recent purchases

Recent Purchases

July 21, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

It feels a little early to share a recap of monthly purchases with nine days left in July, but I feel confident this is it. We’re going on a social-distanced jaunt to northern Wisconsin to get away for a few days next weekend and everything was purchased in anticipation of that mini escape.

Not pictured: cloth masks, since there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight for the pandemic. I bought this one from Kate Spade before it was backordered and pre-ordered a set from Lele Sadoughi.

PURCHASED
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

J.Crew t-shirt – Northern Wisconsin is hardly the place to wear a tropical beach cover up after a few hours at the lake. This, however, is perfect. It’s incredibly soft and runs true to size.
J.Crew sweatshorts – I’ve stopped wearing Pandemic Pants (a.k.a. yoga pants) every single day while staying at home, but I still can’t resist the siren song of cute loungewear. These are great for hanging out at home, but the length is still appropriate to wear in public on your deck/balcony or for neighborhood walks. They do stretch out, so you might want to try your regular size and a size smaller to see which is best.
Tory Burch ‘Selby’ espadrille slide (also here) – Okay, a few cocktails may have swayed my decision to order Tory Burch’s take on Birkenstock’s classic Arizona slide, but I’m so glad I did! They’re not conventionally cute, but they look adorable with easy summer dresses and with the aforementioned sweatshorts and a Breton-striped top. They’re incredibly comfortable out of the box and run true to size. If you’re between sizes, though, go down a half size.
Paravel ‘Cabana’ tote in shandy – This actually hasn’t made its way here yet and I’m hopeful it’ll come by the time we set out next week. I’ve wanted an oversize carryall for road trips for awhile now, but I didn’t want something in canvas that would scuff easily. I love my Paravel products because the coated material resists stains and repels water. So, may as well add the tote to my collection. I’ll let you know if it doesn’t meet up to expectations!

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Here’s What I Bought in April

April 27, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

April seemed to drag on forever while we were all stuck at home, the world firmly in the grasp of the novel coronavirus. I didn’t shop much when the stay-at-home order first went into effect in March. There was so much uncertainty with jobs and, well, life in general, and I’m pretty sure I was suffering from some COVID-induced depression. On the sartorial front, I wasn’t enamored with anything other than athletic clothes. I don’t know if it was the warmer weather, the resignation that we have [at least] another month to go, or the suddenly flush bank account now that we’re not eating out, but I decided that a bit of retail therapy wouldn’t be the worst thing right now. I mean, it’s worth a shot, right?

PURCHASED – FOR ME
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

Stutterheim ‘Mosebacke’ rain coat in pale pink – I have obsessed over these raincoats for a couple of years now. I knew they had good reviews, but spending $300 seemed steep for something I’d only wear a handful of times each year. I couldn’t resist any longer when I saw the pale pink one included in their seasonal sale. It has the most charming a-line shape and runs true to size. I went with a medium and there’s plenty of room in the arms for a sweater without looking bulky. I’m so happy with it!
Madewell lace-inset top in black – While the online reviewer is right about this top being boxier and a bit short, hitting at the top of the hips, it’s such a sweet shirt to half-tuck into jeans. The flutter sleeves and the subtle lace detail are thoughtful touches that make this feel like an elevated take on a t-shirt. I went with a size medium, but I think I could have sized down.
Jenny Bird ‘Nova’ large hoops – Jenny Bird is my favorite designer for high quality, statement-making, timeless, affordable costume jewelry. So, when there was a coupon for 50% off an item if one’s choice, you know I had to buy something. These hoops are generously sized and then organic shape make them so much more interesting than standard hoops. They’re not the lightest pair of earrings, but they’re not terribly heavy for all-day wear either.
Sarah Flint ‘Grear’ sandals in saddle – Oh. My. God. I love these sandals so much. I wanted to buy them last year and they sold out before I could add them into the rotation. While I was torn between the cognac leather or white, I thought the brown pair looked more expensive. They’re beautiful in person and run true to size.

PURCHASED – FOR HOME

I placed a couple of orders, but nothing has arrived yet! Stay tuned for the May recap!

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.

Madewell georgette peplum top – I was really torn on whether or not to keep this. I love the colors and the pattern. (I’ll never grow tired of a dark floral.) However, I just didn’t feel head-over-heels for it. It looked best styled as it is on the site with a pair of shorts. The peplum looked too bulky with jeans or pants. It runs true to size.
Treasure & Bond tie-shoulder midi dress in leopard – I ordered the medium in this and it feels too large. A smaller size might have fit a bit better. It’s lightweight and there are pockets. Wait for a sale, though. It’s not worth $70.
Garnet Hill linen shorts – These are great quality, but both of the pairs I tried were too small. (That COVID 15, amirite?) I might reorder these because they seem like they’ll be just as versatile as a similar Old Navy pair I bought last year, but a lot nicer and less likely to get baggy in the rear after one wear.

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What I Bought in January

January 30, 2019 by jessica Leave a Comment

Going a month without shopping didn’t exactly go as planned on the sartorial front, even though I did succeed when it came to housewares and other unnecessary indulgences. There was just something about this dress that I couldn’t pass up during the Net-a-Porter sale. I love fit-and-flare frocks, especially when they’re created from such a vibrant silk with an eye-catching design. It’s one of those pieces that embodies the direction I’d like my wardrobe to go this year: beautifully crafted, high quality, thoughtful, unique, and something that I’m beyond excited to wear.

This month’s edited list also made me realize how much happier I am when I pare down my selections to just one or two (or sometimes three) quality items to refresh my closet each month. I think I’m finally past the point where I crave an overhaul of fast fashion each season. That’s not to say I won’t enjoy the cheap thrill occasionally (thus, the earrings), I would just rather save my money and put it toward a better quality item I’ll love for years to come. With that in mind, the one item I have my eye on for February is this gorgeous blouse from Nicola Glass’ debut collection with Kate Spade. I love wearing loose blouses with jeans and this one ticks all of my boxes with a beautiful print, fluid fabric, and a flirty neckline.

PURCHASED
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

Diane von Furstenberg dress – Super cute and true to size. It even has pockets! (I so rarely purchase designer clothing and it’s always such a treat to have a garment with thoughtful attention to detail and beautiful fabric.)
Figrace acrylic hoop earrings – These are pretty great for $10. They’re substantial, but lightweight, and the emerald green color is gorgeous. This particular pair is now sold out, but you can get these rectangular hoops in green.

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Wardrobe Update: July 2017

July 31, 2017 by jessica 4 Comments

At this point, a formal budget post gets tricky with how we’re allocating money now that we have a house and we’re adjusting to our new financial plan. As I mentioned last month, we gave each other an allowance of $200 per month to spend on whatever our hearts fancy. Additionally, any blog revenue I earn is going toward my monthly purchases or in a savings account for a splurge-worthy item. It makes a monthly budget fluid and I feel like I need to over-explain where the money came from. So, we’re just going to go back to a monthly wardrobe update for awhile. I still think there’s value in sharing monthly purchases with mini reviews and fit tips, plus I’m nosy myself and they’re my favorite posts to read on other’s blogs!

PURCHASED
See all of this year’s sartorial purchases here. I round the prices to the nearest dollar amount and reflect any discounts I applied.

LOFT garland mixed media cami ($22.25; worn here): I bought this solely to wear with the matching shorts as a practical take on a romper, and I absolutely love how they look together. The front of the cami is made from a woven material and the back is a lightweight jersey, which is a little weird and I would have preferred that the fabric on the front continued around back. However, it wasn’t a deal breaker for me. It runs large with the swing shape throughout the torso, but you’ll want to opt for a size that fits your bust so that it lays correctly.
LOFT garland fluid drawstring shorts ($24.75; worn here): These have a wonderful silky material with a nice drape and weight to them. They also run large, so you’ll definitely want to try a size smaller. They get a little wrinkly when you’re sitting on them throughout the day, but the print camouflages it.
Loeffler Randall tassel pouch in melon leather fringe ($100): I bought this during Loeffler Randall’s end-of-season final sale. The fringe leather is unlike anything I own, making it a unique piece to add to my collection.
Kate Spade brushed silk swing dress ($266): This dress is my only Nordstrom Anniversary Sale purchase and I can’t say enough good things about it. I almost didn’t spring for it, considering the price point is still high and we’re feeling strapped for cash right now. (Houses are not cheap!) But I hadn’t found a dress that seemed so “me” in a long time and I loved that this had a short, loose shape with long sleeves. I ordered it thinking that I could easily return it if I wasn’t as enamored in person, but it turned out to be as lovely as I imagined it would be. It looks adorable with bare legs and flats for fall and it’ll continue into winter with tights. Go with your regular size, even if you have wide hips like I do. There’s plenty of fabric to skim over your hips so you can go with the correct fit on top.

GIFTED
As always, I want to be transparent about what I’ve received from companies for review or as part of a collaboration.

MakeMeChic gingham dress (worn here)

DIDN’T WORK OUT
Things I tried and didn’t love.

LOFT striped wrap maxi dress ($49): I really wanted to love this, but it was way too large on top and kept falling open. I don’t think it would have been such an issue if the dress had adjustable shoulder straps.

SHOP IT