J.Crew Tall Schoolboy Blazer in Navy - Project Remix

I'm trucking right along on my Project Remix shopping list.  As a reminder, here's my general shopping list (with the items I've purchased crossed out).

Skirts - 1 in navy or gray, 1 in orange or teal and 1 print skirt

Dresses - 1 print dress

Tops - 1 gray or navy top; 2 orange or teal solid tops; 2 orange or teal print tops

Completer Pieces - 2 Grey or Navy Blazers, cropped jackets etc., 1 teal or orange blazer, 1 teal or orange cardigan, and 1 denim jacket

Accessories - Belts, belts and more belts 

 

I've been lusting after the J.Crew tall Schoolboy Blazer for awhile now especially after seeing how great it looked on Kathy over at the Elevated Style Blog. I've been tempted to buy the non-returnable colors that are on final sale BUT I figured I better order a returnable style first to determine my sizing! When J.Crew had a (somewhat rare) 25% off and free shipping offer, I ordered the navy color in size 8 tall.  Overall assessment - love the buttons, the striped lining in the sleeves,the overall style and the length of the sleeves. 

 

Snazzy buttons+Stripey Lining on Sleeves+Pretty Navy Fabric=FABULOUS - J.Crew Tall Schoolboy Blazer in Navy

 

The size 8 tall fits well overall although I may need to have it taken in a bit at the waist 1) because it is a bit of a boxy fit and 2) because I ordered a size up.  One of the things I gleaned from Audrey's Wardrobe From Scratch Series (which is serving as my trusty guide as I navigate the choppy waters of building my wardrobe) is that I may have to start tailoring my blazers in order to get the proper fit. Heretofore, I've bought my blazers in a size 6 because I want them to be fitted but they are inevitably a bit snug in the shoulders and arms and kind of cut off my circulation at times.  Probably not the best for my health to have dead arms due to my tight sleeves.  Audrey's post on tailoring says you should buy the size that will fit the largest body part (in my case my broad-ish shoulders) and then you can have things taken in.  Check out the sleeve length on this blazer...it's perfect for me!

 

J.Crew Tall Schoolboy Blazer in Navy (Size 8T); Blindingly Bright Pants - J.Crew (Last Season)

 Remember my frustrating and somewhat amusing (at least to me) Project Bright Pants where I ended up with a pair of cropped green pants that looked like I was wearing a diaper by the end of the day and then another pair of crops with terrible whisker-wrinkles?  Well I FINALLY found a more relaxed fit (non-tall) cropped pant from J.Crew last year and will FINALLY be able to wear them this week since spring decided to show its bashful face.  I think the bright orange-ish pants go quite nicely with the blazer. Now if I just had a fun long necklace or two to add.....

Project Bright Pants Success! Pants are from J.Crew (last season). Top - Banana Republic (Old)

I also love me some green and navy together, so I'm sure I'll be pairing the blazer with my J.Crew tall green stovepipe trousers.

Yay stripey lining on the sleeves! J.Crew Tall Schoolboy Blazer in Navy (Size 8T); J.Crew Tall Stovepipe Trouser;

Now, here's my deal/dilemma - I'm feeling like the combo of navy and wool might be a bit much for me right now because I'm majorly craving spring and bright colors so I'm debating whether I should return this blazer for the time being and order this bright one that's on final sale (AND an extra 30% off to boot at the moment) or order one of these linen ones which are also on sale.  Have you had any luck with buying blazers lately?

New Tops for Project Remix - Loft and Banana Republic

Do you ever get led astray from the narrow path of tall shopping into the seemingly wonderful and varied world of non-tall shopping only to trudge to the mall with your tail between your legs to return your non-tall purchases?  That's what happened to me the other day when I was trying to find orange/teal/navy printed tops for my Project Remix shopping list and got sucked into a good online sale by Loft.  Normally, if I'm going to buy non-tall stuff, I go do it in person to make sure it fits so I'm not quite sure WHY IN TARNATION I thought it was a good idea to buy a bunch of non-tall tops online. I guess I only bought 4 tops from Loft (one of which I kept as you'll see below). I also returned the navy, lace one from Long Tall Sally so I guess non-tall tops aren't always the culprits.

I did, however, keep this orange short-sleeved cardigan from Loft which will be perfect to wear during spring and summer.  Here's 1 casual outfit and 1 work outfit that I've put together with it, and it also goes with a lot of other things in my closet. Yay Project Remix!!

Loft Short Sleeve Pontelle Cardigan; Navy/White Tunic (Old), Belt (BR - Old); Loft Joe's Twiggy Jeans via Tall Couture

Loft Short Sleeve Pontelle Cardigan; Capiche by Victoria Custom Made Navy/White Polka Dot Top; BR Trousers (Very Elderly!)

After my non-tall shopping debacle, I got back in the tall shopping saddle by buying this teal/gray chevron print silk top from Banana. I ordered a small and it's a bit tight around my hips so I've taken it to the tailor to have slits cut into the sides because I love the print/fit/fabric/buttons and I got it on sale so I want to keep it. Also, this top passes the remix test because I can wear it several ways - belt it, tuck it, layer it, wear it alone (kidding!) but you get the idea. I really love this sleeveless-long-silky-top style. I have another top similar to this from BR in a cream color that I get TONS of wear out of and tons of compliments - Pics of that top here.

BR Silk Chevron Tank; BR Trousers (Very old!)

CLOSE UP - I love the print! Forgive the wrinkles in the top. Hadn't been dry cleaned yet.

BR Silk Chevron Tank; BR Belt (Old); Joe's Twiggy Jeans via Tall Couture

I'm having a lot of fun with the colors I've chosen. Next up in Project Remix will be the tall J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer in navy. 

Project Remix Purchase - Hudson Denim Jacket from Tall Couture

Back in college, I bought a cropped denim jacket from French Connection UK.  It had the initials of the company (FCUK) on the buttons.  In my college days, I had more of a devil-may-care attitude and this didn't really bother me.  As I exited my early 20s, I was suddenly a little sheepish about my FCUK buttons.  I felt like I couldn't wear the jacket to church lest someone read them wrong and think I was wearing cuss words.  Now, no one ever commented on the buttons, so I think that the initials were actually pretty subtle and I'm not really sure that anyone ever took note of them (although there was that one time on casual Friday last year when I was wearing the jacket in a meeting with a vendor and I SWEAR he was staring at my buttons...or maybe he was staring at something else).  Anyways, I loved the jacket and wore it to death for EIGHT YEARS but was always super self conscious about those pesky buttons.  For the past year, I've been on the prowl for a new tall-sized denim jacket.  I tried a couple different ones but none of them fit.  So, for my early bday present and armed with my $50 off coupon from Tall Couture, I decided to splurge on the Hudson denim jacket in size medium.  

Here I am wearing it with my St. Paddys Day outfit:

Tall Hudson Denim Jacket via Tall Couture; Green silk sleeveless dress via Banana Republic (old)

Look...No FCUK on the buttons!

Now, this jacket sure as heck ain't cheap.  But when I started thinking about the fact that I wore my last one for eight years AND that it was one of the items on my Project Remix shopping list AND that I had birthday money coming AND a $50 off coupon, I figured I could justify buying this one since I'll hopefully wear it for the next 10 years.  This is assuming my biceps don't bulge out at all since the arms are pretty stinkin tight but they're starting to loosen up as I've been wearing the jacket.  Plus, the fabric is baby-butt-soft so the sleeves aren't uncomfortable. I've only had the jacket a week and have already worn it three times so I know I made a good decision. 

Do you wear denim jackets?  Mr. L3 was trying to tell me they aren't in style any more, and I was trying to convince him that they are a closet staple.

Project Remix

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm tired of standing in my closet staring at my clothes and feeling like I have NOTHING to wear. I'm realizing that having a bunch of loner pieces in my wardrobe makes for MUCHO frustration and really isn't very fun.  Enter Project Remix - where I will endeavor to create a more remixable wardrobe and try to "reimagine" my clothes. 

I'm using the Wardrobe From Scratch series on Audrey's Putting Me Together blog as a general guide to help me with Project Remix. Here are the steps I've gone through so far:

1.  Define my Style and Lifestyle Needs:  I need outfits primarily for work, date nights and Army events with Mr. L3.  I currently love pleated skirts, lace, tasteful ruffles/bows, stripes, polka dots and blazers.

2.  Choose Wardrobe Colors - I chose gray and navy for my neutrals and teal (or other bright blues) and orange for my secondary colors. I'm pretty excited about this color palate!!!

3.  What key pieces do I need to buy? Luckily I already have some of the categories covered for now (like pants) and I'm pretty set with dresses.  Here are a few things I do need.

Skirts - 1 in navy or gray, 1 in orange or teal and 1 print skirt

Dresses - 1 print dress

Tops - 1 gray or navy top; 2 orange or teal solid tops; 2 orange or teal print tops

Completer Pieces - 2 Grey or Navy Blazers, cropped jackets etc., 1 teal or orange blazer, cardigan, and 1 denim jacket

Accessories - Belts belts and more belts

To aid with Project Remix, I signed up for a Go Chic or Go Home account and uploaded photos of a bunch of my clothes so that I could play around with creating outfits using what I already have in my closet.  Here are a few examples of how Go Chic or Go Home works but for more info from Audrey, click here.

Upload photos of your clothes and categorize them by color, style etc.

Then, you can filter by color or category.  Here's my wardrobe filtered by the color blue (I haven't uploaded EVERYTHING yet...still working on it but you get the idea). 

And here's an ensemble I created with my new gray blazer from Loft.

Speaking of my new gray blazer, this is the only article of clothing that I have bought in 2013 so far and it's the first item I've bought for Project Remix.  Let me tell ya...I've been getting TONS of wear out of it. Here are a few ways I've worn it so far. 

BUT FIRST, let me say that I FULLY acknowledge that throwing a blazer on top of a dress is not some earth shattering fashion trick. However, I was just happy to be able to finally wear some of the stuff that's been hiding out all lonely and dejected in my closet. Project Remix is a journey for me, and I'm hoping to get better at layering, accessorizing, and figuring out how to wear what I already have in my closet.

I haven't gotten much wear out of the tunic-that-would-be-a-dress-on-a-shorter-person because I've had trouble pairing it with stuff.  When I was losing my marbles about what to wear for date night recently, I dug this out of the back of my closet  and created this outfit. Yay!

Tall Loft Shawl Collar Blazer, Tunic (Old), Joe's Jeans, Corso Como plum pumps

This sleeveless Loft tall dress (from last season) has been hanging in my closet unworn...until I paired it with this blazer and wore it to work.  I love pleats and I didn't even have to go buy a new skirt. It was already sitting in the closet.

Tall Loft Shawl Collar Blazer, Tall Loft Dress, DKNY Tall Tights

This short sleeve tall Loft sweaterdress isn't ideal for winter (especially since my office has the AC cranked up year round) but add the blazer, DKNY tall tights and Corso Como Dali Booties and it's ready to go to work. 

Short sleeve tall Loft sweaterdress, Loft Shawl Collar Blazer, DKNY tall tights and Corso Como Dali Booties

 

I've been kind of obsessed with lace lately.  I saw this J.Crew lace skirt and wanted it SO BADLY but there was no way I was going to shell out $325.  Then, I realized I can just thrown a cardigan or blazer over my new lace dress and wear that to work!

Tall Loft Blazer, Tory Burch Bovary Lace Sheath Dress, DKNY Tall Tights

Besides the blazer, here are a few more other outfits I managed to put together.  I don't know why I never thought of pairing this tall lavender Banana Republic cardigan with my J.Crew polka dot dress but here ya have it. Perfect for chilly spring days

J.Crew Polka Dot Dress, Banana Republic Tall Cardigan and Steve Madden Entyce boots

And I've had a deuce of a time trying to figure out how to wear this Milly skirt even though I love it.  I finally figured out that I can tuck in my white Banana Republic tall blouse, don my brown DKNY tall tights and Corso Como plum pumps and be on my merry way.

Lastly, I put together an outfit with my very elderly brown cord blazer, Banana Republic tall silk blouse, Joe's Jeans, red Cole Haan flats and Banana Republic belt. 

I'll be sure to keep you posted as I buy new pieces for Project Remix!

Tall To Do List - 2013

2013...what to do what to do...

Here are a few of my ideas for the year.  

1) REEEEEEEEEEEMIXXXXXXX (Couldn't resist typing it the way I always hear it in songs). 

Have you ever found yourself standing in your closet, staring at the bajillion items hanging there and feeling like you don't have a blooming thing to wear?  This happens to me WAY too much (usually at 5:30 a.m. when I'm all bleary eyed and trying to get ready for work so that might have something to do with it).  After happening upon the blog Putting Me Together by Audrey, I realized I don't own enough "remixable" pieces.  My focus for the year is to remix my current garb (translation figure out different ways to wear what I already have in my closet) AND employ much remix strategery with the new clothes I buy this year.  If you're puzzled as to what all this remix babble is about or just want to learn more, fear not! I'm working on putting together a couple of blog posts about my own little remix journey.  In the meantime, you should definitely check out Audrey's series on building a remixable wardrobe and all of her other fun tips like the below example (shared with permission from Audrey).   

One of Audrey's helpful remix examples - Click here to go to the full blog post .

2) EXPAND MY TALL SHOPPING

Last year, I bought tall clothing from the likes of Banana Republic, Loft, Ann Taylor, Tall Couture, Long Tall Sally, Long Elegant Legs, Height Goddess, Elle Mayers and J.Crew (among others).  I'm sure I'll still buy from those lines again this year, but my first priority will be making first time purchases from Talltique, Tall Snob Store and the tall lines of Next, Dorothy Perkins and Top Shop.  

3) DO SOME IN-PERSON TALL SHOPPING

I recently put together a "brick and mortar" tall shopping list.  Unfortunately, a week after I posted the list, one of the stores (Quincy) went out of business.  Sigh! (I'm still in denial and haven't removed it from the list yet but suppose I should do that). I'm also rather dismayed that Long Tall Sally has discontinued its pop-up shops. Anyways, I am dying to do some in-person tall shopping, and I hope that happens this year!!!

Holiday Outfits and Eats - NYC Trip

Mr. L3 and I just returned from a splendid trip to NYC and one of the highlights was DEFINITELY the food!  Here is a little tour of my "out-to-dinner" outfits.

First Night Out - Dinner at Mas Farmhouse in Greenwich Village

I kept it "dressy casual" for our first night out and wore my 382 Long Sleeve Blouse in Delilah from Tall Couture (reviewed here), my Ann Taylor (non-tall) skinny pants (more info here) and my waterproof suede Aquatalia boots. I would have preferred to wear heels instead of flat boots but navigating through hoards of people on uneven streets in heels didn't appeal to me much. If you ever get the chance to visit NYC and want a fantastic dinner in an unpretentious atmosphere, Mas Farmhouse is the place to go. I highly recommend the 6 course chef's menu...the chef makes you whatever strikes his fancy (and whatever is fresh) that night so you have no clue what dish is going to be placed in front of you.  So fun!

Tall Couture 382 Long Sleeve Blouse in Delilah, Ann Taylor Skinny Pants, Aquatalia Boots

Aquatalia Waterproof Suede Boots - Absolute MUST for traipsing hither and yon in winter months.

Second Night Out - Cocktails at Crosby Street Hotel and Late Dinner at Osteria Morini in Soho

One of my good friends from college lives in NYC with her husband so we met up with them for drinks and then dinner.  I could have gotten away with wearing jeans to either of these places but I opted for the Ann Taylor Rhapsody Sweater Dress (Size Small/Tall) because it is comfortable, warm, and EXPANDS which is a must if I'm going to go to an Italian restaurant and feed my face with pasta and glorious bread.  I wore my Hue Cable Sweater Tights (more pics here) and my flat Aquatalia boots to dress the outfit down a bit.  My turquoise Kate Spade necklace adds some color so I don't look like so morbid. I really love this dress.  The length is work appropriate, but still short enough to look good for a night out and the sleeve length is perfect.

Ann Taylor Rhapsody Sweater Dress, Hue Cable Sweater Tights, Kate Spade necklace, Aquatalia Boots

 

Third Night Out - Christmas Eve Dinner at Bouley

I was a bit naughty with my shopping in NYC (shhh...don't tell Santa...I still want him to bring me prezzies next year).  I was on the prowl for something lacey and ladylike to wear for Christmas Eve dinner and saw a pop of teal lace amidst the clutter of the sale rack at Bloomingdales.  I grabbed the dress and couldn't believe my little eyeballs.  It was the Tory Burch Bovary Lace Sheath dress I'd been drooling over online for a few months. Miraculously, the size 10 fit (although I'll probably take the bodice in a bit) which is a good thing because this was the only dress in the store. I think the length is perfect for someone of my height and I love that the dress has sleeves as opposed to being a halter or sleeveless.  

I paired the dress with DKNY tall tights and Vincent Camuto Desti pumps in black patent (a great alternative to the Cole Haan Chelsea pump, by the way).  I may or may not have also wandered into the Kate Spade store in Soho and treated myself to a black crossbody bag too (bought with my Christmas money and 50% off AND I got a lot of use out of it on the trip because I forgot to pack both my crossbody bag and my go-out-to-dinner purse....am I trying too hard to justify these purchases?)  Anyways, I felt like a million bucks on our special night out and know that I will get a lot of wear out of this frock and the bag.

Tory Burch Bovary Lace Sheath Dress, DKNY Tall Tights, Vincent Camuto Desti Pumps, Kate Spade Bag

Me and Mr. L3 back at the hotel after our fancy French feast

Back-up Outfits

This Loft tall dress with a pretty pleated skirt (bought awhile back) was my back-up for Christmas Eve, but I didn't end up wearing this dress on the trip.  I love love love the bedazzly belt and bow belt and wear them with a lot of different things.

Loft Tall Dress, DKNY tall tights, Vincent Camuto Desti pumps, Belts via Nordstrom

Bedazzly belt via Nordstrom

This was another outfit that I did not end up wearing.  I love the pants - J.Crew Tall Stovepipe Trouser in Boulevard Green in size 10T (currently on sale for $49.99!!!)  These pants have a slimmer fit making them a little sleeker than your average bootcut pants and are so long on me, I can only wear them with heels.  The green is a nice alternative to black.  The off the shoulder sequin sweater is from White House Black Market and will be going back. The size small is WAY too tight to be comfortable but the medium didn't fit right.  I thought I might be able to suck it up and live with the small but decided to stick to my guns regarding not buying uncomfortable clothing. 

J.Crew Tall Stovepipe Trouser in Boulevard Green and White House Black Market Sweater

Vincent Camuto Desti pumps in black patent (a way cheaper alternative to the Cole Haan Chelsea pump)

I think this is the first time in my life that I felt like I had plenty of outfits for various occasions and not fretting over what I was going to wear made the trip even more enjoyable.

Baby It's Cold Outside - Tall Coats - J.Crew, Banana Republic and Tall Couture

Not quite sure why I'm entitling this post "Baby It's Cold Outside" considering that I alternate between hating and liking that Christmas song and we're having a bit of an Indian winter so it's really not THAT cold outside yet here.  (Southern California readers - can you believe I now consider a high of 50 and low in the high 20s balmy and debate whether I should even wear a coat?!?)  

Since moving away from 70-degrees-all-day-every-day Southern California almost exactly 2 years (my 2 year wedding anniversary is in a matter of hours), I have derived great pleasure from bundling up.  Being able to wear scarves, coats and layers is just so danged novel to someone who grew up wearing flip flops and tank tops year round. 

I have three tall coats that I LOVE that vary in warmth.  

First up, the Banana Republic Classic Belted Trench - size Tall**.  

This is my "lightest" coat so it's perfect for rainy spring and and brisk fall days.  The sleeves are to-die-for long and the ample tie belt allow you to cinch the waist as tight as you want to create a nice shape.  Personally, I wish the belt was a bit shorter.  I'm kind of perplexed as to why the belt is so long yet has a buckle at the end, but I just tie it in a bow and hope no one notices the buckle.  That's how it is styled on the BR website too.  I miraculously scored this coat at the Banana Republic outlet. Imagine my glee when I saw "tall" AND a deeply discounted price on the tag.  I highly recommend ordering this coat during one of BR's sale events. 

Banana Republic Classic Belted Trench; Scarf  - Jessica Simpson via Nordstrom

Second - Lidi coat from Tall Couture - Size 8

I bought this coat when I lived in California and I thought it was a warm and cozy wrap....until I wore it out to dinner in Kansas during the winter and felt like I was buck nekked. The chilly air went RIGHT through it.  I may not be able to wear this coat when the weather is in the teens and below, but I have had it for over 6 years and adore it because it makes me feel ladylike. I like the "swingy" bottom, the cream color, the contrasting buttons and the attached waist tie that allows for easy cinching of the waist.  Tall Couture no longer carries this coat BUT they have plenty of other fabulous coats. Check them out here. 

Coat - Tall Couture; Scarf - Banana Republic

Third - J.Crew Majesty Peacoat - Size 6Tall

With much fear and trepidation, I clicked "buy" on my non-returnable, final sale purchase of the J.Crew Majesty Peacoat last February.  Fortunately, the coat fit great and it is now my go-to for temps that are 20s-50s.  It definitely has a bit of heft and thickness.  J.Crew describes the fabric a little more eloquently - "a compact high-density wool that adds tremendous warmth without the bulk". I'm not sure it I would call the warmth tremendous (probably because I'm a big baby in the cold) but there certainly isn't any bulk and it is warmer than the two coats above. I like that I can still wear layers under a size 6 yet the coat doesn't make me look bulky.  I also love the fun buttons.  I've read other reviews where the bloggers pan the buttons so maybe I just don't have good taste but I think they add a little personality to the coat. I would definitely buy this coat in a different color and recommend buying it on final sale! 

J.Crew Tall Majesty Peacoat; Scarf - From Mr. L3 via Afghanistan

Fun buttons!

You may be wondering what I wear when temps dip below 20...or maybe you're not wondering but I don't care. I'm going to tell you anyways.  I bought an Eddie Bauer down jacket for my European honeymoon.  I was disgruntled that EB didn't carry the tall sizes in the store (shouldn't I be used to this by now?) AND that EB charges extra for tall sizes so I decided that the normal size was good enough.  Now, I really wish I had bought the tall size.  Sigh...next time. And since tomorrow is my 2nd anniversary, I shall leave you with a few photos of me in my non-tall EB coat on my honeymoon. 

First few hours in Europe - Paris!

Arriving in Venice before sunrise

Füssen, Germany the day after Christmas

Do you have any tall coats that you love? Please share!

Shopping Custom Challenge - Quincy Apparel (and a Dress Shopping Rant)

October's buy for the Shopping Custom Challenge was the Elliott Blazer and Elliott Sheath dress from Quincy Apparel.  I need a new suit for work and figured these would work well together and as separate pieces. They were both LOVELY but didn't fit so back they went via Quincy's (very convenient) free return shipping.  

Elliott Sheath via Quincy Apparel

Elliott Blazer via Quincy Apparel

Quincy's sizing is a bit unique in that you take a "fit quiz"and the system tells you that you're a 36A/B or 38C/D etc. for tops/dresses and 30 Tall (in my case) for bottoms. The 36A/B Tall Elliott Sheath was too loose up top but super tight on my thunder thighs and apple rump (again...just saying this for comedic effect....I promise I really do love my body!) As you all know from reading about my dress shopping woes, this sizing catastrophe happens all too often since I wear a size 4/6/Small on top and a size 10/31/Large on the bottom.  I emailed the Quincy experts and asked if any of the other dresses fit differently and it turns out that there is only one size differential between the top and bottom (which makes sense for a sheath) BUT...SPOILER ALERT...Quincy will be adding an A-Line silk dress this spring!!!  Anyways, as long as your bottom half isn't 2-3 sizes larger than your top half like me, then give Quincy's dresses a try!  Or, try some of their blouses or skirts. They will even let you order a second size of any item FOR FREE just so you can get the best fit. Of course, you have to return whichever size you don't want, but I love that they are trying to make online shopping as painless as possible. 

I want to try some of Quincy's shirts, skirts and pants and, since Mr. L3 and I are going to New York in the near future, I'm hoping to be able to stop by the Quincy showroom and try things on to my heart's content.  

Speaking of the NYC trip, that brings me the inevitable dress shopping woes portion of this post. I NEED A FANCY DRESS OR TWO FOR THE NICE DINNERS WE'RE PLANNING ON OUR TRIP. Yes. I am freaking out a smidge because dresses are SO stinkin hard for me to find.  I tried on several at Nordstrom today (most of which had a length that was halfway up my buns) but this bloomin' gorgeous Rachel Zoe number fit 98% AWESOME.  Unfortunately, it was 2% too tight in the hips and I can't bring myself to paying $300 for something that doesn't fit 100% right. Sigh!  

Rachel Zoe Ivy Pintuck Halter Dress via Nordstrom

Look at the details. Swoon!

I'm thinking I might start exploring fancy skirt and blouse options.  That way, I can avoid high blood pressure from my dress shopping fits and can focus on more precise sizing for my top and bottom halves.  Where the heck do you buy your fancy dresses? 

Interview with Victoria from Capiche by Victoria - Shopping Custom Challenge

I have oodles of respect for people who start small businesses in these (not so) jolly economic times.  I'm SO excited about the "tall" small businesses that I've discovered and this excitement makes me want to do my part in supporting them both on the blog and with my pocketbook because I NEED AND WANT these businesses to stay around.

Love Me Forever Polka Dot
Top from Capiche

Enter Capiche by Victoria - a made-to-order fashion collection available online.  The owner/designer, Victoria, is 6'2 so you can bet your sweet bippy that the clothes she designs will look fetching on all of us tall ladies (but will also work splendid for the not-so-long-of-limb as well). After I placed my first purchase with Capiche, I started thinking of a bajillion things I wanted to ask Victoria. I decided to see if she was game for answering my questions.  She was! Here is what she had to say!

BAM: How did you learn to design clothing? Did you go to school or are you just a natural at it?

Victoria: I am a self taught designer. It is something I always thought would be fun. I buckled down, hit the books and put pencil to paper. I guess you could say I'm a natural!

BAM: Who actually makes the Capiche by Victoria clothing?

Victoria: As much as I wish I could also sew the clothing, that is a craft that takes a lifetime to perfect. I do enjoy sewing and I squeeze a little in here and there, but the Capiche by Victoria clothing is outsourced to a couple of talented seamstresses who do this for a living. I thought it was important to try to keep things 
as local as possible.

Linen Cotton Herringbone Jacket
Capiche by Victoria

BAM: I love the new items you added in your Easy Breezy Collection. Do you plan to add any fall/winter pieces and/or expand your line soon? 

Victoria: We also have the Classic Collection which includes some fall/winter pieces. I would love to expand the line, but I don't have a time frame on that right now. I've been contemplating different options on what to do next. I'm even toying with the idea of including some accessories that I make myself. Bracelets, scarves, etc.

BAM: Where do you see your business in the next 5 years?

Victoria: The next 5 years are going to be pretty wild. My fiance and I are planning for a baby, due in April. We are also planning our wedding set for next year. On the business side of things I would like to see some of my designs in brick and mortar stores. I think it would be nice if we tall ladies had more options. Wouldn't it be nice to walk into your favorite store to find a "tall ladies section" filled with stylish choices? [Note from BAM - HECK YES!!!! Note #2 from BAM - How cool would it be to be able to have custom made clothes while you're pregnant!?!]

Surprised by Joy A-line Dress

BAM: I know you say on your website " If there is a particular item you are looking for but can't find, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can design it for you! It's a fun process in which you get to be an integral part." Can you tell me more about how this process works?  For instance, if I want you to design a black sheath dress for me, what would I need to do?

Victoria: If there is something you would like designed I would ask for details such as color, how you would like it to fit, length, fabric choice and any details that would make it unique. From there I would draw a mock up and we would work together until you are happy with the final drawing. There is a design fee involved and I would quote you a price before any work begins on the piece. Once you have approved your vision will come to life!

BAM: Being 6'2, do you tend toward wanting to have all or most of your clothes custom made or do you still shop other tall and "regular" lines? 

Victoria: I love having clothes custom made. There is something about putting on a piece of clothing that fits properly, it just makes your feel like a million bucks! Tall or not I think all women should feel like that. I still shop the "regular" lines and I've found myself shopping online more now than ever, too. Probably out of convenience and I still think there aren't enough different options out there yet for tall women. We're making progress, though!

BAM: What's your favorite thing about being tall?

Victoria: Hmm... my favorite thing about being tall? Everything! Tall is beautiful. I thank my mom for instilling confidence in me growing up because I've always loved being tall.

There ya have it folks! Learning more about Victoria and her fabulous business makes me want to buy even more from the Capiche line.  Stay tuned for my next purchase.