2024 Black Friday Fashion Haul

Update 2024-12-16: Received Hollister, Madewell, and Free People items and updated the reviews accordingly!

The sales around this time of year always fills me with anticipation and excitement! This year the deals started early and ended past Cyber Monday. I noticed that around Cyber Monday, brands had the best deals or a steeper sale. What did you end up purchasing?

The brands I purchased from are Abercrombie, Hollister, Free People, Old Navy, DSW, and Madewell. For reference I am 5’3″, typically wearing a size S/M in tops, a size 25/26 in bottoms, and a size 8.5 in shoes. Without further ado, let’s get hauling!

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Abercrombie

Long-Sleeve Featherweight Rib Tuckable Top – Light Gray, Size M

67% TENCEL™ Modal, 29% Polyester, 4% Elastane

This top is composed of a thin material that is form fitting, but not snug. I sized up from my usual size S to a M and found it to be very comfortable. Note that this Light Gray color is slightly see through; I was able to detect the faint color and outline of my bra underneath. I find that this color is very flattering on my skin tone!

Long-Sleeve Featherweight Rib Tuckable Wide Scoopneck Top – Black, Size M

67% TENCEL™ Modal, 29% Polyester, 4% Elastane

I heard good things about the Featherweight line so I grabbed another top with a different neckline. I prefer this scoopneck top over the crewneck style. Another full-length top and a good basic to have.

Long-Sleeve Off-The-Shoulder Draped Wrap Top -Black, Size S

46% Cotton, 46% Modal, 8% Elastane

I have the short sleeve top version of this and thought I’d give the long-sleeve version a try. This fabric almost feels like athletic wear; it is very cooling to the skin so I don’t foresee this top to be very warm. Nonetheless, the design is flattering on and my true size S fit comfortably.

Essential Long-Sleeve Tuckable Baby Tee – Gray, Size M

95% Cotton, 5% Elastane

I have the cropped version of this in black and have worn it so much I knew I wanted to pick up another! For this top, I also sized up to a M for comfort. The length extends to just past my pelvis. The body is lined making it a very warm, thick basic to have! The fabric is soft to the touch as well.

The A&F Ava Long-Sleeve Top – Deep Green, Size S

Burgundy, Size S

95% Cotton, 5% Elastane

I have broad shoulders so I was hesitant to purchase this, but in the end the sale and wanting to try it on won out. I am glad that I ordered 2 of these because I initially tried the deep green one and it was not flattering. It exposed too much of my chest and made me uncomfortable. The only way I can see i work is if drape my hair to the front to add coverage. I tried on the burgundy to be sure and I was pleasantly surprised that this one was much more flattering. I deduced the difference to slightly wider tapered points where the shoulder strap meets the straight neckline. Those extra few centimeters made all the difference. It is such a shame the deep green one was not cut the same, it is also such a beautiful color. The ruched detail on the sides fit snug to the body and the extra fabric is very forgiving.


Hollister

Mid-Rise Pleated Mini Skort -Navy Plaid, Size S

Light Brown Plaid, Size M

Body:64% Polyester, 34% Viscose, 2% Elastane / Lining:100% Polyester

This skort is not very long in length. On me, it just covers my butt and without the shorts underneath it would be uncomfortable to sit and always gauge whether I’m flashing anyone. I ordered 2 size S and M to see if the M would have extra length. The size up does not increase the length much and it becomes too loose to wear. As someone with rounder hips, I was worried that it would not be flattering on me, but it is! The pleats drew me in and look very nice. The fabric does wrinkle a bit so keep that in mind. After sitting for a brief period, the back pleats do wrinkle and create new creases. The fabric is soft to the touch and the tie in the waist is functional. There is a side zipper with a hook-eye clasp. The waist is not very elasticated so for me it is necessary to undo the tie and then unzip the skirt to get out of it.

Also, in regards to the plaid prints and colors they are true to the product listing. For the light brown plaid skort, the plaid pattern does not align which I do not like so I am going to exchange it for a different pattern probably the navy houndstooth print.

Low-Rise Black Relaxed Straight Jeans -Black, Size 2S

Body:98% Cotton, 2% Elastane / Pocket Bag:80% Polyester, 20% Cotton

I had high hopes for these jeans, but they did not work out. They fit ok in the waist but the length was too short stopping at the ankle which is surprising because the size chart mentions to order the short length for 5’3″. I don’t want to try to exchange this for a bigger size since the leg shape was not flattering on me. A return!


Free People

Make It Molly Long-Sleeve – Heather Gray, Size M

92% Cotton, 8% Spandex

This is such a cute top! It has contrasting yellow lace trim and bows on the sleeves. It is slightly thin, but not see through and fits snug to the body. I’m glad I listened to reviewers when they mentioned to size up!

Daylight Cami – Ivory, Size M

Black, Size M

Shell: 64% cotton, 36% nylon
Lining: 100% polyester

I liked the concept of this top so much I grabbed 2! Unfortunately, the quality is not the best and the fit in the bust area is too loose. In my head I wanted to wear this out since there is lining in the bust area, but I don’t feel comfortable to do so after trying it on. This is sadly a miss for me.

Charm You Ballet Flats – Black, US8/EU38

Silver, US8/EU38

Leather, Rubber

I like the scrunched design of these ballet flats. In the past, rigid ballet flats would painfully cut into my heels. I stuck with my true size since I made the blunder to size up in ballet flats once to avoid the heel injury and it was still painful with my foot slipping around. I think I cracked the code! They fit my feet perfectly with a little wiggle room at the toe. The insole has some padding but not much. The sole of the shoe is flexible near the top of the shoe, but it is rigid towards the back so not a shoe that can be folded in half to pack in a purse. It is a shoe option to take in a suitcase though since the pair of shoes can be compactly squished together!


Old Navy

High-Waisted Fleece-Lined Leggings – Blackjack, Size M

Panther, Size M

92% Cotton, 8% Spandex

Old Navy was running a sale making these leggings $10 a pair! Checking today, I see the same price so keep your eyes peeled and be sure to snag a pair. I bought 3 pairs in total and the inner fleece lining is plush and I like that these leggings are made of cotton. They fit comfortably and I sized up so I can bask in the warmth of the fleece rather than have the leggings stretch out too much. The petite length on my 5’3″ frame hits right above the ankle which I don’t like so I opted to keep the regular length. I’m envisioning these leggings paired with skorts in the winter.


DSW

Bearpaw Shorty Buckle Snow Boot – Mushroom, Size 9

Suede upper, Wool-blend lining, Comfort sheepskin footbed, Blown rubber sole

Gearing up for the winter weather, I wanted to get a pair of fur-lined boots. I saw these on sale at DSW and grabbed it right away. These live up to my expectations! The light color pulls more towards a light brown, not quite a tan color. They are very comfortable and I sized up for more room to pair with thicker socks. All in all, a good buy!

Vans Seldan Sneaker – Pink/White, Size 9

Leather upper, rubber sole

I was scoping out the rest of the deals on the site and this sneaker caught my eye with the leather exterior and pink trim. I had high hopes this would work out but unfortunately it was too big and the shoe tongue dug into the top of my foot. Returned!

Lemon Faux Fur Cuff Women’s Leggings – Black + Navy, Size L/XL

nylon and polyester (not true to the site description)

I’ve been looking for a pair of fleece-lined leggings so I can pair it with knee-high boots and wear it with skorts during the winter. I first found a pair of these leggings at Sierra and upon opening the package thought, “Wow are these small!”. I bought the M/L and these were tiny with lots of stretch. Unfortunately, stretching the fabric out that much to fit my body made the fleece lining very thin and bumpy feeling so it wasn’t worth keeping. When I saw the same style offered at DSW in a larger size, I got my hopes up. When they arrived however, I could tell by touching them that they were not the same material as the Sierra pair. These are comprised of nylon and polyester and it does not contain rayon mentioned in the item description. Returned!


Madewell

Sleepers Tapered Thong Flip Flops – Angel Blue, Size 39

rubber

For travel purposes I wanted to get a pair of flip flops to wear in the hotel room. These fit the bill and from the reviews they should be very comfortable and can run a bit small. I sized up and they fit perfectly! The straps are a bit tight, but I’m hoping they loosen up with wear. The Angel Blue color is a tad darker than the listing photos.

The Zip Card Case Wallet – Gold Metallic

100% leather, lining: 100% cotton

I saw this slim wallet on sale and instantly purchased it! I’ve been looking for a slim and compact wallet to go with my small cross-body bags. This wallet features 4 card slots and a zippered pouch for bills and coins. It seems well made and the metallic leather does not come across as too garish. In person, it is stunning!


Takeaway

I hope you enjoyed reading about my purchases from the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales! What was on your list? And were you able to score a deal? Let us know by leaving a comment below!


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I’m Cate

Image of the back of a woman facing a road lit up by the sun and a blue, pink, and yellow sky with fluffy white clouds ahead indicating life teeming with possibilities.

Welcome! I post about an assortment of topics with the goals of sharing information, demystifying too-afraid-to-ask questions, and creating a caring and friendly community. Cheers to life!