Boden: The Classic Shirt Review.

Hi, all!

I think I might be able to do this, publish a few days in a row.  Woo.  Which means I won't be back till July after this run.  LOL.  I kid.

I made the promise above last night in this post.  I decided that with the diminishing discount on, it seemed sensible to do reviews when the savings are actually pretty decent (currently 25% off).

Anyhow, I wore the beach conversational print the Classic Shirt today, and it did what I wanted it to, it helped to lift my spirits on this awful rainy day (and it was the first day back to school, ugh).

The Classic Shirt.  Size 8 Petite.  I really love this print, but my track record with Boden blouses and shirts (not tees) is not that great, with me having to return as often as I keep.  This version, though, is a 100% keep (and it has more to do with fit than the print).  It is a stretchy cotton with darting in the back, and a bit of shaping through the sides.

It is exactly the right length for my torso, which is actually a petite (I am longest through my legs).  I probably could have purchased the 6 petite, but I love how this fits just right through the hips, and a touch of roominess in the shoulders and bust is nothing that bothers me.

I decided on this print after really hating how the Josephine dress fit me, but wanting that print so badly.  (I had purchased the Lola Skirt, and initially thought it didn't fit right, so I thought I would return it, but oops, it actually fits right, I must have had a bad day when I tried it on...never a great idea!)  This print is true to color as what you see at Boden, a very pretty mix of teal, red, pink, and yellow.

So now I have a skirt in the blue version of this print, and this shirt in the white version, but as I have told the world (too many times to count), I am definitely a print girl.  :-)

From the side you can see it fits nicely through the hip area, without being too loose or too tight.  The only thing I wish would be different is the length of the sleeves.  Though I may have a petite torso, my arms are super long.  Oh, well.

And the back view.  This shirt can be tucked into a skirt or pants, but they have to be high-waisted for that to happen.  I'll try it with a skirt tucked in next time I wear it.  These pair of pants have too low of a rise (on me at least) to tuck this shirt in.

The outfit as a whole from today.  I wish J. Crew would reissue these turner pants. They are my jam.  Boo.  But I digress...

Okay, I hope you all had a great Monday, I'll be back with more tomorrow.

Remember to use the code 5N3R to receive the 25% off.

Made by Me Files: Mini Wardrobe Pieces Four, Five, and Putting Them All Together.

I also could have entitled this post "I MADE LEGGINGS, you all!"

But that seems super lame, and unless you sew, you may not realize that making leggings is actually kind of a hurdle to pass through.  But more on that later.

First, before I begin, I wanted to let you know that a ton of great Boden reviews have been coming through the Boden Reviews tab here at the blog, I have seen some great reviews at other friend's blogs, and I have received a few messages, too, so I am very excited to get the next roundup started, tomorrow am.  Bright and Early.  The children willing, of course.  ;-)  CC, ever the best blog friend, commented on the last blog post and let us know that you could use the code 4Y4D to receive 20% off.  Thank you, CC, for the code.  If you have a review you want to send this way, you can email dinagideon AT aim DOT com or leave a review at the Boden Reviews tab, whichever is easier for you!

Okay, onto the mini wardrobe conclusion.  Reminder, the first post on this (pieces one, two, and three) is here.

I struggled a bit trying to figure out what the fifth and final piece of this mini wardrobe was going to be.  For a hot second I considered a cardigan or a scarf, but wasn't really feeling either of those since I really wanted this to be a true summer wardrobe. 

And although I don't make it a regular practice of mine to wear leggings in summer, because DC HOT/HUMID/UGH, but I also have been known to wear the shorter variety with a long tank or flowy linen blouse under the right circumstances.  So that's when it hit me, make the leggings. 

I knew that making them was on my bucket list of things to make since I love them, need them, and don't really love paying over $30 for the good ones at J. Crew, which only ever come in black/grey/navy, anyhow.  And the cute colorful ones at Target are (forgive me, Target) crap.

Thing about sewing leggings, or any fitted knitwear, is that you have to sew them sew that they fit with *negative* ease because they are meant to stretch.  That means the flat pattern is significantly smaller than my measurements and if I were to have sewn these up in a woven material, they may have fit CW well.  ;-)

Add to that the fact that while you can sew these up on a regular sewing machine (and bits of this were sewn up that way), it is really great to have the serger on hand to help with sewing the knits up as the way the stitches and loops are formed on it make the seams super stretchy and means that pulling these on and off your body won't bust the seams of the garment. 

Serging also makes this project super fast.  Of course if you *accidentally* sew up the front leg pieces to each other instead of sewing the front of the leg to the back, you will have a LOT of seam ripping to undo.  Not that I made that mistake, of course.  Cough, cough.

This is not necessarily a great first project for a first time sewer, but if you really are digging sewing, and want to make up some actual functional leggings that fit really well (even over my very curvy hips!), this Kwik Sew pattern (3636) is a wonderful jumping off point.  Every bit of the directions was excellent, and I did everything suggested by them. 

Although most of my information on this pattern is at the review at Pattern review (link at bottom of this post), I highly recommend checking out this link as this sewing blogger has a good review of how she made her leggings.  Here, a fabric store in Australia wrote up a great post on the waistband application that is pretty much the same as what Kwik Sew wants you to do.  I did as asked, and it sewed up very well.

This is a button-up loose fit blouse that I sewed up using a vintage (kind of) pattern from 1979, Vogue 7088.  I was gifted this pattern by a sewing teacher, and was waiting for the right fabric to sew it up in (well, I have some Liberty tana lawn, but wanted to wait until I had tried it on something less expensive first).  Anyhow, knowing that I would want to use the Tropical Print Rayon Challis I bought from Fabric Mart, I also needed a pattern that would look equally good with shorts, leggings, and a dress.  I knew that if the top was too tight, then I couldn't wear it over the dress, and it would be comical with the leggings.  I also knew that buttoning up the blouse would help with wardrobing options (layered over a cami gives it a different look that buttoning it up).  So that is why I chose this one, it is long enough and loose enough to wear with leggings, breezy enough to wear with shorts, and versatile enough to not look super silly with a dress in the same pattern.

This blouse probably took me the longest to sew up of all five pieces since the pattern has two front pieces with self facings, a button placket, a collar, a yoke (with a facing, too), and a back.  The front and back pieces have gathered bits, too.

Surprisingly none of this was especially hard.  It may have helped that I sewed up a little boy's version of a Hawaiian shirt before this (for Rex from this Butterick pattern), and a lot of what I had to do for his shirt, I had to do for mine.  So good practice and all.

I really like how flowy it is and the gathering at the yoke looks really pretty.  Next time I will add a square shoulder adjustment since I can see the side bits of the sleeves poking up instead of hanging down.  I should just recognize that and do it every time since clearly I am thinking patterns will magically do it for me or something.

Here is the shirt inside out.  The yoke facing and collar nicely attach to one another.  Provided I take care of this blouse, it should last a long time.  Considering how much I have seen women's Hawaiian shirts retail for, I feel like I did well at around $7 for fabric, $1.50 for buttons, $3 for thread, free interfacing, time consumed (have no idea what to rater $$ for my time), and a free pattern.  :-)

I definitely became besties with my serger with this shirt and the leggings.  I managed to break one of the threads in the looper when attaching the elastic to the leggings, but considering how much I have used it, I would say that is some success.  Yay!

 

Here are nine possible combinations using these five pieces.  Admittedly # 3 and 6 are similar, as are #4 and 9, but even discounting those, there are seven solid combos here.  I may just bring these five pieces with me on a vacation next year to see if I can actually make this happen for real and under actual strict limitations.  I have worn all five pieces out and about, with the shorts being in the number one spot for most use so far.  I think the leggings will end up winning since I can probably get away with wearing them in the winter here (well most winters here, anyhow, not last winter's freeze fest).

Here are the five patterns I used. 

Okay, that's all for now.  I am off to go watch other people sew on Project Runway.

Review of the Kwik Sew 3636 leggings is here at Pattern Review.

Review of Vogue 7088 loose fit blouse is here at Pattern Review.

Review of all five pieces together for my contest entry is here at Pattern Review.

Have a great night!

Boden: Autumn/Fall 2014 Preview Picks (Knitwear, Shirts, and Tops).

UPDATE (July 21, 2014): Some of the fall 2014 items have rolled out, including many of the below.  I have received a coupon from the people at the affiliate program.  You can find it below this first paragraph or in the sidebar of the blog if you need a coupon.  I will eventually be updating this post with proper links to the items that are available, so you can easily find the items you love below on the regular site.  :-)

15% off with free shipping coupon that is valid once you spend $50 or more!

Hi!  Happy Tuesday, everyone.  Was meaning to get this post out last night, but time got away from me.  So I am going to dispense with the usual chit-chat and just move onto the picks already.

Today's picks focus on the knitwear, shirts, and tops from the Boden Autumn/Fall 2014 collection.  British readers, the links below say sweater, but that is pulled directly from the US preview site.  They are still called jumpers over at your preview site.  ;-)

As per usual, there is a code for 20% off with free ship and returns which will expire THIS Friday, May 23, 2014.  I will make sure to publish a post on that Friday to remind you all that the code is expiring so you don't forget.  The code is H6G9.  (That code is only for the United States, btw.)

 

Pattern Sweater. These two sweaters are on my radar because they are so cute with their ditsy birds and guards.  Adorable.  I have worn the Heritage hummingbird sweater from last year a lot (even dared to wear it with outfits I didn't photograph--gasp), so I know the style will work for me.  Only concern is that these will also be prone to pilling as the hummingbird sweater is...if so I will suck it up and continue my fabric shaving, but I really wish I didn't have to...

Spot Collar Sweater.  This sweater seems like it will be calling a few of you all by name.  It has a peter pan collar, darling dots everywhere, and is in a lovely shade of mid-pink and a dark pinky/plum.

Embellished Sweater.  This color for fall, yum!  And those beautifully placed jeweled dots!  This sweater is one of the handful of items that will not be debuting in late July.  The items that are rolling out with this sweater in late August all seem to be more formal or made for celebrations, so I gather rather than wait for the winter rollout to debut the festive wear, Boden plans on capitalizing on early birds by getting these out sooner than October this season.

This one seems to be a bit expensive for what it is.  The material composition is the same as the Pattern Sweater above (pill alert!), but those extra gems everywhere have given Boden and co. shiny dollar/pound signs in their eyes!
 

Grace Sweater.  Love this color.  Swoon!  Would have to wait for it on sale, but I do plan on waiting for it on sale since it is so pretty, and its shape is very ladylike.  It seems  to be the Sophia sweater (review here) made in a "solid," so if you have this spring's Sophia sweater and like it, you may want to consider this one.  Having said all this, the Sophia sweater sold out FAST, so I am not sure I will be able to get this once it rolls out, as it may not make it to a greater discount.  Sigh.

Hotchpotch Sweater.  Its a hotchpotch that isn't too crazy!  The other incarnations of this sweater are less tame, but I figured I would toe the proverbial line by showing you a hotchpotch item that likely will appeal to more individuals.  (Though if you are a fan of the crazy side of Boden, just go to the next item for your fix.)

Intarsia Plaid Sweater.  Ah, there it is, a bit of the crazy, wacky, fun side of Boden.  Look at that plaid--on the bias!  In bright colors!  Looking a bit 1970s!  :-)  Not sure what this will be--will it sell out because it is so unique and special or will it languish in the stocks waiting desperately for the right Boden customer to see its appeal and buy it?  Any thoughts?

Curzon Coatigan.  I initially wasn't going to include this in my picks, but its shape and color started to grow on me.  I also love how practical it is, especially if you live in a climate where winter may mean days where a true winter jacket is unnecessary most of the time.  Or for those of you in true winter climates, this topper would be great for indoor wear or for in the car whilst driving.  (I hate having a thick coat on when driving--what a pain!)

Charlotte Top. This top is very wacky, but it appeals to me.  I *think* I may be able to get this on sale later in the season, and I hope to.  I didn't even notice it until I saw the model wearing it (see the photo at the top of the post), but it looks really cute on her.  I love the plaid fabric with the darling eyelet.  I wonder if they took eyelet fabric and dyed it to have plaid or if they took plaid fabric and made the eyelets.  Any sewing fans have a clue on how this was done?

Chepstow Top.  In basket right now.  Will not let this one sell out like it did last year before I can get my hands on it.  I thought for sure this peasant style jersey top would be a dud last year and one month after it debuted I took a look at its item page only to be dismayed that almost all the colors and sizes were sold out.  Sad!  This year I plan on being a happy camper early on...of course knowing Boden, they overordered and I will see a TON of stock well into next winter's clearance time.  ;-)

Long Sleeve Breton. This top is always popular amongst Boden fans.  Heck, it's even popular amongst non-Boden people*.  I have a lot of Breton stripes in my closet (most supplied by J. Crew if I am being honest), but this color combo is really fresh and a bit different than what you usually see.  Even though I love it, not going to be buying it as, again, so many stripes already in my wardrobe.

*Why is it that when Boden was gifting all those items last year to all those "well-known" bloggers that they all chose the Breton top?  I started to roll my eyes every time I saw a blogger picking the Breton again and again and again.  If the c/o item was an actual "wow that's a Boden item," then I silently cheered them on for picking something that you can't find elsewhere (bonus points if it was an embroidered fun item).  The Breton people, btw, seem to have moved on from Boden since then.  Surprise!  ;-)  (But all of this can be discussed later, lol.)

Lottie Top.  I want to but this to wear to bed since it looks so comfy.  (Modal and Cottton jersey blend--YUM!)  But if it is going to be an item I wear as pajamas, I probably should wait for a really good discount.  I mean I guess I could wear it out in real life, but I really really really want it for loungewear!

Metallic Organza Top.  This is another top set to roll out in August.  I can tell you that from a sewing perspective, this top is not all that difficult to sew up, even with the underlayer, but that fabric is darn expensive, which explains the cost. (Say that with a discount this fabric is $10 a yard, which makes this top $15--1.5 yards estimated, but that $15 is before adding on the underlayer fabric, labor, marketing, etc.)  Even though it is all poly, all poly and organza does not mean bad quality.  Take a look at some of these poly organza items from B&J fabrics to see what I mean.  I purchased this spring's Embroidered Flower Top and will see how I like that one before I even consider this one, but I will say this one's beautiful floral embroidery is exceptionally lovely and would look amazing with a nice pair of slim black wool trousers and a pair of well-made ballet flats.

Paris Blouse.  I know last year's Paris Blouse had its fans, so I would be a bad Boden blogger if I didn't include this year's version, but I would have anyway since the fabric features little swans, all cuddled up, just so.  Because of the design, you would think it would read young, but from afar, you can barely tell what they are, and because of the wise color choices, all of the blouses are fine for someone older than ten to wear out and about.  The black and white version above is especially chic.

It features a relaxed fit, but is all viscose (woven--very shrinkable, be warned).  If you own this and have seen how much it shrinks and would like to chime in, please do!

The Shirt. Have to finish the picks with this button-up featuring British guards and the Union Jack.  Since I am getting the Pattern Sweater, I will not be buying this shirt, but if you are an Anglophile, you could always buy both and wear them together.  I would then live vicariously through you.  ;-)

Okay that's it for today.  I am saving the best of womenswear for last, tomorrow I will publish my picks on coats/jackets, shoes, and accessories.  This upcoming season features some amazing finds in all three categories.

If you would like to buy a popback from the diminishing discount, I provided a link below just in case you need it!

J. Crew Review: Collection Secretary Blouse in Hummingbird Floral.

Good Tuesday evening, all!

I made a promise in yesterday's JCA weekly exchange (looking to sell) post that I would do a quickie review of the beautiful secretary blouse in hummingbird floral that I was able to get from the Madison Avenue Collection store (via my awesome online personal shopper).

I am not going to be keeping it, but only because there are a few things that make it a less than justifiable purchase for me personally.  Had these few things not been part of the equation, I would happily keep it, since it is very lovely.

Size 4.  The size is pretty much spot on, fitting about the way that my perfect shirts fit.  It is a touch slimmer in the armholes, bust, and hips, but even still, it isn't uncomfortable, nor does it look like it is too small.

I tucked it in because I feel like the hemline is kind of blah, really wish they had made a more interesting shape there, so that even if it is untucked, it would still look unique and fresh.  Instead it is your basic flat shape, doesn't even have vents in the lower side seams to help give it some oomph.  On a $300 blouse, it should be exquisitely finished.  But that wouldn't detract me from keeping it, if that was the only issue I had.

From the back.  This really shows how special the fabric is, harmonious coloring, not too overtly twee birdie print (some sort of parrot, not a hummingbird, btw), and the prettiest shade of blue. 

That blue, though, is my ultimate downfall.  Even if I could justify the higher price tag, in the end, this blue is far too cool for me to wear on its own, and I would need to pair it with a jacket or cardigan in a more flattering color (like the red or ivory in the print) to make it work.  At the higher price I bought it for (I got a discount, but it was still very pricey), I would want a shirt that I could wear on its own too.

Not horrible, of course, but I have better blues for me, like the mid-teals, the deep cobalts, and the denim shades.  This would probably work better if it had a touch more green or if the blue was a bit more saturated.

It breaks my heart to have to either resell it or return it as I do adore this print. 

Here it is opened at the neckline.  The shape of the blouse is darling, and opened up the blouse takes on more of a sexy secretary vibe, while buttoned up, the blouse is definitely all business.  ;)

So, the pros of this blouse: Gorgeous fabric, exquisite print, soft, slightly sheer silk, neat details in the blouse's construction, and pretty colors.

Cons of this blouse for me: Wrong shade of blue, boring hemline, a touch too small at the bust, and way too high of a price tag for what I would be getting.  I would only keep this blouse if I had managed to grab it at $75, which is never going to happen since the blouse is now all sold out.

I had sort of given up ever getting the blouse, so I went ahead and made a plan B, which was to buy two yards of the blue Floral Eve print by Liberty of London (found it at Jones and Vandemeer; out of stock there, but they still have some with the white background) as it had a similar feel but with a more greeny-blue background.

Upon receiving it, I was thrilled as it was exactly the right shade of blue for my complexion, and the print was just as lovely. 

Of course, two days later my PS writes that she has found the secretary blouse, and because I know it would take me a while to make my plan B shirt, I figured I could wear that one in the meantime, and sell it when I had completed this shirt on my own. 

Now that I know I won't be keeping it, I will be pressing forward more swiftly with my plan B, so I hope to have it done by late summer.

If you look closely, version 1 of this mid-80s pattern looks a lot like the secretary blouse.  :)  Yay!

Okay, that's it!  I hope this helped any of you who are considering this blouse (either in the hopes of a popback or on ebay).

OOTD/Review: Tresco Floral.

Hi, all!  Big shocker here, but I decided to preorder the Liberty perfect shirt in tresco floral.  I saw the glorious bright multi-colored flowered tana lawn bit of perfection in the spring lookbook in the fall and immediately contacted my personal shopper.  Since then, she has informed me of all the pieces it will come in (the shirt, obviously, a clutch, a beautiful scarf, and a boy's bow tie).  I said "no" to the bow tie, but happily saved up for the other pieces.

I received this shirt yesterday and decided that I couldn't wait to wear it, especially since now it is so very cold and frigid in the DC area.  What better to perk up one's spirit than a summer's garden?

First up in the post will be the ootd portion, followed by the review.  I figured the review will help those of you interested in it, since I have a feeling it will go "live" on J. Crew tomorrow (I think new arrivals are slated for tomorrow).

Day: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 (today!).

Where: Whole Foods Wines-day.

Ease of Wear: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.) 4. The outfit wore exactly as I expected, very easily.  :)  The tana lawn of the shirt is a very smooth, silky cotton that feels nice on the skin.  The sateen pants are just stretchy enough to be comfortable, while the merino cardigan is a bit oversized, making for a nice loose fit.  The only bit of the outfit that was a bit uncomfortable are the macalister high-heel boots, which are still being "worn in" by me.  Eventually they will feel more comfortable, but the break-in period is taking a while longer than I expected.

Cool Factor: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.) 3. Looks like I am a happy, pleasant SAHM.  Not cool, but not horribly uncool either.


I do realize that had I taken the shirt and added a long, pink and white leather floral skirt, a pair of ditsy floral heels, and a darling little floral clutch, I would be way cooler, but considering I am who I am, and that it isn't 80 degrees outside, I will be fine with my ensemble as is.

Anecdote from the day:  You're not imagining it, my hair is darker.  I suffer from summer blonde hair, which is what happens when your natural hair color is in the blonde/light brown range naturally.  The sun bleaches my hair to a very light blonde in the mid-summer only to grow out and become its natural, darker self in winter.  I tire of trying to maintain summer color, so today I grabbed the Natural Instincts demi-permanent (lasts around four weeks, give or take) color in dark blonde, and while it is a bit shocking compared to what I am used to, it is the color it is supposed to be (maybe a touch cooler than "normal," since I have more gold overall, but it's close enough--so no complaints).  :)

Mr. Dina sort of hates it.  I just looked at him and said, "you hate my natural hair?"  MEAN! 

I also reminded him that by May it would start to get bleached again, and he could celebrate its return with all sorts of merriment and a big party, if he so desires.

Review: I chose to get the size 4 after working with my PS.  I always buy a size 4 in the perfect shirts, but always want to make sure before I buy them, especially if it is an investment like the Liberty shirts are.

It fits great, and in my opinion, a titch bigger than the Leo Scarlet one from this fall.

The colors are insane, and the detail is wonderful.  It is obvious that this print is very special, maybe even more so than my most favorite Liberty print ever (last worn here).  I am not ready to say this is my most favorite Liberty print ever, but I am thinking it is very close to it. 

Of course it is A WHOLE LOT of look, and not for the shy of color or print.  I don't know, you probably are a Liberty print kind of person or you are not, ya know?  I don't much care for houndstooth, but I love the way it looks on others.

Okay, that's all for now.  Anyone else have this one and can comment on it?

P.S. I picked my four winners for the giveaway earlier today.  I have heard from three of the winners and hope to hear from the fourth soon, so check out to see if you won.  :)

P.P.S Those of you who commented on the piano lesson from H-E-double hockey sticks, I appreciate all of your advice.  Eventually I will comment back, but until then, know that I am thinking about what we will do, and I am strongly thinking about getting another teacher.  Thanks again!

Boden: Crinkle Jersey Shirt Quickie Review and a Reminder.

UPDATE, 3:17 pm: Good news, all! I just checked Boden and used the coupon from my website for the free ship/returns and the 10% DOES get applied to the 20% off...so I think stackable promotions have returned! Woo! Probably won't be indulging in this sale this time around, but if you were thinking about it, this adds another layer of incentive!

Hi, all!  Happy Sunday.  I will likely be back with another post later this afternoon, but very quickly I wanted to let you all know that the Boden 20% off select autumn favorites is ending tonight at 11:59 pm.

I did a post on some of my favorites from the sale here. 

One of the tops, the Crinkle Jersey Shirt, is on 20% off as well, and although I will be doing a more involved review of this top on Wednesday for the Review Roundup, I did want you to get a glimpse of it if you were interested in this top.  This top is only available for 20% off in this color and in the navy floral color, unfortunately, but if you wanted either of these colors, then this may be the right time for you to pick it up!

I bought this during the preview because I had heard so many good things about this top.  I must say that everyone was right!  I purchased it in my usual size 6 and it fit exactly right, with just a little bit of extra room.  I find the material to be just stretchy enough for comfort but sleek enough that it could easily pair with a pencil skirt or trousers. 

It was fairly warm last night so I rolled up the sleeves and they stayed up nicely, which can be an annoying thing about other button-downs, they don't lend themselves to having their sleeves rolled up without a lot of effort.

Okay, that's it.  Don't forget that if you would like to partake in the 20% off sale and you would like free ship and returns to click on either the coupon below or in my sidebar.  You won't receive the extra 10% off, but you will get the free ship/returns.  :)