OOTDs: Celebrating Grey.

Day: Wednesday, January 30, 2013.

Where: Winesday at Whole Foods.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.) This Garnet Hill Cap Sleeve Lace Dress is so comfortable, it felt like wearing a nightgown out.  Of course since it isn't a nightgown, it was absolutely appropriate for going out.  ;)  If you like this dress, I bought it in a size 6, which fit very well, if a squidge too big in the bust and waist, but I wouldn't have sized down to a 4 since there are no zippers which means the extra room is necessary for getting on and off the head and shoulders.

It was also very warm that night, so that Anthro "Decorating Committee" cardigan was all I needed for warmth.  (Since that day, though, we have returned to winter, with the highs in the 30s to prove it.)

Cool Factor: (3 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  Definitely a twee girly outfit, but for some of us, this is cool.  LOL.  But for a lot of you, it isn't.  I am not going to split hairs here, but will give it a 3.

Anecdote from the day night:  These Winesday nights are my saving grace for the week.  I spend so much energy running around from one toddler friendly thing to the next that I seriously forget that I am an adult sometimes.  Being able to really get my drink on (and not have to drive, either, thanks, bro!) helps me feel my age again, and in a good way, not a "oh, look at the new wrinkle" kind of way.

One of the wine samples from that night was from a $25 bottle of wine from Tuscany. It was really  good.  I did not bring that bottle home, though.  The small little taste I had will have to suffice for now.

Day: Thursday, January 31, 2013.

Where: Preschool Run and Little Gym with Angus.

Ease of Wear: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.) Boots are kind of a pain in the butt to get on and off at the Little Gym, so I am downgrading the comfort from a 4, but if I hadn't had to take the boots off, this would have been a 4, hands down.

The J. Crew factory puffin sweater I have on here is a teeny bit itchy, probably due to the fact that part of it is made from acrylic and rabbit hair, but a cami helped with that.

BTW, I did not have Angus wear his Puffin tee from Boden, but next time, I promise.  Why not sort of match your infant?  Ha.

Cool Factor: (2.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.) Well, I sort of look like a brightly colored, critter-loving girl who rides horses.  I am sure such a thing exists in Virginia's horse country.  People in that part of my lovely state are a bit eccentric, right?

Not in any way, shape, or form is this a cool look, though.  Sorry, Miss Havisham*.

*I have always imagined that somewhere in horse country that there is a wizened old lady just getting mustier and mustier at her grand brick estate.  (Either that or that there are four kids, trapped in an attic by a narcissistic mother and a sociopath grandmother.)

Anecdote from the day:  My dad picked up CW from preschool, so I was able to bring Angus straight home from the Little Gym.  Having just one small child for one small part of the day made me feel insanely relaxed.  I even took a long hot bath while he took his nap.  Luxury!

Day: Wednesday, January 30, 2013.

Where: Harris Teeter for lots and lots of groceries.

Ease of Wear: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.) Ain't gonna lie to you all, that skirt is maternity.  ;)  It doesn't look that way because of the shape, but the large elastic band at the top of the skirt definitely proves it.  That is why the darling little fox "silk keyhole" top from Lands' End Canvas is only sort of tucked in (bloused out, just like I did it when I was ten, back in the 80s!).

This was from the same day as the Winesday outing (first outfit), so it was very warm, in the upper 60s.  I ended up having to take off the boucle peplum jacket, so I could have left that at home.

Cool Factor: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  If I didn't admit to the skirt being maternity, I probably could give this a 4, but I did admit it, so 1/2 point deduction.

I made up for it, sort of, by wearing the darling little Pade Vavra birdie/cuckoo clock necklace and the peplum jacket.  Foxes are probably on their way out...unless of course you are an eccentric living in Virginia's horse country.

Anecdote from the day:  Harris Teeter sees me way too much.  Those of you with kids...do you find you go to the grocery store twice a week because your kids eat their school snacks on the sly, empty the box, and then return said empty box to the cabinet?  I have lost count of how often this has happened.  And it's not like I am away from the kids in the house enough to not see them eating, they must be doing it when I dare to sneak away, and you know, do all sorts of crazy things, like going to the bathroom, or putting the laundry in the wash.  Sigh.

Day: Saturday, January 26, 2013.

Where: First Class of Sewing One.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.) Yummy warm cashmere on top, stretchy denim leggings and shearling lined boots on the bottom.  This is daytime comfy at its finest.

The sheepskin lined boots were on my radar for months, but even as much I LOOOOOOVE Boden, I couldn't afford the original price of $298.  (Ouch.)  Once they dipped down to $119, I could afford them.  Since I bought them (size 40, so down one size from my usual 41), I have worn them a lot, as it has been cold enough most days to justify it.

Cool Factor: (3 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.) I think the cashmere snood is the coolest bit, but it is obvious that I am trying to stay comfy, so I doubt this would be considered cool.  I bet cool often means "fashion can be painful, deal with it," and since I felt no pain, points off. ;)

Anecdote from the day:  This was the day I discovered my Singer machine was BROKEN.  This was also the day that the *really cute* guy at the small appliance shop (in my neighborhood--one of the last type of shops like this in the country) said he could fix it for, oh, the exact cost of the machine originally.  So I bid adorable man "goodbye," and got home to find the highest rated sewing machine on Amazon.  I spent more than I wanted (albeit it had free shipping and no taxes), but wow, what a difference.  Sewing is now a huge pleasure, and because I don't have to use a foot pedal, Miss "Clumsy and Uncoordinated" me can actually sew with a reasonable amount of skill.  LOL.

I am currently working on a very easy short tunic that I hope to have done by next weekend.  I am using this Liberty fabric from B & J for the project. 

Okay, all, that's it for now. 

P.S. If you are a Boden fan, they have restarted their "Spring Trim" promo today.  This will last for one week and all items in the trim are 15% off.  With the sidebar coupon, the total off is 28% and has free shipping.  You can find the women's deals here.

OOTD: Navy, Brown, Grey.

Hey, all.  Happy Monday!

So the Boden Weekly Roundup has not disappeared, promise.  In reality, there are just so many reviews/ootds recently both here and at my blog friends' blogs that it is going to take a lot of time to get the post together.  It will be a Super BWRR, ready to conquer all other BWRRs.

It turns out my lateness is less of a big deal, too, since Boden is clearly waiting forever to put the fall/winter stuff on clearance.  Last year the sale happened within the first week of December, and here we are in the second full week of December and no sale is in sight.

There is some talk over at the Facebook page for Boden that since their shop will be shutting its doors for a little while next Sunday, the 16th, that must mean that the sale will be happening that day.  It's definitely possible since I remember that also happening last year.

What makes this year different from last year is that this year's collection is selling well, often to the point of selling out, so Boden may not feel that an earlier sale is justified since people are buying the items up with only a bit of a % off, instead of waiting for a better deal.  There are items that are not selling well, at all, including the top (Lavish t-shirt) that I had in my ootd post from last night, but all that means is that Boden is offering it for a bigger percentage off right now (near 50% off, in fact) to maybe drive a few more sales of those tops.

When clearance does happen, anticipate that if you love something and it is sitting in the pink "low stock" checkmark territory, it will not stay that way long.  Those pink checkmarks disappear fast and become "out of stock" quicker than you can say "Johnnie Boden."  If you have your eye on something with a blue "in stock" checkmark, you are probably okay to wait a bit.

Also, if the item you like has been selling well, it is also unlikely that Boden and co. are going to reduce the price by that much, there have been items in the past that have sold so well that the price only went down by 20-30% in the clearance sale.

Okay, blah, blah, blah.  Let's bring on the outfit full of neutrals.

Winesday was on offer last week, for the first time in forever.  My brother and I try to make it weekly, and if we miss it too many weeks in a row, we feel pangs of withdrawal.

The outfit is all neutrals, but I kind of dug the play of different shades together.  I am all for following sartorial rules, but in this case, I feel like the deep navy combined with black, grey, and brown works.

Oh, who am I kidding?  I had to get some color in there.  ;)  Now I didn't actually wear this outfit inside Whole Foods since it would have been too warm to have the coat on, but I did need some sort of cover up for the drive there.

This coat is the Rose coat from Boden's spring/summer Limited Edition line.  I would never be able to wear this coat in the spring or summer (too warm), but I will happily wear it when the temps drop below 50.

(I see this is gone from the clearance sale from last summer, but there are still a bunch of its sister, the Rose Dress, available for sale.)

Close up of the hat, coat, and bag.  My hair was smoothed down after I saw this shot.  LOL.

See?  Smoothed hair.  ;)  This is outside my house.  I am in my street.  Fortunately my neighbors didn't even notice, but I live on a block full of slightly insane people (including us, btw), so I think even if they did notice, it wouldn't bother them. 

Vintage Ponte Dress.  This dress is almost all sold out in the smaller sizes, especially in the navy.  I bought the dress to try it on for the blog, with the thought I would be sending it back.  Then I got it and realized that the dress fits very well and is so pretty and comfortable, I decided that I would just sell a dress or two from my collection (ridiculous collection, really) to make up for this purchase.  (I am going to the consignment shop tomorrow, have a BIG box full of stuff to sell).

I bought this in a size 6 since most of the stretchy type fabric clothing from Boden fit me in my smaller size.  This was definitely a good choice, since the 8 would have been far too big in the bust and waist.

The length is shorter than it appears on the model, but I have a high waist and long legs, so almost all dresses and skirts are shorter on me than other folks (plus they probably gave the model a lengthened version). 

My feet only look this big from the side.

I added the sequin belt to this dress, which Boden did with their catalog shot.  I had to buy this belt in a size medium because (surprise!), it sold out in all the other sizes.  The medium is big on me, but I am just doing what the model in the catalog does, I am wrapping the end into the belt, which looks kind of nice.  Another thing with the bigger size is that I can wear it lower on my hips, which I may have to try with some of my denim.

Don't let your husband zip up the back of your dress if you are taking photos from the back.  (There was a hook closure that he missed--my brother fixed it at the store). 

The dress has the back zip, which is fabulous if you have a bigger bust and find side zips/no zips impossible to deal with.

Close up of the fabric of the dress and the sequin belt.

I do have plans to wear the dress as you see it above.  (I really love the daintiness of the sixties heels with the dress.)  It was just too chilly last week.  Maybe this spring?

Okay, that's it.  Have any of you tried this dress or this belt?  Do you ever mix all your neutral shades together? 

Today Boden started a 30% off (select items) sale with free shipping.  This is a decent enough sale if you can find the item you want in the sale.  I only had the briefest look around, and didn't see a ton on sale with that discount, but I will have more of an opportunity later today.  If what you want is not in the sale, you can still use Q753 for 25% off with free ship, btw.
Just in time for Christmas! Three days only and limited quantities: take 30% off select items + free shipping at BodenUSA.com.

Pink Jacket and Brown Top. Again.

Hi, all!  Thank you for your sweet Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays wishes over the past few days.  :)  I read them all and even though I can't respond (without a lot of effort, thanks teeny computer with no access to disqus), I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays right back.

Also, I read all the comments about Rex, and thank you, every one of you, who told me your own story, etc.  It was very helpful to see what has worked for you, what your life is like with your "energetic" toddler/child, and what isn't working.  So so appreciated!

I will continue to tell you all about the Rex saga, but for now, things are okay.  Not great, but with the extra empathy and patience we are trying with him, we seem to (crosses fingers) be on the road to normalcy (we don't expect--or want--him to overnight become the opposite of his personality).

So onto today's quick post.  Remember this post?  I wore the pink heather azalea Lexington Jacket with Boden's Silk Flower Top and jeans.  Well, I guess I really liked the pink/brown combo so a few days later I went with a similar combo...the heather azalea Bella Jacket (yes, that one!) with J. Crew's perfect fit swirling petals tank in cobblestone.

This is the outfit as worn out of the house.  The sunglasses and scarf are from Target (CW picked both of them out for me, in between trying on bits and pieces for herself--see bottom photo for proof of that).  The pants are really ancient Duo Maternity cream canvas pants, very comfortable and go nicely with the pink and brown/grey of the top half.

It was warm, though, probably too warm for the jacket, scarf, and Bensimon sherpa lace-up low sneakers I bought from Madewell recently.  With highs in the 60s that day, I felt a bit heated on my preschool run and it had nothing to do with Rex's teacher.  ;)  They are saying this is the fourth warmest December on record here in the DC area.  I want you all to notice I am not complaining.  I am such a weather wimp.

From the side.  I was so lucky to find the bella jacket on ebay a few months ago.  It was around the price of the original retail cost, but it was NWT and (almost) my size, so I bit.  I love this shade of pink, and I know that even if J. Crew was to re-issue the bella (like they did with the Lexington), they may not re-issue this herringbone version again, so I just re-budgeted that week so I could work it into my finances.

I am wearing the petite 6, which is nearly the right everything, except in the sleeves (har-dee-har, and my belly, but that isn't permanent).  The length of the sleeves are short, but I will take it so I can have a perfect fit in the shoulders and torso.  (And next year, lol, in the waist.)

The perfect fit tank is long enough to fit over my belly, even in the size small.  J. Crew's tanks and tees run really long, don't they?

The Bensimon sneakers are a size 41, which is about a size 10.  I thought the 41 would fit great, and they do, but I think I over-sized for what I suspected would be a fair amount of sherpa lining.  It is lined, but don't be fooled into believing it will be all thick like Uggs or even like what J. Crew does with sherpa.  I should have gone with a 40, but because it ties up, I just have to tie my shoes a bit tighter to have them fit well.

CW in the Target women's accessories department.  She loves trying all these on...the bag right next to her, btw, is really cute, sequined and all bow-ed up.  Go Target.  :) 

The sunglasses in the first shot were about $12 and are from Merona and the scarf is around $15 or so and also from Merona.  I can't find the glasses on-line, but I have included the scarf in my polyvore (below) so you can get more info on it.

Pink and Brown. Again. by dinagideon featuring cami tops

Above is the polyvore.

Umm, okay, that's all, I guess.  Before I go, two quick reminders/questions...if you have a review for me for this week's Boden Weekly Review roundup, can you either drop your link to your blog review in the comment or e-mail me at dinagideonATaimDOTcom...and on that note...when do you all think Boden will switch over to their second cut prices?  Last year it seemed to come a couple of weeks after the initial clearance, but I still haven't seen the prices budge (and I am WAITING for some of the pieces to go down in price, couple of my wishlist items are still too pricey at even their sale price). 

Have a great rest of your Tuesday, everyone!

Mommy Style Monday #17: Cull that Closet!!!

I did a post yesterday in which I reviewed three grey dresses that I own.  Add to that yet *another* grey dress that I also recently wore, I realized I have WAY too many simple grey dresses.  Which then led to me actually looking in my closet and realizing that if I was going to buy the lyric dress (not in grey, come on now...) and the maritime dress, I would also need to re-evaluate whether or not I needed as many jersey dresses as I have.

I think part of the reason I have held onto so many of these clothing items is because I simply run out of time to cull my closet.  I know this is going to sound mega-lame, but after running around after the kids all day, blogging, and doing all the daily "essentials" of my life (that sounds pretty tame, lol), by the time Mr. Dina gets home and can take over the child-rearing and such, I definitely don't have the energy to go into my bedroom and clean (but drink a glass of wine, um, yeah...).

But yesterday morning afforded me the trifecta of awesome...I felt good, Mr. Dina was home and herding children, and I knew that some of the items I wanted to cull from the closet could end up on the JCA Weekly "Sell" post, so I kind of had to get my booty in gear.

So how did all this end up as a Mommy Style Monday post?  Because, admit it, if you are reading this, you probably are both a) a mommy, and b) stuck with a few too many clothing items of your own.

But, if like me, you need an excuse, a valid reason, a push in the behind, this post is for you.  I will even show you some ways of coping with your loss (oh, I know I can't be the only one who has trouble getting rid of clothing because of sentiment, right?).

In order to REALLY be objective, I took a series of photos of myself wearing the jersey dresses, and through the power of Picasa, I chopped off my own head to make the most wise decision for each dress.  I have done this before, but for entire outfits.  I encourage all of you to try this...not seeing your head, just your body in the piece of clothing (and if you want, from all sides) will let you see what TRULY flatters you.

You will be seeing a series of photos that show my insane jersey dress collection.  In these photos you will be treated to: dresses that got a second chance because I ended up liking the way I looked in them, dresses that I want to sell (I think my readers and other JCAs/Boden Babes/Loft Lovers might have some interest), and dresses that I will give away to charity (older, but in still great shape, dresses from places like Old Navy and JCPenney).

 1) Loft Scoopneck Dress with Ruching.  Well, I already admitted to having a huge problem hoarding grey dresses.  Do I really need this one?  Answer: Definitive NO.  It is a nice enough shape, but the bust is too large and the overall length is too short (have enough short dresses, too).  SELL.  $20, Size 8.  See this polyvore for more info, if interested.

2. Old Navy Bright Yellow Pleated Neckline Dress with Bow Detail.  This color is amazing, but I have two tops from old navy that are this color.  The dress is baggy, saggy, a bit sheer, and overall a bad fit for me.  Answer: Definitive NO.  Going to give this one (and a few others that I have not shown here) to Goodwill.

3. Boden Printed Beach Dress.  Oh, how I adore this print.  Too bad the pockets on these are at my widest point of my hips, making it a bit too floppy at the WRONG part of my body.  This one is definitely meant for ladies with more up top and less on bottom.  This one was the hardest for me to part with, but at least I know it will be swooped up by another Boden babe (I like that term, btw).  Answer: NO.  For sale info at this polyvore, size UK 10, US 6, $30.

4. J. Crew Cotton Interlock Kristy Dress.  I have worn this a few times before, but never for the blog.  I could never seem to make it work for me.  The problem had been that I added a necklace.  By leaving the dress and its silhouette alone, the simplicity and the modern lines were able to shine through.  But I still wasn't convinced, so I took two more photos.

From the side.  Short, yes, but that is perfect for the weather around her in the summer.  It also allows me to be a bit "dressier" on errands and the like.

From the back.  Answer: YES.  Keeping this one and look forward to keeping it simply styled.

5. Mossimo Dress with pleated detail at neck and waist.  Bought this at a Target in Indiana a few summers ago.  Love the color and adore the design but was on the fence about whether it worked for me or not.  It didn't...two summers ago when I was still postpartum and nearly 20 pounds heavier than I am today.  I think all the pleating made me feel a bit larger than I was back then, hence my fence sitting.  Still not convinced, so took a pic from the back.

From the back.  It's okay, and I love this style for hanging out during the summer.  Answer: YES.

6. J. Crew Jennifer Shirtdress in Black.  Oh, this shirtdress has driven me CRAZY for a few years now.  I had it in brown and didn't really care for the way it looked on me.  Then I lost weight, sold the brown (size medium) and bought the black and the green in size small.  I wore the green one time, and hated it on me (again???).  Turns out I did it wrong for me.  So what if everyone else can wear this dress buttoned up and long-sleeved.  I can't.  I needed to adjust.  So I opened the lapel ALL THE WAY (while still remaining decent) and rolled the sleeves to the the 3/4 length.  The picture confirmed that I had chosen the correct styling.  Answer: YES.  (Phew.)

There will be two more posts today (and the third post will prove to be a humdinger, so come on back you all.)

Now, in the meantime, CULL THAT CLOSET!!! ;)

J. Crew Reviews: An Oona, a Tiered Ruffle or Two, and a Couplet!

So I asked myself, "what kind of post could I possibly do on Superbowl Sunday that would actually get people reading?"

Well it is clear that almost all people are watching the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers battle it out, and that's cool, but this post is for you, the non-Super Bowl viewer who like me is growing weary of watching Toddlers and Tiaras for the fifth time today (don't judge, CW loves the rhinestones and the talent portion--lol).

So enjoy a shot of "grey" (dresses):

J. Crew Wool Oona Herringbone Shift Dress, Size 8.  I had tried this on in the store in a size 6 and that dress was far too tight at the hips.  I *knew* that if I bought it, I would have to get an 8.  I also knew that the bust would be too large, but the design of this dress is meant to be loose overall, so the extra fabric in the cowl, shoulders, and bust aren't really that big of a deal.

And know what else isn't a big deal?  My lack of makeup.  ;)  Didn't feel like bringing the makeup and hair to my "photo shoot" this morning.  (If you want that, you Arbonne lovers, go a few photos down, I have a pic of me all glammed out--almost toddlers and tiaras territory!)

I LOVE the cowl on this dress, so chic.  The cap sleeves work nicely with my teeny shoulders and super-spaghetti arms.  I *almost* look balanced, top and bottom, hallelujah!

From the side you can see the zipper detail.  They hide pockets!  The length is decent enough, but may not be work appropriate without tights or hose.  :)

I belted it with a thin, sparkly belt and loved the look.  :)  I actually may always belt it, although it loses a bit of its cool "Mid-Century Mod" vibe.

FWIW, my dad doesn't like this dress as much as the next two because this one is more "frumpy."  LOL.  I said, "you mean it doesn't show off my legs...you mean because this could be worn to an office?"  He smiled and said, "yeah."  I think he wishes he worked in an office with Vegas showgirls.  Ha.  (He was over tonight to watch the Superbowl with Mr. Dina, btw, and I gave him a sneak peek to today's post.  He also "HATED"--his words, not mine--the Michelle Obama outfit.  I always love hearing my dad's opinion, we often don't agree, and we both live with the outcome of my fashion decisions, and have been since I was 7.)

P.S. Gigiofca didn't get the "feel" from the Oona, either. 

J. Crew Tiered Silk Ruffle Dress, Size Small.  I saw this on-line for a price that was UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE.  I ended up grabbing it during one of the 30% off promos and it was something like $35.  It was originally $148.  I think it probably came to folks, they tried it on, saw it was way too big and that the back of the dress was just black merino wool (the ruffles are only on the front), was really short, and just said "he%% no."  I probably would have at $148.  But I knew to size down by the time I bought it, I knew about the black merino wool back, and I knew how short it was, so I was fine with what I got.

I somehow lost the grosgrain ribbon that went with the dress, but I found a great solution (much like my red ribbon/rosette belt that I used with my Loft Lace Dress).

I paired the dress with a silk obi sash I had from a Banana Republic dress that got ruined by moths (thank goodness the belt was fine).  The cardigan is the sequin scarf cardi from last winter.  The tights are some pair of opaque black tights that I have had for years that have not snagged or run or anything (really exciting, right?)!  The shoes are the Prized Rose Peep Toes by Miss Albright (Anthropologie). 

So why did I need to get all glammed up in this dress?

And why did I have to wear super-sparkly makeup?

Because some beautiful Arbonne Consultants and I were in Vegas for a good time, and had a grand party to attend!  :)  Here I am with two of my favorite Arbonne consultants, we had gone to eat at one of the yummy restaurants in the MGM Grand (last year, for instance, I went to Craft Steak--yum!).

After dinner we were able to see Kevin Costner's band, Modern West, play his version of country rock (at least that is what I assume it was, sure sounded a lot like the Eagles a la 1973).

P.S. Here are some other reviews of this tiered silk ruffle dress, DaniBP, and Jessie. 

J. Crew Collection Couplet Shimmer Dress (also known as Aurelia on Net-A-Porter), Size 8.  This was yet another dress I had to size for my hips.  The tank is REALLY loose.  I will most likely have to take the sides in to make it a bit more fitted.  I don't mind this look, I just know I would feel a bit "exposed" wearing it this loose.  FWIW, my dad liked this dress the best.  :)

Here the dress is belted, and I prefer the dress this way.  That said, the belting does make it shorter, so bear that in mind.  I would probably only wear this in public if I was wearing tights and I had taken in the tank.  (Which I can do with my sewing machine!!!)

Not a huge gain in length, but maybe a 1/2 inch?  I say go unbelted if you need the length, otherwise, stick with belted, as it gives the weird elastic waistband a bit of an anchor.

The top is very pretty, and worth taking in, and not returning.  The bugle/seed beads are well-secured and the shade of beading is just perfection with the soft silk tank.  The skirt is made from a soft wool, like a 120s wool, but I am probably wrong about that.

P.S. Found one review, but of the plain top, non-shimmer version, on AudreyBella.

You all have a great night.  I hope I saved some of you from the Superbowl, if that was your desire.  If not, it is good to see you this Monday morning.  ;)