*Sale update – NY & Company is currently having 50-70% off everything and free shipping at any price. I stopped by a store and everything looked roomy, but I just saw that they have “petite-proportioned” work pants online starting in 0P (size chart says for women with a 23.5″ natural waist, 34.5″ hips, 29.5″ inseam). I ordered their signature 7th ave bootcut trousers in black cherry to try for $24 (other petite pants avail. in black, white, gray, and hunter green). I’ve been looking for leg-lengthening trousers similar to my beloved old bootcut ones that were bought for cheap and tailored to fit. I anticipate that these will need alterations per usual, but hopefully the silhouette and color are nice.*
I hope U.S. readers had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday with your loved ones. Turkey at my house is hit or miss, but my mom’s “fusion” bird this year was a complete success. She stuffed it with sticky rice, cooked soup with the carcass, and made steamed buns with the leftover meat. For those who asked about the stuffing recipe, the basics are: 1) cook the sticky rice (she uses brown for healthiness and texture) in the rice cooker; 2) sautee finely diced carrots, black mushroom, ginger, garlic, and turkey giblets (if you eat these) with oil, soy sauce, and sugar until partially cooked; 3) mix in with the cooked sticky rice then stuff into your bird. This dish was my favorite part of the meal…the flavor imparted by the turkey onto the rice was quite tasty.
In “Black Friday” sale news, J.Crew is having 25% off everything again (w/ COLOR25), so I wanted to provide an update on items purchased. Over a year ago, I reviewed two of their signature blazers and returned both. Since then, however, I’ve had so many outfits that just needed a basic camel blazer. Although the J.Crew Schoolboy is not perfect, I haven’t been able to find another wool option that fits better off-the-rack. Alas, I finally picked it up again in 00P during the last 25% off sale.
My likes & dislikes with the Schoolboy blazer remain the same from this review. For now, I’m happy with it for being functional and for filling a wardrobe void. It goes with many things, and the color is great for neutralizing bright colors or busier prints.
The Lady Jacket in Double Serge Wool also arrived, and I love it. It has it’s issues -boxy torso, 3/4 length sleeves- but the overall fit is decent, the quality is good, and the textured wool is warm. Measurements of a 00P are: 16.5″ across the chest and bottom, 15.75″ across the waist, 14.25″ across the shoulders, 19″ long sleeves, 5.5″ sleeve width, and 18″ back center length. I did get the matching pencil skirt
, however bottoms in neutral prints, gray, or winter white would look less matchy-matchy.
Banana Republic is having a better promo – 40% off everything w/ BRFRIDAY, today only. I noticed that they are currently offering free return shipping in addition to their free everyday shipping on orders over $50. My picks are:
– Martin flannel trouser (3 colors), ordered in “cocoon” in hopes of expanding my slacks collection
– White wool-blend belted coat ($150 after promo)
– Monogram lace dress (restocked online in petites) from this post
I have been following your blog for quite some time now, so when I went to look for a pencil skir, I automatically took your advice and tried the double serge wool skirt from J. Crew. Your reviews are so on point. I got a beautiful green color and caught a wonderful sale ($23.99). I am petite too but curvy-small waist, ample bottom and flat stomach. That combination is VERY hard to dress on the bottom! Thanks!!!
Interesting Article.
Hoping that you will continue posting an article having a useful information.
Stiletto High Heels
Although the matching skirt and the blazer do look matchy-matchy, I think they look matchy-matchy in a good way — like a feminine skirt-suit!
The mustard blazer is cute.
http://mybeautyobssession.blogspot.ca/
loving the bao zi~!!
I suppose if you find a recipe it will tell you the proportion of rice to water. Having grown up in a Chinese-American household, I measure out the water for rice by just eyeballing it — which means I'm awful at giving directions to others on how to cook rice!
Thanks Rosie 🙂 Yep, I figured it was a special type of rice. So you just use a rice cooker and play with the amount of water used then? Just curious.
Megan — sticky rice is a different type of rice, also known as glutinous rice. It's more transparent and less fluffy than other rices (i.e., sushi rice or long rice).
Yum, sticky rice as stuffing isn't a bad idea actually! My mom always makes congee with the turkey leftovers hehe
Wow Jean, that turkey looks yummy! I hope you don't mind me asking…how do you make the sticky rice and the steamed buns? Is it just "extra" water to make the rice sticky with a rice cooker? Are the steam buns made from scratch? I would love to try making these next year. Thanks in advance!!
Happy Thanksgiving! Sticky rice stuffing was always a part my family's Cantonese-American tradition too — yum! The steamed bun photo is making me hungry.
As a petite woman, I've also had a hard time finding blazers that fit properly, off the rack. My best luck has been at Zara. You should try them out!
the blackbird blog
I tried on all of the NY&Co; pant styles in the smallest size a few years back and they were big.
Thanks for sharing sale info. Can't wait to see you discuss the NY&Co.; pants. I've never tried their pants before, but looks like a great price!
http://shortandsweetjoy.blogspot.com/
this is fabulous!! what a great idea!
i hope you had a great thanksgiving with your family!! xox P
Just blogged about my favorite purchases and deals from Ann Taylor Loft, Sephora and Old Navy for this Black Friday: denim jacket, black jeggings, infinity scarf:
http://www.applycoupon.blogspot.com
I really like the buns idea for left over turkey!
Pls post casual pairing ideas for the lady jacket. Purchased the same one on 0p and also not fond of the short sleeves and boxier fit but it's final sale! 🙁 thanks!
Forgive the typos…my iPad can be testy…my post makes it look like English is my second language, and sadly it's my first.
I had to giggle when you said turkey can be hit or miss. My mom is a great Indian cook, but American Thanksgiving isn't her string suit. Growing up, I always had stove top stuffing, a dry unstuffed turkey, mashed potatoes from flakes, and gravy from a mix. Only latter did I see what a great meal it could be. I love adding cultural aspects and may look into a tandoori turkey next year.
This year I hit the thrift stores, almost all were half off. Got a tweet jacket, black tie jersey dress (thanks for the tip), and a few other pieces. I need to add a camel blazer too.
Hope you and your family had a great holiday.
Those steamed buns look so tasty!!!
I have not done any shopping yet… I love shopping except on Black Friday and right after. Too many sales make me go crazy!
A Preponderance of Fashion
That trench in the picture on the left is nice. Where did you get it? Link please! Did you get it in the Boston area? If so, where? I'm in Boston too.
Your mom's turkey looks delicious…J's family also stuff their turkey with sticky rice (what a brilliant idea…I had never heard/thought of it until meeting him).
Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! 🙂
I blog оften аnd І gеnuinely thanκ yοu fοr уοuг infoгmаtіon.
Your article hаѕ rеally ρеakeԁ my
inteгеst. I ωіll bοokmагk
your ѕitе and keep checking fоr nеw ԁetails about once a weеκ.
I oρteԁ in for your RЅS feed tоo.
http://ωww.diѕcogs.com/groupѕ/tορic/352285
Also see my web page > Silent Hill: Revelation 3D HD Free Streaming
Happy thanksgiving Jean! The steam bun looks tasty. What a great idea. You look really good! Have you lost weight? Can you give us some tips. Greatly appreciated
thanks Jean for sharing BR lace dress sale (and review of course). I was glad they made more and found oop. Happy as a clamp. I can't believe I am saying this–happy spending money on dresses, lol. It's the weakness for having the xx gene I suppose.
Mary
I just purchased This red peplum dress from JCrew. I dont own a red dress and I've been wanting a peplum dress:http://m.jcrew.com/mt/www.jcrew.com/womens_category/dresses/weartowork/PRDOVR~25309/25309.jsp
I hope it fits, it's my first jcrew dress. I'm a perfect 0P at ann taylor, so after speaking with sales woman for 30min I decided to get the 2P.
So awesome, I haven't heard of stuffing turkey with sticky rice, I love the concept! Thanks for sharing the Black Friday deals that are going on. I'll need to check out BR with the time remaining! Have a wonderful weekend!
xoxo,
Suzie Q
http://www.StyleCueBySuzieQ.com
Oh that stuffing sounds so good. I finally caved today and purchased the camel schoolboy blazer as well, it was 50% off. Like you said it is not perfect but I have not found any better camel blazer and I really wanted one. The double serge wool skirt is by far my favorite item at J.Crew for both price and quality I know have it in 5 colors. It is perfect to mix and match with my colored silk blouse. I don't know if you shop there but Express sometimes has some really good stuff for petite gals. I struggle a lot with jeans because I'm 5'4 and curvy, you can check them out and they always have some great promo going on just sign up for their emails. Nowadays J.Crew and Express are really good to me.
xo
Rachelle
http://pinksole.com
That turkey looks soooo good.
Not braving the Black Friday crowds this year. Now Christmas shopping yet… =/
The turkey and the steamed buns (man tao) looks really delish! I love the BR monogram lace dress but sadly it's not available online in regular sizes. 🙁
As for sales and deals, I decided to sit out from any purchases!
I just received the Martin Flannel trouser in the cream and camel, size 00p. They were HUGE! Waiting for the cream trench to arrive.