Dagmar Shirtdress and Molded and Melded Tee

I have never been a huge fan of red.  I always lean toward cool blues, purples, and greens in my fashion choices, as you can see in the fitting room pics below.  However, when I saw the Dagmar dress in the Anthro catalog, I knew I would have to check it out.

Dagmar Shirtdress- $148

My sister and I typically go clothes shopping together, but it can be a bit stressful for me.  She has a VERY different style than I do, and I like to try items that are a little more forward and outside the box.  I showed this to her on the hanger, and she pooh-poohed it.  "That is so not you," she said.  On my next solo trip, it was the first thing I grabbed.

I am smiling, because I really like this thing!  I am a teacher, and I can definitely see myself walking down the halls in this.  I tried it on in a 2, but I think I want to try a 4 for comparison.  The sleeves were tight, and it was almost to the gaping point in the chest (which is nearly impossible for me!)  While the sleeves were not ideal, they certainly weren't the cringe-inducing tourniquets that were the Two-Wheeler dress' sleeves.  
I would add a black or gray belt, and I just got the dark gray J Crew Jackie cardigan earlier this summer.  Hmmm....
I have embedded a polyvore of my musings into my blog.

Molded and Melded Tee- $48

I tried this on when the first set of colorways came out ages ago.  I have the chest of a twelve year-old boy, so I was sad to see I would be sized out of even the XS in this top.  It draped in a really wonderful way around my mommy tum, but there was just too much fabric on top.
Summer reviews of the new colors said the fit was a bit different.  I thought it was worth another shot.  Again, this blue-toned red was calling to me!  I tried it on in the XS the same day as the Dagmar.

For some reason, it does seem to fit a bit better.  I would need to wear a padded bra, but what is new?

I am digging on these reds!  I showed all of my photos to  my husband, and he liked the red items the best.  I guess that study supporting red as the biggest turn-on for guys has some validity.  It may be time to expand my closet's color selection!
Anyone else liking an item in a very unexpected hue?

Gotta Love the Giveaways!

The beautiful and fashionably gifted KrameyMartin has a giveaway running on her blog right now.  She is generously giving away a $25 Anthropologie gift card to a lucky entrant.  If you haven't checked out her site, you really should!
Not only does she mix her pieces in unique and completely usable ways, she also has links to an impressive number of past Anthropologie catalogs.  I have perused these and used the info to look for items on Ebay.  Some day, I might just get lucky and find a missed opportunity!
What would you get with a $25 Anthro allowance?  Myself, I would use it toward this little beauty.

Curlytop Cardigan $98

I have tried this on at the store, and I adore it.  The price is a bit more than I want to pay, but with $25 off, now we're talkin'!

New J Crew Roll Out

stripe cofetti ruffle shirt $89.50

Hmm.  Something here looks vaguely familiar.  Can you spot the clothing doppelgangers?

Frances stripe ruffled tuxedo shirt $39.99

 

 Shall we try another? How about this fashion smack-down?

chiffon flutter vest $178.00

ribbed ruffle vest $49.99

Yes, I realize that these are brand-new, freshly interpreted, fascinatingly fall items that in no way, shape, or form are meant to be derivative or communicate a lack of creativity.  But I was really looking for something we haven't seen over and over.

I did find a few things that fit the bill and fulfill my need for the new.

Betsy wrap cami $110 dark plum

This looks darling on the model shot in the other color, and there's no way I would pay this much for this thing, but this looks new and unique to me.  There aren't fifty versions of this to be found at Ann Taylor or the Loft.

Rimini cardigan $98

No, this didn't come out today, but it is better than most of the other sweaters that did debut on this rollout.  I am not a fan of merino wool, but it does hold rich colors so well.  This black pine is a great shade.  I like the more teal shade that has shown up, as well.

Bayberry washed wool scarf $59.50

Vintage silk scarf $58.00

Vintage silk scarf $58.00

These scarves (or scarfs, you can use either) are beautifully colored.  I love the top one the most for its subtlety.  Would look awesome with many shades of brown.  Strangely, in J Crew's description for the silk scarves, they start out with "Celebrate spring in this exquisite silk scarf..."  Well, I do believe we are heading into FALL, J Crew.  If I wanted to celebrate spring, I would need to rent my own Hot Tub Time Machine.  Never seen that movie, by the way, but I adore John Cusack.

Velvet Ruby jacket $168.00

Again, not a strictly new addition due to cardholders preview email, but this rainforest green is calling to me.  It looks dreadfully short on the model, but then again, she is a model.  I can see this moving into fall with their newly-slim chinos (lovin' those).

Taffetta Seine vest $650.00

Breaking News!! Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep, and it appears it has been skinned and repurposed by J Crew in the name of fashion!  This monstrosity (take a look at the back of it on the product page) will undoubtedly be purchased by some delusional self-titled fashionista, but the rest of us will just shake our heads and try not to do the Elvis lip curl.  This is what I would wear to a wedding.  If I lived in Norway.  In 793.  And I was just home from a raid/pillage.  And I scratched my balls a lot.

OK!  On that note, I am hoping for more saturated rich tones, yummy prints, and thick fabrics to come from J Crew.  Come on!  I know you got it in ya!

Another Anthro Giveaway, and it's a Biggie!

The lovely Roxy from Effortless Anthropologie is holding the Mama of all giveaways!  You can sign up for your chance at a $250 gift card here.  Roxy has created the Holy Grail of Anthro blogs, and if you have not followed here religiously like I have, now is the time to start. 

Thank you for the chance, Roxy!

Happy Monday! Giveaway Opportunity at Where the Lights are Bright!

Spiffy, the author of the Where the Lights are Bright blog, is giving away a $25 Anthropologie gift card.  The lucky winner will be randomly chosen today, so head on over and check it out!
Here is the link.

CSN card give-away at "In Pursuit.."

The lovely gals over at In Pursuit of Pretty Things are holding a give-away for a $60 CSN gift card.  I love how some blogs are being approached by this store, because I have been eyeing a rug there for months for my daughter's room. 
Carol and Kathryn, thanks for the opportunity, and your comprehensive posts on the Nordstrom Anniversary sale have inspired my sister and me to head out for a massive excursion to the Mall of America on Sunday.  Ahh.. a little Jane time!

Snap out of it!

Yes, it's been many moons since I had the desire to do more than dabble with this blog.  I have much too much fun reading everyone else's blogs.  

It took this monstrosity to light a fire under my fashion-obsessed heinie.  Anthropologie, DEAR GOD, in the name of all that is holy and hip, what is this?!?

Every morning, it is my ritual to wake with to the birds chirping, slink down my creaky 100 year old stairs, and surf by the eerie glow of my Power Mac while my family lies prostrate upstairs, blissfully unaware of my fashion compulsion.  

It is my joy in life to peruse the adorable new J Crew and Anthro offerings each morning, and I particularly love clicking on the new arrivals section at Anthro.  When the page number goes up, I get excited.  I know that scrolling down will be like opening up potential new gifts.  

Imagine my shock and horror when this appeared!  I literally gasped and recoiled.  This sorry sack of a sweater, aptly named the "Ha'penny Cardigan" nearly caused an asthma attack.  At first, I thought I was on the BBC historical costumes display page and that this was a left over piece from a documentary on Jack the Ripper. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the actual cloak worn by Prostitute Number 3 as she wandered the dark and vermin-filled streets of 19th century Whitechapel."

Then my eyes caught the name, and I groaned at the sick irony.  An item like this might have been worn by the little old lady who dropped a coin in a child's cup in the time of David Copperfield.  When you think of Anthropologie, do you think of begging children, crusts of bread, and moth-eaten sacks worn as clothing?

Hell, no!

Oh, Anthro... Why have you forsaken me?