Retail Therapy: Capital Fashion

Sorry for the lack of posts!  I am currently in Ottawa on an elective, and I'm just now gaining my bearings again.  The time difference has been killer.  Clinic was canceled Wednesday morning, and I didn't have the keys to the place I'm staying at, so instead of coming back and sleeping like I really, really wanted to, I headed over to the closest mall I could find and tried on a handful of items.

So I was a little disappointed in the mall I went to-- there were maybe 6-7 stores there that I could see holding some interest for me, and I had about 5 hours to kill.  The only place I tried stuff on was at Ricki's, and here's what happened.

This skirt was just hanging out at the front, laid on a table in all its glory.  I tried it on for kicks, and to my surprise, it fit (I'm usually sized out).  I feel like this is probably due to my declining exercise efforts, but I'm working on it (or I will... tomorrow).  I really love the pattern and the colours of this skirt.  It's bright but also subdued thanks to the palette, and that's what drew me to it in the first place.  The fit looks great from the front, but the side does me no justice and I feel like it makes me look dumpy.  I'm not terribly pleased with the fit from the back either.  I feel like this may not be the skirt for those blessed in the posterior region.  Also a sales associate asked how everything was fitting, and I told her that usually stuff doesn't fit, but this skirt did, so I was happy.  She responded by saying that she also tried the skirt on and the size 0 was way too loose on her.  Way to make me feel self-conscious about stuffing my booty into skirts, sales associate!  Sales associates take note:  don't say that shit.  It ain't cool.  Overall, this is something that reminds me of J. Crew, although I like this print way better than I like most of their printed skirts, and the price is much more appropriate in my opinion.

Verdict: Pass.

I really loved this dress on the hanger.  It felt very nice, and felt like it fit for the most part.  I think it's fairly flattering on my pear-shaped figure, and it hits my waist at the right spot (ie. where my waist actually is).  However, it is a bit baggy through the torso, and the very top of the bodice is quite loose at the back.  This is my major fit problem with sheath-like dresses, and the reason I basically don't have any.  The colours are gorgeous and very on trend though!  If you're bigger on top, I feel like this dress may work better on you.

Verdict: Pass.

This was the only think I was really considering purchasing, as I'm trying not to shop too much this month and this dress was dirt cheap, so I didn't have to feel bad about it if I did end up getting it.  However, I wasn't crazy about it.  I pride myself on the fact that my skin tone is such that there's no colour that looks truly terrible on me, but this one isn't really doing me any favours either.  The top makes my bust look saggy and the bottom pulls too much.  Plus there is the dreaded VPL!!!  The material is thick enough that this shouldn't happen.  It's totally my butt's fault guys.  It is a nice dress, and again, if you're more top-heavy, I feel like this dress would flatter that kind of figure more.

Verdict: Pass.

So what did I end up buying?  None of these.  I did find a pair of shoes that my mother has been wanting for over two years on sale, so I grabbed those for her.  My favourite store was the bookstore-- I bought four cookbooks that were on sale.  Nevermind that I don't have anymore room on my bookshelf.  Cookbooks (especially clearance ones) are my kryptonite.  I inevitably buy a cookbook every time I go on vacation/on elective/etc.  Now you know my dirty little secret.

Also, in light of my recent trip to sunny Southern California, I'll be putting together a series of posts that all have to do with the area.  I went at almost the same time last year, and I think it would be fun to do a post on what I bought last year when I was there and what I bought this year, as well as some other assorted spring and summer-related posts!  My dream in life right now is absolutely to move to L.A. and skulk around with giant sunnies 24/7 pretending to be an undercover movie star.  Seriously.  Keep your eyes peeled!

Raspberry floral print skirt - Ricki's - size 0 - $49.50 (here)

Coral stripe dress - Ricki's - size 0 - ~$89.50 (here)

Cocktail dress - Ricki's - size 0 - ~$120 originally, marked down to $10