Dia and Co. Box (November)

I used to do Stitch Fix, but since having my son, I’m too big for most of their items. Their 14+ sizes are very limited. I’ve heard they are working on it, but until then, Stitch Fix is not a good fit for me. Someone in my online mom group pointed me towards Dia & Co. They specialize in size 14+. Yeah! I signed up immediately and received my first box this week.

Details of how it works: For $20 a shipment, you get a personalized style pack of five items. Then, you try everything on and decided to keep 1, 2, 3, 4, or all 5 items. The $20 stylist fee is credited to your purchase. And if you buy all five items, you get an extra 20% off.

My third Dia and Co. box. I'm still really loving this service! And I feel like the boxes are getting more and more my style (even if some of the items don't fit quite right...)

Item #1: Fashion to Figure Double Pocket Plaid Flannel $29.90

Pros: Great length. Love read plaid. Nice detailing on the sleeves and bottom.

Cons: Not sure how I feel about the elastic on the sides...

Item #2: Naked Zebra Sleeveless Blouse with String Detail $44.99

Pros: I like the style of the shirt. I wouldn't have to wear a tank underneath it.

Cons: The arm holes were huge. Definitely made for someone who has a larger bust area. (You can even see the gapping in the pic above)

Item #3: Junarose Ponte Pants with Faux Leather Panel $40.00

Pros: Great fit! A nice alternative to jeans and lightweight leggings. They would look perfect with boots and a tunic top!

Cons: None that I can think of...

Item #4: Kendall Necklace $34.00

Pros: Very pretty.

Cons: I don't really wear chunky jewelry that often. I just couldn't justify a lot of use for this one.

Item #5: Junarose Chunky Longline Speckled Cardigan $63.00

Pros: Great color and fit. I loved that it was long enough to partially cover my butt.

Cons: It's a heavy weight cardigan. These don't get much use in California.

So, what did I keep?

..

#3 Ponte Pants with Faux Leather Panel -- These were amazing! I had specifically asked for non-jean pants in this box. They fit great and look great. They are basically leggings, but the extra weight and faux leather panel take them up a notch.

and #1 Flannel Shirt -- I didn't realize that what I really wanted was a flannel that was tunic length with some detailing. Thank goodness this popped up into my box! Perfect.

I debated the cardigan, but ultimately decided that I didn't need another heavy weight cardigan. I only really use them when we go to Indiana for Christmas and my mom just bought me a few sweaters to wear while there...

FF #37: Fall Tapestry

I saw this skirt and completely fell for it. So pretty! It reminds me of a tapestry, but in a good way! I decided to play off the colors in the skirt with a coordinating cardigan, boots, and bag. To finish off the look, I added a delicate necklace.

Monsoon red top

monsoon.co.uk

Boohoo sleeveless top

$15 - nelly.com

Dsquared2 short skirt

$505 - stylebop.com

Heel boots

$39 - newlook.com

River Island shopping bag

riverisland.com

Jennifer Zeuner pendants necklace

$255 - neimanmarcus.com

FF #36: Galadriel

For this Halloween, the family is doing Lord of the Rings. I'm going to be Galadriel, but this outfit is my take on a modern Galadriel.

Jovani halter dress

$2,095 - harrods.com

Jimmy Choo high heel shoes

bluefly.com

Mascara studded purse

navabi.us

Jade bangle

runway2street.com

Bling Jewelry flower jewelry

blingjewelry.com

FF #35: Classic School Style

Stripes and sneakers scream school days to me. I updated the look with a great structured backpack and modern accessories. Casual, yet put together!

Dorothy Perkins tshirt dress

dorothyperkins.com

swell.com

$36 - newlook.com

zazzle.com

nastydress.com

FF #34: Travel Uniform

As a last hurrah to summer, here's a great little outfit for trips to the lake or road trips. The kimono top is my favorite piece, perfect for layering or a swimsuit coverup.

Kimono top

shein.com

Boohoo crop top

boohoo.com

Short shorts

$78 - tarastarlet.com

H&m shoes

$31 - hm.com

The Cambridge Satchel Company leather backpack

$220 - shopbop.com

Minnie Grace chain necklace

$19 - shoplaluce.com

Kate Spade heart earrings

6pm.com

Claire s bracelet

claires.com

September 2015 Clothes Summary

This summer I participated in a capsule wardrobe challenge. I learned a lot from three months of wearing ~40 pieces. One of the biggest things that I learned was that I hate most of my wardrobe. I have so many ill-fitting and/or not my style pieces cluttering my closet. After completing the summer capsule wardrobe, I decided to take the fall off from that particular challenge and work on building a wardrobe I love. To that end, I started buying clothes agin. But not just any old clothes. No more purchases from the clearance rack "just because it's cheap." No more keeping things that don't quite fit. No more buying things that i love on the mannequin but look silly on me. No more buying clothes that I realistically won't wear. Instead, I'm trying to be very selective in my buying. So, dear readers, I am going to share with you what I bought during the past month. I will post links if the item is still available and prices i paid. I don't have a specific budget, but definitely don't want to spend more than $100 a month. (Realistically I'm aiming for around $40 a month). You will also get to see pieces I bought that I ended up returning. By December, I want to be able to say that I bought some great pieces that I wear often. I also want to plan for a possible winter capsule wardrobe...

Dia & Co. Box

I started this subscription service in August. You can read about my first box here. I had a box scheduled for the end of the September. You can read the full post here. I ended up buying the awesome ASOS Jeans ($54).

Old Navy

I took advantage of Old Navy's huge Labor Day sale. 60% select items, plus an extra 15% off. I ended up buying six pieces and returning three.

Hi-Lo Relaxed Fit Tank in Pink Print $5.10 -- Perfect fit. Cute enough to be paired to jean shorts or a black knit mini.

Pointe Knit Mini in Black $8.50 -- I've never owned a knit mini skirt, but this one was the right price to try out. Thankfully it fits great and is super comfy. Plus it looks great with heeled sandals and wedges, flip flops, or flats.

Sleeveless V-Neck in Black Dot $6.80 (returned) -- Very cute top, but absolutely huge on me. I tried tucking it into the skirt, but it's still just too much fabric for me. Sad to return this one.

Pixie Pant in Flaming Tulip $12.32 (returned) -- They fit okay in the waist, but were baggy around my knees. Plus I could tell these were going to sag as the day progressed. Had to return them.

Floral Swing Tank in Black Print $5.95 (returned) -- Very sheer and a little too short for me.

3/4 Sleeve Swing Tea in Black $5.10 -- On the shorter side, but I love the subtle movement to this top. Plus I like the sleeves.

Target

Even though I said I wasn't going to shop the clearance, I do love to look. I am limiting myself to pieces from there that I really love. I grabbed these two pieces while picking up household items.

Palazzo Pants $5.98 -- The pants were an impulse buy. I love fun lounging wear, but was getting sick of yoga pants. These are cute but super comfy. I could even wear them to the library or grocery store. So impulse, but I think a smart buy.

Black V-Neck Tee $7.00 -- I love great fitting basic tees. These Merona ones work perfectly around the house or dressed up a bit.

September Total: $85.68 Lower than my max of $100, but higher than I wanted it to be. For October, I'm not planning on buying much of anything (except my Dia box), so the number should be a lot smaller.

FF #33 Fall in California

It's fall in California and that means: warm temps and sunshine! As a nod to the slightly cooler nights, I paired a tank with a great open cardigan. I really need both of those things. Some comfy Toms and great basic accessories complete this casual look.

Petite top

eileenfisher.com

Lucky Brand red shirt

luckybrand.com

Massimo Alba khaki pants

yoox.com

TOMS red flat

moosejaw.com

VIPARO leather laptop bag

$205 - thegrandsocial.com.au

Wanderlust Co pendants necklace

revolveclothing.com

ZALORA bracelet charm

$6.63 - theiconic.com.au

Dia and Co. Box

I used to do Stitch Fix, but since having my son, I’m too big for most of their items. Their 14+ sizes are very limited. I’ve heard they are working on it, but until then, Stitch Fix is not a good fit for me. Someone in my online mom group pointed me towards Dia & Co. They specialize in size 14+. Yeah! I signed up immediately and received my first box this week.

Details of how it works: For $20 a shipment, you get a personalized style pack of five items. Then, you try everything on and decided to keep 1, 2, 3, 4, or all 5 items. The $20 stylist fee is credited to your purchase. And if you buy all five items, you get an extra 20% off.

I unboxed my items and again loved the look of everything. But then it was time to try everything on...

Item #1: Naked Zebra Draw String Dress $74.99

Pros: Nice style. I do love black.

Cons: I would definitely wear leggings under this as I'm not a huge fan of short dresses. I always feel self-conscious in them. And for $75, I would have to love the dress.

Item #2: Naked Zebra Sleeveless Tiered Blouse $59.99

Pros: Great color and fit. I love that it can be dressy or paired with simple jeans.

Cons: Have to wear a layer underneath.

Item #3: Yumi Bird Print Blouse $53.00

Pros: Cute print

Cons: Extremely boxy on me. And the tie at the neck bugged me.

Item #4: Brooke Necklace $25.00

Pros: My favorite color! Great length.

Cons: Do I need another necklace?

Item #5: ASOS Curve High Waisted Dark Wash Skinny Jeans $54.00

Pros: Fit great. I love darker wash.

Cons: While the high waist fit, I haven't quite resigned myself to wearing high waist pants.

So, what did I keep?

..

Item #5: I passed on the necklace and blue top even though I did really like them. I decided that the smart buy would be the jeans. I definitely do need a good pair of jeans. And these are different than what I already own. Can't wait to see what I get next month!

FF #32 Gold Date Night

I'm loving the subtle glam of this outfit. The dress is very plain, but with the right accessories, it shines on its own. And check out those shoes! Killer!

Pleated mini dress

$995 - net-a-porter.com

Valentino real leather shoes

$805 - stylebop.com

River island handbag

riverisland.com

Carolee gold butterfly bracelet

lordandtaylor.com

Dorothy Perkins yellow gold jewelry

dorothyperkins.com

Summer Capsule Wardrobe Update #3

I made it through my first capsule wardrobe. And I would say it was a great success.

What worked?

I stuck to the pieces that I pulled for the challenge. I only deviated a bit and mostly that was the few days that I was sick. Overall, I trie to make an effort to get dressed on a daily basis.
I figured out what I really like: pattern tops, flowy tops (not tight in the stomach area), defined bottoms, comfy dresses, cooler pieces (I'm always hot!).

What didn't work?

The pieces that I highlighted in last month's update are definitely being sold/donated. Every time I put one of those pieces on, I hated how it looked/felt. They needed to go!
The number of pieces that I love is very small. I don't mind having a smaller wardrobe, but most of the pieces don't work well together.

Thoughts going forward:

Never found a good pair of brown sandals, but I will continue looking. Especially since most of the summer clothes are now on clearance.
I won't be doing a fall capsule wardrobe. I need some time to evaluate what's left in my wardrobe after the purge. And I need to really lay down what I want to buy.
I'm toying with the idea of creating a wardrobe of neutrals and purple, that's it. Crazy? Maybe, but the simplicity appeals to me. I'll keep this in mind as I shop during the fall.
I decided not to renew my Stitch Fix subscription. Currently their sizing only goes up to a size 14/XL. I'm right at the 14/16 line. I've heard that they are trying to get bigger sizes, but until they do, I don't want to commit to anything.
Instead, I signed up for Dia and Co. Same idea as Stitch Fix, but they specialize in sizes 10+. Waiting on my first box to arrive.

My First Dia & Co. Box

I used to do Stitch Fix, but since having my son, I'm too big for most of their items. Their 14+ sizes are very limited. I've heard they are working on it, but until then, Stitch Fix is not a good fit for me. Someone in my online mom group pointed me towards Dia & Co. They specialize in size 14+. Yeah! I signed up immediately and received my first box this week.

Details of how it works: For $20 a shipment, you get a personalized style pack of five items. Then, you try everything on and decided to keep 1, 2, 3, 4, or all 5 items. The $20 stylist fee is credited to your purchase. And if you buy all five items, you get an extra 20% off.

I unboxed my items and immediately loved the style. If they all fit, I would have kept the entire box. As it happens, a few of the pieces didn't quite work. Let's look at all the items:

Item #1: Calvin Klein Stripped Chiffon Maxi Dress $78

Pros: Pretty colors. Nice and lightweight. Like the thicker straps.

Cons: Black to color transition hits at largest part of my stomach. Made me very self-conscious. Also about three inches too short to really be a maxi for me.

Item #2: ABS Miley Necklace $38

Pros: Love the simple shapes. Love the layering. Love silver and black together.

Cons: I don't wear a ton of jewelry (but maybe I should war more).

Item #3: Lucky Brand Crochet Tank $59.50

Pros: Love the lace and black. It's definitely the right length.

Cons: Check out that side boob! Would definitely need a very different bra with this one.

Item #4: Maison Jules Knit Striped Tank with Patterned Detail $34.50

Pros: Lightweight. Interesting pattern detail. Not too expensive.

Cons: May be hitting a little high. Possibly be fixed with different bottoms.

Item #5: Levi's Bootcut Dark Wash Denim $58

Pros: Fit great on the waist/hips/butt. I love dark wash denim.

Cons: The bootcut is really wide. I think I need a slimmer cut from above the knee and below.

So, what did I keep?

..

Item #2 and #4: I loved the necklace and have resolved to wear more jewelry. Plus that tank was the right length, weight, and pattern. I need more good layering tanks in my closet.

FF #31 Nautical Pattern Plan

I love nautical inspired pieces. While the anchor necklace is the only actually nautical piece to this outfit, the rest make connections in my mind. I love the structured white bag (I would never own as it would be covered in goo in minutes, but it's amazing looking). The other gold accessories are nice and geometric (just how I like them). For the top and skirt I played with differing patterns. When mixing patterns, it's always nice to pair one more neutral or subtle pattern with a bold pattern. The shirt is clearly the bold pattern. The lace of the skirt makes it seem almost like a solid in comparison.

Sleeveless shirt

$70 - tarastarlet.com

MSGM a line skirt

modaoperandi.com

Paloma Barceló leather sandals

$185 - farfetch.com

Bowling bag

$280 - breuninger.com

Minor Obsessions initial necklace

barneys.com

Sole Society bracelet

solesociety.com

Gold jewelry

$4.04 - yoins.com

FF #30: Crop Style

WhileI don't personally wear them, I love the look for structured crop tops. This pink one caught my eye and I knew I had to create an outfit around it. As it's still very much summer around these parts, I paired the top with a great floral skirt, comfy wedges, and basic accessories. No need to cover this outfit up at all!

River Island sleeveless shirt

riverisland.com

Floral skirt

$20 - kokocouture.co.uk

Wedge sandals

neelybyvnb.com

Dressage Collection crossbody handbag

onekingslane.com

Chanel gold jewelry

$1,590 - rebelle.com

Dorothy Perkins floppy hat

$22 - dorothyperkins.com

FF #29: Bit of Turquoise

I love the look of black and white with a pop of color. This time I'm featuring turquoise! The dress is a great silhouette on its own. But ad some great colorful wedges, a great bag, and simple silver accessories, and you have a great outfit.

Black and white color block dress

lalalilo.com

Ankle wrap wedge sandals

$31 - newlook.com

Mint Rose drawstring bucket bag

calypsostbarth.com

Miss Selfridge multi layer chain necklace

missselfridge.com

Worthington bangle jewelry

jcpenney.com

Pieces gunmetal jewelry

$22 - nelly.com

FF #28 The Night Circus

I finished

The Night Circus

by Erica Morgenstern a few weeks back and can't get the style out of my head. I had to recreate the stark black and white palette. This dress is for The Illusionist. A simple silhouette gown with a bit of sparkle and lots of great accessories. I especially love that clutch.

rosewe.com

unique-vintage.com

$77 - atmayfair.com

overstock.com

Dogeared post earrings

zappos.com

Black hat

dragonweave.com

Summer Capsule Wardrobe Update #2

I've made it almost two months on my very first summer capsule wardrobe. I think it's time for a bit of reflection. What worked, what doesn't, what are my thoughts going forward.

What's working?

I am constantly hot, so having a good supply of tanks and shorts has been great.
I broke the rules and bought a white button down and am very happy that I did. It's great for throwing on over a tank before the temperature gets really high.
I find myself going back to the same few pieces weekly. These pieces should definitely be the basis of my new wardrobe.

This green dress is my absolute favorite. I bought it from a Stitch Fix box right after Arthur was born. It cost more than I usually am comfortable with, but I haven't regretted this buy at all. Overall it's a great pattern and shape for me. Plus the fabric and structure are very forgiving while I attempt to lose some weight. I will be able to wear this even if actually get 20 pounds lighter. And bonus! It's a short dress that isn't a mini dress on me.

The white tank with dip dye bottom is a super comfortably piece. I'm pretty sure this is the shirt I wear the most. I have to wear a tank underneath which isn't ideal, but I love the fabric and shape. I need more fuller coverage tank tops.

This Modcloth purchase were another fairly expensive piece for me, but I love it. It's thin (must wear something underneath) but keeps a great shape. And I love the fun colorful pattern. This specific shirt comes in multiple other patterns and colors. I may just have to buy another if they go on sale soon.

My second favorite tank: orange pattern one. It's lightweight but thick enough that I don't have to wear a tank under. The pattern and colors are perfect for summer. And it's a very flattered cut on me. Win Win!

Lastly, these jean shorts are perfect for summer! They are long enough that I feel comfortable and they fit great. I can't believe they are Sonoma brand from Kohl's. I never think to shop there but one a whim I went in in April. Perfect cut for me. I will have to revisit for pants this fall.

What isn't working?

The pieces below are probably going to go into the Goodwill bag at the end of August unless something drastically changes. They don't fit quite right or just aren't my style. These are the types of pieces that I will keep in mind to not buy next time I shop.
- White tank - collar is funky, very see through.
- Plaid shirt - super old, little tight, little smelly.
- Navy pattern blouse -- Too short, see through, tie annoys me
- Pink blouse -- Shrunk a bit and in weird places
- Stripe blouse -- Tight around my stomach causing weird bunching and tugging
- Olive capris -- Waistband constantly rolls down

Thoughts going forward:

Still looking for a good comfortable pair of brown sandals. The ones I bought are hard on my feet and are already scuffed.
I need to make a list next month of pieces I would love to have for my wardrobe.
I also need to think about what I want to do for fall. I may take a season off and come back to it in winter... But this decision requires more thought.
I'm debating about renewing my Stitch Fix shipments come fall. Maybe having a stylist offer me pieces will help finding stuff I love instead of buying things because they are cheap and convenient.

FF #27 Off to the Studio

I've been trying to be more focused on daily yoga lately. This would be the perfect outfit to wear to and from the yoga studio. Cute yoga pants and a simple supportive tank form the basis of the outfit. To make it more appropriate for getting to and from and maybe some errands in between, I threw on a simple dress and comfy sandals. To top it off, I added some colorful headbands to keep the hair out of your eyes and multipurpose bag.

Green dress

maykool.com

Yoga activewear

etsy.com

Yoga activewear

le3no.com

Yoga Ponytail Holder Set

urbanoutfitters.com

Sanuk black sandals

shoemall.com

Black tote

tjmaxx.tjx.com

FF #26 Bubblegum

My Disney Princess series has come to a close so I'm back to creating more normal outfits. I wouldn't necessarily wear this outfit, but I do love the look. Pops of pink within a sea of neutrals create a playful outfit. I especially love the look of the top (or dress as the designer thinks it is): neutral but with great details. The jewelry is classically understated but with a bit of shine. And the wedges are just a great piece of footwear.

Chicnova Fashion white cutout dress

chicnova.com

WearAll pink stretch pants

wearall.com

Jessica Simpson leather wedge sandals

barenecessities.com

Michael Kors leather zip tote

$520 - harveynichols.com

White House Black Market hinged bangle bracelet

whitehouseblackmarket.com

Wanderlust Co triangle pendant necklace

revolveclothing.com

Dorothy Perkins brown floppy hat

$22 - dorothyperkins.com

FF #25 Elsa Then and Now

For Elsa, I wanted to see the snow queen look but make it a bit more modern and sophisticated. I chose a simple white lace dress and built the outfit out. I added the blue heels as a nod back to her original outfit. The pearl bracelet and bag are classics. Finally I added some whimsical earrings and a jeweled headband to give her more connection to her snow queen character. Understated accessories, but they add that bit of sparkle I was looking for.