Summer 2018 Wardrobe Additions
J.Crew Factory chambray tie-waist pant (seen here and here): $33 (originally $79.50)
J.Crew Factory striped cotton-linen midi skirt (seen here and here): $29.50 (originally $69.50)
J.Crew Sophie open-front sweater blazer (seen here and here): $88 (originally $138)
Madewell chambray cutout cami mini dress (seen here): $103 (originally $128)
Madewell flannel oversized side-button shirt (via Poshmark): $30.50 (retailed for ~$85)
Madewell high waist skinny jeans (via Nordstrom): $90 (originally $128)
Everlane denim shorts (seen here and here): $58
Everlane soft cotton square crew: $68
Hunter original gloss chelsea boots (seen here): $108 (originally $135)
Thread & Supply wubby fleece pullover (via Nordstrom): $55 (originally $78)
Le Specs Air Heart cat eye sunglasses (via Nordstrom; seen here and here): $62.50 (originally $89)
Earth Vital sneakers (gifted)
Summer 2018 Total = $500 ($725.50 - $225.50 earned from Poshmark sales)
$500 (quarterly budget) - $500 ($419.50 June + $80.50 July + $0 August) = $0 left over
We're nearing the end of summer, so it's time for another budget update! I purchased about the same number of items that I did this past spring. But, unlike spring, I spent way more than my allotted budget and only stayed "on budget" thanks to earnings from Poshmark sales. I still have some earnings left over to take with me into fall should I need it (and of course, I'm still hard at work trying to sell more items!).
Looking at my collage, it's funny how many items I purchased that are really for fall/winter/spring and not summer. I guess I can blame late spring sales and the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale for that. As you can probably imagine, I haven't worn those items that I have reserved for the cooler months, but I'm sure glad I picked them up because fall could arrive at any time. We've had a hint already the past few days! I leaned heavily into my love of blue and grey with my purchases but also added some color (olive *heart eyes*) that I can't wait to incorporate into my outfits as the temperatures start to dip.
What I kept:
J.Crew Factory chambray tie-waist pant (sold out but check for returns): I wasn't 100% sure about these pants when I first got them. They're wide—something I'm not used to! They're also not really cropped on me at all. I ended up keeping them because they're extremely comfortable and different. I took my usual 0.
J.Crew Factory striped cotton-linen midi skirt (on sale in limited sizes): I ordered this skirt in blue and red and ended up keeping the "safer" option for me: blue! It hits me at my knees so it's perfect for work. I sized down to XXS after reading reviews but I think the XS would have probably worked too since the waist is elastic.
J.Crew Sophie open-front sweater blazer: This was previously called the "new" lightweight sweater blazer. I ordered mine in heather grey, size XXS after reading reviews that said it ran a bit large. It fits perfectly, even on my broad shoulders. The sleeves are bracelet-length so they hit me at an awkward spot, but I cuff them once and like how it looks. I love this so much and I'm not sure what took me so long to order one! The camel color is on my list for the fall.
Madewell chambray cutout cami mini dress (also available at Nordstrom and Shopbop in limited sizes): I ordered this dress for a wedding at a vineyard in late June after deciding that nothing I already owned would have worked. It's not something I typically would have picked for myself because I'm not a huge fan of thin straps and cutouts (and I knew I wouldn't be able to wear it to work), but I was surprised by how much I liked it! Now I just need more occasions so I can wear it again and again. I bought this in my usual 0.
Madewell flannel oversized side-button shirt (via Poshmark): I watched one of these on eBay for a while and then it sold, so then I placed an offer on impulse for one on Poshmark before browsing all the listings...and of course, my offer was accepted and I found other listings for way less than what I paid. Gah! Oh well. It isn't as thick and cozy as some of my other flannel shirts, and it's a little more worn than I was hoping it would be, but it's still nice. I stuck with my usual XS because it fits oversized, and it's just barely snug in the shoulders/short in the sleeves. If you're an XS, here are a couple other listings for less than what I paid: 1 / 2
Madewell high waist skinny jeans: I had olive jeans/pants on my list for the fall, so I was especially excited to see these included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! I panicked when my usual size 25 sold out, so I ordered a 26, and then the 25 came back in stock so I placed another order for those. The 26 fit but felt just a little loose, so I ended up sticking with the 25. I haven't let myself wear them since it's still August but I can't wait to break them out next month!
Everlane denim shorts: Is it even summer if I don't buy a new pair of shorts? I couldn't wait to try these when they were released! I love the "vintage light blue" colorway, but I'm also tempted to try a medium wash if they are re-released next year. I ordered these in a size 24 first after looking at the size chart, and after not being able to get them over my thighs, reordered them in sizes 25 and 26. I took size 25 in their denim (my usual size in most denim), and when I tried on the 25s, they fit really well so I didn't even try on the 26s. Now, I wish that I had tried on the 26s because the 25s fit well when I'm not bloated. (#reallife) They're also not the most comfortable to sit in for long periods of them. So, lesson learned: Try on all the sizes I order. Haha.
Everlane soft cotton square crew: Yes, it's still summer (though I did get a chance to wear this yesterday after the temps dropped 20+ degrees), but I couldn't wait to order this after it came back in stock earlier this month. I went with size XS since it runs oversized, and it definitely is still a little bit oversized on me (the sleeves are long!) but I really like the fit—and the cotton is truly soft! Looking forward to wearing this all fall and winter!
Hunter original gloss chelsea boots: I added these to my boot collection because I wanted another rain boot option besides my tall yellow Hunters. I brought these along with me to visit my mom and step dad in rainy Washington and they worked perfect! The fit is snugger than my tall Hunters but I stayed with my usual size 7. My feet just don't have as much room. I also found that they can rub my ankles/legs if left exposed so I wear them with high socks and my skinny jeans tucked in to prevent that. I guess I need to build up some callouses. ;)
Thread & Supply wubby fleece pullover: This was another of my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale purchases. This was the only item that every blogger was shilling that I actually wanted to try for myself. I was honestly on the fence at first; it's so cozy, but it's super oversized! I ordered it in the smallest size available, a small, and it's still pretty big on me. I decided to hold onto it because I can see it being the perfect layer for when my office is unbearably cold in the winter.
Le Specs Air Heart 51 mm cat eye sunglasses: I ended up purchasing these in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale after seeing them on a blogger I follow, and I love them! You've already seen them in many outfit posts and I'm sure they will be in many more to come. ;)
Earth Vital sneakers: In exchange for some written and visual content for Earth's website, I got to pick a pair of shoes and these sneakers caught my eye. These are so comfortable! I took my usual size 7, and I wear them with beige ankle socks since they're hole-y (but I think black could look cool for some contrast).
What I tried and returned:
J.Crew Factory tie-waist midi skirt in gingham: I debated this skirt in my spring budget post, and I ended up returning it because I didn't think I would wear it enough. Plus, the tie was not removable and I could not get it to lay right. It fit great in my usual 0.
J.Crew Factory open-front sweater blazer: I bought the factory version of the sweater blazer in heather oatmeal, size XS. This one fit very similar to the J.Crew XXS. I ended up returning this one because I wasn't crazy about the color, and I liked how the J.Crew version kept its structure a little better; this one felt more casual (made of mostly cotton instead of wool). Plus, I decided I wanted a sweater blazer in camel instead.
J.Crew linen wrapped cardigan sweater (on sale!): I ordered this in ridge khaki along with the sweater blazer. Even though I like the look of wrapped garments on other people, this was definitely an impulse buy. I liked the idea of the wrap, but once I got it I didn't know what I would wear it with besides over sleeveless dresses. It was too thin to wear alone but too thin to layer over other garments. The fabric was also more shimmery than I expected. The size XS fit pretty well but the arms were short.
Cole Haan Piper loafer mule: I've been wanting to try a pair of mules, so I ordered two colors (cordovan leather and twilight mauve suede) in my usual size 7 in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (NAS). The leather mules were gorgeous but a little stiff. I think my feet had too-high of an instep for them because they dug into the top of my foot. The suede shoes appeared pink in photos but were definitely purple in person. They also felt maybe a touch too short. Both pairs were returned.
Treasure & Bond felt Panama hat (sold out): Another NAS purchase. This looked like a cute black hat option for the fall but the style did not look right on my head!
BlankNYC 'The Madison' straight leg crop jeans (sold out): These ended up being my most annoying NAS purchase due to so many order cancellations! When will they get that figured out? Anyway, I ordered my usual 25 without consulting the size chart, and I could not button them or zip them due to the lack of stretch. Definitely my fault. Then I ordered size 27 after looking at the size chart, but they were massive! If they had fit me right, they would have been so cute. Bummed but oh well; there will always be another pair of jeans I want. ;)
Wacoal 'How Perfect' no-wire contour bra: I don't include undergarments in my budget, but I wanted to mention this because it was another NAS purchase. I ordered size 30DD in cappuccino; my "true" size is 28E but I prefer 30 bands, so a 30DD is the sister size. It ended up being way too tight around my ribcage, and the cups flattened and pointed outwards so it wasn't my favorite fit. I kind of wonder how it would fit in the next band and cup size up but haven't pulled the trigger on another just yet!
What's on deck for fall:
Everlane lightweight French terry crew: I ordered this sweatshirt at the end of July in heather grey, size XS, but I decided to return it and reorder a size small. I didn't pay close attention to the size chart when I ordered, and even though I'd like this to fit slimmer than my slim classic French terry crew (seen here), the arms were already short and I was worried about it shrinking a bit in the wash. I loved it other than the sizing issue, and the replacement should arrive soon!
Madewell Hollis double-breasted coat: I preordered this coat with the $25 off coupon I received at the beginning of August. (If I had been patient and waited, I could have used my 15% off Insiders coupon... sigh.) It's the first time I've ever preordered something, and I really hope I love it as much as I think I will! I've been wanting a camel coat in my life since I decided to part with the one I used to have. I ordered my usual 0, and I'm hoping it's roomy enough for sweaters but not too oversized.
Madewell small transport crossbody (also available at Nordstrom): I've had a grey bag on my wish list for what feels like forever without finding anything I liked—until now—so I think I'm going to buy this one when my birthday discount arrives next month. I only wish this bag had a top zipper, but I realized that even with my zippered bags, the zipper is open most of the time...so I don't think it will be a huge deal. I may not end up traveling with it because of that, though.