Here is a visual representation of how I felt about that:

Source: C'mon, you know the source.

Emerson Fry Fall 2012

Emerson Fry's Fall 2012 Collection just hit their website this morning! I'm seeing some very nice items: coats, pumps, blouses, trousers...and some very "meh" items: some funky long skirts, a dress that looks too thin to wear in public, etc. Also, I miss seeing Emerson model her own designs. I wanted to BE her in Fall 2010 and Spring 2011. The model that they're using for Fall 2012 looks sort of lost and hungry.

Here's a look at some of my favorites.

Coats











Shoes











Blouses







More of EF's fun Mod Dresses



Cropped Trousers





Pretty Rings



There are also some great items from Spring 2012 hanging out in the sale section at half price.





I'd take a pair of all of those shoes if I could afford them - they're on my "someday" list. I have too many coats as it is, but I'd seriously consider both that Army Coat and the Leopard Linen otherwise. The Lilac Floral Blouse is in my shopping cart, although I'm not ready to bite just yet.

How about you? What do you think of Emerson Fry Fall 2012?