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| L.L. Bean Scotch Plaid Shirt in Dress Stewart | J. Crew Schoolboy Blazer in Italian Wool Flannel | Banana Repubic Ivory Box Pleat Skirt | Michael Kors Runway Watch (also here) | c/o Marc Fisher Aysha Tall Riding Boots |
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| L.L. Bean Scotch Plaid Shirt in Dress Stewart | J. Crew Classic Chambray Popover in Bright Indigo | The Gap 1969 Always Skinny Jeans | Cambridge Satchel Company Classic Leather Satchel |Unbranded shoes |
The recent trend toward comfort is welcome news for me. I enjoy slouchy jeans, embellished sweatshirts, and slip on sneakers and appreciate that they are no longer equated with indolence. The newest addition to my dressed-down family is the L.L.Bean Scotch Plaid Shirt in Dress Stewart. A few words about this enduring style: The quality of L.L. Bean items is incontrovertible but the fit slightly too boxy to be figure flattering. That it’s slightly shapeless meant I also explored it as a sleepwear option and found that it is warmer than and just as cozy as my pajamas. As someone who enjoys packing “lean,” I make room in my closet for pieces that pull double duty.
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| L.L. Bean Scotch Plaid Shirt in Dress Stewart | Size Petite XS Shoulder: 15.25″ | Overall Length: 27″ | Sleeve Length: 23.25″ | Underarm to Underarm: 20″ |
The shirt is available in six colorways this season; below is the style I passed on in “navy tartan.”
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L.L. Bean Scotch Plaid Shirt in Navy Tartan | Size Petite XL Shoulder: 18.25″ | Overall Length: 27.5″ | Sleeve Length: 24.5″ | Underarm to Underarm: 25″ |
A few more words on fit: for those who are particular about fit and on extreme ends of the size spectrum, this style will probably fall a little short. The sleeves are also wide in proportion which might be an issue for women with slimmer arms.
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| L.L. Bean Scotch Plaid Shirt in Dress Stewart in XSP |
An item that I didn’t get to review sooner and has since gone on sale is the Banana Repubic Ivory Box Pleat Skirt. I bought it a few weeks ago and am generally pleased with it but wished the length were a little longer; I’ve shunned shorter pleated skirts in recent years because of their school uniform association. The quality of this Banana Republic skirt is more than fair at the price point and the weight heavy enough that the skirt maintains its shape even after several washes (care tag instructs dry clean only but I had to hand wash mine on a trip and the skirt fared ok).
