Monday Giveaway: J.Crew Magic Wallet

The Giveaway
Today's Monday Giveaway is for a magic wallet from J.Crew. It is a bright pink floral pattern, in silk, with leather trim. This magic wallet is from the outlets, and retails for $19.50.

This is how J.Crew describes the magic wallet:

It opens from both sides—that's why we call it "magic." Exterior pockets for credit cards and ID. Interior features elastic bands, perfect for holding cash and business cards.

How To Win
If you would like to win the magic wallet, all you have to do is e-mail me by midnight tonight. If that link doesn't work, you can e-mail me at jadorethesestores AT gmail DOT com. I will randomly pick a winner and announce it tomorrow morning. Good luck!

Wishlist: J.Crew Sorbet-Stripe Cardigan

I'm adding another new type of post: Wishlist posts. These are exactly what they sound like: items on my wishlist. This is partly because some online retailers (ahem, J.Crew!) don't let you save what's in your cart. Plus, I like the idea of having all of my wishlist items consolidated in one place, rather than spread out in multiple online carts (this also makes life easier on The Boyfriend if he ever feels like buying me any clothes :)).

So here is the first one - the Sorbet-Stripe Cardigan from J.Crew (item #13899), in orchid pewter. I wasn't sure if I would like the two pocket thing going on in the front, but I really do like this sweater. The orchid pewter is a soft grey, with pretty lilac grim and pale green stripes. My favorite colors all in one sweater!

The sweater is super soft and light, but it's also fairly long. I'm holding off for the time being, as the price is a little high ($79.50) for a thin, rayon sweater.

The Limited: Free Shipping on $100 Order

The Limited sent around this (cryptic) e-mail promotion to announce free shipping on online orders of $100 or more. Use code 757 at checkout. It's unclear when this promotion expires.

OOTD: March 30, 2009

So I've decided to try out the outfit-of-the-day post. I can't make any promises that I'll keep up with it, but I'll give it my best shot.

A couple things to note though: I work from home at least twice a week (on Tuesdays and Thursdays right now), and on those days, you can usually find me hanging around in sweatpants and a t-shirt or sweatshirt...or my pajamas even! On the weekends, I also usually wear sweatpants if I can get away with it! So, you most likely won't be seeing outfit-of-the-day posts on those days, because it's not that exciting, and sweats and tees will get old pretty quickly!

So for today's outfit, I'm wearing:

• Short sleeved, empire waist brown sweater (Old Navy)
• Bright pink Cotton Tafetta Nicky Skirt (JCrew)
• Pale pink slingbacks (Highlights from Payless)

I think my favorite part of the outfit is my shoes. I got them from Payless when I was still in college, and they are still holding up great!

J.Crew: Spotlight on The Leather Gallery Satchel

J.Crew is promoting their bags, using their Leather Gallery Satchel ($298!). I have to say that I do kind of like this bag, but I couldn't carry white leather - I'd be too worried about it getting dirty all the time! The only J.Crew bags I own are the canvas/cotton (not sure which) totes, in different prints (stripes, butterflies, and pink with white accents).

What do you think? Do you like J.Crew's bags? Do you carry white leather?

Victoria's Secret: Free Shipping on $100

Victoria's Secret is continuing their free shipping offer (mentioned here) on orders of $100 or more. The code is still FREE100 when you checkout, but is now good until April 27, 2009.

Fashion: Express Jumpsuits

Express is touting the jumpsuit as This Season's Hottest Look. I'm not sure I can behind this one. The 70s references aside, I just don't love it (I'm not even sure I like it). Plus, the one thing I can't stop thinking about is when you go to the bathroom, you have to basically take off your top, too, right?

I bet these would look great on the right people (I'm thinking long legs, especially), but I

would be afraid of looking even shorter in one of these.

What do you think? Do you like jumpsuits? Do you own one?

Victoria's Secret: Dresses

Victoria's Secret is promoting their line of dresses, which start at just $35. I have to say that I love the dress on Marisa here, but I'm not sure about the price ($65).

I don't own many dresses from VS - in fact, I don't think I own any. I ordered a linen shirt dress from them last summer, and when it arrived, I couldn't stand it. It didn't fit properly, and was too sheer for my liking, so it went back. That was just that one dress though, and I'd happily try another VS dress if I liked it and the price was right.

Victoria's Secret: Free Shipping with Pants Purchase

Victoria's Secret is offering free shipping and returns on their pants, through March 31, 2009. Use the code PANTS09 when checking out.

As I mentioned before, I love VS's work pants - they are a super nice material, and very good quality - I have had mine for a number of years now, and they are still holding up, even with some heavy tailoring!

Express: 1MX Shirts Dollars Off

Express is offering $20 off each when you purchase 3 or more of their popular men's 1MX shirt. These shirts range from $49.50 to $59.50, so $20 off is a decent savings if you are in the market for some new work shirts. The Boyfriend has a bunch of these, and they are great shirts - good for dressing up a lot or a little.

Express is also offering $10 off each shirt if you buy 2 or more. This offer doesn't say whether it's good in-store as well as online, and it doesn't mention a promotion end date.

Monday Giveaway: Delayed For This Week

Hi all! The Monday Giveaway will be delayed one day today, to Tuesday. I don't have the pictures of the item I'm giving away this week, so please check back tomorrow!

J.Crew: Jenna's Picks Update

J.Crew has updated Jenna's Picks on their website. Over the next couple days, I'll be featuring each individual item in a post, so please check back!

Banana Republic: 30% Off Sunglasses and Fragrances

Banana Republic is offering 30% off select sunglasses and fragrances through March 30, 2009. This offer is good in-store and online, and doesn't require a coupon or code.

Will you check out this offer?

Banana Republic: Shoes and Bags

Banana Republic is promoting their shoes and bags with a colorful e-mail promoting and The Sandal and The Tote. I don't like T-strap sandals on myself, but I do love the colors featured. I also love the tote, but it's a little pricey for me, and I worry too much with a leather bag.

What do you think? Do you like these sandals and bags? Do you like these colors?

American Eagle: Floral Tube Top Review

This is another tube top from American Eagle (item #0363-9371). I cannot find it online, but it retails for $24.50, and was available in other colors, including solids, in the store.

This tube top also fits true to size, and I like this one better than the previous tube top I reviewed.

I think that the lack of ruffles keeps this tube top nice and simple, and I prefer this floral print to the other one. The banded bottom keeps the tube top in place without being tight or sitting awkwardly on the waist.

This tube top has a built-in shelf bra, and I think is a fairly flattering shape. I think it blouses nicely without creating a belly or adding extra weight. The fabric is nice and light, and would be great in the spring and the summer.

I still don't like the back view, which is probably why I normally wear sweaters with tube tops. Like the other top, I left this one behind, mainly because tube tops just aren't really my thing.

American Eagle: Ruffle Floral Tube Top Review

American Eagle's Ruffle Floral Tube Top (item #0363-9369) is currently on clearance for $14.95, for an original price of $24.50. It comes in yellow (with blue accents), pink (with orange and grey accents), and grey (with other grey accents). AE describes the top as such:

Flirt your way through every spring party.

• Softest cotton modal blend
• Pretty ruffle on neckline
• Gathered Ruffle on bottom hem
• Watercolor floral print
• Hidden shelf bra
• Flattering tube top shape

I'm not the biggest fan of tube tops on myself, but this one look really cute on the hanger, so I thought I'd give it a try, especially after seeing it the past few times I've been in-store.

It fits true to size, which is nice, because then you don't have to worry about unsightly top spillage - like the dreaded "muffin top", but for your chest.

The fabric is on the thinner side, but not so thin that it feels cheap or anything. This would be a nice spring (under a cardigan) or summer (alone) top. I think it's a nice, season-appropriate print.

I wasn't sure how I would like the ruffle on top. I didn't mind it too much, but I didn't really like the ruffle hem on the bottom. The ruffle/blouse hem is created using elastic, but I am not that crazy about the way it looks.

I don't think it's too flattering from the back, at least not the way it's sitting in this picture. I think it makes my upper back look a little broader than it really is, and I don't like the way the bottom ruffle is hanging on my waist. Based on this back picture alone, I am glad I left it behind.

What do you think? Do you like this top? Have you tried it on?

J.Crew: Dressy Jersey Ruffle Dress Review

This is J.Crew's Dressy Jersey Ruffle Dress (item #13613), which comes in grey (heather ash), black, and green (parsley).

This dress is alpha-sized, and fits comfortably true to size. I think because of the flow of this dress, you could get away with sizing down, but I am happy with my regular dress size. The silhouette creates a nice waist, too (at least I think so!).

This was one of those dresses that I wasn't sure about when I saw it in pictures, but I liked it quite a bit when I tried it on. I think the ruffle in the front is quite cute, and is versatile enough to dress up or go more casual with a tank underneath.

The black color is definitely my favorite - I think it shows the elastic in the waistband in the back much less than the grey one (as seen in the picture above). The fabric is a nice, soft jersey, and moves and hangs very nicely.

This dress hits a bit below my knees, and I'm happy with the length.

I really like this dress. I didn't initially take it home, but after I looked over these pictures again, the Boyfriend was nice enough to take me back to the store to pick it up. I can't wait to wear it this summer!

What do you think? I know there were some negative reviews of this dress, but have you tried it on?

American Eagle: Slim Striped Camping Shirt Review

This is American Eagle's Slim Striped Camping shirt (item #0355-5064), which retails for $34.50. It also comes in a pink and blue stripe. AE describes the search as such:

Lightweight, versatile and perfect for your summer wardrobe.

• Soft tissue cotton poplin

• Slim fit silhouette

• Two small button pockets

• Color stripe pattern

• Rolled button-tab 3/4 sleeves

• Pop color interior trim

• Full button-up front

The shirt fit me true to size in my regular AE size, and the cotton was pretty soft. The stripe is also a nice, thin striped pattern, which I also like.

The shirt is a little bit thin for my liking, and I probably wouldn't wear it without a tank or a shirt underneath. It also has cute tabs for holding up the rolled sleeves, and two front button pockets.

I think the shirt looks a little nicer from the back, just because I think it looks more fitted from the back.

I would definitely wear this just as styled - untucked, with the sleeves casually rolled up. I think it is a great, casual shirt that you can also dress up or down depending on the accessories. I left this one behind because I already own a few "camp" shirts from other stores (from past seasons) that I like better than this one.

What do you think? Do you like camp shirts? Do you own any? Would you pick up this one?

American Eagle: Smocked Bottom Tee

American Eagle's Smocked Bottom Tee (item #2371-9338) has been available for at least a few weeks in-store. It is available in various solids ($19.50) and flower prints ($24.50).

I have seen this shirt in-store a couple of times, but it never has a price tag on it. I wasn't sure what I thought of the elastic banded bottom, but it looked kind of cute on the hanger, so I thought I'd give it a try.

The shirt fits true to size, but if you wanted a slightly more fitted look (as fitted as you can get in a blousy shirt like this), you could consider sizing down. The sleeves are elasticized, so sizing down could also be tight on your arms, so I would recommend just trying it on if you're unsure.

The fabric is pretty thin and light, but it's not see-through, and I didn't find it to be cheap feeling either. I think the shirt hangs nicely, and it has a nice scoopneck.

The only thing I wasn't sure about was the elastic banded bottom. If I pulled it down all the way, I wasn't super crazy about the look, but if I pulled it up and "bloused" it, it was a little too short for my liking.

Overall, I really like this shirt. I didn't take it home partly because I wasn't sure how much it was (and didn't feel like asking), and partly because I wasn't sure about the elastic bottom. Now that I've seen pictures, I would definitely pick this one up.

What do you think? Do you like this shirt? How would you wear the bottom?

J.Crew: Printed Mini Skirt Review

This is J.Crew's printed mini skirt (item #13?51), which originally retailed for $78, and was on sale at my local store for $49.99. It came in a variety of prints, including the grey deco dot print.

I picked this up in my usual skirt size, and I think it fits true to size.

It has diagonal on-seam pockets, and I think the buttons on the pockets are a nice touch. It also has back welt pockets.

It is made of a nice stretch cotton, and I thought the print was nice and fun. I also liked this skirt because I don't need to worry about VPLs with it.

I didn't get this skirt because I'm not really comfortable wearing mini skirts (and I can't imagine how short this would be on a taller person). I prefer longer, just-above-the-knee skirts, so I left this one behind.

What do you think? Do you own any J.Crew mini skirts?

Boston JCAs Meet-Up

The Boston JCAs will be meeting up tomorrow, March 29, 2009. We are planning on meeting at the Au Bon Pain in the Prudential Center at 11:00 AM. We will be eating first and then heading over to the J.Crew in Copley Place. Hope to see you there!

J.Crew: New Arrivals

J.Crew's latest arrivals showed up on their website today, although several pieces had already popped up in store.

Some of the pieces I reviewed earlier this week are now available online, so here is an update on those:

• The slub-cotton square-neck short-sleeve tee (item #13621)
• The pleated lawn skirt (regular item #14531 and petite (!) item #14986)
• The cotton medallion short (item #12390): I noticed that the pattern seems more random in the picture online, so maybe I just picked up a pair with a different pattern layout.
• The chino critter short (item #12886): These shorts appear as a much lighter purple online than they are in real life.
• The short-sleeve stretch broadcloth shirt (regular item #13326 and petite item #13347)

The white emroidered dress and patio dress are not available online, at least from what I could tell.

There are also men's new arrivals.

J.Crew also announced Crewcuts new arrivals with an e-mail. I love the dress on the left - I picked up a very similar one (I don't think it has pockets) for the Boyfriend's goddaughter at the Outlets not too long ago.

Old Navy: Spring Sale Up to 40% Off

Old Navy is running an online-only spring sale, with select items up to 40% off. It's unclear how long this sale will last for.

Banana Republic FO: Cardholder Appreciation Event

Banana Republic is offering Gap family cardholders 25% off their purchase of $100 or more if you shop at a Banana Republic Factory Outlet from March 30 to April 5, 2009. As long as you use your Gap, Old Navy, or BR credit card, and present this coupon, you should be able to take advantage of this discount.

I'm not sure if this coupon is one-time use or not (hence the blackout of the barcode), so I'm not sure if I can share it. If anyone else got this coupon, would you be so kind as to compare codes with me (via e-mail) to see if I can share this with everyone?

Gap: Spring Sale Up to 40% Off

Gap has announced their spring sale, which is going on for a limited time, and features items at up to 40% off. This sale is good in-store and online.

Will you check out this sale?

The Limited: New Markdowns Up to 60%

The Limited has announced new markdowns, with up to 60% off the original retail price. This offer is good online and in-store (except for at the Mall of America).

Will you check out this sale?