Blog Break - I'll be back very soon...

I've taken a bit of an unexpected blog break (my beautiful mother passed away when I was in London for work, flew back to the states to be with my kids and husband in Seattle then we traveled to Ohio for the funeral, etc.  It's been a hectic few weeks and I am glad to be back in my home).  Then Christmas came a couple of days later, etc. and I've spent time much needed time with my family. My plan for the new year is to get back in the groove before I go back to to work end of week, respond to comments and check out what I've been missing, and post some things I got for Christmas.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

Holiday Shopping: Leopard, Tortoise and Wildcat Spots

Happy Holidays!    Thanksgiving was a nice day to spend with family.  

I didn't venture out into the stores early morning on Black Friday (I don't like getting out in that mess.  I did shop online on Amazon.com).  I did some pre-holiday shopping online and in the store with J.Crew.  In the store, I got the Savannah wildcat print Airy Wool Scarf 25% off.  This scarf is gorgeous!  It’s a nice, lightweight wool material.  The print is beautiful.  I wore it to work and after to dinner had so many compliments.  This is now my favorite scarf with so many options to dress up or down.   This piece has wardrobe versatility. I love it!

Here it is in real life:

J.Crew Airy Wool Scarf in Savannah Wildcat

I also got the J.Crew Mona Tortoise Pumps online with the 30% off promo last week.  These are beautiful and chic.  I don’t know that I would agree with J.Crew’s description that they “incredibly comfortable” (seems like an overstatement in comparison to some others brands like Cole Haan or Stuart Weizman for around the same price, but they are nicely padded).  They are made beautifully but sized more narrow than the other Mona pumps.  I think I would need a half size up, which sadly isn't available on the website.  I will try for the store today.  Wish me luck.   

I got the J.Crew Newsstand tote in leopard suede on sale.  It's a very nice print, with brass finish hardware and cotton twill lining.  It's beautiful, versatile, eye catching, and a great bag for around town, shopping, work, etc. I wish it zipped on top since it would be a great laptop or travel bag.  This tote is huge in real life.  I love it though.  I have so many leopard bags now but this is fun.   

J.Crew Leopard Newstand Tote

How was your Thanksgiving?  Did you find any good deals on Black Friday?  

Veteran's Day Shopping at U Village J.Crew

 On Friday, I went to University Village near University of Washington in Seattle.  I stopped by J.Crew, Madewell and Anthropologie and went to the Ram Restaurant and Brewery where my husband went to watch the game while my daughter, her friend and I shopped.  My daughter and her friend (both 12) had a blast trying on clothes in H&M and putting lipstick on in Sephora. I really like this mall and don't know why I don't go there more often.

The J.Crew at U Village is really nice and has a great selection.  I  tried on the Plaza Coat in cobalt.

It is a fitted silhouette (I've got a long sweater underneath and dress so it's not one you can layer a lot underneath without seeing bulk).  I like the classic shape and length.  It hits mid-thigh which is perfect for winter skirts and boots, like in the picture below.

I ended up with the Sequin Stripe Tee, although I tried not to like it.  I am really, really trying to boycott more sequins in my wardrobe, since thanks to J.Crew, I have enough to make a disco.  However, I love stripes, and this is a great tee with a nice fit and crewneck.

I paired it with the Navy Excursion Quilted Vest.  I've never been a vest girl (I owned one in 1990, I think) but this is a lightweight puffer and easy to layer.  I like it for some reason.

J.Crew Sequin Stripe Tee and ExcursionVest in Navy 

Excursion Vest in Navy

There are some other fun colors including Getaway Green and Candied Cherry, as seen below:

In addition to shopping, I did some pampering and got a mani/pedi with a shellac french manicure.  This looks really nice.  I got it done a couple few weeks ago and it lasts a long time.  I hope that it last for Thanksgiving.

I'm excited for the holidays soon.  In the middle of all of it, I'm traveling to London, Dublin and Luxembourg for work in December.  Either I need to finish my Christmas shopping early, do it all online, or pick up some things in Europe.  Maybe all of the above.

I am super jazzed about the Kindle Fire tablet coming out on Amazon.com this week.  I'm excited about the tablet version and the price.  In addition to the Kindle Fire, here are some other things on my holiday wishlist from J.Crew, including the bubble necklace and bag:

Wishlist by handbagaficionado featuring chronograph watches

What are some items that you want to get or give for the holiday season? 

J.Crew Royalty and Purple Rain: Majesty Peacoat, Royal Purple Paisley Print and Beilla Heels

I stopped by the Pacific Place J.Crew in Seattle to return the Natasha tops (I blogged about them a few weeks ago.  I bought two of them at full price because I loved them so much.  You know those cute little dainty buttons?  Well, they don't stay buttoned and they are wardrobe malfunctions waiting to happen.  Let's just say I had an awkward moment in a presentation, which led me to returning both of them). 

I was exited to see the new shipments in with the purple colors, especially the Majesty Coat:

J.Crew Majesty Peacoat

Yummy Colors!

How much do I love this coat?  Well let me tell you about it.  It is so beautiful.  (I didn't take a pic with it buttoned - arg!)  I was a bit surprised by the purple color in real life since it looks different than the catalog or online (Excuse the shoes and tights.  I look like an idiot.  I had on black shoes with black tights and tried on beige shoes):

Majesty Peacoat, Paisley head to toe, new shoes and unmatched tights

If you read my previous posts, you know that I dig the J.Crew Paisley.  I got the summer skirt with navy and orange and love it.  I had to get the Royal Paisley no.2 pencil skirt.  The purple, green and yellow colors are beautiful and the skirt isn't heavy, so you could wear it year round.  I tried on the crazy Royal Paisley with paisley combo with the top and no. 2 pencil skirt, like online:

In real life, it didn't work for me, although I like them separately.  That model would look good in a paper bag, but I can't bring myself to do that much pattern.  It felt too Prince, circa Purple Rain.  

J.Crew Royal Paisley Overkill

  I do like the scoopneck blouse and skirt separately, and can't wait to wear them with other items I own.

I did actually buy something that wasn't purple and neutral.  I got the Biella high-heel loafers in Warm Taupe regular $265 on sale for $59.99!  Shut the front door!  I couldn't pass these up.  These shoes have 4 inch heels.  I can walk in them and they are more comfortable then they look, but they are sitting shoes and not walking a lot shoes.  They are really pretty.  The warm taupe color makes the legs look really long.

Sitting shoes, not for long walks

I now have Prince songs playing in my head. How was your week?

October 2011 Reviews: J.Crew Hacking, Schoolboy and Nouvelle Jackets, Natasha Top and Silk Polka-dot Tee

Happy October!  The change in weather finally motivated me to look at fall outfits. I stopped by the J.Crew in Seattle.  I wanted to try some of the new blazers for fall.  I work for an internet retailer and I can jeans to work.  Although the dress is casual, I like pairing blazer with a pair of jeans.  It pulls it together for a polished look that you can dress up or down.  You can never have enough blazers.  I wanted to see the Hacking Jacket in Herringbone in real life.

In addition to the charcoal color above, the store had Grass and Vibrant Flame. They didn't have the Vibrant Flame in my size, so I wore the size down below to just show the color.  The Grass color was in my regular size.  I posted it below so you can see the beautiful orange color.

J.Crew Hacking Jacket in Herringbone  with Lace-Over Tank (in stores for $19.99)

J.Crew Hacking Jacket in Herringbone, Grass with Silk Polka Dot

 Tee

Paired with Selvedge Chambray Shirt

Paired with the Lace-over tank

 I also want one in the heather dark grape color:

I was less enthusiastic about the J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer in Blackwatch Tartan in real life:

I had such high hopes for this one and it wasn’t meant to be.  The overall fit was weird.  It was too small and short on the sleeves in my regular size and it was too big under the arms and snug at the bust.  The sleeves were odd.  Sizing up didn’t help.  I heard my Personal Stylist advise another customer that the jacket was better suited for people with petite frames.  I’m almost 5’7 and felt like I mistakenly put on my 12 year-old daughter’s jacket.  I’ll pass on this one.

I love the Natasha top in Vivid Poppy.  

It's bright and simple.  Fits true to size.  Love the color.  Here it is close up in real life:

J.Crew in Vivid Poppy
Halogen Cardigan from Nordstrom 

I was wearing a black Halogen Crewneck Cardigan from Nordstrom similar to the J.Crew Jackie.   I paired it up with my sweater. This top is so cute.  I had to get it.  I see lots of options.  Here it is in deep lagoon and black under the Nouvelle Jacket in Super 120s, which I have:

Natasha and Nouvelle Jacket

I also ended up with the Natasha in black, because I need a new black blouse. Yes, I am a multiple buyer.  If this goes on sale soon, I may cry, but I have some meetings coming up that made me decide to go ahead and get them now.  I will wait on the blue to go on sale.

I’m on the fence about the Silk Polka-dot Tee.  I love the print.  It is cut it similar to the J.Crew Casbah top which I own.  It’s a bit shorter in length, so if you reach up (see how I am raising my arms for the pic) it's short.  It’s nice for layering.  I’ll wait for this one to go on sale. I need to love it for $98, and I don’t.  I may be convinced at a cheaper price.  It has an exposed zipper in the back which I am on the fence about for a blouse.  (Update:  I just saw that the store has these on sale for $49.99.  That was quick!)

 I need another leopard scarf like I need a hole in the head, but look how seriously soft and neutral this printed scarf in wool is and it’s on sale:

I also ended up with three (yes, don't judge, I am a multiple buyer, especially on sale) lace-over tanks (in taupe, below, poppy and ivory) on final sale for $19.99 each in store.  There are great with blazers, cardigans or on their own.  They are sized bigger, so you may want to size down.  I like the coverage on top, since they don't go as low as some of the j.crew tanks, so totally work appropriate.

How was your week?

J.Crew Fall Arrivals, Louis Vuitton Alma, and Beautiful Maui

It's September.  How is that possible?  I finally gave in and did some fall shopping (since we got a late start on summer in Seattle, I am in denial).  I went to J.Crew to check out some of the new arrivals.  I ended up with the Leather-tipped bell skirt, as see below:

Based on the picture with the model, I would've passed based on length.  The model must be really tall.  I'm nearly 5'7 and here's the length on me:

I really like this skirt.  It's super comfy and a great piece for fall with tights and boots. There are lots of possibilities with items I currently have:


I also took advantage of some sale items like the tissue pintucked tee, as seen above in navy, and below in warm redwood.  I also bought the black.  I know I will regret this, since the last few tissue tees I bought at J.Crew ended up with holes in them (Boo!  J.Crew on tissue tee quality.  It's annoying.)  However, the $19.99 in store price made me give in for what is likely disposable tee shirts.

I am trying to enjoy the last days of Summer before breaking out my fall wardrobe.  School started this week for my daughter (my son goes back next week) and we got back from Maui on Sunday.  This is our fourth visit to Maui in the last couple of years (I'm seriously addicted, as blogged about here and here).
This time, we stayed in the Westin Resort and Spa  on Kaanapali Beach for the couple on nights in an ocean front room.  This was my view:

After a couple of nights on Kaanapali Beach, we spent the week at Outrigger Ainu Nala in Lahaina, with a kitchen, two bedrooms and 2 baths.   The condo had plenty of room for the four of us and the pools were very relaxing.

relaxing poolside with my J.Crew flip flops and book

Lahaina is fun and there are great places within walking distance.

We had a wonderful dinner at Lahaina Grill.  My husband is a foodie and loved it.  He also enjoyed grilling out by the pool at the Outrigger.

I also got some shopping in.  I went to The Shops at Wailea.  I went to Louis Vuitton to see the Alma handbags.  Louis is hit or miss for me, but I was interested in the Prune Electric seen in the 3rd picture down on the left, but liked the Alma  Rouge Fauviste better, as seen below.  What do you think?

Here they are side by side?  What do you think?

I also got some cute short sleeve cardigans on clearance at Banana Republic.  I liked the one in Wailea better than the one near me in Seattle.

The only downside  to a glorious time was a sunburn on my scalp the last two days.  Here I am with my husband's hat, smothered in SPF.  Regardless, I had a blast.  I am sad to see summer end.

How was your summer?  Hope it was awesome.