Friday, April 5, 2013

Miller Time Friday: Champagne and a Banana Republic Review and Oh Yes! We have ducks!

Happy Friday! 

Firstly, THANK YOU sincerely for the kind wishes and positive energy that you sent my way yesterday!  You have become the wind in my sails (NO - you are not the wind beneath my wings - that would be creepy!) setting me off from what most would consider a safe harbour.  I coincidentally did a personality quiz yesterday with a friend of mine who is training to be a career life coach.  It was a freeby.  I laughed when I read the report which described me as "collaborative, purposeful, spontaneous, imaginative, observing, empathetic"  There was other stuff there, too, like under pressure I get bossy, but it was interesting and an interesting day to do it. 

But it is Friday and before we get on the porch for a celebration, I actually have clothing to review!!!!

My Banana Republic package arrived yesterday.  I have tried to do a thorough review (well as thorough as I can do!  I am no XOXO, GF or M!)

Heritage Ikat Tulip Skirt

Close-up:


The material feels very soft and linen-y.  The colours are as depicted in the picture.   The lining is polyester and not a soft polyester.  The waistband is wide and a wide waistband is no friend of mine!

Inside out - NO TAGS!  Isn't that odd?  There is the BR tag with the size, but no care tag, no tag telling me what the lining and outer skirt are made of!



And on the old Wendster:



It was late, and I wasn't going to put on the shirt that arrived in the box for reasons I will describe below and I thought I would prove that I do have toes.  There is a lot of pleating at the waist in front, so it bunches up.  Bunching pleats are also no friend of mine!  It is a pretty skirt and if you did not have a tummy and you don't care what this skirt is really made of (I was imagining all kinds of horrors, since we know you can't trust website descriptions) this might be for you!  It is getting sent back today!

The peplum top was also in the box.  Remember it?

Textured Peplum Top

I ordered the white version to go with the skirt.  They look very nice side by side on my bed:



It has a nice texture to it - it is a cotton-poly blend that wants you to think it is linen.  From the back:




Smooth lines - it looked very nice.  A closeup of the collar below.  It has almost a jacquard-y feel to it.



The inside of the bodice is lined in a soft polyester and the peplum is unlined. 

You will not see a picture of me in this, as it was completely unflattering as the line between the bodice and peplum was only 2 inches below my bust line.  I have to keep some modicum of dignity.  Not for me.  It is a nice top if you can't get the JC version, which I think is nicer (having seen it not only on Ema but also in real life in NYC).  So back this goes as well.  Sigh..  Off to the Tommy Bahama website to order a nice couple of linen skirts to try!

On a happier note, on my walk yesterday, that Robin that I spied in Madison Park in NYC a month ago arrived here yesterday!  Yay!  and thanks Ema!

And around the corner in a ditch, a pair of mallard ducks are nesting.  We go visit them every day.




You gotta love Spring!
Since this is Miller time Friday and since I am having a week of great endings and new beginnings, I think I will join Tabs, who has reminded me of the Champagne cocktail in her tale of woe, debauchery and youth here.  We might as well steal her recipe and make up a batch.  Now for god sakes, let's make sure she is comfortable and doesn't need to get up much for the bathroom.  Maybe we could each have our own spotter to get us to the washroom when required?    Either way, I am happy to be with you all again, sitting on the porch and toasting life.  It is what you make of it, after all!

Have the loveliest of Fridays and stay safe out there!

31 comments:

  1. LOVE A DUCK Wendy you are killing me with that confit tag (pretty adventurous eater, much of life out of necessity). Some stuff I know others acclaim I just can't do - foie gras, veal piccata, no matter how good it is I go all Beatrix Potter. But I would like to have my own truffle dog.

    A wardrobe review with free returns, a bobbing robin, the satisfaction of a bang-on future assessment and lashings of champers - sounds like a very good Friday to me. (Detailed me can't stand fact there was no tag in that zebra meets parlour poof skirt.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will dog-sit your truffle dog anytime GF. If you're ever in Brussels... http://www.truffenoire.com/

      Delete
    2. xoxo Noted, thanks. I really enjoy Brussels. If you have a chance to go back there's also a dining tram with fine chefs - different lunch. Cookies from Dandoy on Rue de Rollebeek are welcome (butter!) gifts. And the weekend market around the Sablon Church is a neat browse too.

      Delete
    3. Now I am taking notes. I must return sometime, it's a beautiful city.

      Delete
    4. Well I have to get to Brussels, drove near but not that there! Too funny about the truffle dog! Even Forever 21 has tags - I thought it was odd!!!

      It is sunny and warm today! Yippee! All groceries done and my home handyman has actually gotten back on task since chair arrived yesterday!

      Delete
    5. Please post piccies of chair. (Understand if you are pending Mr. Home Handyman re. full reveal.)

      Delete
  2. Thanks for the reviews Wendy. It seems we need to exercise extra caution when purchasing online these days as the information is being left out and I think we know why. I have a similar shape to yours and I cannot wear a peplum. Besides having too much of a MOTB vibe for my comfort, they do not work on my top-heavy frame at all. So unflattering.

    I haven't purchased anything from Gap brands for years. I boycotted them years ago due to their business practices and it looks like they are in line with J.Crew as far as the lower-quality materials used so no loss to me.

    Your ducks are very cool. Hope you will have the opportunity to snap a few pics of the ducklings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope they make it to the ducking stage - there are so many predators out this way! I like peplum if it hits in the right spot - this did not. Still cursing self for not trying the one on at JC - will keep looking around here!

      Delete
  3. The skirt just seems big to me but you can definitely find something better!
    Not sure why you are thanking me for the robin but I will take it ;-).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I assumed you sent it on from NYC! I am going to try the Tommy Bahama skirts and will let you know - they are very casual, but that is what I am looking for as I have lots of dressy skirts!

      Delete
  4. I'll stop after 2 now I promise!
    Peplums are God's gift to my figure, they hide my belly pooch and make my hips look bigger, I'd wear peplum undies if I could.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you do dresses or tops? I have had more luck with peplum dresses myself. I am now on the lookout for one! AT least these are free returns - thank god!

      Delete
  5. Peplums are death for those with hips,ie, me, so I would not even try that top.

    You'll like the weather in 6 hours,too; seems a bit warmer and the arctic blast wind seems to have calmed down. No daffodils yet, though.

    Champs in order to celebrate your new life!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lane - it just arrived! Yippee!!!! Just got back from getting groceries and then may even do some yardwork today - we lost a lot of branches this winter. Our backyard is full of snow, but the front yard is close to being snow free - a few days of this and it will be! And part of my potager is now snow free so am considering sowing spinach!

      Delete
    2. Yes, spinach! You can put in favas,lettuce and kale seeds too. I have arugula already in the coldframe.

      Delete
    3. I need Barry to build me a coldframe - it is on the to do list for this summer so I can grow right through the fall! I love kale. They were disgusted at lunch as I made a smoothy with banana, strawberry, vanilla yogurt and dandelion greens!

      Delete
  6. Yay champers!
    Too bad about the BR stuff, but oh well you'll find something nicer and real linen.
    Those are pretty ducks but I'm still feeling winter. It's 4 today and windy with a damp chill to the air. This was not a good year for us to skip our Florida holiday, I can't even remember a time when it wasn't winter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well Indy and I walked back over and they weren't there! Will keep an eye out for them! I see we are getting the cold again tomorrow - I am with you on the cold! I am tired of it and ready for spring!

      Delete
  7. Too bad the BR stuff didnt work out for you.
    I am also on the look out for a nice peplum topand might try the JC one.

    Have a great weekend:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just got back from the post returning 6 boxes of bad online shopping mistakes. Sorry yours didn't work out either. I wish Spring would come for all of you. It's a little chilly in LA, but still feels Springy. One of these period in LA (which come often) where you just don't know what to wear. Have a great Champagne cocktail night!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well my JC Minnie's came and were fine, so at least that worked out!

      Delete
  9. Honestly, I marvel at the synthetic wonders that come out of BR. Did they ever think if they made a nice garment out of real fabric, they wouldn't have to discount a zillion of them 40% off of the sale price every Wednesday? Sorry for the rant- I guess I really need that cocktail. As far as more than one goes... Back to Dorothy Parker-
    “I like to have a martini,
    Two at the very most.
    After three I'm under the table,
    after four I'm under my host.”

    ReplyDelete
  10. i will be joining you tonight for miller time! i don't drink often so it is a treat.

    also, congrats on retiring or starting your new chapter. how exciting!!!! x

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am definitely going to try the Champagne cocktails for sure.

    It has now been 6 solid months of winter. BLECH!!

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I left a terrific recipe for a cocktail that just screams SUNSHINE on Tabs' blog the other day, but I was thinking I hope Wendy picks this up.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Friday, Wendy! I'm sorry the shipment didn't work out. That peplum top just didn't do it for me either. Bummer, they look so cute on other people. I looked like particularly unflattering maternity wear on me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i hear you - i looked like all those awful tabloid shots of poor kim k!

      Delete

Kindness is a virtue...