Review: Invisibelt

I stumbled upon this product at a boutique in my hometown (Jeans and a Cute Top Shop), and have been hooked ever since. Check it out here. I noticed that they have a line for pregnancy also. I will have to check that out someday when I need it again. The Invisibelt solves two major problems that I constantly have with pants - even my best fitting ones: bulk in the front and gapping in the back.

          Before - notice the bulk from the button                             After - the waistband lays flat!

Because I am a bit curvy, I tend to fill out the hips and behind in pants, leaving the waistband loose. As a result, I constantly find myself pulling my pants up as they work their way down. With the Invisibelt, they stay up without the constant tugging. Yay!

The belt is clear, so if it does show, it is not super noticeable. Of course, the whole point is that it stays underneath my shirt. If I wanted to tuck my shirt in, I would choose a different belt. 

A friend of mine, who has used an Invisibelt for a while, told me that the only downside is that it tends to pop open once in a while, which can be a little embarrassing at the inopportune moment. The solution is to position the clasp underneath a belt loop.

At a price point of $22, I think that it was a good buy. I would pay more for a nice statement belt which I would only wear occasionally, so for a belt that I will wear all the time, it is a steal.

Note: All opinions are my own. I bought this myself and have not been influenced in any way by the manufacturer of Invisibelt. 

Have you ever tried a product like this?

Review: Old Navy Shearling Coat

Well, it was worth a shot. In order to get free shipping from Old Navy, I bought this faux shearling coat in XS along with Luke's tiny flannel-lined jeans. I figured, if it didn't work out, I would just return it to the nearby store, and I still would come out ahead with free shipping. 

Pros:

Fun Motorcycle Jacket Style

Cons:

Sleeves too wide and long

The fleecy white part is not soft or fluffy at all - more like a well loved, matted down stuffed animal

The Faux suede outside material is very stiff - I feel like I cannot move my arms

Not fitted at the waist - very boxy fit

In the end, I am going to take it back. I like the concept, but the fit is pretty poor, for my body anyway. 

Have you found any great shearling jackets lately?

Review: Ann Taylor Modern Fit Skinny Jeans

I have been on the hunt for a new pair of dark wash skinny jeans to tuck into my boots. In the past, I found success with Gap's 1969 jeans, but my body is different post-baby, so my old go-to is now a no-go. 

I tried on jeans from several stores before I ended up at Ann Taylor on Cyber Monday, when everything was 50% off. As it turned out, their Modern Fit Skinny jean in 0P fits me really well. I was shocked and very pleased, because now I have jeans to wear with boots all winter! I was beginning to worry, since I no longer had every day skinny jeans, only thinner legging jeans that are not nearly warm enough in cold weather. What a relief!

I like them with heels too. Perfect to dress up or down.

Pros:
Dark wash thins and elongates legs
Material is 2% Spandex, which yields a very comfortable, stretchy fit
High enough rise to cover my curvy posterior when seated - without gapping

Cons:
A bit expensive at full price (for me) - $88, but well worth it when on sale
about 2 inches too long (I folded them under for the pictures but will hem later)

I guess I should have known that AT would make exactly what I needed...

Top: Gap Outlet (recent)
Jeans: Ann Taylor (here)
Shoes: Ann Taylor Factory Store

Review: Target Kena Boots

Every fall, it seems like magazines are covered in ads for beautiful new boots. And every fall, I envision the perfect pair of brown riding boots. I wish I could say that I have found them, and that they will last me for the rest of my life, but what I can say is that they fit pretty well, I love the way they look and they cost $30. Hey, let's be honest, if I bought exactly what I wanted (i.e. supple but durable leather, customized fit), it would likely cost me well over $100, probably $200. 

Mossimo Kena Riding Boots (via Target)

I kept trying these on every time I went to Target and finally gave in when they went on sale for $30. Besides the price, what sold me on them were the color and the fit. First, the cognac color is pretty true to the picture, and is exactly what I wanted. Then, there is a strap with snaps to make the leg opening wider or narrower, depending on the width of your calves, which helps a little. Also, they hold snugly around my heel, which keeps my foot from slipping up and down and chafing or rubbing. 

Pros: 

 - Cognac Color

 - Snug Heel Fit

 - Adjustable Leg Opening

 - Low Price

As for the downsides, it would be nice to have a boot that was real leather, which these are not, as you might have guessed from the price. Also, my perfect boot would measure 13" tall and have a 13" leg opening, but these measure closer to 14" tall and wide. Even with the adjustable strap on the tightest setting, they are still 14" in circumference. I think the adjustable feature benefits people with wider calves more than those with narrow ones, but at least it helps a little and doesn't cause any bunching in the back when fully tightened.

Cons: 

 - Faux leather 

 - Slightly too tall and wide

In the end, I think that these are keepers. I wore them to walk several miles and found them very comfortable. 

See them in action tomorrow!