Sunday, April 19, 2015

Ann Taylor + J.Crew sales & petite spring reviews

ann taylor linen sweater white jeans outfit
J.Crew factory belt (extra holes punched), Steve Madden heels, YSL bag ("light rose")

1. For those who missed this pearlized chain necklace last sale, it's back! Mine is from a few years ago where there was only one color choice, but it looks like they have "gold" and "silver" now. Please note this is costume jewelry thus made of faux pearls.

2. This 100% linen breezy sweater (comes in 2 colors) in "pearl rose" was my favorite piece out of the items I tried on. I have a weakness for linen in warmer weather - usually a downside is the fabric's extreme wrinkle-proneness, but in this knit format that is not an issue. True to the item name, it is a "breezy" sweater in a looser knit and is somewhat sheer as you can see below. I was afraid it'd be too roomy per the stock photo, but the xxs petite was a nice casual fit after cuffing up the sleeves. I'll love it as a coverup after a day by the pool/beach, with shorts or jeans, or for work with a tank top underneath.
ann taylor linen sweater white jeans outfit2
2. Finally got to try on this year's version of their scalloped lace dress. After seeing both the LOFT and AT versions in-person, I definitely prefer the latter for quality and fit. I own the 2011 version of this dress and am bummed they used a different lace material (now a smaller, different shape of floral) from prior year versions. However it's still a fairly thick lace that is double lined, and on the plus side the fit this year is much better than before, running smaller than most of their dresses that I've tried on.
ann taylor white crochet lace dress petite
The 00P was just 1-2" roomy in the waist and hips, so someone my size can get away alterations-free, or do the simple DIY waist take-in I showed here. Also, the waist placement is higher and the total length is shorter than before. This is great for fellow shorties like myself, but anyone a little taller might prefer to go with regular sizing.  When lying flat and unstretched, the 00P measures 15" across the armpits, 13" across the waist, 17" across the hips, and is 32" long - please note that due to the thickness of the lace and the double lining, the actual fit is noticeably smaller than these outer measurements.
AT lace dress blog
H&M belt (old), Coach bag, Steve Madden heels

A belt could also help cinch it the waist if you just have a little bit of roominess. See my old tutorial for how to tie this belt knot here!
ann taylor striped top
BR skirt (altered) & J.Crew heels (both old), Rag & Bone jeans, Halogen heels (similar)

3. Next up, I tried on this striped crossover top in xxs petite. I echo the sentiments of one of the online reviewers of this top - liked it but it didn't wow me, so I probably wouldn't keep it. I figured I'd share a quick review for anyone else who may have been eying it. It's a very blousy fit with good drape, but the material is thin and on the sheer side (you can see the bottom layer of the crossover in photo below). The front is designed a little shorter than the back tail, and there's a snap button at the chest.
ann taylor striped top2
4. I love my tweed skirts from Ann Taylor although all of them had to be altered at the waist. They have two very pretty ones this season, this one below in a cream tweed with subtle blue and green speckles, and this beautiful textured stripe one that I'm so bummed is all gone in my size. The fit of the one below is typical for the brand so sits lower on my hips. It'd need tailoring in order to sit higher at my natural waist, where I like my skirts to be.

I liked the fit and texture of this sweater - the color wasn't for me, but wanted to share for anyone interested. I see it also comes in white online which would be more versatile, however a review notes that one is very sheer.

As for J.Crew factory (40-50% off all womens, ends 4/22), here's a quick update on my order for those of you who have been asking. I'll try to post photos this week, but for now:

- petite chambray shirt was cancelled due to inventory issues. This is third time I've gotten a notice like this (well over a week after the order date) from ordering either at J.Crew regular and factory, so they need to better manage their web availability vs. actual stock!

- calfhair cheetah belt in sz S I kept, but had to punch several extra holes in (if you don't have a leather hole puncher yet, not sure what you're waiting for!). It is very long - nearly 40 inches. You can take it to a cobbler and get belts shortened for a fee if the extra length bothers you. The leather arrived a little stiff which I hope will soften with hear, and for the price I paid I have no complaints. The cheetah print is "spot" on for what I'm looking for as an accent to my outfits, and it's already been worn several times (see first photo of this post).

- navy striped pencil skirt in 00p - I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this. It was 100% crisp cotton of decent weight and some stretch, was fully lined, and as a nice small touch  the waistband was also lined with grosgrain ribbon. The fit however is very generous on someone my size, not surprising for J.Crew bottoms. I liked the quality and classic design enough to pay for alterations. The measurements of a 00P for reference is: 13.25" across the waist, 17" across the hips, and 19.5" length. Would recommend, especially when on sale.

Last but not least, I also wanted to point out this J.Crew factory petite floral top as a dupe for my old LOFT one, for anyone who missed out on that last year. A floral top is one of the most versatile pieces in my entire closet (see a few ways I paired mine), and I love the colors of the J.Crew factory one as an alternative. Remember to use FREESHIP to get free shipping with no minimums!

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