OOTD: Breaking Out & Cardigan Review #2

This is one of my favorite outfits that I've put together in a long time. I desperately needed to break out of my jersey dress rut so I decided to build my outfit around a skirt instead. The grey ruffle blouse happened to be hanging next to the skirt in the closet so I gave it a try and surprisingly it buttoned up over the baby bump (thanks to generously stretchy smocking on the back of the blouse). I knew I wanted to wear another new short-sleeve cardigan and I really like the color combination of the plum with the gold-yellow of the skirt. The grey & black oxfords and purple belt tied the whole outfit together. Not bad for my first attempt at breaking out of my boring rut, right?

Purple Cardigan (Limited -- buy here)
Yellow Field Skirt (Anthropologie)
Purple Belt (Anthropologie)
Grey Ruffle Blouse (TJ Maxx)
Hallowed Halls Oxfords (Anthropologie)

This is another of the short-sleeve cardigans that I promised to review. I got this one on sale a few weeks ago at the Limited (though it appears to be back to full price online now). I love the ruched sleeves, which make it a bit more dressy and different from my other purple cardigans. It's a lovely plum shade, but online it also comes in blue, white, black, and deep purple. I'd say it runs true to size but is a bit longer (at least on me, since I'm so short) than some of my other cardigans. I really have to thank Jacquelyn for posting about this cardigan because I haven't shopped at the Limited in years and didn't realize what cute things I was missing! See her in the black version of the cardigan here.

OOTD & Cardigan Review #1

I can't believe it's already Wednesday! As usual, I'm behind on my blogging and this outfit is actually from a few days ago. It's kind of a boring outfit (although I do love pairing purple and chocolate brown together) but I wanted to use this as an opportunity to do the first of several reviews of some short-sleeve cardigans that I've gotten recently. Living in Florida, short-sleeve cardigans are a great wardrobe staple, but they are surprisingly hard to find! Over the last two years I haven't found many, but this spring they seem to be everywhere. I promise to review the rest of my finds this week, but let's start with this cute purple one from Kohls. Pictures first, then my review at the bottom:



These pictures were taken a few days ago during a walk in the park along the river just a few blocks from our house.





I got this purple cardigan on sale at Kohls a few weeks ago. It looks like the only color still available online is peachy-orange but check your stores for purple and black (and possibly other colors) since I saw all three at mine the other day. I of course chose this lovely violet purple shade since it's my favorite color. ;-) I'd say this cardigan runs pretty true to size. It's a nice light weight without being see-through or cheap looking. It didn't seem to wrinkle too easily which is always a plus and it's machine washable. I highly recommend it if you're looking for something to wear over sleeveless summer dresses.

Tampa Anthro Reviews (Dresses & Skirts) + Some Old Navy Deals

While we were in Tampa this weekend for the Rays (baseball) Fan Fest, I got to stop by Anthropologie. I'll post the rest of our pictures from the weekend tomorrow but tonight I have some reviews! :-)

I didn't even notice these Tabitha skirts online but they caught my eye in the store. I liked the color and fit of the navy Shaded Glory Skirt a lot, although I would probably hem it just a smidge. The Eastpointe Garden Top looked pretty with the skirt, although I don't think the color really works on me. Tucked in, it almost looks like a dress, doesn't it?



I also randomly grabbed the Wind Smocked Henley to try on with the skirt and it actually made a cute combo. I really love this shirt, especially in the purple! I will probably pick it up on sale in this color and the blue (and maybe the grey too!). I'm wearing the small here which fit well but I'd probably go up a size to accommodate the growing baby bump. :-)


I love the purple color of the Runny Yoke Skirt but the pleats on this one just didn't work for me. It looked a bit strange around the hips too. This skirt seemed a little shorter than the Shaded Glory Skirt above and was a little tighter.



The Miss Swiss Corset Dress looks awful on me but it really is an adorable dress and I'm sure it will look good on others. I sized up and it was still pretty snug so I'd say this one might run a bit small. The stripes were not flattering on me at all but the ruffles at the hem are super cute.



The Sunny Soiree Dress looked lovely on the hanger but I didn't like it once I got it on. The neckline is too high for me and I felt like it was strangling me. The top white part was very see-through so I guess you'd have to wear a slip or cami underneath. The pattern on the skirt was really cute though.



I was also hoping to find these three dresses to try on but they were nowhere to be seen. :-(

Pezza Dress: I can't wait until this arrives at my store because the color is beautiful and it looks stretchy & comfortable. It reminds me of the Vagabond dress but more summery. Check out Jacquelyn's review here -- she didn't like it but I think it looks great on her!


In An Instant Dress:


Windsor Knot Dress -- Has anyone seen this in stores yet??


I didn't buy anything at Anthro but I did pick up a few things at Old Navy that were on sale. I found this cute ruffled tank for 11.99 (it's more online for some reason but still on sale). It reminds me a bit of Anthro's Insouciant Tank from last year. I got it in this nice grey-blue color but it also comes in white, pink, and purple.


I also got a cute pair of grey tights for 4.99 and a purple maternity t-shirt for 10.00. FYI: The cool purple tights I wore here are also on sale for 4.99 but I don't see them online so check your stores.

Did anyone else do any shopping this weekend? Find any good deals?

My First Maternity Clothes, Wishlist, & An Anthro Review

I mentioned in my last post that I got to do some shopping this weekend for my first maternity clothes! Luckily I lost some weight before I got pregnant so I've been able to hold out on buying any new clothes for quite awhile. I think my days of belting are numbered though! ;-) In preparation, my mom got me a few things from the maternity section at Old Navy to get my maternity wardrobe started.

I got this pretty purple polka dot shirt which will be nice and light this summer:



A cute pair of maternity jeans was a must-have for me. I opted for the low-rise style for now but might try the full panel kind later when I'm bigger.



I think these yoga pants are soon going to become my new best friend! ;-) They are so comfy!



Here are some other things on my "Maternity wardrobe" wishlist:

Pretty, flowy shirts like this new one I just spotted online at Old Navy:



Stretchy jersey and wrap style dresses like this cute one from the Gap:



A denim pencil skirt is another must-have item:



Since I live in Florida and will be pregnant during the summer, I'm going to need a cute bathing suit. I like the style of this one from A Pea in the Pod but wish it came in navy or red with polka dots. This grey might be too dull on my pale skin.



While I'm excited about the new styles I'll be exploring as my baby bump grows bigger, I still plan to incorporate as much as I can from my regular wardrobe too, especially my favorite Anthro pieces. My mom and I popped into Anthro at the end of our shopping trip and I tried on the Sing Sweetly Party Dress. Surprisingly, it still fit and there was room for an expanding belly. If it's still around at sale time I might just have to pick it up!



I really like the top part of the dress and even though I don't normally go for strapless styles, this one worked for me. The print is adorable and it looked really cute with this sweater that was hanging with it on display. Even though the colors of the dress are navy and green, the pale yellow of the sweater was a nice color pairing. This dress has gotten rave reviews from tons of other bloggers, so you probably don't need me to tell you, but I highly recommend this dress! :-)

Reviews Part 2: Two Hits & A Miss

Here are the rest of my Anthro reviews! My favorite thing I tried on was the Laced with Grace dress. The color is even prettier in person than it looks in these pictures. I've admired this dress online but hadn't planned on trying it myself. For some reason I thought it wasn't my style but as soon as I saw it in front of me, I fell in love with it! It's such a lovely, romantic dress with an Edwardian vintage flair. I couldn't resist styling it with my boots and belt:



Added to my wishlist!



I'm a little late reviewing this next skirt but I had to try it on with this yellow shirt (Rippled Ridge Henley) that was hanging near it. As others have already noted, this skirt is so adorable! If there are any of these still left by the time it goes on sale, I will scoop one up. I actually really liked the shirt too. It also came in a nice purple color and a teal green that was very pretty (online shows grey too but my store didn't have that color). I tried on a small but a medium probably would have been better.



Last, I tried on the Channel Churns Top, which looked so pretty sitting there on a table in the store. I didn't like it on me at all though. The ruffle hit right across the bust, which looked weird. It was too long so I tucked it in but it poofed out strangely on the sides. This is the kind of top that will look nice on a tall, slim person. Not flattering on me at all. I tried the top on with the Field Skirt even though my store only had the khaki color (I want the grey or yellow) and this one is a size too small. I wasn't crazy about the way the skirt looked on me but I will try again if I see it in my size and a color that I like better. I do like the cord material though. It's very soft and a nice, light weight.

Reviews Part 1 & My OOTD

I've got Anthro reviews! I'm going to split them up and post the rest tomorrow. For this installment, I have the Alluring Sway Skirt with three different tops. Which look is your favorite?

#1: Raining Lines Henley
I love this top and I've tried the navy version on with jeans for a casual look but I think it's kind of cute with the skirt too. It's definitely on my Christmas wishlist!



#2: Bianka Blouse in raspberry
This is a beautiful color but I'm not sure it's great on me. This blouse has looked fantastic on so many bloggers in all of the different versions of colors and patterns that have been out this fall, but I'm not sure it's really my style. I know it's supposed to be loose but I definitely can't wear it untucked (waaaayy too long on me!) and even tucked in, it's not totally flattering on me. I LOVE the sleeves though! Even though the blouse might not work on me, I wanted to share this pairing to those who own the Bianka blouse and might have this skirt or the very similar Acting Out skirt because I think they make a nice outfit.



#3: Garden Rows Top
I tried this untucked and it looked ok but I thought it was better tucked in. I love the ruffles down the front!



And here's my OOTD:

Blouse & Dress: Bealls
Belt: Target
Socks: Dillards
Boots: Old Navy
Necklace: Urban Outfitters

I think I looked a bit like Heidi (from the children's book) today! heehee :-)

Last of the Tampa Anthro Reviews

These are the last of my reviews from a few weeks ago when I was at the Tampa Anthro. First up is the Jacinth Sweaterdress. It's a really nice orange color and it's very soft & comfortable but I don't think it's super flattering on me. It looks a bit strange in the hip area. I like the neckline though and the ruffled edges.



Here it is with my Button Bin Cardi and Gift Bow Belt. I think it looks a little bit better this way but overall I think this dress is a pass for me.



Next is the Tria Sweater Skirt. I was surprised by how much I liked this skirt! It's stretchy and the material is nice (not itchy). It's a great length and I just love the rows of ruffles along the bottom. This is a size small and it's too snug but I think a medium would be just right.



For comparison, here's the size large that I tried on recently and it's too big. I actually folded over the top to make it shorter. If this goes on sale and there is a medium left somewhere, I'd definitely like to have this skirt.



And last, here is the outfit that I wore shopping that day:

Button Bin Cardigan (Anthro)
Tank (Belk)
White Shirt with Pearl Buttons (Steve & Barry)
Gift Bow Belt (Anthro)
Jean Skirt (Old Navy)
Sandals (Lands End)

Anthro Reviews from the Road & My Conference OOTD

I had a little free time today after my conference presentation (which went well, by the way!) so I headed over to the Anthro store in Albuquerque.

This first outfit was my favorite. I wish I could have walked right out of the store in it! The jeans were so comfy and I just adore this plaid shirt.
Joe's Provocateur (Petite) Jeans with the Carefree Shirt:



Next I tried the same jeans with the Raining Lines Henley (strangely the website is saying this is no longer available but it just came out recently so there must be a temporary glitch). I accidentally grabbed an XS and it fit ok but I'd go with a S for a more comfortable fit. This shirt was just a tiny bit sheer so I'd wear a cami underneath. This is definitely wishlisted for me.



I also love this shirt in the purple striped version:



One of the first things I saw when I walked in the store was the bird skirt (a.k.a. In the Trees Skirt)! It's never been available at my store, so I was excited to try it. Unfortunately the largest size they had was a 6 and I couldn't zip it up all the way. It's kind of an awkward length on me too.



I was also looking forward to trying the Garment District Blazer but it turned out to be a disaster. I don't know why I keep trying on blazers since they very rarely work on me. This one looks weird in the hip area and is just unflattering overall. Love the plaid print though! ;-)



In the sale section I found the Two Worlds Tee and remembered that I've been wanting to try it on. I tried it on with some Pilcro jeans that I can't find on the website. This color was blah on me but the fit was pretty good. It's kind of embarrassingly sheer in this picture though!



I was hoping to find it in the orange but no luck. I think my store still had some of these left though so I might check there.



Here's what I wore this morning for my conference paper presentation. I wore darker colors which is typical conference attire but added a bit of my own personality with the purple tights and belt over the sweater.

Cardigan: Target
Blouse: LOFT
Belt: Anthropologie
Skirt: LOFT
Purple Tights: Hue via Anthropologie
Shoes: Steinmart

Anthro Review: Southward Stop Shirtdress

While at the Tampa Anthro I also got to try on the super popular Southward Stop Shirtdress. I've been resisting trying on this dress because I didn't think I liked the pattern but I changed my mind once it was on. I love this dress! The cut is flattering, it's comfortable & has pockets, and it will transition well into fall with tights, sweater, and boots.

Here are some of the way I "styled" it in the dressing room:

With the Roaming Frills Cardigan & Gift Bow Belt -- I know this is a lot of beige but I kind of like it!

With the purple Delicate Drafts Cardigan -- I LOVE this color with the dress!!

Anthro Review: Mullany Dress

A few days ago I was in Tampa and of course I had to visit the Anthro store there! So, I'll have some reviews for you this week. First up is the lovely Mullany Dress that has looked fantastic on so many bloggers. It has never been available at my local store, so I was thrilled to see it at the Tampa store and get a chance to try it on myself!



Mullany Dress with Precious Materials Cardigan

This dress is so adorable! I love the cut of it and the material was even nicer than I expected. I paired it with this cardigan (on sale, still available in some stores) which I think works really nicely with the dress. I have on a size 6 in this picture. Surprisingly, I was able to zip it up and it fit everywhere except being a little snug in the bust. I would have sized up but this was the largest one they had in the store. I'll be keeping my eye on this dress hoping that it goes on sale soon! :-)

Fall Boot Recommedations

Recently I got a request from reader Jenn G asking for my recommendations for Fall boots so I thought I'd share them with everyone in case others are also on the look out for some great boots. Feel free to leave links to your favorites in the comment section as well!

1. Target Merona Kamischel Suede Boots in grey
I tried these on the other day and they are so comfortable and cute! The price is great too. I'd say they run true to size. I see online that they also come in a nice chocolate brown and black but I only saw the grey at my store. I'm hoping to get a pair of these in grey!



2. Madden Girl Zarah Riding Boot
I tried on these boots in black at DSW and they were really cool. They rubbed a little bit on my left pinky toe though. I'd consider sizing up a half size in these because they ran a bit small on me.



3. Old Navy Silver-Wedge Boots
I've had my eye on these boots at Old Navy but they're only available online so I haven't tried them yet. They look cute though! I like the camel color but they also come in black. The style looks a lot like the Steve Madden Intyce boots and Target Kady Boots that were popular last year. Has anyone tried this Old Navy version? I'd love to hear what others think about the fit and quality.



4. Anthropologie Pebbled & Primped Boots
I haven't gotten to try these but I just love them! They are pretty pricey though.



If you missed my review of Anthro's Berry Stitched Boots last month, you can check it out here. I highly recommend these boots! :-)