ode to j.crew favorites of 2010.

It's hard to believe 2010 is over. It's been a good year, and I'm excited to see what 2011 has in store. Inspired by others in blogland, here are my favorite J.Crew pieces of 2010:

Vintage Bateau Top -- I have worn the camel and charcoal colorways a million times and will continue to do so. Classic, chic and comfortable.

Coralie Cami -- Love this tank! Great all-year long, alone and under cardis.

Linen-Cotton Tiered Bateau Shell -- Not sure if everyone loved this tank like I did, but I adored it. Yes, ruffle mania, but in a way that was flattering and comfortable.

Arrow Sweater Jacket -- Along with most other JCAs, I am a huge fan (even though there has been pilling). They are cozy and warm and came in fabulous colors, especially this caramel.

Zip-Side Sweatshirt -- A long-time sweats hater, this is a recent purchase, and already and major favorite. Amazingly flattering, chic and comfy. Love!

Merino Zebra Vintage-Stripe Cardigan -- I'm pretty new to anything animal-printed, but this one is a major favorite. Honorable mention to the mini in the same print, which I wore all summer.

Double-Serge Pencil Skirt in Nightfall Blue -- Y'all know I looove me a pencil skirt. That plus this gorgeous color = perfection. (HM to ochre, which I didn't get, but loved to see on everyone.)

Impressionist, Watercolor Garden & Sunshine Peony Pencil Skirts -- Loooved these skirts all summer, and can't wait to pull them out again next summer. Beautiful colors and prints, flattering skirts, scream summer.

Cotton Check Shirt -- The navy is my winner (HM to the gray one as well). I wore this over and over. Goes with everything, classic.

Tartan Boy Shirt -- Another classic, felt very old-school J.Crew, in a good way. Fabulous for the holidays.

Ruffled Carly Dress -- This one surprised me -- I reached for it all.the.time. So cute, and always drew compliments. Love both the white and navy.

Fleurette Bow Cami -- Picked it up on super sale, and ended up really loving the print and colors. HM to the skirt as well.

Broken-in Boyfriend Chino Short -- I love the slouchy, rolled-up look. J.Crew has always done shorts well.

Crystal Milano and Crysal Carlyle Bracelets -- I joined in the bling mania this year, and these two were my favorites. The milano was perfectly sized, and toughened up some "pretty" outfits a bit. The Carlyle was just pretty.

Northern Lights and Pearl Twisted Hammock Necklace -- Both of these necklaces get a ton of wear and add something special to each outfit. I've thrown them on with hoodies and fancy dresses.

Bayberry Washed Wool Scarf -- I adore the print and colors of this scarf. It's my go-to accessory.

Marche Satchel -- I LOVE this purse. Everything about it: size, color, the chain, ability to wear cross-body, how it closes. Everything.

Icon Trench -- Timeless, well-made, can't-say-enough-about-it.

Whew, I had a lot of favorites.  Were any of these your favorites as well? Did I miss any?
Wishing all of you a happy and healthy new year!!

peeking at some new arrivals...

Ok, so it's boring lying in bed, and I started catching up on some cute new arrivals popping up. Spring rollouts are just around the corner! Here are the ones that caught my eye:

J.Crew
Space-Dyed Hoodie in heather ash ($59.50) -- My store has had this in for a bit, but it's finally online. Love this and picked it up with a previous store-wide extra discount. The FP is actually quite reasonable. Stick with your regular size in this one.  It's a nice cream with striated gray lines. Thumbs up!

Ripple Stripe Pencil Skirt ($108) -- Priced higher than I think they used to be, no? I like the orange! Haven't seen it in person, but J.Crew does the pencil skirt best.

Lace Dobby Skirt ($78) -- Pretty! I love lace. Cute and casual. Short though, boo, at 15 3/4".

LemLem Samson Wrap ($112) -- Fabulous colors -- I adore blue and orange together.

Land's End Canvas

Bella Mid-Height Clogs ($88) -- How cute are these? Love! Both colors are perfection.

Chambray Drawstring Waist Shirtdress ($69.50) -- Looks classic and comfortable.

















Sadie Open Toe Quarter Strap Espadrilles ($78) -- Great color choices here -- chocolate, navy and camo green and love that part of the back strap stays that gorgeous cognac color.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
L.L. Bean

Silk Habutai Stripe Dress ($275) -- Well, it's obviously high priced, but I love this silouette and collar.
 

Crinkle Silk Shirt ($85) -- Pretty shape and colors.

Anthropologie

Lengthy Days Vest ($128) -- Love this as a nice basic. Bit pricey though at FP.

Swept Swag Sweatshirt ($68) -- Cute dressed-up sweats. :)

I'm definitely all set for winter, so it's fun to see the spring clothes starting up. As of January 1, I'm on shopping ban, so I'll just have to hope favorites make it to great sale down the line. :) 

popping in!

Hi ladies,
Sorry to have gone completely MIA the past week on you!  No time up at my parents' and no Internet service at the in-laws, and returned home yesterday.  We had a lovely Christmas, and really enjoyed our family time. The trip ended a bit on the rough side, as everyone got a bad stomach virus.  I'm still recovering, so will probably be resuming regular blogging after the new year.  (But did everyone get their J.Crew 30% off boxes? I got mine and actually didn't even have the energy to open them yet, if you can imagine!)

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and has a fabulous New Year's Eve!!

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.
~ Oprah Winfrey

anthro tag sale!

Good morning ladies! I just wanted to first let you know that I'll only be popping in and out for the next week or so, as we're roadtripping for the holidays, and will have spotty service on the InterWebs (but I'm here most of today). So have a WONDERFUL rest of the week and enjoy the holidays!!

Second, the Anthropologie Tag Sale is starting today!  New markdowns PLUS the extra 25% off of sale is still going on! It's online and in-store (I've heard in-store is a bit better, but we'll see).  I've already placed a little order for a couple pieces that have been on my wishlist a while, and didn't want to chance missing in store. Including these pretties:

Cloaked in Roses Jacket

Set Free Cardigan

Check out Roxy's Effortless Anthropologie post for a full list of everything on sale!  Are you getting anything? Do tell!  :)

review of tea collection for women.

Tea Collection has been a favorite of mine for the little one's clothes. Very well made, interesting designs, not too cutesy for a boy.  Loved to see their women's line return, which I mentioned here when it debuted.  Alas, the prices were just a bit too high for me to try out.  I was thrilled when I saw a blog offer a link to a "private sale" a few weeks ago that included free shipping and prices at super rock-bottom. I decided to give them a try, loving that the pieces were very mix-and-match-able based on the photos. I am absolutetly thrilled with them!

I ordered the Rhapsody Merino Cardigan in raw umber, the Vaci Jacquard Cardigan, the Secession Vine Print Tee, and a scarf that is now sold out. I ordered smalls in everything, and could have probably done XS in the sweaters, but wasn't sure. Since the sale was Final Sale, I was cautious and went a bit bigger. The sweater arms are a bit long on me, but not terribly so. Otherwise, I'm fine with the sizing, as the sweaters are belted. They are also CRAZY soft. The shirt fits really nicely and is longer than expected, which I loved. The quality is just as wonderful as expected. Total mix and match ready-made outfits! Throw on some skinnies and boots, and done. 

I'm sorry to say that the clothes are all back up to full price now. However, if you can get a deal on them, I highly recommend them. I'll keep an eye out for any more sales!

polyvore to real life: sequin henley over white shirt.

Hello ladies!  I recently saw a really cute idea styled in my J.Crew store, and wanted to try it out with what's in my closet. The mannequin was wearing the drapey sequin tank in natural over a white perfect shirt, with jeans.  I have the white shirt and substituted the sequin-stripe henley tank, and ended up liking the look. I think the wider trouser pants balance the look nicely.  I forgot to throw on the pearls, which I think would add a bit. Tucking in the white shirt doesn't work IMO. I also like a big cozy sweater draped over it as well. I do think the drapey tank in that natural colorway would still look best, but this still works.What do you think?

Polyvore:

sequin-stripe henley over shirt by shopwithm

Real Life:

Have a wonderful day!

more j.crew sale pics! sale's been extended...

We'll have to see if J.Crew re-stocks online tomorrow, b/c pickings are pretty slim at this point in the sale section. I've had some good luck in store the past couple days. Here are the two items I took home that were really good deals:

Heidi dress in wool flannel -- This is $119 currently online, but was priced at $49.99 in my store, so with the extra 30% off, only $35! I couldn't really tell what this dress was about online, so pretty much passed over it. Glad I tried it on in store, b/c it's adorable! Love that waist detail. I went with a size 2 here. I think the neckline is a touch low, but definitely fine for parties. If not, it needs a little cami. Think it's a classic dress that will wear well. It's nice to have a LBD with a sleeve actually. Sorry, the pics of the waist detail didn't work out and I ran out of time to re-shoot. :)

Matte Jersey Marot Dress -- (s/o online) Ok, I know this dress has gotten a lot of hate in the blogging world. The sleeves are a bit too long and make it appear more matronly. But I love the color and love the drape over the tummy area. Here's the thing, it was priced at $25, so only freaking $17.50 after promo. Ok, for that price, I can work some styling, and even maybe have my tailor take up the sleeves!  Here it is just belted, and then styled up -- cute!

(Edited Suede jacket was recently only $50 on sale at Anthro -- if your store still has one, you'd get an extra 25% with the current sale. Love it.  Boots are the recently arrived Unisa Ritchie Boots, currently on Piperlime for $50 - a steal!! LOVE them! They fit TTS and fit quite nicely on my skinny calves w/o being too tight -- perfect over skinnies. The necklace is the s/o Anthro Tour de Jewels. Belt is s/o Ruffled Cincher from Anthro.)

I also tried on the Super 120's Petale Dress and thought it was lovely as well. It was priced *I think* at $49.99 in store, so a great deal. I just have a favorite LBtankD already.

And can I also just tell you the most exciting thing!?  The doorbell just rang and it was a nice woman wearing an elf hat. Behind her was a big Coca-Cola truck. She says "Happy Holidays! This is for you!" And it was a (reusable) bag with 24 small cans of Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero. Free! Just for fun! Don't you just love the holidays?

TGIF OOTD

Good morning and TGIF! ETA: J.Crew has extended the 30% off through Monday! Hopefully they'll restock...  Last day for the 30% off at J.Crew (wonder if they'll do anything for the final days leading up to Christmas? Or will they start up the dreaded final sale?). 

This is my OOTD for playgroup. It's a terrible pic, sorry. Wearing lots o' layers: J.Crew cotton-wool ruffle dress, J.Crew Arrow Sweater-Jacket, J.Crew bayberry scarf, jeggings from...I think Kohls?, La Canadienne boots.

Will be back later this afternoon with some Polyvore to real life pics, so check back!

j.crew 30% off in-store reviews & pics.

After being away from my local J.Crew for several days, I was curious to see what they had in stock with the 30% off sale items. I also had to make some big returns (Colletta :( and other sale pieces that didn't work out), and pick up a few gifts.  I was actually quite happy to see quite a huge selection, and the store was open nice and early, with nobody in there with me.  Here are the highlights:

Metallic Beach Cardigan (silver) -- down to $29.99 plus 30% off! Wowza. I already have this in a small and love it. I tried in on with a sale tee that was pretty ($19.99) (ETA: Beady Falls Tee - thanks IRL!).

ETA: Starry Night Mini (sorry, I called it the bell skirt before) -- this was marked down to $59.99 (FP online now), so a nice deal with the discount. I thought it was actually really cute, better than expected. It has a comfy elastic waist, and I didn't think it was obscenely short or anything. Nice for a holiday party! This was a size 4.

Severn Lace Mini -- This is a size 4, and marked to $59.99 as well. I never had tried this one on before, but I was pleasantly surprised by it, even with the elastic waist. Wasn't quite as mini as I expected, b/c I wore it a bit lower on the waist. I think it would be adorable with just a white tee and some sandals, but also for winter with tights and a cashmere turtleneck.  I'm wearing it with the sequin sweatshirt (in a small) -- the dark one is on sale for $49.99, but this one is still FP in store at $98. I like this colorway the best by far. It was slouchy and comfortable, and even though it's a lot of damn sequins, it was so craaazy in the ivory.

Zip-side Sweatshirt -- I have the lighter gray one, and did want the dark heather charcoal one, but only at a rock bottom price. It was down to $19.99, so yep, that's rock bottom to me. This is an XS.

There was also another sweatshirt tee -- I'm not sure if it's the tissue one though, b/c it seemed a bit weightier? It was super soft, but a bit on the see-through side. This is an XS and it was $9.99 plus discount.

Gilded Sweater Jacket -- Forgot to snap the tag on this one, but I'm pretty sure it was $49.99 in store. This is a medium (was trying on for my sis), so was too big for me. I actually quite liked this one on. Cozy and I didn't notice itchiness. A little sparkle, but mute.

*Crazy deals alert*

There were a ton of what I think are Long-Sleeve Perfect Shirt in various colors marked down to $4.99 (final sale) plus discount! I snagged a cobblestone color, which I love. It looks like all the colors that are priced at $45 online right now. er, a bit of a price difference.

The Silk Twylas (I think that's this tank?) were also marked down to $4.99 FS in the charcoal, bright plum, light pink (natural?) and olive colorways.  I have the olive one and really like it, nice and simple. I took home the plum and light pink one (and now will probably return the Muse b/c it's too similar). I'm wearing a size 2 and the underarm hole was fine.
 

This is the natural color, underneath a natural Merino Infinity Cardigan (which was $29.99 plus discount).

Ok, share with me what all you're getting with this 30% sale! Anything not work out as planned?

ETA: Forgot that I also saw the Cobblestone Pearl Bracelet for $50, so $35 with the discount. It's beautiful in person, well worth $35 IMO.