Dressing Room Diaries – Great finds at Loft This April

I am increasingly impressed with the quality of what I find at Loft. I bought a blue sweater from a close competitor this last winter and it pilled the second time it came out of the dryer. I’ll have to go back and check the care instructions, but honestly, if a synthetic pullover can’t go in the dryer and come out looking fresh, I don’t need it. By comparison, I have a blue sweater I bought from Loft at least 3 years ago that has been washed and dried umpteen times and looks almost new. Neither sweater was expensive but the Loft sweater has given me way more bang for the buck. Today, I’m sharing a few great finds at Loft this April.

If you’re new here, welcome. A dressing room diary is when I go into a store and try on new merchandise so you can see how it looks on a woman over 25. For reference, I am 5’4″ and weigh around 138 lbs with broad shoulders and straight hips. I have a long torso and arms so I often buy one size larger on top. I try on clothes in colors and shapes that may or may not flatter me so you can see what’s in the stores and get some styling ideas. I tell you what sizes I am wearing to help you understand how things run.

Here’s a little pattern mix of the safest type, a stripe with anything:) This striped shirt is 100% cotton and machine washable. It comes in regular and petite. I’m wearing the small petite. The sleeves are a bit short on my long arms, but honestly, I always fold my cuffs up so it’s not an issue for me. The pants are a wide-leg cropped style that comes in regular, petite, and tall. I’m wearing the regular which has a 26″ inseam so they’re ankle length on me. The petite has a 23 1/2″ inseam and the tall has a 29″ inseam. Loft has quite a few of the wide leg crops which are 100% viscose and machine washable which will be fun and cool in the hot weather.

MORE FLUID PANTS

This pretty, comfy, butterfly dress could easily be dressed up or down. It could take you to a casual summer wedding with dressy shoes and a wrap or go shopping with white sneakers and a denim jacket. Its lightweight viscose fabric is machine washable. It comes in regular and petite, sizes 00-18. I am wearing a regular in 8 and like the fit for me. The slit over one leg is low enough to be modest.

I tried it here with Loft’s popular denim trucker jacket and a loose open cardigan. The denim jacket comes in regular and petite, I am wearing a regular small. The cardigan comes in 3 colors in regular and petite. I am wearing a regular in small. This feels like an odd length for this dress so I would probably prefer something waist-length like this cardigan.

more dresses from loft

Since I always push up my sleeves, I appreciate sweaters with 3/4 sleeves. I am also a fan of cotton sweaters and Loft carries a lot of them. This cardi comes in 5 colors in regular and petite. I’m wearing the Peach melba in regular small. Since the sleeves are meant to be short, I’d probably like the petite version too.

The ruffled neck shell is airy and lightweight and a fun piece for hot summer days. The background is a bit less coral than my photos show. (my face isn’t this peachy either). It comes in regular and petite, I’m wearing a regular in small and the armholes feel a bit deep for me so I would personally opt for the petite. These Munroe slim chinos are hugely popular this spring and selling out fast. They come in 8 colors, in regular, petite, tall, plus curvy. I am wearing a regular in 4.

These high-rise crop jeans have a 12″ rise and a 27″ inseam so they’re ankle length on me. These are the straight cut and they’re also available in curvy in sizes 24-34. I am wearing a 28. Loft has gone all-in with frayed bottoms which I’m not crazy about for myself so they have less jean options for me this spring.

I’m doing some leg work to find the best white tees for us this summer and was delighted to find this tank. It’s a nice quality cotton, opaque, and the straps are wide enough to cover bra straps. It comes in regular and petite. I’m wearing a regular medium but opted to buy the petite so the armholes are a big shallower. When did my underarms become something I want to conceal? The v-neck option is here.

These Riviera Slim pants are a great cotton-blend pants with spandex and are machine washable. They come in 5 colors in regular, petite, and curvy. I am wearing the almondine in 4 regular. These will make a nice alternative to jeans on a warm spring day. The duster is just plain fun. Loft makes several of these every spring/summer at a great price point. I’m wearing the Rasper Red, it also comes in Whisper white. They’re sized XS/S- M/L, or L/XL. I am wearing the XS/S and it has plenty of room but it’s not overly voluminous.

These skinny jeans have a finished hem and a nice high rise. They come in regular, petite, tall, and curvy. The inseam is 27 1/2″ in regular, 25 1/2″ in petite, and 30 1/2″ in tall. The wash is the deepest indigo and they fit beautifully. They have 4% spandex so will spring back into shape after you sit down. I am wearing a 28. The cotton sweater comes in 3 colors, in regular and petite. I am wearing cornflower blue in regular small. It’s mid-weight cotton so works year-round for many climates. The 100% cotton jacquard top comes in regular and petite, I am wearing a small petite.

Are you a fan of cotton chinos and pants this year?