FreeCountry Tankini & Swim Skirt (Product Review)

Welp, swimsuit season is upon us. (I know, right? *gulp*) Which somehow gives me more reason to justify feasting on the deliciousness that are Swedish fish. But it also gives me more reason to check out cute swimwear.

 

I've stumbled upon a fantastic swimwear source, actually, with versatile style and high quality pieces. FreeCountry.com. And they were nice enough to offer me a suit for a product review this year. Bingo.

 

They specialize in mix-and-match pieces, so you can imagine how hard it was for me to figure out what pieces I really really liked. I narrowed it down to about four tops and three bottoms, then just rolled the dice on which ones I'd go for. (Because I'm professional like that. Heh.)

 

The company has been great to work with. There was a mailing problem with my order, but the nice Free Country people sorted it all out, and my adorable swimsuit arrived yesterday. (Mailing problems = a headache for them, I'm sure, but they made it easy for me. Quality customer service from the get-go. Me likey.)

(Note to self: Never put the words "me" and "likey" back-to-back in the same statement again. Ever.)

 

And yesterday, to my delight, I opened up the package and found these beauties waiting for me:

 

starburst tie-dye tankini top

adjustable swim skirt

The first thing I noticed was the quality of the pieces. The swim fabric (lycra, I think? don't quote me on that) is thick and seems durable, and the stitching is impeccable. The colors and pattern of the swim top are just as vibrant in real life as on my computer screen, and I adore them. My favorite piece is the swim skirt -- it's a flattering length, not too long, not too short, and the attached swim bottoms underneath the skirt is modest and a fun bright blue. Love.

 

I'm not kidding, you guys. This suit is a chicken dinner winner. With Swedish fish for dessert, even.

 

Here are some things that might be helpful as you go to order your own from FreeCountry:

I'm 5'8", ~135 pounds, and ordered a size Small. I'm shaped kind of like a rectangle (translation: flat-chested, hips like a boy), so the bottoms fit me perfectly, although I probably will go up a size in top next time.

 

The top I got fits great when I'm standing up or lying down, but if I were to sit in the sand and lean over to build sand castles with my kids, I'd be a little (lot) exposed. Because I'm a bit smaller chested than the suit plans for.

 

That being said, I sincerely love these swimsuit pieces. I see myself wearing them lots and lots this summer. I mean, starburst tie-dye? Hello. I love you.

 

I hope you all go and check them out and find a swimsuit piece (or three...four?) of your dreams.

 

Thanks, FreeCountry, for hooking me up!

a beautiful GIVEAWAY.

*This giveaway is now closed.*

A short while ago, the talented Siena from the beautifully unique etsy shop Burntsiena Designs sent me this bracelet (shown below). I've worn it loads since then (like here and in other outfits not yet blogged) and have a few words to say about this fabulous piece of jewelry. I. LOVE. it. I have no other bracelet like it, and I've already found it to be a perfect accessory to almost any outfit.

(So I'm not a George Constanza Hand Model. Get over it.)

Shown: Sea Foam Green fire-polished Czech glass and copper leather wrap bracelet

Here's what I most especially love about this bracelet (and, frankly, every piece in Siena's shop): it's unique but not in-your-face, it's "earthy" yet sophisticated, it's muted yet colorful. I'm not kidding you, guys, every time I put it on, I feel a little more One-With-Nature...in an awesome way. Maybe it's the leather and turquoisey combo? the copper beads? the shell button clasp? I dunno. But I honestly can't get enough of it.

I'd wear the bracelet with outfits like these: (Yes, I plan outfits around a bracelet. You wouldn't? Odd...) (click to enlarge)

Boots by Frye
Necklaces by Anthropologie

Skinny Denim by Silver Jeans
Sandals by Tory Burch

Day Dresses by Forever 21
Sandals at Zappos

 So. Enough about me. Let's talk about you and why you care. Siena has generously offered one lucky-duck the chance to win this beautiful double-wrap bracelet:

Shown: Burmese Czech glass double wrap leather bracelet.

I wish my photos did it justice, guys (they don't, so check it out at the shop). It's absolutely beautiful--great earth tones, a double-wrap (!!!) of beading delight, and a triple-adjustable clasp for sizing. It's gorgeous, in a perfectly unique and simple way.

You could wear it with something like these (click to enlarge):

Longsleeve Tops by Old Navy
Pumps by Boutique 9

Longsleeve Tops by Three Dots
Flats by Gap

So. Here's what you do. It's super complicated, so pay attention. (ahem) Visit Siena's etsy shop. Leave a comment below telling me which other item(s) you especially like. Make sure you leave your email address in the comment.

The end. So hard, right? Right.

If you'd like more chances to win (which, if you're a living, breathing soul, I can't imagine you wouldn't), do the following and leave a separate comment for each:

(1) Follow this blog via GFC or bloglovin'.

(2) Post this giveaway on your blog. Leave the URL in your comment.

(3) Favorite Siena's shop on etsy.

(4) Do something nice for a stranger today and tell me about it. (You can do this one every day, leaving a separate comment for each day.)

Oh, and Siena generously offered A Day in the Life Too... readers a 15% discount on anything in the store. Yowzahs! Just enter the coupon code "CHERRYBLOSSOMS." Thanks, Siena!

Good luck, lovely friends!

Giveaway closes on Tuesday, April 12th at 9 p.m. MST.

this knee-length ruffle tiered skirt? i heart it.

I've been looking for a ruffle tiered skirt for a long time. I think they're absolutely adorable, either casual or dressed up. Ruffle skirts are everywhere, so you wouldn't think my quest would be that hard. (You also wouldn't think it would be that hard to make meatballs without getting burned, but I have two fleshwounds on my wrist to prove otherwise. So. I just like to make things hard, I guess. Keep myself on my toes.)

Anyways. Why the challenging search for such a skirt? Because my second (and most important) criterion was that it had to come to my knees. Which pretty much eliminated all ruffle tiered skirt vendors. (sob)

Until...... ta-daaaaa! Kosher Casual contacted me to see if I'd review one of their modest clothing items. Um, yes and yes. and YES again when I saw that they had a knee-length version of the skirt of my dreams. Can you see why? It's awesome!

I committed to do a review within a few days of receiving the skirt...buuuut (you see where this is headed, don't you.) I got it in the mail just this week, but it's not part of my 30x30 items (waaaah). So I can't legally (morally? ethically? conscientiously? just how eternal ARE the consequences of breaking a 30x30 rule, anyway?) wear it right now. Which makes me sad beyond belief.

But I CAN style/model it for you (with, ahem, none of the items that are in my 30x30...hurts so good...). Just this once. I promise I didn't wear it all day. But it was hard. Because this skirt, you guys. This skirt! I love it.

 The fabric is some sort of ultra-soft microsuedish stuff (I wish I knew my fabrics better...but I'm sure the website has the info), the sewing (I almost said "craftsmanship"...is that a word one would use when referencing a garment?) is super high quality. The skirt has a zipper in back, just a few inches of seamed-in elastic, and a super-high waist panel--3 key ingredients for an adjustable piece. As in, you can be taller or shorter, you can pull it higher (but not too high! we're being modest, remember? :) ) or lower, you can be thinner or bigger. And the fabulous thing is, the skirt just works. It looks awesome no matter how you wear it. (Note: There are different sizes available on the website; I'm just saying, there's a bit of flexibility within each size. Does that even make sense?)

I chose to pull mine higher today. I can't wait to try other ways as well. I heart this skirt. Truly and completely.

And, before I go, just a heads-up: I noticed other modest clothing items on Kosher Casual that were suuuper cute as well. Sometimes I think people shudder and cringe at the word "modest" because they think it sounds all granny-like or stuffy or, dare I say, lame. I'm here to attest that this isn't the case. This skirt is everything I need a skirt to be--stylish, fun, and modest.

Thanks, Kosher Casual. In case you didn't catch it in this post...I am in.love. with your skirt. Pocket's getting a little jealous.

a gifted slip. a dance of joy.

It's not a huge secret that I've been eying the slips at A Slip Shop for awhile. Which is a totally true statement if you just replace the words "eying" and "awhile" with "ogling & drooling over" and "forever." Seriously, have you checked them out? You'll die. They are So. Awesome.

That being said, you can imagine my sheer and utter delight when my friend Kaity contacted me about doing a product review of a slip. I thought one of two things was happening: (a) I had died and gone to a heaven where everyone wore adorable slips and ate chocolate chip pumpkin bread (that last part has nothing to do with the slips...it's just an integral part of my version of heaven...), OR (b) she had ESP (in which case I have a list of a few minds I'd like her to read...). Either scenario was fine with me, as long as I got to try out one of her slips!

Kaity was awesome to work with. You wouldn't believe the customized options available for these puppies. Seriously. I gave her the measurements she needed, asked her opinion on a few things (sooo hard to choose, but she had great advice), talked about style/color/length/fulness options (I went with the black pleated organza in a slight a-line), and viola. Got the package in the mail yesterday. Lightning fast. And lightning awesome.

shoes: head over heels. slip: a slip shop. skirt: thrifted. v-neck tee: gap. cardigan: j.crew. belt: kohl's (came with other skirt). necklace: don't recall. hairthing: f21.

[Editor's note: As for the rest of today's somewhat funky ensemble, feel free to take it or leave it. Me? I think it's great. I woke up feeling extremely lighthearted, so these clothes just kind of flung themselves onto my body in a free-spirited frenzy of...ah...free spirits. But the slip, my friends, don't mess with the slip. That is perfection.]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I can't even tell you how much I love this slip. And I'm not saying that because Kaity's my friend and I know she'll be reading this. (Hi Kaity!) It. Is. Fabulous! Such a feminine detail, it adds so much to a skirt-look. Annnnd I have some skirts that are borderline too shorty-short, so a chic skirt-lengthener is perfect. I have a zillion other ensemble ideas that I can't wait to bust out with this little number.

One thing I'd recommend for anyone who orders one is to go longer than you might think. On mine, Kaity recommended I go an inch longer than I thought I'd need, thank goodness, because if it were any shorter than what it is, my legs would hit the organza (as opposed to the slippery slip part) while walking, and the slip would probably ride up. 

So, in summary: I adore this slip. I can't wait to buy some of the other ones Kaity & I talked about, too. Wearing it makes me want to do the charleston as a dance of joy. 'Cept I don't really know how to do the charleston. But even that fairly significant detail didn't stop me from attempting it anyway and posting pics for your viewing entertainment. I am just that joyful.

Go check out A Slip Shop, you guys. I'm not kidding. You'll want everything. PLUS, if you got one, it would make my dance moves make sense. So.

Happy Wednesday.

Want this look? slip   pencil skirt   cardigan   black patterned tights

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