The Friday Shop 3/18/22

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The Friday Shop by Wardrobe Oxygen

Catching My Eye

There's no better way to update your wardrobe basics with some fun prints. And this spring, you can find them in most any type of pattern, color, textile, and form. A printed shoe is a great way to add spring to your step; don't be afraid to mix patterns, especially when you're incorporating the second print with an accessory like shoes, bags, or jewelry.

wardrobe oxygen friday shop

one (2-20/22 and petite) | two (XS-L) | three | four | five (XS-6X) | six | seven | eight (XS-3X and petite) | nine (1X-4X) | ten | eleven (XS-XL)

Sale Alert

What I Bought and What I Thought

Last week I discussed dresses I purchased for a different body, and this week I ordered some shoes for a different body. See, I have difficult feet. They are wide, but they are also high volume, but not high arches. And my pinky toe is ridiculously short. Put all that together and sandals are near impossible to find. But your gal Alison keeps on trying!

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I ordered these sandals from Bella Vita, which I have had a lot of luck with in the past. Their styles are in general, not as frumpy as some other wide width brands and these sandals looked nice and neutral and great for everything from dresses to shorts to even jeans. They come in four widths and five colors.

While the band closest to the ankle wasn't tight, the location made it look like my feet were having their circulation cut off, which is not cute. Also not cute is my pinky toe below the toe straps, flapping in the breeze. That being said, these are nice looking sandals that I'd recommend to folks with different feet.

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When ordering these sandals from Softwalk, I wasn't sure if they'd look weird cool retro comfy or weird baby poop ew why would you wear those? After receiving them I think the former and they fit with the trends you're seeing from higher-end designer brands. Check out a similar color combo from Mansur Gavriel and don't they look a little like these sandals from Aquazzura? And these Stella McCartney sandals also have a serrated white sole. So I wasn't totally out in baby poo left field when ordering these.

Too bad they can't contain my pinky toe. They're super comfortable and cradle the foot nicely. The straps are soft, but not so pliable they'll stretch out with one wear. And if baby poo and mud isn't your jam, this sandal also comes in beige and black in medium and wide widths.

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Aren't these pants cute? Imagine with a graphic tee, a tank top and beaded necklace, a silky blouse and suede loafers…

Last spring and summer I found I wore chino fabric pants more than jeans. I had two styles, but really wanted a more… fashionable cut this year. I saw these barrel pants at Banana Republic and thought they may be exactly what I needed. I got a 14 short because they were out of stock of petite.

banana republic barrel pants review

I needed a petite. The length was doable, but the rise was comical. I like a high rise, but this just looked comical, and they didn't seem to taper to the waistband like most high rise pants and jeans. I also wasn't a fan of having to unbutton the front pockets to access them (though the detail looked good).

banana republic barrel chinos

I considered ordering again in petite, but this rise issue is something I have dealt with Banana a LOT in the past couple of years, even when I do order petite. I don't have an especially short torso, but Banana Republic jeans and some pants just don't seem to vibe well with my bod. And that's okay, not every brand can fit every body. It's not me, it's Banana.

banana republic barrel pants

But if you're aren't built like me, these are cool pants that are practical too and come in a bunch of colors. Reviews say size down and I don't think you necessarily have to go down a size, but if you're unsure which size to order, choose the smaller.

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10 Comments

  1. I LOVE my girlfriend chino pants for spring, early summer, and early fall. Old Navy has chino pants that look promising. They come in a variety of sizes and colors and are reasonably priced.

  2. I got a little chuckle, like Bette, seeing the expression on your face from those BR pants. These high rises are really becoming insane. Half the time they don’t even look good on the models and they are what, 5’10”, 5’11”? Oh what I’d give to find a nice pair of 14P pants with a rise between 8.5″-9.5″.

  3. Thank you for this, Alison, I’ve now made my first eShakti order with that gorgeous hot pink shirt dress (#5). I did a little tweaking to the style (mandarin collar; elbow length sleeves) and now I can’t wait to get it. I know you’ve said you’ve had good luck with eShakti. I followed their size chart which says I’m a 20, though I can be a 16w to a 20w in other makers clothes. Did they seem to run true to their size chart? I keep thinking I should have gone with an 18w instead but I don’t want the waist to be too tight.

  4. Oh too bad those BR pants didn’t work. I could never find a pair to fit me there after my second kid–even when I was a size 8. The petite rise seems longer than the regular rise! lol

    I do have a cute pair of lantern pants, but they are Eileen Fisher (on sale of course) and have half elastic. I love them!

    Thanks for the reminder to try some color!

  5. I’m not so sure what’s so great about the pocket button detail. Yours is sticking out, like it needs to be IRONED. Yes, I own an iron, and yes I do use it, but it slows down the return of clothing from my laundry room and I think twice about buying things that look like they’ll need ironing.
    I’d really rather not have a deep pocket on a ballon pant, it’s already a bit curvy at the hip/thigh without bulky pockets. I might consider stitching the pocket down. The back pockets look amble for a phone and tissue.
    Still, I like those pants. I just bought a pair of gray pants from BR in a 12S and the fit was good, although they did need to be shortened a bit. I need a shorter than short pant, in the full size, not a shorter pant in a size that’s slightly shrunken.
    BR has done some nice casual but not ultra casual things this season.

  6. When I saw the lemon skirt, I thought it was beautiful, ordered it immediately and it arrived yesterday – here’s my review! The fabric is beautiful, soft and flowy, it’s really a lovely skirt and I wish it had fit me like it fit the model but the fit was a hard no for me. My body is very similar to Alison’s, I am 5′-1″ with a belly. I love tiered skirts and am always on the lookout. I ordered a 1x, thinking I would have some room in it. Nope. The top tier fit straight on me and like a sausage casing. The waistband is a wide piece of cutting elastic, fit tightly and caused a poof where it joins the skirt. I went back and looked at the photos on the model and I honestly can’t see how the skirt I got could fit someone with the lovely curved shape the model has and have such a smooth line. Length wise, the skirt is a maxi on me. I considered if a larger size would maybe work but the shape of that top tier is stopping me from trying. It’s a well made, beautiful skirt and if you are a bit taller and slimmer through the hips, give it a try! I wish it had worked for me, I could see it being a summer staple for me.

    1. Thank you for sharing your review. That skirt immediately caught my eye too, but I have no experience with that brand. So cute on the model though.

  7. Thanks for inadvertently cheering me up. Your face in the first pants photo is priceless. It’s how I feel about pretty much everything these days, LOL.

    1. LOL, me too. Pants shopping is kind of a nightmare. And I’m 5’8″ and having issues with rises being too long (never ever thought I’d say that). I don’t know how petites are managing.

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