J. Crew April New Arrivals

Can we talk about the amazing-ness the are the new April arrivals at J. Crew? I started shopping at J. Crew my junior year of high school as American Eagle wasn't doing it for me anymore. When I started shopping there, J. Crew offered a large selection of casual prep wardrobe selections. I still have many dress that I still wear and refuse to give anyway.

With April's new arrivals, J. Crew has returned to its old glory days of bright "go to hell" colors and fabrics. I'm currently obsessing over these items (All photos belong to J.Crew):

I want to head down to Fenway in this for a Red Sox game.

Great A-line dress for a date night!!

For all my fellow private school preps who can't part with tradition.

With dressy black shorts and pumps, this shirt can be a new kind of formal.

The perfect length for a spring skirt.

Counting down the days until I'm on the beaches of the Cape and Nantucket...

All J. Crew needs to do is bring back its Repp stripe headbands. Jenna Lyons, please head my words.

March Madness

March is one of my favorite times of the year...Spring has started (cough not really cough) and so has the most important part of collegiate basketball. As a native of Kentucky, March Madness has always been serious business for myself and my family. My grandmother was a die-hard member of the Big Blue Nation of the University of Kentucky and once told my mother she couldn't talk on the phone for two weeks because "her team was playing." I once cheered for Kentucky in basketball back when the program had respect, but alas, as with anyone with a penchant for common sense and a need for intellectual thought in the state of Kentucky, I went to the University of Louisville. All Hail.

The Athletic Department of my Louisville Cardinals has come a long way since I began my college career. I remember how excited I was when I purchased both football (We won't talk about the Kragthrope days.) and basketball season tickets with my best friend and roommate, Lauren. My die-hard love for Cardinal Athletics grew over the years. Under the leadership of Rick Pitino, our basketball program has grown into a respected national powerhouse. When Louisville made the Final Four two years ago in New Orleans, I wasn't able to go due to pre-existing responsibilities, but last year, my husband surprised me with a trip to see both the Final Four and Championship games as Louisville became the 2013 National Champions.

Bad qualiity...I know. I didn't have my camera yet.

As for this season, I will describe it as a tough road: a new conference as a in-between until UofL moves to the ACC, the removal of Chane Behanan, and an early loss to that team in Lexington (it's always hard to play at Rupp Area), but the second half of the season showed new promise as I was consoling my husband after Alabama's loss in the Sugar Bowl. My Cardinals ended the season with one confusing loss to me, but entered postseason play strong and determined. This determination helped snag Louisville's one and only American Athletic Conference championship.

On Selection Sunday, many of my Facebook friends were surprised and disgruntled at Louisville being a fourth seed coming out of the Midwest, but honestly, I am not worried about it. Let the usual commentators underestimate us again. Let the commentators disrespect us again. Let the usual fans of our rivals belittle us with untrue statements about our great university, but one thing is for certain: we are damn good at rising to the occasion during tournament play. 

(USA Today Sports photo)

Welcome to March Madness. All Hail.

Little Luxuries: E. Porselli

I am going to admit something: I do not find high heels sexy. There is something about being completely, quietly comfortable that I find sexy and heels are not comfortable to me. Other than destroying the bones in my feet, walking in heels is a time I do not look forward to. When I finally find the time to flip through a few fashion magazines, I am always drawn to ballet flats due to the relaxed look on the models' faces.

Last night, I was on a long Pinterest binge after the UofL game when I came across two pictures of my favorite style icons: Audrey Hepburn and Brigette Bardot. Both of these women shown in the spotlight during a time when heels were low and men were won over with more personality, which I admire.

Brigette Bardot's famous love of Repetto lead to the creation of the Cendrillon ballet flat...must try one day.

Being 5'11", heels just do not do anything for me except make me the tallest women in most rooms. While I do possess a certain amount of "tall girl confidence", I just do not like how heels look on me. This winter, I purchased a pair of my first E. Porselli flats from J.Crew and cannot love them more than I already do. Out of all of the flats I have ever purchased, these are the most comfortable flats I have ever worn. The first feature I would like to point out in this luxurious flat is the all leather bottom that is nailed in. Second, the toe box is not completely round and longer. As I have long skinny feet, the oblong toe box makes these fit like socks. I hope to keep these flats for a long time and will have to find a trusted cobbler in Boston to maintain their condition.

Long blog post about a pair of ballet flats, but I cannot rave about these little luxuries enough. I am already scoping out my next pair...I'm thinking black suede.

E. Porselli Milano by theconservativeprep

Take Me Back to ACK

As I write this blog post, the North Shore of Boston is getting snow again...ugggggh, I'm tired of this, but I can't wait for June when my Momma and sister come to visit. Besides missing them terribly, I can't wait for Caroline and I to complete our first half-marathon and then vacay on Cape Cod/Nantucket. I sometimes like snow, but please take me back to summer on ACK.

Take Me Back to ACK by theconservativeprep

Eye Issues

Doesn't everyone love a new pair of glasses?? Whether it be regular prescription glasses or sunglasses, I love how glasses can play up a new outfit. As for prescription glasses, I have a pair of Ray-Ban New Wayferers in tortoise. I personally wanted the old school Wayferers because I like the structured look of them, but my husband said I looked like a huge dork in them. (Thank you, my lovely husband.) 

About two years, I had a serious eye injury where I had to purchase prescription sunglasses as I could not wear my contacts for two weeks. Unfortunately, my last optometrist did not correct my Rx sunglasses for my astigmatism and I got headaches while wearing them. I recently decided that I needed a new pair, but did not want to pay $250+ out of pocket. While reading other blogs, I discovered Warby Parker with their large selection of glasses and sunglasses that range from $100 to $250 including the prescription lenses. I hopped on a train immediately to head down to their Newbury Street store to try on and purchase a pair. I was shocked at how simple and easy the process to buy a new pair was.

The prescription sunglasses I chose are the Reilly in Marzipan Tortoise because I like that the glasses cover a significant portion of my face. I have a true affinity for large sunglasses. I think my next pair of regular Rx glasses will have to be the Marcel or Winston. If you do not live in a city with a Warby Parker store, then you have the option of getting five pairs of your choosing sent to you to try out for a week and the order a pair for yourself. You can't beat $100 for a pair of glasses. A few of my favorites that I have tried on:

Eye Issues by theconservativeprep showing how to wear cocktail glasses

Pardon My French

I have to admit something I find very embarrassing: I believe I have lost my French fluency. After taking twelve years of French in school and one year in college, I was conversationally fluent to the point where I could think in the language. Yet, over the years since graduating college, I have not been challenged to keep my fluency. My husband took Spanish, which in a completely snobbish way, I was never allowed to learn by my Cajun mother and grandmother. 

About two weeks ago, my best friend Lauren suggested I download an App called Duolingo to help regain my French fluency. Duolingo is a very easy to use App that employs both grammatical and conversational exercises to learn a language of choice. Over the course of completing a few exercises, I realized that lost that much fluency as I haven't been challenged. I recommended it for people who want to practice their language skills in about five minutes a day. That's really all you need.

Meanwhile, I am loving all the shirts and sweatshirts with French phrases on them. Just remember, it's not "trés chic" to Instagram yourself in one of these shirts with coffee and macaroons unless you can back it "en français, s'il vous plaît." 

Pardon My French by theconservativeprep showing how to wear white linen tops

Lilly Pulitzer Spring 2014

Massachusetts is currently getting another snow storm...yay for another five to eight inches. While I am waiting to be called off from work and pulling out my tall L.L. Bean Maine Hunting boots, I decided to browse through the Spring 2014 collection for Lilly Pulitzer. For the past two years, I have been slightly disappointed the majority of what Lilly Pulitzer had to offer. Being a huge fan of the old style shift, I have been rummaging through eBay and Re-Lilly on Facebook for any of the shifts made from 2000-2010 and the Lilly Originals Collection (Anyone have the Lilly Originals Worth or Bel Air shift in Stuffed Shells size 8 they are willing to sell me?? I'll pay top dollar.) My personal collection from that time period is almost complete with a few favorites from the past three years that are not too revealing or too bright. Lilly is supposed to be bright, but I am not supposed to worry about the hemline being too short, which has been shortening in the last few years.

When I went home to Louisville for Christmas, I stopped by my trusted Lilly store, the Peppermint Palm, and immediately asked for the "Book", which contains the next season's collection. The new store girl who I did not recognize knew what I was talking about as I have a loyal customer of The Peppermint Palm since high school. As I was flipping through the Book, I was pleasantly surprised that Lilly Pulitzer is finally heading back towards the basics, such as their classic prints and dress styles. Although I am not a huge fan of the Delia style (I was the designer would rise the dip in the back.), I am dying over the Bright Navy Fountain Hopping print in general.

Here are a few of my favorites and hope that Lilly puts out many more similar classic styles:

What are your favorite pieces from the Lilly Spring 2014 collection?