Thursday, January 2, 2014

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! :)

29 comments:

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  2. Beaded Chambray boy shirt. I wore it New Years Eve with black jeans and a black Banana Republic short sleeved tee with satin trim under the beaded chambray. I didn't love this outfit, though, it felt very uninspired. I'd love to hear other ways people have worn the beaded chambray boy shirt. I considered black Minnies with a low black heel, but it was too much for where I was going. Please help me figure out how else I can wear this shirt! :)

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    1. I also had a hard time pairing jewelry with this shirt. Any suggestions for jewelry too? Thanks!

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    2. I agree...I love the shirt, however, each time I go to wear, it just doesn't seem to "pop" with anything I put with it...any assistance would be appreciated. :)

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    3. I usually wear mine casual with black skinny jeans and black ballet flats. No jewelry. I wear mine all the time!

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    4. cate - I just wear it like a regular chambray buttondown. You can see it in this pic, nary a bead in sight. I find that they are easily hidden once I start layering. And the beading is a nice surprise when I'm indoors and take jackets, etc off. I had on a stripe tank, the beaded chambray, Loft boiled wool jacket and the Zara blanket scarf. I find the clear crystal necklaces to go the best with the top. HTH

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    5. Thanks Melissa! I think part of why I'm stumped is that I don't feel like I can put anything over it without the jewels snagging. So it's got to stand on its own or go over something, but then it feels too plain (crazy, right? all those jewels on the front and it feels plain?!). I tried it with dark denim and it didn't look right to me. It seems to only look good with skinny black pants. It might look cute with white, but I'm not doing bright white in January and I'm not sure how I'd feel about wearing the jeweled chambray in the spring/summer.

      A Sister Thing (& Melissa!), please post if you find anything else that you like it with!

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    6. Gigi, thanks!! I love the striped top under it, I'll definitely try that. Maybe it's just what I need to make it feel less plain. I like that brown pair of boots with your outfit too. It's unexpected and breaks up all the black/denim (plus it's nice with your scarf).

      So nothing has snagged on the jewels? Im afraid to try a sweater over it. Boiled wool is probably more durable than most things you could layer over it, good choice (don't have any though). But if it had been a Schoolboy, I'd think the lining would tear. I don't have any other jeweled clothing so I don't know quite what to do with it lol.

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    7. How about colored pants like burgundy, dark green, or red? You could also do camo pants. Because a necklace is out, how about lots of bracelets to fancy it up? The excursion vest might be safe against the jewels and would look good as well.

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  3. I recently purchased the Nora calf hair ballet flats and like them but am really wondering if I will get the wear out of them based on the price? I have lots of ballet flats, in many colors and spend at least 6 months in boots. Could you JCAs that have calf hair shoes comment on realistically how much wear you get from yours. TIA.

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    1. Hi JRSConifer - they're not JC, but I have a pair of calf-hair low wedges from Target of all places and I wear them quite a bit, but only in the fall. Here in the NE, I'll likely be in boots until March or April and then go to skimmers or sneakers. I had been considering the calf hair Noras as well as the Madewell calf hair Teddy loafers but ultimately decided I wouldn't be wearing them until next fall, and will probably end up wearing the Target flats anyway. Also, when I searched the Noras here, a JC complained that hers were getting 'bald spots' with minimal wear. Just some food for though - they are very pretty.

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    2. I have tory burch calf hair leopard flats that have lasted for 5 years. I love them! I am extremely careful with them, and try not to wear them for very long periods of time or during inclement weather

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    3. Thanks ladies. Your comments made sense. I am pretty tough on my shoes and with the short wearing season, I will be taking them back. I need to buy clothes/shoes for my lifestyle not my 'imaginary one'.

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  4. Not really a style "question" but more of a slightly OT "thank you" for all the wonderful style tips over the years. I'm taking a BREAK, as other JCAs have eloquently put it - signing off the shopping blogs and shopping sites. Retail "therapy," overshopping, shopping addiction, whatever you call it, I know that I need to re-direct my limited supply of time and energy, and there's no time like the present. Best wishes to all of you CLASSY AND FABULOUS JCAs!

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    1. Take care, ruffles and see you when you return :)

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    2. We'll miss you Ruffles. Sometimes we need your voice of reason. I admire you wanting to step away from the shops! I am trying to back it down a notch but not go cold turkey! Best wishes and happy new year!

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    3. We will miss you Ruffles!!! Take care of yourself and Happy New Year too! :)

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  5. Would love styling ideas for the camo excursion vest. Debating listing mine on ebay, but am loathe to sell it--however, if I don't wear it soon, it will have to go. I love the idea of it with white jeans, but then shoes become an issue for me. Pairing it with blue jeans puts it a bit too close to 'hunter' attire for me, but I'm stumped on other pairings. Minnies would be cute, but the vest wouldn't cover my rear view. TIA for any ideas.

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    1. Maybe a gray denim or a dark blue denim on the bottom? I think the dark blue denim wouldn't look 'hunter' like a lighter or distressed denim might. Maybe a crisp white shirt under it with gray jeans?

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    2. Wendy, some camo quilted vest inspiration here on Polyvore.

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    3. I've seen it paired with stripes (navy/white, black/white) and thought it looked really cute. I agree about trying darker denim ...also try leopard flats, have seen that pattern mix too and thought it looked good!

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    4. Thank y'all! Will try the stripes--hadn't thought of that. Wore it for the first time, ironically, to take the kids to the Monster Truck show-ha :) Appreciate you ladies!

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  6. A few reviews here - jeweled cluster sweater, vintage cap sleeve dot tee & tipped silk tee in diamond tile.

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  7. OT - I am searching for a Wintress puffer in black, size S. Has anyone seen it?

    I have a store search going but so far no luck, and I was told they are backlogged because of the holiday so I'm afraid even if a store has one they will sell it before the search goes through. I was hoping someone might have seen one in their local store. Please help!!

    prettyaddicted@gmail.com

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    1. pretty addicted, call the closest store and ask them to look up inventory. They are usually able to tell you what stores still have the item in stock. Then call the store directly and ask them to do a charge/send. HTH

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    2. Rose - Thanks so much for your help! I found one :) I hope it gets here soon!

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  8. Hi! This is totally off topic, but if any of you are still looking for the bird print blue dress that J Crew had a few months ago in a size 0 I just saw one on www.outnet.com. It's 55% off, too.

    http://www.theoutnet.com/product/340901

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