American Eagle: Knit Party Dress Review

American Eagle's Knit Party Dress (item #0393-9125) originally retailed for $34.50, but solid colors are currently on sale for $24.95. It is available in pearl gray, black, berry bloom (a plum color), and chalk (white). It was also available in a number of leaf color prints, but they don't seem to be on the website anymore. AE describes the dress as such:

Get Dressed. Get Tied.
• Softest cotton jersey blend
• Front and back deep V
• Shoulder ties
• Smocking at empire bustline
• V-stitching on edges
• Hits right at the knees

Imported, Machine Wash

I tried this on in a pretty green leaf print. This dress is made of a nice cotton/modal jersey blend, and is a nice, soft fabric. It also moves very nicely. The front crosses over to create a V, and ties at the shoulders.

There is subtle elastic for an empire waist. I don't really like the way it looks from the side. I think it again creates the preggers effect, and my chest looks kind of droopy. Maybe the dress was making it sad.

The back shot is not the best because of the lovely security tag, but I think it is a nice cut. I also like that this dress does not create any VPL headaches - or at least they are covered by the leaf print!

I liked this dress - I think it is a nice, casual spring and summer dress. I didn't pick this one up because I have a ton of dresses, but I do think it is super cute!

What do you think? Do you like this dress? Do you already own it? Do you like it better in the solids or the leaf print?

American Eagle: Boyfriend Blazer Review

This is American Eagle's Boyfriend Blazer (item #0389-1302), which originally retailed for $59.50, and is currently on sale for $49.95. It is a cotton/stretch blend, and comes in white and black. AE describes the jacket as such:

Top off any outfit in our great boyfit blazer.

• Soft sturdy stretch cotton
• Perfect feminine boyfit
• Two large front flap pockets
• Two-button front placket
• Three-buttons on cuffs
• Pinstripe interior lining
• Inside button-close pocket

Imported, Machine Wash

I personally think this blazer runs a little large. I sized down in this jacket from my usual size in AE tops, and there was still wiggle room. Maybe I am just a different size in jackets, or maybe it is designed to fit larger - it is "boyfit" after all.

I really liked this blazer. From the side, it sticks out a bit, but I think a little ironing/steaming and a lot of wear would help mold this jacket into a nice shape.

I also like this jacket because even thought it is a boyfit, it doesn't look boyish or manly at all. I think it is just a nice, relaxed fit, that makes the jacket a really nice staple.

This is how the jacket looks in the front when it is buttoned up.

This is how the jacket looks from the side when it is buttoned up. As you can see, it's definitely not creating extra weight or anything, even if it looked that way when it was open.

I think what makes this jacket different from other white blazers is the details. If you wear the cuffs rolled, there is a cute navy pinstripe cuff detail, which I think is really nice, but subtle at the same time.

The buttonholes are also lined in a pale blue, which I think is a really cute touch.

I initially left this jacket behind, but after I got home and looked at the pictures again, I decided I really liked it, so The Boyfriend was nice enough to take me back to the store the next day and get it for me!

What do you think? Do you like this blazer? Do you own another white blazer?

American Eagle: Crochet Front Dress Review

This is American Eagle's Crochet Front Dress (item #0393-9117), which retails for $39.50. AE describes the dress as such:

Get Dressed. Get Crochet.

• Our softest cotton modal blend

• Crochet neckline detailing

• Slim braided racerback straps

• Hidden shelf bra

• Long and loose fit

• Skinny braided belt

• Length hits right at knees

Imported, Machine Wash

This dress is alpha-sized, and comes in this dark coral color and also in navy blue, according to online. I cannot remember if there were other colors in-store.

I honestly just tried this dress on just for the blog. It didn't do a whole lot for me on the hanger, but I thought I'd give it a try.

The dress fits true-to-size, and is a loose, casual shape. It has a rope-like belt that ties around the middle to create a little more shape on the waist. I think the dress looked slightly better in person than on the hanger. As for the crochet on the top, I don't particularly care for crochet, and I thought the crochet on the top of this dress looked a little cheap.

From the side, the dress is very shapeless. You'd have to pull the belt a bit tighter to create any waist from the side.

The back was interesting, but I still don't like the way it hangs in the back. And it's too clingy on the behind - I really dislike cotton or jersey dresses where I constantly have to check to make sure I don't have VPLs.

I could see this being a cute dress to throw on for the beach or something, but other than that, I just can't see myself wearing it. I really disliked the crochet top and the shapelessness of the dress, so I left it behind.

What do you think? Do you like this dress? Where would you wear it? What do you think of crochet?

American Eagle: Cross Back Dress Review

This is American Eagle's Cross-Back Dress (item #1393-9148), which retails for $34.50. AE describes the dress as such:

Get Dressed. Get Racy.

• Softest cotton jersey

• Sexy scoop neck

• Vertical pleating on front

• Racy X-back straps

• Tie at back

• Length hits at knees

Imported, Machine Wash

This dress is alpha-sized, and comes in white, grey, and black online. I believe it is also available in some prints in-store. The dress is a cotton/modal blend, is very soft, and moves very nicely.

The dress fits true-to-size. It has pleating on the front bodice, and wider cotton/modal straps that criss-cross in the back.

From the front, the dress cuts a fairly nice figure, but from the side, not so much. The Boyfriend says I look preggers (I'm not). I don't know if it's the angle (we were in a tiny dressing room), or the dress, but I'm not that interested in finding out.

The back is a little too clingy. I hate having to wear special underwear with casual, cotton dresses. I think the back also borders on being a bit too busy.

I left this dress behind, because I already own a few other cute white dresses, and this one was just okay for me. I wanted to like it more than I did, but owing the weird shapes it created on me, I am definitely okay with passing on this one.

What do you think? Do you like this dress? Do you own it?

American Eagle: 15% Off

American Eagle's website was experiencing some technical difficulties last night, and for the inconvenience, they are giving you 15% off of your next online order. This offer has no required minimum, and is good until April 7, 2009.

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?

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?

A Worthy Substitute: American Eagle for Coach

Now, I wonder how many of you are scoffing at the subject of this worthy substitute already - does she really think you can substitute American Eagle for Coach? On some levels, no, of course not - Coach is Coach (unless it is Factory Outlet Coach), and American Eagle is American Eagle. However, on other levels, I do believe you can substitute something for Coach, and I feel that the bag by AE could be a very worthy, and very affordable (especially relatively speaking) alternative to Coach. [And in case you might think that I feel this way because I don't own any Coach, I do, and plenty of it.]

Within the past couple of years (cannot remember exactly which one), Coach debuted a gorgeous pattern - its Bleecker Tattersall, which consisted of muted shades of colors (blue, green, orange, and pink) on a cream background. Many of the Bleecker Tattersall items also include a silhouette of a horse and coach, along with the Coach logo. I really loved this pattern, because it reminded me of vintage, classic, and modern pieces all at the same time.

I even had the opportunity to purchase a Bleecker Tattersall tote at the Coach Factory Outlet store at Christmas. I saw another customer walking around with it, and hunted throughout the entire store until I grabbed the last one. Coach was also running a coupon promotion that day to sweeten the deal. I went back and forth on the tote a few times, as I wasn't completely enamored of the way that it closed on top.

When he heard about the bag, the Boyfriend told me to go ahead and buy it, and he would give me the money for it, as an early Christmas present. In the end though, I returned it, as I already have a wonderful Coach bag, and decided the top closure on the Bleecker Tattersallwas too much on the dislike side for me to keep the bag. A huge factor was also the price - the bag, at the Outlet, cost almost $200, and I couldn't justify that for yet another bag.

Now, it's not like I am walking around regretting that I didn't get the bag (I got some great cookbooks instead!), but when I saw this bag at American Eagle last week, it immediately called to mind the Bleecker Tattersall. I think it is the pattern of the bag - those soft, muted colors on the cream background - that made me consider this as a worthy substitute for Coach.

This bag is called the Plaid Mini Duffle (style #0427-7222), and retails for $59.50. Still a little on the pricey side, but much easier to swallow than $200. AE describes the bag as such:

The perfect girly accessory to grab when you're on the go.
• Soft, sturdy cotton
• Spring plaid pattern
• Bright color interior lining
• Soft leather straps
• AEO logo keyfob attached
• Classic duffle shape
• Three interior pockets

Imported, Machine Wash

From what I recall, the bag is lined in a muted pink color (a little brighter than the pink stripe on the outside), and is very roomy. Don't let the "duffle" in the name fool you - it's shaped like a duffle bag, but still looks like a nice, girly purse. I would imagine the leather straps are what raise the price on this a bit (don't recall any other purses that were this expensive from AE before), but they are a very nice, classic touch.

The bag is fairly light, and the handle drop is nice and long, so you can carry this in your hand, on your arm, and just as easily throw it over your shoulder. Another huge plus for this bag is that it is machine washable. Speaking from experience, it is next to impossible to clean a Coach bag yourself, even if it is a fabric bag (as opposed to leather).

The AEO keychain is an okay touch, and actually reminds me of Coach's tags on their bags. I'm not sure I would keep the AEO one on my bag if I got it though - I'm not sure I'd want to listen to all those chains and tags jangling around together!

So what do you think? Would you consider the AE Plaid Mini Duffle as an alternative to a Coach bag?

Just for reference, the Coach print at the beginning of this post is no longer available through Coach. They have updated the Tattersall print this year to include some scribbling (below).

A Worthy Substitue: American Eagle for J.Crew

J.Crew is currently selling a gorgeous Fireball-Charm Necklace (item #14649) for $55. J.Crew describes the necklace as such:

We love the way the charm sparkles. Set on a shiny 12K gold-plated brass chain, it boasts brilliant hand-set Czech-glass rhinestones on a brass fireball. Lovely alone or layered. Signature spring clasp closure. Import. Length: 31".

I really like this necklace, but I do not wear a lot of jewelry, and couldn't justify spending so much on this piece, even if it is very pretty.

I did, however, find the necklace below at American Eagle today, while browsing their sales. I don't have a lot of details, but I think that this necklace provides a very worthy substitute to J.Crew's. I believe it is even called Fireball necklace, because the matching earrings are called Fireball earrings. Sadly, I could not find the necklace online.

The detailing is not as intricate as J.Crew's - the faux pearls are a lot bigger, and raised silver bumps are used for shine instead of rhinestones. The chain length is fairly long (drops below the bust), but does not appear to be as long as J.Crew's. For just $15.50 though, I think this is a great buy!


Do you like this necklace? (If so, keep your eyes open for a future Monday giveaway!) Do you think it is a worthy substitute for J.Crew's Fireball-Charm necklace?