With all the recent J. Crew promotions, I ordered a few things to try out from both Crewcuts and Factory.
Crewcuts Houndstooth Button Sweater, Sz 14, $25 (
buy here)
Fueled by my successful Crewcuts in-store experience
here, I decided to go ahead and order this sweater. The differences between a normal women's XS sweater and this lies in overall sweater length and sleeve length. The torso might be a little boxier too, but I'm also rather rectangular so that is sometimes hard to tell. The sweater hem falls a little past the top of my hip and the sleeves hit a little past my wrist bone. The shoulders / sleeves / chest (especially since the temporary baby-related changes have all since gone away) fit well with just a little room at the torso. It's worth noting that the houndstooth print is only in the front.
Verdict: Keep. At $25, I think this a good buy!
On the first day, I mistakenly thought the sweater was black and paired it with a black button down, black blazer, and gray pants. When I got outside, I realized it was navy blue. So the second time I wore it, I paired it with a navy mini-dot button down and jeans :)
Factory Stripe Knit Blazer, XXS, $47 (
buy here)
I originally tried this in XS way back in
February and noted that it ran a little bigger than the typical J. Crew 0. When I saw that this was
finally on further sale online, I decided to try the XXS. It's a little more fitted all over without being too snug or showing unsightly pulling at the buttons. I still love a good striped item and considering that my husband had just asked what I wanted for Xmas, this was the perfect thing to offer up. After trying it on, I wrapped it back up and put it under the tree :)
Verdict: Keep
Polka Dot Popover, XS, $30 (
buy here - ivory color is more expensive)
I had tried on a polka dot button down at J. Crew before and thought it fit rather nicely. I apparently ordered the wrong item though (this one is a popover instead of the normal button-down), because this one is rather billowy and large throughout. Note to self - read a little more carefully next time.
Verdict: Return, too big
Fitting Room Reviews:
We were determined to do an entire day in San Jose so we could eat both lunch (Layang Layang) and dinner (Izakaya) there.
We are very food-motivated people. So despite the crowds (and the 20 minutes it took to find a parking spot), we stopped by the Great Mall to kill some time.
Classic Button-Down Shirt in Flannel, XS, $17 in stores
I had been looking for a "Christmas-y" plaid with red, green, and a little navy and this one pretty much fit the bill (though if I wanted to be super picky, this has a little too much white). The sleeves are a little long and the chest / torso is a bit big, but it's great to accommodate the extra holiday pounds. The flannel is super soft and I love that I can button this all the way up without feeling like the collar is choking me.
Verdict: Bought
Charley Sweater in Leopard, XXS, (
buy here)
I would normally go for XS in a sweater like this because the XXS is too form-fitted for my liking. As in, if I ate a sandwich, you'd be able to see the outline of it. It's a cute sweater, but it's not me.
Verdict: No, too form-fitting and can't pull off this much leopard
Striped Sweater, S, (don't see online)
Late to the neon game, I thought this would be a good option for someone (like me) who isn't ready to do solid neon. Sleeve and shoulder fit fine, but chest / torso were a little too big. I would normally take an XS, but S was the smallest I saw.
Verdict: No, couldn't find my size, but I loved the general look
Factory Ruffle Collar Top, Sz 0, $20 in stores, (
buy here)
Ignore the lumpiness above my chest, that's the necklace I was too lazy to remove. I love this periwinkle blue color and think it's perfect as a good work shell beneath cardigans or blazers. The shoulders fit well and it's a straight cut all the way down. The roomy torso makes it a good candidate for tucking.
Verdict: Bought for work
Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season this year! For those who celebrate, Merry Christmas!!!