Day #8: I Love L.A. (we love it)

I'm sorry, I know there are a lot of you out there that LOVE Lalaland, but I am NOT one of them. However, I was told this past week that I had two choices. Rebook my ticket home from Sacramento for the next day and get my OWN hotel room, or take a chance that my flight from Sacramento to LAX might land in time for me to catch the flight to Phoenix leaving at the same time.

They were close. I missed it by minutes. But as they say, it's not over until the doors closed and the

doors closed. So, I got to stay at the Aloft in El Segundo where it's very, very retro decor and the bartenders are obviously very excited about making their martinis, which made me very excited since I love fruity martinis like this pomegranate blueberry one. 

I had so many blog posts started this week and ended up falling asleep writing every one of them, so I know I'm behind already on my New Year's Eve goals of blogging every day but I have so, so, so many pictures to share of me Roeing out in the wild. And this is one. 

I have discovered that Lularoe is just absolutely perfect for traveling. It's so funny but every time I think I've found all the reasons why this clothing line is the best EVER, I find another one. When I flew out to Los Angeles, as you saw the other night, I was wearing an Azure layered over leggings with a Perfect and Sarah. Great for travel. I was so comfortable. For the trip to Los Angeles, I wore a black Maxi with a purple, yellow and red floral print over eggplant leggings with a mineral wash berry Classic. Same purple striped Sarah. It was so incredibly comfortable for getting through security and to the gates and went perfectly to the hotel for dinner. 

When I was given about three minutes to grab a change of clothes for the next day, it was an easy

decision. I pulled out a Carly and a pair of leggings. Done. Unfortunately, I got home SO late that day that I forgot completely about taking a picture, but when I got off the plane, it took me comfortably to an Arbonne party with Shannon and to the grocery store to prepare for my in-home the next day. And the purple striped Sarah that I wore with the Maxi and the berry mineral wash Classic transferred perfectly to the Carly and leggings. 


Packing with Lularoe for a trip is a piece of cake because you can roll it and it doesn't require any ironing. You simply shake it out and go. But look at all the possibilities with the outfit that I had worn on the plane. It was a little chilly, so I didn't do the Maxi as a dress down to the bar for dinner, but if it had been summer in Los Angeles, which is on the warm side, look what I could have done. It's very, very cool in northern California over the summer, and if I had had to, I could have ditched the Sarah and the leggings for just the Classic over the Maxi, OR, I could have just tucked in my bra straps and pulled the Maxi up for a cute summer dress. So that was trip to Los Angeles. Maxi + Classic + Sarah, martinis, sleep, and then Carly + leggings for the flight home to Dallas. And that's how you Roe while traveling!

China Glaze Don't Desert Me

Looking for a Sarah like mine with the stripes or in the purple? I haven't seen my exact Sarah anywhere, but Serena Cervantes has an excellent selection of striped Sarahs in a variety of colors, and if you just love love love the purple, there is a solid one and one with stripes but almost in a chevron-shape. Make sure and check out her selection!

Have a great day, and now that I'm home from the West Coast, I'm hard at work on the core style reviews once again.

I did have time to paint my nails while in Los Angeles, so here is China Glaze Don't Desert Me. Great shimmery pink!

Day #7: Elegance...for work?

Why not? These girls look like they are ready to party it up every day of the week when the average person may attend one formal event every few years. Maybe.

I really had no idea what to expect when the Elegance Collection was released. All I knew was, several of my consultants were taking preorders, nothing in my size was available, and everything that I absolutely loved wasn't even made in my size. And it was expensive! And dry clean only!

But when it comes to clothes, jewelry, makeup, nail polish, whatever....I'm attracted to the sparkly. If I were a fish, I'd have been dead on a plate long ago. An old friend of mine used to yell "fish bait!" every time we'd be shopping and run into a display of jewelry that caught my eye. 

The first thing I got was the Classic T in a combination of silver and rose gold. That was a preorder and I was happy with it. The second thing I got was the sparkly Carly in the berry color. Also a preorder and I was happy with it. Everything else? Well, I came across this Lindsay in the picture at a multi-consultant sale after Christmas and told myself I wouldn't buy it unless it was still available at the end of the day. Obviously it was. I had several friends on the list to the left contact me when they had stuff in my sizes to offer me first right to buy. I had several friends say that they didn't think they would EVER sell X, Y or Z....and then I decided I had to have it. The rest of it? Imagine a lion hunting antelope and

that was me. See that picture? The antelope was the shiny blue Wonder Woman skirt and I was the pouncing lion. I justified it by telling myself that because I have fifteen nieces and nephews that are growing up and will be getting married that I need these semi-formal (all right, fine, they are formal!) clothes. Then I justified it by telling myself that they really aren't that Christmasy and I can wear them whenever I want. Then I made myself a promise that I would wear Elegance to every Lularoe party and pop-up and event this year to get my money's worth, a promise which I promptly broke on Sunday.

Shameless....I really could talk myself into walking off a cliff if I tried hard enough. 

So a few tips for those of you that are like me and have a ridiculous amount of Elegance and won't admit it (but you know you do):

1. If you have one of the glittery sparkly Carlys and you are freaking out about the glitter dust that is everywhere, I heard from another consultant that if you take it outside, shake it out and then spray it thoroughly with Scotch Guard, the glitter fall out will be at a minimum. Another suggestion is hairspray, although I'm not going to be trying that, thank you very much! Here's an article that talks about how to keep glitter from falling off clothing. 
2. I have heard from several wearers that the glitter fabric scratches the bejeezus out of the underside of the arms when you wear it. I don't have any input on that yet since I haven't worn mine anywhere except around the house, but I'll update this article when I wear one for more than five minutes. I would suggest wearing a Lindsay or Monroe with it to help with the chafing. 
3. Read the care instructions on every piece that you have. I have heard that dry cleaning is recommended for these pieces, but I seriously doubt I am ever taking it down to my local dry cleaner to let them have at it. Since I'm an insurance adjuster, I know people in the textile restoration business, so I'll probably be doing that as needed but only as needed. Any piece that can be hand-washed, I would do that with the most delicate soap possible and wash by hand. 
4. Be careful with it and watch your jewelry, especially on the stuff that can snag. I didn't even bother wearing a bracelet Christmas even when I wore my Elegant Lucy that has a tulle overskirt. (You can see the picture of me wearing that green skirt in this article.)
5. I seriously wasn't kidding about wearing it to every pop-up party I attend this year, but I'm not going to wear head to toe metallics or glitter. I plan on toning some of those pieces down with some solid shirts and skirts. 

And with that, it's a perfect segue into the title of my article where I actually did wear Elegance to work. My first Lindsay that I bought (ouch, I just admitted I have more than one, didn't I?) was a bronze shimmery Lindsay with gold threads running through it, and I thought it went really well with this combination of a mineral-washed black Classic tee, a floral Azure skirt in tones of gold, gray, and white on a black background, and tan leggings underneath. Definitely four pieces that I would not have thought about pairing together, but it just kind of....worked. Which is odd considering that there were four fabric types in this outfit....mineral wash, gauzy chiffon with metallic threads, slinky Tencel in the Azure and then everyone's favorite leggings. It was dressy for work without being overkill, and it was fun. (Karaline, if you are reading this, I told you I had worn the mineral wash to work!)

And the Azure is such a cute topper for leggings...it's swingy, it's comfortable, and you can pick a color out of the pattern in the Azure to bring to the forefront with your legging choice. I was trying to highlight the gold in the floral pattern to bring out the color of the gold threads in the Lindsay.

I loved pairing the Azure with leggings so much that day that I decided to give it another shot today when I was traveling, except this time I paired the Azure and leggings with a Perfect tee and a Sarah cardigan. It was great for flying, so much better than the jeans I used to travel in. Unfortunately I didn't find anyone that I felt would stop what they were doing and take a picture of me, and I hate taking selfies of myself in the mirror, so I took this one of me from the waist down . The "bell" of the turquoise Perfect blouses out perfectly over the Azure, a lavender cotton with a rich vibrant purple and turquoise thinly striped grid-like plaid, which I layered over purple leggings to match the "grid" in the Azure. I wore a purple striped Sarah over the entire thing, and now you get a close-up of my Skecher ballet flats. When I travel, I only bring one set of jewelry, so I just was wearing my wedding rings, some handmade turquoise black beaded earrings and a stainless steel Fossil watch with a white marbled face. 

But this weekend I am hosting my first in-home party AT my home, and you bet I'll be wearing one of my fancier dresses then...maybe I'll try one of the glittery Carlys and see if I can irritate my husband by getting glitter all over the couches that he'll insist on vacuuming to perfection before my guests arrive. 

The bronze Lindsay with the gold threads is available for purchase from Jessica Martin in sizes medium and large.  She also has the berry sparkly Carly, the green Lucy with the rose gold diamonds and the Classic tee in the silver and rose gold, so if you are still on the hunt for Elegance, it's a great place to go shop, and she is offering special pricing through tomorrow evening. 

Have a great day and remember, any day is a good day to dress in sparkling clothes!

Oh, and one last thing...look what I spotted at Hudson News at Dallas Love Field! Sure do look like MIMIS, don't they? Just goes to show you that EVERYone wants to Roe!

The Perfect Tee...Simply Perfect!

2XL red Perfect

The Perfect tee is one out of the four shirts in Lularoe's line. It is truly special and unique to Lularoe as I have never seen anything styled or cut like it. 

2XL white Perfect

The construction of this shirt is similar to that of the Classic tee in that it has the hemmed sleeves and a hemmed bottom, but the neckline is a stitched scoop and the sleeves fall to the elbow, so they are a little longer than the Classic sleeves. They are similar to a Classic at the top although the bust area is just a little larger. As the shirt flows down, it flares out at the edges like a bell with a four to eight inch slit (depending on your size) on either side that just give it a little something extra special. However, these slits also allow the shirt to be tied in knots at the sides if you want a more fitted look by your hip area. The sleeves come down to about the elbow, but are generously sized so they are not clinging. It is a very dressy version of a t-shirt and just absolutely perfect to mix and match with anything from jeans to full-length skirts. 

Sleeve Length

3XL Perfect over leggings

Unlike the Classic, the Perfects really do vary from size to size, but sizing up may be the look you want to achieve depending on your preference. In the Perfect, I wear a 2XL or a 3XL (which have 6" slits and 8" slits respectively) and while the 2XL is my perfect size and the one that I prefer, I do like to wear 3XL Perfects with leggings because they hang a little longer (similar to the Irma tunic). However, what I think is really neat about sizing up one size is that an oversized Perfect, because of the way it is cut, looks like a baby doll dress...or even a miniature Carly dress...and looks really great with leggings. It is a cute and playful look especially for the weekends. They come in a variety of prints and solids, although the only fabric I have seen them made in is the standard Lularoe polyblend of polyester and spandex. They are a great addition to any wardrobe to wear with skirts, leggings, pants and jeans. I bought one gently used Perfect from a consultant who had worn it as a bathing suit cover up on a vacation so the possibilities for what you can wear them for and pair them with are endless!

The Perfect tee will accompany any of the Lularoe skirts very well, but to me, the Perfect and the Cassie skirt go together like peas and carrots. The Perfect drapes down perfectly and the flare at the bottom (the part I refer to as the bell) hits right at the hip line. Depending on your figure, the slits will separate slightly and show the colors of the Cassie that you are wearing.  

Perfect tees are also available in a staggering number of prints as these are included in the styles that Lularoe cuts their limited edition printed styles from. You can find Perfects in geometrics, animal prints such as butterflies, florals, stripes, and so much more. 

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Perfect tee is $36.00. 

If there are any questions about the Perfect tee, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

The Lindsay cardigan...the perfect layer like icing on the cake

The Lindsay kimono was actually my second piece of Lularoe that I acquired. I was gifted a plain black knit one as a thank you for helping a consultant photograph and stage her initial on-boarding inventory. I remember at the time thinking that it was kind of a strange piece and that I wasn't sure if it would look right on me, but out of all of the Lindsays that I have acquired since that initial piece, the solid black one is the one that I have worn the most. 

Out of the entire Lularoe lineup, the Lindsay cardigan baffles me the most. Not the piece itself...but why it is not more popular. Why this piece does not sell out as soon as it comes in, I don't get. I admit that I have eclectic tastes, but this piece is the easiest way to dress up a pair of leggings and a t-shirt or to throw over a dress when you are cold or just to accessorize with a put-together outfit to bring out a color to the forefront. Below I have demonstrated how you can take a t-shirt and leggings to the next dressy level just by adding a complimentary Lindsay to pull it all together. 

The construction of this piece is simple. It is like a cardigan in that it is put on like a very light, thin sweater, but there are no zippers or buttons. The sleeves are elbow-length and have a large droop at the bottom, similar to a kimono on a geisha. See the similarity? There is just enough exposure to let the lower part of your forearm show, but enough coverage to cover your upper arms and keep the chill off. They are well-made with seams at the top of the shoulders

The Lindsay cardigan, which is kimono-style, really should be in everyone's Lula wardrobe even if JUST in black or gray. For me, it is my go-to piece to grab when there is a chill in the air and I just want something to cover my arms, or if I just want to dress up something casual, or if I want to accessorize a dress and bring a color out of it to the forefront. It is a wonderful accessory piece to wear over Classics, Perfects, Irmas, and all of the Lularoe dresses. 

If you have any dresses that are strapless or sleeveless that you want to wear to work but have a no-bare-shoulders rule like my office does, the Lindsay is the perfect solution. They are light and thin enough to wear all day long in the office and come in a variety of fabric styles such as knit, lace, chiffon and brocade. For the colder climates, they are thin and cool enough to layer under heavier winter coats and for the warmer climates, they are warm enough just to take the chill off as the arms are about three-quarter length. As an example, look at how I am wearing my Maxi dress. I am wearing it as a skirt with a Classic tee and a turquoise topped with a turquoise jacquard Lindsay. Lose the shirt, pull up the Maxi, and now it's a strapless dress with a midcalf length but still work-appropriate because of the Lindsay. 

For sizing, you can see that the Lindsay runs large. No question. I am a full 2X full-figured woman. I have long arms, so long that I need an XL in the Sarah cardigan just for that reason. I am 5'7. I have a 38D bust. Yet, I can wear the Lindsay in the small, medium OR large. I prefer the large because the arms are a little longer and more generous, but if I find a Lindsay cardigan in a color that I like and it is only available in medium, I don't have an issue wearing it as there is a very negligible difference. I have plenty of room in my Lindsay in the back, shoulders, arms and midsection, and the back is almost Irma-length which is perfect for me. The main difference in the sizes is the length; the smaller the size, the shorter in the back. Featured below is a small in gray, medium in green and large in peach.

What I find interesting about the Lindsay from critics is that lace is not a preferred fabric and that girls with narrow shoulders find that they dwarf them. I find it interesting, but I understand why. Lace as a general rule is not thought of as a jacket-type material, which is why I consider my lace Lindsays to be more of accessories than actual jackets for warmth. I think if your thinking adjusts to that frame of mind, that these are layering accessories more than actual jackets or sweaters, you will find that these are more versatile than you think. 

As for the dwarfing, well....you can't change your body's frame, but you can change the way you wear the Lindsay. I have seen Lindsays knotted in the front to bring the bottom up. I have seen Lindsays gathered in the back to pull the the sides back and almost convert it into a shrug. I'm sure that there are other things that can be done with this kimono-style wrap that I haven't even thought of yet. 

One thing for sure is that if you think you might want to have one, even just to keep at the office for those chilly days, give it a try. It's a very warm and soft piece of clothing, there are lots of styling possibilities, and you can buy one as basic and non-frilly as you want or as dressy and lace and feminine as you want. There are lots of jacquard-style Lindsays that are incredibly dressy and can make the most casual of outfits look fancy and dressed up. 

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Lindsay cardigan is $48.00.

If there are any questions about the Lindsay, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!

The Classic Tee....A Traditional and Timeless T-Shirt

Black Classic Tee

To begin our journey, the must-have for any Lularoe fan or a good starting piece for a person new to Lularoe is the Classic tee shirt. The cut and fit of this shirt is a perfect transition piece if you are switching to Lularoe clothing from the classic fitted t-shirts available at Old Navy or the Gap, although it is without a doubt of higher quality and will endure for many wears and washes for years to come.

A warm welcome to you, my blog reader, and I hope that you enjoy my blog, This Is How I Roe In Real Life! I am very glad to have you here, and if you have found yourself here, you have either been led here by a Lularoe consultant, a friend who wants you to experience the joy and beauty and simplicity of Lularoe clothing or by searching for clothing blogs. My core style blogs will cover each style in the Lularoe lineup including construction, fit, sizing, available fabrics, styles, and colors. 

Hemmed sleeves with fold-over stitched scoop neckline

Fold-over stitched scoop neckline (with Monroe kimono)

Out of the four t-shirts in the Lularoe lineup, the Classic tee shirt is undeniably the most classic and traditional fit. It has hemmed sleeves that fall right under the tricep, a slightly fitted waist, a hemmed bottom, and a stitched fold-over scoop neckline. The Classic tee looks good with anything in the Lularoe line up as well as other pieces in the standard wardrobe from leggings to capri pants to jeans to skirts. I have worn my Classic tees with everything in my closet, because they are just that versatile. You can pull it flat or you can ruche it a little over a skirt to hide your tummy if that is a problem area for you. It looks great on anyone and everyone, whatever your size or shape. My preferred size in the Classic is a 2XL or a 3XL since there is so very little difference in size between the two (this is true as well between S and M, M and L). Once you know your size, they are easy to order without trying on and an integral part of any wardrobe. 

Hemmed bottom in butterfly print Classic (with Azure skirt)

Sizing more than one size up is not a problem if you don't mind a slightly larger shirt. The shirt will hang a little longer permanently since they don't shrink when washed properly, but as with all Lularoe clothing, it needs to be washed cold and hung dry. If you like a more fitted look, you can try to size down, but be careful of the bust area because they are very true to size. I can fit into a L or XL Classic, but both are very tight in my chest area and my bust is a 38D. They don't hang long like a tunic, so before you venture out in public with a Classic tee shirt over leggings, make sure that you are comfortable with the way it looks since the leggings are quite clingy and do not leave                                                                                          anything to the imagination. 

Classics for the most part come in the standard poly-blend of fabric which is a combination of 96% polyester/4% spandex, but there are some knit Classics that have the consistency of a very light short-sleeved sweater top that are 50% polyester and 50% cotton. There are also some very silky Classics available that are manufactured from 100% tencel which is a sustainable fabric, regenerated from wood cellulose, and similar in hand to rayon clothing and bamboo sheets. 

Poly-blend Classic

Knit Classic

Tencel Classic

In 2016, Lularoe released their Elegance line which had Classics that were made of metallic, spandex and threaded fabrics. Classics come in a rainbow of solid colors that span the color spectrum in vibrant reds, blues and purples, heathered greens, pinks and lavenders, and distressed fabrics which can be referred to as acid-washed or mineral-washed. These shirts, which are overdyed to create a very velvety appearance with mottled discoloration spread throughout the body of the shirt and on the sleeves and hemming, are a really unique style of t-shirt that are very reminiscent in appearance of the Hypercolor shirts from the 1980s, except of course, there is no change in appearance when a warm hand is placed on the fabric. They have a very velvety and soft appearance and lend a different look to any outfit. 

Silver Elegant Classic Tee
with metallic blue  Jill skirt

Mineral-wash Classic

If you own a mineral-wash or distressed Classic, it will come attached with a tag on it that states that due to the overdye used in the preparation of the material, you should wash the shirt by hand to prevent bleeding onto other fabrics or surfaces. I have heard that soaking this shirt in a vinegar solution will help set the dye so it will not bleed; if this is a process you are interested in, there is an article here from Popsugar that will instruct you on the proper method to do this which can also be used with leggings and other pieces of clothing. I have not yet tried this method myself, but I have heard that vinegar is a successful way to set the dye in these overdyed fabrics. The tag about handwashing did not start appearing on the distressed Classics until I had bought several of mine, so I never handwashed my shirts of this style. However, I do make sure the first time that I am washing a mineral-washed Classic that I turn it inside out, that I wash it with dark colors, and that I use a color-catcher sheet which you can throw in the washer with your clothing to catch any loose colors that leech out into the laundry water. My favorite ones to use are Shout Color Catchers, which were recommended to me by my stepmother Susan and are now a staple in my laundry care. The first time I used this sheet with the purple shirt in the below photograph, the sheet came out tinged with splotches of purple but with no color on any of my other laundry. These sheets are made by Shout and cost about $4 at Wal-Mart. I throw one in every time I wash my Lularoe, and for the most part, I never see any loose color on the sheets unless I am washing a distressed mineral-washed Classic. 

The distressed mineral/acid wash look is also available in the Carly dress, which is reviewed in a separate article. The best thing about the Classic tee is that it is such a traditional cut, it will never go out of style and can be worn with anything. With the proper laundry care, washing it with other Lularoe clothing or soft items and not drying them in the dryer, your Classic tee shirts will last for many years to come with no shrinkage, pilling or bleeding of the fabric.

Classic tees are also available in a staggering number of prints as these are included in the styles that Lularoe cuts their limited edition printed styles from. You can find Classics in geometrics, animal prints such as butterflies, florals, stripes, and so much more. 

The minimum advertised price (MAP) set by Lularoe for the Classic tee is $35.00. 

If there are any questions about the Classic tee, please post them below. Make it a great Lularoe day!