Thursday, February 16, 2012

JCA "Help Style Me!" Weekly Post

This is the weekly "Help Style Me!" post, where we can share items we are having trouble putting outfits together with. Elaine (in this post) says it best, "You know, that thing you bought because you love it and you keep pulling it out and then putting it away without wearing it?"

Please share your J.Crew item (either that you own or are thinking about getting) that you would love help creating an outfit with.

Also, please help out by offering your styling advice. Feel free to include links to your blog (where you incorporated that piece) or to Polyvore (where you showcased an outfit with that piece). Thanks in advance! :)

56 comments:

  1. OT but I have a preview of the next rollout HERE

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  2. I bought the flair skirt in plaid and the blackwatch plaid skirt, but I have yet to wear them! Anyone have tips on what to pair these with for casual days?

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  3. ajc, I tried that orange dress. Pics on my blog.

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  4. Grace - think I might have overdone the hearts lately but I was thinking of wearing the navy heart me sweater with my blackwatch plaid skirt.

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  5. Grace, a great way to "casual down" a skirt is to wear a chambray or denim shirt. Roll up the sleeves, add a belt and boots. You could also do a turtleneck and boots. Depending how heavy that wool is (I've never seen these skirts in person), maybe a tee and oxfords or something similar.

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  6. Any ideas on how to wear the No.2 pencil skirt in double serge wool in neon azalea. I've been wearing mine with navy prints (stripes, dots). Any other ideas?

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  7. D*ska, I second that. I just got the skirt 2 days ago and yeoooowww, even for me, it's a LOT of color. How to tone it down a bit, other than black on top? Any suggestions of any prints from recent years that could be worn with it so it's not just solids?

    Also, would love to hear from folks about what they wear with a leopard Tippi. I love, love, love the sweater, but I want to mix it up a bit.

    Also, poo on the Crew for waiting a few days into the promo to lower the FS min to $100. Wish it had been that way from the get-go.

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  8. Uh oh - just ordered that same skirt!

    Will be watching with interest

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  9. The Leopard Print Pencil. I just ordered it with the 30% off because I've wanted it since it first appeared. And yet, I'm stumped when it comes to styling? What colors besides the basic black and white would stand out with it? Any help would be appreciated:)

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  10. Re: neon azalea pencil skirt. Pink and gray is one of my favorite color combos and I just wore it on Valentine's day actually, just not J.Crew.

    I recently wore the neon azalea pencil with a gray grandpa cardi over a light gray tee and gray tights/shoes. Gray tones it down enough for my conservative office.

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  11. I just bought the Factory herringbone button-front skirt in Charcoal and have yet to find a wear to wear it...help!

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  12. thank you @xoxo, that sounds like a great combo. i will def try it out tonight. I even have a gray striped sweater tee that would work (I love stripes).

    *third attempt to enter right verification code. Ugh

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  13. Lauren S., the leopard print skirt goes really well with orange and scarlet (what J. Crew has been calling "modern red" and "vibrant flame"), but it's a very attention-getting look that may not be for everyone. I also pair mine with a chambray shirt for a more subdued look.

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  14. I totally grabbed the No. 2 Pencil Skirt in neon azalea as well...lol Looks like we'll all need to share our styling ideas!

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  15. ajc... CRAP! the new rollout is awesome! the polka dots galore! apple print shorts! so much for saving money.

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  16. Lauren, that's the reason I pulled back on the leopard skirt at the last minute. I know it would pair well with a bright, plain top, or black, or a chambray button-down, but that's where my imagination ran out. Some people can pull off mixing patterns, but I'm not one of 'em!

    I like the idea of pink and gray, so I will have to give that a go. Thanks xoxo!

    Yes, what's going on w/word verification? The old way was much easier, urgh.

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  17. Miss JR: You had the exact same reaction as me: CRAP! Polka dots a-plenty--LOVE IT!!!

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  18. Does anyone own the Martha bracelet? I'm about thisclose to pulling the trigger on it, but I'd love to see some pictures of someone wearing it or really any picture other than the one on the J Crew website.

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  19. Lauren S., I totally agree with Louise@ Cosmetic Bee. I wore my Leopard Pencil Skirt with the Vibrant Flame Tippi Sweater with a white perfect stretch shirt under the sweater. I have IRL pics of the outfit on my blog. HTH!

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  20. Re: neon azalea pencil:

    Planning to wear mine tomorrow (if it actually is in the box that is being delivered today, ha!) with gray cashmere blouse, gray tights, and black shoes. I am with xoxo; I LOVE gray and pink. Black would also work. Do you have any graphic black and white tops? The novo stripe wrap top (which is gray and cream) comes to mind, and there were some merino cardigans from a couple years ago with a black and white print.

    Here are some Polyvore sets:

    With gray blouse/black shoes
    With novo top and oxford flats

    I think it would also look very nice with camel.

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  21. Oh, and the sunshine peony cardi looks like a nice match too! Here is a set with that pairing.

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  22. Elaine, I made a set for you with some prints from the last few years that I think could be worn with the neon azalea. Even if you don't have those particular items it could be a source for ideas!

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  23. Lauren S, I would wear that skirt with the vibrant flame Tippi sweater. They look good together.

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  24. I've seen pink skirts paired with chambray skirts and a bright yellow belt in stores and thought they looked great.

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  25. I know it's predictable to pair it with black, but this outfit with the neon azalea pencil skirt is gorgeous. You get some unexpected pops of fun from the necklace and tights.

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  26. Just got the Tippi Leopard print sweater, now have no idea how to style. Any help would be greatly appreciated !!

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  27. Hi all! So I know this is sliiightly OT but I had a question. I bought the Factory double serge pencil skirt in neon rose but now I'm tempted by the neon azalea!! Does anyone have an opinion on which is the better option/more wearable?

    The factory one is returnable, though the neon azalea wouldn't be...

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  29. Bee29, a bottom (pants or skirt) in vibrant flame or maraschino cherry would work great with that sweater - so practically the opposite of what suggestions above were for the skirt in that print.

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  31. Sorry this is really OT but I was just reading the MSN article on 5 retailers shuttering stores and among the ones that are closing some of their stores are GAP, Talbots, and Abercrombie & Fitch outlets. Apparently Macys and JC Penny are treading water. I was surprised to see Talbots, as I thought their aim at drawing younger women was working, but guess not.
    Yes, we complain about their poor quality and inconsistent pricing, but I still buy J Crew and guess have kept them going in a way.

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  32. Thanks J.CrewJD, you are too kind! If I could live up to half the potential of all the individual pieces of my closet, I would be the envy of all those around me ... luckily I have y'all to help! :D I will try on some of those combos tonight; the Sunshine Peonies cardi never even occurred to me. Wheeeee! :D

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  33. thanks Rose, I linked up to your blog

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  34. Here is a collection I put together for the neon azalea skirt. (sorry don't know how to hyperlink, I'm lame)

    http://www.polyvore.com/neon_azalea_pencil_skirt/collection?id=1222548
    I personally like it with black best. :-)

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  35. @ajc, love the sneak peek shots. I guess dots are the new stripes but there looks like there is a lot to love. sigh. never good for my wallet or budget. :-)

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  36. Newer cuts in the sale section are at the top of this post. If there are links to irl pics, you can find them listed later on in the section they fall under, i.e. sweaters, outerwear, etc... I cannot believe the fanfare jacket and cardigan are on sale already.

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  37. Also just bit on the neon azalea pencil skirt--I think taupe would also look good with it, and perhaps pale yellow, although then it might go a little Lilly Pulitzer on me.

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  38. A colour to wear under the winter floral cardigan? I am tired of white and grey!

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  39. MommysShopping Again, and anyone else who doesn't know how to create hyperlinks, there is a quick and simple tutorial available HERE.

    HTH

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  40. OT, and sorry if everybody knows it but I just noticed today that Valentina pumps in brown leopard are on sale. With the 30% they come up to $90, close to the $100 FS min. I finally used my rewards card on them, final sale, I know, but I tried them on in store. I added Poppy King lipstick that I wanted anyway to get FS.

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  41. Lauren S.: I wore the leopard print skirt with a bright red top and tamed it a bit with the black herringbone bella.
    The polyvore is here
    , and there is a link in that polyvore to IRL photos of me wearing it (links to my blog). HTH. I love it with red/black, but I may try dressing it down this summer with a casual, slouchy tee and flat sandals.

    xoxo, I tried to use the html coding from the page you suggested. If it doesn't work, I am officially unable to do this. LOL. If it does, wonderful! So thank you!

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  42. xoxo! IT WORKED! Yes! Thank you again!

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  43. dinagideon, rynetta and Louise, thank you so, so much. Your ideas really helped me out and made me excited to get the skirt :)

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  44. Also, Rose, thanks for the tip about the Tippi! :)

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  45. I'm so sorry to repost, but y'all seem the most knowledgeable!

    What is the difference between the Factory Neon Rose skirt and the Double Serge Neon Azalea? Is it a big color difference? Or fit difference?

    I have the neon rose and am so tempted by this current sale but I don't know if I should buy the neon azalea....

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  46. Hi nzz, here is my take on the two skirts. The factory one you already have is very different from the neon azalea retail one one, which is thick wool, lined, and longer. It is a very vibrant true pink, totally different from the coral-ish color of the neon rose. In my mind they are very different and would be worn with completely different things... and in different seasons. I hope that helps.

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  47. nzz2101, I could be wrong, but based on my very quick observation of the factory skirt you mentioned, I believe the factory one has more of a reddish/orange-ish undertone, whereas the neon azalea is a very bright, clear, true pink. I hope that helps!

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  48. Can anyone comment on the sizing and fit of the silk pleat skirt in crimson floral? Does it run small in the waist or TTS? TIA!!

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  49. Jruby28 - Pics of the silk crimson skirt in this post. I felt it runs tts. There are links to A Bigger Closer & Shop With M in the post.

    Just put up pics of the fanfare jacket in this post.

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  50. WMM, you could pick up the yellow/beige/gold? in the Winter Floral Cardigan.

    I made this Polyvore set for you.

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  51. Here's a suggestion that takes care of two items on this thread, how about the leopard tippi with the neon azalea skirt? And I can imagine the neon azalea being substituted for each of these outfits in this set.

    Agh! I can't figure out what my words for verfication really are ...

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  52. verification ...

    Oh and Jruby18, I mentioned but didn't post a pic on my blog but do NOT believe the description the silk pleat skirt in crimson floral falls below the knee, it comes to the top of my knee caps and I'm short by most standards.

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  53. Thanks Gigi and TiffanyRose!! Wow, I think the skirt looks good on everyone. But TiffanyRose, I see what you mean about the length. I think I'm going to pass b/c I'm unsure of the fit issue. I usually need to size up on flared skirts and w/o trying this one on, I could end up stuck.

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  54. Hi Dina, glad it worked for you!

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  55. I have had the blackwatch no. 2 pencil sitting at the back of my closet since last fall bc I could never figure out how to style it... any ideas on a fun outfit before I have to stash it away for next fall/winter?

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