Tall Tricks: Creating the Perfect Skinny Jean

7 For All Mankind Ginger Flare Trousers; J.Crew Booker Tall Mid-Heel Boots; Ralph Lauren Newbury Flap Satchel;  J. Crew Perfect-Fit Long-Sleeve Tee; J.Crew Factory Wool-Blend Walking Coat; H&M Bracelets

There's nothing worse (maybe bathing suit shopping?) than shopping for skinny jeans. You don't want anything so tight that it restricts movement, but you want something long enough that you can wear heels with and skinny enough to be able to tuck into jeans.

Here's a trick that I learned a few months ago...turn your jeans into skinny jeans!

Step 1: Find your favorite pair of jeans. Everyone has a favorite pair of jeans. Mine happened to be a trouser jean (see here and here).

Step 2: Bring them to your tailor and ask for the jeans to be converted into skinnies! Who knew?! It will usually cost anywhere between $20 and $50, depending on where you go.

Step 3: Buy a new pair of your favorite jeans!

Above, I'm wearing my recently converted skinny jeans. I love how they fit into my boots without being too tight. You can see a side-by-side comparison of the before and after below.

If I can convert my ex-trouser-pant-monstrositiy into a nice pair of skinnies, then you can certainly convert your jeans!

Readers - Are you brave enough to convert you favorite jeans into skinny jeans?

Travel Diaries: Shots from the Cruise

Beyond Vintage Dress; Kate Spade Marie Bow-Toe Pumps

Forever 21 Skirt (similar here); J.Crew Factory Blouse; J.Crew Polka-Dot Bag; Factory Enameled Dot Bangle; Color Bubble BIB Statement Fashion Necklace - Turquoise; Banana Republic Ashley Bow Ballet Flats

Hello! I got back from the Caribbean just under a week ago and it took me the whole week to get back into the swing of things. I think my mind is still on vacation!

Above are a few outfits I wore to dinner on the ship. While I dressed up every night, I tended to live in my bathing suit during the day. I didn't take as many pictures as I had planned and instead ended up relaxing as much as I could.

I'm excited to start blogging again!

J. Crew Excursion Quilted Vest Review

J. Crew Excursion Quilted Vest; J.Crew Classic Mini in Felted Wool; J.Crew Factory Skirted Dress Coat; Hue Tights; J. Crew Perfect-Fit Long-Sleeve Tee; Banana Republic Factory Flats; Color Bubble BIB Statement Fashion Necklace - Turquoise; Selima Sun for J.Crew Sophia Sunglasses; Factory Enameled Dot Bangle

I built this outfit around the Excursion Quilted Vest in Herringbone from J. Crew. I'd been looking for a vest that I could wear to casual events in lieu of a winter jacket and when I saw this option from J.Crew, I fell in love. It has an old-school vibe from the tweed pattern, but the double zipper and black trim give it a more modern twist. I thought I'd be able to pair it with a lot in my wardrobe. 

I ordered a small hoping it would be provide more shape around my waist than in the picture on J. Crew (see here). Unfortunately, it didn't work. The vest is too big and it isn't tailored around my waist. This makes my waist look like the same width as my hips. As a taller girl, this is a big faux pas. People call us big already, so the last thing we want to do is wear over-sized or ill-fitting clothes.

Overall, here are my thoughts:

• SIZE: The jacket fit fine in the arms and the length was fine, sitting just on my hip. 
• FIT: There was little to no shape around my waist. As a tall girl, it's extra important to accentuate our smaller areas to make us look more feminine and prevent us from looking "bigger". I hate it when people say that! 
• MATERIAL: The vest is made of polyester and is filled with a thin layer of down. When I took the photos it was in the high 30's and I was definitely colder than I thought I was going to be.  
• DETAILS: I love the double zipper, standing collar, and black trim. 
• COLOR: I LOVE the pattern and the neutral hues make it an easy item to pair with.

While I think this vest could be tailored to give it more shape, I think I will end up returning it and seeing if a smaller size does the trick.

Readers - Have you had any luck with puffy vests?

Outfit Ideas: Red Mini Skirt + Pop of Plaid

J.Crew Classic Mini in Felted Wool; J.Crew Perfect-Fit Long-Sleeve Tee; J.Crew Factory Classic Button-Down in Flannel; Hue tights; Aigle Ecuyer Riding Boots; American Eagle Necklace; H&M Earrings

I decided to start a regular type of post called "Outfit Ideas." These posts can be thought of as inspiration and likely won't contain the tall tips and tricks you're used to seeing in my other posts.

I wanted to start this type of post for a couple of reasons:

1. Not everything I wear is a tall size. I'm actually on the shorter side of tall and therefore wear a considerable amount of regular-sized clothing.
2. I haven't been posting as much as I'd like because I feel like every time I post, I need to share something monumental or inspirational (it takes me a lot longer to put together a thoughtful post). I'd rather be more consistent in posting than only posting once in a while.

Now, let's talk about the outfit I'm wearing above. 

I wore this ensemble out to breakfast on Sunday morning. I tried pairing plaid with a bright red skirt and I love how the thin red stripe in the plaid shirt matches the red skirt perfectly. This helps to pull the outfit together. I'm also loving how seasonal this outfit feels. All I need is hot chocolate and Christmas songs. Is it too early for that?

If I wear this again, I would try flats instead of boots to give it a softer, more feminine look. I feel like fats would also make my legs look longer because they wouldn't truncate my leg at my knee. 

Lookbook: Extra Long Blazer

Ann Taylor Stretch Linen Twill Long Jacket; Ralph Lauren Newbury Flap Satchel; Tommy Hilfiger Sunglasses, DL40; Aigle Ecuyer Boots; H&M Skater Dress; Charter Club Scarf; Hue Tights

Finding a flattering blazer when you're tall is not easy!

Let me set the scene. I had been searching for a blazer for months. I wanted something longer that I could wear with skinny jeans (to work) or with a short skirt and boots (for the weekend). I tired on a number of tall blazers, but none were long enough for the look that I was going for. Just when I had given up hope, I saw this CRAZY LONG blazer in the final sale section of the Ann Taylor website. Here's why I love it:

• After a number of promotions and coupons, it cost me under $35! 
• It's not a tall size. Finally I can wear something that doesn't come out of the tall section! 
• The length is perfect, hitting just below the widest part of my hips. This helps create the illusion of a more slender silhouette. On anyone shorter, I'm convinced this would look like a lab coat.
• The button falls at my natural waist. Most of the other blazers I tried on had buttons that hit too high.
• It's structured yet has an a-line shape, which is flattering on pear-shaped women like me.

Readers - Have you found the perfect blazer?

Lookbook: Wide Leg Trouser Jeans

7 For All Mankind Ginger Flare Trousers; ASOS Quilted Lock Across Body Bag; H&M Blouse; Vintage Pearls; Ralph Lauren Zabrina Pumps

Trouser jeans are my favorite...especially these ones! This particular pair is super long (34.75") and slim in the hip and thigh area which make for a flattering silhouette. 

How to wear:

• I always wear these with a heel to elongate the leg (and because the fabric would drag on the ground!).
• I find that tucking in the shirt balances out the bulk in the leg area and looks more polished. I also like pairing trouser jeans with a cropped sweater or jacket to show off their style.
• Adding a belt can help define the waist and pull together the look.

Lookbook: How to Wear Peplum

Topshop Tall Jersey Peplum Top; William Rast "Jerri" Stardust Ultra Skinny Leg Jeans; J.Crew Booker Tall Mid-Heel Boots (similar); ASOS Quilted Lock Across Body Bag (c/o my beautiful friend Emilie); Express Necklace (old)

This is the first time that I've tried wearing peplum. I always stayed away from it, thinking that the extra fabric around the hips would be a bad idea. I decided to try it, however, after seeing it all over the fashion blog world.

What I Like:

• The idea of the top. It's a soft material in a silhouette that isn't too extreme. It adds a bit of interest to an otherwise plain outfit.
• The length of the peplum. A shorter peplum would look disproportionate on us tall women.
• A top like this paired with something streamlined. Here, I paired the top with a pair of skinny jeans. But a pencil skirt would work just as well.

What I Don't Like:

• I found that peplum gives the illusion of a smaller waist, but does accentuate the hips. 
• The top could be a few inches longer, even though it is a tall size. It's hitting me at the widest part of my hips. I can't image how short a regular size would be!

Have you tried peplum before? Have you been successful?

Review: Tall J.Crew Emmaleigh Dress in Super 120s

Tall J.Crew Emmaleigh Dress in Super 120s; Ann Taylor Perfect Patent Leather Pumps; J.Crew Leopard Print Scarf (similar here); J.Crew Polka-Dot Bag (similar here); J.Crew Factory Bracelets

Above, I'm wearing the tall size J.Crew Emmaleigh Dress in Super 120s. It's the same dress I featured in this post back in August. I apologize for not getting a review out sooner...I had to order three different sizes before I found one that fit the way I like. I find that J.Crew sizing is inconsistent and it's tough because you can't try on tall sizes in store.  First off, this dress is way more flattering on me than the J.Crew Memo dress I reviewed here. Why? There is no weird pleating or bunching around the waist! Here are some other things to note: LENGTH: The tall length is fine on my 5'10" frame and hits just above the knee. I did try on a regular size in store and found the length to be too short (about 2-3 inches shorter than the tall size). MATERIAL: The material is gorgeous (Super 120s merino wool) and looks and feels expensive. It's silky to the touch but has enough structure to be work-appropriate. It's also fully lined. CUT: It's a shift-silhouette with a straight skirt. These types of dresses are typically more flattering on women without curves, but I wanted to try anyway. I ended up going with a 4T. I think the hip area might be a little tight on me, but if I went with the 6T, the bust would have been way too roomy. Ultimately, I liked the dress, but I wasn't in love. I think I'm going to return it, because I don't think I can justify the price for something that's not quite perfect. On a positive note, however, there are plenty more J.Crew Wear-To-Work dresses to try! Readers - Have you tired any of the J.Crew Wear-To-Work dresses? Which silhouette do you like the best?

Lookbook: Purple Paisley and Polka-Dots

J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Medallion Paisley; J.Crew Mona Dreamweaver Pumps; J.Crew Perfect-Fit Ballet Button Tee (Hthr Graphite); J.Crew Polka-Dot Scarf (similar);

Just a quick outfit post from the weekend. I'm trying to get pencil skirts out of my system before the weather gets too cold! See here how I styled this same pencil skirt back in the Spring.

Also, note that this skirt is 22" long. The skirt in my last post was 25.5" long. It's amazing how much of a difference 3" makes. It's also amazing how much I am in love with this polka-dot scarf!

Hope your week is going well :)

Review: Tall J.Crew Pencil Skirt

J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wool (Crimson Maple); J.Crew Merino V-Neck Cardigan (Hthr Flax); J.Crew Painter Boatneck Tee in Stripe; Ann Taylor Perfect Patent Leather Pumps; Ralph Lauren Newbury Flap Satchel

I recently added this Tall J.Crew pencil skirt to my collection. I fell in love with the rich burgundy color and soft wool material. Perfect for fall!

This is actually my first Tall skirt purchase from J.Crew. The regular-sized pencil skirts fit me well, but I've always been curious about the longer length. Verdict? Win!

• LENGTH: The Tall size is 25.5" long, which is two inches longer than the regular size. On me, the Tall length hits me right below the knee—well before widest part of my calf. This is the best spot for a longer pencil skirt to hit as it accentuates the curves of your calfs rather than making you look stumpy. I find that longer length pencil skirts look best when paired with heels (to balance out the proportions).
• MATERIAL: The double-serge wool has a weightier feel which is great for cooler weather and the skirt is fully lined to hide any imperfections.
• CUT: I went with a size 6T because I wanted a slim, but not tight fit. With pencil skirts that go below the knee, you should be able to move, sit, and bend, but the skirt shouldn't be too loose or else you'll look frumpy.

Readers - Have you tried Tall J.Crew pencil skirts before?

Lookbook: Burgundy and Magenta

J.Crew Multistripe Long-Sleeve Boatneck Tee; J.Crew Factory Accordion-Pleat Mini; J.Crew Bottom Gap Military Jacket; J.Crew Mona Dreamweaver Pumps; Tommy Hilfiger Sunglasses, DL40; Vintage Bracelet

You can see from my September style obsessions post that I really am obsessed with burgundy and magenta! Here's an outfit I out together with my new striped shirt from J.Crew (on sale!). The shirt is a bit short lengthwise, but you'd never know it when it's tucked into a skirt.