Mini Summer Haul #1

Ket

As shown and discussed in depth in my last post, here is the first of my summer clothing hauls There are a few more mini hauls coming. I'll post as they arrive and I have time to try things on, that way posts aren't super-duper long

All items are City Chic.

Photos 1-5: Olive waist-tie shirt
I'm disappointed by the oversized fit. This feels kind of frumpy or blah on me. The color is great! The fabric is sensational. (It's mostly cotton with about 20-25% nylon--very cooling on the skin.) Photo 5 I took in some excess and I feel the fit is much better, but not sure if the style suits me even if sized down?? I love the fabric and color a lot, but
Verdict: Meh. City Chic doesn't offer exchanges; return shipping combined with a sale price means I barely get much back on the top. SO... not sure if I should try getting it altered or what to do.

Photos 6-8: Cotton eyelet sleeveless blouse
Loved this in theory but only like it in person. It's very comfortable and breezy but I'm not sure if this style is me anymore or not.
Verdict: undecided. What do you all think?

Photos 9-12: Tencel broomstick dress
Anyone remember broomstick skirts from the 1990s? (I do and had one.) This dress came all twisted up in a hank, just like a broomstick skirt! It's a very cooling fabric, with a cotton shell/liner inside. The shape is SO SO GOOD! It feels early 60s Mad Men to me (photos 13-15). This dress has me singing and twirlin'!
Verdict: Keeping!

Photos 16-20 Olive jogger slacks
These are great! A tiny bit snug in the waist but otherwise very comfortable. The fabric is the same as the matching olive top, breezy luminescent cotton-nylon blend. The waist has a lovely D-ring belt. The pockets have a darling snap-and-fold detail too. Back of waist and back of each ankle is elasticated. These feel a bit 50s and 80s to me. I styled them with a few of my blouses and just love them.
Verdict: Keeping!

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1 week ago

Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from Ket

Lisa

Veteran

#1 - Well I am biased and like oversized fits, so this looks fine to my eye. I'd like to see it with something like bermuda length shorts (or cropped pants if you don't do shorts) or a gauzy skirt? I feel like it needs less structure because the top itself has some flow to it. Or it could default to a beach coverup with some gauze pants over a bathing suit?

#2 - Pretty top, gets my yes vote for fit and color.

#3 - Dress is a homerun, lovely on you. Keep!

#4 - My favorite item in the group, because the joggers are fresh and fun looking! I also like how you've styled them especially 16 and 19. Definite keeper!

1 week ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well Ket you are just so gorgeous it is hard to objective about your pieces but your smiles kind of tell me what you need to do. Keep the last two pieces obviously and gift the first two to someone who will appreciate them or new with tags to your favorite charity shop.

1 week ago

Active Member

Olive top is maybe a bit meh but maybe better over a dress? Worth a try. It does seem a little large.

Eyelet top I quite like! Try with the olive skirt?

Navy dress, stunning! My favorite!

Olive trousers are very cute with the tops! A successful haul.

1 week ago

Star

Veteran

I like all of them. The olive shirt is totally fab when you rein it in. Love the dress and pants so good decision to keep. I am least excited about the eyelet top. That said it is definitely not bad and one always needs an easy breezy top in summer. I think it could be good to wear with a more statement-y bottom, when you actually need a plainer top IYKWIM. So I would keep all of them.

1 week ago

Suntiger

Active Member

I hope this means broomstick skirts will be returning to retail! Yes to dress and pants, meh to the others, though maybe try the shirt unbuttoned as a topper and shorten the plum top (or try with a pencil skirt).

6 days ago

Dee

Veteran

I agree with your favourites, they look great but would pass on the olive top. The eyelet top is pretty, but only you can decide if its still really “you”.

6 days ago

RobinF

Veteran

I'm with Lisa, as a fan of oversize I like the olive top. Could be a nice breezy shirt for hot summer days. The eyelet is my least favorite but the color is so nice I would be tempted to try to make it work. The last two are fab - definite keepers.

6 days ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fun to add to your wardrobe for Summer!

Ket, here's my 2 cents:

I like the olive top! I prefer the fluid fit. It's an easy thing to grab and go. Since you can't return it - wear and enjoy! By the time you've added sandals, hat, head scarf and sunnies - it will feel like YOU.

Navy eyelet top is a great fit and super pretty! That said, if it feels off - pass on.

Super cute broomstick dress! GREAT fit!! Wear a black bra, and you're in business.

Fun Summer joggers! #19 is KILLER.

Looking very pretty and alluring!

6 days ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am with Angie 100% on this! I think the olive top is worth experimenting with a bit -- in the heat, you may find you don't mind the oversize fit. Do you have and wear tube skirts? I used to have a summer top like this that I wore with tube skirts and it was a great pairing.

Love love love the dress! Gorgeous on you! Absolutely keep and enjoy.

Love love love the olive pants, too. A great addition.

I feel rather as you do about the eyelet top. It looks pretty, and the colour is great, but I'm not sure it's "you" any more.

6 days ago

Brooklyn

Veteran

I agree with Angie 100%. I actually like the olive top and the dress the best of your mini haul.

With the olive top, I do a thing with shirts where I twist the front shirt tails around each other then attach them underneath the shirt at each side. I sew in snaps/fasteners to keep it in place. You might like the fit at the front better if you try something similar.

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6 days ago

RobinF

Veteran

Brooklyn, what a great idea! I find that I am sort of over the whole tying at the waist thing but I still like the silhouette it creates. This would be the perfect compromise!

5 days ago

SW Ann

Veteran

I like to assess before I look at other's ideas, so here is my thought. I love them all on you! I especially liked the tonal look of the olive pant and top, and the dress. But I think all of them look good and useful for the summer season. I like the way you reined in the excess fabric on the olive shirt, but think as hot weather comes, you may find that easy breezy top over shorts to be a great look. Enjoy! (PS I am in Arizona and we had 3 days of 90 degree weather this week--I am thinking "summer" right now!)

5 days ago

Tina

Active Member

The navy top is cute, but you don't light up in it like you do in the dress. If it is just "good enough but don't love it," will you try it and then go with something else every time you put it on? I love the olive top and the olive pants together and separately -- especially in #19.

5 days ago

slim cat

Veteran

Love the navy top - easy to wear in hot summer! The pants are great - #19 is fab!

5 days ago

Ket

Veteran

Sorry to just reply! There was a flurry of errands and outings with all the freeway commuting that goes with them. And I thought I had already replied to some of you and to my shock, had not yet. (EEK!) So forgive me!

Lisa, we don't live near any beaches or lakes. Any lakes we do visit are typically so cold swimming is more of a polar bear plunge than a refreshing summer dip That said, I do want to see if I can find a way to make the top work somehow. Or else, return both tops and be at peace with it. The navy top isn't doing it for me.

Jaime, you are so sweet! Thank you.

Cookie, I need to try the top over a dress for sure.

Star, I do know what you mean re: navy top with statement bottom. Thing is I don't have a good statement bottom that goes with navy.

Suntiger, I would love to see broomstick skirts come back!! Maybe with the 90s trends coming back so will broomstick skirts??

Dee, Robin, Tina, good feedback about the navy top! I don't think I would really wear it much other "oh it's a top, it's hot, I'm at home mucking out the hen house... oh look.. cotton top." For whatever reason, it doesn't give me the feels.

Angie, very good point on styling the olive top to make it ME! I like that idea. Will play with it this week and report back. Navy top -- definitely passing on. I just don't love it for some reason. Odd since I wore these types of tops for 10 years and loved them.

Suz, I do have one tube skirt! It's ruched and a very interesting warm deep avocado peel green. SO... maybe the top would work with that? I think the eyelet top is going back or finding a new home. I can't put my finger on why it isn't me. I've worn similar style tops. However, never in eyelet. Maybe eyelet itself isn't my thing... Or maybe I really have outgrown and moved on from this style altogether!

Brooklyn, oh thank you for such a great idea! I have to look at the top again and see if this would work. It's one of those were the ties flaps were purposely cut smaller/different from the rest of the shirt's torso. But I'll see if your awesome snap trick will work!

SW Ann, it's interesting to see the divide on the olive shirt. It's almost 50/50 for those who like/dislike it. I actually never wear shorts or even short skirts, it's usually jeans, long skirts, or longer dresses, even in the summer. However, it could be a good breezy layer over a camisole? Can't believe you already have 90 degree weather in AZ! I'm up in Colorado still toughing out snow ha!

Slim Cat, it is a very easy-to-wear top! I just don't feel "me" in it. Kind of weird as I used to wear similar style tops a lot in the past. Only thing I can figure out is it's eyelet lace, which I"ve never liked or worn before. So not sure.

1 day ago

Ket

Veteran

Reporting back!

I'm going to retry the olive top this week with a couple of things and see what I find! I'll report back with some photos and see what you all think

The eyelet top is for sure not me and I am letting it go.

Loving the olive joggers. I've already worn them 2-3 times in 5 days.

Still need and want to wear my Ann-Margaret Navy Dress The weather took a nosedive from 60s and sunny to 40s and snowy/rainy. But the sun will return and I can't wait to figure out a way to wear my new dress. Stay tuned!

1 day ago

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