Casual and Easy-Going at Chico’s

Denim plays a large roll in my casual lifestyle so, in order to combat boredom, I look for unique pairing, shapes, and details. I spotted some great festive looks in the Chico’s window yesterday, which I walked right past to zero in on this denim jacket. I ended up trying on several other looks so put together a mini dressing room diaries.

If you’re new here, DRD is when I go into changing rooms and try on new garments so you can see how things look on a woman over 25 who wears a size larger than zero. I do take my shoes off, my hair gets trashed and the lighting is usually awful, but you’ll get an idea of what they look like.

For reference, Iā€™m 5ā€™4ā€³ tall and weigh around 145 147 lbs. I have an inverted triangle silhouette with wide shoulders and straight hips. I have a long torso and long arms. My legs are short, but proportional from knee to foot.

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wearing velvet collar denim jacket from Chico's
Coolmax Turtleneck // Embellished Velveteen Collar Denim Jacket

I love so much about this denim jacket, I’ll start at the top. The collar and inner cuffs are faced with stretchy velveteen in a soft dusty blue, perfect for folding up, which I love to do. The collar has crystal and blue tone beads embellishing the front so you can pop the collar easily. The back has four verticle seams that shape it to your figure.back of embellished denim jacket from Chico's on A Well Styled Lifecollar detail on embellished denim jacket from Chico's on A Well Styled Life

Here’s a closeup from the website which still, does not do it justice! I am wearing a size 0 (4/6) which fits me better than a 1 (8/10 so it does run large. The fabric is softer and stretchier than most denim so you can size down and still be comfortable. I seldom button my denim jackets but can even in the smaller size.

Jennifer Connolly showing proportion difference with tucked and untucked shirt
DENIM JACKET // NO-IRON WHITE SHIRT // HIGHRISE BLACK JEANS // similar BOOTIES

Here’s the jacket over what I wore into the store. You can see how much longer my legs look with my shirt tucked in. If you’re not comfortable doing a full tuck, a half-tuck gives the same proportion from the front.

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wearing camel sweater top and pants from Chico's
Plush-Knit Jacket // Mock-Neck Tank // So Slimming Straight Leg Pants

I love the elegance of column dressing in pale neutrals. With a great necklace and tonal shoes, this polished look could take you to work, then dinner and the theater with ease. Because it’s collarless, I’d add longer earrings to fill the gap. It comes in three colors in regular and petite. I’m wearing a regularĀ  0 (4/6), in Deep Cedar which fits, so I suggest you size down. The mock neck tank comes in the same 3 colors as the jacket. I’m wearing a size 1 (8/10) which fits, so it runs true to size.

These so slimming pants have a seam down the back of each leg which is very slimming. They’re available in 4 colors, in regular, short, tall and petite. I have no idea what the difference is between short and petite, nor can I find it explained on the website. I’m wearing a 4 regular which is too snug and long, but the 8 was too large so I suspect the petite would fit me better.

velveteen moto with dark denim on A Well Styled Life
Velveteen Moto Jacket // No Iron CoolmaxĀ  Cheetah-Print Shirt // So Slimming Girlfriend Jeans

I love this little moto jacket. It has a denim jacket vibe because of the buttons, flap pockets, and cropped shape. It’s a cotton, rayon, spandex blend with lots of stretch. It comes in this vibrant claret or navy velveteen. Both colors are rich and saturated. I am wearing a regular 0 (4/6) which is too small for me but they’re selling out so fast, this is all they had in store!

I styled it with this no-iron mini cheetah print shirt. Again, they’re selling fast so all I could find was this 0 (4/6), which is too tight. I ordinarily wear a 1 (8/10)Ā  in Chico’s tops and I needed that here too. I love no-iron everything so could easily add this to my wardrobe. These are the So Slimming Girlfriend Jeans in deep indigo. These have no distressing or fading so can look quite dressy…if you ever consider jeans dressy.

Here Are Some of Chico’s Holiday Looks

Will you be dressing up for the holidays?

Thanks for reading and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.

**The winner of the cashmere giveaway is Paulette Levy. Please email me at Jennifer@awellstyledlife so we can arrange your delivery.

29 Comments

  1. Beverley Child says:

    Hi Jennifer. I have been following along with your life and learning alot along the way. I also appreciate how open and honest you are.
    I have a quick question. On the last blog of yours that I read (Casual and Easy Outfits) I fell in love with the embellished Jean jacket. By reading the above emails, 99% of your followers did as well. However, I went to the Chicos online “store” and, incredibly, they had my size in stock, they had Canadian pricing AND it was on sale! I have ordered it and even having it sent standard mail, it will be here in just a few days. Now to the question part of this. What do I do to let them know that I saw it on your blog, so that you get the “credit” for letting our corner of the world know how great Chicos clothes are? Thanks very much for your blog.

    1. If you clicked to Chico’s from the link on my blog and purchased, I will get credit. Otherwise, I can’t. I’m so glad you’re getting it. You will love it!!

  2. Susan Byers says:

    There is so many amazing pieces at Chicos right now. My favorite is the holly red velveteen moto jacket. You wear it wellā¤
    Thank you for sharing! #chicosemployee

  3. La Kennelly says:

    Spell it ā€œroleā€ in the first sentence. Itā€™s not a baked good (roll).

  4. Love the Jean jacket on you! Petite usually fits me perfectly but not always in length. I’m 5’1 but short waisted and have longer legs so sometimes pants are too short

  5. Oooooo, do love the cut and detailing of the denim jacket and though a casual fabric, very posh!!!! -Brenda-

  6. Getting a denim jacket to fit right is almost as difficult as finding fit in jeans. Usually sleeves are too long. If I try a petite, the body is too short. And the stiff fabrics are not comfortable for me. So glad stretch has come along. I did find a stretchy denim jacket last spring at Costco! Fit great at $12.
    Hoping winter gets cool enough to wear it.
    Btw.. all your outfits look chic and youthful on you Jennifer.

  7. I love love love Chico’s and have been buying 100% of my clothes there for the past few years. All of the outfits you are modeling today look great on you. Unfortunately, my hip/thigh area is the widest part on me. But a few years ago I did find 3 Chico’s denim jackets that work for me: white, dark wash, light blue with a couple of colorful butterfly designs on them. Here’s my question for you. When I want to wear one of my denim jackets, I typically reach for the white one because I think it looks more polished, put together, etc. How can I get comfortable wearing either of the blue denim jackets without feeling like it “doesn’t go” with the outfit, or I look too frumpy, too casual, too unpolished? I notice that you like to wear no-iron blouses, but I prefer tanks and tee shirts because I am constantly having to pull down the blouses as I feel they ride up to my neck.

    1. Try adding some brooches to the top pockets of your denim jacket. It dresses the look up and bit and you might like it.

      1. Great idea! Thanks for the tip.

  8. Thanks for always giving us your size and shape as a reference point. It is SO MUCH help! The velveteen moto jacket is really hot right now and there’s a 40% off coupon too. My sister 2K miles away just bought it yesterday AM and texted the info to me knowing I’d love it too! Seeing it on you really helps.

  9. Mary Lou Selders says:

    Iā€™m with you Jennifer, I am 5ā€™2 1/2ā€, but am not a petite. Thank goodness someone figured out we just need short inseams. Love the denim jacket. I have an embellished one I bought 20 years ago and it still looks great!

  10. I love that denim jacket, but I can’t justify buying another one when I already have more than one. Perhaps I could add some embellishment to the colour of one of them though! Thoughts are churning!

    1. If you sew it would be easy to add a layer to the collar of one you own.

  11. Cathy Cunningham says:

    Hi Jennifer,
    I follow you regularly and always enjoy your posts.
    Love both outfits. Love the denim jacket and the colourful moto jacket. Iā€™m alsoā€like you as I seldom do the jackets up and I also roll up the cuffs.
    Love the beading on the collar of the denim jacket.

  12. Petite is proportional different in the rise as well as inseam length. Short just adjusts the inseam. Being 5ā€™ tall and having a long body I can never wear petite so spend $$$ in hemming. Love Chicoā€™s short selectiopion.

  13. Paula Green says:

    Hi Jennifer,
    I follow you regularly and enjoy your posts
    I would like to let you know the difference between petite and short in Chico’s pants.
    The petite is cut shorter in inseam and shorter in the rise.
    The short is cut only shorter in inseam leaving the rise the same as a regular cut pant.
    Hope that helps!

    1. Thank you Paula!! It does. That means I need the short because I have a long torso.

      1. Thanks Paula. So, I am a short not a petite, this makes perfect sense to me now.

  14. Really cute looks, Jennifer. I’m feeling those hackers! I’m heading there to browse. (Hehe).

  15. I love that you are a REAL woman with a shape we can relate to! The blue denim jacket is so cite and it has my name on it! Love the bejeweled jacket. The beige outfit is one I would wear to work or out to dinner. Dressy but not TOO! my first reaction to the red jacket was NO, but it is growing on me! It’s a cute, casual look that is really me!!

  16. Patricia Watters says:

    Thank you for always being so honest and upfront about your shape and size. I am currently battling a few extra pounds, which, really should be no big deal but feels huge, to me. It’s heartening to know I am not the only one.

    1. Our weight is such an emotionally charged issue. I’m working hard to lose a few pounds but the scale is not cooperating.

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