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! :)
Hello fellow JCAs...
ReplyDeleteI would like to get some input regarding past seasons' trendy clothing.
I am currently doing my fall closet change, and I find that I come across this issue every change of season. I have accumulated a decent amount of clothing, (yes, mostly from J.Crew) and I have many pieces that I still adore but never wear. Reason being that I feel "dated" whenever I put it on. For example, I have many pieces from the ruffle extravaganza season, when everything was covered in ruffles. I still have and love the ruffle cardigan that is featured in the "looking to love" post on this blog. The pieces are well made and still look beautiful. There's no doubt that if ruffles were "in" again, I would be grabbing for these items in my closet. But for the past few years, I keep putting them back and they have seen no daylight. Am I being too keen and sensitive to trends? Is it time to let these pieces go to people who will appreciate them more? Or should I keep them and embrace the items for their beauty (and forget trends! Wear them!)?
How many of you still keep trendy pieces from the past? Do you still wear them? I'd love to hear how people are wearing their ruffle pieces....I own an embarrassing amount that never gets worn :(
Hi jeanbug - I think this question is worthy of its own post! : ) I'm interested to hear what others think.
DeleteThis is a great question as I've also been doing a bit of a closet clean out and have had trouble letting certain items go. For work/weekend wear, if I go two full season rotations without wearing something...I try to let it go (as in two full falls/winters, etc. with no wear). When I think of the items that I have kept year after year (that still fit of course) they are often a mix of trendy and classic - which really, is originally what drew me to J.Crew so many years ago. A tweed jacket perhaps with a small ruffle detail - I have and still wear blazers from 07/08 with these details - personally, if I still like it, I'm still wearing it. I may be wearing it with a different blouse or pants or shoes depending on other trends. Some of my ruffle neck/sleeve blouses I've parted ways with but some of my other ruffle trim stuff I've kept. But on the pencil skirt end - I have all colors and patterns and those get consistent wear. Same with blazers for the most part. I even pull out and wear my older printed cafe capris - they may not be longer and slimmer cut than recent styles, I love the patterns so I still wear them. So I'm not sure I have an exact science, but personally if I still like it and feel comfortable wearing it, I'm still wearing it.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanbug, I've seen lots of ruffles in the fall magazines this year. I agree with Anne, keep wearing them till you don't feel good in them. YOU set the tone with your confidence in what your wearing - who knows others might be digging their ruffles out from past years because they looked so great on you! I ended up buying the current silk ruffle blouse in purple - I wear it and love it!
ReplyDeleteAs I get older I worry less about what is on trend and more about what I like personally. I love ruffles and adornments and still wear all of that stuff even though it's not instyle. I like Anne's strategy and follow the same.
ReplyDeleteJust like liztriden, the older I get the less I worry about what is on trend. I now wear more of what I personally like, as well as what works for my body type (most of the time at least), instead of what's 'in' at the time. I agree with Anne's strategy, and say if you still like all of the ruffled pieces, then wear them. :)
ReplyDeleteI've posted my OOTD pics on Instagram this week, so I have a few styling ideas for several J.Crew and Madewell items. They include the tomboy workshirt and outbound jacket from Madewell, cashmere getaway hoodie and boyfriend fatigue jacket from J.Crew, as well as a couple other items from both retailers. You can see my instagram pics here.
ReplyDeleteMy instagram id is: @allthingssimplified.
DeleteI think it depends on the trend and also on your personal style. There are trends that really scream "last year" and other ones that make it into fashion staples. In the first category I would put the hi-lo hem trend (for skirt or dresses); in the other one, things like platforms or gladiators. There was an interesting article in the WSJ a few weeks ago that basically when you buy into the current 60s revival you are buying investment pieces because it is a decade that will never feel "dated", it has a fashion appeal no matter what the current latest trend might be and it will come back over and over. For me there are trends that marry your personal style and you shouldn't be afraid of wearing even if passe. The ruffles dilemma is one of these. If your style is a bit girly - frilly you probably feel good when you see yourself wearing a ruffled thing, so you should keep them and wear them. My personal style gravitate less towards the feminine so the ruffles don't speak to me any longer, but for me a stud will never feel dated, no matter if retailers are still putting them on bags and shoes or not. Hope it helps!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Ema. I agree that some things will feel more dated than others... when talking to a JC SA a couple weeks ago we were talking about the overwhelming 90's influence and she remarked that it was like they brought back all the worst things from the 90's. Ha!
DeleteI bought a few JC ruffled pieces back in 2008-09 and got rid of all of them. However, ruffles were never my style to begin with. Now I try not to let those unflattering (to me) items into my closet in the first place, no matter how trendy they are. Jeanbug, if you love them, keep them!
OT -- this should go to vent... But I wonder will the factory novelty quilted vest/herringbone vest ever ever ever on promotion? It is now backorder to December ...
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for chiming in!
ReplyDeleteSometimes it just clears the fog in my head when I hear opinions of others. Certainly it has helped this time! I agree with all of you...some trends can last a lifetime and some don't. I just have to figure out which suits my style, and enjoy it regardless of trend. Initially I had thought I was just following trends, but upon reading Ema's comment, I realize now that my style has actually evolved. Yes, I used to like dressing girly with ruffles, sequins and a bohemian vibe. But now I like to keep things simple with a twist. Clean lines with accent pieces. I have outgrown my old self, and as much as I want to hold onto my past, perhaps it's time to let some things go. Lol. I guess my closet needs to evolve with me. That being said, you all have inspired me to start shopping my closet more. I'm not very creative and I rely heavily on blogs, mannequins, and the style guide (gasp!) to put together outfit ideas. But if I try harder I might find an old piece that I can work into my current style...yes, even ruffles! As pix*see style said, I might make someone want to dig out their old ruffles too!
Thank you ladies. So helpful :-)
A few more styling ideas in this post. :)
ReplyDelete