LOFT In Store Deals & Fitting Room Reviews

As part of Chinese tradition, the mother typically stays home for the entire 1st month after childbirth in order to fully recuperate and recover.  Baby Girl turned 1 month yesterday (and is just starting to get some baby fat - the best kind of fat!) so we went out to celebrate.  We also, at my insistence, stopped by the mall :)  Trying on clothes wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I can wear my pre-pregnancy size in most items even though my belly and hips are larger than normal.

LOFT Cowl Neck Shell, Black / Gray, $21 in store (don't see online)

LOFT Scuba A-Line Skirt, Sz 2P, $69.50 (buy here)

Review:  I really loved both items.  

The shell is classic enough to be worn for several seasons and fits well enough for me to wear now and when I lose the rest of my baby weight.

I LOVE the color of this skirt!  The fit is also good - the scuba material really cinches in my post-baby tummy.  If this had been on sale, I probably would have bought it.  Then again, considering I'll be on maternity leave for a year, I don't know that I really NEED an orange skirt if no one is going to see me anyway.  Maybe I should make an orange skirt?

Verdict:  Buy top and possibly stalk skirt until it goes on sale

LOFT Tie Neck Long Sleeve Blouse, XS, $17 in store, (buy here)

Review:  This shirt has been on my mind ever since I saw Kerry blog about it here and I couldn't resist trying it on when I saw it.  It's so pretty and makes me feel "grown-up" LOL.  It's sheer so I'll definitely be wearing a cami underneath and even though it's a regular XS, I feel like it fits decently since blouses are by definition blouse-y and fuller than normal shirts.

Verdict:  Buy - $17 is a great price!

LOFT Long Sleeve Striped Boyfriend Cardigan, XS, $21 in store, (buy here)

Review:  You know I'm a sucker for stripes and cardigans.  So a striped cardigan?  Fuggedaboutit!  I like the wider stripes of this knit and that it's different from my typical navy / white combination.

Verdict:  Buy

LOFT Printed Shell, XSP, (don't see online)

Review:  You can't really see it in this picture but this shell has some interesting pleating / tucking details at the neck.  I was drawn to this and the print but once I put it on - Yuck!  The shoulders / chest part fit fine but then it billowed from there and unfortunately, the fullness of the bottom of this shell makes me look crazy wide.

Verdict:  NO

Total shopping damage was $59 - $15 cardmember birthday gift - $20 LOFT rewards card = $24 + tax.  Not bad!

Trench:  Gap (old)

Tee:  Gap (last season)

Dress:  LOFT Outlet Shirt Dress, Navy Blue

Bag:  Coach Navy Crossbody

Necklace:  Target Chunky Pearls & Chain

Bracelets:  Pearl DIY, Gold Bangles

Today's outfit was an experiment (gone wrong?) in layering.  I like the trench look but when I take that off, the tee + dress looks "off."  Maybe a belt would have saved it?  Or maybe this look can't be saved and shouldn't have been put together?

What are your "rules" for layering?

Triple Row Leather Bracelet DIY Video Tutorial

I received a reader request on how to create a multi-row beaded leather bracelet similar to the tutorial for the Leather Wrap Bracelet here.  The instructions are similar with just a few modifications - see below for materials and video.

What I used (materials can be purchased at most hobby stores like Michael's):

• 40 inches of 1 mm leather cord
• Beads 
• Size D Nymo thread
• Beading needle (personally I use a floss threader because I like that it's flexible without getting warped in the beading process - also any size thread will fit easily in the loop)
• Beading glue (I use super glue because the bead glue I have turns white and crusty when dry)
• Button with 2+ holes (needs to fit 2 mm cord, look for spare buttons around the house)

Questions?  Just leave it in the comments and I'll get back to you :)