Moving & Blogger Profiles

As you may already know, my family is in process of a semi-cross country move from the midwest to San Francisco.  During the move / unpacking / settling, I'll be scheduling more text-based posts and blogger profiles of some of my favorite ladies.  I love learning more about the personal side of bloggers and am so happy that these ladies obliged :)  In case you are curious, I also filled out a mini-profile below.  If you're looking for the DIY posts, they'll be back soon!

5 random things:

1) I have a huge weakness for babies, but refuse to hold any of them (except my own, of course) for fear they'll start crying.

2) My dream job would be Top Chef judge.  Yes, please pay me to taste delicious food and tell you what I like / don't like about it.  I intend to to do a Top Chef road trip one of these days hitting the restaurants of all of my favorite chef-testants.  Chris Cosentino, I am coming to your restaurant in SF soon!

3) I'm proud to be active in animal rescue.  Volunteering at the shelter, temporarily fostering kitties, and for the last 6 years, taking care of a feral cat colony (feeding, spay / neutering, and building winter shelters).

4) I can't swim.  I understand the theory of it, but I just can't do it.  I can, however, float on my back.  Hopefully long enough to get rescued.

5) My favorite Halloween costumes involve wings - angels, fairies, and the like.  I've always wanted to fly :)

SPG College Years

Style:

• What is currently on your wishlist? Would any items change if you won the lottery?

Hmm, I would really like a red leather shoulder bag that can also be worn cross-body.  Preferably something that will easily fit my long wallet, wristlet, and iPhone easily.  If I won the lottery, I would still get a red leather bag, it would probably just be more expensive.

• What are your top 5 wardrobe staples for fall? 

Red blazer, an ornate necklace, comfortable boots with a heel, bright outerwear, and some classic plaid

• What are your favorite purchases this year?

My red blazers!  A knit one from H&M that is bright, comfortable, and seemingly never wrinkles (great for travel!) as well as a wool version from J. Crew that is classic, structured, and well-made.

• And a random one - what was your style as a teenager? How (if applicable) has it changed today?

I don't know that I had one particular style as it tended to shift from year to year.  I went through a wide-legged jean phase with anime tees.  I also went through a Contempo Casuals phase (i.e. club-esque gear) and thought I was so cool.  My longest phase was probably the Abercrombie & Fitch one.  I got a kick out of buying from the kids' store for a lower price.  My current style tends to fall into the business casual spectrum or "Mommy @ work".  They tend to be conservatively cut with just the tiniest splash of something trendy.  I love the prep aesthetic, but wouldn't classify my style that way.

Thanks for reading my long-winded and off-topic post!  See you all soon!

J. Crew Factory Fitting Room Reviews

A couple of weeks before the move, my husband announced that he needed to go to the outlet mall to return something.  Truth be told, I was itching to do something besides prep for the move so I was positively elated.  While there, I stopped by the J. Crew and Banana Republic Factory stores (BR reviews coming up soon).

And just a note on sizing: Since taking up running and watching my food intake (gasp, a diet...kind of), I've lost 2 inches each in the waist, gut and hips.  Guess there was quite a bit of extra insulation there, LOL.  So while I used to go for a XS / 0 at J. Crew, I am now also trying XXS when available.

Factory Downtown Field Jacket, XXS, $125 (don't see online)

(Left: waist snaps normally and Right: tightened)

After seeing this on bloggers like Amber (retail version) and Gigi (thanks for the alert on Factory availability!), I was really interested in seeing what it would look like on me.  This is the XXS with a sweater underneath.  The torso is a little boxy on its own, but if you tighten the waist snaps, it will give you more of a fitted effect.  XXS fits nicely in the shoulders and arms, sleeves are a little long and hit at tip of thumbs, a little roomy in the chest (a good thing as I hate when buttons pull there), and the length hits me at mid to low hip.  I LOVE the gold buttons and I loved the way it looked in the mirror, but upon reviewing the photos, it didn't seem as flattering as I had thought.

Verdict: No for now, but would consider on further sale

Factory Classic Pea Coat, Warm Lemon, Sz 0, (buy here)

I was really drawn to the gold buttons (I'm a magpie drawn to shiny objects, I tell ya) and the bright yellow color of this coat.  It fit pretty well - sleeves not too long, torso not too tight nor boxy, but ultimately I felt like the collar was too big for my taste.  Too much framing of my head - reminds me of the Cabbage Patch Kids:

Verdict: No

Factory Wool-Blend Long Open Cardigan, XXS, $60, (buy here)

I've been looking for a classic camel cardigan and thought this might be a good option.  Unfortunately, I felt a little too "Mr. Rogers" in this particular style.  I think it's the length?  For XXS, I felt like this fit a little big, but I'm not sure if this is due to the open nature.  This was also a little on the itchy side.

Verdict: No

Factory Cap-Sleeve Pocketed Dress, Sz 0, ~$30 (buy here)

This was another one of those that I liked in the mirror until I looked at the picture.  It fit very nicely and provides that tummy hiding that I love so much about J. Crew dresses.  What I didn't like in the picture was that it seemed to make my top look a little wide.  I tend to look for things that help cut me a slimmer silhouette if possible and am a little sensitive about things that make me look bigger.

Verdict: No, but would look great on a different body type - great price too!

Anyhoo, it appears that being on maternity leave for a full year has left me feeling picky and semi-stingy.  Too bad it takes a year without income to make me more fiscally focused.  How do you exercise shopping restraint (if applicable)?