Bit by bit, I will buy the entire outfit you see above. Oh yes, it will be mine.
Most of the components haven't hit my local stores yet but I did get a chance to try on the Milady Skirt ($88) by Elevenses. Does anyone else always want to add an extra syllable to their name? Elevenses-ses. Uh, anyway, I was picturing this skirt as silk or rayon or something shiny and sleek but in fact it's corduroy. Very soft slim wale corduroy. Since it's pencil shape I went for a 10 (one size up) to fit over my thighs and hips. The guess paid off as the skirt fit perfectly.
I love the metal clasps adorning the front. There is an exposed zip in the back but it blends right in, which thank goodness! I was getting really sick of the "hey, here I am!" zippers. There's a decorative tie-down in the back that adds some sexiness. The slit is reasonable and you can take generous strides despite the pencil shape. I really loved this skirt and would have bought it if I hadn't just dropped a bunch of coin for my birthday excursion the night before (post on that coming up later this week). I plan on buying this very soon though.
Ali included Tracy Reese's Gainsborough Pencil Skirt ($148) in her recent guest post, so now you've seen it on a couple of different body types. While the skirt looked amazing on her I ran into some fit issues with it. I grabbed a 10, one size up, but it was so tight! Especially around my thighs. I easily needed a 12. So I had the fitting attendant grab a 12 and it was of course seriously gapping at my waist. This skirt, though beautiful, became a no-go for me.
I love the print on the skirt. The front seams were not great for me though -- they widen out right over your thighs. Not very flattering. The skirt is lined and I like the back vent. I'm sad the shape didn't work for me as I love all the colors. Sadly I walked this one back to the rack.
Maeve's Fifth Form Shift ($128) is so freakin adorable. The bodice looks kind of like a bow and it's made of light, soft poplin. And it has pockets! Miraculously my true size 6 fit. That's two Maeve dresses in a row! Will wonders never cease? There was a little bit of extra room in the back but the top was perfect so this dress seems true to size.
The skirt is slightly bubbled in by a band but I don't mind. Some will not like the volume in the middle, caused by the change from bow to skirt. I think it's kind of cute. With a cardigan over it you could easily wear this one now. Again, had my budget allowed I would have brought this home with me right then. It's in my cart awaiting a paycheck.
This is the Hold-the-Lines Jumper ($98) by Maeve as seen in the last outfit set. Never would have considered it before. I was able to shimmy the 6 over my jeans. It looks a lot bigger on the rack then it fits. I put on the Foliage Fancy Tee ($58) underneath to recreate the look, though I had to sub in the grey.
The jumper is a cotton-linen mix that's sure to attract every piece of dust, pet hair and white fuzz. I don't know; I like it but is it worth $98? I'm dubious. It's got pockets! Love that. And the buttons are cute. The skirt has subtle raw-edge detail to add some fun. But it's just a jumper and a pretty basic one at that. Wishlisted, waiting for sale.
