i recently read that “august is the sunday of summer” and it albeit kind of sad to say goodbye to the season, it’s also a little poetic, too. while i’ll be a bit sad to say goodbye to the warmest season of the year (and subsequently, my summer wardrobe), i am very excited for all things fall -in the pumpkin sense and most definitely in the sartorial sense. two of what i hope to be fall wardrobe staples are on backorder until mid-september (see below) so this post is mostly filled with items that while cute, just weren’t quite right for my closet and/or lifestyle. but as i always say, what didn’t work for me, could be your hero piece! speaking of hero piece, these jeans (shown above) were definitely my favorite purchase not only this month, but maybe of the year! here’s this month’s crop of goods:
the homeruns
doen enna anglaise-trimmed organic cotton-poplin pajama shorts (small) || despite my unsuccessful recent doen purchase, i decided to give the brand another shot with a set that i’ve seen worn more frequently as separates. these shorts and the top below have been on my radar for quite some time. they are technically pajamas (very spendy pajamas, i might add), but with nude undergarments, i find them to be perfectly public-appropriate. as far as the shorts go, it should come as no shock that i am obsessed with the feminine details. their elastic waistband makes them incredibly comfortable and i love their slight a-line shape. i plan on styling them with oversized knits, cozy sweatshirts, and ballet flats as we transition into fall, and they’ll be a perfect bathing suit cover-up on any future vacations.
doen lazuli broderie anglaise-trimmed organic cotton-poplin pajama top (small) || i’ll admit that this piece is definitely way more than i would normally spend on a top, but i’ve had my eye on it for over a year so when it became available, i knew i had to order it to assess it in person for myself. to me, it’s the quintessential “goes with your favorite pair of jeans” kind of top. it’s kind of perfect and as a purveyor of romantic white tops (the collection has grown exponentially in the last year), i can say that with full confidence. it does fit slightly billowy but i wouldn’t recommend sizing down to ensure it fits properly through the shoulders. i plan on pairing it with all of my favorite denim as well as my faux leather pants once fall is in full swing.
old navy powerchill racerback bodysuit 6″ inseam (medium -ordered in black/white plaid) || i recently had a playdate with one of my fellow moms and her daughter and my friend pulled up in this adorable gingham number and she looked SO cute i literally ordered it on the spot. unfortunately my size was sold out so i opted for a medium and in a happy turn of events, the larger size turned out to offer a bit more length through the torso -something that is always welcomed for this long-torsoed gal. the fabric is substantial (not see-through) and the top even has little pads to conceal your “buttons” (nipples) as we call them in this household. i can’t wait to wear it to the park with the twins and i’ll be anxiously awaiting for old navy to restock the black version because i think i’ve decided that workout onesies are my “thing.” for styling, i’ll probably pair it with a sweatshirt tied around my waist, but it would also be adorable layered with an unbuttoned chambray.
gap puff sleeve button-front top (xs) || i remember recently seeing this top in person at the gap store (while making a return) and overlooking it at the time. but then instagram targeted me with an ad for it coupled with an influencer drawing comparisons to doen with this particular style, that’s all it took to convince me to give it a second look. i’m glad i did, because i think it’s so fun. i love the lace detailing around the square neckline (square feels unexpected yet fresh) and the slightly billowy fit. i decided to size down to an xs due to its lack of shape and that was the right choice. i’m excited to wear it front-tucked into denim.
citizens of humanity horseshoe jeans (25 -sized down, ordered in light blue) || there are sometimes pieces you buy that are really only for YOURSELF because they may be a little bit against the grain and/or ridiculous to probably 90% of the population. these horseshoe jeans are exactly that kind of purchase. when i shared them on my instagram stories, i received a few dm’s playfully questioning my sanity, but surprisingly i also received a few that were in full support of my out-of-the-box thinking. regardless of public opinion, i am IN LOVE with these jeans and honestly haven’t really peeled them off of my body since they arrived a week ago. as a lover of the wide-leg silhouette, the horseshoe style is essentially an exaggeration of the former. i seem to toggle between a 25 and 26 in terms of denim these days but after reading a couple reviews, i decided to go with my smaller size and it was the best decision. it is not lost on me that these jeans are quite the investment, but for the number of times i have worn and will continue to wear them, they will pay for themselves in dividends.
the misses
madewell tapered yoke jeans in steinbeck wash (25) || when i hit purchase on these 90’s-inspired jeans, i knew they could be either be an unexpected win or just UGLY. i took the gamble given the fact that i have a madewell store a stone’s throw away from my house so i knew i could simple return them ASAP if they ended up being atrocious. in the very least, they might provide a good laugh?! when they arrived, i found them to be somewhere between cute and comical. actually better than expected. the fabric is definitely a lighter-weight cotton denim versus a more rigid heavier fabric. however they don’t have stretch like a spandex-based jean. i find madewell’s denim to run large in general so i sized down to a 25 and found them to fit perfectly in the waist but unfortunately a bit shallow in the inseam. so if you have a longer torso, i might suggest sticking with your usual size. in terms of the yoke-style in general, i found them to be quite fun and flattering. i loved the button-detail and the slightly cropped length. with the lighter-weight fabric, i think they could be a great alternative to a trouser jean if you worked in a casual office environment. but for me, ultimately, they were a miss.
j.crew double–ruffle cotton voile top (0) || i had my eye on this top as soon as j.crew dropped it among their august collection. i mean, hello, it had me at double ruffle. i threw it in my cart and –as i always do –waited for it to go on sale. as soon as i did, i pounced! based on the site’s size finder, i opted for a 0 versus my usual 2. when it arrived, i immediately slipped it on and it fit perfectly. it zips up the back with a hook-and-eye clasp which i actually prefer versus a slip-over-your-head situation. the material is a light-weight cotton and while the ruffle is quite substantial, i don’t find it to be too overwhelming. the only issue i had was that the sleeves kept falling down off of my shoulders. i probably wouldn’t wear it with a regular bra so without the straps to keep it in place, i feared i’d be constantly fussing with it every time i decided to style it. because it wasn’t a HECK YES! it was ultimately a no and therefore i decided to return it.
oversized striped t-shirt (small) || as i’ve recently mentioned, i’m in the (very slow) process of replacing my current workout wear/athleisure wear with new and more versatile pieces. i’ve made a loose list of items i’d like to add and a black and white striped long-sleeve tee is currently among the pieces. i recently started following a BUNCH of european style influencers on instagram (european style > american style all day, everyday) and one of them recently linked this striped number from zara. it was only about $25 so i thought it might be a great option to fill the aforementioned void. while it’s a very fine long-sleeved tee, it didn’t spark the joy i hope to have whenever i try-on a new arrival. and that’s because it didn’t really feel like “me” from the start. i mean, where is the puff-sleeve? just kidding, but not really. i think sometimes i order things because i like the idea of them and how they look on other people, disregarding my own personal style in an attempt to get in on a trend or emulate a particular aesthetic that seems cool or chic. i’m getting kind of deep over a cheap black and white striped shirt but anyway, let this be a reminder to you to only buy stuff (or in the very least keep stuff) that makes you feel like the red dress dancing lady emoji. this shirt did not make me feel this way so byeeeeee.
free people ruffle it up midi (xs –ordered in ivory) || instagram has come to know my preferences REALLY well lately (eerily well) and in keeping with that, i was straight up targeted with an ad for this ruffle-strap dress and you know what? well played, IG, i took the bait and ordered it before it sold out. i mean all of the details are right up my alley and the price was right (at just over $100) so i took a gamble. very sadly this dress just didn’t live up to its hype. not only was the front ruffle a bit overwhelming on my frame, it didn’t quite lay right once on. little details like these are what i always assess before deciding to keep a garment because if it bothers me initially, there’s a high possibility it will continue to bother me later. so while the frock had so much potential, its execution left me dissatisfied. back it went!
mango high-waist cropped straight jeans (4) || man, i’m super bummed these jeans didn’t quite live up to expectations. objectively they are REALLY good and while they didn’t work for me, i would still recommend them to anyone looking for a pair of cropped straight-leg jeans. mango sizing (like most european-based companies) can be tricky. i opted for a 4 which ended up being the right move overall (i think a 2 would have been too tight) but they were a tad bit big in the waist and given the fact that they’re a true non-rigid denim, i knew they’d continue to stretch out with wear. if your body shape is more straight up and down, their fit could be more conducive to your measurements. as far as the rise goes, i found them to be a little low for my taste. granted i do have a long torso so take my assessment with a grain of salt, but again, they fell well below my navel. on a positive note, the cropped length is PERFECT -i’m 5’7″ and they hit me right at the ankle bone. if you’re shorter than me, they might fit more like a full-length jean with a raw hem. they have a button-fly and feel light-weight and honestly i’d keep them if their fit was just a tad bit better. on my search to find a great pair of vintage-looking levi’s, these definitely were the closest i’ve gotten so far. the search continues…
mango button denim dress (4) || so this denim dress was kind of a last-minute decision but it looked so cute on the model and i thought it might be cute layered over a puff-sleeve top that i threw it in my cart before checking out. i’ll admit, the fit is superb and it’s a fun change to my go-to silhouettes but ultimately if it was staring back at me in my closet, i think i’d intentionally overlook it and opt for a more tried-and-true style (aka regular jeans). what i will say is that it’s a fun take on this season’s wester-wear trend and if you wanted to partake in said trend, it’s a great way to incorporate the style into your wardrobe for an affordable price. wear it alone now with lace-up sandals, and later paired with a turtleneck and ankle boots.
gap smocked ruffle top (xs –ordered in new off white) || gap is apparently having a moment because i ordered a whopping four items from the old-school brand this month. similarly to j.crew, i feel like gap is having a moment again and i’m thrilled. after purchasing this dress and jacket, i racked up a bit of “gap cash” to use at a later time. well the later time was only a matter of weeks because it was expiring by the end of the month so *twist my arm* i took a second look at the site and found two potential tops for the fall season. clearly it’s no surprise that i was instantly drawn to this smocked top with ruffle-shoulder detail, i love the higher neckline and how seamlessly it’ll pair with both light and dark denim. i plan on wearing it with these jeans and my ballet flats.
and what has yet to arrive
j.crew reversible quilted lightweight greenwich jacket (xs -ordered in black sand) || i’ve declared 2022 the year i up my outerwear game so here’s me attempting to do that with this adorable reversible puffer. it’s definitely more than i would normally spend, but the fact that it’s reversible is essentially like getting two jackets in one, plus i was able to score it at 30% off. it’s on back-order until the end of the month, but i’ll be sure to share a try-on in my instagram stories once it arrives early september.
gap lace button-front midi dress (small) || this is the little dress that broke the internet for like a week. it’s an incredible dupe for a designer dud which retails for double its price tag! after seeing it on a few influencers i follow, ultimately it was its nearly 100 5-star reviews that convinced me i needed to order it to try it for myself. if it works, it’ll be the kind of dress i could see myself wearing at least once a week. apparently it’s quite popular because its estimated ship date isn’t until mid-september so i’ll report back once it finally arrives.
gap puff sleeve denim jacket with washwell (xs) || i think this puff sleeve denim jacket has the potential to be a real workhorse in my fall/winter closet. i have been on the hunt for outerwear with a puff-sleeve detail so when i spotted this jacket i was thrilled over its potential. it is also not arriving until next month so i won’t be able to share my opinions until then, but it, too, has a unanimous 5-star rating so i have high yet optimistic expectations.
honestly there are so many good things out in the interwebs right now and i only anticipate better things to come! currently idling in my cart are also this pullover, this lace top, and these jeans.
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