Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Jenna Lyons' Style Tips in Glamour Magazine

"Thanks!" to ZanyAZ who let us know that J.Crew's Jenna Lyons is featured in the February 2010 issue of Glamour magazine. As a subscriber to the magazine, I was excited to finally get my copy in the mail over the weekend. (I apologize in advance for the quality of the article image, as I had to make-do by using my camera instead of the scanner.) :) Click on the image itself or here, to view the image larger.

Creative Director Jenna Lyons puts together an outfit that features a few items from our favorite retailer. The look includes the yet-to-be-released J.Crew Collection Sequined Tank (for a whopping $595!)

Jenna also provides some styling tips, which are listed below:
My Rules Right Now
By Jenna Lyons

No 1. Pair opposites together. Don't be afraid of sequins with jeans, or your boyfriend shirt over a sexy tank.
No 2. Never leave home without something "tomboy," whether it's an oxford shirt or a classic blazer.
No 3. For a fresh and unexpected styling touch, wear a statement necklace outside your shirt collar.
No 4. Make sure to incorporate several different textures into your look. For winter, ribbed tights are an easy answer.
No 5. Don't compromise on fit— no matter what you wear.
The outfit is cute, but is just me or does it have an age limit & location constraint for pulling it off? I do like the idea of pairing the sparkly top with a classic button-down shirt. {cute!} However, I am over the tights-with-open-toe-heels look. As for the advice, I agree with the general directions she offers.

What are your thoughts on the outfit Jenna put together? Do you like the style or pieces used? Do you agree or disagree with Jenna's "rules" for "right now"?

37 comments:

  1. Since I'm allergic to metal, I always wear costume jewelry outside my shirt. Who knew I was on the cutting edge?

    As for the sparkly tank over the shirt, I wouldn't do it but it probably looks great on others.

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  2. i love all those pieces individually but together it seems a little much. let's just say i'd have to be extremely confident to walk out my front door wearing that outfit :)

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  3. These rules sound perfect for my 16 year old niece. This look is straight off the Forever 21 window display - not a bad thing, but the whole look is just a bit too trendy for me.

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  4. It is a look for a younger demographic, not many people can pull off the shorts paired with leggings and look professional. How can the younger age group afford the pricey tank?

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  5. Has Jenna given up? Seems like another direction-less season, competing with nothing worthwhile out there...sad.

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  6. the northwest is pretty casual...i can see pairing the sparkly tank with dark jeans (skinny or boot leg) for a dinner party or clubbing, but can't grasp the "I grabbed the first 5 things that caught my eye" look... very, very young and not in a good way. unless you're a trust fund baby (the gossip girl demographic?) who can get away with this (satorially and financially speaking)?

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  7. Thanks for posting that Alexis! :)

    By "don't compromise on fit", Jenna means "make sure it fits well no matter what"? I tried on 2 "loose fit" shirts in my local store (stripe cotton popover and Selvedge chambray) in XS and they looked absolutely tent-ish on me. They look great on models online, maybe I should consider using pins like they do it in stores? (still can't forget the "JCrew pinning habit" post).

    Anywho, have a great week Alexis! :)

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  9. BTW: Jenna should try try something different for a change-promoting her own looks (i.e. "feminine pieces" + boyfriend style pieces+ statement jewelry) is getting a bit old in my opinion. Yawn.

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  10. Sorry it's OT but a few of the girls on the new Bobbi Brown Cosmetics Pretty Powerful campaign are wearing J Crew baubles! They look great!

    http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com/prettypowerful/gallery.tmpl#

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  11. FREE SHIPPING on $150+ with code SW87B5, (supposedly) valid until 1.18.10 .

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  12. Ugh, I'm being insomniac tonight and noticed that there were updates, and just placed two separate orders (one for the perfect pencil, yay!) like a fool, BEFORE doing a little googling and happening upon the following free ship code: SW87B5. Says it's for orders over $150 and expires 1/18/10. I just tried it on a mock cart and it seems to work. I should have listened to your prediction Alexis -- turns out your magic ball was right!

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  13. Sharon, I agree! I love the pieces individually but together? Noooo.

    I have been checking out youlookfab.com for some excellent style advice that is very modern and fresh, but also realistic. There are frequent JC mentions, too. I am still a Jenna fan, but I can't relate to some of what she puts out there ...

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  14. I am totally on board with all those tips ... just not all at one time! :-)

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  15. I saw this article/page in my Glamour yesterday. I didn't think much of it.....

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  16. The sequined tank is a "happy price" at $500? As my mother is fond of saying "what are they smoking"? She's in her 80's lol!
    I adore my Loft sequined tanks at under $50; thanks to gigi and FFM for the heads up on that one!

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  17. Too many trends mashed together does not make a stylish look IMO.

    Layered necklaces *and* sequins? With shorts and tights with strappy heels? For day wear? People would think I got dressed in the dark.

    I don't think I will ever be able to get into sequins for day wear. It just seems like a cry for attention and inappropriate. At least in the conservative city where I live. No offense to anyone out there who wears the trend. JMHO.

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  18. Sorry, I guess that is a skirt. I read casual-crew's comment about shorts and jumped to a conclusion without blowing up the pic. The pleats made me think shorts for some reason too. Pretty nondescript piece, actually. Not worth $71 to me.

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  19. JCrew, Can you use a different word other than 'Boyfriend' starting this new year ?

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  20. I'm agreeing in general with everyone's topix- the rules are good, taken in stride.

    What I really wanted for spring was a fresh look that made me run to order, not walk.

    Are there really that many girls/women out there that are still looking to extend this trend?

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  21. I'm all for clothing that can transition, but this look is on the verge of becoming the mullet of JC, business on the bottom layer, party on the top! The reason younger kids "get away" with this type of look is the leeway they're given for not knowing how to dress yet.

    For some reason, I don't mind peep toes with tights but can't abide tights with such open backed shoes.
    As far as wearing necklaces over your shirt: Where does Jenna think those big honking things are being worn already? Noone I know wears necklaces underneath unless it's the kind you don't take off ever, like a small pendant on a thin chain.

    Sorry for the snark, but maybe I'm having my "hey kids get off my lawn" moment this morning. Or make that a "hey Jenna get off this trend" moment...

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  22. I think the necklace under the all the way buttoned up collared shirt makes it look like you are wearing a bolo tie--ick! I have noticed this seems to be their new styling trend for spring. Fall was booties with pastel or neon ankle socks!

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  23. IDK why but I just think it's kind of weird that she's hawking other products...of course she threw in a few J.Crew/Madewell pieces, but those other items are similar to some J.Crew pieces.

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  25. The sequined tank over an oxford shirt is absurd, I don't care how old you are. Gotta agree with Sandy -- this is a ridiculous look unless you happen to be a trust fund baby. It's not exactly fashion-forward, it's a cute-ish mess that works on the 13-to-17 age group. And the only reason it would work is because the world doesn't really take a 14-yo who looks like she's testing out her kooky style that seriously.

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  26. CheesyGoodness- You crack me up.

    Casey- I think GLAMOUR mag. invited Jenna into their "closet" and she was asked to use what they had to mix and match various pieces from different brands for their readers. Interesting concept- something a lot of smart JCAs are doing already. I wish I had the time!

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  27. @Crew Cricket: thanks for the clarification. Of course she had to throw in that insanely ridiculous sequin..thing :)
    And you're right. I LOVE some of the outfits that real life girls create on polyvore instead. You know, something we would actually wear out in public...

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  28. This outfit is a hot mess.

    I will not succumb to drinking Jenna’s Crewlade.

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  29. For once, I actually agree with Jenna on the style tips. They all sound good to me.

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  30. If I showed up anywhere in this outfit, people would stop, point and laugh, and I could under no circumstance begrudge them :-D

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  31. Never leave home without something tomboy? I don't agree with that one. Ms. Lyons seems to be stuck on her private school uniform w/the short skirts & tights. Let's make a deal. I won't wear teetering platforms as a shortie if she will start lengthening the hem on those ultra minis. I *do* agree about adding texture to an outfit. Or as Stacy & Clinton say -> color, pattern, texture, shine. Those are things to consider when creating an outfit.

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  32. Jenna's distilled chic of equal parts Maria Callas, Lauren Hutton, and Slim Keith when taken too literally can make one look like the crazy cat lady.

    You can take one or two of Jenna's rules and make them your own.

    That said my local J Crew pusher said the new collection will be in stores on Jan. 25.

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  33. I don't like the outfit, but have nothing against the individual pieces...except for the insanely pricey sequin tank. The tips sound fine, but I think the tomboyish/boyfriend stuff is too specific and is just so deeply ingrained in Jenna that she can't get too far without mentioning it. I don't these tips are anything new or interesting.

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  34. OT, but somewhat related -- hilarious posting on the January JC catalog from Jezebel. com:

    http://tinyurl.com/yd9maxf

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  35. audball - That is funny! I read all the captions w/the pics + the reader comments. *lol*

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  36. Hate it. Jenna is a menace. No one could pull that off. Whre has the classic, good styling of JCrew gone? They are losing me with this kind of stuff. The glittery hot pants in the latest catalog was gasp-worthy.

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  37. I like the look! But really unless I'm stepping onto a runway or the gossip girl set I just couldn't do it! I could put it on and look in the mirror and think of how fun and fabulous I look but no way would I (or should I really) have the courage to wear it in public. This would be perfect for a J.Crew catalog but elsewhere this has no place. I basically agree with her advice but it is quite old, yes we know boyfriend is a trend and has been! None the less I still love J.Crew.

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