Gigi's picks from Chadwick's

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First up...

Macy's Friends & Family yields 25% off from Wed, 4/29 thru Mon, 5/4. Save 10% on electrics, electronics, mattresses, furniture & area rugs. Ha ha - I just realized my sofa is from Macy's. Now would be a great time to upgrade/replace furniture with all the discounts out there. They were only giving out efficient service, a couple of smiles & a handshake back when I purchased mine.

I received 2 F&F coupons in my catalog and both have the same SKU on the back. I assume Macy's will have one at each register and will be able to apply the discount to your purchase. I will be surprised if you actually need to present the card. Half of the catalog had jewelry. Watches appear to be included in the 25% promo. In the past watches have been excluded from coupon promos, if memory serves. If you need a watch, this is the time. DKNY & Fossil watches range from $85-$135 before 25% off. There will be shoes at 40% clearance before 25%. Maybe you need undies. Or a waffle maker or an OXO mandolin. Those 2 have been on my long-term kitchen wishlist. Don't need/won't use much/still want.

Remember, Mother's Day is coming up so keep the special women in your life in mind. There are lots of fragrance & cosmetic gift boxes w/lovely free bags. Speaking of...have you ever given away the perfume & kept the bag? *raises hand*
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I have received review requests for other retailers, including Chadwick's. This is fine by me and I have actually ordered from this Internet-only retailer in the past.

Diann says...

"I have over the years ordered a few things from Chadwick’s and it has been hit and miss. Some things...I loved the quality, cut, buttons, etc and other things were just odd. I do think they have improved the design with this new line for spring/summer."

Diann said it very well. Last year I ordered a top, sweater and dress from Chadwicks. They had stackable promos and I was able to get discounts + free shipping. I think the top was on backorder so I canx it after waiting a month. The sweater was a button down combo. You know the ones that have the white collar sewn in like a dickie? I know about dickies from looking at my grandmother's Walter Drake's catalogs. Anyway, the dickie sweater combo got nearly 5 of 5 stars on the site so I had to try it. It didn't feel quite right, so I returned it.

Now the dress. It was beautiful. It was a sundress & exactly as pictured. Also, the Chadwick's reviewers had captured the truth about the dress. I ignored them & took a risk anyway since opinions differ. It was definitely voluminous and created a pregnancy look. Not like 5 months-just showing with first baby. I'm talking 8 months pregster. The alterations would have been the price of a new dress so I sent it back. I was so bummed because it was a great dress. That's my experience with Chadwick's. They have definitely improved style over the years. Quality I don't have a lot of experience with. Let's pull out a few pieces to discuss:

Tummy control knit bodysuit - $29.99, The surplice neckline is very 80s, but I am curious about the bodysuit aspect. Unfortunately, there are no online reviews on the website. They have about 6 bodysuits on their site. The concept seems dated, but intriguiging. I think if you wear a belt you fix the gaping waist problem, but there are some skirts & trousers where a belt doesn't work.

Knot front knit tank - $24.99, it also comes in a red/white stripe. This could be cute in-person w/a cardi, however it's a poly/spandex, not cotton. The material could be iffy. Cotton would probably feel better.


Ruffle cardigan - $39.99, the sweater is all cotton, which is good. The model's pose is not. The models are too glossed up for the clothing, imo. It creates a cheap, tarty feel. These chicks must be really tired after working with contorted poses like the one below.


Ruffle collared layer sweater - $29.99, this is the type of sweater I ordered last year. The one I got was on backorder. Maybe that's why I wasn't impressed when it finally came. I really can't remember, but I think the sweater was on the thinner side.

I'll bet this one is cute in person w/the ruffle placket. I think it might be a good thing to have on a 'what the heck am I gonna wear' day. Especially if you are running late. This piece, like the one I ordered last year, has rave reviews. I think the fact that you pull it over your head -- and voila, it looks like you tried -- is what's appealing.

Ultra-slim tummy flattening top - $24.99, I wonder if this actually works. The website says, "Slims and shapes your midsection for a flatter silhouette." It's a cotton/poly/spandex blend. If you're wearing poly or poly blends to an office, I think that works. Temps are usually cooler and you don't perspire. If it's hot and you're wearing poly out and about, the fabric doesn't breathe and that's a problem.


Audrey sheath dress - $49.99, this has potential. It comes in another color. I think blue. One issue w/Chadwick's website is they do not show large-size views of the items in other colors. They only post a small swatch for reference. So if the garment comes in blue and you click on the swatch, it won't show a pic of the item in blue, nor will increase the size of the swatch to get a better view of the color. That's another deterrent from me ordering from them.


I don't have any plans to order from Chadwick's. I always look through the catalog, though. Sometimes they have great ideas for color combos. As far as ordering, you have to return everything by mail since there are no b&ms. My curiousity never seems to outweigh the thought of having to repackage things. I think if J Crew & BR/ON/GAP did not allow in-store returns I wouldn't order half as much as I do.

Do you have any Chadwick's experience?

This is a safe place and you can express love for the retailer if you have it. ;-)

Chime in...