J.Crew Collection Bonded Geo Dot Top

If you don't know me by now.....

You will never ever ever know me, ooh ooh ooh ooh...

I love boxy tops. Boxy and cropped reads swingy pixie on my body and I fall all over it every time. Just my luck then that these tops that I spied and loved in the Lookbook stuck around for me and went on sale eventually and then found their way home. 

Pros: amazingly crafted, beautiful quality designer pieces. No question these make a statement. Lightweight to wear. Can be worn back to front, even as an open cardigan. Very amenable to layering. Good quality zippers and beautifully finished on the inside as well as outside of the garment. They matched the black zipper to the black top. Love it.

Cons: can feel a bit stiff when being put on. Boxy.

Sizing: I didn't pounce on these when they first hit sale because I assumed that my standard size XS had sold out.after a couple of weeks of ignoring them, I made enquiries and found out that they only came in sizes S, M and L! The measurements sounded doable, so I hit the pay now button. The Small is what I'm wearing and it's actually quite a fitted top, notwithstanding the boxy shape. So, I'd suggest either sizing up, or getting garment measurements from CS and choosing the size closest to your own measurements in bust and hips/waist.

The top is a bit on the cropped side.

Verdict: J'adore. I'm planning on layering turtlenecks under the black and wearing it in fall.

The white version is really ivory. I'm wearing a true white cami underneath, for reference.

Merino bonded interior. Impeccably finished. Gold zipper.

Black on black zipper

Merino bonded interior.

Big holes in the body, small holes in the sleeve. Drop shoulders.

Worn back to front.

OOTD: practical & chic

How do you define chic?

I thought my outfit was classic, in it's colour combination, practical in its wearability; and chic in the cut & fit of garments plus choice of shoes. So I took a few pictures for you. Imagine, if you would, a curly bob a la Ines de LaFressange on top, and you have the look.

J Crew crochet navy overlay tee, j Crew Minnie pants in vintage red; Tory Burch spectator sandal in navy and ivory. 

Maqsad Reflects: on the boyfriend jeans trend

I've been watching BF jeans gain steam for a while. I think the first blogger to wear them was Atlantic Pacific's Blaire Edie, who rocked her Current Elliotts with heels regularly. She wore those slouchy-thigh-low-crotch things with the wide straight legs rolled just so and made them look amazing.

So now that everyone's hopped on the bandwagon, I decided to test the waters myself. (Sorry about the mixed metaphors!)

I am disappointed in both Madewell and JCrews BF jeans. Their main problem is that they do not taper at all in the leg and look very unstylish when cuffed. They are also too loose in the thigh for me (I'm thinking of the Eastwood jeans, the boyfriend jeans, the classic jean in Abbott wash and even the point sur denim).  While this easy-thigh, wide-leg business is true to the original boyfriend jeans worn by the likes of Blaire Edie way back when, I think they've become passé now. 

Here's my nugget of wisdom: if you have a slim and/or petite figure, you will likely look and feel better in a *slim* boyfriend fit. This has the distinction of being fitted in the thigh, despite being cut in the hips and crotch to mimic a boy jean. The leg is not overly tapered but it is tapered just enough in the designer brands to make it look great rolled up (rather than having it's cuffs hanging out like ears). Madewell and J.Crew slim BF jeans are still a disappointment to me bc they have stick out ear things at the ankle. There's no subtle tapering in the leg. The Eastwood jeans have a twisted seam, but a super wide thigh, so I feel like crying when I put them on.

So: if I am to get a BF fit, being petite and slight in build, I will be getting a slim BF jean from a designer brand. And at J.Crew, I will only go so far as the Reid jeans, which are fitted in the thigh, with a higher rise, and a straight-but-tapered leg. 

In fact, I'm excited to see the Reid out in many new washes and lengths, and even selvedge this fall! I'll be on the lookout for a % off promo.

 

Pictures, you say? See below:

1. Rag and Bone slim BF jeans, the Dre in Bradford wash (sized down one size to a 24" waist & they fit perfectly)

No distressing, but lots of fading.

2. Wearing my old matchsticks like BF jeans to show you it's really about the fit at the thigh and a taper of the leg that does the trick. Don't they look a lot like the slim BF jeans from Rag & Bone?

Rag and bone, "the dre" jeans for comparison.

3. Eastwood jeans (sized down one to a size 24; still awfully loose)

I lay the Rag &Bone jeans on top of the Eastwood to see how much wider the latter are in the thighs. See for yourself: a good inch across!

4. Point Sur stacker jeans in Klutey wash, sized down one size to a 24" waist.

I did love the feel of the point sur denim, very soft, and the wash. But they're really long. I have to cuff them to the knee, showing off the selvedge seam, yes, but also wondering whether I'm looking shorter, or ridiculous, or both.

Point Sur jeans lying on top of Eastwood: the Eastwood is still a little wider in the thigh (see where I'm pointing...)

And here the point sur is lying under the Eastwood: see how much longer it is! That's all meant to be cuffed. 

Phew! That was a long post. Hope I didn't lose you! I find that sizing down one size in the BF fits is standard. I didn't believe people at first, so I have a beautiful pair of JBrand BF jeans in my standard 25, which are too loose on me. I never wore them, so they're up for sale (see my other blog). 

Would love to hear about your take on the boyfriend jeans trend!

J.Crew feather paisley maxi

Hello all. I apologize for the long pause in posts. The inevitable child care crisis has hit our household and all frivolity is on hold until further notice.

I have still, however, managed to eke out a couple of review post ideas and photos, so here goes.

I love this maxi, love the print.

Pros: cotton, lined, good modest neckline, machine washable.

Cons: no pockets, the skirt-border thing (what's the technical term for it, anyone?) is potentially dowdy, as is the elasticated waist.

Sizing: it appears that JCRew vanity sizing has taken a definite step forward this season and I am now squarely a 00 in all pants and dresses and possibly in knit tops. I stick to a size 0 in perfect shirts, though. I sized "down" to a 00 in this, having first tried a 0. See comparison side by side below. The size 0 was definitely more puffy and less flattering. Especially in the torso, if you're wearing the wrong size, it will puff up.

Verdict: I love the print, love the feel of the dress. I have styled it with a chambray shirt, for which, it turns out, the elasticated waist is perfect. Otherwise, the elasticated waist does my minimal hips no favours. Love. Keep.

See how it lies just too wide and loose at the hips and waist in size 0?

See where it poofs above the waist in size 0?

Styled. 

What do you think?

J.Crew Cross-Body Bag in Hibiscus Floral

So, I was intrigued by this bag because it claimed to be all leather. With the hibiscus print on top! I had to see it for myself.

Pros: the bag is totally leather, with beautiful suede lining of the inner flap and the mouth of the bag. The strap can be removed entirely and worn as a belt, if you're a size 00 or 0! (Disclaimer: I didn't actually try it on, to say this with 100% confidence, but was excited by the idea. If you like, you can get CS to give you a measurement of the strap, so you can judge for yourself.)
                  The bag can be carried as a clutch. It is roomy enough to carry a small wallet, cellphone, make-up, Kleenex with ease, as well as allowing you to stuff in some bulky car keys on the side.  It seems to be a version of saffiano leather, but since saffiano is not claimed in the product description, my bet would be that it's a cheaper version of saffiano.

Cons: the print is not as gorgeous nor the colours as compelling on the bag as I wanted them to be. Perhaps the fault lies in the scale of the print: if it were a bit more densely printed, it might have appealed to me more.

Sizing: the strap has multiple holes and it should sit comfortably wherever you want to wear it.

Verdict: Don't get me wrong, it's still a lovely piece. But not one that I found it hard to tear myself away from. I think it's a great price on sale now and if you can get it at 50% off through a store (order from red phone), you'd do great! If you need a cross-body, go for it! (I did get mine before it went on final sale, bewarned!)

True colours.

Slit pocket on the exterior back of the bag

Texture of the leather: saffiano?

 

Suede interior trim and inner lining on flap. Note how the strap is threaded through. I didn't take the plastic off it, since I wasn't keeping it.

 

 

Black cloth dustbag.