J. Crew: Jaspé pullover and Mini Orbit Necklace Review plus OOTD.

Hey, all!  I have two posts today that specifically deal with reviewing J. Crew items!  :)  With tomorrow being an insane Boden review day (OMG, SO MANY REVIEWS for the roundup), I figured I will get these done, especially since the next review post is on an item that if it pops back up on the internet will be an extra 40% off (which would be awesome for whomever grabs the popback).

But right now I want to focus on two items that are "new" arrivals.  Technically the Jaspe pullover was in the last rollout and not the one on Thursday, but I know that a lot of you love this material, so I wanted to get this review out as soon as I could.

The necklace is in store only right now, but that doesn't mean it won't be rolled out on Thursday...I hope it will come on-line as it is a really wonderful necklace that is a decent price and a perfect "something something" for topping off a simpler outfit.

I wore all of these items today, which just shows how much I love them both.  I figure if I wear them quickly (bought them last night), then the items were definitely meant to be keepers in my closet.

Clearly I can't do that with everything I own right now.  LOL.  But for the things I can wear, I pull them out as quickly as possible.

I really really love this outfit.  I did a lot today, including a freaking run to Costco, and at no point did I feel uncomfortable or miserable.  Everything from the top all the way down to the shoes helped buoy my mood.  :)

Top: J. Crew Jaspe Pullover, Heather Indigo, Size Extra Small.  I picked this up last night at the store after having spied and fallen in love with it on-line.  I have no idea if this will sell out or end up in the clearance bin for $5, but I HAD to have it last night.  The unusual texture of this tee is soft and the fabric is pretty thick.  The three-quarter sleeves don't bother me at all since I normally scrunch my sleeves anyhow.  The scoop neck is really flattering, too.

The color is my favorite bit, sort of mid-blue with greenish undertones and a true white threading throughout.

Sizing is typical J. Crew, pretty large.  I find it utterly amusing that J. Crew's tops are stretchy and long enough that I can continue wearing my tts xs top size, even at 31 (!!!) weeks.  All this means is that the top will be looser and much longer when I am not pregnant.

Pants: Duo Maternity, wear them constantly...

Necklace: J. Crew Mini Orbit Necklace, Sage Green/Blue, $39.50.  Considering the regular Orbit necklace is a hundred dollars more than this necklace, I think this is a great option for those of you who love the look of the regular orbit but want to save some dough.  (I do plan on buying the regular orbit at some point, but will wait it out a fair bit, just in case it makes  it to sale.)

You can see the mini orbit closer up in the last photo.  Also, Rose modeled the red version last night over at this post.

Shoes: Boden Lounge Shoe, Size 40.  I will do a more in-depth review of these shoes tomorrow.  Quick thoughts, though...these run LONG and NARROW, just like my feet.  :)  I sized down in length to a 40 (should really wear a 41), and the width/length exactly fits my foot.  This never happens to me.  I am a happy girl.

From the side.  Gus was a happy boy.  He was moving A LOT today.  I think he agrees with the Jaspe.

CW is wearing a pair of crewcuts tights that are as darling as her, grey knit tights with hearts (Girls' Heart Tights).  They are size xxs-xs and are large enough they should work for a year or two longer.  Great deal at $7 on sale.  :)

Hands on hips, including CW.  She RUNS to the modelling sessions every AM.  Cracks us up.  I indulge her as I figure some of you really like my reviews and my ootds, but the vast majority of you stop by to see her and her brother.  ;)

I can totally tell I am gaining weight from this pregnancy.  Normally my face is not this full.  It doesn't bother me, but it is weird to realize that of the 20 pounds I have gained, some of it has been in my cheeks.  LOL.  Bit chipmunky.

This is a good view of the necklace and the texture of the tee.  I actually like both pieces enough I may consider seconds when (and if) they go on sale.  The tee also comes in a pretty light grey and the necklace come in many colors, including red, navy, and one other color (can't remember).

OOTD with Jaspe and Mini Orbit. by dinagideon featuring bright jewelry

Above is the polyvore of the outfit as I wore it today (including the coat, which I did not get photos of but wore in the last post).

Hope this helped some of you!

Pregnancy Purge Continues...Anthro, Anyone?

Oh, well.  I might as well go out and just get all these pregnancy outfits out of the way.  Maybe I am nesting.  I spent two hours today clearing my closet for pregnancy clothing...all the while recognizing the items I was packing up were going to be coming out of hiding in May (I even marked the boxes "bring down in May 2012").  :)  I guess I just needed to do SOMETHING.  LOL.

So yesterday's post focused on a whole slew of outfits made from items I had either purchased at Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity, or Motherhood Maternity.  There were six of them.  Yeep.  Guess I was a bit behind.

Today I want to get three outfits published that I created using pieces from Anthropologie.  Amazingly enough, a lot of what I own from Anthro have easily seen me through the last few months.  I think it is a combo of some vanity sizing, general versatility of the piece, and the "flowy" nature of all of their clothing.

Anyhow, Desperate Housewives is on soon, so I am gonna make this quick.  ;)

Outfit #1:

I got out of the house for these shots.  I brought back the arty shot from the summer.  Let's just say I find it WAY easier to dress up and play "model" when it is warm.  I am a super wimp, I admit it.  The day was just warm enough that I didn't shudder at the thought of posing outdoors for five minutes.  How those big time fashion bloggers do it is beyond me.  Maybe they have steel for skin. 

Dress: Maple Mazzola Sweater Dress, Anthropologie, Fall 2008.  Oh, how I love this dress.  I totally fell in love with this dress when I saw it in the July 2008 catalog but since I was heavily pregnant with CW at the time I didn't think it would work for me.  Fast forward to this fall, ebay.  I saw it for sale and for an okay price in a size medium and was all, "screw it, I want that dress."  Turns out I could have worn it heavily pregnant with CW (although July and cotton/angora...not so much).  This dress is far more forgiving than I thought it would be!  I could go with a size small for the non-pregnant days, but since it is a sweater dress, the same stretchy material that makes it utterly perfect for those of us "with child," also make it beautifully flattering to non-pregnant curves.  :)
Tights: George Tights that recently bit the dust (sad!).  Read the last post for more on that saga.  LOL.
Shoes: Stacked Strap Heels, Anthropologie, Size 9.5.  These are by Schuler and Sons and I must say that I was thrilled to have them pop back in my size after missing them from the sale initially.  (Although I was a bit worried they wouldn't ship and worried the 9.5 would be too large--schuler and sons run large on me.)  Aren't they pretty?  And they were very comfortable.  I could have walked in these for hours.  Surprising seeing as they are really high!
Necklace: J. Crew, in store only necklace from Fall 2009.

I added a very unique Elevenses topper to this outfit.  This is the Neo-Houndstooth coat and after seeing it styled in the catalog last fall, I sort of fell for its mid-century modern appearance.

Having said that, I recognize its flaws.  I bought it on super-sale (it went down to $49 from almost $350) because of the flaws.  This is a size 4, which is one size down from my true Elevenses size of 6.  I may have been able to get away with a size 2 it runs that large.

Part of the problem is what you see here in this photo, the open back vent.  There is absolutely NO structure to the vent.  In fact the only reason there is structure to mine is because I added some.  I sewed up about an inch of the vent about halfway down the vent to keep it from flopping open and I safety pinned the bottom part of the vent so that it wouldn't fly open, either.  All in all that took me about twenty minutes, but I feel like the extra time was worth it for such a pretty coat.

I had fun with Picasa Picnik now that I have my new computer.  :)

Don't you just love the view of the barren trees and my neighbors?  I miss the full blooming trees!!!

The other problem with this coat is what you can see here, even on small shouldered moi, I look like I have actual swimmer shoulders (who did lots and lots of butterfly).  I don't mind the extra shoulder girth as I do have a fairly narrow upper body, but on someone who is broad shouldered, I think staying away from this coat may be a good idea.

CW was heading to ballet class.  Her darling Boden skirt was perfect for covering up her ballet costume.

Mazzola and Neo-Houndstooth. by dinagideon featuring three quarter sleeve dresses

Above is the polyvore of this outfit, just in case you are interested in any of the pieces.

Outfit #2:

Speaking of Elevenses, here is a spring coat that I wore about a month ago with a full on pregnancy outfit.  Didn't do up the buttons, but the rest of it felt great.

Coat: Elevenses, Size 6.  I wore it in this post a long while back.
Top: Gap Maternity, Size small.  Only Gap I wear is the maternity stuff.  The regular stuff just kind of looks bad.  (Sorry, Gap!)
Jeans: Mavi, Pea in the Pod, Size ??? (I honestly don't remember).  I literally wear these jeans to death while pregnant.  They feel awesome on and are fit perfectly for my body.  Plus they have a drawstring at the top of the belly band for an even closer fit.
Shoes: J. Crew, Salina Patent Flats.
Necklace: Bloomingdale's Aqua Brand, Multi-Strand Gold Necklace.

We were headed to a friend's house for the night.  This was dressy enough but also filled the bill of being comfortable enough, too.

Side view.  If this was a month ago, then I was about 26 weeks.  (I just turned 30-31 this week, so I am guesstimating.)

Outfit #3:

Alright, I admit this is a bit of a stretch on the Anthro front, but the shoes and scarf are Anthro.  :)

Top: Loft Starry Night Bubble Hem Top, Size Extra-Small.  Yum.  I definitely think I can make this one work non-pregnancy.  If I can't, oh, well, but I love the way this top looks.
Pants: Gap Maternity, Size 6/29.  These are awesome capri dark wash denim that I purchased a few months ago.  They fit as well as my Mavi jeans in outfit #2.  Definitely can't wear them on super cold days, but since we have only had a handful this year, I have been able to pull them out a lot more than I anticipated.
Cardigan: J. Crew, Size Small.  This is one of those infinity cardigans from a year or so ago.  I like how proportionally it works with the shorter pant and oversized blouse.
Scarf: Sketched Surrealism Scarf, Anthropologie.  I wanted this in one of the three prints in came in, didn't really care which one, but as soon as it went on sale (and with an additional 50% off), I bit.  I love the super-soft silk and the infinity styling (the loop makes it easy to style--here I have it looped twice).
Shoes: Miss Albright (Anthropologie), Anticipation Heels, Size 9.  Definitely wear these a lot.  LOVE them.  :)

The kids are in a selection of mini Boden (CW in baby Boden).  I got those not on sale, but they are currently in the clearance section (a lot of the sizes might be sold out, bear that in mind).  I plan to add these to the Boden Weekly Review Roundup this Wednesday, so if you are interested in their pieces, there will be reviews then.  :)

Okay.  Gotta catch up with Gaby, Lynette, Susan, and Bree.  Love those ladies.

A Ton of Pea in the Pod Coming Your Way.

Yeah, let's just keep the "theme" posts going since I clearly am unable to post outfit of the day posts in any sort of timely manner.  :)  (And I can't even blame this pregnancy for this, have been doing this since nearly the day this blog was born.  Whatever.  Seems to work for me.)

Okay, there are so many outfits to highlight, so let's just begin...

Quickly, though, the main thing that ties all these outfits together is that they were purchased from either Pea in the Pod, Mimi Maternity (now defunct part of the company), or Motherhood Maternity.  These three (now two) maternity outlets are sort of the American woman's dream mall store to turn to upon learning there is a bun in the oven.  I like them, but really had no choice of other brands six years ago when I was pregnant with Rex.  It was only after Rex and into the pregnancies of CW and Gus that there really were more options for those of us not in NYC and all the chic maternity boutiques.  (There was Liz Lange for Target, but again, not every mall has a Target, so for a great majority of women, these three are literally it.  And for every Pea in the Pod, there are far more Motherhood's, as the Motherhood Maternity is the least expensive option of the three.)

And to that end I say "thank goodness" for the newer offshoots of bigger brands, like the Loft Maternity, Boden Maternity, and the Gap Maternity.  Yes, you have to buy all those on-line, but now that the vast majority of the US is connected on-line, suddenly women can look beyond the two biggies. 

(Although I will say if you are in a bigger city the Gap may have a maternity section at your local baby Gap, the one here in NOVA is located at Fair Oaks.  This is LITERALLY the only shopping I do at the Gap anymore, btw.)

Okay...quick merchandise history lesson done...17 photos to go (!)...

Outfit #1:

Top: Pea in the Pod, Erge Burnout Top.  This is a size small and runs really long.  I think I bought it when pregnant with CW.

No head, slightly different view.  Besides the top, only the pants are Maternity, by Duo.  These are a recent acquisition, bought at another mall store that hasn't forgotten us pregnant ladies, J.C. Penney.  (Although I think women forget about them as an option, especially when there is one of the "big" two at their local.)

Non-Maternity:

Cardigan: J. Crew Merino V-Neck from 2009, Size Medium.  I haven't pulled this cardi out in a long time, but it was perfection with the tee.
Boots: Madewell Suede Hightower boots, Size 9.5.  I waited and waited for these to come down in price...bought them on Monday when they went down to around $100 with the 30% discount.  (They still are on sale and all sizes are available.)  I really like the look of these and find them to be super comfortable.  Be warned, they are a pull-on type of boot and the shaft of the boot runs narrow and short.  These are in no way knee high on me...if they were the thinner part of the shaft would hit at my knee and fit perfectly.  This, however, is more about me, I have freakishly long calves and all boots are like this on me.  They do have an extended size, but those are much much more expensive, so only buy those if you are sure you need them.
Necklace: J. Crew Bubble Necklace in Papaya.  I have already done a review here.  Love this necklace.  Way more versatile than I thought it would be.

This outfit was worn on Thursday night for a Thai dinner out with the family.  Amazingly, Mr. Dina and my dad offered to both drop the kids off at preschool and pick them up from preschool (respectively), so I was able to spend the entire day asleep or resting.  I have been sleeping really poorly lately (major leg and hip pain owing to the weight of Gus), so I desperately needed a day off.  :) 

After I had gotten enough rest, I totally had a spa bath and full make-up session.  It felt wonderful.  I even did Heidi braids (can't see them here).  LOL.

Outfit #2:

This is from early December, by the way, and from this point forwards all of the outfits are in chronological order, so there should be some belly growth, too.  :)

Dress: Motherhood Maternity, Size Small.  This is one of those dresses that are meant to be worn with a top under it, and I usually pair a button down with them, however...all of my pregnancy button downs are HUGE on me (even now, not just back then in December).  I anticipate being able to pull them out soon, but they look ridiculous on me currently.
Top: J. Crew striped tissue turtleneck tee, Size Extra-Small.  This is from the fall and I bought it for around $9 on sale.  Definitely does not fit now but in December fit just fine over the belly.  I think J. Crew's tops are ridiculously oversized...
Tights: Assets.
Shoes: Clarks Artisan.  Yummy!

My belly is so teeny there.  I love it.

Kids really wanted to be in this shot, btw.  They come running now.  I think they like posing with the belly, honestly.


Outfit #3:

I wore this on a date with Mr. Dina to sushi (not all sushi is off the table during pregnancy...as long as the salmon is frozen before they thaw it, salmon sushi is okay...as is uni--sea urchin--just so you all know).  We also went to a movie.  The dress wasn't the best for the movie, but I wasn't insanely uncomfortable, either.

Dress: Pea in the Pod, Size Medium.  This is a really short, silk, Asian-inspired dress.  I am glad I have it, but I definitely will sell this one upon not being pregnant.  I am going to sell a lot, but this one definitely.  I think I have gotten enough wear out of it.  I believe I bought this one with Rex.
Cardigan: Anthropologie, Decorating Committee Cardigan, Size medium.  This is such a fun cardi, love having it, even if I only get to wear it once a year or so.
Tights: Assets again.
Shoes: Ancient pair of Sam and Libby Heels.  I can tell they are ancient because they have that big chunky heel that was popular in the late 90s and early 00s.  I definitely take care of my shoes, but really, I should just purge some of these.  (I have started the process, btw, now onto the Goodwill.)

I love how sweet Rex looks here.  Such a cutie.

Another belly shot and another cutie pie pic from my first-born.

I publish this because I like the face I am making.  Really, I do.  LOL.

Outfit #4:

We were headed to Bethesda on New's Years Day, so I put on a fairly summery frock (paired it with a short khaki jacket--not seen).  It was warm-ish here that day (in the 50s), so I felt comfortable.  You all have seen this dress before, here in this picture.  I was pregnant (more fully pregnant--around 32 weeks, btw) with CW in that shot.

Dress: Pea in the Pod, Size Small.  Love the print and the cotton fabric.  I actually can get away with this one as a sundress non-pregnant, but haven't yet tried it.  Maybe I will this summer and then sell it.
Tights: I don't remember, but these have been around for a while...
Shoes: J. Crew Metropolitan Suede Ankle Boots, Size 9.5.  I have had these forever, too.  They get more comfortable the more I wear them.  They were really painful the first time I wore them out.

Hand on hips.  The top is smocked and has a high neck, so is really hard to pair with a cardigan.  It really is best on warmer days with sandals.

No belly shot, but you can see me cradling it here.

Outfit #5:

I promise you will see my head.  The first two you don't, but trust me, the faces I was making were just plain stupid and not even in a "cute" way.

Dress: Mimi Maternity, Size Small.  Honestly, this company of the three "big" ones was my favorite.  They ran a bit edgier, and were less expensive than Pea in the Pod.  Also, Motherhood runs really big, so often there size extra-small tops were too big on me.  Mimi was just the right fit.  Clearly they weren't the right fit for everyone else, though.  Sad!  This is a poly-blend and is darn comfy. 

CW is holding Rex's Saints pillow pet.  This was a Sunday that they were going to play in one of their playoff games.  Unfortunately for my favorite Saints cheerleader (she has a cutie pie toddler cheerleader outfit), they are done for the season.  (Mr. Dina is the most sad, obviously.  I am sad, too, as if they had made it to the Superbowl I could have visited one of my best friends in the whole world, who happens to live fairly close to Indianapolis.)

We were headed to church that day, btw.

The rest of the outfit is non-maternity.

Jacket: J. Crew Velvet Bella Jacket in Leaf Green, Size 4.  Definitely not doing up in the front, but still "fits" in the shoulders.
Tights: Assets.
Shoes: Madewell, Handbook Pumps, Size 9.5.  Oh, man, the first day I wore these (not here, fwiw), I almost keeled over from the pain.  However, now that I have worn them a bit more, they are more comfortable.  They are really cute, though, and worth the work.  They have sold out--except size 9--on Madewell, but they are worth the sale price (I got it with around 30% off extra) of around $90.  They also have a chunky heel (like the Sam & Libby pumps in the Asian dress outfit), but a much more modern cone shape.

There's my head making a fairly non-stupid face.  :)  Glasses can bring out the crazy face in me, not sure why, but when I take photos with my glasses, I often look silly.

Outfit #6:

We were headed out to dinner as a family, again.  (But remember, this post covers two whole months, so we don't go out that much.  Promise.  Hand on heart.  I make a mean casserole, fwiw.)

Dress: Pea in the Pod, Size small.  I bought this while pregnant with CW.  I have a very distinct memory of wearing this on the first day back to school two weeks before I gave birth to her.  I definitely did not have to wear it with tights, fur-lined boots, and a long cardigan.  It was cold the night I wore this.
Cardigan: J. Crew Soft Tee Cardigan, Size Small.  This is such a cozy cardi, wrinkles like crazy, but often just the perfect topper.
Tights: George (Wal-Mart), Size 3.  THE SADNESS.  After my LONG LONG run (sorry for the pun, btw) with no tights getting holes, etc., these awesome pair of tights bit the dust.  But not because the tights suck.  It was the boots fault!  As much as I love these boots, the zipper did catch on the tights as I was taking the boots off.  Having said that, I am thrilled to report that the boots fit perfectly now.  You can read more on that saga here.
Boots: J. Crew, Charley Shearling Wedge Boots, Size 9.5.  ON SALE.  RIGHT NOW.  They were 30% off extra yesterday, but will likely make it to the next 30% off again.  I (shh) re-bought as I am WELL within the 60 day return policy.  I didn't pay a ton for them initially (had received a 30% off), but um, $125 versus $275?  Yep, I will re-buy and return.  Since I rarely do this, I feel like I can get away with it this time (and you all do it, too, I know you do...you all admit it constantly over at the mothership).  :)

I did a review of the boots here.

Haha, look at Rex in that photo.  Love the look.

Rex perked up when I took off the cardigan.

For those of you following my story on the Rex front (was having issues with discipline in December), it is all coming around.  The book "The Explosive Child" has been a godsend.  Seriously.  I can't say that it will always be wonderful and he still gives us issues, but with the emphasis being on working with Rex to learn how to better communicate what he is feeling, there has been a major mood shift in the house.  (And school!  And out and about!)  It takes time and a WHOLE lot of patience and understanding and loss of pride on my part, but omg, so worth it.

Okay, you all made it to the end.  If I had "virtual" star stickers to give out, I would hand one to each of you.  LOL.

I promise...the next theme posts won't be as involved.  I just waited far too long to get around to these.  ;)

On "Target" with Maternity Stripes.

Oh, man.  I couldn't stop myself with that title.  LOL.  Most of you pregnant ladies (or have been pregnant ladies) will know this, but for those of you not aware...besides supplying the United States with easily accessible cheap fashion (Missoni, Liberty of London, etc.), really cheap and cute children's clothing (Circo, Gwen Stefani's new line, etc.), and endless supplies of groceries and adorable homewares that break after a season, Target also supplies pregnant ladies with their own line of clothing, Liz Lange for Target. 

So get it?  On "Target?"  Okay, I'll stop now.

Anyhow, I loved this outfit and plan to exactly replicate it at least once more this pregnancy and then, even though (God willing!) I will have a smaller torso and belly area, I will totally do the look again after pregnancy with the sweater as a tunic.  That is how much I heart this striped sweater/free French scarf/Hue leggings/Target Ballet flats combo.

I was doing the preschool run last week and had bought the sweater as a way of perking myself up (Target is really good at perking me up, anyone else?)...by the end of the trip I felt yards better.

I knew it was true love because the next time I went to preschool I wore the sweater, a mere two days later.  (I rarely let anything I really love wait that long to be worn...)

Anyhow, the sweater does have stripes and as Mr. Dina so kindly pointed out, "it makes you look REALLY pregnant," in the end, I am REALLY pregnant, so happily me and my ginormous Gus belly made our way through the day.

Sweater: Liz Lange for Target, Size Small.  Liz Lange for Target can run big, so definitely try it on before purchasing if you can.  This is one of the few tops I own from her line that isn't an x-small.

Leggings: Hue, Size Medium (I think?).  Bought from Anthro, these are just a nice staple to have.  These seem pretty big as I could hitch them up over my belly, which I can't do with my other leggings (I have to wear them below the belly).

Scarf: Gotta Love The European Magazine Freebie Giveaway...Lolita Lempicka Poly Square Scarf.  A score that I found in the November issue of French Marie Claire.  CW has actually worn it too.  :)

Back when, way back when, in the late '90s, this style scarf was all the rage and I still have all my small square scarves from then...I would really like this style to make a comeback, love the look and instantly dresses an outfit up.  I like big scarves, but wow, they are a tad overwhelming with some outfits.  This one was the exact right size for this look.

Shoes: Mossimo Venda Flats, Size 9.5.  Adorable shoes that "spoke" to me on the day of the sad preschool run/ Target makes me happy day.  They were $25, but I had a $25 gift card (thanks, Dad!), so they were FREE!  LOL.

Close-up of the scarf and sweater.

Oh, yeah.  Definitely the stripes enhance the baby belly.  But look at the cute embellishments on the Venda flats.  Darling!

A Target Striped Score! by dinagideon featuring liz lange maternity

Above is the polyvore.  :)

You all have a great night.  This momma-to-be has some 30 Rock to enjoy.  Yay DVR. 

Boden Weekly Review Roundup: Lots and Lots of Everything!

Hi, all!

I had so hoped to have this up earlier than right now, but today definitely got away from me...let's see...ballet, then lunch, then playdate, then no nap (ugh), and finally four seconds with Mr. Dina before he went to a movie with a friend (guess who gets to put the kids to bed?).

Anyhow, I promise the wait is worth it. We have a few new arrival IRL photos and reviews AND quite a few sale item reviews. :)

So let's get started.

But before I do that, let me just let you know that I still have not heard from my Boden affiliate program regarding the snafu of my 15% coupon in my sidebar leading folks to the British site instead of the US site. Eep. So until then, I am giving all of you the same advice I gave on Sunday (it seems to work perfectly this way, so yay for that)...

1. Instead of using the sidebar link, use an item stock photo (like the ones littered throughout this roundup) to get to the Boden USA site.

2. Click on that photo which will take you to the US item page. There will be NO discount applied, but no worries.

3. Once on the site, click on the shopping bag icon which will take you to the shopping bag page itself.

4. On that page, locate the code box (it is on the lower left hand side), and put in this code AF29 (which is what the affiliate link had as the code when I tried it last week). This code is for 15% off and free ship/returns. If you have another code, you can use it there as well.

(If this doesn't work for you, DEFINITELY let us know!) Thanks!

Okay, so let's get this roundup started...

SPRING 2012 WOMEN:

Plait Trim Top.  I had alluded to this in the last post how much I adore this top, but I really heart it now.  From what I can tell from the Boden USA reviews on this top, I am definitely not alone.  There is something wonderful about the soft slubby cotton combined with the length and the unique design and braided neckline.

One caveat, though...this is an awful lot of look.  As you can tell, I wore very muted pants (Duo Maternity) and shoes (Uggs Rain shoes--it was coming down that morning) with the top so I didn't look like I escaped from Margaritaville in the middle of January.

Close-up of the braiding and print.  The seams are perfect everywhere and the braiding is held on very securely.  In this climate of cutting corners on what is slowly becoming a disposable climate, Boden is holding true to its quality edict.  I truly appreciate it...I have so many items from other retailers where I have to eggshell walk around them in order to keep them from being destroyed after one wearing.  Good on you, Johnnie B.

The bonus with this top?  It stretches just enough to go from "longer top" while not pregnant to "utterly perfect" maternity normal top.  LOVE.  And the baby bump looks kind of cute all gussied (pun not intended, but awesome that my tired bleeping brain managed to make it) up!

From the back.  So you know, I purchased a size US 6, which is plenty big enough everywhere.  I think at my thinnest "non-pregnant" weight, I might consider a US 4, but eh, it's all good.  If you are smaller on top, I would say if you want to size down, you probably can.

BTW, Mr. Dina really liked this top, so I guess that's a guy's thumbs up.  ;)


Plait Trim Top. I adore all the colors, but don't plan on buying anymore...the one I have is plenty, but I would love to see the other hues on others!!!

Textured Cotton Skirt.  Oh, the pretty taunting little vixen you are.  Sigh.  She is exactly what I love, bright colored pattern on a classic shape like a pencil skirt.  Unfortunately the love affair ended when I realized that she has no fit similarity to last year's big winner of the same named skirt.  I loved last year's so much that I bought two colors, both navy and fudge.  Measurement wise, only the length and waist were the same.  The hips on this one (SIZE 8 LONG) were teeny, measuring at most 39 inches.  Yikes.  I have no problem wearing a size 10 or 12, if that is what I need, but to name the skirt the same as last year's and then vary the sizing that much is just cruel.  Ugh.

So I have re-ordered the 10 Long, and with luck, I hope to measure the hips and find a measurement more closely resembling last year's version...about 40.5 would be plenty (that is what my J. Crew pencil skirts all have, fwiw).

I did manage to get this pulled up over my hips, but it was very tight.  My hip measurement has not changed much since getting pregnant as Gus has been sitting so high (see the plait trim top review), so I can confidently assert this skirt is running small.  (And so the other reviews state...phew, not alone.  And they aren't with child either, if that makes a difference, lol.)

So SIZE UP if you have larger hips.  Trust me.


Textured Cotton Skirt. I received a comment from a blog friend who said nearly the same thing as me: Just received the textured cotton skirt in gray and the sizing is AWFUL. I've never worn a 6 skirt, but that's what I'll need. And I likely won't get it until May. So aggravating. I was a 2 in dresses last year and one in cotton (not stretchy) fit a bit snugly so I decided to play it safe and size up to 4 in the skirt and tailor down if needed. I definitely need a 6, though the waist will be huge. So disappointing because the skirt is gorgeous. The gray and black color would make it wearable in March in NC and I can see it with white, peach or aqua on top for warm weather. (THANK YOU, MARY G--GREAT REVIEW!)


Border Print Tunic.  I have received mine, and find that the size 6 I bought is lovely, but have not yet had a chance to wear it, so I will hold off my review till next week...that said, the very cool Ema of My Closet, My Baby, and I did a in-depth review of this tunic last week.  :)  This looks like it may be a popular choice, just like last year's Terazzo Tunic.

SALE ITEMS:

Animal Bow Flats.  The wonderful Molly (of the blog My Closet Travels) e-mailed me a few IRL photos of items that I currently have and love.  :)  I see the love is mutual for Boden's use of leopard print this year.

Anyhow, she says of these flats: The Leopard flat, Size 37, these ran a wee bit big so I bought insoles for them. They fit great now and are so comfortable. I am amazed at the level of comfort with these particular shoes. Once the snow is done flying I'll be wearing these shoes a lot.

I ordered a size 41, which is supposedly my "tts" Boden size, but for me, it varies.  A lot.  :)  The clincher on these working so well for me is because they are long and narrow.  (I need narrow A LOT more than long...I have freaky skinny feet.)

Leopard Tote and Fab Wallet.  Molly did what I did and purchased the wallet to match the bag.  I think they really do work so nicely together, and the plus being that the wallet can work well on its own, as well.  I love the grey here, and had the tan completely sold out and I couldn't have gotten the combo I did, I would have been more than happy with the grey versions.  Very pretty!

Molly says of these: The bag and wallet. LOVE!! I first saw your pics in Paris with the other color way and loved it immediately. I waited patiently for a discount and bought it at 20% back in December. It took over 4 wks to arrive but it was worth the wait. I have rec'd tons of compliments all wanting to know where I bought it and then people asked me about Boden. It's roomy and holds my wallet, calendar, make up bag and all the other essentials a girl needs in there bag. I love that it snaps at top so I don't worry about it being open or things falling out.

Fab Wallet (close-up).  Molly added this detail shot and also included a bit more on this item specifically: What I like about the wallet it that it has lots of room for credit cards, license, money, coins and other stuff I stick in there. It's chic and a real conversation piece just like the tote.


Animal Bow Pumps (heehee, definitely a British thing, flats are pumps).


Leopard Tote.


Fab Wallet.

Molly wanted to add one more bit of info, on Boden in general: Why Boden now? I guess because I read your reviews faithfully and because I wanted a change. I still love J Crew but I was ready for something different. The patterns, the colors, the fabric, WOW! Beautiful. I wish they could ship quicker than 3 wks but like you I'd say it's worth waiting for and these are items that not everyone owns.

THANK YOU, Molly! Great reviews and I 100% agree regarding Boden's niche impact on a market that desperately needs something a bit more unique. ;)  (And let's hear it for more items being shipped from Pittston, PA, please!)



Embellished Cashmere Cardigan and Ruffle Front Dress.  I wore these two together out on the town for lunch with the family.  :)  I felt good, which is saying a lot for a mom of two (almost three) who is definitely nearing saturation level on this pregnancy.  (So tired, so so tired.  God bless Gus sitting right there on my diaphragm, preventing the luscious embrace of deep sleep.)

You all have a great night.  Enjoy the new arrivals as they come in...and yay for anything that makes us feel wonderful, no matter what the day might bring.  ;)