Bling Chambray

With my love for chambray shirts and sparkly things,

you know I had to have this -- the boy shirt in beaded chambray.

Good thing I got it during a recent promo since the 00 is now sold out.

 IRL, the shirt is a greyer blue than what's showing on my monitor.

It's nicely faded, thank goodness without the drastic contrast between light and dark I dislike. 100% cotton. Very soft. No pockets.

The shirt would not be particularly remarkable without the bling.

The "hand-applied clusters" are sewn-on rhinestones, see a close-up.

 Some have noticed each cluster looks like an angel

or guardian angel jewelry. What do you think?

I think it's a very good thing to have 20 angels providing protection.

I need all the help I can get.

Wearing with Liberty toothpick jean in June's Meadow floral and Valentina mirror metallic pumps.

 And it's a really, really good thing I did not buy this shirt from a store. Because I would have compared every shirt in my size looking for perfect angels to drive myself insane. (Do not go shopping with me for a stuffed animal if there are 78 of the same teddy bear available.)

Most of the clusters are a bit askew like this.

With a single shirt in hand, I decided they were OK slightly flawed.

Kinda like us humans.

 

P.S. See Gigi's excellent review of the shirt here.



Yes I Did

In my defense, it was casual Friday.

In addition, it was hot, I was tired and didn't feel like going to work.

Plus, look what they're showing on the red carpet, is that a pseudo briefcase clutch to suggest a look for the workplace? 

And looky here:

And here:

So it wasn't too big of a leap to get here:

Can you imagine this with the furry slipper stilettos xoxo found?

Jody did a lot better, see here.

But my PJ bottoms won't get farther than the mailbox.

And only if quick and no one else is around.

 

Is that matching motorcycle helmet and loafers

I see the blond wearing with her jammies?

 

Like Jody, I thought I wouldn't contribute to the PJs as daywear trend. But now it feels like I've just participated in "the wave" at a game.

(Don't like it, especially during a baseball game. How distracting to the players and

how can one watch the game if watching that going around?)

 

Would you or wouldn't you?



Good Day Sunshine

Remember when I reviewed the keeper chambray shirt?

This shirt looks just like it but it is not.

It's the factory classic chambray shirt and one of the very best buys

when on sale with an extra percentage off (like it is nowfrom time to time).

Though the factory shirt does not come in petite, I was surprised to find the XXS exactly the same size as the keeper chambray in petite 00 except the sleeves are 0.375 inches longer.

In almost every way, I much prefer the factory version:

1. The fabric is not as obviously distressed and well worn as if you've had it forever.
2. The fabric is substantial and feels more like a denim shirt.
3. Due to the above two reasons, the shirt has a neater, crisper look.

The two shirts have the exact same design and details, but you can see the keeper on the right "spent countless summers in the sun."

Pocket details: factory on the left and the keeper on the right.

Collar and placket: factory on the left and the keeper on the right.

The closer-to-the-edge topstitching on the keeper's collar

(and cuffs) is the only sewing detail I found different.

Grey blue factory shirt on the left and slightly brighter blue, more worn out keeper on the right.

So on the summer solstice, I wore the factory shirt with

my favorite happy crazy jeans (on the left) to lunch with friends.

The sunny colors of the pants remind me of ...

See the Jacaranda trees with the almost bare branches?

I should have taken a pic a few weeks ago when they were completely covered in flowers, you can still see some of the lovely blooms.

Husby and I also played some golf.

He got an Eagle while I tried to not chop up the course

or land in the water.

I did some weeding and found this guy.

Does it photograph tall? It's the exact same height as me.

(How did the gardeners miss it?)

 

We then split a beer on the patio.

It was a really good day.

This is for you, J.CrewJD.

And how goes the sunshine where you are, everybody?

Double Double

Of all chambray shirts, I wear the perfect shirt in chambray polka dot the most. It's a chambray shirt and that's the current style gel top

(as opposed to the grey T-shirt of recent past, for example).

With subtle dots and no distressing, the shirt is dressy enough

for the office and makes a good play at pattern mixing

(worn here with the not-so-subtle cropped matchstick jean in indigo floral).

Thought I was smart and frugal picking up a back-up when the factory classic button-down shirt in dotted chambray went to sale

and an excellent extra percentage off came along.

The above pics show the side-by-side comparison fit-wise for

size 00 retail on the left and XXS factory on the right.

A close-up of the fabrics used.

Retail (lower left portion) is a brighter blue leaning toward royal

and has slightly larger dots. The factory (upper right)

is a grey blue material that's not as silky or drapey.

The fabric underbelly tells a good tale.

Retail dots are woven in while the factory prints its dots
(the print is on the surface and thus doesn't go through to the back of the material).

Here's what happens when they're washed and dried on hot.

With one sleeve down to show shrinkage and nope I don't iron

(worn here with the Liberty toothpick jean in June's Meadow floral).

Bottomline: while I like the factory version well enough for

its own merits, for me, it's not serving as a replacement/back-up

of the retail chambray polka dot shirt.

Darn. Because it would be a danged good deal.



Sucker for Selvedge

Maybe it's because I'm in marketing I fall for the marketing hype.

Anybody remember how just about every fabric J.Crew uses comes from some remote village in the foothills somewhere making whatever specialty lace, jacquard or tweed for hundreds of years?

So while doing due diligence for the ultimate chambray-

denim shirt smackdown, I had to try this one.

Posting to get the correct Polyvore image
because what you save is not always what you get.

A selvedge (Merriam-Webster prefers selvage, which bothers my logic since the word is from self+edge) is the bound edge of woven or flat-knitted fabric finished to prevent raveling. As a former seamstress,

I appreciate its beauty and strength and if a garment makes good use

of it, I'm usually a goner. Here's what got me:

This heirloom-worthy shirt has authentic details inspired by vintage workwear from the 1930s,

and the Japanese selvedge cotton chambray is the best there is (we stonewash ours for

that perfect worn-in look and feel). Casually chic with a longer shirttail hem and

a slightly oversize fit, it's cool and classic at the same time.

Not only is it selvedge chambray, but authentic details ...
vintage workwear from the 1930s and heirloom-worthy?

I was sorely disappointed to find the selvedge used in three places.

A tiny piece stitched in between the front and back shirt tails.
Mine is from HO 11 and I can't spot this detail in the closeups of the current shirt.

To form the hidden button down under the collar.
Hint: don't try to button the collar while wearing the shirt, it will be a struggle.


Along one placket, used improperly IMO since it's a separate piece stitched on
and not even along the entire length of the placket.

Miffed, I fully intended to return the shirt but never got around to it.

So it's with me to this day and guess it's staying.

Wearing it this way to show you the fuller sleeves.
Wearing it with the Liberty toothpick jean in June's Meadow floral,
go to the larger of your pant sizes if you're debating. 



Trying for the casually chic.
Wearing with the cropped matchstick jean in indigo floral,
also recommend the larger of your pant sizes.

Warning: if you're petite and wearing flats,
don't wear it as a tunic untucked, it's not a good look.
Not sure it's a good look even if tucked, it's a little Vera B.

Still trying for the cool, classic, casual chic.
Wearing with the Liberty toothpick jean in Tresco floral, sized as June's Meadow.
I made fun of them when first released but seriously love them now.

One thing about the selvedge chambray shirt,

the fabric is fine and silky, finer and silkier than

any of the other chambray shirts I've tried.

And no distressing, which is a good thing in my book.

 

That's all folks for now. I'm going to publish before Blogger crashes again and makes me redo an hour's worth of stuff. :(