Dressing Room Diaries: Summer Refresh Sale at Loft
Before we left town last week, I stopped into Loft to check out what was new. As usual, my local store looked like it was having a going-out-of-business sale with sale racks everywhere. I now understand that that’s just the way my Loft merchandises their store, but it’s unnerving to see because I love shopping there. The summer refresh sale at Loft is on with 30% off new full-price styles through 6/14 and 40% off sales styles, plus an additional 25% off.
If you’re new here, welcome! A dressing room diary is when I go into a local store for a try-on session to see what’s new and show you how it looks on a woman over 25. For reference, I am 5’4″ and weigh around 142 lbs. I have broad shoulders with straight hips, a long torso, and long arms. I often buy one size larger on top. You’ll see me try on clothes in colors and shapes that may or may not flatter me because I want you to see what’s in the stores and get some styling ideas. I will tell you what sizes I am wearing to help you understand how things run.
This black and white shirt dress is one size too large for me, but I could certainly wear it…. especially if my husband keeps bringing home potato chips. The brand also says it runs large, so you might consider sizing down. It’s a great linen/viscose blend that will be cool on a hot day. The bottom side slits are airy but not too high to show anything.
This striped shirt is made to tie, so the design has removed all the excess fabric in front and has a shorter-than-usual tail in the back that you could tuck under or wear out. It’s a crisp cotton/modal blend that drapes nicely. It has long sleeves, which I folded. Because I have a long torso, I chose the reg instead of the petite.
I’m wearing it with the Munroe slim chino in a petite, which has a 24 1/2″ inseam. This is a customer-favorite style that comes in eight colors, and I’m wearing Pale Banana. The colors seem brighter in person than I’m seeing online. These are a comfy cotton/spandex machine-washable blend.
Here are the Munroe chinos in a regular length with an inseam of 27″. I’m wearing them with a ribbed linen blend cardigan and a cheery tee. The cardigan comes in three colors and is selling out fast in the white. The website labels this tee white, but it’s clearly a green and white stripe.
Same style shirtdress as the one above in black and white. How fun is this bright pink color? It also comes in a fabulous cobalt blue and rich green. This kind of dress would be a great workhorse on vacation and could even double as a bathing suit cover-up. I wish I’d brought this one home with me.
The same striped shirt that I showed in yellow above… this time in cheery pink. I’m not sure why they’re not listing the items together with varying color options. I’d have bought this, but I own a shirt from J. Crew that’s a dead ringer for this that I’ve worn the heck out of year after year. These jeans have a longer inseam than usual (29 1/2″ in petite and 32″ in reg) which I assume is to wear with the current platform sneakers and wedge sandals. These are a very flattering fit that is slim through the hips and thighs and then flares slightly over your shoe. The frayed hem means you could easily trim these to the length you need.
Same white jeans I showed above, this time with a cinched front v-neck cobalt blue tee. It’s hard to see, but this tee has a slight puff sleeve which would be flattering on women with narrow shoulders. The cinching in front and down the sleeve gives a body-conscious fit. It comes in four colors.
Style Tip- This side-by-side illustrates why I love a third layer. It visually cuts off the outer thirds of an outfit which makes you look slimmer.
This little swing dress is a navy and white knit with a button placket and bottom ruffle. This dress comes in regular, which they call classic and petite. I paired it with this lightweight cardigan that could be a workhorse in your wardrobe all summer long. The semi-sheer cardi comes in five colors, regular and petite. It’s intended to be long, but I may opt for the petite.
These Riviera Slim pants are another customer favorite that Loft carries in various colors and patterns every season. They have a slightly more elevated styling than the Munro chino and are more of a trouser, yet still have stretch. These come in ten colors, curvy fit here. I’m wearing them with the classic cotton cardigan and everyday white shirt. They call this a tunic-length shirt, but at just 27″ long, it was easy to tuck in.
MORE FINDS FROM LOFT
The last outfit felt like a bit of palette cleanser after all that color. Do you prefer to see more color styled here or more neutrals?
Thanks for reading and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
I do love neutral colors. They are my go to choice but that pop of color can brighten you mood. You Jennifer look sooo! great in yellow and pink and green and of course blue
More color! You look smashing in that pink dress! Neutrals are .. well let’s just say boring! They need a pop of color!
I bought the long white slightly sheer V neck sweater you wore in the first picture. I have been searching for one I could afford and this is perfect. I like color in cool tones like navy, blue and pink. I put with white, black or grey. Tan is a rarity in my closet as it saps the color out of my fair skin. I did love the pink dress on you but simply never go anywhere that I could wear it. You looked lovely in it. You can wear yellow as well. I can’t without looking jaundiced. For a blonde, you can wear more colors than I can, lucky you!
My coloring does seem able to carry lots of colors off but I am drained by warm colors too.
Like all but the last dress, the short swing dress, I felt it wasn’t very complementary on you. I don’t have a Loft close to me and the J Jill closed so only one left here. Seems like so many are closing and leaving the customer to do online shopping.
It’s more affordable for brands to have us just shop online. The benefit is we have more selection.
I like all the outfits , except the last. Too neutral . I would look washed out with my light hair now. As far as stores go, we have two Loft stores close by. The one I like to go visit, is organized, roomy, and a pleasure to shop in, the other store is small, not as organized and does not offer all the clothes selections . The sale prices are good and I like the styles there.
Were you wearing a regular or petite for the black and white swing dress?
The swing, knee length dress is navy. I’m wearing a regular.
Please bring on the color. I know you say you prefer neutrals but you look wonderful in bright colors. The yellow is gorgeous on you. That is the one color I can’t wear, makes me look sick. I’m a cool winter and the brighter the better 🤗. Thanks again for all you do.
I’ll share more color!
Ann Taylor, Loft and Lane Bryant may still be suffering the results of their parent company’s (Ascena) bankruptcy and subsequent takeover by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Here’s hoping that they stay in business. Have loved them for years. The number of stores they have closed recently is staggering, with only a few stores left here in SoCal. I hope this is not a harbinger of things to come.
I hope so too! It’s been tough for so many brands.
I’m loving the COLOR!! Thank you, and please continue! 🙂
Thanks for letting me know
Hi Jennifer. I think you do an excellent job of balancing color vs. neutral in your posts! I wouldn’t change a thing. I wear a lot of black and white but really like the color options you give – they help me broaden my color horizon!! Hope you’re having a great time in Canada! I really appreciate the lovely pictures you’ve been sharing.
Thanks Tammy. I want to be sure I’m serving what you ladies like to see and wear.
I agree with Tammy – you balance colours and neutrals perfectly. Keep doing what you’re doing.
Thanks, Yvonne. I’ll keep a mix going.
Love your choices today. I recently purchased the shaker style sweater from Talbots in turquoise blue, so I would say I favor color myself! Why not? It’s summer, let’s celebrate.
We don’t have Loft in Victoria but it looks like a store that I could shop in!
Will you show some dressing room diaries from any clothing stores in Vancouver? My favourite Eileen Fisher is on South Granville :-)))
Leslie
Hostess of the Humble Bungalow
I love EF too so I will certainly be visiting them soon!
I totally agree with you that a Loft store in Victoria would be ideal! When I holidayed in Phoenix, I checked out all of the clothing stores. The Loft was my favourite.
Loft is a great place for fun, reasonably priced clothes.
I love color. The pink dress made your whole face come alive while I thought that the next dress, which was black and white, sucked the colors out of you face. I also thought the green and white stripe shirt looked wonderful on you. Team color all the way here.
Thanks Pam. I loved that pink too.
I love that black and white maxi dress!
I do too. It’s the kind of dress you’d wear for years to come.
I prefer the neutral colors. I think they look so nice and classic on you. I also liked the shirt dresses. They could probably go anywhere. The tie shirts are cute too.
I love the colors!
I love you in those high rise flare pants! Makes you look taller and slimmer (if that is possible!). And the cobalt tee looks great too. love the dresses too but sold out in my size! (I cannot wait to see your new haircut! I think layers would be good.)
I love a great flare or wide leg pant!!
I enjoy seeing both colors and neutrals. The colors seem more boisterous and happy, while the neutrals more sophisticated and quiet. There is something for every mood. I also find it interesting to see how the different colors and intensities look with your coloring. Changing outfits that many times is a workout! Thanks for doing the hard work so your readers don’t have to.
It’s a fun workout. I enjoy seeing what’s new. I’m enjoying colors too but I have to be in the mood for it.
Pink looks pretty on you!
Thank you
Color please!
I will!
Love the colors you’re midrkjbg is beautifully. They really speak to summer! I especially love the pink striped shirt exactly as you’re wearing it! Pretty!
I wish I’d brought mine on this trip but there was just so much I could pack 😉
I prefer neutrals because they go everywhere. I do try to add pastels in a couple of tee shirts for afternoon fun. Neutrals seem to stand the test of time.
Neutral are so versatile too. I love them.