Friday, October 2, 2009

A Tale of a Perfect Purple Pencil Skirt...

This post is dedicated to AppGal, who really is interested in the purple perfect pencil skirt. There has been a lot of buzz with all of us J. Crew Aficionadas about this season's perfect pencil skirt...and I admit to falling hard into this crewlade. J. Crew is REALLY gifted at making a pencil skirt. I think I own ten separate pencil skirts, and even though some were bought when I was a bit bigger, I love them so much that I have altered them so I can still wear them. (BTW, that alteration is really easy and pretty cheap to do at your local tailor.)

There are so many women who have reviewed this skirt, that I don't have the time right now to list them all (but if you would be so kind to let me know you reviewed it in the comments so I can later update this post, I would be most appreciative). I have to substitute teach in about an hour, so I have to make this quick!


Here is the polyvore for this outfit.


This is how I wore this outfit. I had originally styled it with a patent belt in dusty rose (to match the heels), but Mr. Dina did not like it very much, and I really didn't think it added all that much, so I took it off. (But if you would like to see it, look at the next photo.)

This cardigan is NOT the one pictured in the polyvore. I bought this cardigan from TJ Maxx about a month ago, and I LOVE it. It is a merino cardigan by Willi Smith. This is a beautiful pattern and really goes very nicely with the amber cami underneath, and is a nice contrast color to the plum in the skirt. The dusty rose pumps are a great neutral (or at least act like it in this outfit). I was going to church, so I knew I had to be fairly conservative, but let me tell you all, if you buy this skirt in the absolute right size (not too big and not too small), you can ABSOLUTELY make this skirt into the perfect party skirt. I bought this skirt in a six. I normally prefer skirts to be a little loose, but I feel like if you go too big in a pencil skirt the effect of its nature, the body hugging it is meant to do, gets terribly lost. I sometimes will buy one size too big with the intention of nipping in the waist but leaving a little room in the hips, but I did NOT do this with this skirt. When I tried on this skirt in a size six, it just felt perfect...and I truly think it still is! (And, this may shock you all, but it was very very comfortable to wear, even when at church and holding one or both children at the same time!)

So, I HIGHLY recommend this skirt, and I would say either get your normal size or even go to your limits and get a size smaller...trust me!

By the way, buy the perfect pencil skirt here. (Eventually I will buy the blue and cinnamon colors, but I am waiting a bit...need more money...)


Here it is styled with the dusty rose belt. Eh...

Have a nice weekend. I plan on commenting back on all my past posts this weekend. There will be a post of two but they will probably be pics of kids or clouds or some such...

27 comments:

Meli said...

that skirt is the perfect length for you! love it! :)

AppGal said...

oh yay! Thank you SO MUCH for this post! This is perfect on you. I love the purple and yellow pairing. I'm going to have to get this eventually. Not now thanks to stupid clothing budgets (I'm pretty sure I need a bigger clothing budget than hubby...HELLO! women's clothing costs way more! And we NEED clothing more than men! sigh.) However, rest assured that this will be mine the next time I get some extra money OR it goes on sale. Preferably while I still have my free shipping promo! Thanks again!

Unknown said...

Oh yeah, baby, you look hawt! This is sooo perfect for you. Me loveth.

Emily said...

I second Gigi, you look hot! I love those colors together and I lov ethat you are not afraid to wear color!

HeidiG said...

Yay, purple pencil pics!! Love it on you. Fun pairing with the amber & dusty rose pumps. Love it.

Cate said...

LOVE the skirt!! I also love the yellow purple combo!

A Bigger Closet said...

I love this outfit on you Dina. You look gorgeous in those colors! :)

TarHeelMom (formerly JCAUNCMom) said...

Dina, what a gorgeous outfit -- and a color combo I wouldn't have thought of!! It really looks phenomenal on you!

I have a question for you and your followers about the pencil skirts. I'm only 5'4" (and short-shinned, as you all may remember from my blog). The pencil skirts hit me just below the knee -- a VERY unflattering look. I've been thinking of ordering one in a petite to see if it would work, in lieu of getting the regular size hemmed. Have any of y'all done that, and if so do you find that the petites fit all right in the hips, etc.? Are they simply shorter?? Thanks for any advice on this, ladies!!!

Pamela said...

You did it again-great color combo! I love J.Crew's pencil skirts and know I trust them to get it right 99.9% of the time
(no one's perfect!;) )
That color is great and the length is perfect.

prince snow farm said...

I REALLY like this outfit on you...and I think I prefer it without the belt, just like the Mr. Hope subbing was uneventful!

JKW said...

Thanks for the excellent review. While I've been disappointed with the decline in quality at J. Crew these past couple of years, I must say that I've never had a pencil skirt from them that I didn't absolutely love. I agree with others that you did a great job with the colors in this outfit. That Willi Smith sweater is awesome - love that print! Hmm, I wonder if my T.J. Maxx store has that....

jcmama said...

I love the color combo...so chic and you look radiant! Thanks for the skirt sizing.

Drewablank said...

You are perfection in this purple perfect pencil skirt outfit! :) 'Miss you!

Summerilla said...

You look G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S! I'm really loving this color combination.

Also - I got a super awesome item in the mail this week from JCrew. Hopefully I'll get to blog about it soon!!

Cloggsy said...

The skirt looks freaking awesome on you!

Rachel said...

That is the best outfit ever!!! I like the belt but I like it just as much w/o it.

Megan said...

Love the purple, Love the skirt!

C said...

I do not always like bright color combinations, but this looks really nice and the yellows are a good accent to your hair....it looks spring-like, but I know it is getting warm here in the northeast again, and no pressing need for deep fall colors.

Anonymous said...

JCAUNCMom

I wear a size 6 in this skirt and it fits perfectly, except for the fact that I have short legs!! When it hits below the knee, I look dowdy. I ordered the double serge last year in 8P and it is perfect. I do the same for pants. I can wear size 6 at J. Crew for shorts and capris, but I order a 8P for long pants.

Dina,
you look great in this outfit. I like the picture with the belt too. It dresses the outfit up even more. You are so adventurous with color!!

Tippy said...

i LOVE this skirt! i have yet to order it because I wanted to try it on in person, but I think i will just stick to my normal size and get it already lol

have a good weekend!!!

Beth said...

I love the goldy color on you. The skirt is BEAUTIFUL!!
I really like this outfit on you. Wowza. Your hair is shorter? Looks nice.
:)

Beth

Cleo said...

Beautiful!! I love this outfit on you -- the fit, choice of color, everything.

I think i know just how i'm going to use the gift card the DC JCAs gave me... :)

JCAUNCMom: I find the fit of the petite skirts to be shorter as well as more slender. Though my "short-shinned" measurement calls for about 1.5 inch adjustment, i like the petite skirt sizing better. (I can't do petites in pants.) I could go for regular sizes and have the length shortened, but the waist always tends to be a little loose. The petite contours to my waist better. Note that the petite length of this skirt is 22 inches, two inches shorter than the regular length. For me, the skirt would be perfect at 22.5 or 23 inches. :)

amy kelinda said...

You look fabulous in that skirt! I love J.Crew's pencil skirts and definitely need more, haha! I agree that the belt isn't needed, your outfit looks so so perfect without it. LOVE!

GingerSnap said...

OMG! You are a vision! First, I love you in this outfit...darling! I also wanted to say that I have that cardi (love it!) - and the garland cami (different color) but I love the idea of pairing them together. Do I sense a new outfit to wear to the cardi party??? I think so!

I also wanted to say that I like your outfit both ways, but I have to admit that I like the belted look even more! I think sometimes men don't get the "fashion" aspect of belting things, but you really look amazing in this outfit! I have not tried the JC pencil skirts yet, but I did just order those patent mid-heels in the light blue! Can't wait!

Leslie672 said...

I love this skirt on you, and wow, the color pairing is great! Thank you for your recommendation on "sizing down" with this skirt: You are so correct that the fit is better when going down a size. I couldn't believe it, it fit really really well! This is actually the second time I use your advice - the first was on double-cotton serge skirt, which I got after I read your review and saw fab pictures; I wore it to death this summer. So... thank you again, and I look forward to more of your reviews!!

Anonymous said...

Two words~GORRRRRR-GESSSSSSS!
:)

dinagideon said...

Hi, all!!! I am SO glad this helped some of you who may have been on the fence decide whether or not to purchase the skirt, and if so, what size, etc. :) YAY! (These review posts are among my favorites because I know a lot of you may benefit from seeing the items on a real body, not just the lovely and talented and VERY thin J. Crew models...)

I can't answer all comments (I am SO tired...it is almost 11 pm here and I need sleep...babies and sleeping are such an "interesting" notion round here), but I can answer the questions...

Have a great night, all.

AppGal: Yes, women need a larger clothing budget than men, unless you are in a reverse relationship (and I have known a few guys who outdress their ladies, but they are rare, for sure). ;)

JCAUNCmom: I am so glad the other ladies chimed in as I have ZERO experience with petite bottoms (and rightly so, because I would look amazingly stupid in petite bottoms...for sure). I hope they helped you decide what you should do!!!

Drewablank: Miss you, too, darling...

Leader: Thank you for your help...very very good advice you gave!!! :)

Cleo26: Yes, that is a great idea...you will look fierce! (Oh, and thanks for chiming in on sizing advice, too...)

Gingersnap: Ooh, great outfit idea! I also adore that you have the same cardigan. It is so nice, isn't it?

Leslie672: I am SO happy this helped you. YAY! I bet you look great...doesn't it *just* hug the body PERFECTLY? (Now I am afraid to gain any weight...good reason to stick to my diet and work out plan...hahaha.) J. Crew=Successful Diet? Who would have known?