Wednesday, April 25, 2012

From the Fitting Room (sort of): 2012 H&M Glamour Collection

In conjunction with the launch of their regular Conscious Collection, this year, H&M decided to launch a Glamour Conscious Collection as well. The line features red carpet inspired looks, but are still made from recycled materials. As mentioned in my fitting room review, none of the items from the Glamour line were available in my local store. If you know me you know I didn't stop there. After an email exchange with a customer service rep, I learned that only a handful of cities would be carrying the line, the closest of which was New York. My wonderful and equally fashion obsessed friend Travis was on it. He took off to his closest H&M store and luckily enough found several dresses in my size. In the end, the only one I had him purchase was the purple dress with flower applique (seen here in photo 2). I will however pass along the comments he had on the two other dresses that I was really interested in. I would've loved to have tried all three on, but I was worried about how I would return them if they didn't work out for me.

Glamour Collection Purple Applique Dress, Size 2 (from ribcage down fits like a 00p), $59.95: This dress was a major disappointment. It fit nothing like what was shown on the promos. Super tight in the hips and huge in the shoulders, chest, and sleeves. As my co-worker so accurately put it, "you look sort of like a linebacker." It's difficult to tell from the photo, but the back strap was way too long as well. This dress was definitely made for someone with very broad shoulders and no hips at all. The sides of the back were ill fitting as well. At first I thought there would be a way to alter this dress, but I don't believe it would be possible. When you try to pull the back strap to make the chest area more fitted, the entire opening moves up so it's half way up your neck. I just can't get over how much of a mess this dress is. Verdict: returned

Glamour Collection Gray Ruffle Full Length Gown (seen here in photo 1), $299.95. As described by my friend: one of the most beautiful dresses that he has seen in person and there is no way he can believe it's from H&M. He also mentioned that he didn't think it would work on my 5'3" frame, it was very long and he didn't believe it could be shortened very easily due to the ruffles. This is the one dress from the collection that I was really dying for. I just loved everything about it, but after debating for a long time I decided to pass. I have no idea where the average person could wear this dress, especially given the color. It could definitely pass for a wedding dress. Meaning, unless you wanted experience the wrath of a bride, there is no way you could wear it to a wedding. According to my friend, there were a ton of these dresses left so I am guessing many people had the same thought process as me. Pretty much a black tie event is the only place you could wear this and let's be honest, most people that attend black tie events are probably not shopping at H&M.

Glamour Collection Lime Green Dress (seen here in photo 4) , $69.95. As described by my friend: very pretty, but very short and a full open back. This one must have been pretty popular because there was only one left in my size. After much consideration, I decided I would have no where to wear this dress because of the length and open back. It also looked a little too much like a cheerleader uniform to me.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Sunday Best

It's the time of year when beautiful sunny days are accompanied by chilly mornings and evenings. Except of course as I write this, it's 48 degrees and freezing cold! Last week though, was full of these types of days. When I know I am going to be out after work, I like to pair a casual summer dress with knee high boots and a lightweight jacket to ensure that I will stay warm.

Flag on the Play Striped Dress - Lulus (seen here)
Swinging Knit Jacket - Free People
Boots - Ann Taylor Loft
Socks - Target
Yellow Beaded Bracelets - TJ Maxx

Thursday, April 12, 2012

From the Fitting Room: 2012 H&M Conscious Collection

My heart totally sank when I arrived at my local H&M this morning. There was not a single piece from the Conscious Glamour Collection. I asked a sales rep and they said they it was still unclear if they were going to get any of the pieces and if they did, they had no idea when it would be. Major bummer. I guess I will have to call and check on a daily basis because now that I can't have them, I'm even more obsessed. As per usual.

While in the store I did try on and purchase several pieces from the regular Conscious Collection. Most of the pieces were just ok, but the ones featured below I really liked and are very budget friendly.

Coral Pink Lace Top, XS (fits true to size), $14.95: I tried on all four colors (cream, yellow, mint and coral) that this top came in. The coral was hands down the winner. It fits a little on the loose side, especially in the arm holes, but for the price I thought it was a great spring/summer top. Verdict: purchased

Coral Pink Lace Skirt, Size 2 (fits like a 00p), $14.95: This was one of the items I had my eye on before I even went into the store. It didn't disappoint. The lace is really beautiful in person as is the color. This skirt fit me really well in the waist and hips and was the perfect length. Verdict: purchased

Pink Lace Dress, Size 2 (fits like a 00p), $29.95: If I didn't really love the way this dress looked (when I finally managed to get it on) there is no way I would have ever bought it. It took me almost 15 minutes to get it on and even then I had to give up and ask a sales associate to help me. There are not only two zippers, but also 3 buttons (photos below) to secure. And if someone with my crazy long arms can't do it, I don't know how anyone can. Once I got in on though, I just loved it and hopefully with some practice I will be able to put in on by myself! Verdict: Purchased.

These photos of the side back zipper and interior buttons don't tell the full story. I would bet money that this dress was designed by a man. No woman would make it this difficult to get a garment on.

UPDATE: I have received several requests for a back shot of the dress on. To my surprise and delight I discovered  pockets while doing the additional photo shoot. I don't know how I could have missed it the first time, but you can't even imagine how excited I was.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Sunday Best: Revisited

Last year at this time I wrote of my search for the perfect magenta peep toe wedges. It's one year later. I still have no magenta peep toe wedges. Coming to terms with the fact that I may never find any, I decided to revisit this outfit and see if I could add some interest in another way. I knew I still wanted to incorporate another color and this time I wanted to add another pattern as well. I wasn't sure if the leopard wedges would work, but I sort of love it. I may like this look even better than I would pink peeps!

Striped Merino Wool Blazer - Ann Taylor Loft (seen here)
Cotton Green Dress - Boutique in Chicago (seen here)
Skinny Belt - H&M
Cut to the Chase Necklace - Kate Spade (seen here)
Erin Dot Tights - Banana Republic
Kylie Wedge Pumps - Payless

Monday, April 2, 2012

Sunday Best

It's early spring and that means layers are all around us. Most of March was crazy warm, but last week seasonal temperatures finally hit the area. If I wanted to stay warm on my walk to work, but not get too hot later in the day, I had to layer up. Topping a dress and boots with a cardigan and wool blazer make for the perfect outfit for a cool spring day.

Bib Dress - Banana Republic
Cardigan - Banana Republic
Check Wool Blazer - J.Crew
Belt - H&M
Socks - Target
Boots - Ann Taylor Loft