i’ll be honest, i have been pretty uninspired by the current fashion trends lately. so with that said, i’d say the winners from this month’s purchases would fall under the category of “wardrobe basics” vs. seasonal pieces. i’ve spent the past few weeks “pruning” my closet (not quite a complete purge but a weeding out of select pieces) and have tried to approach all future purchases with a fresh perspective. will i want to wear this in a year, in two years, in three? in five? does it align with what makes me feel best? does it have puffed sleeves? just kidding about the last one, but really, i’m trying my best these days to add pieces to my wardrobe that can stand the test of time. sometimes that means avoiding “fast fashion” in exchange for higher-quality (and higher price tag) items. but i’d rather spend a bit more if it means i’ll reach for it season after season. anyway, enough with the deep reflections. here’s what found its way to our front porch over the course of the past 30 (techincally 31) days, enjoy!
the homeruns
cos stores puff-sleeve top (small –ordered in white and black) || so i just started following a new-to-me british style blogger, lydia tomlinson and she has fast become one of my top style muses. she recently shared this top from the brand, cos and given my love for all things puff-sleeve, i immediately added it to my cart. it’s a bit more than i normally spend on tops, so i hemmed and hawed over ordering it, but after finding a coupon code and reading through the return policy (unless an item is final sale, you can ALWAYS return!), i decided to treat myself. having never ordered from the international brand, i was extremely impressed with the quality of the top as soon as it arrived. after months of ordering and returning pieces of fast fashion (h&m, zara, etc.), there is such a difference in quality when you choose to buy pieces that are a little more of an investment. be warned, the puff-sleeves are VERY puffy and aren’t for the faint of heart, but i don’t care, i love them. in fact, i decided to order it in the black as well. i can’t wait to wear both tops with my distressed jeans, faux leather trousers (to be added to my closet this fall), under overalls, or with my leopard midi skirt.
banana republic explorer short (2 –ordered kelp green) || i have been on the hunt for a non-denim pair of shorts for the summer and as soon as i spotted these on the banana republic website, i had high hopes they’d be the perfect addition to my warm weather wardrobe. spoiler alert: they are! as you know, i’m a modest millie and don’t love my shorts too short, but these have a perfect 5″ inseam and hit me mid-thigh. they fit true to size and can even be adjusted with the belt detail at the waistline. i’ll admit they feel a tad bit safari, but i’m into it. in addition to the dark khaki color, they also come in olive and cream. the twins’ 2nd birthday is zoo animal-themed so i actually think these shorts would be cute paired with the above puff-sleeve top and lace-up sandals to create my own version of a chic zookeeper, lol.
banana republic fitted ribbed tank (small -ordered in maverick tan) || we’ve had a couple really warm days this month and i think i almost forgot just how hot it gets where we live! sleeveless tops are a MUST when the temperatures rise so i figured i’d add to my collection with this ribbed tank in a neutral tan shade. in comparison to my beloved h&m tanks, i’d say this version is a tad bit longer but thinner and with a slightly wider neckline; but extremely comfortable overall and definitely something i could see myself incorporating into my current wardrobe. i’m tempted to scoop it up in black and white so i have back-ups because as i said, i’ll be living in tanks come august.
zara zw the marine straight jeans (2/26) || alert, alert, these just might be my new favorite pair of pants for spring/summer. as with many of my purchases, i was inspired by @courtneygrow to add these jesse kamm dupes to my cart and when they arrived a few days later, i was reminded why courtney never leads me astray. guys, these are so dang flattering! the high waist, the slight stretch, the perfect ecru shade, they are the winning combination of everything you want in a trouser. i’m obsessed with their simplicity (don’t get me started on the single button) and the slight wide-leg silhouette that traces your hips and leg-line. at 5’7″, they hit me right at the ankle bone so if you’re on the petite side, you may need to enlist the help of a tailor to get the proper fit. and in terms of sizing, i took my regular size, however, they are a tight fit at the waist so i might advise ordering a size up for a little wiggle room. the fabric does offer quite a bit of stretch, so i’m confident they’ll continue to loosen a bit with wear. they come in a few different colors, including a faux leather version that i currently have idling in my cart. you may or may not see a report on those in next month’s review…
the misses
h&m floral puff-sleeved dress (small) || i’m on a never-ending quest to find the best spring/summer dresses for my wardrobe. when i spotted this seemingly perfect spring dress, i added it to my cart immediately. since then, i’ve seen it on a half-dozen “must have” lists for the season. unfortunately, when it finally arrived and i had a chance to try it on, it gave me more “churning butter” vibes than “cute and springy” ones. the fit was great (i’d say it fits TTS) but the delicate lavender floral pattern and the lack of slit (i think it would have made it a bit more modern) left me less than wowed. lucky for me i was able to sell it to a friend so it has already found a great home.
h&m tennis club sweatshirt (small) || in theory i’d say one can really never have too many sweatshirts, but i’ll be honest here, i ordered this one to fill an emotional void rather than a wardrobe hole. sometimes i use online shopping to cure a bad day and i fully recognize that and when said item arrives, i reconcile the feelings attached to the garment and 99% of the time see the error in my ways and make the return. ANYWAY you did not come to my TED talk but rather to get the details on my latest purchases so i’ll say that the pullover is a beige color with orangey-peach text and fits TTS. if you want it baggier, i’d size up one or two. the sweatshirt itself is super cozy and well-made but i had a hard time with the color itself. i would find it hard to style with anything other than denim.
zara z1975 baggy paperbag jeans (2/26) || it’s ironic really that after the lengths at which i took to get these pants in my hot little hands, i would turn around and return them, but if it’s not a HECK YES, it’s a no in this house. these jeans actually got lost in the mail so i called zara and they sent me a replacement pair post haste! i was taking a gamble with the elastic paperbag waistline seeing as it can go very 80’s very fast, but in the olive color, i was pleasantly surprised by how much i liked them when i first tried them on. i will say that they fit true to size and were extremely comfortable (see? now the elastic waist ain’t so bad!) and looked really cute with a simple tank. however, the more i styled them with pieces in my closet, the less versatile they became. something about the fit started to feel off the more i longer i wore them with anything that wasn’t a tight-fitting top. items in my closet have to be as versatile as possible -especially bottoms, so for that reason i couldn’t justify keeping them. while i’d like to think the paperbag waist silhouette is ideal for me, i’m finding that it oftentimes isn’t. perhaps this is the solidification i needed to focus my efforts elsewhere!
jcpenny a.n.a cozy womens round neck long sleeve sweatshirt (small) || in this month’s lesson of you get what you pay for -i present to you this rebecca minkoff puff-sleeve sweatshirt dupe that cost more in shipping than the garment itself. while it had the makings of the find of the year, when it arrived, its fit definitely reinforced its $8 price tag. the sleeves were awkwardly short and i feared that with one wash, it might shrink to delilah’s size. so while it might have just been easier to keep it and get a wear or two out of it, on principle alone, i decided to return it. i’m learning that sometimes it’s okay to spend the extra money on something you know you love if it means it’ll last multiple wears and washes. so i’m treating myself to the real thing.
and what has yet to arrive
j.crew puff-sleeve organic cropped top (x-small) || this was another influenced purchase -this time by @saramueller who has such chic and classic taste. she recently paired this puff-sleeve cropped top with a pair of high-waisted belted khaki trousers and nude heels and the outfit was so gorgeous, it stopped me in my tracks. i literally opened a browser, added the top to my cart, and checked out in about five minutes flat. it’s scary easy when you have a j.crew credit card. i’m hoping to make this summer a crop top summer (because why not?!) and i feel like this crisp white puff-sleeve number is the perfect catalyst to kick-off the trend. fingers crossed it’s as good on me as it is on sara!
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