Tunic Tuesday (or Thursday)

Has this ever happened to you? You're wearing an adorable dress. Everyone compliments your outfit. You're having a great hair day. And then... you get home at 9:00 and realize that you didn't take blog pictures. How sad. (And also shallow. But also sad.) No? Nobody else? That was just me, yesterday?

Anyway, that is just my way of admitting that I've been slacking a bit on the picture taking. It's partly because I sometimes feel awkward asking random people to take my picture, but it's also just that life got in the way a bit. I have my next comp on Monday, so I'm sort of distracted, but don't think that that means I don't love you! Because I do love you, loyal readers!

This looked better before I sat in it all day and it got all wrinkled.
But still cute, no?

This outfit is from last Tuesday-- hence it's name Tunic Tuesday. And today is Thursday. Get  it now? I've been very into tunics lately. I'm not totally sure why, but I'm having fun. This is actually meant to be a dress, but really, who on earth could wear this as a dress? I know people do, but I confess that I do not understand. Anyway, I wore it over pants and got lots of compliments. I had originally been wearing silver flats, but then they gave me crazy blisters, so I switched to my Toms. And man, it is nice to not wear boots every day.

Have you ever repurposed a clothing item to make it work for you?

That's all for now. I promise to be better about taking pictures and will be back soon!

What I'm wearing: Isabella Sinclair dress as a tunic, via Anthropologie (where the price, sadly, seems to have gone up), LOFT straight leg pants (similar here), Toms shoes (similar here)

My Mom Does Stitch Fix! April 2015

Okay, I know what you might be thinking. Rachel, didn't you just get a Stitch Fix??? Indeed I did! And while it was not exactly glorious, everyone certainly had fun. However, this review is not about me. It's about my mom! (If you are wondering what the heck this Stitch Fix thing is that I keep yammering on about, read my intro post here!)

As you might remember from my post last month, my dad and I convinced my mom to try Stitch Fix when my dad realized that my mom kept having to stop in the street to pull up her pants because they were so big on her after she lost weight. She is a big of a picky customer, as she is not super into clothes and privileges being comfortable about everything else, but we have slowly been adding to her wardrobe over the last few months. This is my mom's 4th Stitch Fix, and her second time being on the blog. We were happy to see that her original stylist was back, as her last two fixes have been somewhat of a disappointment.

Look how pretty!

My dad asked me, when I was over taking pictures, why I put my mom on the blog. I would say, a few reasons. First of all, it's fun! And everyone likes fun. Second of all, I've learned from reading other people's blogs that the more pictures of Stitch Fix items people put out there, the easier it is to fine-tune one's requests and get successful fixes. And finally, for people who are considering Stitch Fix, it's useful to see different types of items on different kinds of people. My mom and I have very different styles (not to mention that she doesn't follow my personal modesty guidelines), we are built very differently, and we are also of different generations. So variety is indeed the spice of life, and kudos to my mom for being a great sport.

Here's her style card!

The rules for my mom are different than the ones I made for myself when reviewing Stitch Fix on the blog. She doesn't have to be photographed in anything she didn't like, which will explain why there is sometimes only a photo of the item, and not of her wearing it. (I sort of wished I had that rule with those horrible blue pants. Oh well.)

If she had kept everything, it would have been $234 with her 25% buy it all discount

 Now, without further delay, to the clothes!

Level 99 Giovanni Straight Leg Jean in Grey-- $98
Daniel Rainn Lorena Split Back Silk Blouse in Blue-- $74

This is literally the first time in my entire life that I remember seeing my mom in jeans. And she looked so good! The grey color was a nice departure from the regular blue, and she does have nice legs, which these framed nicely. They were a little too small in the waist, but my mom decided that that would be good motivation to stick to her diet and exercise plan.
Status: Kept!

The blue shirt was less of a success. It was silk, which is not super practical, especially because my mom is about to retire. As you can see, it was sort of long and shapeless. The best detail was in the back, where there was a split opening, but you could see the small of her back, which we all agreed was probably not appropriate for a woman her age. (Sorry I forgot to get a picture of it not on her.) Add that to the fact that she kept a blue sleeveless top from the last fix, and this one was definitely not a keeper. The color did look beautiful on her, though.
Status: Returned

Skies are Blue Ani Crochet Overlay Top in Red-- $54

This was the shirt we all loved out of the box. It has beautiful lace detailing, but it doesn't seem to be fragile or like it would snag easily. (The picture doesn't do it justice, which is on me.) As you can see, the sleeves are sheer for a nice contrast detail. She's wearing it with her Emer pants from her first fix. (See? Don't they look great on her? What's wrong with me that they looked so awful??? Anyway...) Her work is throwing her a big retirement party at the beginning of June. I'm still holding out for a dress for the occasion, but if not, this could be a beautiful outfit option.
Status: Kept!

Mak Jaclynn 3/4 Sleeve Button Up Cardigan in White-- $38

There was one word to describe this-- yawn. I think it was sent as a layering piece to go with the other sweaters, but it looked like a boring old cardigan from Old Navy or something. As my mom says, this is not the sort of thing I need them to send me. It wasn't even worth photographing on.
Status: Returned

41Hawthorn Dita Sleeveless Ponte Dress in Cobalt-- $68

My mom didn't even show this dress to me on. Unclear if she didn't like how it looked, or it was just too blah for her. She already has a beautiful blue dress, and since she only wears dresses once in a blue moon, there was no reason to have two. I made a request for another, more interesting dress (yup, I manage her profile) in the next fix that she might be able to wear to her party, but it seemed clear that this was not it.
Status: Returned

I felt like this fix was much more on point for my mom than the last two, although my mom was a little disappointed. I guess when you went 5/5 the first time around, it's disappointing to only keep one or two items. But there was nothing in this box that I felt was unreasonable for her, and it was nice to see more color! And to not have to take pictures in her office bathroom :)

She's asked for a Stitch Fix gift card for Mother's Day, so she's not giving up yet! Hopefully Margarette will continue to understand her style better and better, and send more items that she'll want to keep so my mom can finally throw those huge and falling apart pants in the trash. (Love you, Mom!)

Want to try your own Stitch Fix? Sign up here! And come back and visit us again soon!

From the Archive: California Dreaming, Part 3

No, dear readers, I am not back in LA... except maybe in my dreams. I am just a little behind on my blog posting, so on account of my not-especially-interesting outfit today, I thought I would bring you the last set of shots from my trip to California. Man, it was nice there...

 Anyhoo. For those of you who have been reading the blog from the beginning, you might recognize this shirt as the one I got (and LOVED) in my March Stitch Fix. It hadn't been quite warm enough to wear it in New York yet, as I haven't figured out how to layer it properly, so I jumped at the chance to wear it in LA. It did not disappoint. My one complaint-- the tassels are sort of a hazard when it comes to changing diapers. Luckily I figured that out before there was an unfortunate mishap. Since I don't change diapers in my day-to-day life, as I only wipe the butts of people who are related to me and those people who require such services currently live in LA, I think I'll be safe.

This is one of the weirdest pictures I've ever taken. Enjoy.

 I kept the rest of the outfit neutral, so as to highlight the awesomeness of the shirt. As if it needed any help. Oh Stitch Fix, how you make me love you. But I would love to find a red skirt, both in general, and to be able to wear with this top. If you have any leads, please leave them in the comments! You will earn my eternal loyalty and admiration.

The main event

Three other matters of administrative business. First, Boden has posted their fall preview, if you want to see coming attractions. You can click here for a look. Use the code 7D4N for 20% off. I don't get any money for telling you this, I just want to share the love. Depending on your perspective, you're welcome or I'm sorry :)

Second, come back tomorrow for another Stitch Fix review! No, not mine. I'm not THAT crazy. My mom's latest fix came! Come see what she kept and what went back.

Finally, I have a post on modesty and body image up at The Forward today! If you're interested, take a look here. And if you found my blog through their link, welcome! I hope you come again soon.

What I'm wearing: Renee C shirt via Stitch Fix (similar here), Downeast Basics cami, Style & Co pencil skirt, Crown Vintage sandals via DSW, Mix No. 6 cross body bag (similar here)

A Sunday in the Garden

One of my favorite movies is You've Got Mail. I know, not the most sophisticated fare, but in addition to being a great sappy love story, the sort of thing for which I am a sucker, it is also a love song for New York, and especially for my neighborhood, the Upper West Side. I remember going to soccer camp in high school and meeting girls from rural New Jersey and Pennsylvania who were amazed to learn that I actually lived in Manhattan. "Wait," one of them asked me. "You're from New York? Are you a prostitute? Have you ever been stabbed?" Umm, not exactly. Instead, to me, even after all of these years, New York continues to be one of the most magical places in the world. (As John Updike said, "The true New Yorker believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding." Sorry, I sound like a snob. Ok, I know that it is unlikely I will be able to afford to live here forever. So just grant me my happy spring New York, okay?)

 My love of New York is never stronger than it is in the springtime, especially after a particularly horrid winter like the one we had. My parents were generous enough to buy me a new camera for my birthday, so my sister Sarah and I took it to the Conservatory Garden and North Woods in Central Park to try it out. If you've never been to the Conservatory Garden, you are totally missing out. It's on the East Side, with an entrance on 5th at 104th street. It's actually three gardens in one-- an Italian one, an English lawn garden and, my personal favorite, the French garden. We spent most of our time in the French garden, but overall spent a glorious hour or so wandering around, taking pictures, smelling the flowers, and reveling in the beautiful spring day.

Look at me, so happy under the Magnolia

And in case I didn't convince you about New York's glorious beauty, a few of the shots I took with my new toy:

Finally, I've been hearing from a number of you about how much you're enjoying the blog. I'm so glad! Keep reading, and always feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments, or by emailing me here!

What did you do on your glorious Sunday?

What I'm wearing: Boden skirt (bought during the mid-season sale because who has $68 to spend on a jersey skirt?), Jones New York shirt via TJ Maxx (similar here), Toms shoes (similar here), Gap Factory jean jacket (similar here)

Stitch Fix Review April 2015: A Stitch Fix Rite of Passage

Hello friends! The moment you have been waiting for since Tuesday has finally arrived. My next Stitch Fix review! (If you want a reminder of how Stitch Fix works, see my earlier blog post here.)

Things have been so busy in the last month that the time flew by and the next thing I knew, I got an email that my fix was coming. Fix days are always an exciting occasion (who doesn't like to get surprises, even if they have to pay for them?) so it was disappointing that my FedEx guy and I were having some communication issues. However, when I arrived home today, my package was waiting at my door! Third time is the charm, I guess.

I will tell you right now that this fix was not super successful. Sadly, Amber, who hit my style on the head last month, was not available to do my fix this month. And while I have to give Shannon an A for effort, most of the things she sent were just not quite right. Let's take a look.

Look how nicely they package everything up for you! So fun to unwrap and see what's inside...

My invoice-- it would have been $232.50 to keep everything
with the 25% discount

My style card

Laila Jayde Savannah Dolman Top in Grey-- $38

 You know how I called this post "A Stitch Fix rite of passage?" This top is one of the reasons why. Based on the blogs I read, everyone gets a Dolman top eventually. Usually what seems to happen is people see them in their box, don't like them, try them on, and find them so comfortable that they decide to keep them.

 Suffice to say, that did not happen to me. I hated this top. It made me look big where I am small, and I totally don't get the arms. Am I supposed to be like a bat? Seriously, what's the deal? Plus, the fabric, while very soft, was super thin. Who would spend $38 on a glorified t-shirt? Answer: not me.
Status: returned!

Am I bat or a person? Nobody is sure!

Pink Martini Morset Textured Cardigan in Turquoise-- $68

What I liked about this sweater: the color. Unfortunately, I like the color so much that I already have a v-neck cardigan in this color. What I didn't like about this sweater: pretty much everything else.

First of all, as you can see, it was HUGE? I don't know who they thought it was a size small for? Maybe some sort of giant monkey? Second, it really reminded me of the dolman top which, as you likely gathered, is not a compliment. Third, what is the point of a sweater with holes in it? Very confusing. Finally, I have a million (not actually, but sort of) v-neck button front cardigans, so I am not looking to add any more to my collection.
Status: returned!

Kut from the Kloth Sylvan Crochet Detail Top in White-- $68

So in theory, this shirt was great. I love crochet and eyelet-type details. This is the sort of detail I love, and I've pinned a lot of things like this on my Pintrest board. Also, a good white button down shirt is not be underestimated. However, in practice, this was not a success.

 The real issue was the modesty problem. How on earth does ANYONE-- even someone who shows shoulders and cleavage-- wear this shirt? Who wants to wear a strapless bra with a button down shirt? And obviously this does not fit the modesty parameters I laid out.

I also wasn't so into the fit. I felt like it was a little boxy, other than around the hips (that almost always happens for me with button down shirts.) Sarit, my lovely photographer, liked the way it looked, but I felt like it was a little matronly. I also didn't like the button cover. She said it would have worked with a high waisted skirt, which is likely true, but there was no way to wear it, so it doesn't matter.
Status: Returned

Margaret M Emer Textured Tall Straight Leg Pants in Colbalt-- $98

The color is a little faded in this picture, but I wanted to show the texture.

This is the other Stitch Fix rite of passage-- the Emer pants. My sister and three of my friends have gotten them and all love them. My mom liked them so much when she got her first pair that she got a second pair in her second fix. So I was super excited to see them on the list. Until I put them on. And then... ooooh no.

It is a sign of how much I love all of you that I am willing to put
a picture of me in these hideously unflattering pants on the internet.

I had asked for colored pants, so that is likely why they sent these to me. The texture REALLY didn't work for me, and neither did the cut. I think they were actually a little too big and that's why they bunched and pulled the way they did? Unclear. But the best way I could think of to describe them was "shiny leggings." That's not a look I've got for since I was six.
Status: Returned

Papermoon Remmie Geo Print Maxi Skirt in Teal Green-- $58

Don't worry, friends. One item was a success! I had also asked for a maxi skirt. I find them difficult to find because most of them have fold-over tops, which isn't a great look for me. But this one came through for me!

This picture was taken at sort of a weird angle so I decided to add some mirror selfies too.

 The skirt is a little too long, but I can fiddle with it in a way that makes it work. I love the pattern and it's super comfortable. I wish the fabric had been a little more substantial and the price a bit lower, but it was definitely worth keeping anyway.

 Status: Kept!

So thus it goes. I'm going to ask for Amber to do my next fix, so hopefully it will be a little more on target than this one. In the meantime, I look forward to wearing my maxi skirt very soon! I think it will look very cute with a jean jacket, or with a black top like I'm wearing it in these pictures, and can have a shirt tucked in or out. As for the other things, perhaps they will find a happy home with someone with different taste than me.

So despite my disappointment, will I do it again? Totally. First of all, I have referral credits to use. Can't waste those! Second, I kept one item I liked a lot, so I see this as successful, if not as much as some previous fixes. Third, I'm hoping that Amber will come back to me. And finally, it's fun! So leave your thoughts in the comments and come again soon!

Want to try Stitch Fix for yourself? Click here and sign up today!

We're Famous!

Ok, well, not really. But did I get your attention?

I know I promised you a Stitch Fix review, but my FedEx guy and I are having some issues that will hopefully be resolved soon. As soon as it comes, I'll let you know how it goes, as you are obviously all losing sleep over my lack of review. But in the meantime...

On stage and ready for our opening act!

These pictures are actually from a few days ago, when I was still in LA. We had a super fun Sunday. Or, as Simon said, "On a scale of 1-10 of funness, today was a 100!" We had a morning at the farmer's market and playground, followed by ice cream and then a trip to Newsies! Newsies is doing a national tour these days, and it happened to be in LA while I was there. I had really wanted to see it on Broadway but hadn't been able to afford tickets, so this was very exiting.

I love Newsies, as I love musicals and I love dancing and I love feel-good sort of tales. My sister Rebecca's friend Rebeka also knew someone who knew someone in the show (how's that for a close connection?), so we got to go backstage! I've never been backstage at a show before, so it was really cool to see the props up close and the way they move all the scenery around.

Posing for the paparazzi! 

Also, in addition to being crazy talented (sometimes I can barely walk without tripping--how on earth can they dance like that???), all of the actors were so nice! Simon got to take pictures with many people in the cast, who also were kind enough to answer all of our questions.

This is when I ate ice cream for breakfast.

Maddie and I wore coordinated outfits. However, I did not chew on mine.

If you're interested in my outfit, which I assume you are at least nominally because you are here-- I really love this skirt. It has elastic in the back so it's super comfortable, and it's full enough to move around in easily. It's also very lightweight and I love the striped segments. It sort of reminds me of neckties, in a way. It was perfect for a day when I was both chasing Leo around, and going to the theater with Rebecca and Simon. I did have to go down two sizes from my usual Boden size, though, so be warned if you order it-- the skirt is super full, so you might want to order smaller than your usual.

Props and set

Newsies fans selfie!

If you need me, I'll be in the corner, singing Seize the Day to myself. Now I can't wait to see my next musical. What do you recommend? See you back here soon, I hope!

What I'm wearing: Willi Smith 3/4 sleeve shirt via TJ Maxx (similar here), Boden skirt, Franco Sarto sandals via DSW