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?

Lookbook: ASOS Midi Dress in Lace

ASOS Midi Dress in Lace - Black (similar here); J.Crew Factory Jean Jacket; J.Crew Mona Dreamweaver Pumps; Color Bubble BIB Statement Fashion Necklace - Turquoise; J.Crew Factory Bracelets; Tommy Hilfiger Sunglasses, DL40

Before we talk about the dress, I need to get something off of my chest. I broke down and bought a J.Crew knockoff bubble necklace! I know these necklaces have been all over the fashion blogs, but at $16, it is too perfect an accessory to pass by.

Now, about the dress. I purchased it a few weeks ago from ASOS, thinking that it would be long enough to hit my knees (like the model here). Unfortunately it missed the mark by about two inches. The good news is that the overall fit is fine and the quality exceeded my expectations for a $29 dress.

So far, I ended up wearing this dress on a networking cruise (you can see me on the dance floor here!), where I paired it with a simple gold necklace.

Lookbook: Another J.Crew Pencil Skirt and Pair of Pointy Flats

J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Deck Stripe; J.Crew Tippi Sweater; Forever 21 Bag; H&M Bracelets and Earrings; J.Crew Viv Printed Patent Flats

Above, I'm wearing yet another pencil skirt from J.Crew. They've really become a staple for me this year. This one in particular seems to run larger than the double-serge cotton material, but that's okay because it still fits. It just doesn't hug my curves as much.

Below are all of the other J.Crew pencil skirts I own (except for a grey one that I haven't posted about yet). Which one is your favorite?

Lookbook: Cropped Trousers

Tahari Cropped Trousers (Marshalls); J.Crew Tall Stretch Perfect Shirt; J.Crew Belt; Tommy Hilfiger Bag; J.Crew Viv Stripe Flats; H&M Earrings and Bracelets

Cropped trousers with a flattering cut and a classy shoe can work well on taller women. Just make sure the hemline is level with the lower calf—not the widest part. You may need to shop around for the right fit for you.

And yes, I'm on a roof!

Lookbook: How to Pull Off Flats if You’re Tall

J.Crew Stretch Perfect Shirt in Classic Stripe; J.Crew Perfect-Fit Long-Sleeve Tee; J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton; J.Crew Viv Printed Patent Flats; Tommy Hilfiger Tote; Vintage Earrings

Flats on tall women may seem like a great idea, but the wrong pair or a poor outfit choice can make tall women look heavier than they are (it's a proportion thing). Here are some simple tips that I’ve discovered over the years:

• Flats look the best with pants, especially with straight-legged pants or pants with a tiny flare. But don’t wear flats with pants that are too long. You'll end up looking sloppy.
• If you’d like to wear flats with a dress or a skirt—especially a pencil skirt—opt for the pointed-toe styles. You’ll see in the photos above that the pointed-toe flats look better than the rounded-toe flats. That's because the pointed-toed flats have a similar effect to wearing heels. They help elongate the leg rather than cutting it off short like the rounded-toe flats do. They've also got a fancier feel than their round-toe counterparts and can help you obtain a more business oriented look. 
• If you have to wear rounded-toe flats with a skirt or dress, make sure you wear them with a shorter skirt (more than an inch above the knee), since having no heel or point can make legs look shorter. Showing a bit more leg helps to get that length back. See an example of how I pulled it off here. And come Fall, don't be afraid to pair a short skirt and flats with tights! I do it all the time. See an example here.
• Don’t wear any flats with skirts or dresses that fall below the knee—you’ll achieve a frumpy silhouette.

What do you wear with your flats?

Lookbook: From Winter to Spring

J.Crew City Mini Skirt; J.Crew Factory Stretch Perfect Shirt; Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps; Longchamp "Planetes Tonal" Tote; Tommy Hilfiger Sunglasses, DL40; H&M Bracelets; Ann Taylor Stud Earrings

We've finally finished unpacking and my closet is now in order! I'm loving the new neighborhood and I'm sure many Elevated Style photo-shoots will take place here.

Today I wanted to talk about transitioning winter clothing to warmer weather. Here, I've taken a wool skirt that I typically wear with black tights (see this post) and I've paired it with a crisp white button-down. And voila―perfect for Spring!

Too bad the skirt wasn't a bit longer on me as it would be a great work outfit. Oh, the life of a tall girl.

Lookbook: When a Dress Becomes a Shirt

H&M Striped Shirt; J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton; Ralph Lauren Zabrina Pumps; Vintage Bracelets; Tommy Hilfiger Suglasses, DL40

The striped shirt I'm wearing is actually meant to be a dress! Of course, it's not quite long enough for me to wear as a dress (common problem for tall girls!), but that's okay. Sometimes you just have to be a little creative.

Above, I’m wearing it tucked into a vibrant pencil skirt. I thought the neutral stripes would balance out the bright citron color. Have you ever worn a dress as a shirt before?

On a different note, I'm moving today so it may be more than a few days before my next post. Have a good weekend!

Lookbook: A Spring Statement Skirt

Ann Taylor Skirt; J.Crew Perfect-Fit Long-Sleeve Tee; Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps; Ann Taylor Perfect Skinny Belt; AEO White Chronograph Watch; Tommy Hilfiger Sunglasses, DL40; H&M Earrings; Vintage Bracelet; Banana Republic Classic Trench

I picked up this skirt on sale at Ann Taylor last weekend and couldn't wait to post about it. It's extremely lightweight, doesn't wrinkle easily, doesn't ride up when I’m walking and is easy to pair with a variety of colors. Above, I’m wearing it with a simple mint green long-sleeve tee. I wanted to keep the rest of my outfit understated to highlight the skirt. Typically with statement pieces, I like to down-play other elements of the outfit.

My one issue with this skirt is that it’s about an inch too short (so typical for me!). I would have preferred it to be at knee level rather than above the knee, but the price was right and the colors are gorgeous, so I couldn’t resist!

Lookbook: Navy as a Neutral

J.Crew Perfect-Fit Long-Sleeve Tee; J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton; Ralph Lauren Zabrina Pumps; J.Crew Scarf; DSW Wristlet; Tommy Hilfiger Sunglasses, DL40; Bracelets from H&M and J.Crew

Let's talk about the color navy blue. It's a great color for Spring, but I've always found it difficult to pair with something other than white. Above is an example of how navy blue can be used as a neutral with a vibrant green. If green's not your style, try pairing navy blue with poppy, bubblegum or turquoise. Feel free to use the color swatches below to find something in your closet that might match:

By the way, I mentioned that you'll see me wear lots of pencil skirts! Pencil skirts are definitely flattering for tall women and are worth having in a variety of colors.

Lookbook: The Pencil Skirt

J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton; J.Crew Factory Stretch Perfect Shirt; J.Crew Striped Tee; Ralph Lauren Zabrina Pumps; Ann Taylor Perfect Belt; Tommy Hilfiger Sunglasses, DL40; H&M Bracelets; Forever 21 Bag

You’ll see me wear a lot of pencil skirts. That’s because they’re so versatile, work appropriate and flattering on tall women. In fact, any body type can pull off a pencil skirt—as long as it’s the proper length, material and cut.

Here are some pointers for women who have tall pear-shaped figures (like me!)

1. LENGTH: The traditional pencil skirt should fall around the knees or just below.
2. MATERIAL: Something with a bit of structure is your best bet—a thicker material or some texture.
3. CUT: Choose a slim, but not tight fit. You should be able to move, sit, and bend, but the skirt shouldn't be too loose or else you'll look frumpy and shapeless.

I am a huge fan of the J.Crew pencil skirts. Above, I’m wearing the No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton. It comes in a variety of colors (I also have it in Citron, Warm Jade and Smoky Graphite) and is structured, yet comfortable.

Lookbook: Spring Prints and Patterns

J.Crew Stretch Perfect Shirt in Classic Stripe; J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Medallion Paisley; Ralph Lauren Zabrina Pumps; H&M Bracelets and Earrings; Vintage Bracelets from Grandmother

Who says tall girls can't pull off prints and patterns? Prints and patterns serve to draw the eye to wherever used and can look very polished if done correctly. Here are some do's and don'ts:

1. Do wear prints that balance with your body. For instance, smaller girls should choose small and muted designs, while taller girls can pull of larger and bolder prints such as the paisly in the skirt that I'm wearing. 
2. Do use vertical lines as they will create a vertical effect on your body, instantly slimming you.
3. Don't wear horizontal lines across the widest part of your body (for me, it's my hips!). It will create the illusion of extra width in places you don't want it to.