Boden Weekly Review Roundup: In Time for a Sale.

Hi, all.

UPDATE: Louise (Lou in many of the reviews) just let me know the code: DUAF.  And it works!  :)  Yay.  So until I can get the affiliate link to work, definitely use this code!  If the item you like is not part of the diminishing discount, then use the code WAFF instead, this is the code that comes up when you use the 15% off with free ship and returns coupon in my sidebar.

Thank you, Louise!!! :)

Today is the start of a diminishing discount over at Boden.  I have the link ready to go in the sidebar, but as of 11:46 am (would have been 12:46 pm, but I say kisses to "falling" back), the link is not working.  (In fact all of the links are not loading, including Pure Collection.)  This means that my affiliate program will need to fix it, and when they do, they should be live and active.  Unfortunately this could mean that they don't work till tomorrow, as I don't know if or expect my affiliate manager to be able to fix these sorts of things on Sunday.

There are some exclusions from this discount, likely the most popular items, so if you really are hankering for one of those and need a discount, use my 15% off coupon instead, and it should work just fine (when the linking problem gets fixed, of course).

If any of you are successful in making the link or links work, do let us know!

Alrighty, onward to the review roundup!

Regular Boden:

Cashmere Crew Neck Jumper.  I was able to snag this one in mulberry melange (very deep, dark pink with hints of purple) for around $100 during the last big sale over at Boden (this was a 30% off item during the last "catch of the day"). 

I am very pleased that I bought it.  I love the color, I love the weight, and I love how very soft it is.

From the side.  I purchased this in a size 6, which is my normal Boden size.  Sometimes in their knitwear, I find I *almost* should buy the 4 (the sixties jumper was a squidge too big overall in the 6), but the length, shoulders, bust, and hipline were exactly right this time.

From the back.  The only small issue is the length of the sleeves, which could be a hair longer, but I have the arms of someone who is 5'10", even if my torso is that of someone who is 5'4".  (In other words, I am used to sleeves not being long enough, so it never bothers me anymore.)

I went out to Bethesda last night with the family for a yummy meal of Cajun Food, and since it was definitely brisk outside, I knew that wearing layers was the way to go.  I had a feeling that the wool Oxford jacket by J. Crew (Fall 2007) would be too warm to wear indoors over the cashmere sweater, but would be great as outerwear.  (It was perfection, exactly what was needed for the 50 degree plus 20 mph winds.)
 

I found that the sweater was just thin enough to work under the jacket, but had it been any thicker, I would have had to make a choice--gorgeous sweater or gorgeous jacket?  The jacket is a size 4, and with my nursing ta-tas is a bit snug through the bustline (one advantage of weaning--the oxford will fit perfectly when that happens!).

If you like your cashmere warm and thin, then this would be a great option for you.

Best representation of the color.  It is almost exactly the same shade as the inner part of the enamel button.

This color reads as purple, especially when paired with the Loft pants, which always seem more purple than pink to me.  Either way, pink or purple, I like this shade for my skintone, since most purples are too cool for me.

This is a Boden roundup, I know, but I want to give a big shout-out to the J. Crew Macalister high-heel ankle boots, which I have now worn a few times (stretching them out--the first time I wore them it was sort of painful).  I love them for their elevating powers (3 inch heel) but I also love how casual chic they appear, meaning they can be worn for both "flannel plaid" outings like grocery shopping, and for "jersey dress" outings like a nice dinner out with your favorite significant other.  :)  I sized down to a 9, and am glad I did, the 10 would have been too large overall. (But I have narrow feet, so keep that in mind.)


Cashmere Crew Neck Jumper.  Glad I bough the mulberry in six when I did as that combo is currently out of stock.  All the other sizes seem to be in great shape, so you might be able to pick one up in the next great sale (if not this one, then likely another one in the future--November is a great time for sales).

60s Coat.  I bought this in the preview in a size 6, which is my usual Boden coat size.  I had actually felt that a cream-colored coat was a need in my wardrobe because I had sold another one I owned a while back (it was too big).  I had hoped that this one would be more white than it is, but I don't dislike the color as it is (somewhere between off-white and light beige).

It is all done up and buttoned here, and it fits nicely through the shoulders, waist, and hips (especially the hips as it has a flare shape to the bottom portion).

It appears that the coat's placket is pulling, but I can assure you it is not, it is fairly roomy on me.  I think the placket was made with the wrong buttons, I don't know, I have seen this effect on other people, so I don't know if it is the way the placket looks when this sort of tailoring is done, or if it will straighten itself out as the coat gets more worn in?  If you are a seamstress and can weigh in, I would appreciate it.

I love it opened up, too.  The buttoned-up look is very nice, and definitely keeps the chill at bay, but open, the coat takes on a very cool, effortless vibe.  The shirt is the Jersey crinkle shirt that I reviewed here, btw.  (I also review its sister below, btw.)

The flower on the shirt exactly matched the color of the coat, wasn't my intention, but it gives you another opportunity to see the shade if you are curious (go to the Jersey crinkle shirt item page and zoom in on the red colorway).

We were headed out to Potomac Mills on Friday night, and the coat definitely kept me warm, in fact, I could have taken a long walk in this coat and perhaps even gotten overheated.  The fabric is a lot like J. Crew's stadium cloth, but more nubby and textured (see a close-up of the fabric below).

From the back.  Love how easy the hips are, great for pear-shaped me.  ;)

The waist detail is nice, but would have looked cuter, imo, with two smaller tortoise buttons on either end of the detailing.

From the side.  I think you have to be a fan of military styles to get into this look, the seaming and epaulets may be a bit too much if you prefer more streamlined, minimalist coats.

Detail shot of the fabric and button.  This is a pretty accurate color but I would still say it is a shade darker than this in real life.

Here you can see how the placket appears when it is buttoned-up on a hanger, still a bit wobbly and pulling.

The lining is pretty with a silky mid-purple grey and off-white fabric, plus a mid-pink grosgrain ribbon waistband.


60s Coat.  The coat is nearly sold out in the oyster shade.  The other colors still have some stock, but I doubt this one is going to last long if it makes it to clearance.

Crinkle Jersey Shirt.  I wore this on our way back from Georgia last Wednesday.  I felt so festive for Halloween *sarcasm*.  :)

It was so nice to have such a comfy shirt to wear, though. Combined with the leggings and scarf, I didn't feel pinched or pulled at all in the ten hours it took to drive back home.

I bought in the six, which was the size I bought the floral in (see the above review for more on that one).

Here it is under my quilted vest in a Wytheville, VA Bojangles (mmm, chicken, all fried and artery clogging).  Angus looks like he wants some of that chicken (I just said "no" to that).

BTW, it was snowy for part of our drive...Hurricane Sandy dropped tons of snow in the mountains of WV and VA.

When I got home I took a (so glamorous) photo of how I wore the shirt in an outfit.


Crinkle Jersey Shirt.  This color is all sold out, but watch for popbacks.  One thing I have learned over the years is that if the model is wearing the color in a Boden catalog shot, that color will be the first one to go.  Only rarely is that not the case.


Velvet Henley and Straightleg Chinos.  Lou looks so cute in this layered style.  :)  (To see the chinos, click on the name of the product.)

Spring 2013 Picks:

Classic Denim Shirt.  Every clothing company has done some version of a denim shirt with polka dots, so I guess Spring 2013 is Boden's turn to give us what we want.  I can almost guarantee that this will be very well made, so if you are a fan, get it in the preview.  (The model is wearing this color, so it will be the first to go, as per usual for Boden.)

Fabric Mix Dress.  I am weirdly attracted to this dress, as it looks really comfortable, but very appropriate for work and church.  I don't like it on the model, though.  I am not willing to pre-buy a dress that has this straight of a skirt without measurements, but if you like the way this dress looks and don't have your "birthing" hips to worry about, this may be a preview item to consider (especially if you have a reason for a dress like this).

Cashmere V-Neck Jumper.  So J. Crew has this great 25% off promo going right now and I almost considered buying the pagoda blue cashmere v-neck sweater, but then I remembered that Boden has this one in its preview and for far cheaper (even with J. Crew's 25% off, it can't beat Boden's $148 minus 20% off).  So I will do that instead and wait for the pretty blue jumper to come my way this mid-winter.

BTW, does anyone think it is weird that J. Crew has better promos and coupons than Boden right now?  I never thought that would happen.  Usually by this time in the season Boden has many many things for sale in the 35-50% range, and barring a few unpopular items, it is not happening like in years past.

Spotty Canvas Plimsolls.  If you liked them on Lou here, they will be for sale again come this spring.  :)

Don't forget that the Spring 2013 20% off with free ship and returns promotion ends this Friday, November 9, 2012.  

If I neglected a review that you sent me or you did on your blog, do let me know.  As I was a bit of a jumbled mess this past week, it is very possible I missed something!

I will add the link to the current diminishing discount coupon below, but do be aware that until my affiliate fixes the issue, you will be unable to use the coupon.  Once the link is fixed, I will update this post letting you all know (and probably do a blog post to let you all know).
Shop Boden's Diminishing Discount Sale! Take 20% off all items (some exclusions apply) on November 4th- 8th, 15% off November 9th, and 10% off November 10th + Free Shipping.

What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear When Faced with the Infamous Beltway?

"Oh, dear, Will...I believe our meeting will have to be delayed as I am stuck in just the most terrible traffic ever...the Beltway has beaten us."

It is incredibly fortunate that Emma and Will and their singing teen acolytes are in a suburban high school in Ohio and not in Northern Virginia. See if they were, they would never make it to regionals or nationals because they and their school bus would be forever trapped in the never-ending cycle of traffic that makes the DC region so (in)famous.

Here is how my conversation went with my dear bloggie friend Suzy:

"Suzy, I know that I was planning on meeting you in Montgomery Mall in Bethesda later this morning so you and I could meet up, I could give you your Arbonne catalog and samples and that gorgeous Madewell necklace that I sold you on the exchange, but I am afraid the traffic is too insane to even bear. By the time I got to the mall, I would have to say hi, throw the bag full of goodies at your hands from my open car window, and yell good-bye as I race off to catch the light so I can get back on the highway for my insane return back home. I believe, Suzy, that if I were to try and meet you in Richmond I could get to you faster. (Suzy laughs, and agrees.) Next time, I will take the hour and half trip to Richmond (100 miles door to door) to see you and not the two hour trip to Bethesda (20 miles door to door)!  I will resign myself to mailing your package to you instead."

I had been so excited to see her...I wanted to show off my babies, hang out in the mall, check out the new arrivals at J. Crew, and show off my Emma Pillsbury inspired outfit. Sadly this was not to be. (SHAKES delicate, glass-beaded bracelet wrist at the back-up on 495.)

WWEPW My Take... by dinagideon featuring a cluster necklace

Anyhow, this is the polyvore of an Emma inspired outfit that only my kids and a WHOLE bunch of random strangers were able to see at Tysons (le sigh, it seems I always end up at Tysons for shopping).

Emma Pillsbury wore a similar outfit a few weeks back and WWEPW blogged about it soon thereafter. And then the cardigan went on sale...whee!

And on me...before I realized what my day was to hold. I would have been better off in an orange reflective vest and a green utility jumper. At least that way I would have been better dressed to help the construction workers out...

Sizes:
Cardigan: Pick A Bunch Cardi, Anthropologie, Size Small. Very fitted and short. Definitely size up if you are long-torsoed.
Skirt: Double Serge Pencil Skirt, J. Crew, Bronzed Ochre, Size 6. The 4 fit, but way too closely...I felt like an extra in the secretarial pool over at the Mad Men set in the smaller size. LOL.

I did buy a blazecoat at the Tysons J. Crew. They were running a 25% off special, so I bit. I bought a 2. That coat runs really large. A lot of you all will probably be sized out.

For Sale Items 11/15/10... by dinagideon featuring j crew tops

I hope you all have a great day...just so you know, I have some stuff on sale...go ahead on over to my polyvore and check out the pieces, sizes, and prices.  :)

No, I Did Not Wear Colonial Garb to Colonial Williamsburg (Although the Thought Crossed My Mind)...

Better than late than never should be my new blog mantra. These pics were taken over Memorial Day weekend, which was two weeks ago.

Our family went to Colonial Williamsburg, which I JUST LOVE, being an American History teacher and all...but this time we just said "no" to the tickets. For one thing, everybody and their brother decided to descend on the Historic Triangle of Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg that weekend. Ugh...crowds...heat...humidity. We only live 2 or so hours away, if we are that desperate to see the inside of the buildings (some of which I have seen upwards of 20 times), then so be it, but we are not that desperate. Two...Rex is two. 'Nuff said.

So instead we walked around, enjoyed each other's company, ate yummy food, and I even got a few spa services (HEAVEN)!

So without further ado, my clothing for the first day of the trip (you actually saw the second day's outfit in this post...and props to Kater who figured out where we were):

What I Wore to Go to Colonial Williamsburg!!! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Here is the polyvore (yes, that's right, it is a boy's tee--I bought it in a size 12)!


Here is the outfit on me. Very exciting, I'm sure. I love soft-shell crabs...they are my fave summer food...mmm...fried up and in a sandwich...especially from the Crab Claw. Get thee to the Crab Claw if you have never been there...it is AWESOME!


Here is the Melody dress (from Spring 2009--J. Crew) on me. I bought it in an 8, and I was SO worried it would be too small. I actually stressed about this for a few days. I kind of felt stupid when I discovered that it fit really well! Phew. ;)

We had been at dinner, so if you notice any wrinkling, it is from that. I will say the dress held up really well! Also, I am holding up well because I had a yummy adult drink and I had just finished my spa services...

The sandals are the Lucia ones you saw in the previous picture. They are from what, 2007? Maybe 2006? I don't remember, but I do know I wear them A LOT during the summer. I wish J. Crew would put more out in this style (are you reading this, J. Crew?)...

BTW, word to the wise, avoid strolling minstrels if your kid is two. Rex was COMPLETELY freaked out by the nice singing man at the King's Arm Tavern that evening. I think that man probably has a complex now because of my kid. :)

You all have a great day...hopefully everybody's weather is good...it's pretty nice here in NOVA!

Quick Post on what I Wore to the Toad the Wet Sprocket Concert!!! (5/21/09.)

Okay, I may not know who Lenka is, but I do know what TWS stands for...one of my favorite bands from the 90s (who got their start in the 80s)...Toad the Wet Sprocket. They sang songs like "Walk on the Ocean..." and "Something's Always Wrong..."

Two weeks ago, on Thursday, May 21st, I went to see them for the SECOND time (yes, second, first time was in 1994) at the National Harbor across the river in Maryland. Except we didn't drive there...we took the boat. Listen up...if you live in Alexandria, consider taking the boat. The night we went it was PERFECT weather and the sun was setting in the west as we approached the dock at National Harbor. Even this hardened married woman was touched by how romantic it was. Once there we walked around (Mr. Dina and I, although we could have brought the kids, they were allowed to go, shocking, I know...), went in some shops, watched the beauty of the river, etc. Let me just say...the National Harbor is awesome. And it is in PG County which has a reputation for being a bit rough (not all parts, obviously...). So get thee to this corner of our lovely area...definitely worth it.

Also, it was great seeing TWS in concert...again. They did not disappoint. I think more folks were there to see Eddie from Ohio (a local, very awesome group), but there were a few of us that REALLY got into TWS. It is funny to see thirty-somethings that are kinda crunchy/granola dancing around to this band. Very nostalgic but in the end sort of funny to watch.

Also very beautiful was the actual SUNSET as the concert played. The view over the water from the venue was immaculate. Even the band admitted it was one of the best views they had ever had while playing!


This is what I wore on this date:
Anthropologie top from 2006? Maybe? Does anyone know?,
J. Crew Summerweight Stretch Bermudas from Spring 2009,
J. Crew Brigitte Metallic Heels in Atlantic (which I later switched to flip-flops...okay, I'm a wimp...I admit it).


This is for polyvore, my peeps. :)

More later, you all!