April 15, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part IV

This is going to be my last set of reviews for awhile. I overdid it. I broke my shop box. Tore my dressing room nerve. Split my trying-on-gene in half.

Yesterday, I showed you some pretties. And, they were pretty. And I liked them a lot. But today is where my heart is. Today is the day I show… Well… You’ll see:

Do you recognize this Midday Dress? How could you not? I have been wearing pretty much nothing else for a week. If you missed it, you can see me wearing the dress here and here.

I know by now that in the Puella brand I always take a medium. This was found by trial and error. I love this brand. They create flattering silhouettes for women at a decent price in comfortable fabrics. What’s not to love?

I purchased this dress on sale. And I love it!

They only had a large in the Sunpass Dress. I have admired this dress online for awhile. I tried it on anyway. I will need a small in this dress. If I remember correctly, it was not lined. I just remember it being an incredibly thin material. Very light. Very pretty.

I believe this dress will look amazing on the more voluptuous gal. I cannot wait to see many women rock this dress.

Lovely dress that remains on my wishlist hoping for a great sale price.

The Stripe Swing Tunic Dress is another dress by Puella. It just came out. It is expensive for what it is. I love it. I mean I love this dress so much I want to cry.

I am wearing a medium in the picture. I love the way this dress flows. I am a sucker for grey and white stripes. They are everywhere in my house. I might as well match my interior.

I did not purchase this dress that day. I went home and thought about it. And thought about it. And when I was still dreaming of this dress a week after these pictures were taken, I ordered it and one other lovely below.

My soul is happy. Even the broken review parts.

This little number is the other item I ordered. It is currently on sale for approximately half off. It is so fun. Surprisingly flattering. At first I was hesitant due to the length, but I love it. The blue is so vibrant and gorgeous. I wear the Caravane Tunic Dress with silver flat sandals now. (These to be exact). I have a fun outfit post featuring this dress going up next week. In the wintertime, I will wear this with black leggings and booties. This is probably my favorite closet addition in awhile. It is a good sale price. It is mostly sold out online, but if you call customer service you might still be able to snag one.

When I was entering the dressing room, another gal was exiting. She had the Galen Dress in her hand. She was purchasing it. I got excited to try it on in the dressing room. I generally find that shirtdresses do not do much for me. It is just not my favorite style of dress.

This dress was cute. This is a size small. It fit well. It is short. The pattern is pretty. And so is the color. Again, this is a great style of dress for all women’s body types.

My husband liked this dress a lot. But I did not like how much of my side thigh was showing. Who does this dress think it is? Humboldt Tunic? Although my broken fitting room soul was not havin’ it, it is a nice easy little number.

This dress was a pass for me, but I think on the right person, it will be lovely.

I tried on the flower patterned version of the Caravane Tunic Dress I purchased, as well. It was a medium and too big, but I did like it. If I had not all ready fallen head over heels for the blue version and my heart had not been hurt from contracting the fatal shopping bug, I might have loved this. As it was, it was a “no” for me.

I am on the fence about this West End Top. It is a medium. I bought it, but I have not worn it. I am 99% sure I am taking it back. I am not sure if it is the size (maybe I need a small), but I am thinking it is not all that flattering on me. I love the rust color. It is gorgeous. The hem is such a cool idea. It is a reasonable price. But… I don’t know. I might reconsider in a different size at a sale price, though. What do you think? I need help with this one.

* Update 5/11/14: I ended up keeping The West End Top because I found a fun way to wear it here.

Thus, my reviews are concluded. I am happy to report my shopping wounds are being tended to. It makes it so much easier when your bandages are beautiful clothes.

It is going to be a ~~ridiculous~~ recovery.

And, yep, still hot in the dressing room. You can see the start ~~and the end~~ of the illness here.

What is on your wishlist this spring? Are you happy or bored with this season’s fashions?

More of my more recent reviews can be found here:

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part I

and

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part II

and

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part III

and

Free People Spring Reviews

Whew! No wonder I’m sick of the dressing room!

April 14, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part III

Part three? How could this be? That seems crazy. But part four goes up tomorrow, so this is just proof that however crazy something seems, it can always be crazier.

You don’t have to tell that to my husband. He all ready knows ~~lives with~~ that.

I loved pretty much everything I tried on in both sets of reviews I show in the next few days. Anthropologie really did it right this season. I could not say no to quite a few lovelies.

This means I have made a pretty little chant for my family at dinnertime.

“What’s for dinner?”

“Top Ramen!”

“Who do we thank?”

“Our momman!”

I’m still workin’ out the kinks on that one. They don’t seem to like it too much. I can’t tell if it is the meal or the song.

On to the reviews:

This is what I wore to the store. In case you were wonderin’.

This was the only one of the Pernetiana Top in the store. It was in the sale section, because it was missing a button at the top in the back. It was discounted some silly amount like 5%, because of that. This is a size fourteen. The size fourteen was almost perfect except for the arms. This sucks. A true size fourteen will be sized out of this top. And this makes me mad.

With that said, I still think this top is gorgeous. The colors are beautiful. I did not look twice at this top when it was online, but after trying it on, I have wishlisted a size 10 as I wait for it to go on sale. I hope it does, because this is a great summer top with jeans.

What have we got here? Well, this is the Tessa Tee. I was very unsure about this top. I am wearing a medium. It has a cool back that I did not photograph (again. I am helpful). This top is $58 and I would reconsider it at a much better price. For now, I am just watching it. I like the khaki color, because it is different. In real life, it is a more brown color. I like the color more than the style.

The Turson Netted Tassel Vest is gorgeous. I am wearing the XS/S. Vests are such an odd thing to size in. In my favorite vest, the Ruffled Sweater Vest, I purchased a M/L in both. The XS/S fit fine here. I love the blue embroidered pattern. If I could snag this on sale, I will/would. I think this would be really sweet in the summer over a white dress.

It has pompoms in the back. I debated showing this picture, because it is so blurry. But I think you can kind of see what I am talking about with the pompoms.

I love this Songbird Skirt. In fact, I ended up purchasing it in a size 6. I agree with other reviewers that said the waist is just odd. But, somehow, I have made it work. I wear it with a navy t-shirt. Although I really adore the color of this one shown here (the khaki shirt from above).

Usually I would wait for sale, but this pattern has a beetle holding an umbrella. And, well, that is all it takes for me. You now know what it takes to win my heart.

And maybe you are more curious about my husband’s courting techniques, as well.

I had this Zocalo Maxi Skirt in two colors in my wishlist. That is before I tried it on. I tried on the yellow version in a small. I will definitely need a medium. If I ever purchase it (which I probably won’t). This was definitely the one snag of the day. This skirt has so much potential. But the lining is bad. The lining is tight (but this could be because I tried on the wrong size) and it stops at an awkward length on the upper thigh. The skirt is see-through, so this is a problem. It has slits on the side and I did not like those either. And the pleats? Why?

Okay. Enough negativity. The colors the skirt comes in are gorgeous. The material does not bother me. I like that it is a maxi.

But there were too many I-wish-it-didn’t-haves for me to lust after this skirt. If only it had a beetle…

Women have been raving about this Lolanthe Dress online. I did not get it when I saw it in pictures. I did not get it when I saw it in store. I told my husband it looked like a dress I would have worn in 1996. But I decided to give it a chance and try it on.

I guess all styles really do come back around again!

Because I was surprised. In a good way. I liked it. I didn’t love it. But I liked it. It is a very flattering fit. It is an easy throw on and go dress. I was also surprised to find myself wishlisting this dress for reconsideration at a future sale price.

‘Cause I liked it. Oh. And I am wearing a size small here. This dress seems to be an easy dress to size down in, because of all of the elastic. It will also be flattering on most body types. I think
I am the only one wishing the pattern was just a bit different. But then again, the bar was set high with that umbrella wielding beetle.

And, in case you were curious. Yes, the dressing room was hot here, too.

That is it for my reviews today. Tomorrow I will show you some more dresses.

Have you visited a dressing room lately? What did you try on?

Some of my more recent reviews:

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part I

and

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part II

and

Free People Spring Reviews

Have a Beetle-Holding-An-Umbrella Day! : )

April 9, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Free People Spring 2014 Reviews

Oh, I love me my Free People. There is just something lovely and romantic about their flowly clothes. I have wishlisted almost everything in this set.

I wore Humboldt Tunic on my outing. He was pleased to get out. Although he still has never forgiven me for wearing him without pants. I wanted to show him Vegas and for him to see that there were indeed people in this world more devious than me.

He was not impressed. He still thinks I am the worst.

Aw, well. I tried.

First, I tried on the Rocket Cat Dress. I know I look serious, but I was contemplating the ginormous pimple on my chin and if I would be able to proceed with the reviews. Thankfully seeing this pretty dress made me smile again. I really liked this, but I could only buy one thing that day and it turned out to be a slip. This is sold out online now, but the stores might still have one. I am wearing a small in this. Actually, I am wearing a small in this whole set. It is my typical Free People size.

The Printed Strappy Front Maxi underneath the Rocket Cat Dress is the item I ended up purchasing. I love an item you can layer in multiple ways and use for multiple uses. You can also see me wearing it here. I love the romantic ease of this slip. I plan on pairing it next under my Sweet Lady Maxi and then underneath my seafoam colored slip I love with a belt and easy sandals.

I really liked the Magic Garden Dress, too. If you cannot tell from the many, many pictures. ; ). It is about two inches too short for this momma to wear. But it would be great for someone younger than myself. I am wearing a small. It fit nicely. Well, except for length. Of course, my husband loved this dress. : )

Oh man. I LOVED this Rio Dress. It is so fun. It is super short. The dark color it also comes in is gorgeous, too. I love the embroidery. Both colors are on my wishlist. It was way too expensive for me at full price. I will be watching this for a good sale price.

I had decided that this Mix Print Tunic would be my first purchase in April. It sold out the day before I could purchase it. So, I am hoping they restock it. The pattern is gorgeous. The fit is free-flowing but still very flattering. It has ties on either side of the waist to cinch it in more. Love.

The Near Perfect Tunic also came in lilac and black. I liked it in all of the colors. The lilac is absolutely gorgeous. Each color has a different patterned embellishment at the top. Gorgeous. This also has ties that tighten on the side to cinch it in more (I should have used them here). It is a good tunic if you like easy oversized pieces. I think this look looks good on most body types.

Finally, the only thing I did not add to my wishlist. These Balkan Sandals. Oh, man. They were really cute without my feet in them. My feet were swollen from walking in heels all night the night before, but even so, I could not love these. They were a bit too hippie for me. I did not know that was a possibility. That I had a limit. But here it is.

I added so much to my wishlist on this trip. I am being patient on a bunch of items, hoping for a sale. In my observations (I am not an expert), Free People does not have a set schedule for markdowns. Some items will sell out at full price and never get marked down. Sometimes it can take over a year before an item gets a cut. Sometimes it gets marked down with a few months. You just never know.

Are you loving any of the new spring offerings in stores lately? Are you hoping for a good sale? I am answering a giant, “yes!” to both of those questions.

* I will have an additional outfit post up later today at 3:00 p.m. : ). I have to catch up with all of these reviews! I will finish out my review sets next week with two more for Anthropologie. To be precise, they will go up Monday and Tuesday. Whew! Then this girl is done with reviews for awhile.

Here are some more of my recent reviews:

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part I

and

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part II

April 7, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Modcloth Stylish Surprise: SHOES!

This post could also be titled, “Modcloth, you have my heart.”

You all ready know that because Modcloth embraces every woman by offering a variety of different sizes, it is the store that makes me smile the most. Add that to their amazing customer service and customer appreciation and that site just makes this girl’s shopping heart sing.

But this post really isn’t about that.

This post is about the amazing promotion Modcloh does every few months:

It took me awhile to get over my light headedness when my box containing my Modcloth Stylish Surprise* (explanation about stylish surprise at the bottom of this post) full of shoes arrived at the door. For $10, Modcloth picked a pair of random shoes for me in my size and sent them. Shipping is always free at Modcloth for orders over $50. So, I ordered five pairs (three for me and two for my daughter. This might seem selfish, but her feet are still growing. Mine are not).

My daughter and I were nervous and excited to open the box full of shoes.

But we did!

Boy, did we get lucky!

We both loved our shoes.

I found out about The Stylish Surprise the same day I put up my post about my March purchases. I had ordered the clothing surprise from them a year ago and liked what I received, but I have enough clothes. I wanted to try the shoe version. It intrigued me.

I also wanted to immediately do a post the moment I learned about the sale going on, but I did not want this blog to seem too consumerismy (another new word). I also had never ordered the shoe surprise before, and I was not sure if it was something I was willing to recommend (this is important to me. I would never speak about a product here that I would not purchase myself). I decided to wait until morning to decide. Then the Stylish Surprise Shoes sold out. So, next time, I am alerting you right away. And if it happens to be on the same day as a post about clothes, well, that will just have to be the way it goes. I don’t want you guys to miss out! I think this promotion Modcloth does is amazing!

Okay. On to our loot:

I got these beautiful Chelsea Crew Tia Pumps in mustard. They fit like a dream. I love them for evening fun. They are my favorite of the shoes I received.

My daughter got these cool Dollhouse combat boots. These are so her. She was thrilled. She has worn these all week.

I also got these Seychelles Two Birds Heels. They are SO tall. I could never actually wear these. I ended up giving them away to the sweetest eighteen year old girl I know. And she was happy. And I was happy. So, it all worked out.

My daughter got these Chelsea Crew Notch Your Step heels in red. I was jealous of these. They are adorable. More importantly, she is madly in love with them. And I would rather her have been happy than myself. Thankfully, we both were happy. She wore these last Thursday and her outfit was perfect with these shoes! So cute!

I also received these Chelsea Crew Class Treasurer Heels (funny enough, I was class treasurer… Or secretary. I can’t remember. I also do not remember doing a thing for that title. Maybe I needed these shoes). They are the most amazing orange color. I love them.

So, for $50 we received approximately $337 worth of shoes. This works out to roughly 85% in savings.

I would (and will) absolutely be partaking in these surprise sales again. Not only was it fun, but it was a great bargain, too.

Have you ever purchased a Modcloth Stylish Surprise? If yes, what did you get? If not, would you?

* A Stylish Surprise is a sale that the online company Modcloth runs every few month. For a low fee, usually between $5-15, they will send you a surprise in the category you purchased your surprise in (apartment, accessories, shoes, or clothing). They guarantee your item will be worth a certain amount, usually much higher than your initial investment. Stylish Surprises are nonreturnable. If it does not fit or if you do not like the item/items you receive, you are out of luck. It is a risk.

* In the pictures, I am wearing Anthropologie’s Midday Dress. It is currently on sale. I am wearing a medium. I have a separate post about this dress going up on Sunday.

* This blog receives a small commission when a purchase is made through this website at Modcloth. : )

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

march

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part IV

Anthropologie Spring Reviews Part III

Free People Spring 2014 Reviews

Modcloth Stylish Surprise: SHOES!