Shopping can be hard. Knowing what is unquestionably good online can be harder. So this year I thought it would be fun/useful to take you to the mall and physically try on all the things – the staples and the current cult favorite pieces in an struggle to recommend affordable (and some not) pieces I really love. You see, Im full up with stuff and I dont really want to recommend anything I havent tried or seen in person, nor do I want to do the buy-online-ship-and-return waste trundling just for a blog post. So I went with the intent to not buy a thing, but as youll see there were a few things that were just extremely good. So here are my favorite things from the mall, in 2022. Shout out to Washington Square:)

Also surpassing I go into it you need to know I kissed a lot of frogs. I tried on so many clothes. I didnt want to soul shame myself or diamond shame a store so Im not showing you all the stuff out there that sucks in fit, style, and quality. Thats all to say, what made it is considering it’s legit good.

*A holiday souvenir guide statement – we can’t be all things to all people at all times, so we are curating our souvenir guides differently this year. Everyone shops/consumes differently based on their location, budget, needs, and wants. We truly want to requite ideas, with an editor’s eye and be a service to all in an struggle to help you find stuff you will unquestionably use/love long term – regardless of budget. This shopping post (and a couple of others this coming week) are for those shopping the big sale weekend at larger retailers, but we have many others with small businesses, souvenir kit ideas, thoughtful gifts, and of undertow my favorite things (still working on it). If you don’t like shopping at big box stores, skip this post and come when then – there will hopefully be one for you ????

My Mall Outfit: Jacket (similar) | Denim Shirt | Jeans | Boots | Bag

J. Crew

I tried on a ton of variegated pieces here and many were mediocre, TBH, but then I asked a salesperson what were the most popular and she pointed me towards these three things:

Magic Rinse Relaxed Crewneck Sweatshirt

Ive been wearing The Great for 8 years (since it started I think) and have some of the OG sweatshirts but unchangingly nice to find increasingly affordable versions. J. Crew’s slouchy sweatshirts are so good conidering the seaming (a diagonal) makes the right sprawl shape – it allows space near the tummy, but cuts in near the site with a wide neckline. These details are crucial to a good slouchy sweatshirt that looks tomfool and not frumpy. I wish these came in increasingly colors (the surf is good and red is unconfined for the holidays but I would love an off-black, a stripe, a heathered gray, etc). The fit is excellent. Im wearing an XS here but could have sized up to an S (so it’s a bit oversized but not crazy oversized).

Quilted S herpa Fleece Half-Zip Pullover

It is very good. If I didn’t have unbearable fleeces once I would have veritably bought this o n e. We all well-set it was VERY VERY GOOD.

Tissue Turtleneck In Stripe

Admittedly I’m not selling it in this photo, but it’s a perfect layering piece. When the salesperson told me that these were cult favorites I tried it on and was sold. These are so thin but forgiving (maybe considering of the pattern) – it didnt plane really show my bra strap. Not too tight or constricting totally breathable and kinda just felt like an undershirt, but since it’s a turtleneck you get that cute pattern at the neck and sleeves. PERFECT for layering under sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, and coats. I wish they made them in every stripe possible.

9″ V intage Slim-Straight Jean In Daisy Wash

Jeans. SOLD. As you know I have a short torso and big boobs so I cant do the high-waisted mom thing which I know is “in”. These remind me of my Rag and Bone boyfriend jeans but with the 40% off, these were $70 versus the usual $225 (when did that wilt normal?). Such a good fit without holes, not crazy low-waisted (a 9 inseam), and didnt cut in but sculpted a bit. On my trip to Thanksgiving, these were the only jeans I brought. BIG FAN.

Nordstrom Ó Clothes

Jaro Plaid Wool Blend Jacket

Like I need flipside one but once I put it on all of us were like, oh that’s good and so you. I asked Brian for it for Christmas considering I finger too guilty subtracting flipside shacket to my collection (and this one was expensive which I didnt realize until I tried it on – whoops). But this one is SO GOOD!!! The cut is excellent. It’s lined and falls well in a non-stiff yet structured way. And obviously, that plaid has Emily-Farm-Henderson written all over it. Again, I didnt get it but it might be under the tree if Brian unquestionably reads his texts from me:)

Plaid Coat

The thing well-nigh trench coats is that you can leave the house looking tomfool while wearing something really vital underneath. No secret that I love a plaid stratify (Ive been wearing this Madewell one every time I leave the house lately – over sweats! I squint so pulled together but secretly wearing athleisure!). This stratify is GREAT. Had I not had that Madewell one I probably would have bought it. The plaid is tomfool without looking bathrobe-y. This one is a bit oversized (it’s a medium considering they didnt have a small). Pockets. Unconfined collar. Just a solid investment IMHO.

Oversized Mixed Media Faux Shearling Jacket

I know that this is what is tomfool and in – super oversized, sherpa, etc. If someone gave it to me I’d be psyched but I think I felt a bit silly in it. Kaitlin (our photographer who has with me but has a younger/cooler style) loved it hard. So I think it’s for a younger demo. We both well-set that the white isn’t the weightier for kids and that you must know it adds zillion – which is “in” right now but just not my thing. Anyway, it’s a splurge but we liked it unbearable to show you.

Abrazo Half Zip Fleece Jacket

YES. So many yeses. If you are in the fleece market this is a GREAT one. It’s a mid-weight (not thick like some NorthFace but not unseemly and thin). The verisimilitude blocking is great.

Arena Fleece Cropped Pullover

We all really liked the verisimilitude blocking on this one, too. It felt cheaper, TBH, but I think on sale it could be a good souvenir for a Gen Z gal. Again, good shape and colors.

Breton Stripe Henley Cashmere Sweater

Shes good, boxy, with slight tintinnabulate sleeves, extremely cozy and soft. If I were in the market for a new archetype sweater this would be IT. They didnt have a small in store so Im wearing a medium here which is slightly too big so it seems like it runs true to size. Big fan.

Lucca Cable Knit Quarter Zip Organic Cotton Sweater

In my mind, this looked way largest on me haha. If you have a lady in your life that is picky, this is a unconfined archetype quarter zip that is thin unbeaable to layer over (again, not bulky) but warm in itself. Target has a pretty superstitious version right now, too.

Mayslie Coated Toddle Straight Leg Pants

On the other hand…These pants clocked in as one of the things I didnt need but couldnt not get. The shape of the leg. The finish of the fabric (waxed so a bit shiny but in a high-end way). They fit low on hips and those large rectangular pockets ALWAYS play with the eye and reduce the size of your stomach and hips (if you are into that). The structure of the leg is wonderful – not tight, but tailored. These were expensive so Im hoping that they are on a Woebegone Friday sale. I couldnt not get them and am excited to wear them when I need to squint like I know my style and superintendency (in a well-appointed unstudied way, of course).

The Roller High Waist Wide Leg Jeans

Yeah, we well-set these are awesome, cool, comfortable, and with volume in the right place. They are Mother jeans, which if you don’t know specialize in a specific level/chemistry of stretch making them far increasingly well-appointed while still keeping you retained.

I’m a low-waisted gal myself, but I could totally see dressing these up or lanugo and looking cool.

Anna Crewneck T-Shirt

Kaitlin picked this out for her but I tried it on and was like “oh shoot”. This is a GREAT t-shirt and I thought it was going to be one of those worrying $120 shirts, so was happy it was $59 (not on sale yet). Yes, that’s still a lot but the cut, fit, fabric and wash are really good. The cuffed sleeves are unconfined for those of us a little self-conscious well-nigh our upper stovepipe (it flares out giving the illusion of a smaller arm) and the wash doesnt wash me out! Pure woebegone cotton often just makes me squint extremely uneaten pale, but this wash doesnt. Thank you, Kaitlin! And yes I bought it.

Nordstrom – Shoes

Nordstrom wa at first none too pleased with us taking photos so I had to be really unenduring and sneaky. I asked Kaitlin and Emily M. what shoes were “in” so they divided and brought them all to me.

Lug Sole Chelsea Boot

This style is obviously everywhere and we love them – plus I think they are PNW-friendly. This pair itself was comfortable, and cool, with a not-too-tight (but still tight) ankle.

City Montreal Sneaker

We all really like the colors of these sneakers but since I moreover have these and these from Madewell I didn’t need them. But they would be perfect for an elevated “super causal” look:)

Brex Waterproof Chelsea Boot (On The Ground, Second From The Left)

If my bootie hodgepodge werent still deep I would have veritably bought these and part of me still might. These are so much potation than what I have had for years, can be dressed up and down, add instant whet and youth, and still finger like me. Gosh, Im inveigling myself right now that I should own them (fun fact, to assuage my consumer guilt my sister is selling all my gown on Poshmark right now, saving for a house for her and her two boys – head over there to see it). These are superstitious and would still be unconfined in rain or snow. Shoot. I need them.�

Hayle Platform Chelsea Boot (On The Ground, Third From The Left)

The famous Steve Madden boots that were sold out last year and now I see why. These requite height, are stocky but so comfortable, and tuck in REALLY NICE with the reticulum ankle. So good. Tried to convince myself I needed them but I love my new Madewells that are moreover waterproof and have a heel. These are just a bit increasingly edgy and cool.

Creepers Wallaby Platform Loafer

OOF. These are so dope. I’m a huge Ganni fan so I wasn’t surprised that I loved these.

I want these very bad and am hoping that Brian will buy them on Woebegone Friday/Cyber Monday should they be on sale. DEAR LORD, they make you squint cool, plane if you are wearing sweats. Does my sublet life need them? Nope! Which is why I didnt buy them for myself. But would I be bummed if they showed up under the tree? NO, I WOULD BE VERY EXCITED. It’s not like they’re soft-hued velvet ballet flats. These souls can handle some rain. But I just finger tomfool in them, and finger like they unquestionably work unconfined into my lifestyle and sheathing wardrobe. We, of course, found increasingly affordable versions out there considering these are crazy expensive – trammels out these and these.

Corbin Platform Loafer Mule

I think the platinum loafer mule combo is a pretty darn unconfined one. These were VERY cute.

Oversized Quilted Jacket

This had a really good shape (sorry nonflexible to see with my pose) and flares out with the front and when longer than the sides (in a good way – like tails).

This came in a couple of variegated colors and is a cute affordable souvenir for sure.

Coat

Never not trying on a plaid coat. This is unconfined – a bit bulkier than the Rails one above, but for those who like the unwieldy oversized squint we got you.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Curve Love Ultra High Rise Toddle Straight Jean

Ok, these are the famous Abercrombie jeans everyone is talking well-nigh (I hear). I veritably get it but they aren’t for me. As a 43-year-old mom, I don’t think that mom jeans are doing me any favors. I do, however, understand why these are tomfool for the younger crowd. The shape of the leg, the stiffness of the side seam, the height of the inseam, the length – it’s all cool. I think if you have a Gen Z daughter they’d likely love these. As you know the 90s are very when and tomfool – just some of us may not want to revisit it.

Tailored Wide Leg Pants

These pants are famous and now I TOTALLY SEE WHY. A flowy trouser is in and my lifestyle doesn’t really warrant needing this, but these are just so comfortable. They have light rubberband in the when which you can’t see, making your stump kinda pop out in a really good way. They fit and then flare out. The front pleats are super flattering (sorry – so nonflexible to see here – just trammels the site for detailed photos). Excellent, excellent, excellent.

Let me know if you are into this type of malleate shopping/review post in the comments (no need to say that you hate this post, y’all) and if so I’ll go when and do a second one – this mall didn’t have Anthro, Urban, Madewell, or Zara – but I’d be happy to play dress up then ???? And stay tuned for Brian’s post very very soon…Off to get a Cinnabon:)