Just doing a quick catch-up on the train to Paris. Decided to overhaul my wardrobe at the last minute as temps are definitely a lot warmer. Even wearing the 501s as a result, had a massive fitting session with them over the weekend pulling out some summer clothes and they're great with a lot of things and I love how they look with my new IM trainers (rest of the outfit APC VPC t-shirt and my newest Dries blazer, plus giant silk woven scarf).
Overina, I keep meaning to flag this up before the influencers are all paid to tell you about it, there's a new UK based shopping service called Endource, basically you can order a boatload of clothes from most major retailers and a small fee is charged (though not clear how much, I assume it's a %) and you only get charged what you keep. Don't know if I'd use it for normal shopping but if you're looking to try a lot of things all at once it's an accessible way to do it without fronting everything up front, especially if you need different sizes.
Also WRT to the shirts discussion, in your case I'd be looking for a t-blouse which has princess seaming that makes for a good vertical line across the body and draws the eye up and gives the impression of a bit more roundness in the chest area (which can look off if you've got a decent chest). A rounded hem rather than a straight one is also worth looking out for as those tend to sit more flattering. Anne Fontaine should have them in their basic lineup but they're quite spendy.
Edina, it's been awhile but the last time I was in Rome with a group of friends we stayed at a monastery (there's a few in Rome) and it was mostly a compromise between those who refused to stay in anything less than four stars and those who didn't want to waste money and wanted to stay in a youth hostel, but it was surprisingly lovely (and very affordable, think we paid under €40 a night, prices haven't seen to gone up much but it was in winter). It's slightly off the tourist grid and part of the old city walls but it meant the restaurants were a better choice and it was really quiet, and everything else was easy to get to. It's a tad austere but nothing prison like or unpleasant, just sober, rooms were very spacious. We had a beautiful view over the monastery gardens and breakfast was good too which had jams from their gardens. There were lots of young families staying, I think they had special family rooms. The attached church was lovely to visit too, there's also a more famous church nearby but I forgot which one it is.
www.domussessoriana.it/en/
flo and cactus enthusiasm for Rome are making me reconsider if I should give it a go again though. Maybe I've been too harsh on it and should've explored it further and in better weather (it was either ludicrously hot or bitterly cold).
Elle, we did end up with the same skirt 
I'm very fond of mine too, it really is one that sounds horrid on paper but it's absolutely lovely. I liked it best with a grey linen t-shirt and tan sandals, I have to do some more experimenting with it. High heels were not that great but lowish ones were good. I found a pic on my phone when I was unboxing it all, the far left are the very abstract leopard trousers from Philip Lim and the one next to it is the Dries.
Madame, if they can't fix it, or not in a way that looks nice you can always get a rectangle of scrap leather and attach it Margiela style (4 simple stitches at an angle on the corners, usually with a contrasting colour to emphasise the detail).
Proper, I'm not a fan of Nars either (had to giggle a bit at the thought of you putting a mars bar on as blush 
, infant chic, maybe?). I've never tried the BT ones, but it is one of their brands so I always have the idea Space NK pushes those harder. I do like to spend a bit more on blush powders (Surratt are my faves but very expensive) because I like a subtle wash of colour that lasts all day. Some people like the sleek blushes, similar to Nars but I find them a little too intense. Not fussy at all with cream blushers, I have a very nice one from &other stories that's a lip and cheek (though I only ever find these to work well for one or the other on me). I've had good ones from Kiko in the past too, they look like the Nars multiples.
Flo, I prefer a touch of elastane or PE too, but as you say not too much. Only ever do larger % if it's a premium denim brand as it's woven in there in a way that's still stiffish but the high% low price jeans really are a false economy, I think with regular wear they last less than a year. I'm not intending to ever wash my 100% cotton 501s, I'll stick them in the freezer after every few wears and only attempt to wash them if I absolutely have to.
NAP is also really great with delivery and returns and speed of refunding, Elle. I wish their shipping was just a touch lower or at least occasionally free, I'd order more often with them.
I find American non designer sizes off the chart universally, we don't get much of it here but I haven't bought anything from Gap for at least a decade when I used to buy loads there in the late 90s/early 00s, it's all just really big even if it is your size and fitting where it should 