J.Crew: Wool Herringbone Bucket Hat Review

Here's J.Crew's Wool Herringbone Bucket Hat (item #17901). It comes in two sizes: S/M and M/L, and four different colors. I'm wearing the hat in the butterscotch color.

So regarding the size, I'm wearing a size S/M, which is 56 cm (basically 22 inches) around. By comparison, the M/L is 58 cm (basically 23 inches (slightly smaller - 22.8)) around. I debated on sizes for awhile, as I will admit I have a pretty big head. :) I ended up going with the S/M after my measuring my head a bunch of times, comparing the different ways I'd wear it (at an angle, straight up and down, etc.), and eventually settled on the S/M. I'm happy with the fit. I think i would have worked fine with a M/L as well, but I think it would have been just a smidge too big if I were wearing it straight up and down, but would have worked well if I were wearing it at an angle.

The wool herringbone is really nice and soft. It's midweight I'd say, and is a nice thickness. I'd say that it's a really nice fall hat. It's cute and fairly stylish, and is availabe in some really nice, neutral colors. The hat has a band that goes around the front which is attached with buttons on either side and adds a nice detail to an otherwise basic hat.

J.Crew: Silk Frances Cami Review

This is J.Crew's Silk Frances Cami (item #17428), which is also available in petites (item #17932), which retails for $88. It's alpha-sized, and is available in a number of different colors. This is the deep rose color.

I ordered the cami in a petite 2 after e-mailing back and forth with my PS about the sizing several times (including asking for sizing for several other camis as comparison). The P2 fits, but I have wider shoulders, so it's a bit tight in the back sometimes (depending on how I move my arms). It's not tight enough that I'd return these for a P4, but I'd recommend trying on if you can, and if you have broader shoulders, then perhaps you might want to size up. The sizing is very comparable to the Victoria cami.

The silk is a nice, light silk. I would say the sheen on the cami is more like what you see in my pictures, as opposed to a bit more matte finish on the website. I actually ordered this red color based on a catalog picture that my PS sent me, and the red was a bit more red-orange in real life than it was in the catalog picture, but I'd say it's pretty true-to-life to what you see on the website. The other colors I ordered are also true-to-life to the website.

Below is a close-up of the ruffles. These came flattened out from packing, and I have not steamed or fluffed them since the top arrived. They were packed with 6 or 8 little balls of tissue undernearth the ruffles in an attempt to keep them a bit more fluffed up, but they would still need to be steamed or something to look they way they do in pictures.

J.Crew FO: Printed Jessie Blouse Review

This is the Printed Jessie Blouse (item #12576) from the J.Crew Outlet. I believe this top was out last summer from retail, and I see it pop up from time to time in the sale section on J.Crew's website. This blouse is numerically sized, and retailed for $54.50. It was available in several different patterns.

I tried this top on in a size 4, and I'm not sure what the actual name of this color is. The top fits fairly true-to-size, but there is no/not much stretch in the fabric, so if you have broader shoulders or a larger chest, you may need to consider sizing up. As always, I would suggest starting with your regular size, and sizing up depending on how comfortable you feel.

The fabric is a lightweight cotton (or possibly cotton blend). It's a nice, somewhat thin fabric that is good for a casual summer top. It's not see-through, but I think this might be in part because of the darker colors and pattern. I picked up this same top in a light yellow, and it's a bit more see through.

The top has an empire waist with a self-tie that helps create a little bit of high waist definition. The bottom half of the shirt flares out a bit to hide your stomach area (if desired) and also slim your waist. The blouse is like the Jessie dress offered last year at regular J.Crew - it has ruffles around the neckline and down the front to the waist, with a few fabric-covered buttons at the bodice. There is a little bit of notching on the sleeves. I like the details on this shirt - I think they work well together.

I left this shirt behind, as I'd already picked one up in a different yellow pattern that I prefer to this pattern. I also like this pattern, but didn't love this shirt enough to get it in two different patterns.

What do you think? Do you like this blouse? Do you own it or have you tried it on? Do you think the outlet version stands up to the retail version?

J.Crew FO: Pique Strapless Dress Review

This is a dress from the J.Crew Outlet that I'm calling the Pique Strapless Dress (item #15039). It retailed for $59.50, and was numerically sized. It may have come in other colors, but I honestly can't remember right now, as I tried this on awhile ago (sorry :().

I tried this dress on in a size 4, and I thought it fit a bit small. It was a little tight around the chest area, so I would suggest starting with your regular size, but getting a size up for comparison if you can.

The dress is made out of a pique fabric which also has a bit of stretch to it. I wasn't a huge fan of the fabric, as it was a bit coarser than what I typically like, but it was a nice, casual fabric, and worked well with the dress itself. The fabric moves fairly well, but the cut of the dress doesn't really lend itself to a lot of movement.

The dress has a thin band at the top of the bust, and a wider band at the waistline. The dress helps to create a bit of definition at the waist. The skirt is fairly straight, but nips in a bit at the waist, and can easily hide any problem areas on the lower half, but doesn't add much volume. The bottom half of the dress has some shirring at the waistline as well as curved, off-seam pockets.

You could probably dress this dress up a bit with the right accessories, but keep in mind that the pique fabric is a bit more on the casual side. I would probably stick with neutral color pairings for this dress.

I left this dress behind because I thought it was just okay. I didn't hate it, but I didn't think it was really anything special, either.

What do you think? Do you like this dress? Have you seen it or tried it on? Do you own it? What do you think of pique fabric dresses?

J.Crew FO: Circle Sequin Trim Strapless Top Review

This strapless top is from the J.Crew Outlet. It's item #12646, and retails for $54.50 (the white was on sale for $39.99 when I tried these on). It is numerically sized, and was also available in a white color (at bottom of post). It is the same style as the Floral Eyelet top I reviewed a few months back.

I tried this top on in a size 4, and it fits true-to-size. It's a pretty comfortable fit, with an empire waist and a bit of a flared bottom. Sizing is based on your bust size, and the rest of the top is slightly looser and comfortable. There are some darts to give you some shape in the middle.

I believe the fabric is cotton, but it's a bit of a rougher feel, almost like linen. The circle pattern is a mix of embroidery and sequins, and goes all the way around the top. I prefer the pattern on the blue top, simply because the colors work well with the each other (the white top's circle pattern is all in white).

The length is nice - on the longer side, hitting at mid-hip, and the top has side vents at the bottom to allow for a bit more movement.

I like this top because it's nice and simple, but still has some interesting details. I think the circle pattern is a nice touch that adds some pretty details to what might otherwise be a boring top. This top is easy to dress up or down, and can easily be paired with a lot of different colors, especially the white.

I left these tops behind because I don't wear a lot of strapless tops. I preferred the blue top to the white (even though I think the white is more versatile), and couldn't be swayed by the price.

What do you think? Do you like this top? Have you seen it or tried it on? Do you own it? Which color do you prefer?

J.Crew: Printed Silk Chiffon Whitney Short Dress Review

This is J.Crew's Printed Silk Chiffon Whitney Short Dress (item #11440), which originally retailed for $225, and has been on promotion for $159.99 for quite awhile now. This dress is numerically-sized, and is available in this one color, sweet cantaloupe. J.Crew describes the dress as such:

Whether it's for a wedding or a warm-weather getaway, this dress is a sensational choice for any special occasion. Crafted from lightweight silk chiffon with a delicate crinkled texture, its strapless silhouette features a fitted bodice with knot detail at the center front, a slight sweetheart neckline and a pretty lettuce edged hem at the waist. A-line skirt. Back zip. Interior corset for added support. Fully lined. Falls to knee; 25" from natural waist. Import. Dry clean. Catalog/jcrew.com only.

I picked up this dress in a size 4, which is my normal size in J.Crew dresses. The dress fits true-to-size, and is a nice, comfortable fit. The fit is based on your bust and waist measurements.

The dress is fairly straight. From the bust to the waist is a straight line, then the skirt flares out a bit in an A-line shape. I wouldn't say that the dress creates a lot of waist definition, but I think it's a nice silhouette overall. I like the length, but wouldn't have minded if it were a couple of inches shorter, so that it didn't go past the knees as much.

Brief tangent on sizing: Normally I might say that I wish it had been offered in petites, but lately I've noticed that I've had some issues with the petite "equivalent" size dresses being a tad bit smaller than the regular sizes. For example, a P6 strapless dress will be just a tad bit tighter around the bust than the regular 4, and can potentially lead to the dreaded bust/armpit bulge (yuck).

The dress is lined in white, with a really nice silk chiffon overlay with a pretty light orange and white floral print. The silk chiffon is a really nice fabric - it's light, thin, and really soft. It moves and flows incredibly well, and is a really pretty spring and summer dress. There is some nice crinkly detail at the bust and waistline.

I'm not sure how casual you could make this dress, as it seems pretty dressy. I think you could wear it in a lot of different places, but I think for the most part, it'd be for more dressy occasions. I also think it would have been nice to see this dress offered in other spring or summer colors, like a light purple, pink, light green, or even a red or cobalt blue.

What do you think? Do you like this dress? Have you seen it or tried it on? Do you own it? Are there any other colors you would have liked to see it in? Do you prefer the short dress or the longer version?

J.Crew: Silk Indigo Floral Skirt

This is J.Crew's Silk Indigo Floral Skirt (item #16701). It is numerically-sized, and originally retailed for $128. It only came in "regular" sizes. J.Crew describes the skirt as such:

A soft silk pencil skirt makes an elegantly feminine statement in a gorgeous dark, floral print. Sits at waist. Curved pockets. Back zip. Back vent. Fully lined. 22 1/2" long. Import. Dry clean. Catalog/jcrew.com only.

I am not usually a fan of brown (a running discussion between Boyfriend and me), but I love the way it is paired with the shades of blue in this skirt. I pre-ordered this skirt, and am really glad I did, as it appears to be sold out already.

I ordered this skirt in a size 4, and I believe that it fits true-to-size - I definitely wouldn't have tried this in a smaller size. If you're taller and looking for some length, you may consider sizing up to wear it lower on the waist/hips. It's a very comfortable fit, but there's not a lot (if any) stretch in it as there is some other pencil skirts. I would order in your regular pencil skirt size to start. I love the length on the skirt - it works really well even for a real shorty like me.

The fabric is incredibly soft and smooth, but has more weight to it than I expected, but I like that. It makes the skirt just a bit less delicate, which I think is a plus (I know I'm always on pins and needles wearing something that is super delicate in terms of fabric). It is a standard pencil skirt shape - fairly straight up and down. It nips in a bit more at the waist, so you get a little bit of definition there. There are curved off-seam pockets which are a nice touch, and not super noticeable or out-of-place.

I'm not really sure how much you could dress down this skirt. I know that J.Crew styled it on their website with a half tucked-in shirt, a bigger necklace, and some T-strap sandals, but I think the fabric and overall pattern makes this skirt more dressy than casual. I plan on pairing this skirt with neutrals to keep the attention just on the skirt.

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 the pattern and the colors? How would you style it?

Check Out Another Review

A Bigger Closet - includes some really nice styling options

J.Crew FO: Marguerite Dress

This is the Marguerite Dress from J.Crew Outlet. I picked both dresses up about a month ago. The dress retails for $79.50, but I was able to get it for about $47 after promotions and discounts. The dress is numerically sized, and was available first in the navy floral pattern, and then in the black polka dot pattern. I don't believe that these patterns were both available at the same time at my local outlet.

I picked up both dresses in a size 4, and I believe the dress fits true-to-size. It's a very comfortable fit. Size is mainly determined based on your bust size, as it is an empire waist with a more voluminous skirt.

The neckline is a thick, twisted rope-like neckband, and is a nice detail, in my opinion. The fabric is a stiffer material, and I believe it's cotton. The fabric is very smooth, and the skirt has two layers of fabric. Because the material is a bit stiffer, the skirt doesn't move or flow really well, but I don't think it's meant to be a flowy dress. The skirt itself is a bit voluminous, owing to the shirring at the waistband.

The dress itself is very comfortable. It doesn't create too much of a waist, but it is very forgiving on your lower half. If you're uncomfortable with poufiness or extra volume on the bottom, then you should definitely try it on yourself to see how it looks in person. I personally like this dress silhouette, but I know that it's not for everyone.

I think this dress works well as both a casual dress and a more dressy one. I think you could leave it as-is and throw on some casual sandals for a dressed-down look, or dress it up with a wrap or a pretty sweater and the right accessories and shoes.

What do you think? Do you like this dress? Which pattern do you prefer? Have you seen it or tried it on? Do you own it yourself?

J.Crew: Dressy Jersey Empire Dress

This is J.Crew's Dressy Jersey Empire Dress (item #12564). I'm not sure what the original price was, but I picked it up when it was marked down to $39.99. It is alpha-sized, and came in this tea rose color, and I believe it also came in at least a light heather grey and a dark grey.

I'm wearing the dress in a size small, and I think it fits mostly true to size. The dressy jersey fabric is just like the other dressy jersey dresses - nice weight, very soft and smooth, flows and moves very nicely. I'd say it fits fairly snugly at the top, but there is plenty of stretch in the fabric as well.

There is a bit of fan pleating at the bust, and this pleating sort of flows down the front of the dress, and adds some movement to the dress. The dress itself is a fairly straight line. You don't get a lot of waist definition with this dress, given the empire waist and then the line of the bottom half. On the plus side, the bottom half of the dress would be good at hiding any lower half problem areas without adding volume.

Overall, it's a very nice dress. You can easily dress it up or down with the right accessories.

What do you think? Do you like this dress? Have you tried it on or do you own it? Which colors would you like to see this dress in? What do you think of J.Crew's dressy jersey dresses?

J.Crew: Navy Jakarta Shorts Review

These are J.Crew's Jakarta Shorts (item #15012), which retail for $58. This is the only color they come in (navy). J.Crew notes that they have an "abbreviated fit", are city rise, and have a 3" inseam. They are machine washable. I've included an online picture of the pattern above, as my pictures came out a little blurry.

I tried these on in a size 6. I really liked the fit - I thought it was very comfortable, and fit very true to size. I would not have sized down in them, especially because the size 6 lets me where them just a tiny bit lower on the waist, and get a few more inches of coverage in the leg area.

The fabric is a nice, thick cotton. It isn't quite as stiff as some of other J.Crew's heavily patterned shorts from this eason. I'd liken it to a canvas feelm but a bit softer. It's just a rather basic pair of slightly-sturdier cotton shorts, so not much else to say. There are on-seam pockets, which I like. They work well with the overall design (including pattern) of the shorts.

As for the pattern, I much prefer it on the shorts than on the cardigan or skirt. I think that because the fabric is heavier, the pattern appears a bit more saturated, and I think that really works, especially with the navy color. The color is a nice, rich, dark navy, so that allows you to play with a lot of different color combinations. I think the pattern is pretty versatile, too - you can really dress up these shorts, or keep them casual.

I left these shorts behind because I've already picked up a few pairs this season, and I have realized that I don't really have that many places to wear shorts. If these ever go on sale, I would definitely consider them though!

What do you think? Do you like these shorts? Have you seen them or tried them on? What do you think of the pattern? What do you prefer it in (shorts, sweater, skirt)?

J.Crew: Cotton-Silk Strapless Top with Flower Review

This is J.Crew's Cotton-Silk Strapless Top With Flower (item #16188), which retails for $128. It is numerically sized, and is available in white and bright coral. J.Crew describes the top as such:

A textured blend of cotton and silk beautifully designed into one of our most versatile summer tops. Wear it sassy with jeans and heels or sweet and feminine with a skirt. The detachable silk flower can be pinned onto the bodice or placed in your hair for special occasions. Inside you'll find a corset for extra support. Fitted. Strapless. Exposed back zip. Straight hem. Fully lined. Hits at hip. Import. Dry clean.

I tried this on in a size 4, in the white color. I was a bit iffy on the fit. It took forever to get on correctly (and you wouldn't really think so, right?), and the whole time, it felt like it was going to be too loose and fall off, but in the end, after all the adjusting and whatnot, I think it fit fine. I would have liked to have tried on a size 2 for comparison, but this one was at the tail end of this visit, and it did feel all right in the 4, so I didn't bother. I would say that it mostly fits true to size, but if you are on the smaller end of your size, then you may want to consider sizing down.

The fabric was a really nice, cotton-silk blend (73% cotton, 27% silk). The top is lined in 100% cotton, and is a tad bit on the sheer side. Note that in the picture above, you can just sort of see the shorts through the shirt. This could also be because it was the white color; I'm not sure if you'd have the same issue in the bright coral. The fabric itself is very soft and smooth, and also very light. It is definitely a nice fabric for a late spring/summer top.

The back of this top has an exposed metal zipper, which I was just okay with. It detracts (in my opinion) from the overall light and feminine vibe of this top. I didn't really care for that, but other people may like it, as it sort of adds some "toughness" so to speak to the top. There is "corset" (not really) inside, which is basically just another layer of fabric that zips up the back. This was nice to have, but made the top more difficult to get on (at least get on without help). The length on the top was nice for me, but may be a problem for some of you taller ladies out there.

The flowers are very pretty in real life - I think they photograph pretty true to life, but I don't think they look as big in real life as they do in the model pictures. Maybe the model had hers fluffed or something right before the shoot. The front of the top has a criss-cross pattern with some pleating, which adds some nice detail to the top. The flowers are initially pinned on to the side, but you can remove them and move them to wherever (or remove them altogether).

I like the overall style of the top - it's simple but with some nice details. It would work well on its own, or as a layering piece (probably without the flowers though in that case). I think you can easily dress this piece up or down.

However, my biggest issue with this piece is the price. I'm sure J.Crew has a reason to justify such a steep price, but it is a basic light, white, strapless top. I didn't really note anything particularly special about this top, in the fabric, design, details, quality, etc., that would make it worth $128, but that is just my opinion.

I left this one behind, but only because of the price. If this top were more reasonably priced (and I mean a lot more reasonably priced), I would probably pick one up in each color. I always reasoned with myself that I could just buy a nice white tank and some flowers, and have almost the same thing.

What do you think? Do you like this top? Do you own it (lucky you!) or have you seen it or tried it on? What do you think is a reasonable price point for this top? How much would you pay for it?

J.Crew: Soft Tee Ruffle Top Review

This is J.Crew's Soft Tee Ruffle Top (itme #16068), which retails for $39.50. It is available in the following colors: black, navy, heather light grey, fresh melon, natural, heather graphite, weathered stone, and warm blush. This top is alpha-sized. J.Crew describes the top as such:

A sweet ruffled style that's as soft as your most comfy broken-in tee. Pima cotton/lightweight Modal® rayon. Scoopneck. Fitted at chest. Self ruffles across chest. Import. Machine wash.

I tried this top on in a size small in the fresh melon color. I would say that this top runs on the bigger size, but I also think it is made to be loose. I did not try on an extra small for comparison, but I would say that if you don't want it super loose, then try to size down if you can. The small itself fit comfortably and fit well, especially in the bust and shoulders, where it is most fitted.

The fabric on this top is really light - it was much lighter than I was expecting. I was actually thinking that this was going to be more like a somewhat-lightweight jersey fabric, but it is much lighter than that. It is also very soft. This color was not sheer, but you might want to watch out for that if you are trying it in the lighter colors. The fabric moves and drapes very nicely. It's a very loose and flowy top.

The cut of this top is very generous. The most fitted part of the top is around the bust and the shoulder straps, and even that is not very fitted. There is a lot of fabric here, and even though it is light, it still an extremely loose-fitting top. I would say that the cut is fairly forgiving on the middle, but I also think it looks best on straighter figures. As you can see in my pictures, the bottom of it bunches up at my hips, whereas on the model, it stays pretty straight. This is probably due to a combination of the length and my hips.

As for the top ruffle, I think it's okay. I think it actually minimizes the bust (again, might be a combination of the ruffle and the cut of the top), but not sure if this would hold true for all sizes. There is one very large ruffle on the front, and a couple rows of smaller ruffles. I think it's a cute enough detail, but I kind of don't get it.

That being said, I do think it's a pretty cute top, and I think it would work well with a lot of different outfits. I especially think that you could do a lot with the neutral colors, in terms of color pairings and outfit stylings. As for dressing it up and down, it looks like a fairly casual top to me. They've managed to style it on the model so that it looks dressy enough, but I think the pictures are a bit misleading, to be honest.

I left this top behind because I wasn't in love with it. I really liked the fabric, and I would love to pick up some tees in that fabric, but the top just didn't really do it for me.

What do you think? Do you like this top? Have you seen it or do you own it? Which color do you prefer? How would you style it?

J.Crew: Linen Getaway Dress Review

This is J.Crew's Linen Getaway Dress (item #15610), which originally retailed for $49.50, with current colors on sale for $39.50. This dress is available in caspian blue, bright citron, dark charcoal, warm desert, fresh melon, sweet papaya, and white. This dress is alpha-sized. J.Crew describes the dress as such:

Simply slip on and go straight from beach to bistro. Linen. Straight bodice. Straight skirt. Tied keyhole. Adjustable ties at neck and waist. Sleeveless. Falls to midthigh. Import. Machine wash.

I tried this dress on in a small, in the fresh melon color. I think the dress fits true-to-size. I didn't try this in the extra small, so I can't comment on whether or not it really runs large or is more true-to-size. I will say that the small was very loose and flowy, but I think that is the cut of the dress. I would recommend starting with your regular size and sizing down for a more fitted shape.

The fabric is a very light linen. It's very breathable and a nice weight for the summer. It moves and flows fairly well. I think that is a combination of the fabric and the cut of the dress. The linen is also a bit on the thin side. It's not sheer in this color, but I would be curious if it were more sheer in the lighter colors.

The cut of the dress is fairly shapeless. It's sort of an A-line shape I would say, with its being a little more fitted at the top, and flaring out towards the bottom. You could maybe size down if you wanted to get a more fitted shape out of this dress, but overall, it is very loose and flowy. I wouldn't look to this dress to get a lot of definition out of it.

The dress does have a tie around the middle that creates a sort of drop waist. It also has a neckline tie that creates a sort of halter/keyhole neckline. I think tying both of these makes the dress look a bit more pulled together (I guess literally and figuratively), and is a nice option to have, as the untied look is extremely casual. I don't think tying the waist really creates that much more definition, but it does help break up the line of the dress a bit.

Personally, I see this dress as a really casual dress, and maybe even as a beach cover-up. The length was fine on me, but it might be on the shorter side for some of the taller ladies out there. I don't know that I would ever really wear this as a dress - maybe as a tunic-like top, say over a pair of shorts, but that is just my personal style. I think it comes in a nice range of colors that are fairly neutral, and will allow you to play with color combinations a lot. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a lot you can do to dress up this dress, given the material, weight, cut, and style of it. I think you can certainly style it a lot of different ways, but I'm just not sure it's up to the task of being dressy.

Here is a close-up of the neckline tie. The tie itself goes around to the back, and creates the same silhouette in the back. The tie itself is very thin.

I left this one behind. I thought it was cute and all, but I know I wouldn't wear it. I would consider it if it went on sale for a beach cover-up though...if I ever went to the beach, that is. :)

What do you think? Do you like this dress? Do you own it or have you tried it on? Which color do you prefer? How would you style it?