i realize we’re currently smack dab in the middle of summer, but all i can think about is getting a peek at some of my favorite brands’ fall collections. SHOW ME THE GOODS! unfortunately i have yet to see what the likes of madewell, j.crew, and anthropologie have cooked up for the upcoming season so in the interim, i’ve been utilizing end of summer sales to stock up on some items i’ve had my eye on for some time. in a pleasant turn of events, most of the items purchased this month were winners and i’m actually really excited to style and wear said items throughout the rest of the season and into early fall. here’s a round-up of july’s purchases, enjoy!
the homeruns
boden tulle shoulder jersey top (2 -ordered in black) || after recently receiving the ivory version in the mail and subsequently wearing it and sharing it here, i decided to utilize a 25% off coupon and order it in the black style, too.
madewell nicollet ruffle sweater tank (xs) || admittedly i purchased this tank twice -i returned it once, then reordered it for a second consideration. lucky for me, when i bought it for the second time it was over half-off its original price. originally i thought the creamy oatmeal color did nothing for my complexion, but then i thought maybe with the proper styling and/or a spray tan, it could actually be a very functional piece in my wardrobe. i love the ruffle detail (obviously) and the fact that it’s a sweater-fabric that could very easily transfer into next season. it does run a bit oversized so i sized down to an xs.
madewell the perfect vintage wide-leg crop jean in catlin wash (25 –sized down one size)* || i first spotted these jeans on olivia of @livvyland and while i certainly have more than enough wide-leg jeans, i also have SO many denim credits from donating old jeans to madewell (each donated pair warrants $20 off a NEW pair) so i figured it wouldn’t hurt to use one to snag this particular style at a discount. are they very similar to a few pairs i already own? yes, yes they are. do i love them anyway? yes, yes i do. the fit is perfect, they’re a rigid denim with a slight give, making them incredibly comfortable while also flattering. i love the raw hem and the slightly lighter blue wash. the rise is nice and high and hits me almost at navel height –just keep in mind, i am very long torsoed. while the style does say “wide-leg,” i don’t find them to be incredibly wide, they fit more similarly to my pair of “slim wide-leg” jeans from a few years ago. anyway, i think they’re a wonderful option for someone looking for a looser-leg style. as far as sizing goes, i feel like i’m always chasing my proper size at madewell these days. i used to be a 26 but lately i feel like a 25 (sometimes 24) suits me better in most styles. i’d recommend sizing down one size as most of their denim tends to stretch out a bit with regular wear.
*after further consideration, i decided to return the jeans because i don’t think they fill a void in my current closet, but i’m keeping them in the “homerun” category because they are really good and worth your time!
free people freya sweater set (xs) || i recently saw this set on the CUTEST mom at the park the other day and proceeded to go home and immediately look it up. she wore it in yellow which i know is not my color so i opted for the oatmeal bone shade instead. free people notoriously runs big, so i ordered an x-small and it was definitely the right decision. it is a heavy fabric so i’ll probably save it for early fall when the mornings are chillier, but i’m super impressed with the quality and know it’ll be a set i reach for again and again throughout the end of the year. it comes in a rainbow of colors so if neutrals aren’t your thing, i love the acai (a deep purple) and mesa (burnt orange) options as well.
madewell boardwalk ankle strap sandal (9.5) || so this is officially my first poshmark purchase! i’ve never really had a desire to find an item second-hand, but after searching high and low for the perfect pair of black sandals, i got creative with my quest. after accosting a sweet stranger in anthropologie where she got her noir footwear, she mentioned “madewell” and then i realized i already owned the exact same pair in nude and yeah they don’t make them anymore. said stranger was generous enough to offer poshmark as a platform on which to search and what do you know? there were quite a few sellers offering up the retired style in a variety of sizes. i tracked down my 9.5, threw them in my cart, and hit purchase. when they arrived, sure enough, they were exactly what i wanted! with how easy the entire process was, i have a feeling this won’t be my last poshmark purchase.
vuori mudra plyo tank (small -ordered in white heather & black) || i am in desperate need of a workout wear refresh but i’ve been putting it off for well, upwards of two year. i’m still wearing sports bras i wore during my postpartum/peak pumping days and it’s probably time i treat myself to some new casual duds. before i go full throttle, however, and get all new leggings, etc. i thought i’d start out small with this tank that came highly recommended from a dear friend. i should know she’d never steer me wrong because it’s REALLY good. besides its comfortable fit (love the ribbed material), what i love the most about it is the fact that it has a built-in bra with (drum roll…) liners! (to hide the nips!) i opted for the white and black because they’re the most versatile, but i’m highly considering ordering another tank in a different color. i’m fortunate enough to get an industry discount since i am a studio barre on demand instructor but i will say that even at $64, i find it to be a great price considering the fact that it’s a top and a bra all in one! plus i think it could totally work for outside the fitness realm as well. don it with a pair of jeans and sneaks for an easy park or sporting event look.
anthropologie woven ruffle top (small) || on a recent visit to the anthropologie store, i stumbled across this ruffle-sleeved top. i naturally gravitated toward the white (you can never have too many white tops in my humble opinion), but unfortunately the only ones left in my size were covered with makeup stains (ugh!) and in further investigation on anthro’s website, i noticed the white was unfortunately completely sold out online. the silhouette was too cute (and too “me!”) to pass up so i opted for the next best option -classic black! the bodice of the top is a heavier ribbed fabric which will be a great transitionary piece as we inch toward cooler weather come fall. i can’t express just how nice of quality it is given its relatively affordable price point. i find it to be slightly cropped but the perfect compliment to a high-waisted bottom. and it fits true to size!
madewell smocked pull-on shorts in florentine floral (xs) || these shorts were kind of a rogue purchase but they were on sale for $18 so i couldn’t resist. after returning the doen set mentioned above, i kind of felt like these could fill that doen-shaped void. the reviews are mixed AND they were final sale but i rolled the dice and it paid off. i’m in LOVE. i love the fact that they have a smocked waistband and have a more a-line silhouette, almost reading more like a skirt vs. shorts. i plan on pairing them with a simple white tank, my cropped bubble top, and my puffed sweatshirts once the weather is a little chillier.
the misses
doen tennessee azure paris gingham top (small) + luella short azure paris gingham (small) || doen is one of those brands that i’ve kept tabs on for years but never could justify treating myself to. after seeing this set (top & shorts) on two of my favorite instagram follows, i decided to order it for myself -if only to finally see the quality of the brand’s items for future purchases. of course before i order anything that is more of an investment, i always read and re-read the return policy to ensure i have an out before clicking “purchase,” and thankfully they allow full refunds before 30 days. unfortunately i will be utilizing said return policy because the set just didn’t live up to expectations. i swear on the other women i saw sporting the outfit, it looked so casual and chic, but on me, PAJAMAS. and let me tell you, this set is too much of an investment for it to look like an outfit best suited for bed. i will say, the pieces as individual items are beautiful and well-made and arrived in a package that you can tell was prepared with love and care. but ultimately i’m going to return it and keep my eye out for an alternative piece to fill the doen-shaped hole in my closet.
and what has yet to arrive
free people claude corset top (small –ordered in ivory) || i’ll admit that this top was a complete impulse buy. upon seeing it on my ultimate girl crush, geri hirsch, i literally opened a new browser, added it to my cart, and clicked purchase. the reviews are fairly positive, but there is talk of the raw hem unraveling, so the jury is out on whether it’ll live up to its hype, but if geri endorses it, i have a feeling it’ll be real CUTE. i plan on wearing it with these trousers.
gap smocked flutter sleeve midi dress (xs –ordered in cozy brown) || i was waiting for this dress to go on sale (gap runs a sale every other minute i swear) but i feared it would sell out so instead i used some credits i had on my account and snagged it in the cozy brown shade. the flutter sleeves obviously had me at hello, but the rich brown hue sold me as the perfect color to sport come fall (with a pair of boots, of course). i’m hoping it’s as good in person as it appears online because i feel like it will become a mainstay in my closet based on its classic silhouette alone!
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