Thursday, April 3, 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! :)

26 comments:

  1. Gilt City coupon for 25% off J. Crew Factory available now! Can be stacked with other promos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Click here for the 25% Gilt City coupon. Thanks for sharing the info, meggs :)

      STOCKUP currently gets 20% off. CARDPERK currently gets 25% off w/your J Crew card. So if you don't have a JC card, this is a way to save 25%. The legalese might be a little misleading. Yes, you can use the promo on promo priced & sale items. I doubt you can use 2 promo codes. They only allow one per transaction.

      Delete
  2. some outfit ideas over at my blog; am looking for all whites/neutral and metallic outfit ideas...any recommendation? Also, how to keep whites white longer without excessive bleaching? Goal is to wear more whites this spring ans summer but I have two pairs and do not look forward to washing after each wear...any tips much appreciated!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Could you use a protectant spray on white pants like you would on shoes? I know people use a protective spray on canvas shoes (Converse, Vans, etc) to keep them clean - perhaps this would work on denim/pants as well.

      Delete
    2. I've been soaking my whites with the OxyClean powder before laundering lately. It's even taken out year old age stains.

      Delete
    3. Agreed on the OxiClean. I use a lot of it in the summer because my white tees and tanks get yellowing in the armpits from deodorant. An overnight soak in OC takes them right out.

      Delete
  3. I visited a store yesterday and noticed some new cuts. I put them at the bottom of this Target post.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Camo sweatshirt(s) on sale, $49.99 (+40% off) instore. Also the striped bow shirt (A2627) is $69.99 instore prior to the additional discount.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for those prices, snowbrdgrl. The striped bow shirt has been marked down for a week and still no tickets on them at my store. Camo was in the sale section, also no sale price tag.

      Delete
    2. hi Gigi, no problem! the white bow shirt was the same price also :)

      Delete
  5. Now that it's finally warming up here in NC, I'm starting to put my winter clothes away. Any tips on storing cashmere and wool sweaters and wool skirts? I have some little cedar blocks, but I'm kind of clueless when it comes to this stuff :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jenny - some suggestions:

      1. Make sure everything is clean before you store it. Hand wash cashmere, dry clean sweaters and skirts. Although this may sound like a huge PITA, moths/carpet beetles are attracted to sweat and skin oils as well as food crumbs on your clothes (ew!).

      2. Store in plastic tubs as opposed to cardboard boxes. I save my JC clear plastic bags that the clothes come in and will store in them, too. I may also try some of those space saver bags that you suck the air out of with a vacuum this year.

      3. Cedar blocks lose their potency over time, which you can 'revive' with a little bit of sandpaper. Some cedar spray or lavender may help, too.

      I hope this is helpful. I lost a huge portion of my sweater collection (including 6 Lands End canvas cashmere long-sleeved tee shirts, some not yet worn...waaaaaaaaaah) to moths last year and have been extremely diligent ever since. It's like having a part-time job, but putting an entire trash bag of merino and cashmere out for the garbage was just painful and I don't want to have to go through that again.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for this info! Last month I found an unworn super 120 wool dress with several small holes in it in my closet. Wasn't sure if it was a fluke or moths. Cleaned out the closet and everything else seemed ok. Washed and dry cleaned all sweaters and wiped down the closet with a vinegar water mixture and put some cedar blocks in the closet. Well this week I found a wool Anthro sweater with about six decent sized holes. Ordered some Safer clothes moth traps to see what I can catch. Long story short I am becoming much more diligent with how I store and clean my clothes as I am worried about further damage.

      Delete
    3. If you have holes from moths, then you need to get rid of any eggs. Place the item in a plastic bag in the freezer for about 3 weeks. That's what I have read on the internet, but never had to do it myself.

      I have a cedar chest and cedar blocks for my other drawers.

      Delete
    4. Hi JessF - in my research, there seemed to be a split on whether or not items will small holes will attract more moths. Some seemed to be against making repairs and just tossing the garment. I'm interested to hear if you catch anything with the moth traps.

      Another thing I read was that if you have any holes in your closet (like screw holes in the wall) they should be filled and patch because moths can live in there, too. The larvae apparently eat dust, too so make sure it's vacuumed out as well.

      Delete
    5. Besides clothes moths, there's also carpet beetles, which are much harder to get rid of, as carpet beetles eat a lot of other things besides woolens/cashmere. Your best bet is to vacuum like crazy and make sure all your woollens are clean before storing. Cedar blocks and other essential oil deterrents are not terribly effective.

      I use the vacuum Space Saver bags to store all my woollens in the off-season, but I make sure to have everything washed and/or dry cleaned before packing into the bags.

      Delete
    6. jenny- I agree with the other ladies- the most important thing is to make sure everything is clean. Everyone will experience this problem at some time. I store my winter wools and cashmere in a cedar closet i had built specifically for storage, but i also wrap my cashmere in acid free tissue paper and store in breathable bags. It's not recommended to store cashmere or wools in plastic. You can store them in canvas bags with cedar and lavender. I know the container store sells fabric storage bags and cotton hanging/dry cleaning bags.

      Delete
    7. Thanks ladies! I appreciate all of the advice! I hope we all avoid the heartbreak that moths and carpet beetles can bring :)

      Delete
    8. i wish i could bookmark this thread. definitely some of the best advice i've ever read on this topic anywhere. i heart JCAs :)

      Delete
    9. Yes, a big thank you for sharing all of this information about storing sweaters and woolens. This will be the first year that I have had to do it, so all the tips will be really wonderful to have! :)

      Delete
  6. Reviews here of the textured dot peplum top, embroidered tunic (long), linen panel tee & new stretch toothpicks in black.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Has anyone bought the white puff sleeve blazer? Is it TTS? Would love a review. I'm between a 4-6 and usually a small in tops at jcrew. Also I am wondering now between it and the new linen one that was on the email today. I am wary on size as they both say something about shrunken fit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi sunny, i posted a review of it HERE and have tried it on twice more since. the sizing felt inconsistent but i would recommend just wearing whatever you would wear w/ the schoolboy. the material is stretchy but i personally don't like feeling constricted in the arms. HTH!

      Delete
    2. Sunny, I tried it on yesterday and loved it. It does have a more fitted/shrunken fit than other J.Crew blazers. I tried on a white linen blazer as well (not sure if it was the same as the one in the email), and the linen blazer had a more relaxed fit. I think it was a bit longer than the puff sleeve blazer as well. I think the blazer is true to size; it's just a matter of whether you prefer a more fitted or relaxed style. If you prefer the relaxed fit, I would go for the linen blazer.

      The fit of the puff sleeve blazer (aside from the puffed shoulders) reminds me a lot of the Aubrey suit jacket J.Crew used to sell. It's a more fitted, shorter jacket, easy to dress up and great for wearing with a skirt.

      The only thing I didn't like about the puff sleeve blazer was the sleeve length - I have long arms, and the sleeves hit just a little too far above my wrist. I didn't buy it for that reason, but if it goes on sale I might buy it and try to get the sleeves lengthened.

      Hope this helps!

      Delete
  8. First, many belated thanks to all who gave me (great!) advice last week--so much appreciated! This week, looking ahead to summer, I'd love tips on how to style my J Crew cutoff denim shorts from last year without looking like a red neck. Maybe because I'm a small town girl, but I was self conscious every time I wore them last summer. Thanks, ladies!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just got the Factory peter pan eyelet tee and didn't realize it wasn't lined and so the eyelet is basically just holes to my skin. Should I just wear a nude bra with it, or a white bra? Will it always need a cami underneath? I know Classy Girls Wear Pearls wore it but I can't tell what she's wearing under it. Thanks in advance!

    xo Kimi

    ReplyDelete

Dear J.Crew Aficionadas & Aficionados: Please feel free (and encouraged) to share your thoughts and opinions. :) However, please note that this is still a personal blog. So comments that are considered inappropriate (e.g. obscene, racist, homophobic, personal attacks, rude, and just plain mean) will be removed.

And now back to J.Crew! :)