after nearly two weeks of perfect weather, a spring storm rolled in this weekend, putting a literal damper on our plans to spend the day in la jolla. so plan b looked like running out to the local mall to grab some tinted moisturizer and stopping by abercrombie & fitch for the second installment of fitting room fables!

i mentioned a few months back that i had found a new appreciation for the brand that outfitted me for a majority of my formidable years and in having the opportunity to model some of my favorite spring pieces in person, i can say my fondness for the brand has definitely been awoken from its decade’s plus slumber. below are the items i tried on and my honest opinion about their style and fit.

 

 

ruffle romper (small) || y’all know i love a good romper. especially one with a ruffled detail. being so long-waisted, i oftentimes have trouble finding rompers that fit my torso properly. this one was surprisingly flattering as well as comfortable which i credit to that elastic waistband. i kind of wish i had found this before all of my bridal festivities last year, it would have been perfect for my bachelorette weekend. at any rate, it would be adorable paired with a denim jacket and gladiator sandals this summer. it also comes in black!

size verdict: true to size.

 

 

one-shoulder shift dress (small) || if you missed out on snagging this madewell dress last season, A&F’s version is a dead ringer for it. the one-shoulder silhouette certainly isn’t going anywhere any time soon, so it would be smart to stock up on a few more flirty pieces to get you through the season. this one was a tad bit short on me (i’m a hair under 5′ 7″) but i just realized that abercrombie offers tall sizes online (as well as petite!). so if i didn’t already own a similar version, i’d definitely snag this in the tall size. it’s also available in navy and white but i love the blue and white stripes for summer, especially when paired with rich cognac.

size verdict: true to size. opt for the tall version if you’re over 5’4″.

 

 

printed wrap dress (small) || trying on this dress made me really feel my age. while abercrombie has certainly refined their style over the past fifteen years, i have to remember that this is still a store for teens and young adults. this dress is short. but if you’re on the petite side, it would be quite flattering. the wrap shape accentuates the waist and the puckered sleeves soften broad shoulders to create a fun and flirty silhouette. with festival season well underway, this dress would be perfect with a pair of suede booties and a wide-brimmed hat. it’s also available in a floral print and multi-colored pattern.

size verdict: true to size. best suited for petite gals.

 

 

classic romper (small) & military twill shirt jacket (small)  || unlike the ruffled romper, this version fit a little awkwardly on my torso. again, if the store had offered tall sizes, perhaps it would have worked better with a little more length. at any rate, this is a great classic button-up onesie with a collared neckline. it’s sleeveless, too which would be perfect for when the temperatures really start to heat up. it also comes in chambray and blue and white striped. given my love for olive, i was obviously drawn to this military-style jacket. y’all, it fit perfectly. if i didn’t already own two similar versions, i would have definitely snagged it. if you’re looking for a good light-weight jacket to layer in the warmer months, i highly suggest this one. and if olive isn’t your thing, it also comes in four other colors, including camouflage. (p.s. it has a five-star rating on the website).

size verdict for romper: true to size. opt for the tall version if over 5′ 5″. size verdict for jacket: true to size, size up for a roomier fit for layering.

 

 

cold-shoulder ruffle dress (small) || while i’m a sucker for a good denim dress, i wasn’t in love with this one. i’ll admit i was initially drawn to it for its ruffles (obviously) but the fabric was fairly thin and i didn’t care for the spaghetti straps, either. overall it was a miss.

size verdict: true to size.

 

 

off-the-shoulder gingham dress (small) || given my love for gingham and pockets (!), you would have thought this would have been the perfect frock for me. unfortunately, it fit kind of like a paper sack -offering no real shape at all. i’m wearing a small, but for how much fabric there was, i probably could have sized down to an extra small. if it had been offered as a shirt, i might have been sold. too bad because i’ve been hoping to add a few more gingham pieces to my closet this season.

size verdict: size down.

 

 

bell sleeve top (small) & denim skirt (26) || i’d like to introduce you to the college version of me. no joke, i owned this exact skirt from abercrombie my freshman year in college. i wore it at least twice a week, one time with uggs (the horror!). trying this outfit on actually made me feel really nostalgic for my days as a pepperdine wave. sigh. i have actually been toying with the idea of getting a denim skirt back into the mix after a nearly 15-year hiatus but this one still feels a little juvenille for me. the top on the other hand was a big win. i love this moss color and the bell sleeves are right on trend. it’s slightly cropped which is the only reason it didn’t come home with me (i was nervous about it shrinking even more in the wash) but if your torso isn’t as long as mine, it’s super cute and comes in a bunch of colors.

size verdict in top: true to size. size verdict in skirt: true to size (denim stretches).

 

 

ruffle sleeve top (small) || i spotted this top a while ago while perusing abercrombie’s website. it’s the kind of blouse that would work well for the office as well as on the weekend. unfortunately it was just a little sheer for my taste, which was a bummer because i loved the frilly sleeves and the bow-tie neckline. it was fairly billowy so i might have been able to size down, but i always err on the side of a tad-oversized rather than too small when it comes to tops. no one wants to look like a sausage casing. i chose the olive (for obvious reasons) but it’s available in five other colors including two floral prints.

size verdict: true to size, could size down if small-busted.

 

while the new crop of arrivals doesn’t hit stores until wednesday, they’re currently available online. i already have my eye on these cropped trousers, this jumpsuit and this cold-shoulder sweatshirt, so perhaps a sophomoric visit to my local store is in order soon. in fact, i may or may not have just signed up for their A&F rewards program in anticipation of future purchases. if the 2003 me could see me now.

p.s. i’m wearing a madewell hat (similar) and these sandals.

 

shop the post:

 

6