accessorize with hockey stick

First, the Trench Dress. 100% wool, at least the outer layer is, and very nicely made. I tried on my "larger" size, and since the dress opens up the front and is held together with buttons and snaps, I just slipped it on over my tee. There was plenty of room, in fact a little too much room, and it moved nicely. I was told that my "smaller" size was not in the store, and decided to go home and order it rather than get involved with discussing whether they could or would do a store search. It arrived the other day and instead of being one size smaller, i.e. just a little snugger than the roomy larger size, it was snug. Period. Some of the buttons didn't even close and it was three inches shorter than the first try-on. Fail. But while I had it on, I realized why I hadn't just decided that the swingy larger size was the one - I had this vague sense that I'd left my hockey stick in the locker room.  If it had fit perfectly the first time I tried it, I'd have grabbed it without brooding and would have loved it. Given time to reflect….

Next, this year's silk blouse. The bright blue didn't do anything for me, but the vintage cabernet is a winner. I have a few things from last year and the year before, and I realized that the reason I was considering them "dubious" was that they were waiting for this blouse. To my delight, the buttons are a dark "pearl," not tinny metal, and the fabric has a lovely sheen.  It's more substantial then the Blythe, and happily doesn't have those gathers at the shoulder seam. Keeping. Will wear with the heavy wine and light blue tweed skirt, or my RL tweed patchwork jacket, or with anything pale grey or light camel or taupe. Thinking about the black.




I fell in love with the Merino Tippi in Mixed Stitch when I saw it in store, the wool is smooth and soft and I seem to have a lot of gray in my closet. When it was marked down, plus some mad bad promo or other, I ordered it in small and medium. I should have tried it on in the store. The small was just clingy enough to cause the change in pattern to happen right at the tips of my ... and while the medium was ok as to that feature, the extra room caused quite a few of the lines to be wavy and wobbly. I didn't care for the black and white combo, it looked like a failed test for astigmatism,




but I wish the gray and white had worked for me, and I would suggest that ladies who don't have bumps or bulges try it.


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24 comments:

  1. Fred, I love your reviews! You really hit the spot with the hockey sticks comment. Now I know that the fleeting image of bullying off that I occurred when I saw this dress wasn't a flashback!

    Glad the blouse is a keeper - love the colour!

    I've been brainwashed and have ordered the Andie Chinos. Hmmm. They're back ordered for ages, so if they ever arrive, I'll be able to report if they live up to their glowing write up on the JC website.

    I didn't comment on your fart tee shirt post, but it did make me giggle!

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    1. Hi, Ruth, thanks! I hope the Andies work for you, it's so rare that I have any luck with JC pants.

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  2. As a migraine sufferer, I thought the same thing when I saw the mixed-stitch Tippi. It looks like a scintillating scotoma. The manager at my B&M said that she purchased it and upon hand washing it shrunk so much that she gave it to her 2 year old. Caveat emptor!

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    1. It shrank? I'm shocked, shocked, to learn that there is shrinking going on here.

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  3. Thanks for the reviews. I love the silk blouse and am wondering about sizing. The Blythe didn't work well for me, too tight across the shoulders. Did you get the silk blouse in the same size as the Blythe?

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    1. Hi, Marie's, I've never tried on a Blythe. I guessed and got my regular Perfect shirt size, and it's fine.

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    2. Oops, autocorrect gave you a new name! I'm sorry!

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  4. Hockey sticks - I really see it now! I am glad to see a blouse with more substance than the Blythe! Too bad about the sweater - I avoided for same reason, though I did love it...

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  5. Hi, WMM, I really liked the dress on the hangar, but stuff happens. IMO, the new silk blouse is a real step up from the Blythe.

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  6. It was about time we moved on from the "paper thin silk that adds a touch of breathability" to the Blythe. When Landsend has better quality silk than the Crew at a quarter of the price, something's out of order. I have to try this blouse now!

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    1. All I can say is mine was a pleasant surprise !

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  7. I didn't like this Tippi in my normal size, but liked it a lot when I sized up. I have the silk blouse in blue and I agree completely that this blouse is great. The color you chose looks really nice but I had to satisfy my blue phase. Not sure what to say about the dress, it looks nice but any more I assume J. Crew dresses won't fit me right and if one does then it's a nice surprise.

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  8. Hi , cate, I'm glad you like the blouse. Sizing up didn't help me with the Tippi, sadly.

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  9. Like you, I had to try quite a few toads before finding the prince. Guess I am not the body muse for J Crew.

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    1. I
      Hi, BlueBooby, mostly it's the little Empire dresses that leave me out. Oh, and the mid- thigh winter coats. Who at J.Crew thinks he's Napolépn I ? Oh . Right.

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    2. Autocorrect doesn't like autocrats, I guess. In case anyone was wondering, that was Napoléon.

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    3. I like mid-thigh winter coats ;) but then I'm 5'2" ish and live in SoCal.

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    4. Hi, tr, I can understand that - but on this coast the wind and snow and stuff like tgat make me grateful for long coats.

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  10. I like the grey patterned sweater, but the black one-- could cause seizures, I fear. And the migraines.

    Sooo glad to hear that silk shirt does not have those pooofy little gathers in the front shoulder area. I will keep an eye out for these.

    I am not even interested in fall yet. Have not bought September Vogue as the daughter I look at that with is in S America so would make me feel lonesome. Must buck up.

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    1. Aw, Lane.
      I just tried on the blouse again. Definitely an improvement over the Blythe.

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  11. I had high hopes for that dress, oh well, off the list and that's OK since I don't wear dresses much. Good to hear this season's silk blouse is worth considering, I didn't like the shoulder gathers of the blythe so did not venture beyond the ones with dots to learn much of their chintziness. I've been drunk with Crewlade for almost all the tippis but for some reason stayed sober on the mixed stitch. Now I know why, you called it ... the failed test for astigmatism.

    Husby just asked me what's so funny ...

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    1. Imagine wearing that to a 3-D movie (with glasses).

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