Cool blue + camel // Burberry Daylesmoore wool trench coat

Burberry coat sz 2 (also sold here), sleeves shortened & belt loops raised

Articles of Society jeans (hemmed), Lou & Gray top (similar), H&M scarf (similar)

Ray-Ban sunglasses, LT gloves (fits small!) Sole Society boots (similar), Coach bag

It was a frigid and windy one this weekend! I wore this triple-layered pairing of many old favorites for running errands. We got in just a few snaps before Nick's hands almost froze off - any good recommendations for photographer-friendly winter gloves? 
I first tried on this Burberry Daylesmoore coat (also referred to as their funnel-neck wool cashmere trench) in size 2 in 2013, then did a more detailed review in a size 0 last winter. I finally purchased it this winter after not having found a camel coat I loved more after all this time. I wanted to answer more of your questions on this coat, and also show why I chose the size 2.

Having tried on three years' versions of this coat, I feel like sizing has shifted to be a little slimmer over time. If you look at my 2013 post in a size 2, the coat was noticeably baggy, although I was wearing a lighter cardigan. This winter when I went coat shopping, I wore my faux leather moto jacket which I like to layer under winter coats on the coldest days. The weight was also a good representation of a thicker blazer or sweater. Please note all fitting room photos below are with this jacket on underneath!

Here is the size 0 - please excuse wrinkles as they had brought this right from storage:

Burberry Daylesmoore coat sz 0, Stuart Weitzman Lowland boots c/o (review) 

Compared to sizing on American brands, I feel the Burberry Brit line runs at least one full size small. I'm typically a 00p / xxsp in American retailers, and the size US0 coat here was very fitted on me without my extra layer. I really loved the snug feeling, until I looked at the 360 deg. pictures. As you can see in the pics above, with the extra layer on there are noticeable signs of bulging on me both at the front buttons as well as the back torso vent. I did love the narrow fit in the shoulders of this size, though.

Here is the size US 2 in comparison:

The shoulders were not as fitted on me, but the entire coat was more comfortable throughout. After reviewing these photos it was clear to me which size to get. I had my usual alterations done of shortening the sleeves and raising the belt loops. The sleeves were not super long on me and the belt loops were only about .5 to 1 inch low, so those even a little taller than me (I'm 5 feet) may not need any alterations!

Coat try-on tips: definitely try on outerwear with an additional layer, representative of what you'd typically wear on a cold day. Also, have someone else take photos of you in the coat from the front, side, and back so that you can take a closer look from all angles! This lets me see fit issues, like pulling across the back, which I'd miss otherwise.
I haven't found any super similar options for less, but here are two other camel coats that do come in extended petite sizing:
- ASOS long funnel-neck coat, starting in 00p (likely fits like 000p)! In my experience their sizing runs small (I usually wear 0 or 2P there) and their coats are on the lighter-weight side.
- J.Crew zip Melton coat, starting in 00p in three neutral colors.

Friends & Family sales: LOFT Camel coat + olive legging jeans

LOFT olive legging jeans sz 24p (5 colors) and wool-blend coat in xxsp (3 colors)
Talbots striped tee sz Petite P, Sole Society booties sz 5.5

The pre-Thanksgiving F&F sales are rolling in, including 25% off site-wide for Kate Spade (one of my go-to's for holiday gifts) with GIFTED, 40% off at Ann Taylor with FRIENDS40 including new arrivals that hit yesterday, and also 40% at LOFT with code SHAREIT. I get a lot of questions on the olive skinny jeans I wear constantly, but they're an older style by 7FAMK. I've tried on several alternatives from a wide price range and these LOFT sateen 5-pocket legging jeans were the best dupe I've found, plus are very affordable with this sale! They come in 5 colors and in regular, petite, and tall sizing...

I'm trying on a 24P which was a snug fit, and the length is great for shorties (just cuffed up once with these booties). I'm always surprised by how slim LOFT's skinny jeans run compared to their skirts and pants, which I almost always need to get altered. The sateen material is not a shiny one (like what I typically mentally associate with "sateen"), more with a sueded feel and the color is a true dark olive. LOFT also makes a coated legging jean that fits equally great. The carbon color is a fun alternative to plain black jeans and the brandywine is beautiful in-person.

On to this coat - for several years now I've been shopping for a classic, belted camel coat. The top contenders for me each year remained the J.Crew's popular icon trench (see my past review) and Burberry Brit's camel coat (see my past review). The J.Crew had great details but a boxier cut and the Burberry was better but at a much steeper price point, so I wanted to take time and shop around more. You would think there'd be more options for such a staple piece! Years later I'm still camel-coatless and didn't want to go any longer without one. I finally took the plunge with the Burberry (got a size 2 for layering room and shortened the sleeves) which of course has gone up in price during the time I've been hemming and hawing away, but I hope the number of wears over the next few years will make it a worthwhile splurge.

I'll be showing more of that coat soon, but as a look-for-less, I wanted to do a quick review on this LOFT belted coat. It's not too similar, but is one of the very few camel coat options I've found this year, especially since the J.Crew icon trench in camel sold like hotcakes before Fall barely began. It is single breasted, and a slight A-line cut when unbelted.

The style has a funnel neck like the Burberry  which can be worn folded down, or propped up for full neck/lower chin coverage on brisk days. The material is a 50% wool blend which I found to be ~ medium weight. The quality of the material was average, nothing to write home about but I haven't seen better options at the sale price point. I thought it fit true to size for LOFT coats and my usual xxsp had room for thick layers underneath. Details-wise, I like the classic shoulder epaulettes and button tabs by the wrists, however I never understand why coat pockets have upper openings instead of side/slanted for easier hand entry!

Banana Republic 3-button tailored coat sz XSP (also in grey plaid)

As part of this LOFT sale I ordered the coated legging jeans and plaid funnel neck coat to try - I'm iffy about what the coat material will be like, but am in love with the taupe/ gray/ brick red color scheme and how it goes with almost everything I've been wearing lately. UPDATE: the coated legging jeans are amazing and a definite keep - would highly recommend. The coat pattern is great and fit in xxsp is also good on me for a coat, but the material is not high quality...will be trying it on more and deciding on that one.

Banana Republic actually also makes a plaid gray coat in petites which I saw in store and thought was nice quality. The pattern doesn't speak to me as much, but I wanted to mention their 3-button coat in general which I hope they'll make in more colors/patterns! I tried on the bright neon version of the same coat above in XSP (my usual size was sold out in-store) and was impressed by the tailored yet classic feminine look - a nice alternative to the J.Crew lady day. It was just a little big so I think my usual Banana Republic size would've fit perfectly. The bright lime was too bright as a coat even for this neon-lover (however there are lots of 5-star reviews for it already online), but check out the grey plaid for a more muted look.

Boots with the fur

Kate Spade shirtdress, faux fur collar coat, cedar street harmony bag c/o

Cole Haan Marina boots (30% off w/ FRIENDS30), Nars lipcolor in "shanghai express"

As much as I like my bright colors, sometimes an all-neutral palette can feel the most classic. For the second half of my collaboration with Kate Spade New York, I styled this taupe and black pairing for the oncoming chilly season. I find the easiest way to elevate neutrals is with elements of texture, such as a luxe faux-fur collar, satiny bow tie, or tall suede boots.

I've been wearing this convertible handbag (6 colors; previously reviewed in this post) often and a few ladies on social media asked if the pink one would be limited to spring/summer wear. I actually think light pink can be very cross-seasonal and love it in cooler seasons paired with neutrals like taupe, camel and grey!


I also mentioned in my last post that Kate Spade's sizing can be rather petite-friendly. My bow-back dress from there in size 00 was a snug fit with no alterations needed, and I've also tried on several more that fit similarly. Just look for styles that are more fit and flare and where the waistline looks like it hits a little higher up on the model.

For more straight-cut pieces like the ones I chose for this post, I found the shoulders to fit in a size 00 with the sleeves requiring shortening, typical of regular sizing. For this woodland plaid bow shirtdress I used my favorite trick of tying a skinny belt around the waist and folding a few inches of material over the belt. This essentially creates a blouson waistline and also adjusts the length of the overall piece to your liking based on how much material you fold over. You can wear a dress like this to work with pumps and then "shorten" it for a night out.

The weight of this wool-blend coat is very heavy and the details and finishing remind me of the quality of my Burberry ones. The only alteration here was to shorten the sleeves by 2 inches. I also love some of their iconic bow-collared coats that I saw in-store but not yet online.

Thank you to Kate Spade New York for partnering on this post!

Nordstrom Fall sale winners: Treasure & Bond jacket + sweater

Treasure & Bond jacket (so many useful features - read on below) and layered sweater 
*coat is an army green color in-person; my lighting makes it appear more yellow*

I cranked up my air conditioning to do a few reviews from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale! As mentioned before, this is a sale on new, Fall merchandise and prices go back up for the season on August 3rd. If you don't have a Nordstrom card to get early access, you can use the "save to wishlist" button and order later when the sale is public on July 17th.

Rag & Bone jeans (sz 24), Ivanka Trump flats, BP ankle booties (sale version)

First up, this Treasure & Bond utility coat looks lackluster in the stock photos, but turned out to be an unexpected gem in all senses: it fits without alterations, is super functional, is in a versatile style that you see year after year, is machine-washable, and is a very reasonable price for a piece that can convert from a fall jacket to a winter coat. Let's take a closer look...

Measurements of size XXS regular: 14" across the shoulders, 27" total length, and 22" sleeve length. I was especially thrilled that the sleeves were not too long. Material is a quality blend of 97% cotton / 3% spandex on the outer, and 100% poly on the liner. I wanted to point out that the jacket itself, without the removable liner, is already fully lined.

No, I don't think this sherpa liner was intended to be worn as a vest, but I just wanted to clearly show what the removable piece looks like : ) When I first picked up the box this came in, it felt like bricks and I was confused as to what I could've possibly ordered. Turns out this jacket with the liner can easily be heavy enough for late Fall / early winter (especially if you layer underneath). For those who live in mild climates, this can probably serve as a winter coat. The liner is comfy and cozy, and I liked that it was piped in a stylish olive trim.
Next, I wanted to point out that every pocket is functional - no decorative fluff here. In addition, the lower pockets have two ways of entry as shown above. I love the option on the right as it's the most comfortable way for me to rest my hands and keep them warm.

How cool is this - the hood rolls up into a small tube and zips in and out of the collar. It has a drawstring as well to cinch the opening to your head size.

While trying on this jacket, I thought to myself all it needed was a drawstring waist cincher. Lo and behold, when I took off the sherpa vest what do I see? The waist is cut straight, so you can use this drawstring to "shape" it to your body.

A small zip pocket for coins and valuables, in addition to the many snap pockets. The elbows are also reinforced with stitched patching.

On to this layered sweater, also from the same brand. I inadvertently ordered the exact outfit in their lookbook with this sweater and utility jacket, but hey it works. This is a "pre-styled" piece so you can throw it on over skinny bottoms and look ready for the day without a moment of thought. It's hard to gauge materials over the internet, but the knit of this sweater is very soft and comfortable, and not too thin. The blend of the sweater is 55% pima cotton, 25% viscose, 15% nylon, 5% cashmere sweater and the plaid shirt is 100% cotton. Please note the shirt does not actually go underneath the entire sweater - it's just a faux-layered look.

Fit on me in size XXS is a slouchy casual fit, long enough to wear with leggings in my opinion as it just covers the crotch. As you can see below, the sleeves are a little long on short arms but as with most casual sweaters, you can push them up for a scrunched look. Measurements of an XXS: 14" across shoulders, 26" approx. total length, and 22.5" sleeve length.

Closeup - sweater has a waffle-like texture and the plaid has a soft, broken-in finish. This is my first time buying from Treasure & Bond and I have to say I'm impressed by quality and fit. On every item listing it also says 5% of profits are donated to organizations that empower girls and women, which is a bonus.

 Rag & Bone jeans (sz 24), Halogen leopard mid heels (this year's sale version)

And unfortunately this one was a miss - the Soia & Kyo double face wool coat in size XXS. I got sent the wrong color, but that issue aside, the material was itchy on me and unlined. I do know that unlined is typical of "double face wool" construction but the overall piece just felt more like a thick cardigan / robe than a true coat to me. This will be going back. My orders were sent in piecemeal (also ended up pulling the trigger on these Cole Haan OTK boots with a very slender calf measurement) so I'll be updating with more hits and misses as they arrive!