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).

Shh...It's A (Sort of) Secret...

Hi! I have some fantastic fun things to share with you this lovely weekend!


Stripe Sequin Boatneck Tee--My #1 favorite from the items I saw this morning during my hunt. Yes, I did place this in my shopping cart (see below the polyvore for more info on ordering it).


Swann Ruffled Shirtdress--More like hot mess, in my opinion. Wow. That is a lot of ruffles. I guess if you really wanted to wear this wedding dress, but you were already married, J. Crew is now giving you the opportunity of a lifetime. Snicker.

Shh... by dinagideon on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Sequin fleur dress - J.Crew, $795
Sequin fleur dress - J.Crew, $500
Sequin skirt - J.Crew, $400
Women's Women_Feature_Assortment - pre-order styles - Swinton sequin..., $395
Women's Women_Feature_Assortment - pre-order styles - Grecian moon..., $300

Okay, now onto the real stuff...

Please don't mention this set or the blog post over at the Mothership...aka J. Crew Aficionada. Yesterday, the lovely Silver Lining let us know about some items that were hidden at jcrew.com and then not fifteen to twenty minutes later, they were gone from the site. Because I had read her comment, I knew of their "existence," but had not seem them myself. So this morning, I did a couple of minutes of hunting, and these are all items I found.

They say they are in "pre-order," but I was very much able to add the items to my shopping cart. I placed the neon pink striped sequin top in the cart, as well as the knotted starfish dress. After added to the cart, it said they were "in-stock," so who really knows? :)

To view all the items, click on the polyvore and then on the individual items and it should take you to a link to get to the actual item at jcrew.com.

Have fun browsing!

For Those That Are Curious: An IRL Photo of the Pima Cotton Agadir Top.

I purchased a size small and from what you can see from the photo above, it is a bit loose, and a bit wide, and a bit long, but I like this top for the simple reason that I feel like I am just a bit more dressy when I wear it (and I only ever wear it at home). I think I would have normally still been in my pjs on the day this photo was taken, but decided "nah, let's wear something so that if the UPS guy comes to the door, he won't have to avert his eyes if he sees me in it." So I put on this top, with its darling neon-threaded button-holes, and a pair of my navy minnies (super-duper comfortable--yet more chic than my flannel loose fit pj pants), and because it was a touch cold that day (probably early March), I threw on my shearling lined slippers (yes, they are nice and toasty).

I could have gotten away with a size extra-small, it would have been more fitted in the shoulders and through the waist, and definitely shorter, but I am okay with the size I got...I guess it is all about what you want from this top. If you want a loose, fun top to be a SAHM in, then maybe buy your normal size and enjoy the slouchy fit. If you are looking to wear this to work or to go out with friends, get it a size smaller and cinch it with a belt or tuck it into a pencil skirt.

I hope that helped some of you.

Catch out more opinions and reviews at the mothership: J.Crew Aficionada: Product Review: Pima Cotton Agadir Top.

Seems Boden is the J. Crew of the U.K.--(Or So Says this Article...)

Even dinagideon isn't this daring...

Because I always have time on my hands (I seem to hold CW a lot these days...btw, she is feeling a bit better), I need to keep myself occupied, yet have something to keep me amused while my little ones sleep or eat or whatever. So I do really random searches in Google Images on clothing I own. Yes, I just admitted that. I like to see what other people look like in my clothing, and I am always on the hunt for more images to clip to polyvore.

Tonight, I searched "fun skirt Boden" over at Google Images, and lo and behold, I found the image at the top of this post.

But it got even better...this lady is a journalist over at Britain's Daily Mail, and she wrote an article about HOW INSANELY POPULAR Boden is with a certain set of women (even elevating what they do to a cult--love it)...women who get onto mumsnet and figure out how to meet up and shop for Boden, or talk about Boden, or talk about when Boden is going to have a sale, etc. Hmm...sounds a whole lot like J. Crew Aficionada. Wow. So even though over here in the United States there are only a few of us diehard fans of Boden (and even less of us who actually blog about it), it seems we would be in good company across the Atlantic.

And I suspect they would adore us, too. After all, we know a few things about waiting with bated breath for a sale. Heehee.

Enjoy the article...here. Have a nice night, all.

Shopping plus Lunch in the Schoolboy Blazer is Perfection!

If you read Summerilla's blog, Sum Sunshine, then you already know that a whole bunch of us ladies decided to get together and shop and lunch this weekend. She did a great write-up of the event, so I won't spend too much time on the details, but it was perfection. I am so glad that I met these lovely ladies through the mothership (thank you for the name, gigiofca). I now have so many friends...I feel utterly fortunate every day that they are in my life. (Our friendships have grown so much that we now hang out even when we have nothing "J. Crew" to share.)

You also got to see me wearing "Jenna's picks" in the picture (at the bottom of the post) that Summer took of me. Man, was that an outfit! I actually really like the individual pieces on their own, but together, HOT MESS action. And this whole sweatpants as dressier wear? Not for this SAHM. ;)



Shopping and Lunch! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Here is the polyvore of the outfit I wore on Sunday. The schoolboy blazer was one of my purchases at the Arden clearance center. The only negative thing I have to say about the blazer? It is a LINT MAGNET. But I have a feeling no matter where you got the blazer from it would be a lint magnet, so I feel okay about it.

BTW, those shoes are the luscious Alessia peep-toes in spearmint. They are SO comfortable. You know I have them in grey and the root color, now I have them in spearmint thanks to my other boyfriend, Herr Ebay (just kidding, Mr. Dina).


The very lovely and wonderful HeidiG. decided to meet me at my house that morning, and then I would drive her to the mall in my car. It was nice having the company because I desperately hate driving by myself (I feel like such a weird-o admitting this).

I think it is kind of cool how HeidiG. and I were contrasts, me with the heels, denim, and the shorter blazer, and HeidiG. with the flats, minnies, and the longer library Shawl collar cardigan. BTW, I am only HeidiG.'s height because I have two inch heels on...at 5'8", I am two inches shorter than her normally. :)

I also want to point out that I am wearing the pastiche necklace in the rose gold color. I am so glad I bought it, I have worn it many times...so its full-price cost was worth it, in my opinion. I tend to wear necklaces, though, every darn day, so that does make a difference.

Have a nice day, all. I will try not to get too saturated here in wet-wonderland.

J. Crew Clearance Center, Arden, NC...It Is as Awesome as it Should Be!!!

I have to be fairly quick in this post, but I definitely want to give you the highlights of my trip to the Arden, NC, J. Crew Clearance Store. There is a closer store to me in Lynchburg, VA, but that is still about a 2.5 hour drive, so I have never been there (but do plan on it someday...hopefully with some of my DC JCA friends). My hubby was down in Asheville, NC, for a conference at the GORGEOUS Grove Park Inn and Spa, and he decided that he needed his family around, so the three of us tagged along. :)

I certainly enjoyed Asheville to its fullest, and even got to go the very yummy Tupelo Honey while I was there...AppGal, you were SO right about its delicious menu, but I knew that at least part of the time I was there I would HAVE to go 20 miles outside of the city to visit the smaller enclave of Arden. I mean, yes, I did visit it mainly for me, but I also knew I would have my JCA blogroll place revoked by Alexis if I didn't go to this clearance center and report back my findings. So you all know, AppGal has been there before and did a very nice write-up of her experience, as well.

Turns out we had kind of different experiences while visiting. (Granted, AppGal visited at a different time of year...so that may be why she found less "deals" and I found less shoes to ogle.)

I found a lot of tempting goodies in my hour or so there. I have created a polyvore for you all to peruse so you can see the details, but let me put it to you this way...if you are ever in western North Carolina for any reason, and you are travelling I-40, stop by. It is worth the 20 extra miles or so off the highway.

Here are some things I want you all to know:

1. Your GPS can find this location (1 Clifford Way, Arden, NC). It is not that far off the beaten path. However, if on the way back to your hotel or location you request "no highways," you may very well end up driving on a mountain on a tiny-a** little road. Yes, this happened to me. Alexandria has very few hills. I was actually told by my realtor to avoid buying a place near a fairly steep hill (what we here in NOVA call hills) because of my fear of hills. It was an interesting drive back to the hotel. I obviously survived, no thanks to Miss "I drive these here mountains all the time" teenage girl willing to tailgate me on the entire drive on the mountain.

2. If you have kids, the clearance store has toys. Oh, yes they do. Thank you, very very kind people of this center for thinking of all of us mommies whose toddlers may recognize J. Crew (and shout "ooh, J. Crew momma" from the back of the car) but really don't enjoying shopping at said J. Crew. :)

3. Speaking of kids, they have crewcuts. Not very recent crewcuts, but crewcuts nonetheless. I bought three items. Two from spring 2009 and one from fall 2007.

4. They are NOT an outlet. Everything they sell is from the actual "J. Crew" retail store. There are no double diamonds, etc.

5. If you ever see a really good price for something on ebay, and it has a mysterious designation of "tag marked with a black line to prevent returns," the person selling it has bought it either from the J. Crew Clearance Center (Paisley Petunia, an Ebay store I adore, does sell these things, and if you look, they are from Virginia, so they probably buy their items from the Lynchburg clearance center) or from TJ Maxx or Rugged Wearhouse.

6. It is probably worth buying these items with the tagged marked to prevent returns, because the clearance stores do NOT do charge-sends, as one of my blog friends tried when she saw the great deal I got on the stadium-cloth Winnie Jacket. The two Winnies that I purchased (one for me and one for HeidiG.) had nary a thing wrong with them (and the other items--nothing wrong there, either). Turns out that sometimes the retail stores get returns and instead of going to the warehouse, some of them get sent to the clearance store. Why current items go there is beyond me, but, hey, it worked out for us in the end! I am sure some of the items have issues, but I didn't see anything on the items I looked at (and I am a very careful observer...I have to be frugal with my money now as a SAHM/sometimes substitute teacher).

7. One place you will see the "black line through tag to prevent store returns" means that the item may potentially have an issue is at places like TJMaxx or Rugged Wearhouse. I have seen items at these stores that are from J. Crew that have missing buttons or a seam that is wonky, etc. But that said, I bought a Super 120s Black two-button jacket in a size 4 at Rugged Wearhouse that had a button missing. That was all. And it cost $25. Down from $235.

8. The hours at the clearance store seem super-friendly, like 10 am to 8 pm on M-Sat., and 12-6 on Sundays (maybe...didn't check Sunday hours as closely).

9. The staff were very sweet and helpful. I think they liked my kids. :)


Here I am outside the store. I had to take the pic myself, so don't laugh too hard. It wasn't like I could get CW to take it for me. :) I am wearing the Liberty print button-down from last spring, the pewter one with the big florals on it. I saw NO liberty print items that day...sadly.

Untitled by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Items in this set:
J Crew jacket, $245
J Crew jacket, $178
J Crew hoodie, $70
J Crew top, $158
J Crew tote bag, $298

Here is the polyvore of what I did get. Note--the cashmere cardi is actually a paler, heathered silver color that is just divine with my skin tone (I normally can't wear greys very well, so I was pleased to find this). Another thing, that navy schoolboy blazer? I bought it in an 8, and the 8 is BACKORDERED until sometime next year. Crazy. And the sherpa hoodie? I had bought it in the same color and same size just last week, and knew it would be on my doorstep, but for $30, I knew this was a great price, so I just chanced it. Turns out it is THE SAME exact hoodie, just 40 dollars cheaper. Yes. That is all. I am returning the new one this weekend. The one with the black mark through the tag--it's the keeper for me.

I wish I could get to a Clearance Center every weekend and help more people out (HeidiG. seemed pretty happy to hear I scored her a Winnie for well under retail), but not in my cards...however, I will make sure that anytime I am on I-40, I take a tiny little detour to the west to Arden. :)

Questions? I should be able to answer sometime tomorrow (along with commenting back on my last two posts).

Uh, Oh, J. Crew is in TROUBLE. (A.K.A. Boden's Spring 2010 Collection is AWESOME!)

I am back. Sort of. I don't have much time tonight to actually do any real business on my blog, but I did want to announce something. And that is that J. Crew is probably going to make very little money from me this spring if the way things are looking actually come true in reality. After a very spirited discussion at J. Crew Aficionada about the preview of the Spring Collection 2010, I was unsure if anything being offered by J. Crew will suit me and my personality. I tend to gravitate to the bright, bubbly, printed fabrics, and it seems that J. Crew's spring collection may not have a lot of what I normally love. And, being fair, maybe that is okay...I can try new things and styles, right? I am flexible and I do LOVE clothing.

But then Johnnie Boden struck again...and being the Boden Aficionada that I am, I couldn't resist taking a sneak peek at his spring collection 2010. And yep, it is confirmed...I AM IN LOVE with Boden's spring collection 2010.

You know what is crazy? I got a fairly non-descript e-mail from Boden announcing the collection, along with a 20% off offer (and free shipping and returns). I ALMOST DELETED THE DARN E-MAIL. If anyone at Boden is reading this, you may want your e-mails to be a tad less subtle.

Swoon. Look at this GORGEOUS linen Printed Tunic. The play of mod florals with such fantastic hues of olive and pink? If I didn't know better, I would think this was a resort piece from Tory Burch or Lilly Pulitzer. Nope, just an 88 dollar piece by Boden. Yes, I will be getting this. Can you imagine a world where I wouldn't? I just wish they had a mini-Boden piece like this so I could get CW her own version!

Untitled by dinagideon on Polyvore.com

I also made a polyvore, because I had to let my peeps in the "Boden is Bodacious" polyvore group know about all the FINE items on offer.

Hope that some of you who are beyond disappointed with the lackluster spring J. Crew is offering (sorry, Mickey, I tried to love) are gonna join me in the parade of AWESOME across the pond. Thank you, Mr. Boden. You have delivered us what spring should be: Sunshine and Happiness!

So, Yes, This Was Unexpected, But I'll Take 'Em...aka Heirloom Flora Earrings for a Tired Momma...

BTW, as you are reading this (provided you read it tonight 10/5/09), I am attempting (or so I hope--Baby CW is being VERY NEEDY) to finish commenting back...I feel terrible for not commenting sooner, but I truly promise it isn't because I don't want to...it is because my family makes it kind of hard to find the time I need...I actually can publish posts faster than I can comment (probably because posts are just me talking to myself, which I find really easy...go ahead, make fun, I know, I know...).

ONTO THE UNEXPECTED:

I call my bro this afternoon to check on the babies, and after confirming that they were in fact, alive and napping (lucky Peter), I asked him if I got any mail, and he confirms that yes, I did get a white, small package. Yes, it appears that, I, dinagideon, was a recipient of the much discussed earrings over at J. Crew Aficionada. Hmmm...and dinagideon begins the speculation.

#1--I received it under my maiden name, not my married name (which you all will never ever know...gotta have one thing I keep quiet). Now I have not made many purchases under my maiden name in a long time, but a lot of my correspondence happens with my maiden name, including a lot of the stuff I do with this blog. Hmm...

#2--My personal shopper knows my married name...it is on my credit card info...but the e-mail I use to discuss stuff with her is under my maiden name.

#3--I used to receive two catalogs in the mail, one for my married name and one for my maiden name (I know, get the act together, J. Crew), but now I only receive one for my MARRIED name, so I thought that J. Crew only knew me as my married name (and HAD indeed gotten their act together).

#4--I don't know. I just don't know. Hmmm...

#5--No free shipping code...hmmm...

#6--The earrings are BEAUTIFUL, so regardless, I am enamored. In fact, I love them so much that I wore them this afternoon to Border's Bookstore and received a compliment on them from one of the sales people. (And my bro, he REALLY likes them...) So, however I received them, thank you, J. Crew. Very cool.

#7--That said, what is the impetus? I really want all cardholders to receive this. I think, like has been said over at JCA, the "perks" of being a cardholder should be unconditional, like at Banana Republic. (I am assuming I received this because of my card...I know it is under my maiden name...but you know, I seriously haven't bought anything with that name in a LONG time.)


Peter took this pic of me wearing the earrings. They are in fact, very comfortable to wear, and of the right shade that they could be worn with many different outfits.

P.S. I made the photo "glow" because I was very tired when this was taken, and honestly, a "glow" (thank you, Picasa) makes it all a little bit better. ;)


A photo of the earring close-up. So shiny.


Gotta love a grosgrain-tied silver package. So pretty.

Have a great day. Maybe we can unwrap the mystery of the earrings sooner or later...yes, I just said "unwrap." And yes, I know, bad pun.

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!

Perfect Pencil Skirt in Purple One Style Option... by dinagideon featuring J Crew

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...

Let's All Go to the White House!!! (Mini-Review of Twist Sash Dress, Also...)

I have been telling Gingersnap that I was going to publish this post for over a week now, and all because she and I have a love for Cole-Haan shoes in common. She wanted to see the fabulous-ness that these new Cole-Haans I have, in all their amazing glory.

Well, it turns out that we have another thing in common, a love for the amazing Banana Republic Floral Statement necklace, which she and I both fell in love with because of the world's biggest jewelry enabler, aka Ms. Patina. So now I felt DOUBLE the pressure to publish this post...the shoes and the necklace!

And being me, I really wanted to show you all a fantastic dress, the twist-sash dress by J. Crew, that is currently on sale, so that those of you considering it for purchase will know if you are choosing well (and you will be...). :)

White House Tour, 8/29/09 by dinagideon featuring J Crew

First things first...the polyvore of the entire outfit I wore to the White House. Yes, I was even so inclined to wear the nail polish you see in this set...admittedly it came off two days later, but I did wear it!

Second, the wonderful Slastena and 3-Penny Princess each had their own posts about the day, so go ahead and click on their names so you can see their write-ups (which will be way better than mine, because I am really tired right now and barely able to give this write-up everything I should). (Which is also why, if you have further questions, add them in the comments, and after a couple of hours to a couple of days later, I should be able to answer any question you have!)


Yes, I wore what is basically a party dress to the White House. I was feeling very mid-century modern woman when I was planning my outfit. I also knew that it would be hot and ridiculously humid outside, and because this dress is made from linen (with metallic threads interspersed), I knew that it would help me stay cool...linen is any preppy southern girl's best friend in July and August! I also threw on the navy patent open-toed Carma Cole Haan heels on, a knotted satin headband on, and the amazing floral statement necklace on. Altogether, pretty nice...but lacking...I threw something else on but I will get to that in a second.

The dress is well made and perfect for a summer party. The twist sash is just precious enough, without being all in your face twee. I like that this is a dress that can be worn to the office (see how in the next photo), but with just a few tweaks can be all sweet and sexy for a couple of mojitos or mint juleps out on the patio or veranda. (Can you tell I spend a lot of time imagining where I will wear things? It is all part of my pre-purchase process....and this time, it actually came to fruition!)

I ordered the twist sash dress in my normal J. Crew dress size 8. I could have just fit into the 6, but I would rather take something in than squeeze in... It is flowy and full on the bottom-half, so if you are bigger on bottom (like me), you should go normal size or possibly size down. If you are a bit "bust-ier," go with your gut and size up...the empire waistband sits right at your bra strap line, and it can be a tight squeeze if you don't properly size the dress (there is a metal covered zipper at the back of the dress).

If you are now interested in purchasing it, please visit here to find it, on sale. I bought it at nearly full-price and I don't regret it, so I think if you buy it on sale, you have scored!


Now, I wasn't about to traipse into the White House wearing a linen dress whose hue is almost a match for my skin color (it looks less so in real life), so I knew I had to find a jacket or cardigan to wear. The cardis I tried were all too unstructured and looked sloppy, and many of the jackets I tried were too boxy or the wrong kind of fabric. Then I remembered...I own a navy, belted linen jacket by Ann Taylor Loft that is just the right fit and fabric and weight for this outfit. I tried it on and voila, perfection...this was the right jacket. What made this jacket even better was realizing I had bought it on sale for something like 15 dollars (down from near 90 dollars) and in a size petite 6. I know...a petite 6. CRAZY! This jacket even reminds me of the Fiona jacket by J. Crew, with the exception of being well-fitting versus boxy.

So there you are, everyone...a perfect outfit for a perfect day. Thank you, Cleo26 for arranging the tour, Rosa for getting us into the Occidental Grill, and Kelly, 3-Penny Princess, and Slastena for being the absolute best company ever. Oh, and so you know...this necklace is like some sort of drug...after Gingersnap and I saw it on Patina, we just HAD to have it, and after Kelly saw it on me, she just had to have it...so funny...I love that we are all just enabling one another left and right...I guess that is what friends do for one another!

P.S. I answered comments earlier today from the fairly recent posts, so if you have left a comment or asked a question, I have attempted to answer it as best I could!

Lalalala, I am in My Backyard, on the Deck, Writing a Post About a Month-Old Party!

Man, it is GORGEOUS out here. I am on my deck, in 75 degree weather, typing on my laptop (with its great wireless access). Technology and pretty atmosphere=happy dinagideon. :)

And I am singing a little ditty to myself..."Lame, lame, lame, you are so lame, waiting over a month, to get out a post, about the pretty ladies and wine..."

So here it is...the wine party I hosted at my home for a few of us JCA ladies of the DC area that I am fortunate enough to know...and who graciously came to my house on a Sunday afternoon to drink wine with me, look at J. Crew clothing, and for HeidiG. and drewablank, enjoy a dip in my hot tub (inaugural dip...woohoo).

Wine Party Mid-July 2009 by dinagideon featuring J Crew

But what would my posts be without a polyvore set?

The reason I posted today, btw, is because awesome Patina did a post yesterday in which she looked beautiful and was wearing my all time favorite statement necklace from Banana Republic. Which reminded me that I wore it at the party...which then reminded me to get my a** in gear and post the dang pictures already.

So without further discussion...the pictures...


The ubiquitous shot of me in the outfit. This dress, once again, is easy, breezy, and truly a great color. And it looks so nice with the necklace, too.


Here are the five of us, plus CW (she didn't have wine...no worries)...look at how HeidiG. is bathed in light, like she is some kind of angel. :) After her is Summerilla, Drewablank, 3-Penny Princess, and me and CW. This is our serious shot. BTW, this is the deck and the table upon which I sit and type right now. :)


Here is our lovely candid shot...I think we all look so pretty. I esp. love the way 3PP and Drewablank still have their arms around each other...so nice!

And because we couldn't resist, here is the shot of us being ridiculous. We have hanged HeidiG., Moose Summerilla, Too Long Tongue Drewablank, Screeching 3PP, and "I'm gonna eat that baby" dinagideon.

Hope you all enjoyed a trip into a past partay! :) I know I did...that ridiculous shot still cracks me up!

So What Can I Post with 20 Minutes? P.S. AppGal and Ashley, I Made Something for You All!

Oh, I know what I can do with 20 minutes! I can post two polyvores and post a pic of all of us at Tyson's from Sunday's JCA get-together. YAY! No time to comment back on the last post (well, except for my EXCEEDINGLY long explanation of why I wear petite tops that I wrote yesterday)...that will just have to wait...

Evening Primrose Cardigan Poem by dinagideon featuring J Crew

So my first polyvore (above) is for AppGal. She and Ashley said they wanted to see my poem to the Evening Primrose Garden Cardigan. I happily obliged. By the way, it is a TRULY awful poem, but the polyvore looks pretty!

Tysons 8/23/09 by dinagideon featuring J Crew

The second polyvore (above) is what I purchased at Tyson's at the DC JCA event on Sunday. I had a return and with the 20% the total wasn't truly terrifying, but yikes...I definitely have more than enough for this fall.

Which brings to me to a question I have...I am cleaning out my closet and I wanted to get rid of some things. I don't have enough J. Crew to sell to make it worth it to sell on the Weekly Exchange over at JCA, but I am thinking of doing a blog devoted to my items, it feels (at least right now) that it would be less pressure and less time consuming than ebay. What do you think? (So you know most of the items I would be selling would be in EUC--excellent used condition--and between a size 6 and size 12.) Thank you, Gigiofca, for the great idea!

Here are all of us at the event. Everyone looked so pretty and summery. I also love that Rex wanted to be in the shot, too. No crewcuts, though. (I know...I know...what was I thinking?)

Have a great day, all!

TaDa! Post #200!!! (A.K.A. My First Giveaway!)

#1 thought of the day--I have somehow made it to my 200th post. Crazy. I hope I am still kicking for my 500th post. I think the only thing that would make me want to stop blogging is haters...so please stay away if you are a hater. ;)

#2 thought of the day--I am always amazed at the generosity of others...from the very start of this whole "blogging" thing, I noticed that people were more than willing to give away good advice, share secret deals, and mention when coveted items at jcrew.com or TJ Maxx or whatever are in stock. Then there is the whole "giveaway" phenomenon. Many wonderful bloggers happily give away awesome gifts to people who come to their site as a way of saying "thank you" for visiting. In that spirit, I am hosting my first giveaway, in celebration of these two thoughts of the day.


First, though, let's discuss what I have received in the past from winning giveaways. Wowza.

The very first giveaway I won was the Fashion Tape (shown on the left) from Gigiofca. I am such a spaz I forgot to check and see who won until three days after the contest was over. She still let me win...And can I just tell you? Fashion Tape is AMAZING. If you have a need to keep things up or keep things tidy, this is the stuff for you. It is the Fort Knox of tapes. VERY SECURE!

The second giveaway I won was by default, but I guess it counts, was the green flip-flop keychain (shown in the middle) from AppGal. I currently use this keychain for my summer fun...very lightweight and perfect just for a house key (esp. useful for all the walks I take). BTW, AppGal is so friendly she even included a fun magnet!

The third giveaway I won I didn't technically win(someone else did), but because I mentioned that I would give my library at school the book if I won, Patina Cabachon went ahead and bought a SECOND book just for my school's library (which they ADORED, by the way). (The book is on the right.)

So thank you, awesome ladies...

And so I thought I was done winning, I mean, that is three in a row...but then...


I won a BEAUTIFUL bag and wallet from Tres Tippy. Look at this! It is lightweight, fun, and colorful and by Le Sportsac. It is possibly the most "dinagideon" bag I have ever seen. Perfection. And I won it!!!

So thank you, Ms. Tres Tippy!

So here are my TWO sets of prizes...

Okay, they are nowhere in the vein of cool or awesome the way the four prizes I was lucky enough to win...but they are J. Crew socks (which I LOVE) and there are two sets of them (one set per 100 posts). If you love J. Crew socks, then this is the giveaway for you...

If you are like me, you will have to wait to wear socks (I only wear sandals and flip-flops in the summer), but I know for a fact they are perfect for fall.

Here is the kind of boring bit so you can enter:

Two winners will be selected by random.org.

The first winner picks the set of socks (seen above) she or he wants and the 2nd winner gets the 2nd set.

To enter this giveaway for the socks-PLEASE:

1. Tell me one thing you love about summer clothing.

2. Tell me one piece of clothing you most look forward to wearing this fall (and if you want, use items from the J. Crew fall look-book, I would love to hear what you love in the look-book).

3. Please remember to sign on with your blogger or whatever account name, so I can contact you if need be. If you sign as Anon, you must leave a name in your post or it will be deleted.

4. Entries accepted for through Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 11:59 PM EST. Entries made after that time will be deleted.

5. Winner will be selected by random.org.

6. I will create a post on Thursday, July 16, 2009, announcing the winners. At that time, I will ask the winners to e-mail me and whoever gets to me first gets first pick!

GOOD LUCK...and most of all...THANK YOU FOR READING!

The City that Never Sleeps...How Could They? Rex Was There...

I am not what you would call the biggest "Big Apple" lover. I think the city and all it has to offer is fantastic, but to get there is a pain, and once there it is REALLY crowded. I live in a house with no back neighbors and whole heck of a lot of forest for a reason...I like nature and privacy (yes, I have a blog, and yes, I get how that is a disconnect).

Having said this, I ended up having a GREAT time when we went to NYC over Father's Day weekend. It was a pain to get there, and yes, it was still insanely crowded (although not in the very lovely Upper East Side), but I think because I wanted to have a good time, I approached all of the possible things that could annoy me with more humor and positive energy. I think it worked.

Worst part of the weekend? Rex was an insane, crazy, slightly demented child while we were there. I am surprised the Guggenheim doesn't have us on their hit list after the multiple fits he had in that amazing building. Sigh. And then there was the whole breaking the wineglass trick he did at the hotel (it isn't a Jewish wedding, Rex). Double sigh.

Best part? Every single stinking person fell in love with CW. I don't know if she really is that pretty, but every other person we passed was so sweet and complimentary of her.

Another part I loved? Even though Rex was a mad-man, the New Yorkers didn't even seem all that bothered by him...God bless you all!

And of course...I LOVED the Collection stores on Madison and on Prince Street. The Madison Avenue one is the smaller, more "boutique" style store (read: tee-tiny), whereas the Prince Street one is HUGE and has its own accessories section (and a fantastic sale section).

I also got to meet the gorgeous Marietta at the Collection store, and although we were only able to chill out together for about an hour, it was a lot of fun. I hope that all you New York JCAs will have lots of meetings...what a perfect place to showcase your love for all things J. Crew. I also think the DC JCAs should take the train up and spend a weekend "crewsing" around with the NYC JCAs...can you even imagine???

Onto the clothing!

NYC City Trip--June 2009! by dinagideon on Polyvore.com

My Polyvore is above.


For the drive up, I went REALLY casual. The top is from Disneyland, and I love this color. I also have a soft spot for surf tees...so when I saw this "Mickey" inspired surf tee, I knew I had to have it.

I have no idea why my hair looks this red. It must be this color and it really only shows itself in the natural lighting of the outdoors. I usually take my photos indoors and with dry hair. Hmmm...


So I got to the Guggenheim and after touring the exhibits in my surf tee and grey shorts (what better to run after Rex in?), I knew I wanted to "chic" it up for my trip to meet Marietta at the Collection store. It would have been flat out wrong for a JCA to show up there in non-J. Crew duds (although I did sneak in the Born shoes--forgive me, but J. Crew shoes are NOT made for walking). I REALLY like the way this outfit turned out. I didn't even think the matchstick jeans looked wrong rolled up. And can I express to you my LOVE for this necklace? It is divine and suits so many necklines so well.

BTW, my inspiration for this look was the beautiful Lauren Hutton in the (I believe) February catalog where she rocked this top with a similar cardi, pearls, and some capri chinos.


Ooooooh--we are so busted!!! We took this pic in the Collection store (Madison Avenue) and were promptly told that photos were not allowed to be taken. So ignore the mannequin, the sumptuous clothing and accessories, and focus instead on Marietta and myself. I loved that Marietta wore that cashmere vest cardi with a tank...I am so totally going to copy that look. I have that same cardi in orange, so I bet with a light pink tank, it would look awesome. Thanks for the idea, Marietta!

So what better to wear on a rainy Saturday night in NYC when you really have no plans to impress anyone and you have to wear a Bjorn anyway? This outfit is very pretty and practical. Once I was able to take CW out of the Bjorn I knew that people would like this top. The Caspian Blue color is so special...not navy, yet not a true blue, either. I hope J. Crew makes more in this color. I have a feeling it is one of those "universally flattering" colors.

Here is my girl rocking a black hoodie and sparkly white pants for NYC. Very chic for a baby. Just so you all know, the top survived being worn under the bjorn. The silk flowers are doing just fine!!!

I knew I was going to spend the entire day Sunday walking around so I HAD to be comfy. Yet I couldn't just slap something on. Anthropologie is very good at finding tops that can be practical but still allow you to be somewhat expressive. I was so excited to remember I had this top because...

I got to match CW!!! (Yes, I am a stupid nerd...)

This pic is from the hotel room. I really just liked it and wanted you all to see how much fun my kids were having. I hope the hotel recovered from our visit. ;)

Here we are somewhere near the Strand bookstore. Mr. Dina LOVES the Strand bookstore. I do, too, but not with kids. So guess who got to go to the store? Yep...not me. I guess I will pay more and have stroller access at our local (and very open) Borders.

So, all in all, a great time.

Have a nice day, you all!!!