Marc Jacobs Exeter OOTD and thoughts on my shrinking time to shop

I've owned this dress for over a year but I think this is the first time it has made it onto the blog. This is also the first time I wore it to campus. I bought it after a long search that ended with Gilt, surprisingly. I like Gilt but when it comes to out of season/past season clothes, I typically find better prices on Yoox or Ebay.  This Marc by Marc Jacobs dress (in a print called Exeter) didn't sell out when Gilt first had it so when they sent me an extra % off coupon, I took the plunge. But I was worried about sizing. Despite years of familiarity with the MBMJ brand, I have found that newer season garments don't fit me as well. It could be a change in their size patterns or changes in my waistline. Regardless, it has made me reluctant to buy because I lack concrete fit information.

Thankfully this risk brought reward. I really like the print and the length of the sleeves. I am wearing a size 8 so if you are hunting for it, it runs large. The (not sheer but still) mesh panel across the waist and through the back can be easily camouflaged and reinforced with high waist tights. Buying without trying is always a risk and with sites like Gilt (who have return policies that seem to vary per garment/order), I was extra nervous. Anymore I rarely get to buy after trying on something especially when it comes to my favorite dress brands. This is part of why I buy less in general. It wasn't always the case.

When Pittsburgh had a Saks downtown, I used to be able to kill two birds with one stone. I would comb the sale racks and then sweep through new arrivals. I would try on pieces to consider buying that day or for fit information to guide future (eventual sale) purchases. Back then I had more spare time in general since I hadn't yet had a child. I was also traveling more for work and for fun, and could visit department stores that aren't in Pittsburgh. I am sure I could try on more things at the local Nordstrom but it isn't downtown. And as much as I enjoy shopping in stores, I typically can't justify a drive to the burbs just to browse. I also find fewer current styles that appeal to me from my former go-to brands so there is less of a draw overall. I do miss having time to meander around by myself and try on clothes. I always found it to be relaxing.

Lately, if I get into a fitting room at all it's kind of a miracle. I rarely feel able to focus on shopping for myself when I am in stores. Searching racks, making selections, finding my sizes, and then also having enough time left to try on something seems impossible. I spend a lot more time at the Disney Store than I do in stores for me. But that is fun too, just for different reasons.

The semester is finished (grades are due today), my annual review portfolio will be completed in a few weeks, and then I will have a bit more time and flexibility to do my own thing... At least in theory, apart from my book revisions, article manuscript drafting, and grant writing. Regardless, I am looking forward to trying to shop in person again soon!

Details:
Marc by Marc Jacobs Exeter dress
Banana Republic Factory cardigan
Spanx tights (25% off with code FRIEND)
Tory Burch Revas

10 days late outfit post and Mr. Porter review

Manoush dress

BP Cardigan

Stuart Weitzman flats

This is what I wore on NYE in 2011/2012. Although NYE presents a great excuse to wear a new dress, this one wasn't new. In fact, it wasn't even new to NYE. I also wore it back in 2007/2008. When I was deciding what to wear, I remembered I hadn't worn my navy lamé Manoush dress for years. So I figured why not! I don't find many occasions where I can wear shiny fabrics without feeling a little over the top.

 

When I wore it on 12-31-2007

This dress was one of my first Net-a-Porter purchases back when they still gave you the black boxes (even for sale items). The recently launched men's fashion brother site, Mr. Porter has their own hefty merchandise boxes.

Mr. Porter Box

This one is shirt sized and has the texture and heft of the boxes that sometimes contain nicer perfume gift sets. I imagine the intent is to evoke an era and aura of by-gone luxury shopping unfamiliar to most (myself included)... i.e. when people bought hats and things and those hats and things all came wrapped up in branded boxes. This used to be standard practice for many now-defunct department stores.

 Department store shopping boxes from this etsy listing

I suppose a number of designers still box up their items with much fanfare and quality packaging (Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Balenciaga, and Chanel spring to mind). But it is rare for a multi-brand retailer to do so (unless you request the item be boxed for gift giving). The result is that the shopping experiences offered by Mr. Porter as well as Net-a-Porter and even (to a lesser degree with their reusable garment bags and zip totes) Outnet feel unique and indulgent. Chris ordered from the sale section and seems pleased overall. He loved the products he purchased (a sweater and a shirt). He likes the selection of brands which included Paul Smith shoes like these from Bertie. They ship via UPS but do not require any signatures for delivery, unlike the Outnet and Net-a-Porter. The included notes and branding also convey a sense of continuity similar to the founding sister site. Chris's first order came with a Mr. Porter stationary card addressed to Mr. hislastname, which was pretty charming. Orders arrived swiftly and although he didn't need it, the returns process seemed simple.

Overall, Chris is glad that Mr. Porter strives to fill a gap in the online retailer boutique landscape for stylish men. The prices are high when you aren't buying from a sale but the selection of brands and merchandise are vast and sales do happen. Chris is hoping for an expansion of their online outlet, Outnet to incorporate the leftovers from Mr. Porter.

A Tail of Two Fits: Sale Goggles Strike Again

Two silk dresses from See by Chloé

I have blogged my growing interest in the prints and styles of diffusion line, See by Chloé before. And I think I have also blogged my frustrations over how erratic sizing can be for women's clothes, even within the same brand. This story is about both and sale goggles are to blame. Although I haven't been shopping much lately the various sales eventually became too tempting to skip.

Not long ago I had some killer stackable coupons for bloomingdales.com. With them I stocked up on practical things like hosiery and underwear. But I also threw in this dress.

As usual it was the least practical of my purchases that excited me most. When the dress arrived, I marveled at its deep shade of plummy purple (my favorite color!) and immediately put it on to find that it was too small. I had ordered a size up to account for the straighter cut through the hips but it was still too small. And it was such a great deal that I haven't returned it yet (thanks in part to their relaxed return policy and because I am debating whether I should pass along the deal I got or keep and turn into a top... I will probably just return).

Fast forward to last weekend. Outnet.com announced their weekend shop-in promotion that applied only to See by Chloé stock. The dress I had coveted was suddenly reduced further from the clearance price.

With my recent experience reminding me of SbC's odd fits, I studied the product measurements (as I find them to be typically reliable). The size I needed was still in stock so I ordered it. It arrived quickly (as Outnet stuff always does) and I tore into the box to see how it looked. Although the print was as pretty as ever, the word tent didn't even begin to describe the cut. The measurements were off by 6 inches in some places!

I can't win this month, but I guess I can keep singing my "I'm barely shopping" tune on the technicality. In this era of mass production and technological development why is standardization in sizing such a lofty dream?

Urban Outfitters Haul

I am not sure what it is about this season's clothing offerings but I find myself wanting for very little. This is a wonderful thing because typically, (since fall clothes are my favorite) I find myself waist deep in wishlists of items to sale stalk. Perhaps the lure of new has waned after a few months of conscious consumption constriction? I think it might have.

Having said that, I haven't been completely haul-free... This week, thanks to a heads up from the gals on Fashionism.org, I learned that there were some current Urban Outfitters coupon codes that were secretly stackable. TEENVOGUE offered 20% off non sale items and DAWNOFTHEDEAL took another $25 off $75. If you filled your card strategically, you could get 45% off an order. I did just that when I purchased the above items. Although I am concerned about the fit of the dress and its general frump factor, I really adore it and hope it works on me. It's online only so trying it on beforehand wasn't possible. And the tights (which I ordered in black) were on my wishlist for months and months! If you want to stack the codes for yourself, follow the instructions here. Remember Ebates yields another 2.5% in cash back.

More Great Sales On Online Discount Sites!

Yoox recently took an additional cut from their spring/summer season sale. If you use coupon code green@yoox an additional 5% off will be taken from your order total!

There are some amazing deals on Marc by Marc Jacobs and Chloe shoes. And if you're in a financially comfortable place, there are a few gorgeous Prada skirts available for relatively good prices.

Here are some things I really like from the sale, all under $100:

The See By Chloe skirt is on sale for $45!

This funny A.P.C. bib dress is on sale for $91.

Net-A-Porter is offering free shipping on all orders, although they have no sale section at the moment. I wish they'd extend free shipping to The Outnet!

Invite-only Rue La La is having their final sale which includes some amazing deals on Marc by Marc Jacobs, Theory, Shoshanna, M Missoni, Alice+Olivia, Ali Ro, and more! Sadly their servers seem to take a hit any time they have an exceptional sale.

If you can get through, you can score my MBMJ Bow Watch for only $39!

And Gilt is currently selling Rebecca Minkoff bags including the stunning Morning After Clutch! For men, the Steven Alan sale includes some great dress shirts and cute pants.

With all these sales on the horizon, there's little reason not to shop! But I'm having a fiscally austere month or two, to cool off from recent financial indiscretions and snafus (aka perpetually broken car needed to be fixed again). Happy Shopping!

Net-A-Porter and The Outnet: A brief introduction

Despite the economic downturn, some etailers continue to diversify and expand. One such online boutique is the famously stocked, famously edited, and famously expensive Net-A-Porter. Net-a-Porter carries a range of premier and mid-level designers, many of whom were not previously available to purchase online. They house the official online boutique for Chloé, though you can often find better sale prices on the websites of luxury department stores.

Still if you are searching for a specific piece or just eager to browse beautifully selected stock with accompanying in-house editorial, NAP is your website. They take careful measurements of every garment, and have unparalleled information on fit. This is crucial in an online shopping context since you cannot try on merchandise and sizes are so variable even within the same line. They take gorgeous photos from various angles so you know exactly what you are buying. And because of their excellent reputation and customer service, they are among the most respected etailers in the luxury shopping business and in fashion news coverage.

The items that sell out at full price on NAP are fodder for fashion writers in the blogosphere. The original content on Coutorture, one of the first online fashion website networks of which I am a member, looks to NAP's inventory as a barometer of trends in shopping and style.

If you have ever placed an order (even for a sale item) with NAP you know why they are regarded so highly. The iconic, decadent packaging of black tissue, hard black boxes, and lightning fast shipping are reminiscent of the meticulous customer service from a department store shopping experience of yesteryear.

They recently launched a wedding boutique that was the exclusive carrier of Carrie Bradshaw's Vivienne Westwood wedding gown from the Sex and the City Movie (which sold out in minutes, despite its hefty $10k price tag).

And today, they launched their affiliate outlet website, The Outnet.

Months ago, with much hype and anticipation, Net-A-Porter announced that they would soon launch an outlet website where discount designer shoppers could find decent prices on ex-NAP stock. Well, today that website went live. In addition to carrying moderately discounted stock that was previously housed on the sale page of NAP, www.theoutnet.com includes a Flash Sales page which promises to eventually have "Going, Going, Gone" sales of incremental discounts that correspond to the time the item is available for sale (aka, the longer something is available, the deeper the discount will become), 72 Hour Pop Up Sales (inspired by Gilt, Hautelook, Ruelala, and their ilk), and Giveaways of merchandise. Now that the background of NAP and the context of the Outnet have been established, I can hypothetically shop the Outnet in tomorrow's entry. I'll see what kind of deals are available for savvy shoppers.

Well Heeled: Triple Strap Snap Mary Janes by Jill Stuart

Sometimes all it takes to remind me to browse the sale pages of etailers is that they merely exist. Alyx of the hilarious LolFed clued me into a sale occuring at chickdowntown.com so I was off to look.

Pittsburgh-based Chick Downtown had an unsavory reputation according to members from The Purse Blog and Fashionism.org messageboard forums. This rep was corroborated by their Better Business Bureau rating, but when I heard that Kim, formerly of Pittsburgh's South Side Works Shopping Center's Karma Boutique was joining the team, I became optimistic that their variable customer service would become more consistent. While I haven't gone back to the brick and mortar store recently, I decided to take a chance by making an online order with them. The decision was easy when I saw these gorgeous triple strap, snap, mary jane pumps by Jill Stuart.

They style name is Tricia and they feel higher than their stated 3.5 inches, but I am a heel wuss. The color is called ink but in person they are more of a gunmetal gray. By using the code, "ADD40" for an extra 40% discount, they ended up being 75% off retail! I ordered them in the evening on March 10th and got the shipment notice yesterday. Since they only had to travel across town, they greeted me early this morning! Maybe if I am still feeling lucky, I will make an in-person visit to Chick Dahntahn soon!

Edited to update that the shoes arrived with lightning speed and they are just as beautiful in person! Hopefully this boutique, which has gorgeous stock and a variety of names that include just about all of my favorite designers, will do what they can to ensure that my positive experience becomes standard protocol for all their customers!