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! :)
New free shipping component on the STYLE40 offer. Free shippig on $100. Much more palatable than $175.
ReplyDeleteI was browsing the August Style Guide last night for styling ideas, and I did something new. In the past, I've always dog-eared pages of my catalogs for stuff I WANT ... this time I did it for stuff I already HAVE versions of and looks I can duplicate right now.
ReplyDeleteOf the 83 pages of womens' merch (not bridal or swim), I dog-eared 33 pages. Already. In. My. Closet.
Try it. How many pages are in your closet?
I was doing the same thing. There were plenty of things that are duplicates of earlier items. I'll have to go count....
DeleteI see how this could be totally exhausting if you already own variations of the same item. But I feel like a year ago many JCAs were calling for this -- for items to be released season after season in new colors and such so we could better decide what works best for us! Maybe I'm in the minority here or misrepresenting. I'm actually pleased to see some of their bestsellers coming out slightly refreshed over and over. It allows me to be more discerning in the colors/patterns I choose. Yeah it's lame to see stuff I'd never buy over and over, but it's very nice for the items I do like. :)
DeleteI agree and had the same reaction Ruffles, I love how they styled some of the items that I already own. I think Roxy Turtle that you do represent many of J Crew customers. You know your style, what works for you and having fresh colors, and prints with maybe a new twist will keep you coming back and purchasing. I know that is what draws me back to J Crew month by month, season to season. For me, if J Crew took some of their wonderful prints and made them into a Collection piece, skirt or dress lets say and then into a pencil or aline skirt, in petite, regular and tall and a mini they would make many more customers happy and sell more merchandise. The sale section online and in B&Ms were full of minis on sale with deep discounts but obviously not selling. Also, how many Collection and sequin skirts are required in anyone's wardrobe??? Again not enough since there are so many languishing in the sale section. Just MHO.
DeleteI'm a long time lurker that would love your advice on my wedding dress accessories! I bought the Sara Lace Gown and the Lillian Low Suede Wedges in Lustrous Blue and am wondering if the dress needs some of sash or belt? I'm wearing an amazing vintage Eugene pearl necklace (sort of like this, but a little crazier) and I don't want to look too cluttered. I'd love any thoughts/advice/suggestions!!
ReplyDeleteIt's up to you - I think that the dress, shoes, and necklace are lovely enough to stand on their own, but if you want to incorporate either your wedding colors or the same blue as the shoes into your dress, a simple sash would be very nice. You could also incorporate a jeweled brooch or comb into your headpiece if you're wearing one, or wrap the base of your bouquet in colored ribbon. I saw a picture of a wedding once where the bridesmaids all wore short navy dresses with teal sashes and peacock feather fascinators, and the bride wore the same teal sash and peacock feathers were incorporated into her bouquet. It was a great look.
DeleteHi shannon! That's a great dress and doesn't need additional embellishments if you are wearing that necklace, in my opinion.
DeleteThanks ladies! I am wearing a gold feather brooch in my hair (and my mom's veil for the ceremony!) so you've confirmed my thoughts that I probably don't need anything else!!
DeleteSlightly OT but still about styling: Racked Nat'l is running an article today about Mr. Drexler and 'over the top' styling at J. Crew. The premise of the article is that a journalist's wife sent DL an email excoriating him for taking the brand in the wrong direction, i.e. away from its loyal customer base. Read it here: http://racked.com/archives/2013/07/25/mickey-drexler-says-jcrew-styling-has-strayed-too-far.php
ReplyDeleteI was in the middle of writing that as you posted it! I can't imagine we'll see anything different this fall (isn't it too late to change orders in progress?) But at least he's listening. Supposedly.
DeleteI eyerolled at the implication that J.Crew should go back to being 'aspirational soccer mom.' No. Otherwise the article is great. It's fun seeing J.Crew used editorially in magazines and on fashion blogs, but if that's the customer they're aiming for they're going to do boutique sales. If they want big business sales, they have to cast a wider net. There is a way to marry style and utility. Brands like Zara prove it.
DeleteInteresting how 95% of the comments are about quality...wonder if they will do something about that.
DeleteI'm sure this is already on everyone's radar - in a post on racked.com this morning Mickey Drexler was actually quoted as saying that J.Crew "may be going too far in some of their styling." I nearly fell out of my chair.
ReplyDeletehttp://racked.com/archives/2013/07/25/mickey-drexler-says-jcrew-styling-has-strayed-too-far.php
Looking for n opinion on the chino shorts...I love the 5" and am trying to decide between Rich Scarlet and Chilli...I prefer my red a bit more blue red so I was thinking Scarlet...has anyone seen both?
ReplyDeleteLizT, I am not the best at knowing if it has blue in it, but I have both colors in the 5" chino shorts. The Chili is a brighter red and the Rich Scarlet is a darker red. I think the Rich Scarlet probably has more blue tone. They are both nice colors, but I'm guessing the Rich Scarlet (darker one) is the one you'd like better). Hope someone else chimes in in case I am wrong!
DeleteThanks, you confirmed what I was thinking!
DeleteOK-- you remember those flower ribbon belts or grosgrain ribbon belts? How the heck do you wear them? I wore one with a dress so it was easy to bow it in the back (I would rather not have so much extra ribbon hanging down though) but how about jeans or pants? What a pain with the belt loops each time mother nature calls! I have several and think they are beautiful but pass them by because of potential hassle and extreme laziness. TIA!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have any thoughts about the new schoolboy blazer? Everything I've heard so far is overwhelmingly negative. Does anyone like it? TIA!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I like it alot. The old schoolboy was unwearable for me, even in a tall size, and I am only 5'9". It was too boxy and short. We obviously all have different bodies and opinions, so certainly the new one will not work for some people. I am excited to try it, but it looks suspiciously like a hacking jacket, and I already have a navy one of those, which is gorgeous and will hopefully never need replacing, from 2006.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, I much prefer the new, more streamlined look over the boxier look of last year's schoolboy... but since it is so different, I wonder why they are still calling it by the same name? Why not keep the old, but also introduce a new hacking jacket? Who knows.
Thanks for your response! I'm excited to try it as well. I'm going to my local j. Crew Saturday. I'm going to try to compare my hacking jacket with the length of this new schoolboy. I'm 5'7 so I hope it's a good length for me.
Delete