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This weekend I had a chance to spend the day scouting out a few new pieces for my Spring capsule wardrobe.  I got to have a day just for me, which is rare, so I spent the day doing what I wanted to!  I hadn’t been to J. Crew Factory in a while and had seen several things online that I wanted to see in person.  I also went to Madewell and tried on several things there as well.  I’ll share what I tried on there in another post in just a few days!

Because I use a Capsule Wardrobe and am conservative with my spending, I buy just a few items each season to go in my capsule wardrobe.  I’m so glad I started using a capsule wardrobe a few years ago.  I have a neat closet, always love what I wear, can get dressed in minutes, plus being conservative with my spending I was able to get myself out of debt!!!  If you would like to know how I create my capsule wardrobe each season, see the post, “How To Start A Capsule Wardrobe: 5 Step Visual Guide“.

I use my Core Closet Essentials in the Simplified Style: A Year-Round Core Closet Essentials Capsule Wardrobe to create my capsule wardrobe, but like to add a couple of trending items to freshen up my wardrobe.  Simplified Style will show you the basic essentials you need to create a complete wardrobe to wear all year.  I also use several pieces in Simplified Style when I create the seasonal capsule wardrobe eBooks available in the Capsule Wardrobe eBook Store.

CLICK HERE to get your copy today!

 

J Crew Factory is one of my favorite stores to shop.  They have great basic essentials for your wardrobe and they also have trending items as well.  I instantly spotted a couple of items I wanted to try on, the faux wrap dot skirt and the white skinny jeans.

sleeveless dot top / flamingo striped tee / faux wrap dot skirt / white skinny jeans

I’m loving this ruffle sleeve camp shirt in the navy dot pattern!

So, now onto the fitting room reviews…

tie front shirt in “black gingham” / 8″ midrise white skinny jeans / leather loafers in “warm beige”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

Gingham is a popular pattern to wear in the Spring.  It seems every Spring there is a least a few gingham tops that pop up at retailers!  I tried on this tie front shirt in “black gingham” in a Medium and instantly loved it!  It’s a well made top and the fabric is lightweight and soft.  Yep, I bought it for my Spring capsule wardrobe!  I already have a pair of white jeans that I have had for a couple of years, but I wanted to try on these 8″ midrise white skinny jeans just to compare.  They fit well, true to size (I tried my normal size 30) and they don’t seem to be see-through.  I love the color of these leather loafers in “warm beige”!  They are a good neutral beige color that will go with several outfits.  They are very comfortable and had to get them!  They fit true to size.

tie front shirt in “black gingham” / 8″ midrise white skinny jeans / leather loafers in “warm beige” / twill jacket in “mossy brown”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

I saw this twill jacket in “mossy brown” and thought it would be a great alternative to the utility jacket in a few of the season capsule wardrobe eBooks and in the Simplified Style eBook.  I love the color of this jacket!  It is a darker green color and the gold hardware details add interest to the jacket.  For size reference, I tried on a Large.  It comes in Plus and Petite sizes as well!  If didn’t already have my Madewell Utility Jacket, I would have bought this one.

 

Mon cheri T-shirt (so cute!) / chambray tie front pants / leather loafers in “warm beige”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

Next, I tried on this Mon cheri T-shirt and chambray tie front pants.  How cute is this striped tee?  Since it is a slimmer fit, I tried on a size Large and it fit perfectly.  I’m seeing wide leg pants at several retailers for the Spring season.  They became popular last year and are still on-trend.  I loved this chambray pair, but would have liked them better if they didn’t have the tie front.  I went ahead and bought them, but am not sure if I will keep them.  They are my normal size 10.  I found this almost exact pair in a pull-on style, with no tie-front.

 

I saw these light wash 10″ highest-rise skinny jeans with let-down hem and had to try them on!  The tone of the denim is so pretty and they are soft too.

10″ highest-rise skinny jeans with let-down hem

 

striped perfect fit top / 10″ highest-rise skinny jeans with let-down hem / leather loafers in “warm beige”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

Oh, it’s hard for me to pass up a striped tee.  I can’t have just one!  Stripes are such a versatile print and are considered a neutral pattern, so this striped perfect fit top was hard to pass up.  Because it has a slimmer fit than a regular tee, I sized up to a Large.  The stripes are dark enough you can wear them with black pants or jeans.  And, let me tell you these 10″ highest-rise skinny jeans with let-down hem fit perfectly!  I’ve been looking for a couple trending pairs of jeans for the Spring and I just had to get these.  I have curvy hips and the 10″ rise fits my waist just right without being too high.  They fit my normal size 30.

 

striped perfect fit top in “navy ivory” / sweater blazer in “heather gray” / 10″ highest-rise skinny jeans with let-down hem / leather loafers in “warm beige”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

I tried on this sweater blazer in “heather gray”.  I have seen them on other bloggers and looks like a great alternative to the traditional blazer.  It’s lightweight too!  I didn’t buy it because I wear more casual clothes, but if you need a different type of blazer, I recommend this one.  It also comes in camel, navy and black!  I’m wearing a size Medium for size reference.

 

chambray shirt / valley wash gray skinny jeans / leather loafers in “warm beige”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

I already have my Madewell Chambray Shirt that I love, but I wanted to try on this chambray shirt to compare.  This one fit really well.   It was a size Large for a roomier fit.  My first chambray shirt was from J Crew Factory years ago, but was a bit darker.  This one is a nice material color!  It’s soft too, so you can wear it alone or layer it under a sweater or cardigan.  These valley wash gray skinny jeans fit good.  They were my normal size 30.  They are a darker gray, which would look better in the cold months (I like to wear a lighter gray jean in the Spring and early Summer).

 

tie front shirt in “linda stripe white medi” / high rise button-fly step hem jeans / leather loafers in “warm beige”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

This is the same tie front as the gingham one above, but in a light blue stripe.  It’s the tie front shirt in “linda stripe white medi”.  They didn’t have a Medium in the store so it’s a Large and is bit big on me.  I already have a blue striped top that will be in my Spring capsule wardrobe, so I passed on this one.  But, it is so cute!  If you don’t have one, it would look great for the Spring season!  And, I’ve been wanting a pair of button fly jeans and had to try these on!  They are the high rise button-fly step hem jeans.  They fit perfectly in my normal size 30.  Being button-fly and a step hem style, so needless to say, they came home with me!

Here is the product photo…

high rise button-fly step hem jeans

 

long sleeve striped artist tee in “navy ivory” / high rise button-fly step hem jeans / leather loafers in “warm beige”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

I tried on the long sleeve striped artist tee in “navy ivory” with the high rise button-fly step hem jeans.  This top is almost identical to the striped perfect fit top above but with long sleeves.  I’m just seeing the “willow ivory” color online, which is so pretty and would be a great color for the Spring!

 

Printed navy V-neck three-quarter sleeve top / high rise button-fly step hem jeans / leather loafers in “warm beige”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

I tried on this printed navy V-neck three-quarter sleeve top and almost bought it but realized I had enough tops for my Spring capsule wardrobe.  The navy floral pattern is so pretty on this top.  The top lays well and would be versatile wearing it with jeans as shown above or dressed up with pants, a blazer or cardigan and heels!  I’m wearing a size Medium for size reference.

 

A closer view of the pattern on the printed navy V-neck three-quarter sleeve top:

printed navy V-neck three-quarter sleeve top

 

scalloped hem sweater in “natural” / high rise button-fly step hem jeans / leather loafers in “warm beige”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

I tried on this scalloped hem sweater in “natural” so you could see how cute this sweater is!  Isn’t the scallop hem just adorable?  I didn’t buy it because our weather is getting warmer, but it would be a pretty sweater for your wardrobe.  They also have it in ivory, bright peri and black.  I tried on a size Medium for size reference.

 

faux wrap dot skirt / Mon cheri T-shirt / leather loafers in “warm beige”
gold initial necklace / dichroic glass cuff bracelet (sold out, similar dichroic glass style)

This is thefaux wrap dot skirt and it is cutest skirt.  I love the dot pattern!   I tried on Large but it was tad bit big on me.  I didn’t go back and try on a Medium, but I may order it to wear to church.

Good news!  I’ve lost 10 pounds in the last couple of months, not really trying to, but just by eating healthier, limiting my sugar intake and drinking more water, my clothes fit me better.  I don’t feel bloated and don’t crave sugar like I used to.  My secret to cutting sugar cravings is eat dark chocolate snack size!  My favorite is Ghirardelli Sea Salt Soiree and Ghirardelli 72% Intense Dark.  I’ll eat one square and my sugar craving is instantly gone!

So, which items did I buy?  The tie front shirt in “black gingham”, the chambray tie front pants, the striped perfect fit top, the 10″ highest-rise skinny jeans with let-down hem, the high rise button-fly step hem jeans, and leather loafers in “warm beige”.

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