Preview of What Is To Come…

I haven’t posted in a while, I know. I haven’t been enticed by much. That all changed this past week with some new arrivals I spotted online. Now I am coveting much more than my budget can possibly accommodate at this point. Here’s a peek at what will probably be showing up on this blog very, very soon.

Anthropologie Diamond Flame Skirt – $168 – How stunning is this skirt?? I was immediately drawn to it when I received the new Anthro catalog. I would never think to pair it with an aqua tank, but I think it works really well (which means I will probably end up picking up this tank also). This skirt is already on backorder for every size, so I guess I’m not alone in absolutely drooling over this skirt, despite the insane price tag.

Anthropologie Diamond Flame SkirtAnthropologie Diamond Flame Skirt

Anthropologie Blurred Boundaries Dress – $178 – This is a pretty insanely priced dress as well…but damn is it pretty. It’s so breezy it is the epitome of summer. It’s not like anything I would usually wear, but I strangely can’t stop stalking it online. Also on backorder in every size, so it looks like Anthro has a couple new hits on its hands.

Anthropologie Blurred Boundaries DressAnthropologie Blurred Boundaries Dress

J.Crew Watercolor Floral Pastiche Pencil Skirt – $110 – I know, I know, I still don’t think I can do pencil skirts, but I didn’t think it was possible to find a watercolor skirt with a print I love even more than the Sunshine skirt. I just can’t resist. No idea why it’s $12 more than the other similar pencil skirts, but who cares when the print is this adorable? I don’t know what it is, but it seems like I’m really into pretty prints lately…

J.Crew Watercolor Floral Pastiche Pencil Skirt

J.Crew Max and Molly Tee – $29.50 – I’m a sucker for tees with quirky prints, as evidenced by my previous A&F purchases. This one is quite charming. I can imagine pairing it with full, A-line skirts for a casual, semi-dainty feminine look.

J.Crew Max and Molly Tee

J.Crew Featherweight Cashmere Contrast Henley – $158 – Love henleys. Love little pops of neon. Just adorable. Since it’s featherweight, it won’t be too hot to wear in summer. I hope.

J.Crew Featherweight Cashmere Contrast HenleyJ.Crew Featherweight Cashmere Contrast Henley

Abercrombie & Fitch Ainsley Skirt – $50 – Yeahhhhh….it does not look like my addiction to Abercrombie is ending any time soon. This skirt just popped up on the site and I’m in love. Yup, it’s the pretty printed skirt thing again. Plus I know first hand how comfortable their elastic waistband skirts are, without all the typical cons of other elastic waistband skirts (the squishing, the unflattering waistband, etc.). I’m a little weary of the length of the skirt, since it looks short, and A&F for some reason refuses to publish the skirt lengths. Also it looks like $50 is probably way overpriced for a skirt that looks like it’s just flimsy pieces of cotton attached to a waistband, but I have to tell myself I’m paying for the beautiful print.

Abercrombie & Fitch Ainsley Skirt

Abercrombie & Fitch Abra Skirt – $50 – What a cute, bold print. I wasn’t initially attracted to it because my eyes were all over the Dawn skirt, but now I adore it. Paired with a solid tank, this skirt will really pop from blocks away.

Abercrombie & Fitch Abra Skirt

Michael Kors Hamilton Chain Tote – $298 – Ok, I usually only post about clothes, but I am also a huge bag and shoe fanatic. All my bags are designer bags, but that’s only because they’ve been the only ones I’ve liked the styles of. Total coincidence, I swear. I have never even paid any attention to Michael Kors bags, but damn is this bag gorgeous. First of all, the Luggage color. How much classier and versatile can a color get? I love this color and tend to get shoes and belts in the same, so this is a no-brainer. Second, the shape – perfect size, ideal shape, can be carried on shoulder or hand-held, perfect for laptops, papers, folders….in short, perfect for work. Third, the gorgeous hardware on the chain. Shiny gold hardware. I love bags that work well with shiny gold hardware – it just adds that perfect touch of glamor. Some say it is too much of a Hermes Birkin look-a-like, but I think it doesn’t look that similar. Or maybe I just love it too much to care…

Michael Kors Hamilton Chain Tote

Banana Republic Dahlia Bejeweled Wedge

I’ve been eyeing the Dahlia wedge from Banana Republic for a while. I’ve always worn flat sandals every spring/summer, and this year I wanted something just as comfortable but with a little more edge and height. It seems the Dahlia wedges fit the bill – lots of rave reviews about comfort, very simple and elegant look, and a huge 4″ heel. Well, I bit the bullet with their recent weekend 25% off promotion, and they arrived today.

Banana Republic Dahlia Bejeweled Wedge

Well, I have mixed feelings about the Dahlia wedge. It IS unbelievably comfortable, though understandably with a 4″ heel comes some awkwardness and blockiness in walking, especially if you’re trying to walk quickly. That said, the ball of feet area is very cushioned and the wedges are light. Definitely most comfortable wedge I’ve ever slipped my feet into. Now the not so good stuff…

Banana Republic Dahlia Bejeweled Wedge

Yes, the jewels are plastic, and though they are secured on the leather with some kind of metal hook thing into the top piece of leather, the jewels themselves are flimsy. Just as I pulled these out of the shoe box to look at them for the first time, the top jewel just popped off. Looks like not enough glue or maybe dried up glue in there. Thought about exchanging them right then and there, but I realized they are all glued on for every pair I can exchange for, so might as well arm myself with some super glue and deal with it now. Then I looked at the other shoe and it wasn’t in better shape.

Banana Republic Dahlia Bejeweled Wedge

Not sure if you can tell, but the bottom jewel has smeared remnants of dried up glue on the lower right hand corner. Does not come off. The middle jewel has a deep scratch. Side of the leather (not pictured) has been scratched with some dirt still remaining, but that came off with a simple pencil eraser so I won’t whine more about it here.

Banana Republic Dahlia Bejeweled WedgeBanana Republic Dahlia Bejeweled Wedge

Many women have also raved about how these wedges make their legs look miles long. But I think because of the block of leather right at the top of your ankle, it kind of cuts off the line of your leg. I didn’t even realize it until I took pictures and saw how stumpy my legs look here, as opposed to when I wore pumps or went barefoot in my previous pictures. Maybe it’s just these pictures…not sure. Anyway, here’s my conclusion about these Dahlia wedges – Banana Republic has clearly invested a lot in improving the comfort of their shoes. My last purchase from a few years ago was nowhere near this comfortable, and it was a flat! BUT…with this investment, they perhaps ran out of money to invest in touching up the details because they are not good. Are they still keepers at the price I got them at? Yup. Here are some more IRL pictures.

Banana Republic Bejeweled Dahlia WedgeBanana Republic Bejeweled Dahlia Wedge

I’m wearing: J.Crew Favorite Tank, Banana Republic Smocked Skirt (Similar here)

If you’re eyeballing these on the BR site, don’t hesitate to get them when a promotion comes rolling around (and they’re comin’ around pretttty often these days). Meanwhile, they’re $98 here at Banana Republic. Also comes in brown leather with multicolor jewels. I personally think the gray version looks more chic but both are gorgeous!