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Sunday, March 25, 2012

Flower Show

As I promised, I'm posting several (ok, A LOT) of pictures from the Flower show. This year's theme is Hawaiian theme so there are a lot of tropical and native plants (not to mention lots of orchids!). There are also a lot of miniature displays made by artists that are so unique and beautiful. I loved every bit of it but unfortunately, I couldn't get to some of the exhibits because there were too many people crowding around it (ex: the fashion exhibit!). So here are some of my favorite pictures from each exhibitions: enjoy! (Warning: there are TONS of pictures)

Greeted by these huge wave-like projections as soon as you enter the main hall





Sunday, March 18, 2012

Lovely blouses for sale...

I have these two lovely blouses here up for sale. These items have not gotten any love from me and they deserve a good home.
prices includes shipping.

First up is:

Floreat Blouse size 8 *not sure of the name* from a couple of years ago. EUC $30 shipped. It is very lovely but it is too big for me. I'd say this is TTS. 100% cotton so it's machine washable :)
measurements (taken while laying flat): bust 19", waist around 17 ~, length 21.5~"




 Next is:
Odille mint green blouse size 4 $50 shipped. it's NWT and I haven't worn it. This one is hard for me to let go since it's a such a rare gem with such lovely details. I'll let the pictures do the speaking. please note the color is more minty green irl. This blouse fits me everywhere else but tight around my shoulders (i have broad shoulders from my swimming days). The blouse is 100% cotton except for the sash which is 100% silk so you can get away with hand washing it.

measurements: bust (armpit to armpit) 17", waist 16" (with sash, you can tie it to give it more shape to your liking), length (shoulder to bottom) 20"









if you are interested, please email me at mailmeovehere@gmail.com

thanks so much!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Another set of reviews..


Hi there! I went to the Philadelphia Flower Show this past saturday and had lots of fun! I went semi crazy and took close to 600 pictures haha.. I'll share some of my favorite photos here after I finish editing them. While I was down in Philly, my bf and partner-in-crime went to visit Anthro (mostly because of me..and my bf went to Barnes&Noble instead ha). I was excited to see the store have some of the items I have in my wishlist (which are few and far between this season).
SO, let's start off with...


 

I grabbed a size 6 which is the size I usually go to for Leifsdottir. The dress itself is very lovely but maybe a bit too formal. I love the print but not the fit. I'd need to grow a couple more inches in order for this dress to fit me correctly. The torso part of this dress is long because the waist sat at the top of my hips and it's also kind of baggy so I think this runs big. The dress would also need to be hemmed a couple of inches because there is too much length for me (and I was on my tippy toes in the picture). Even on sale, it's still very pricey at $200 and it would not get much wear because of the formal look of this dress. pass for me.


Unknown dress Dot Gleam Dress By Leifnotes 


I tried this dress on because my friend loved it when she saw it on the hanger. It's not really my style but I gave it a try anyways. I grabbed a size 6 since I wasn't familiar with this brand. I think the dots were gold stitching on the dress (actually to be quite honest, I don't quite remember if it was stitching or not since I felt meh about this dress so I'm probably wrong about that). The dress came with a detachable slip...and it turned out to be a pretty thin slip. You could see my dark colored underwear through the dress. The slip fit me fine as there was no tightness anywhere and the outer shell was pretty baggy/free flowing. The overall look left a lot to be desired; the top was very blousey on me (which I'm not fond of ) with a stretchy waistband. the length hits a couple of inches above my knees and it's longer on the sides as you can see in the picture. My friend still likes it (but not on me). it's definitely a pass.




This dress was one of the items in my wishlist. I read reviews it ran big so I grabbed a size 4. Well, they were right since the size 4 fits me perfectly with a little bit more room for food. There is also a waist tie to cinch in the waist but it didn't really do anything for me. I should also note the color is darker than it appeared on the website and it's more of a muted yellow butter color. The length is also a good length as it comes down to my knees. The print is very cute but I think for the overall look, it looks kind of blah on me. My friend thought it looked matronly on me and I have to say I agree with her. I also noticed the racer back straps had the tendencies to stick out and I know it would drive me nuts all day if I wear this dress. I'll have to revisit this dress again when it goes on sale. 




I was intrigued to try this dress on. I already own Traced Twirls Dress in turquoise and Aubergine Sky Dress so I'm kind of tired out by this recycled style. What drew me in is the cute postage stamps all over the dress. I grabbed a size 8 since 6 wasn't available. It turned out to fit me fine but still a bit snug unlike the previous sister dresses so I think it runs small especially if you have larger rib cage. The skirt portion looks a bit weird on me..it sort of poufs out like a balloon (does this make sense? lol). My friend liked it a lot on me so maybe I'm just being overly critical of myself? I'll have to revisit this again and try another size up. 




I really liked this top online so I was excited to try this one on. The silk felt really nice to the touch but it's sheer. sheer enough to see my bra and dark jeans underneath so I would definitely wear a light colored bra with this blouse.  I picked up size 6 and it fits well. While I really like the fluttery sleeve style, I think it made my chest looks odd...maybe I'll try a different bra next time? The tie at the waist helps give the body some definition. I didn't have the problem with the top being too short either; it landed at my hips. I can see picking out this blouse in a hurry but still looking pulled together with just jeans and cute flats. Will revisit during sale time.



I really like the yellow motif of this skirt but I only saw the grey so I tried this on anyway. I grabbed a size 6 but it was pretty tight at the waist so I'd size up. It's pretty poofy at the hips as well so this might not work for some body types. I remember it not being lined or having pockets so boo to that. The length hits at the top of my knees so it works for me but it might end up being too short for taller gals. Now that I look at it, it doesn't look bad with the top I had on at the time lol. Pass for now but I may revisit during sale time. 



argh Anthro, you are killing me!!! why did you have to make this cute cardigan out of terry cloth material? what's wrong with cotton or cashmere? WHY. *ehem* aside that little rant, I do think this cardigan is cute. It's the old Field Flower's style which I love and greatly miss from Anthro's collection. I grabbed a size small and it fits well. I really like this cardigan but i hate how it feels on my skin; it's not soft at all. Also, I'm kind of clumsy so I can definitely see myself snagging this cardigan left and right especially when it's open for invitation. see that close up picture full of little loops? snagsnagsnagsnag. I'll try to get over it but this one definitely won't be a full price purchase for me.



I grabbed this tee to try it on with the skirt below. I grabbed a size small and found out it's too small for me. It was tight in the arms and the length is too short for me. I kind of struggled to get the right drapey look in the front but gave up in then end. On the plus side, the material felt comfy and thin but not sheer. Definitely size up for this one. 



I grabbed a size 6 since that's the standard size for me with Maeve. This one definitely runs big as I have excess room in the waist so definitely size down with this one. The skirt is made from linen and i would say it's of medium weight in terms of thickness. The design is simple but cute; i imagine it can be paired with a lot of colors (i'm thinking blues and greens) since the base color is neutral. This skirt didn't really do anything for me though. 

This dress is not really my style but I tried it on out of curiosity. I wasn't sure how it was going to look on me since I never really go for trends and trendy clothes often look horrible on me. I grabbed a size 6 which fits fine but I suppose if you have a smaller frame, you could probably get away with sizing down. This dress was so short though! (I suppose it's expected from the name "mini dress") the length fell mid thigh on me. This dress is what I would call impractical; can't wear a bra unless you don't mind exposing it from the huge back slit. The back also gaped like crazy which made me wonder if the designer team didn't really inspect this design carefully and recognize the annoying flaw. meh. Aside from the pretty color, this one is definitely a pass for me. 



I saved the best for last! I really like this dress although I'm still a bit apprehensive about the color which is what is holding me back from really loving it. The color is a bit more intense than how it's depicted online. I was never a big fan of pink unless it's pastel pink. hmm. I'll have to think about this one. Well anyways, let's talk about the fit now. Moulinette Soeurs's sizing have been inconsistent and I hadn't read reviews for this dress before I tried it on so I grabbed a size 6. It definitely runs big and as you can see from the picture on the right, I can pull some extra fabric around the armpit area. The waist was pretty big on me as well although the structured shape prevented it to look really baggy. The length came down to my knees which is a good length...but I would order the petite size (4P) if I decide to buy it when it goes on sale. I love the details on the neckline and that is really what makes the dress imo. Wishlisted. 



Well, hat wraps up the reviews for this time. Currently, I'm not liking a lot of the items on the website right now (and that is a good thing for my wallet) so these pieces are the only ones I'm interested in from the collection right now.
Do you have a favorite item out of the bunch? Mine are the Mellon Ball dress and the Riparian Stream top.They are not must haves but I would definitely purchase those two items when they go on sale. I'm also dying to try this newbie on so hopefully the store I go to will have them in the next few weeks. I hope these reviews help you some of you who doesn't have an Anthro store nearby. Until next time! : )





Tuesday, March 6, 2012

failed search, Anthro reviews and a random Kate Spade

These are the dresses that I really like and want to try on:





I was hoping the local (re:1hr away) would carry them..

nope.

instead they gave me ones that looks kind of ridiculous on me.
sigh. you give me the case of sads, anthro!

er..i'll just start with the worse of the batch to get it out of the way.

Grand Slam Dress $228


yikes. talk about ill fitting. my best friend, A hated it so much on me. I don't like the color on me either but I tried this on anyway since I haven't seen any reviews for it yet. I tried on my usual size at 6. it fits TTS although it was a bit snug on the waist for me (probably due to Five Guys burger I ate before going to Anthro.  yes, I know.fail). As you can see from the picture, the top was hugeee on me and the way the skirt falls made my hips look wider than it really is. The color is more intense irl and the thin silk felt nice to the touch. I don't think it was lined though I could be wrong. but yeah....the color & fit is all wrong for me.
Passsss

the next dress just doesn't do anything for me..
Ruffled Oska Dress $168

I thought this dress looked lovely on the hanger so I took it back with me to the dressing room. I tried on my usual anthro size 6. It fits..but it didn't flatter my body at all. it's just kind of there ..and as you can see, the cinched in waist part sat oddly higher above my natural waist. The silk was also pretty thin and surprisingly, it wasn't lined. The tiers falls nicely and didn't add bulk to the lower part of the body which is a plus. At 5'6, the length hit right above the knees which is perfect for me. My friend liked the dress but she didn't like it on me and I agree with her. All in all, this is a pass for me.

The next one isn't bad but didn't really wow me either

Watercolored Gems Shift $168

I didn't see a size 6 hanging so i grabbed the next size up. Not sure if it was because I was bloated from lunch that day but even with a size 8, it was snug on me at the waist. The material was also pretty stiff but was lined. Both my friend and I agreed the plain blue panel in the back adds interest to the dress. The length on this one is also a good length falling just above the knees for me. The V cut in the back was high enough to cover the bra which is good so you don't have to worry about it peeking out. The straps was also wide enough to cover up my bra straps so no worries there too. It can be work appropriate by covering it up with a cardigan (yellow, cobalt, teal, mint green, purple etc) and casual enough for a dinner outing without the cardigan. I'm not completely sold on this dress and it doesn't help when my friend said it ages me too haha. Pass for now but I may revisit when it goes on sale.

Carlow Tank $98
 paired with
Madison Shorts $88

yes, my friend is silly :p

Carlow Tank: I like this tank a lot  but it kind of confuses me actually. Sleeveless but it feels like a sweater. It's made out of a thicker material than I would like to wear in the warmer months. I like the strings on the chest area which is the main selling point of this piece. I grabbed size m which fits well since I read it runs small. It was form fitting but not uncomfortably tight. I like tops with an interesting flair to them and this definitely fits the bill. It's too expensive for what it is so I'll probably wait for it to go on sale. wishlisted!

Shorts: I always love me a cute pair of shorts. It can be hard for me to dress in the summer since I dislike the hot weather so I'm always on the lookout for cute but easy-to-wear pieces. The polka dots pattern is subtle enough without being too loud. The length falls a little bit higher than my fingertips but it's not too short for me. I picked up a size 6 and it's a good fit considering I still have my sweater tights on while wearing it. Paying $90 for a pair of shorts is kind of ridiculous so I'll be waiting for this one to go on sale as well.

Last week, I received an email for free shipping at Anthro with a minimum of $150 purchase. So I decided to take advantage of it and ordered these 2 skirts I've been eyeing on since they went on sale:

Beaufort Gale Skirt $65 (2nd Cut)



I ordered this one in 6P which ends up being a good decision since it comes down to my knees while still fitting me well at the waist. The materials are sheer but I don't think it's as sheer as the reviewers on the website claims it to be. The outer layer is opaque enough to hide everything but the lining is see through..kind of reminds of the foolproof half slip.The skirt is very well made and the embroidery reminds me of Tangerine Flicker Dress. The wide waistband (a little bit more than 5") does a good job of hiding lumps and bumps but makes it a bit harder to style it.

 I'm still not sure if I'm going to keep this or not because I don't really know its potential to fit in to the rest of  my closet. What do you think? Should I keep it or return it? any style ideas for daytime wear?

Wisteria Skirt $90


I also ordered this in 6P as well. It fits well; not too tight and not too loose although buttoning those 2 buttons at the side is kind of a pain since they're pretty small. The length is also to my liking as it hits me right above the knees. The material is also pretty thick...and kind of a pain to iron. I don't mind ironing but this is the one skirt you'd want to second guess if you loathe the activity. It does poof out a little bit below the waist but it doesn't really bother me..probably because I'm comparing it to the disaster that is Yarn Plumes Skirt. The picture on the right represents the color of the skirt a bit more closely under the harsh yellow lighting in my room. The neutral color and the beautiful embroidery makes this skirt to be an easy versatile piece in my closet while still being unique.

Bailey Dress $237


Loveee this dress. I don't have any Kate Spade pieces nor have I tried one so I grabbed my usual dress size at Anthro. I tried on a size 6 and it fits me perfectly in all the right places. The silk was also nice to the touch and not thin at all. As you can see, the ruffles also lay flat so it won't overwhelm your body. I love the pattern and so does my boyfriend which is surprising because he doesn't like it. He described it as a different kind of polka dots because "its pattern is not like normal polka dots". Yeah, I don't know what he meant either which is why I replied with a sigh. I don't really care for the belt; it looks kind of cheap to me but that's a very easy fix.

Does anyone know if KS dresses gets a second cut if a sale item lingers on the website long enough? I would love to get my hands on this but even at the sale price, it's still a bit too high for me.

So that's it for me. I haven't been to Anthro for awhile now since I haven't been taken it with any of their new offerings. The only thing that'll tempt me to stop by is if the Embossed Basket Dress goes on sale tomorrow.





Tuesday, January 10, 2012

It loves me? It loves me not....(Extensive reviews: Antique Magnolia Blouse & Grass Court Dress)

So I have been drooling over this little pretty number here and curious as to how it fits since my local store doesn't seem to carry it. I decided to order it before free shipping ended last week...and it arrived today!
I tore the box open.

Ooooh Ahhhh
oh gosh, this blouse is so pretty..and I love the details. This is one of the very few pieces that I love from Anthro's last year's 2011 collection. It's very well made and it's safe to say this is a classic, timeless piece.

I have a thing for close up pictures on precious details such as these...
The blouse consists of 3 layers: soft mesh on the outer layer (flowers are embroidered onto this layer), then the lace in the middle, and a yellow-ish tan rayon, cotton blend (from what I read in the care tag) inner layer

definitely not sheer! which is a nice change : )


and it's not a surprise it's dry clean only
Anyways, onto the fit. this is the part where it disappointed me.

I ordered this in a size 6 which is the size I usually generally take and the fit is a bit off on me.


There are darts under the chest to give it a shape. This fits my bust well (36B) but it bunches in an odd, unflattering way. The waist fits a bit big for me as I can pinch a good inch on the side. The structured shape is...sort of there but not really..It just kind of hung on me. from looking at the photo again, I think it makes me look a bit bigger than I really am.


Also another problem area for me is the cap sleeve. It pinches my arms when I extend them forward..actually any kind of arm movements in this blouse feels uncomfortable for me. If I were to get this, I would take it to a tailor and have the sleeves cut off. Also, I wouldn't be able to size down because it fits just right in the bust area for me due to my wider rib cage and sizing up will just be extra loose everywhere on me.

I was curious if this particular cap sleeves problem is just an isolated case of mine. So I had my sister tried it on for me as she is usually a size 6 or 8 depending if the clothes would fit her bust.

Details on her measurements:
Bust 36D (she took my share in that department)
Waist: 28

So this is what it looks like on her...


She said it fits well in the bust and feels comfortable for her though it does make the neckline gape a little bit (she actually doesn't mind this). She also doesn't have the cap sleeves-pinching-arms problem so it is probably because I have a bigger frame up top (broader shoulders). The waist area is also a bit big on her but I do think it looks more flattering on her because she fills out the top more than I did in it.

What do you all think?

I will be returning this since not only it's still at a steep price tag of $188, this top simply does not love me back. Yes, I'm sad this blouse isn't going to work for me as I already styled this blouse in my head in many different ways. boo. I might still buy it if I happen to stumble on it with a 3rd cut price then have it tailored. Oh well, I think I'll live vicariously through the other ladies who are made for this blouse!

----------

Next up is the Grass Court Dress $168 *not by Moulinette Soeurs btw, I believe it's by the same maker as the Bike Lane Dress*

I was intrigued with this dress when I saw it online though my initial reaction is somewhat indifferent. I don't love it but I don't hate it..sort of..meh. When I saw it debuted in my local store, I was willing to give it a try so I took it back with me to the dressing room.



the eyelet details are cute but I don't care for the belt at all. I suppose it goes with the Tennis theme (which I'm really bad at) but I would definitely use a different belt if I'm going to wear it. As you can see from the picture above, the area under the bust have been modified to flatter the chest area which works with me.




I took a size 6 and it fits perfectly; not too tight or too loose. although I have had to size up in some dresses due to my rib cage area so someone with a smaller frame up top might find it a bit loose. I also feel the top have enough material to accommodate larger busted ladies without having to size up  (my sister wasn't with me to try on this dress for comparison) but there was a lot of space in the chest area for me. I did not encounter an issue with the waist sitting too high like the one reviewer on the web site, although it's probably because she also happens to be a bit taller than I am by 2 inches according to her description so it's likely she is with a longer torso. Lengthwise, It's similar to the Bike Lane dress since this one also came down to my knees so shorter ladies might find it a bit too long. The color is more accurate in the second picture instead of the first. Also, it is lined with cotton lining and does come with pockets : )



yep, that's the label. anyone knows what it's called? it just looks like a postcard to me.
Overall, I'm still feeling unsure. I suppose it's a cute dress but it doesn't wow me as much. I'll be considering it again when it goes on sale.

As always, you can always email me for further questions and I'll try my best to answer it thoroughly : )