Anthropologie: Above-A-Blue-Sky Skirt Review

This is Anthropologie's Above-A-Blue-Sky skirt (style #920067), which retails for $68. It is alpha-sized, and is available in this one pattern, multi. It is available in petites and regular. The skirt is by Edme and Esyllte, and Anthropologie describes it as such:

In Edme & Esyllte's topsy-turvy paradise, wildflowers flourish atop the deep turquoise heavens.

• Side pockets
• Pull-on styling
• Cotton; cotton lining
• Machine wash
• Regular: 18"L
• Petite: 16.5"L

I was instantly in love with this skirt when I saw it. I tried it on in a size small, and it fits true-to-size. There is some flexibility in the sizing, as there is elasticizing smocking at the back waistband which gives you some stretch in the waist. The size small fit me comfortably, so if you are on the small end of a medium or higher end of an extra small, you could also try a small.

The fabric on this skirt is a nice, light cotton. The skirt is lined in cotton as well, and the skirt moves pretty well. It's pretty forgiving on your bottom half without adding a lot of volume, and I think it's a pretty flattering shape overall. I tried this skirt on in the regular, and I like the length, as it hits just at the knees.

The skirt has an overall sort of wildflower/meadow pattern, with a wide teal band on the bottom. I think the pattern is really fun and whimsical, and is really colorful, so can work with a ton of top colors. For the most part, I think this is a casual skirt.

This was my first (and so far only) trip to Anthropologie, and this was one of many really cute things I tried on, but one of only two things I ended up taking home. I love Anthropologie's stuff, but a lot of it is pretty pricey, in my opinion. I do think it is a nice place to get some really feminine, pretty pieces and can't wait to check it out again!

What do you think? Do you like this skirt? Have you seen it or tried it on? Do you own it? What do you think of offering it in petite and regular, but not tall?

J.Crew: Ink Dot Printed Claudine Dress Review

This is J.Crew's Printed Claudine Dress (item #15194), which retails for $148. I've added Ink Dot to the front of the name because the pattern is sort of reminiscent of that, and is a bit more descriptive than just "Printed Claudine Dress", which is what my PS told me the name of this dress is. The dress is also available in petite sizes. This navy is the only color that the dress is available in, and the dress is alpha-sized.

I tried this dress on in a size 2, as I heard some early reports that the dress runs a bit on the larger size. I found this to be mostly true, but as I did not try on a size 4, I cannot really comment on true-to-size the dress is. The main measurements for this dress are the bust and the waist, so ladies with a larger bust may find that their regular size fits just fine. I would recommend starting with a smaller size, and grabbing both the smaller and your regular size if you can.

In addition, there is a tiny bit of elastic in the waist, so that gives you a bit more room to play with in the waist, as it stretches very nicely. Just to give you a bit more detail on the sizing with regards to the elastic in the waist, there was still a bit of stretch in the size 2 for me (and trust me, I am not a size 2 in the waist).

The dress is made of a very nice, lightweight cotton fabric. The cotton is very airy, and moves very nicely. It is soft to the touch, and is a nice weight for a spring and summer dress.

The design of this dress is a more fitted bodice and a fuller skirt. There is a bunch of pleating on the bodice, as well as on the skirt. There is also a fabric covered belt in the same pattern as the dress, which is included with the dress. The dress has the very thin, belt loops for the belt, which helps to cinch and define the waist. I didn't find that the skirt of the dress adds a tremendous amount of volume, but I also prefer fuller skirts, so I am probably a little biased. :)

The dress has a bit of a retro vibe to me, given the overall shape (fuller on top, narrower at the waist, and fuller skirt), and has a very nice silhouette. I think the pattern itself is very pretty, as the dots appear in a somewhat random pattern, and have a bit of a blur effect to them on the edges. I think it's a fun pattern, and I think it works very well in the navy. Again, I am also biased here because I love polka dots. The navy is a pretty dark navy, very close to black, so I think you could easily pair this dress with many different colors.

The straps on this dress were just a tiny bit too long, but I thought the overall length of the dress was very nice. It hit just below my knees, so it would be a bit shorter on those taller than me (which I think is most people). The straps have those bra strap holder loops that allow you to sort of "clip" your bra to the straps of the dress and prevent slippage. The armholes are a very generous cut, and are very comfortable as well. The neckline is a nice, modest scoopneck.

I unfortunately do not think this dress is super versatile. While you can certainly pair this dress with the right accessories to make it more on the casual side, I think the silhouette and allover pattern make it a bit more dressy. I see this dress at a summer garden or cocktail party, maybe paired with a light cardigan and some strappy sandals. I'm not sure, however, that you could really pair this with much to dress it down much more than that.

I absolutely love this dress. I love dresses with this silhouette, and I think the pattern is very pretty and classy. I did not, however, take this dress home, because I've already pre-ordered it in petites. I'm hoping that this will help with the strap length and how long the dress is. While I love the navy color, I would have loved to see this dress available in a pastel print as well (although my wallet is glad it's not). Even though this isn't the most versatile dress, and isn't super inexpensive, I really love it!

What do you think? Do you like this dress? Do you like the silhouette? Are there any other colors you would like to see it in? What would you pair it with?

Gap: Cut-Off Jean Shorts Review

These are Gap's Cut-Off Jean Shorts (style #646529), which retail for $44.50. They are numerically-sized, and are allegedly available in petite and tall (neither tab is showing up on the website right now). They are available in this one color, deconstructed dark. Gap describes the shorts as such:

Cut-off jean shorts are the ideal summer staple--great for adding rugged style to warm-weather looks.

I looked for a size 6 in these, but they only had them in-store in a size 4, so I went with those. The 4s were a little snug all-around, and while they "fit" and all, I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing them. I would suggest starting with your regular shorts size, and then sizing down if you are on the small end of the size range.

These are a fairly standard set of denim shorts. The denim is a nice, medium weight, good quality-feeling denim. I think the shorts are cut to be a little tighter to work with your natural curves (because isn't that part of the reason why denim cut-offs exist? To show off curves?), but I would say they are uncomfortably tight.

The fraying on the cut-off part is very minimal, and looks a little more polished than actual cut-offs, or trying-too-hard cut-offs. There are a couple of very small spots of distressing, which I think actually work well on these shorts, as they are tiny.

I will say that these shorts are awfully short (again, maybe part of the nature of denim cut-offs?), but they also sit lower on the waist, so if you are concerned about the length, you could always try sizing up to get a little bit more length.

I really like the color on these shorts, too, but that is really just personal preference - I prefer classic or dark blue rinses (but not dark dark rinses) for my jeans, so this color was right up my taste alley.

These shorts are a pretty decent pair of denim shorts, and while I think they're a great wardrobe staple for the summer, I'm not sure how differently they can be styled. I think there is only so much you can do with a pair of super short denim cut-offs, even if they are rather cute. I cannot think of how to dress these up (and I mean really dress up, not spruce up and look stylish), but I do think you can easily pair them with a lot of different casual summer tops.

All in all, I think they are a pretty good buy if you don't already own a pair of cut-offs, or if you're looking for a new pair. I was hesitant about getting these because of the length, but after I looked at the pictures some more, I decided to pick these up in a size 6. (The best part is that Gap was running 30% off shorts at the time AND let me combine my 25% off coupon with that. So a really good deal.)

What do you think? Do you like these shorts? Do you have any pairs of cut-offs that you love? What would you pair these with?

J.Crew: Embossed-Cotton Dip-Dye Lorelei Dress Review

This is J.Crew's Embossed-Cotton Dip-Dye Lorelei Dress (item #15200), which also comes in petite (item #15488).  It is numerically sized, and is available in navy and papaya.  It retails for $110.  J.Crew describes the dress as such:

The perfect little dress for sun-filled days, uniquely dip-dyed with a special technique. Beautifully textured cotton in a sweet strapless silhouette. Fitted bodice, with boning and elastic along the top edge to hold it up—so you won't have to. A-line skirt with box pleats. Straight neckline. On-seam pockets. Back zip. Fully lined. Falls above knee; 23" from natural waist. Import. This dress is machine washable, but we suggest dry cleaning to keep it looking newer, longer.

I tried this dress on in a size 4 regular in the papaya color.  I have actually tried on this dress at least twice, maybe 3 times.  I really like this dress.  The dress fits very true-to-size.  The dress has a band around the bust that hooks in the back to help with support.  It is a very comfortable fit, fitting very well around the bust as well as the waist.

I own a few of J.Crew's embossed-cotton strapless dresses from past seasons, and the reason I fell in love with this dress is because of the material.  The embossed-cotton in past seasons has been heavily textured, with fairly heavy embossing.  This embossed-cotton is incredibly soft, and only very lightly textured.  It is also a bit lighter than the other embossed-cotton, and moves a bit better.  (This is true even when comparing to this existing season's embossed-cotton, which is admittedly softer than past seasons' fabric.)  

I also feel that this dress does a better job of having a cleaner line between the body and the skirt.  I felt that past dresses of similar style kind of cut me in half, and I think the transition from bodice to skirt is a lot nicer.

I do like the dip-dye pattern in the papaya color, but I don't really care for it in the navy color, as I think it's a bit too much of a contrast.  I think the papaya color works really well without being too heavy of a contrast, and is a nice, sweet color for the spring and summer.  The color transitions fairly well.  I think the pleats are just okay.  They can stick out a bit in the back, but other than that, they add a bit of shape to the bottom of the dress.

After trying this on multiple times, I finally ordered it in a petite 6 size, which also fits well, and is an inch shorter, so doesn't make too much of a difference in the length.  I am really happy I finally picked up this dress, because I really like it, especially with the new fabric.

What do you think?  Do you like this dress?  Which color do you prefer?  What do you think of J.Crew's embossed-cotton strapless dresses in general?

J.Crew: Slub Cotton-Silk Melody Dress Review

This is J.Crew's Slub Cotton-Silk Melody Dress (item #12071), which also comes in petite (item #12074).  It originally retailed for $118, but is currently marked down to $79.99.  It is available in light pewter, citron, and sweet lavender, and is numerically sized.  J.Crew describes the dress as such:

Simple and chic in a beautiful slub cotton/silk blend. This lightweight dress has a flattering shift silhouette complete with a fitted bodice, slim skirt and pleated scoopneck. Notice the dainty cap sleeves—we made them extra special with a knot detail. Side-seam pockets. Back zip. Body is fully lined. Falls above knee; 20 1/2" from natural waist. Import. Dry clean. Catalog/jcrew.com only.

I ordered this dress in a petite 8, and in the sweet lavendar color.  (Please note that I purchased this dress awhile ago, and was wearing a size 6 in dresses at the time, so sizing information is based on my size at the time.)  I found that this dress fit pretty true-to-size, but it was a tiny bit big in the back/shoulders, as well as in the bust.  The dress has a nice U-neck which is deep enough to create a nice neckline, but short enough that it doesn't show off too much.  The fit was nice and comfortable in the waist, with a nice, moderate A-line skirt that was also fairly roomy.

I love the length on this skirt.  It is my favorite length, and I was really glad that they made this dress in petites.  While I can usually just try to make regular lengths work, I much prefer the petite lengths, and this dress was no exception.

The fabric on this dress is a slub cotton/silk blend, and it's an interesting blend.  On the one hand, it is soft and silky, but on the other hand it definitely has a bit of texture to it.  The dress is lined in a silky, smooth fabric, which is really nice.  Overall, the fabric is nice, but was a little different from what I was expecting.  The shape of this dress doesn't really lend itself to much movement, but because the fabric is pretty light, it's not heavy and doesn't weigh down the dress either.

I think the cut of the dress is overall very flattering.  It has a wide band at the waistband, which helps to accentuate the narrowest part of the dress.  From the back, I get a bit of an 80s vibe from this dress, with the broad, square-ish shoulders.  I think the back is a tiny bit severe - I think I would have preferred it with a little scoop in the back.

The dress has on-seam pockets, which I really like, but I'm biased - I'm a pretty big fan of on-seam pockets on dresses and skirts.  There is a bit of pleating at the bust, which I think adds another nice little detail to an otherwise simple dress.

My favorite detail about this dress are the knotted sleeves.  I think they are a really cute, feminine detail, and really help to make the dress so pretty.

I really love this dress.  I think it has a little bit of a retro vibe to it, and I simply love the color - it's one of my favorite shades of purple.  I think the silhouette is fairly classic, and the little details really make the dress for me.

What do you think?  Do you like this dress?  Do you own it?  Which color do you prefer?

J.Crew: Cotton Eliza Skirt Review

This is J.Crew's Cotton Eliza Skirt (item #14802), which retails for $88.  It comes in two colors, weathered stone and natural, and is numerically sized.  J.Crew describes the skirt as such:

A sweetly swingy, soft cotton style with feminine details like allover pleats and removable sash. Full silhouette. Sits just below waist. Side zip. Fully lined. 21 1/2" long. Import. Machine wash.

I tried this skirt on in a size 4, in the weathered stone color.  The fit is true to size, and is a very comfortable fit.  The skirt sits just below the waist, so if you want to wear it a bit higher, you could try sizing down.  If you are way, way on the small end of your size, you could probably also get away with sizing down, too.  I think sizing on skirts can be difficult, because a lot depends on where you wear them.

The fabric on this skirt is really soft and light.  I was honestly surprised at how the soft the cotton is - it's almost a brushed cotton feel, and it's a great fabric for a summer skirt.  The skirt is a bit on the fuller side in terms of shape, and I think it is definitely fuller in real life than it appears on the model.  That said, I think it'd be best to try this on to determine if it adds too much volume to your bottom section.  I think it's definitely adding some volume to mine, but I don't really mind that, so you should definitely try to judge for yourself, if you can.

There are a couple layers to this skirt if I recall correctly, so that also makes the skirt a bit fuller as well.  I like the length on this skirt, but like all skirts that don't come in petite, I wish it were just a couple of inches shorter.

From the side, the skirt doesn't add too much volume, which is nice.  I think it has a sleeker, straighter shape from the side, so you're not puffing out all round.  The skirt moves really nicely, and the movement works well with the lighter fabric.  The allover pleats at the waist also help the skirt move a bit more freely than some other fuller cotton skirts J.Crew has put out.

The sash is removable, which I didn't really notice at the store, but looking at the pictures, I'm thinking it unbuttons from the skirt, because the sash definitely doesn't go all the way around the skirt, and is meant to be worn off to the side like it is in the pictures.  I think the skirt is a nice touch, and adds a nice detail to what otherwise might be just another cotton skirt, albeit a nice and soft one.  Even though I think I would almost always wear the sash, it is nice to have the option to take it off.

I initially left this skirt at the store, but then had the opposite of buyer's remorse (what would that be called?  Leaver's remorse?), so I ended up getting it in the natural color the next day.  [Okay, Boyfriend picked it up for me the next day.  What a nice guy!]

What do you think?  Do you like this skirt?  Do you own it?  Which color do you prefer?  Would you wear it with or without the sash?

J.Crew: Confetti-Dot Ruffle Swim Review

This review is for a couple of separates from J.Crew's Confetti-Dot swim "collection", which comes an a pretty wide variety of pieces:

Tops

• Ruffle Underwire Top (item #15521)
• Ruffle Underwire Top D-Cup (item #15929)
• Wide-Band Halter Top (item #15520)
• Wide-Band Halter Top D-Cup (item #15950)
• Ruffle Bandeau Top (item #15466)

Bottoms

• Wide-Band Hipster (item #15591)
• Ruffle Hipster (item #15469)
• Bikini (item #15524)

One-Pieces

• Ruffle Bandeau Tank (item #15468)
• Ruffle Bandeau Tank D-Cup (item #16592)

The separates are available in gilded olive, slate, cocoa, papaya, tropical aqua, and brilliant navy.  The one pieces seem to be available in fewer colors, but I'm not sure if this is because those colors are already sold out, or because they were just not available.

So first I wanted to share this with you: how cute is this swimsuit hanger?  I love this way of hanging the swimsuit tops - much nicer than those harsh pants clip hangers that they use sometimes!

I tried on the Ruffle Bandeau Top and the Ruffle Hipster in-store in the slate color.  I tried both pieces on in a small.  The top was $44, and the bottom was $42; however, these same pieces are $46 and $44 online, respectively.  The other pieces in the collection range from $44 to $78 online, and there are matching girls' suits as well.  J.Crew describes the top as:

Simply irresistible with rows of ruffles and a cute confetti-inspired allover dot print. Made from our very own J.Crew nylon/Lycra® spandex. Quick drying. Fade resistant. Retains its shape. Removable halter strap (it's perfect for avoiding strap marks). Ties at back. Lined. Import. Our swimsuits are machine washable, but we recommend hand washing as it helps keep the fabric and the shape of the suit looking newer, longer. 

They describe the bottoms as:

Our favorite hipster served up extra sweet with allover dots and ruffle trim at the waist. J.Crew nylon/Lycra® spandex. Quick drying. Fade resistant. Retains its shape. Sits low on hips. Full coverage. Lined. Import. Our swimsuits are machine washable, but we recommend hand washing as it helps keep the fabric and the shape of the suit looking newer, longer. 

I think overall, the fit is true to size.  I think it's definitely true to size for the top, but less so for the bottoms.  I am technically within the small size range for the bottoms, and can comfortably wear sizes 4 and 6 in bottoms, but these were a tiny bit snug.  I would have sized up if I knew that the medium wouldn't be baggy and saggy in the back, which they probably would be.  So if you are on the higher end of a size, you may want to consider sizing up.

I think the top fits fairly true to size.  I had tried on another swimsuit top in a size small, and it was too small (will review that one another time), so I was worried about this one, but it fit just fine - it was appropriately snug, but still nice and comfortable.  I'm certainly not worried abou any spillage or peep-show accidents with this one.  The top has a detachable halter strap, which I like.  I was a little wary of the allover ruffles, but I thought they looked really cute on, and much better than they do on the hanger.  I think they did a nice job incorporating them into the top in terms of the pattern, so it doesn't look too out of place.

The fabric is really nice - I would say fairly standard swimsuit material, but it is of a somewhat thicker and seeminly nicer quality than your average swimsuit.  It is really smooth to the touch, and has a nice amount of stretch, without being overly stretchy.

Here is a picture of the swimsuit without the removable halter strap.  I think it looks cute both ways, and it's nice to have that extra option.

I think the swimsuit looks better in person than it does in my photographs.  It of course, looks great on the model, and is a wonderful accessory to her scalpel-sharp clavicles.  Anyway, so the story behind this swimsuit is this: I didn't really want it in this grey color, and they only had the olive green color as the other option, so I passed, which was sad, because they were offering 30% off full-priced swim in-store.  In the end, my personal shopper was able to honor the discount (plus my student discount) over the phone, once she confirmed that the store was indeed running the promotion, so I did take this suit (exact combination, but different colors) home!

What do you think?  Do you like this swimsuit?  Which other pieces of the confetti-dot collection do you like?  What do you think of J.Crew's swim in general?

I have a few other swimsuits I might review; I haven't decided if I'll continue doing the swim reviews though.  What do you think?

J.Crew: Esplanade Skirt Review

This is J.Crew's Esplanade Skirt (item #14133).  It is alpha-sized, and comes in black, navy, dark slate, and weathered stone.  It retails for $44.  J.Crew describes the skirt as such:

The perfect skirt for sunny stroll in a comfy cotton/Modal® rayon/spandex blend. We love it just as much with strappy sandals as we do with sneakers. Swing skirt. Elastic at waist. Welt pockets. Hits above knee. Import. Machine wash. Catalog/jcrew.com only. 

First off, I don't understand why things are labeled as "Catalog/jcrew.com only" when they are available in-store.  I tried this skirt on about 2 weeks ago, and there were plenty of them available in-store.  Anyway, I tried this skirt on in a size small, in the navy color.  I think the skirt fits fairly true to size, although I remember thinking it could have a been a little bit smaller, but I didn't try on an extra small, so I am unable to give you any comparison.  I would say overall it leans towards running a bit large, but I also think this might be because it is meant to be worn lower on the waist/hips.

The fabric is super soft and cool (not surprising, I guess, given the blend), and the skirt moves, flows, and drapes very nicely.  The skirt is a fairly straight silhouette, with a little bit of shirring in between the pockets.  I would have liked this skirt a tiny bit more flowy (and less straight up-and-down), and a smidge shorter.

I think the pockets are nice on this skirt - they are off-seam, and because the skirt hangs a little lower on the body, then they can be at an awkward angle, depending on your height/shape.  However, because they are vertical welt pockets, they sort of blend in with the front shirring, and I think they work well with the overall look of the skirt.

Overall, I think this is a really nice, casual spring/summer skirt.  I think you could style it to be ultra casual, and maybe a little more dressy (although I think the latter might take some more work).  I initially passed on this one because I already had a casual jersey skirt from Old Navy at home.  However, when I was cleaning out my closet and trying on old clothes, I discovered it was both too big and too short, so I ended up getting this skirt, but in black, not navy.

What do you think?  Do you like this skirt?  Have you seen it or tried it on in person?  Are there any other jersey skirts out there that you love?

J.Crew: Garden Dress Review

This is J.Crew's [SUPER PRETTY!!] Garden Dress (item #15685), which retails for $68.  It comes in classic navy, sweet papaya, shell, and white, and is alpha-sized.  J.Crew describes the dress as such:

The spray of hand-placed, raw-edged petals adds a modern touch to this sweetly feminine cotton dress. Fitted at bust, straight bodice. Straight skirt. Spaghetti straps. Fully lined. Falls to midthigh. Import. Machine wash.

I first saw this dress way back in March/April, and got it right away with the Mickey card.  They didn't have it in-store, so I ordered it over the phone in the shell color, in a size small.  I haven't had a chance to do the write-up for that one yet, but the dress finally appeared in-store, so I grabbed it for the blog.  Below is the picture of the dress in shell *swoon*

I ordered the dress in a small, but I tried it on in-store in an extra small, because I was feeling extra skinny that day (HAHA).  I will say that the dress fits almost true-to-size.  I had a teeny bit of wiggle room in the small, but the extra small was definitely too small.  It was pretty tight around the bust, so I would say that you should just stick with your regular size.  If you are way, way on the small end of your size, then I would recommend trying on the smaller size if you can.

I also wish the dress was a teeny bit longer.  The dress is supposed to hit at mid-thigh, but it came to a few inches above my knee instead.  I still wished it would have been just a bit longer.  Taller ladies may have an issue with this dress if you don't want to wear something as short - I would recommend trying it on to see how you like it.  Keep in mind that it is supposed to be a lounge/beach cover-up, so it's a bit shorter than maybe a non-beach dress might be.

The dress is a fairly straight silhouette.  If you want a dress with shape, then this one is probably not for you.  The good thing about this dress is that the dress is relatively simple, so you can easily use a belt or other accessories to create some shape.

The fabric is a very nice, light, and soft cotton.  The dress is lightly lined, but the lighter colors lend themselves towards the sheerer side, so if you planning on wearing this as a straight-up dress, then I'd recommend that you check your behind before you go out.  The fabric will be really nice for late spring/summer/very early fall.  I imagine you could get away with pairing this with some leggings/tights or a sweater as it gets cooler, too.

I was nervous about how the petals would look in real life.  They could either look really cute or really sad, sloppy, or silly - and I'm sure there will be plenty of people who think they are the latter, but I think they are super cute!  I think they are really feminine looking, and are just the right amount to be cute and delicate, without being overly precocious.  The petals on the top of the bodice do help add a teeny tiny bit of shape to the dress.

You can't really see it in the IRL pictures, but there is a bit of ruching across the back, which is also kind of a cute touch.  Again, it adds a little bit more interest and shape to the dress.

I love this dress.  I can't wait until summer really heats up and I can wear this out and about!  I love this dress because I think it's really light and feminine, and I love that style.  I prefer the shell color to the white one, but I do love the white color too!

What do you think?  Do you like this dress?  Have you seen it or tried it on?  Would you wear it as a dress or a beach cover-up?  What color would you get?

I have a separate question: I have a few J.Crew swimsuits that I have semi-prepared for review.  Is anyone interested in IRL pictures and reviews of swimsuits?