Dressing Room Diaries: Linen, Cotton, and Prints

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Happy Tuesday ladies. I’m back with a dressing room diary today. It used to be that I could bring you one on a regular schedule, but with the state of retail, I’m grabbing them when I see good inventory. Today I’m sharing causal looks in linen, cotton, and prints from Nordstrom.

If you’re new here, a dressing room diary is when I go into a store and try on new merchandise so you can see how it looks on a woman over 25. I’m not shopping for myself, but rather, so you can see what’s new and ways I might combine things.

For reference, I am 5’4″ tall and weigh around 136 pounds. I have broad shoulders and straight hips (inverted triangle shape) with very few curves. My arms and torso are long so I often wear a larger size on top than the bottom. I shop in both the petite and regular departments to get the fit I desire. My shoes are what I wore into the store and were never intended to coordinate with what I am trying on for you.

 

I love so much about this sweater that I tried it on first. It’s a cotton viscose blend that comes in three colors plus a stripe. It’s sized XXS-XXL. I’m wearing a medium so it runs a little small. I love the pretty scallop edge around the neck, cuff, and hem. We chatted about this denim skirt in a recent would you wear it so I couldn’t resist trying it on. It’s a cotton polyester spandex blend that runs true to size. it’s available in sizes 0 to 18. I am wearing a four which fits but it’s way too long for me so I’d need to chop at least 4 inches off the bottom.

 

 

Here’s that same sweater tucked into NYDJ stretch linen trousers. They come in this straw color, or blue stripe, sizes is 0 to 16. These have a nice high-rise and are machine wash, line dry. I’m wearing a 4 which is too large because this brand always stretches out with wearing and I suggest you size down. They have a classic 5 pocket styling with a wider leg that’s not too full. I am standing on my tippy toes because they are super long on me.

 

The pattern is so pretty on this cold shouldered blouse, I shoehorned myself into this XXS so you could see it. It has open shoulders and ruffles along the outside of the sleeves for a very feminine look. It’s sized from XXS -XXL but obviously selling fast because my store was cleaned out.

These crop drawstring pants have a crinkly texture and definite vacation vibe. They have an elastic waist so you could easily remove the drawstring and they would still stay up. I don’t know why brands keep adding a drawstring to waistbands that don’t need them and I usually snip mine out. They come in three colors sized XXX to XXL. I’m wearing an XXS and so I suggest you size it down.

Linen

I have several pairs of these linen blend pants from previous years and love them. They come in three different stripes sized XS-XXL. They have an elastic waistband with a drawstring which I would use because these have a sporty look. They’re machine wash, tumble dry, and will shrink a tiny bit so I recommend that you don’t size down.

I paired a simple cotton blend crewneck with the linen pants for a season-spanning look. This classic shape goes with everything and is a great basic to have in your wardrobe. The sweater comes in seven colors sized XS-XXL. I’m wearing a small and could easily have worn a medium for a slouchier look. The sleeves have a really pretty button detail at the cuff and at this price point, you can’t beat it.

 

I’m styling several of these lightweight chiffon blouses in this post because the prints are just so pretty. They have long sleeves which you can roll up and button in place with the tab.  They have a shirttail hemline which is long enough to wear over leggings plus thin enough to tuck or half tuck into a waistband. They’re sized XS-XL. I’m wearing a small so they run TTS.

The super-stretchy jeans fit like a second skin but they don’t feel tight. The fabric has so much stretch they feel more like a legging on. They are a midrise which I notice on my long torso. If you’re petite or have a short torso, I don’t think you’d even notice. They’re sized from 00-16. I’m wearing a 4 and they fit TTS.

 

I’ve never been overly fond of the jogger shape in pants but couldn’t resist this gorgeous navy linen and was surprised to love them! They come in six colors sized XXS-XXL. They have a nice high rise and are 100% linen. I’m wearing a medium which I like because you wouldn’t want something like this to be too tight, and 100% linen usually shrinks a smidge.

I was sorry to discover that this striped cotton jacket is sold out online. I hate when that happens because it’s a great jacket. This ballet neck white tee comes in 4 colors and one stripe. It has nice elbow-length sleeves which many women love for arm coverage. It’s sized XXS-XXL and is in a thin fabric so I recommend you size it up. I’m wearing a small and would prefer the medium so it was a bit looser in the torso.

Prints

This is another one of the ultra-feminine chiffon blouses that I showed you before. This one is the Potenza Dust Blue pattern in small. The high waist skinny pants are by Wit & Wisdom with their ab-solution technology to shape and smooth you in all the right places. They come in 8 colors sizes 2P-18R. I’m wearing a 4 petite.

 

These linen trousers are the same I showed above, this time in white. They’re very long on me so I’m standing on my tippy toes. They’re a classic 5 pocket style like a jean but cut like a trouser. They have a beautiful high rise and lots of ‘give’ so they feel amazing on. They’re available in sizes 00-18. As with all NYDJ, I suggest you order down one whole size.

This rounded V-neck tee comes in 14 colors or patterns in sizes XXS-XXL. I am wearing a small which has plenty of room so you don’t have to size up in this one. The linen-blend cardigan is a perfect basic for all spring and summer. It’s available in petite and regular sizes XXS-XXL in 3 colors. It runs large so I recommend you order one size down. I am wearing an XXS.

 

These are the same super-stretchy jeans I shared above. This time I am doing a half-tuck with this smocked detail floral blouse. It’s beautifully made and fully lined. It’s sized XXS-XXL. I am wearing a small so it runs TTS. Smocking was discussed in another previous ‘would you wear it’ post so I have been anxious to try some on. Placement is everything with smocking so you shouldn’t rule it out without trying it on.

Cotton

Here is the same rounded v-neck tee as above, this time in watercolor. These linen pants are the same shape as the striped ones above but I am wearing an XS petite which is too short and snug on me. Because I have a long torso, I’d be better in the regular small. I always leave room for some shrinkage in linen so I don’t suggest you buy it on the snug side.  The cardigan is a wardrobe-friendly classic at a great price. It’s available in 7 colors sizes XXS-XXL. I am wearing the Pink Chintz color in small so it runs TTS.

Have you started to assemble your spring/summer wardrobe?

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