Remember when I reviewed a knit dress from DownEast Basics this past summer? When DownEast Basics asked me if I wanted to do a review of their new arrivals for fall, I replied as quick as I could!

The theme for the late fall line is “Vintage Glam Style.” You can see how well DownEast Basics achieved that by checking out their new arrivals or their “behind the scenes” blog post.

I choose to review the “Know When to Fold Jacket” in plantation. I love that it’s a comfortable fleece jersey jacket with dressier lines. It’s like putting on your favourite sweatshirt but still looking cute! The jacket is an excellent fit in the shoulders – something that’s hard to find! The sleeve length is a little long which is perfect. At the wrists there’s ribbing which keeps the sleeves from sliding over my hands but the cold won’t be nipping at my wrists when I’m lifting my daughter in/out of the car.

The only downside about it is the color description. I thought the jacket would be a malt-brown, but I would describe it as an olive green. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice, rich olive green. I was just surprised when it wasn’t the brown that I was anticipating!

What I continue love most about DownEast Basics, is their affordability meeting styles. Their clothing is right on with the trends, but they also have great prices! DownEast Basics has the perfect clothes for updating your wardrobe on a budget or not! – Katie

***Giveaway! DownEast Basics is giving away one item from their new arrivals section – winner’s choice! (open to US residents, only)***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many as you’d like (once per each specified entry). Each is worth one entry to our giveaway. Please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

1. Tell me what new arrival item is your fave.


2. “Like” DownEast Basics on Facebook.


3. Follow DownEast Basics on Twitter.

We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: November 4, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Congratulations to LAMusing! You’re the lucky winner

I don’t know about you but the whole multiple layers thing gets old. I still throw on a cami when a shirt’s length is too short, but usually when I wear a cap-sleeve tee under something it’s for the neckline and sleeves, not the midsection or length. And under some dresses a full-length cap-sleeve or cami gets all bunchy and bulky around my waist after only a short time. That’s where Halftees come in: cap-sleeve and long-sleeve layering tees that end at the bodice. They are basically “half the shirt” but with “all the style.”

Halftees sent me their cap-sleeve tee in black to review for our readers. Unfortunately the size I chose was a bit too small to wear comfortably so I passed it to my oldest daughter. She wore it under a cute v-neck babydoll style shirt the very next day. It looked great and she didn’t have to worry about the tee riding up in back. (That’s one thing that drives me crazy about multiple layers—the constant pulling down in back.)

For those of you who are expecting, Halftees are a wonderful option for layering. Clothing can get bulky enough when you’re pregnant, and adding a second layer bumps up your already warmer body temperature. With a design made to end just below the bodice, Halftees are the perfect option for expecting moms.

I did notice the band around the bottom of the tee is a bit wide, which means it’s more likely to be visible when layered under tighter fitting clothing. When my daughter wore it under her babydoll tee, I didn’t notice it but it was also a thicker fabric and the band of the babydoll tee coincided with the band of the Halftee. I will have to wait and see how it looks under a simple, thinner t-shirt. I do love that Halftees offers a long-sleeve option, which is great way to transition your tees from summer into fall.

You can buy Halftees online or visit their kiosk outside Victoria’s Secret in University Mall (Orem, UT).

*** Giveaway Halftees is giving away one of their layering tees, winner’s choice!***

Here’s how to enter. You can do as many of these as you’d like. Each one is worth one entry into our giveaway; please leave a separate comment for each one you do:

•  Visit Hafltees.com and leave a comment telling us which style/color you’d choose.
•  Become a fan of Halftees on Facebook and leave a comment telling us you joined.
•  Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL of your tweet.
•  Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the URL to your blog post.

Include a valid email address for our drawing. We’ll draw the winner from the comments and contact her via email. Deadline: March 9, 2010 (midnight). The winner will have 24 hours to claim her prize or a new winner will be chosen.

• Congratulations to Julie L., the winner of the Halftee giveaway! Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the review and add a comment. Keep reading the Daily Dish for your chance to participate in more giveaways!

I don’t own many dresses. I have a hard time finding ones that cover what I want covered and yet are still chic and stylish (and fun and flirty and sexy…). A good dress is often hard to find, and one that costs under $100 even harder. Thank heavens two women had the same dress-finding problem or we might never have the fabulous fashion- and figure-friendly dresses from Shabby Apple!

After years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable (without wearing a tank top, cardigan or long slip), owners Emily and CK decided to do something about it. They visited trade shows, marketplaces and designer studios only to discover the problem was not that department stores weren’t buying the right dresses, but that designers weren’t designing them.

Shabby Apple is proud to offer you fantastic dresses that allow you to look fabulous, without having to compromise anything else. A return to what dresses were always meant to be — a one-piece outfit. No need to add anything…no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing (except accessories, of course!).

Sometimes the site simply says it best! But even that “about us” doesn’t do Shabby Apple justice. The collection features dress for every occasion, from Easter brunch to Saturday-night soiree, and for every body. “Every woman deserves to feel beautiful in a dress, but not all of us look like runway models. [Hear, hear!] Shabby Apple celebrates the short legs, curvy hips, straight waists and flat chests in all of us.” They even have an online fit guide to help you find the styles that “emphasize your assets.”

I received the Daisy dress, which can be found under Flirty. (Sounds like my kind of dress!) This crisp, white, hail-the-sunshine eyelet dress has one of my favorite features of all time: puff sleeves. And for my shorter torso the dress’ empire waist and A-line skirt is perfect! As pleasant a surprise as the puff sleeves is its length—it actually hits my knees! (What I lose in torso I make up for in inseam…) The Daisy is fully lined so no impromptu—and embarrassing—bra sightings, plus its rayon/cotton blend fabric means it travels well. The yellow grosgrain ribbon isn’t attached so you can change up the dress simply by changing the ribbon! Traveling well is a really, really good thing since I have yet to wear this dress outside our home so I’ll be making up for lost time by packing it for our cruise in September. (It’s almost May and we’re still experiencing 30-degree weather at night and the rare 60-degree day. Are you kidding me?)

Others can vouch for Shabby Apple’s drool-worthy design. I know for a fact Daria is all over the Lois Lane and envisions herself wearing it at the BlogHer conference in July. I’m debating whether to don A Sunday Afternoon or Tender is the Night. Perhaps I should get both just to be safe!

In true Shabby Apple style you can’t forget the accessories, the little fashionista or the mama-to-be. Along with the delectable dresses you’ll find scrumptious jewelry, handbags and shoes for you, the sweetest dresses for little girls and belly-flattering maternity dresses. Shabby Apple leaves nothing to chance, especially style!—Emily

* Promotion! Shabby Apple is offering Daily Dish readers 15% off their purchase! Simply enter code SABoutique when checking out. Offer expires May 28th, 2009. (Think of it as a Mother’s Day present to yourself—you totally deserve it!)

I’ve been known to wear repeater outfits, but this week I have taken repeat to a whole new level. I have worn the same sweater 6 days in a row. That is right 6 days!

I received the Lightweight Cotton Ribbed Tie Wrap (CD2050) from Margaret O’Leary collection and I can’t take it off. Perhaps on the day of rest, I will give the sweater a rest! This sweater is my go-to with every outfit. The color is a beautiful sea color that actually can be paired with many hues.

First day I put it over a white blouse with my jeans. Second day it was all about sweats but the sweater helped upgrade my look a bit. Third day I wore it with a patterned shirt and khakis. Fourth day I thought I’d go without, but, the weather turned and my dress needed another layer, so the sweater got worn again. Fifth day was my usual repeater from day one and the sixth day I paired it with a turtleneck b/c the weather was now freezing! So, you can see—it is the perfect sweater. Not to bulky, but enough warmth. Not to bright, but enough color. Not to trendy , but, enough style to make a statement. It really is the perfect sweater for all seasons. The perfect sweater for all shapes.

Margaret O’Leary is known for high quality yarns, and for her blend of timeless and classic design elements with modern, artistic fashion sensibilities. This fashion designer not only has nailed the perfect sweater she has also created the perfect spring shirt.
I also received the cotton silk voile pintuck tunic (679CS) and loved its look with denim. I didn’t sport this blouse 6 days in a row, but, I can see how this basic would get some nice use through Spring and Summer.

Margaret O’Leary’s collection is carried in boutiques all across the country. If you are searching for the perfect basics and willing to pay out for quality stuff that will look good and last. Check out her incredible line online at margaretoleary.com.-Amber

The go-to sweater and the adorable spring tunic blouse are available online at margaretoleary.com.

If you’re new here then let me bring you up to speed: I have an addiction to jeans. I also have addictions to shoes and t-shirts, but jeans is probably top on the list. Oh, yes. Chocolate is in the mix too but that level of addiction changes related to stress and hormones. Anyway, it should come as no surprise that I jump at any chance to review a new denim label on the Daily Dish.

What makes today’s review super cool is I actually won these jeans after commenting on another site’s giveaway. I never win anything, so winning a pair of jeans was a dream come true! (I have simple dreams: world peace, an end to hunger and a great fitting pair of jeans..for free.) Now, that’s super cool for me but what makes it super cool for you? The “Sweet Dee” jeans I won from Alias Premium Denim ended up fitting like a high-priced pair of designer jeans yet the price is far from designer. In fact it is even less than your favorite pair of jeans from GAP! At only $40 I knew I had to share my Sweet Dee jeans with our Daily Dish readers. Okay, maybe not literally but figuratively for sure!

Here is the short and sweet of Alias Premium Denim (i.e. the story behind the Sweet Dee jeans):

We were tired of paying hundreds of dollars for premium denim. We loved the fit and style but didn’t love what it was doing to our bank account. We tried less expensive jeans, but just couldn’t find the right style and price combination. Since we couldn’t find it, we decided to create it! 18 months of design and development later and Alias Premium Denim was born, for all the other girls out there that want to look HOT without burning a hole in their jean pocket.

That’s me, that’s me! I want to look hot without breaking the bank! I received my Sweet Dee jeans, immediately ran into my room to try them on (I do that with pretty much every pair of jeans…self-control goes out the door with denim), and loved what I saw in the mirror—front and back! The pockets are super cute (a big plus for me) and the fabric and fit were great. They had a longer length, which is totally what my short-torso-long-leg frame needs, and the cut was super flattering. The only issue I had was a slight gap in the back of the waistband, but this is a common occurrence for me and my tailor knows me well. A size 28, which is what I received, fits a 4 to 6, so it’s not surprise there was a little “give” in the waistband. But I loved these jeans enough to spend a few extra dollars to take the waist in just a titch. When I spend upwards of $80+ dollars for a pair of jeans, I’d rather not tack on any extra tailoring fees. But with Alias Premium Denim and that $40 price tag, I can totally afford it!

Right now Alias Premium Denim only has one style, the Sweet Dee, (dark wash, low rise, bootcut). Fortunately the bootcut is a universally flattering fit and never goes out of style. They will be introducing their second style soon and you can enter to win a free pair as soon as they arrive by completing a super short (I’m talking like 4 questions) survey. If they’re anything like the Sweet Dee they’ll be fabulous!

Premium designer denim does NOT mean you’ll have to take out a second mortgage. Yes, you generally get what you pay for when it comes to jeans, but in the case of Alias Premium Denim, you get more than what you pay for. It’s important to support small business—and your jean addiction, and Alias Premium Denim makes it easy to do so in today’s economy.—Emily

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