Zara Red Blazer with Gathered Shoulders

**updated 2/6/13 with pictures at end of post to help show the shade of red of this blazer**

My red Zara blazer (Ref. 7659/682) arrived yesterday and it is just as I'd expected.  Actually, I like it even more than I thought I would.  I was a little concerned that the slightly puffy "gathered" shoulders -- while perfectly fine for a 30-year-old Duchess -- might be a bit much for a *ahem* slightly older mom of three who is not dressing to be photographed at public engagements.  No... Zara got it just right for the rest of us too.

The red looks to me to be a true, velvety red.  The fabric (polyester, viscose, elastane), while not high end (it's a $99.90 Zara blazer), does not at all appear cheap in my opinion.  The smooth, flat weave is just right in this color... nice medium weight. The golden buttons add just a smidge of regal shine and they've included two extras sewn into the lining.  It was sold out there for a sec but is back in stock in all sizes except XL as of this morning.  Mine is a Medium - my typical size in Zara tops.  I usually buy Smalls or 4s in JCrew, Banana, etc, for comparison.

I'm so happy with this one, I have the Blazer with Golden Buttons on the way.  I'll let you know how that one works out when it gets here.

You can see pics of the Duchess of Cambridge wearing this blazer at the London Olympics at What Kate Wore here.  I'll be putting together some Polyvores soon.

Happy Friday!

xoxo

*update 2/6/13*

I've added a couple of pictures below so you can better judge the shade of red of this blazer.  Here it is against a Louboutin sole, Converse sneakers, and Revlon nail polish in #680 Revlon Red:

 with flash

without flash

Chair Change

I spotted this chair at a boutique in Georgia a couple weeks ago and I think it may have finally inspired me to attempt a re-do on one of the similar-styled chairs (dark brown wood with burgundy/green plaid fabric) I have stored in our garage.  This has been in the back of my mind for oh, a decade or so.

I haven't started any research yet... can anyone point me towards a good tutorial or two? Or if you've recovered chairs yourself - any tips?

xoxo

L. K. Bennett Cilla in Latte Patent {+ a Zara impulse buy}

One of my must-visits in Atlanta is L.K. Bennett at Phipps... kind of like The World of Coca-Cola for my kids.  So in July, I stopped in and shopped, finding this Cilla wedge and a pretty suede court I'll review next.

Last summer the sale section at LKB was quite a bit bigger and the prices seemed generally lower. I think I was there in August last time, though, so maybe styles will be added.  Pricing in-store is different than online.  These Cillas were priced in-store at $162.50 - down from $325, so not bad... but I saw them priced at 55 GBP online (around $86).

If you order online from the US though, you pay worldwide shipping. For LKB, that's 45 GBP for your first item (around $70... yes seventy dollars) and about $12 for each additional item.  (It's less within Europe.) You can, however, call a US store to see if an item is in stock and they will ship.  My two pairs were $17 for UPS ground and took about a week to cross the country.

I have been very happy with the LKBs I've purchased and I'm happy to see that Nordstrom is expanding their selection.  Since they offer everyday free shipping, I will be certainly be checking in with them for my LKB collection updates also.

I bought these in my usual 39.  That typically works for me for their wedges, courts, and flats.  I've had to size up to a 40 only one time in a peep-toe wedge that the SAs advised me was running small.

As of this morning, the latte color is still available at LK Bennett online in sizes 37-41, at the sale price.  It also comes in a beautiful red glossy patent which I saw in-store that is sold out at LKB online.  The red is still available here.

I wore these yesterday with boyfriend denim and a white linen blouse.  They were very comfortable and I received a few compliments.  The wedge is about 4" but the 1" platform makes them very walkable.  Good in a shoe, right? :-) My OPI Atomic Orange pedicure may have clashed, but it didn't bother me.

Also, I rarely impulse shop... I usually think about wardrobe additions longer than three minutes... but last night @whatkatewore tweeted about a red blazer the Duchess of Cambridge wore to an Olympic event and I hopped on over to zara.com as soon as I saw it.  I love the look of a blazer and I currently have an eye out for a classic navy one for Fall... but I don't have red either.  So this one from Zara is on it's way.  I'll post pics when it gets here.  Thanks, What Kate Wore! As of this morning, it is shown as sold out in S and M (I ordered a M) but it says "BACK SOON!" next to those sizes... so check back if you'd like one.  I'm sure Zara is getting used to that Kate-sell-out-effect by now and hopefully everyone who is placing an order will get their red jacket.

Happy Weekend!

xoxo

Trina Turk for Banana Republic {in the sale section}

I posted on the Trina Turk for Banana Republic collaboration when I first noticed it, and the Swirl Cowl Neck Knit dress was one of the items I was considering. I wasn't able to check it out in-store and was hesitant to order without trying... so I was really delighted to find one on a sale rack recently. I tried it on and liked it even better than on the rack, so bought it and wore it Sunday, like this:

I've stopped by three Atlanta-area BRs recently and found a few - to quite a few - TT items at each of them... the clutch in both colors and the scarves, as well as a some dresses, including the Picses Strapless Dress and Swirl Tunic Dress, all marked down in the sale section.

What do you think about this collaboration? I'd love to hear what people chose or if you'll shop it now that it's on sale.

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

SEA-NYC Travel Outfit

I posted a polyvore of my recent SEA-NYC travel outfit (will also be ATL-SEA travel outfit) and here it is IRL.  I keep flats and flops in my carry-on (an elsapel of Portland bag - great carry-on) and switched out the wedges during the 5+ hour flight.  They were fine for walking through the airport, etc on both sides.  Love my L.K. Bennett Maddox shoes.

West Coast: Talbots unlined seersucker jacket (2-3 years ago), J Crew tank, Gap Broken-in Straight Khakies in Blue Galaxy, L.K. Bennett Maddox, LV Totally (a great bag for travel - the top zips and it has two outside pockets to hold tickets, magazines, or your little baggie of liquids handy for security)

East Coast: A few extra wrinkles but I don't mind wrinkled Seersucker

Happy Monday!

xoxo

J Crew Extra 40 July 2012

Seville Printed Wedge Espadrille in Chocolate, Soludos for J Crew Classic Espadrille in Navy White Stripe, Linen Cable Knit Cardigan in Brilliant Purple

We are still on the East Coast, but have reached Georgia and my parents' house so I've found a little time for J Crew shopping.

I've loaded a vacation's-worth of pictures on my iPad but it is still so much easier for me to work with my own computer at home. So I'm going to wait to do picture sifting and most vacation posting until we return at the end of the month. We've had wonderful experiences and fun in NYC and DC, and Manassas, Culpeper, Roanoke, and Asheville. Fun, learning, sore feet, and expanding waistlines (probably just mine... Great NYC restaurants followed by things like fried pickles and white cheddar pimento cheese in a jar with house made pretzel chips? Can't say no.)

Anyway, I made a quick stop in a J Crew yesterday (and Gap Kids - extra 40 off there too) and found some shoes. Shoes. Why do I end up with the heaviest things to tote back... and haven't even been to LK Bennett yet...)

For sizing on these... I usually wear an 8 1/2 or a 39.  In the Soludos flat stripe espadrilles I took my expected 39 but in the wedge I sized down to an 8.  I tried on a 9 and it was way too big.




Happy Wednesday!

xoxo

Packing {+ Meet Elliott!}

Gap girls sequin graphic tee and rainbow striped hooded cardigan

It's that time again... starting the packing piles.  I like to sort things out for our three children and myself by putting together stacks of outfits.  (My husband throws some things in a suitcase as we're heading out.) I like to think and plan and I find this process really helpful for editing and bringing just the right things... enough but not too much... and covering all the activities.  These piles can stay on the bedroom floor for days and days while I figure it out.

This time though, I learned pretty quickly that I was going to have to speed up the process as this began to happen:

Yep.  This guy:

Who, me?

This is our new kitten Elliott.  He's absolutely adorable and we love him.  He does, however, view packing piles as a delightful playground for busy kitten adventures.  Things had to get sorted quickly.

Like last time, for myself I began with some cardigans and a scarf:

in process

I'll be posting some travel pics and OOTDs this month and next but it may be a while between posts.  For more frequent updates, I'll be on Twitter @seaandtea.

Happy Thursday and happy travels if you are vacationing too!

xoxo