Poppy Floral Jacket Review--Plus I Wore it Today, June 9, 2009!!!

Ooh, you all, I have been DYING to get this jacket. And it came, yesterday! FINALLY!

So here is the story...girl spies beautiful soft-Liberty print cotton jacket in J. Crew catalog back in early May...girl FALLS IN LOVE with the jacket...girl goes on-line and decides to wait it out because it is so pretty but SO expensive (J. Crew Collection item)...then revisits site a little while later (and happens to have a little bit of money)...discovers said item is on BACKORDER until August...determined, girl orders it in a size 8 and is prepared to wait until August 10, 2009 for it to ship...then, surprise, surprise, girl gets e-mail saying "your order has shipped." SQUEE!

You can find the jacket at jcrew.com if you are interested after reading my review.

Poppy Floral Jacket Worn on June 9, 2009!!! by dinagideon featuring FOSSIL watches

Here is the Polyvore of my outfit that I made with this jacket. I had a tough time deciding what to wear with it...I want to style it like it is on-line and in the catalog, but I have to teach and short-shorts are not really professional (that would be the on-line styling). Also, it is about a bagagillion degrees outside so I knew the cargo pants and cardi and tee styling (in the catalog) would be WAY TOO HOT for me today. So I think I came up with a nice look...tailored to me and to my life. :) And after all, I have only my life to live...


Here is the outfit full-length. The only difference from the polyvore is a slightly different necklace (I have no IDEA where I got it--is that weird?), similar shoes (mine are slingback and grey) and a different denim skirt (mine is from Style & Co.--Macy's brand).

The jacket is J. Crew Collection and costs 168 dollars. It is made from the Liberty print fabric that J. Crew adores. In all the years I have been shopping at J. Crew they have had Liberty print fabric items (I own shoes, shirts, etc. in this fabric). By the way, if any of you own a size 8 or 10 in this blouse (thank you for the pose, Ema), I will happily buy it from you. HAPPILY!

The jacket is "classic" fit, which means it is neither too slim or too loose. I would agree with that sentiment. I truly believe that J. Crew makes their Collection items more true-to-size than their non-Collection items, so I will rarely order anything Collection smaller than an 8. This jacket is an 8 (regular, not petite or tall) and it has long enough arms, and the jacket hits at a nice place on my hips. The waist is a bit big for me, and the shoulders might be a titch too wide as well.

The fabric is SO PRETTY. It has poppies in a dusty rose color, daisies and other flowers in a deep citron color, and other florals in a pretty medium pacific blue color. The background is an off-white. The buttons are real shell buttons and are secured with another button in the back so that the button won't fall off (hate that)! The whole jacket is lined...through the body in a soft cotton and in the arms in some sort of poly-blend.

The whole jacket has a crumpled feel, and the fabric is so light, that I could see wearing this in the summer as a sun-cover! (Normally I would wear a linen blouse...this is just a lot dressier!)

I have good news for you wrinkle-phobes...it has that rumpled look, but besides that...this jacket has not wrinkled at all today and I have been wearing it for nearly 6 hours. YAY!


Here is a side-view. It does fit very nicely...just skimming the body.


Funny 80s-looking pic to make you all laugh...but in all seriousness...I love the collar up...I think it looks fresh and unique this way. I chose to wear the collar down today but I could see wearing this to dinner with the collar up.

This pic also allows you to see the jacket print a bit closer.

I would say that if you would wear this, get it. If you don't think you would get around to wearing it, and it would sit limply in your closet, don't. 168 dollars is a lot to spend if you won't actually wear this item. I personally think it is worth it...but I bet I will wear this in the winter, too, so cost per wear will be low.

And I think J. Crew, because they are limiting how many Collection items they are putting out, are actually putting the effort needed into creating pieces that should QUALIFY as Collection (for instance, shell buttons secured properly, lining of the highest quality, etc.) So good job, J. Crew...you have a very satisfied customer!

DC JCA Fun at Montgomery Mall...Plus a Good Time for the Littlest JCAs...

I want to start this post off by showing a pic of me, Drewablank, and CW. Drewablank came to my house, posed for a picture looking all gorgeous (seriously...that top looks so good on her), and drove me and my baby to the mall (I was feeling groggy from the medicine I took).

Once we got to the mall, and EVENTUALLY spotted a space (thank you, nice man from Pennsylvania), we went in and found HeidiG. (and her sweet as pie daughter E.) and Summerilla at the Nordstrom Cafe. The dinner there was so delicious. I highly recommend it. One thing, bring a little cash for the tip. You can't add the tip to the bill so you have to give it at the end. I ate a nicoise salad with salmon and a cup of tomato-basil soup (both yummy). I washed it all down with a cup of some delicious herbal tea by Mighty Leaf (Organic African Nectar). I loved this tea so much I bought a whole package later on my way out of the mall.

After dinner, we went to J. Crew and had lots of fun returning things, suggesting things to each other to try on, suggesting things that our little girls should wear (E. found the CUTEST top that CW can wear as a dress now and as a top later), and finally, last but not least, discovering naughty things in J. Crew tops (read HeidiG.'s post for more info on that).

I ended up getting some MINI-skirts! Whattup with that? Really, me? Not to worry, they are still long enough (lower than mid-thigh) and I will promise you all never to wear them with anything other than casual flats, or in the winter, with tights and boots. :)

I also went ahead and returned the hole-y sweater from this post and got a PERFECT replacement. No holes, and the pattern matches so well. YAY for J. Crew! I was so worried that my beautiful sweater would be lost to the gods of retail.

Two other tees made it into my bag (the naughty one and the one that has trumpeters and the New Orleans theme).

Hopefully these outings will continue...I love this new group of friends! So, thank you, Drewablank, HeidiG., Summerilla, and little E. for a great evening.

BTW, I am wearing in that photo at the top:

(Picture from ebay seller who is selling theirs...)
J. Crew Linen Embroidered Top from Spring 2007 (supposedly a fast-seller, but look--you can get it from ebay in a medium--thanks for the heads-up, summerilla!);
Target Merona Plaid Shorts from Summer 2009;
J. Crew Poppie Capri Sandals from Spring 2009.

Ooh...Party Time!!!

I went to two parties (well, three, but two were on the same day) last week. I have two different party outfits for you all to glance at.

But first things first!!! These two outfits are interesting because one of them my husband really LOVED and the other one he really HATED. What cracks me up is that my brother really, really LOVED the one my husband hated. Heehee. So if any of you ladies want my bro, I guess you know which outfit to wear when you meet him. HILARIOUS. However, if you really want a kind of nerdy, shy, yet sweet guy, definitely do not wear what I wore that he HATED. ;)

So why did I wear the outfit he hated? Umm...we have been married a LONG time and well, most of my outfits he loves. Also, he has questionable fashion sense. For instance, the last outfit he really disliked (here), you all LOVED. So, honestly, I can't always dress the way he likes.

A Night Out with the Political BigWigs! by dinagideon featuring FOSSIL watches

Here is the Polyvore of the outfit he loved. Honestly, I love this outfit, too. I am a HUGE fan of seersucker. If you live anywhere near where it gets as sweltering hot and humid as it does here in Northern Virginia (well, anywhere in Virginia, really)...you should own seersucker. It is a great fabric for being dressy but not killing yourself with wool (hello, heatstroke)!


So I wore it with a linen sweater (bought off JCA--awesome transaction, btw) and it was the PERFECT combo for that night. Last Thursday night wasn't too hot so I could get away with this look. If it had been hotter, I would have worn a cami (like my victoria or bria or lydia) instead.

This green is insane...it is Kermit the frog, for sure. Fine by me...the brighter the better...however, this is a sweater from last summer so it isn't available except through ebay or the great exchange over at JCA.


Here is the suit with the blazer. Yes, I did have to take it off because it did get to warm, but oh, well.

Just so you know, the total cost of this suit was 70 dollars. This is a Merona Collection suit (from Target) and it is really, really well made. I think J. Crew has competition! I bought the blazer in an 8 and the pants in a 10. The pants sit fairly high on the waist so keep that in mind when you order (if you order).

An Outfit for Two Hot, Humid Graduation Parties! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Ooh, Mr. Dina HATED this outfit. A lot. He says he just doesn't get why I would want to wear something that froofy. I know why...because it is fun. Saturday was SWELTERING. This outfit allowed me to stay cool and yet be somewhat dressed up for the parties (one for a Ph.D. grad and one for my bro with his Associate Degree). This is the outfit Pete (my bro) LOVED. Girls, stat, to J. Crew now. Skirt is on sale. ;)

I will admit to being a bit stuck on what top to wear with this bottom. I like the way I styled it (even if I look a bit 80s...yes, haters, I know...I know). So I am gonna throw it out there...keep in mind I have a short torso...what would you pair this with? I think the next time I wear it (yes, Mr. Dina, it is coming out to play again) I will pair it with a fitted polo shirt. Does that sound cute? What other ideas are out there?

Does anyone have any interest in creating polyvores for this? I would love to see the ideas in that format, too! (I know I am asking a lot but some of you all love this stuff...) Thank you in advance!


I only did a close-up because I wanted to show off the coolest sunglasses in the world. These are made by Boden. I love them so much that I actually have them in a green horn color, too. These that I am wearing are the light brown and they are perfect for spring and early summer. The tint is a medium tint so they still allow you to see pretty well (I hate too dark sunglasses). The case it comes in is very practical (read: big and bulky), but practical is better than ruined sunglasses.

The green horn color comes in a different tint, a darker tint, better in my opinion for the pool and the beach.

That's all for now...

Oh, by the way, this dress is now sold out. I am keeping the post up, though, because the exchange between HeidiG. and Drewablank cracked me up.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend. Computer is coming with me down to my vacation spot, so you will get more from me (hopefully)!

Florals and Citron (a Friday Theme, it Seems)...

Florals and Citron for a Nice Day! - by dinagideon on Polyvore.com
This is the polyvore of the outfit I wore today. I love when I can find the pieces I am wearing on Polyvore...it means I don't have to individually list the pieces...you all can go see them yourselves. Whee!

The necklace is a bit different, though. I have that heart necklace but the one I am wearing today is the apple necklace (felt like celebrating the fact that I am a teacher). The cardigan is similar, but is merino wool with brass buttons and is in a deeper shade of citron.


Here is the outfit without the cardigan. Can I tell you how much I like this top? The cap sleeves are so feminine and really balance my upper half and my lower half. The neckline is also smocked and elastic, making it very stretchy and comfy. The fabric is some sort of blend because I have yet to see a wrinkle and I have been teaching all day long.

The jeans are from a while back and I can fit into them again. Yay! :) Love that...obviously!


Here I am with my little man, with the cardigan on. I love the look without the cardigan, but if I didn't run hot all the time (I am one of those people who wear tank tops in winter), I would have worn this cardigan all day...that is how much I think that cardigan works for this outfit!

For all of you who love pics of my kids, I am so glad Rex cooperated this morning...so cute!!! I love the fact that those pants don't fit him and yet he doesn't care (and obviously neither does Jim who dressed him). Rock those capris, Rex. (Or is it some other name when boys/men wear them?)


Close-up of the pretty print, smocking, and the buttons from the cardigan.

I am walking home today...so I did bring another pair of shoes to walk in...I have a bag that I can carry on my wrist to make it easier and not to heavy at all.

Have a great day. More from the awesome Paris Catalog this weekend (don't have enough time today to post more pics)!

Campo de Fiore Sweater Dress on a Miserable, Rainy Day!

Campo de Fiore Sweater Dress for a Cool and Rainy Day! - by dinagideon on Polyvore.com
So I have three compelling reasons for wearing this outfit today:

1) It is NASTY outside and this dress is merino wool and will keep me nice and warm.

2) I have finally lost enough baby weight (still 12 pounds to go, but getting closer each day) that I can wear sweater dresses again without having people cover their eyes and yell, "MY EYES--WHY ARE YOU BLINDING ME WITH YOUR BABY BELLY?" (Although for some people the print alone may burn people's eyes...heehee.) (The old J. Crew-A-Holics R Us had a field day with this print last year...I can't seem to find the link...but the writer on that blog had a field day making fun of this print...I just laughed and laughed because I loved it so much...everyone has an opinion!)

3) I love this dress and have a feeling some of you do, too. And since many of my lovely blog readers are in the mid-Atlantic and currently under grey skies, rain, and depression, I know this dress at the very least will awaken some of you!

The dress is in the January 2008 catalog, but what I did today is not technically a copycat...however I do have the pieces to make a copycat, so I will try it when the weather cooperates a bit more (as it requires bare legs to do the copycat).


Do you even know how many people came up to me at school today and had a fit over this dress? Like 85 people. This is not a dress for shy, retiring types. Good thing I am not introverted or else today would have been very difficult for me. ;)

My hair is wet in this photo (seems I can only wash my hair every other day and only very early in the morning--that's when everyone else is asleep). My makeup, although I tried, did not turn out as well as yesterday. (Maybe one day I will figure the magic steps out and be able to look well-turned out everyday!!! I can dream, right?)

You all have a great day. I know my day has been okay. Found out about the death of a family friend, so obviously not the whole day has been great (say prayers, please, for the family if you can), but what I have had otherwise has been pretty good. Huge, 70s looking florals will help get your groove on pretty well, I have to say!

Yellow, White, Pink, and Blue...What is More Perfect for a Cold Winter's Day?

Right...so it is supposed snow like you don't know what here tonight. They are calling for some 8 inches here in Alexandria. This may the one time people in the eastern counties of MD and VA will get more snow than the western counties (in other words, we may have more snow than people like Slastena, a rare occurrence, for sure).

What a better way to say "hello" to what is no doubt going to be our last storm (and biggest in a long while) than to get all dolled up, go to a restaurant (only Sundays during Lent for this family), then head over to Harris Teeter to join the masses buying bread and milk. :)

The top is a combo of two J. Crew pieces, a white tissue tee with 3/4 sleeves that are elasticized at the "wrist," and a cashmere short-sleeved tee in striped citron and white. The scarf was a giveaway with some British magazine I bought in 2005 (it looks really good for a giveaway). The jeans are Talbot's and very tailored...they remind me of something Audrey Hepburn would have worn. The shoes are Etienne Aigner in navy suede and leather...with the most polished decorative buckle. The headband is J. Crew.

My hope is that the pieces keep me warm...it is CHILLY out there.


If the outfit doesn't keep me warm, maybe the coat will. It is the Lady Day with thinsulate in that amazing Mediterranean blue. Lovely and toasty!

As usual, ignore my funny face...Jim grabs these shots so quickly, I have to make due with what I get. :)

It's raining and I am walking home...you heard me right!

So nothing fancy today because there is NO WAY I am ruining a special piece of J. Crew by walking home in the rain. That said, I have no desire to look like a complete bum, either. This is a middle ground which will keep me warm, is sturdy, and is interesting enough to say "I tried."

The cardigan is the lovely and warm oatmeal haley. It is so pretty in real life and such a nice neutral. The silver version (as I may have mentioned before) was so shiny and looked like tinfoil. I am really glad I purchased the oatmeal color instead. The shirt is one of those ring-spun ones from J. Crew last spring (2008). It has a map of Andros (a Greek island) on it. It is the prettiest shade of blue and right near the map has a "critter" of an anchor embroidered in gold. It is a very comfy, yet stylish shirt. I think someone over at the J. Crew Aficionada blog mentioned how statement tees are for teens only, but if you are in a profession like teaching, it is an acceptable look. Kids actually look at teachers longer who wear brighter colors...it is kind of cool to be in a profession that prefers colors to greys and blacks. The cords are the fantastic-fitting matchstick cords in citron. I have good news, these are about to be retired, which means I have lost more weight (whee)!

The tennies are an adidas from DSW a few years back. I am not picky about tennis shoes. My question when buying them is "will they last and are they comfy?"

Here is what the outfit looks like without the cardigan (how I wear it in the classroom). My classroom is about 80 degrees, so I have to wear layers to ensure I won't collapse from heat exhaustion. IT WAS GREAT WHILE PREGNANT (NOT)!

The ubiquitous shot of me and CW. She does make this outfit shine, huh? :)