Oh, Tabitha. Of course you would be the brand to help me come around on blazers! First you tempted me with the Sun Spiral Jacket ($148, review here). Now you’ve got me again with the Chaperoned Blazer ($128). Textured navy tweed with a subtle sparkle? Call me a fangirl but I am swooning.
I grabbed a 10 and tra-la’ed down to the fitting room. To my surprise, a 10 was actually large on me! Normally I size up (and up and up) in blazers to accommodate my 34D chest. But I would have been just fine in an 8 for once. I’m usually against cropped blazers, and I don’t think I’d do this with anything besides a dress, but it works nicely. The reason? The waist is in the right spot. I can’t emphasize how important this is to the fit. Additionally, the tuxedo placket is right on-trend. I was very tempted to just buy this at full price, but $128 was high enough to give me pause. Plus, I really want the aforementioned Sun Spiral Jacket too. I’d rather wait for sale so I can get them both. Wishlisted!!
I love Leifsdottir. There, I said it! And I don’t feel bad about it either. Every season I love at least four or five pieces. From the latest collection I’m loving the Mansart Blouse ($228) and the blouse on me above — the Firewing Blouse ($198). I tried my usual size 6 in tops and it fit wonderfully. Close across the hips as Leifsdottir always is but I would not need to size up to an 8. This top is double-layered, which Anthro could learn a thing or two about. The ruffle is large but blends in nicely with the rest of the top. I love the earthy tones and sparkle. I have serious sparkle weakness.
Now here’s a weird thing — this blouse is marked as $198 online but my tag said $228. I was very confused by this…
…so much so that I decided to wishlist the top instead of buying it. I know the NYC stores sometimes get items first, but a $30 price discrepancy is nothing to sneeze at. I don’t know how the top is ringing up but I’d feel badly if anyone paid more than they should have for the top, pretty though it is.
I tried the top on with Pilcro’s Cohort Corduroys ($88) in blue. I mentioned this in the comments of another post last week but I loved these pants. Cord skirts have long been a staple of mine but until now that love had not translated to cord pants. I tried on a size 31, which was loose at the waist but right over my thighs.
These pants get several key elements right. First, they have a mid-rise. DEATH TO LOW-RISE. Secondly, they have a slightly tapered waistband, meaning that when I sit down I’m not automatically flashing any poor soul behind me. Finally they have just a hint of stretch which makes them effortlessly comfortable. They even come in a “long” inseam, though laughably that long is only 34″. Which is what Anthro pants normally used to be all the time. I don’t particularly care for the distressed color stripe down the middle of each leg — way to take something work-ready and kill that idea. But it’s less noticeable in some colors (the blue and grey). In fact the blue just feels like a thicker pair of jeans.
I tried throwing the Chaperoned Blazer ($128) from the top of this post over the Firewing Blouse ($198) and came up with a pretty good work look. I haven’t picked up these pants yet but plan to soon as my size is selling quickly online.
I own last year’s Wind-Rippled Tee in cranberry red, but I couldn’t resist trying the Finessed Turtleneck ($48) from C. Keer in the same color. Wow this top is form-fitting! My usual size medium was hugging each and every curve.
I laughed while snapping these photos. No-go for me. But I do like several elements. I like the warm color. I love the ruched area by the neckline and that this turtleneck doesn’t choke me. (I’m very sensitive to the turtleneck gag-reflex.) I like the bracelet sleeves and the overall length of the top. I would never buy this top though. I’d always have to wear something over it and even then I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable. Pretty but far too close-fitting. Pass.
Moulinette Soeurs is doing tops now, which I suppose means that they can’t cut off my hips the way they are with dresses these days. Grumble. This is the Stippled Canvas Top ($98). It’s a silk top with a beautiful watercolor print on it.
I tried on my usual size 6 which was flowy and loose. Though the online product shot doesn’t show it, this top has a drop waist which tapers in ever so slightly. That caused the bottom of the top to blouse out a bit. I didn’t like it. I do, however, quite like both the tri-pleat down the front and the colors in this top. Not happening for me at full price but worth reconsidering at sale time. Wishlisted!
