I prefer the look of the banana republic jeans (2nd pair) i agree the fading on the first pair is strange. And OMG that sweater dress is fab you look FANTASTIC in it x

Hmmm. I hate to be a bummer, but I don't like either the BR or Gap straight legs. The fading on the butt (or dupa! that IS a new one) of the Gap jeans is odd, and the pockets on the BR jeans look a bit too far apart to me.

Love that purse! Tell us where you found it!

I prefer banana republic jeans (it fits you better .. I don't know how to say.. from the back..eheh)

The boyfriend jeans look AWESOME on you Kristen! I love the outfits that you wore with them.

The fading on the Gap straight legs doesn't work for me either. Perhaps you could get a pair in a different wash? I like the pocket placement better on the Gap pair than the BR pair too. The rear view is hard for me to assess because the funky wash throws me off!

Gap boyfriend sweater -- I agree with your assessment. The color is great, the cut is just ok. A nice basic, if you need one.

BR top -- maybe get it hemmed?

Sweater dress -- a definite keeper! I think it will look fine with tights, leggings, and jeans. Your legs look great :)

I love the fit of the first jeans but I think they would be better without the faded areas like you said. Also love the blue bag are you going to reveal where you found this jewel?!

Ohhh, the POCKETS are the problem on the BR jeans!! Thank you, Laura, I would never have thought to look at that! (Hee, yes, isn't dupa a great word? It's like cussing without being uncouth!)

Thank you all for reinforcing my concerns with the Gap fading; I will order the longs online and see if they have the same issue. I also tried the straight-legs with the zippers which my husband HATED. I didn't even bother taking photos because they are going right back!

Cciele, I do need basic sweaters, but I don't even know if this one is worth it. Maybe I will return it and just get a tank in that color since that's what I really like. Thanks!

Glad the sweater dress is a hit; for 20 bucks I was hoping it would work.

The purse -- are you ready for this -- is from Old Navy. And it is seriously not plastic-feeling at all! It was $19; the salesgirl and I were both marveling at how much nicer it was than we expected it to be. LOL!

You guys rock with your fast and thorough feedback; my dupa and I thank you! :)

The sweater dress is fab! Love it on you.

What a great bag from ON! May need to stop in there myself.

I could see that sweater dress layered up with a white button-down and tights and boots for fall. Super!

I can't believe that's an ON bag. Check you out! I just ordered one from Target and have high hopes for it. (It's the same brand as my cute little ruffled turquoise clutch). And it's $20!

http://www.target.com/Angie-Lo.....#38;page=1

Now those are my kind of handbags! I love great looking bags for super cheap. I can't commit to a bag enough to drop hundreds of dollars on it. These are fantastic.
And Kristen? You are hot. :)
The dress is soooo amazing on you. And I love the BF jeans. I'm wondering if it's your height that allows you to pull them off so incredibly. I'm jealous!

I don't know why jeans makers think that sort of fading on anyone's butt is actually attractive! This is my pet peeve. My hubby goes one further, and calls this look the "baboon butt."

The BR jeans look much better. Yes, the pockets could be a bit closer together, or angled. I can think of a couple premium brands that have better pockets for your figure - COH being one of them! However if its a cost issue, I think the BR jeans are fine. Especially if they feel like you've owned them forever.

Love the BF jeans and that sweater dress is divine! Bet it would look great over straight legs, and leggings. Going over to ON to check that out for myself....

Haha. I posted that sweater dress a few days ago while you were gone and everyone hated it on me and told me to return it. It looks SO much better on you

My pic: http://i985.photobucket.com/al.....G_1159.jpg

Just goes to show you what a difference weight makes in clothes!

This is so gross, but I had to post this for Shiny and her DH. I saw this on Amazon this morning while searching for a workout DVD. :)
http://www.amazon.com/Baboon-M.....#38;sr=8-2

Kristen - I vote for the Banana Republic jeans. The pockets are a bit far apart, but usually they'll be covered by a top or sweater, so it's not so bad.

The sweater dress is fab!

Yep, I was thinking a white-button down would work for the sweater dress, too. Now I just have to buy a new one!

Laura, that Target bag looks very you! You'll have to let us know if the quality pans out.

*blushing at Sarah's comment* Hee. I was thinking that my height and new weight might be a factor too in the bf jeans, like it works with the bf cardigans. I could never have worn them last year, I was much too round! Now my length is the thing that catches people's eye, not my width. :)

Shiny, ROFLMAO at baboon butt! (OMG that link, Sarah. Bwahahaha.) Truthfully, I didn't notice the fading as bad until I got it home, then it was all I could see. Bummer! I'm not ready yet for premium denim b/c I want to wait until I get to my final weight goal. It's my reward for getting there, and more importantly, if I go down another size after I drop $$$ on an expensive pair of jeans, I will be so mad at myself for jumping the gun, you know?

MarianneCecile, I think the point everyone made about the dress tapering on your thread was a good one; I would never have been able to wear this dress last year, and for the same reasons. I've found I can wear a lot of different styles now that I couldn't then, and a lot of things I loved then look terrible on me now! (Case in point: bootcut jeans, and curvy pants.)

I completely agree, Kristin. It's really interesting to see how the same piece of clothing looks COMPLETELY different on different bodies.

If you don't mind me asking, which WW meeting do you go to? I'm looking into them but a good leader is essential for me to be motivated.

And also, even if you have lost weight, your body shape may not allow you to wear certain things. I love that dress, and even though I'm only a few pounds away from my goal weight, the dress would not work for me because of my fuller lower half. My younger sister is a 2/4 and she couldn't wear that style either because she's clearly a pear.

Wow Kristen! The Br jeans are looking damn good, but that dress is looking AMAZING on you. Love everything about it!!!!

MC, I attend the Saturday morning meeting in Glenview. I like the leader, she's organized and effective and not overly gushing, although she keeps very strictly to her weekly meeting topic. I've been involved with WW a long time and had all sorts of different leaders -- even was one myself 15 years ago -- and she's probably my favorite that I've had in a long while. I've had a couple of drill-sergeants and another who was too rah-rah, and this one fits right in the middle of both extremes.

I agree with Sarah, even after the weight is gone, there is still a matter of body type and fit. I do much better now with straight skirts and pants legs, and can't wear a-line, tulip, or wide skirts at all. I was actually surprised the tapering in of the dress worked for me!

Thanks, Tam! Sadly, the BR jeans are going back, but I just ordered a couple other different fits and fades from Gap and ON. I will find a good pair soon!

Glenview is a little bit of a haul for me for a WW meeting. Google maps says it's 12 miles. I'm not *that* motivated. ;)

I think I am going to attend a meeting in Lincolnwood tonight. There is one in Evanston which is closer, but I don't want to deal with parking in Evanston! Hopefully I'll like the leader. Do you suggest I buy the monthly pass?

Maybe it's all decided, but I agree with Laura *and* Shiny on the jeans. The BR pockets are set too wide but I think this pair is great if you need something to hold you over till you try a premium pair. I love the ON bag and the boyfriend jeans in all of your wonderful outfits.

My preference is the BR pair, hands down.I think they look great from the front and the back. I love the dark wash. Much more flattering than the other pairs in m opinion.

I also love the sweater dress on you, i can really see it with black tights and those tall boots.

Keep the BRs!

MC, let me know how you like the leader. I might know a couple of those in Lincolnwood from my own leader days. :)

Thanks Patience and fathreny, but I think the BRs are going back for now. They were full price and even that's a little high if I don't LOVE them. I don't have many jeans anymore because I don't wear them often, so the ones I do get I want to be heads-over-heels for, you know?

I'm fashionably late to the party, but I agree with most that has been said wrt the jeans. What I had to login to say was that the ON dress looks so HOT on you!!! Kristen you're looking hotter and hotter everyday, woohoo!

i like the first jeans, they really suit your figure -hug it at the hips but have the boot cut soo it makes you look tall. thats the sort im trying to look for without much luck. but yeah they look fantastic on you!