Lands End Cotton Model Button Turtleneck (aka camel is not my colour...)

As I said in the last post, when I got back to my parents house for the holidays, I ended up with a ton of stuff that I had ordered. It actually felt a bit overwhelming and I think necessitates a shopping hiatus for a while...


But, one of the things I ordered was the Lands End Cotton Modal Button Turtleneck (available here in limited sizes and a similar style here in a full colour/size range). I couldn't resist...they were $14.99 and provided a great ride-along to some gifts I bought for Christmas. I got a black and a camel colour. 


This was supposed to be my alternative to the J. Crew Tissue Turtleneck - I wanted to be able to layer with this tee but also wear it on its own, and let's be honest...I have too many lumps and bumps in the tummy area to wear tissue tees on their own. The LE Button Turtleneck actually looks a lot like I would think the Woolly Ribbed Turtleneck looks like (that one is mostly sold out) but a tee knit, not a sweater knit.


Fit: I ordered a small and that is definitely the right size. The perfect size, actually. For example,  I'm normally a J. Crew 8 although I can often fit into 6's at other stores  for tops (i.e. Talbots). I think LE small is a 6-8, though, so it makes sense. Essentially, though, if you're smaller than a 4 - you're out as it only goes down to XS. Fit is great - it actually fits like it does on the model! Nice and fitted, nipped in the waist, hits at low hip, sleeves are form-fitting but not tight. Well-made, nice and thin knit (but not too thin - not going to get holes or anything) that's really stretchy and comfy!


Style: Some of the key features of this top are the button cuffs and the scrunch neck. In case you can't tell from the pic, there is a ruched neck which is nice (you don't have to fold it over). The buttons are less nice...I have to say they almost (but not quite) ruin the shirt. The black buttons aren't so bad, but they look a little cheesy on the camel. Other than that, though, its a great basic layering or just casual turtleneck tee!

 On a side note...as you can see from the pictures, camel is just NOT my colour unfortunately. Although the lighting here is very yellow, you can see in the bottom close-up shot what the true colour of the shirt is. What can I do to make this shirt better for me? Even layering a more flattering colour might not work given that the neck is right at my face...










Detail Shots:

This is the true camel colour

Black buttons

I'll be posting my J. Crew GIFTS promo photo reviews soon too - but just as a teaser...The highlight of the order was definitely the Factory Merino Boyfriend Sweatshirt (or as I explained it to my boyfriend - "the sweatershirt"). Solid Colours  and Stripes available in a full range of sizes on the J. Crew Factory Store Online for $49.50 and $59.50 respectively. I got a Mustard colour solid and the Ivory/Navy Stripe and I love them...well made (it seems), nice light merino wool (ivory is a titch sheer) with a flattering style. I missed the original Merino Boyfriend Sweatshirt so I'm glad I grabbed these up after seeing it all over the blogosphere...if you didn't grab any when they were retail, or like the idea of the stripes, take advantage of the 30% off factory right now! Or get into your Crewlet and see if you can find them cheaper than $50.



This pic is a little bit of the Ivory/Navy Stripe sweater plus my adorable Yorkshire Terrier. 


Did anyone see the Factory Merino Boyfriends IRL as compared to the Retail Merino Boyfriends? I'd love to know if they compare in your eyes...

Lands End Luxe Down Coat Review (and a few others!)

I received my coat a while ago, but I could not find my camera charger and then it was exams...so, here we are. The Luxe Down Coat has been getting a lot of wear from me lately given that it has been very cold here! 


I ship everything to my parents house (its a long story...but essentially my real apartment is the blackhole of shipping by courier. Not only do couriers not even try to knock on my door, instead of just leaving a shipping notice on my mailbox in another building, I don't have a car so it is impossible to get to the Purolator/UPS/whatever depot during the 9-5 hours they are open. I've had several things sent back and now I just ship to my parents) so, when I go home, it means that I get a pile up of awesome presents from myself! 


This time, I got two turtlenecks from LE and my GIFTS promo order. GIFTS reviews to come, but LE turtlenecks will be in the next post. 


The Details:


Lands End Luxe Down Coat (available here) - $179.50 (I paid just over $115 I think given that Lands End sales are easy to come by)


There are limited regular sizes/colours left at this point, but I would assume they will come back into stock at some point. It also comes in petite and plus. 

With belt tied and hood up

Fit: I got the Spice Brown in a medium (which is a 10-12). It is TTS if you consider the numeric sizing. While I wouldn't normally consider a medium a 10-12 (in my mind it's an 8-10 or even sometimes a 6-8), this is definitely a size 10-12. For me, my hips are often a 10 and this fits well/slightly loose in the hips and quite loose on the top, although the arms are comfortable. It's not too big, its just big enough to layer a sweater or hoodie and to move around. You don't want to look like you're poured into a winter coat right? My mom also ordered a LE Coat (the Chevron Down Coat) this winter. Her normal size is XS tops, or 4 petite. She ordered an XS petite (numerical size 2-4) and it fits well. 


Style: It's a nice coat. It gives me the feeling - although its entirely possible that feeling is just warmth! The only part of this coat that sucks is that I wanted grey but it sold out. The brown is a medium chocolate brown - the picture of the hood at the bottom of the page shows the colour most accurately. It has a slight sheen to the fabric. the belt cinches the coat nicely and adds a stylish touch and the fake fur hood is cute. I don't feel like I can't go out in this coat...in fact, I want to go out in it because its so warm. 

Side view

Quality: This coat is both incredibly warm (tested to -25 Celsius for me) and has a ton of well-made details that really speak to the quality. I've included some detail shots of the buttons, fleece cuffs and the hood but I'll talk about them for a minute. The cuffs are lined with tighter fleece cuffs - provides comfort and warmth. The pockets hit at the right height and they're lined with fleece and not zippered - again comfort and warmth. I hate brushing my wrists against zippers when my hands are in my pockets. The down seems quality and the whole coat is light but has a feel of good construction.

With belt removed

All in all - I'm a huge fan of this coat and can't believe I went so long in the frozen north without a down coat! Highly recommend Lands End service and quality!


















Detail Pics:

Fleece cuffs

Button detail

Hood/true colour

Favourite Gifts

Inspired by FFM's post here I decided to blog about a list of my favourite things/best gifts I ever received. 


1. J. Crew Cashmere Zip-up Hoodie (here)
I have the heather grey from last year - it was a Christmas gift from my lovely mother and it is absolutely my favourite item in my closet. I wear is as loungewear most of the time - the cashmere is gorgeously soft and I love grey. It's versatile, though since its a sweater rather than a sweatshirt, and I don't feel bad going out with it and my jeans. It's incredibly warm and snuggly, I even sleep in it when it's cold! My usual J. Crew medium is slouchy but a good fit, although I could have gotten a small.








2. L.L. Bean Boat Tote - Medium sized Open Top w/ Long Handles (here)
I don't remember if this was a gift from someone else or a gift to myself, but I have the red with the long handles. I love this bag. It fits a ton of stuff, it is incredibly sturdy and its cute (I have a monogram). It's great as a beach bag, gym bag, school bag in the medium size. The large with the zip top could be a weekender, and the small could be a lunch bag! I think this is a classic and at such a good price, you could use it to wrap a present for someone special!

3. Pearl Necklace
This again was a gift from my mother for university graduation perhaps? My strand is about 18" of Akoya pearls in your classic size (7mm?). I wear it constantly and anytime when I am channeling either a professional or preppy vibe. I was in a sorority and I think owning pearls was a requirement or something! I am looking to expand my collection and get a strand of black pearls as well as a rope length strand (that can be doubled/tripled/knotted) and maybe even some baroque pearls for when I'm feeling dangerous.




4. Stila Travel Palette (here) 
This was a gift to myself but its lovely and a great stocking stuffer price for any ladies in your life ($13 CAD). I have the "Make an Impression in Moscow" palette which includes pinky browns and a light blue with a pale cream blush/lipcolour. It looks good on my pale skin and I've always been impressed with the quality of Stila's palettes. 








5. Bath and Body Works Shower Gels (here)
Way before Bath and Body works came to Canada, 
I was given one of these as a gift from an American friend and I loved it. I know a lot of people can't wear perfume to work but a scented body wash is a great way to wake up in the morning, and they always have festive scents, which I get really in to!








6. Leather Jacket - I own a greige leather jacket from Danier Leather in a classic jacket style similar to this one
A birthday present from my SO, my jacket is one of my favourite items (I love wearing it with my grey cashmere hoodie on slummy days).  I think the loveliest presents are those that are classic, timeless items made with quality craftsmanship so they will last a long time. This jacket is well-made and timeless, I think, so that everytime I wear it, I think of the wonderful BF who bought it for me. 




7. Tassimo Home Brewing System (here)


This was a housewarming gift from my mother (again! she gives the best gifts - probably because I am her only child so I know she spends days and days finding lovelies for me). My tassimo is my favourite thing in the world and I could not live without it. If you are just one or two in your house who drink coffee, or even one who likes coffee, the other likes tea or a specialty drink, this is perfect for you. You buy discs, it reads the barcode and spits out your drink in about 30 seconds. I know there are various types of these systems out there but now Tassimo's are on the less expensive end. I find the selection of discs good and they are carried in Walmart and all major and minor grocery stores so it is easy to get - this is a huge factor. I do not want a special stop when I run out of coffee!

I can't find my camera charger!

I was hoping to post a long awaited review of my LE Luxe Down Coat but now that I've taken pictures, my camera charger is nowhere to be found, and the battery is absolutely dead. Long story, but my camera has to be on to upload pictures to my computer (because I also lost the little adapter to put the memory card into...). *sigh*


Hopefully it will miraculously appear soon. 


In the meantime, I thought I'd post an OOTD that is an absolute favourite of mine. I'm in law school so I often have occasions when its clear that a suit or anything that looks business-y is TOO much, but also when casual just doesn't mean jeans worn in a schlubby way. This is maybe a little too dressy for class, but I have worn it out to dinner, to casual (non-job) meetings with lawyers and professors. 


Components:
1. J. Crew Distressed Sailor Tee? It's a three-quarter sleeved loose-fitting tee with metallic gold stripes that are faded and distressed towards the bottom. I got a L on a promo this summer and I love this shirt! It has just enough sparkle for me, looks great with shorts, jeans, anything. 
2. J. Crew Wool Gabardine 2-button Suiting Jacket (here) in Black, size 8. I have the full 3 piece suit (it was the first suit I ever bought) and I like it a lot. It's a great lightweight interview suit that I know will last a long time. 
3. American Eagle straight fit jeans in some dark wash that I got on sale at the beginning of the skinny jean trend before I realize I liked skinnies (similar here). These straight jeans are nice, I have to say...they don't cling but they are tuckable!
4. Aldo Black Pumps (similar here and here - although I don't really recommend Aldo shoes for comfort. Cheapness yes, comfort no.)

J. Crew GIFTS Promo Haul

Procrastinating law school exams has not helped me stay away from blogs or from the J. Crew website. It definitely didn't help me resist the newest promo - 30% off $250 and free shipping! I got a great haul that I'm really excited about for $370 (taxes, duties all in) which is pretty amazing...it would be easy to drop that much in the mall, and this is for things I've really thought about wanting for a while. 

Without further ado...

1. Factory Merino Boyfriend Sweatershirt - I missed out on the merino boyfriend sweatshirt trend and then was jealous from all the blogs, I'm hoping the outlet version will be as nice. I got the Dijon Mustard colour (hoping it'll be like honey glaze) and the Ivory and Navy striped version. 

2. Dulphine Bling Button Cardigan - I got myself one in vivid poppy as I sadly do not have a red cardigan despite loving red and one for my mom as a small gift in black pine (I think she'll like the colour - she tends to go for grey and black and this might be a nice slightly different neutral alternative). She doesn't like heavy sweaters for work either since her workplace is always heated like crazy, and this should be a nice one for her. Bought her x-small and myself medium based on the reviews online. 

3. Dazzling Deer Art Tee - Got myself this in M. I just kept picturing myself wearing it at Christmas and I couldn't get the image out of my mind.

4. Cambridge Cable Shawl Collar Cardigan - Got myself a medium in Nightfall Blue, which looks like an absolutely gorgeous colour that'll be great with my winter colouring. I love cable knits and shawl collars so I know I'll love this baby. Price doesn't hurt either!

5. Stretch vintage Bootcut Cords - ordered a 31R in these, although I'm worried it might be a touch big. I am always questionable on J. Crew bottoms. But I saw these styled in a catalog somewhere or something and couldn't get over how great the colour was. 

6. Wool Bell Skirt - Got it in heather aluminum in a size 10...hoping this will allow me to wear at the hips for length if need be although I do not mind shorter skirts (my legs being my better features). I'm also hoping this won't turn out to be an orphan skirt, but rather something I am able to incorporate into my wardrobe more consistently.

7. Leopard Patent Belt - I'm very excited about this for $13.99! Thinking it will be great with the above skirt and a longer high waisted one I have in black. 

8. Some gifts for my SO who occasionally reads this so they will not be mentioned!

Soia & Kyo Coats

I'm getting excited to receive my LE Luxe Down Coat...but for now, the weather isn't too cold and I've been wearing my two mainstay coats. Both are by the Canadian brand Soia & Kyo. You can see their online boutique here, but many smaller stores carry the line, at least in major Canadian cities. 


I find their coats to be really well made, quite warm for a woolen coat, and very stylish and distinctive. Its a popular brand in Montreal (you can normally tell a Soia & Kyo coat when you see it because it's quite a distinctive style) and given that Montreal is known for a) being COLD and b) being quite a stylish place, I think that's quite a recommendation. 


The coats are pricey: I paid about $300 CAD for my first coat and about $150 CAD for my second, but that was a very lucky Winners find (a discount store that stocks various brands - there are lots of similar types of stores in the states as well). 

The first coat I have from them is a lovely mid-thigh length houndstooth number. This is my answer to the classic black wool winter coat. It's a bit more interesting, goes with everything in the same way black does and makes it waaaaay easier to find my coat in a pile at parties! The fabric is a wool/acrylic but I find its worn well - I bought this coat in fall of 07 and continue to wear it on a daily basis in the winter even now. It's a bit of a rougher weave than my other Soia & Kyo coat but very warm and snuggly in the winter. The collar is the best part...it's very high and stylish and keeps the neck quite warm when its windy. You can wear it down and it becomes a nice asymetrical look (in the picture at right) or higher up with the top button buttoned and it protects the neck.


The second coat I have is a very fun cape-style coat in a pinky-red wool with a faint herringbone pattern. This is the one I got on super discount at Winners. Obviously, its not the most practical winter coat but its great for fall or when you want to be quite stylish (like going out to dinner/the bars at night). This wool is very soft and snuggly and has the same high asymetrical collar that can we worn differently depending on how many buttons you button. It's warm enough for many fall/early winter days, and can be worn like you'd wear a down vest in terms of temperature - it keeps the body warm but not the extremities. I have a pair of long gloves I wear with it when not wearing long sleeves. You can see the cape-like sleeves let air in, but essentially it's like a sleeveless coat underneath and then a cape on top, so there is protection for the upper body. It also has a belt, like the other coat, which is a pretty common feature on all Soia & Kyo coats. 


This year, I really like these coats from Soia & Kyo, although my coat buying budget is maxed at the moment. 

The "Violet" - $370 CAD 
Also available in a great dark red, as well as brown and black. The zipper is very trendy right now and I love the ruching on the pockets. 




























The "Ivet" - $430 CAD
 What a lovely print - very similar to my houndstooth coat. If its like mine, below the belt are interior buttons so it keeps out the cold all the way to the bottom of the coat. 

 The "Mia" - $350 CAD
This is my favourite of their Fall/Winter collection. Its also available in black and a dark purple, but this grey is gorgeous with the black trim. It looks classy yet futuristic and I think it would be a great alternative to the traditional black wool coat. 


They also have some lovely leather and down coats available, but I can't attest to the quality or stylishly of those IRL. Overall though, I give Soia & Kyo a 4 **** or cashmere rating. They are stylish, distinctive and yet classy and appropriate for anyone, and incorporate trends in what I see as a timeless and lovely way.                            

Lands End Luxe Down Coat

I've been wanting a down coat for quite a while now, less so for every day, but more for the early morning dog walks and late night dog walks and those particularly bitter winter days in Toronto. My SO is from Manitoba, and last year when I was there over Christmas, it got down to -50 Celsius with the wind chill! I thought I was literally going to die as the breath was sucked from my body...but I survived. I just won't be attempting it again in a wool coat. 

So I bit today on the Lands End Luxe Down Coat - there are only a few hours left of the Lands End Anniversary Sale - 30% off and Free Shipping with code LESHARE30 and PIN 7758! Unfortunately, by now, lots of the Outerwear merchandise is picked over, especially in smaller sizes. 

I picked up the Luxe Down coat in a size medium (there was some serious size questioning on this) but picked the medium in the end because its a long coat. I definitely have much wider hips than anything else, and while I would normally go with a LE small in tops and sweaters, or even in a short jacket, I really don't want this coat to pull over the hips, so I went with the medium. My hip measurements fit right in between the 10 and 12 (medium for LE). The belt should create a waist even if its slightly big, IMO.

I had to go with the spice brown colour because just as I checked out, the gorgeous Arctic Grey got removed from my cart. I can see why the colour is so popular, its gorgeous and different, but I like the brown and it should be easier to keep clean. 


I'll update this with a review when I get the coat but I'm looking forward to it!

Review: Dr. Scholl's For Her Heel Liners

I have about the lowest tolerance for foot pain of anyone I know. Therefore, I live in flip flops for approximately 8 months of the year (and p.s. I do not live in a temperate climate by any means) and UGGs for as much of the rest of the year as possible. 


Unfortunately for me, I haven't chosen a profession that has accepted flip flops or UGGs as footwear choices for the workplace...yet. Ever. :( So I am always on the look out for comfort enhancing measures and comfortable shoes. My newest shoe love is Sofft brand heels - they are by far the most cushioned, balanced shoes I've had. The heel feels incredibly sturdy, and the footbed is one of the only ones that doesn't cause me ball of foot pain within a new hours. 


My newest comfort-enhancing measure is heel liners. I bought a pair of incredibly cheap but incredibly cute flats not too long ago and wore them for a few hours to come home to shredded, bloody heels. (Sorry) The results of those 2 hours plagued me for a few weeks as I desperately tried to find shoes that didn't rub on those places on my heels. It sucked. Now that the heels are healed (lol)...I would like to be able to wear the flats again. 


Dr. Scholl's For Her Heel Liners -(here - I paid $6.99 CDN at Superstore)
These are essentially thin curved pieces of soft plastic that stick in the backs of the shoe. They are supposed to both prevent rubbing/pain on the heels and to help heels not slip out of shoes. 


First of all, they stick on well and don't seem to be going anywhere. They're fairly thin and unless a shoe is already tight, they don't change the fit a lot...although they seem to be making my cheap flats widen out a little bit when they are on the foot. 


In terms of preventing rubbing, they're great. They have totally transformed the back of my cheap flats - they had rough edges that rubbed before and now with the liners in, the backs are smooth and soft and comfortable. 


In terms of preventing heel slip...they're ok. I always have the issue that heels that fit with bare feet slip at the backs when I wear nylons. So I put these in a pair of high heels that slip for interview week because not only does slipping look sloppy but I find it causes foot pain and tiredness because I tend to grab with my toes in order to combat the slipping. They do an okay job of preventing slipping - more because they add grip but I still found that as the day went on, I got a bit of slipping in my smaller foot. 


Overall, I'd give these a 3 star (***) or merino rating. They're good, they're cheap and if you buy shoes that cut your feet, they will stop that, for cheaper than it costs to actually buy decently made shoes. They may also help the nylon slipping problem for you, but I'm not guaranteeing it. 

OOTD

This outfit really needs something else - I think a blazer in a nice fall colour would have been just the thing.


Nevertheless...


Shirt: Black Mexx Cowl-Neck top (gift)
Pants: Joe Fresh Ankle Skinny Cords in grey ($19 at Superstore!)
Shoes: Joe Fresh Patent Flats ($15? at Superstore)

J. Crew Final Sale - oops

As I've said...I rarely go to the trouble of returning online orders anyway, especially those from American companies, unless there is an actual huge problem. Therefore, J. Crew final sale is wonderful for me (especially with the Free Shipping) because I end up saving a lot by giving up a return priviledge I don't use anyway.


Unfortunately...I bit hard on final sale this time.


Here's my recently purchased cart:


Rimini Cardigan ($34.99 with 30% off) - Cobblestone, size M (here)
Oh how I've wanted you for so long, dear Rimini. Thanks to a stressful week that finally made me actually purchase something from J. Crew! I'm pretty excited about this baby...it's been on my wishlist for a long time. For $35...it's definitely worth it. I would easily spend that much on a crappy sweater at H&M. 








Tulipe Cami ($48.99) - Olive Moss, size 8
I've been looking at this one for a long time. I'm liking olive for fall, and this is a darker one from the looks of things. Also, I have an unhealthy love of cowl necks and of camis (for wearing under cardigans, natch). Hoping this one works out.






Calista Cami ($27.99) - Dark Rosewood, size 8
Mmmm...dark rosewood. This is going to be a great colour for me (I'm a winter) plus I love the really strong pleated neck going on. I think it'll be a winner under my black suit or even a grey suit for interview week. Although, I feel my drycleaning bill going up just looking at this order. Meh.


Bettina Cami ($13.99) - Dried Rose, size 8
I was eyeing the olive for a long time but it sold out since the beginning of the MUSTHAVE promo. Ah well. I bought the Dried Rose since it's so incredibly cheap (Old Navy T-shirt price cheap) and it'll handwash - or more likely go in the machine. Plus not having the olive made me go for the Tulipe. Moar shopping. I imagine wearing this under...a navy cardigan? Hmmm...am somewhat regretting the purchase now that I think about the colour. But whatevs. It'll match something.


Lace Panel Tee ($10.49) - Windsor Grey, size M
Again, Old Navy prices. Looked cute. Was somewhat swayed by the grey - I don't own a grey tee...don't know how that's possible but I don't. I have a deep seated love of grey anyway so this'll be great under black cardis. Potentially also under a blazer...have to evaluate the dressiness of it when it's here.


Dream Draped V Neck Sweater ($34.99) - Black, size M
I had the olive colour in my cart and it sold out before I actually completed check-out. Lovely. Picked black instead after evaulating the fact that I do not own a non-button black sweater. Or not one I like at least. I think perhaps the Calista will look good with it. Also think it'll look great with jeans, grey pants and the new grey cords I picked up at Joe Fresh for $19 dollars Canadian. You Americans are so unlucky when it comes to lack of Joe Fresh-ness. Could I belt this sweater?


Anyway, I'm still waiting for the Merino and Mohair Shawl Sweater to go on FS - hopefully during the next promo. 

Talbots Fitting Room Pics and Reviews

I finally got up the courage to step into a Talbots, thanks mostly to the recent reviews from Gigi of Gigi's Gone Shopping and Rose of 1 More Shopping Blog . I'm in my 20's and while my style is a little more mature, most of my friends would laugh me out of town for wanting to hit up Talbots. But today I was shopping with a friend with a more professional, classic style and she didn't mind that I wanted to head in and check it out. 


Overall, the store was quite busy despite the fact that on a weekday morning, the mall itself was quite deserted. I guess the older crowd that seemed to be in Talbots shops weekday mornings. There seemed to only be 2 associates and while they were quite happy to start me a fitting room, they were a little flustered over all. I was particularly looking for this blouse (which now that I look, says is web only...duh), the one pictured at right. I love silk blouses but silk button downs usually don't do it for me due to gaping. This looked like the perfect under suit layer. I'm likely going to order in online now that I have an idea of Talbots sizing too. I'll be ordering a 6 regular, although I would normally get an 8 from most stores.


I did try a few things on in the store that I had been eyeing on the website.



First up, Talbots Ruffled Shirt (here) - Size 6 regular in ivory. US price: $79.50, Canadian price: $109.50 (WTF!)


The only reason I didn't go home with this lovely blouse was its price. $110 (plus an additional 13% sales tax) is a lot of money for a blouse, and especially for the ruffle/button up style that is so popular this year. I know I could get something similar for $50...likely less. I may order it online depending on the duties/taxes/shipping I would have to pay, but $80 American...which with exchange would only be marginally more, is just way more reasonable for this item.


Otherwise, I loved this blouse. The ivory colour was perfect, the ruffles soft and looked like they would stay in good condition. The buttons were nice (cloth-covered if I remember correctly) and the silk was soft and felt quality. It was a bit thin and sheer in the ivory, but nothing a cami wouldn't fix. The size 6 was quite perfect for me, even over the bust (34C), which is a size smaller than my normal size/J. Crew size. 
Edited to Add: The more I look at this blouse, the more I want it. It really was perfect. Also, the ruffles at the neck (very J. Crew) were very architectural and nice.






Next, Talbots Kate Fit Boiled Wool Lady Jacket  pictured at right (here) - size 6 regular. US Price: $199, Canadian Price...$220???


I wanted to love this. I loved it online and in the lookbook. And I loved it on the hanger. But on me...it does me no favours. Maybe I should have tried an 8...but the fit just felt boxy. The arms felt too loose and the length not quite right. I did LOOOOVE the collar and the pockets and the boiled wool was quite nice. There are some this may work for better than it worked for me. Also $200 is a bit much for me to spend on a blazer...if it had a matching skirt, I would have maybe gotten it as a suit. 


Talbots Tweed Sheath (here) - size 8P. US Price: $169. Canadian Price: $209?


This was a bit tight, I would have gone with a 10P - the P length was great for me at 5"6. I didn't try on an 8 regular as there wasn't one in the store. It hit right above the knee. This was a nice dress - would look amazing under a black blazer. It was fully lined and the tweed had a LOT of stretch - it would be very comfortable. There was also nice detailing around the high neck. If I had a good excuse to buy this, I would. And still might. But it's not interview wear...and it is very "day" so I couldn't justify $200 on it. 


Talbots Ombre Dot Blouse (here) - size S. US Sale Price: $49.99, Canadian Sale Price: $69.99.


Really have to wonder what's up with the US/Canadian price differences here. I will likely be ordering anything online in the future, since I don't think even with duties, I will pay as much as in store in Canada. 


Anyway, this blouse was a disaster. I would have needed an EXTRA SMALL! Ladies, I am in no way an extra small...in anything, anywhere. It was boxy, it hit at the wrong place on my hip and although I loved the pattern/material/cute buttons up the back/cute little collar...I wouldn't have bought this for free. Looking at the picture makes me want to die. 


Edited to Add: There was a LOT of denim in the store in general. I didn't try any on...but I'm interested in some of the trouser jeans for sure.