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! :)
Looks like jcrew's website is down again. What is going on with them?
ReplyDeleteOff topic, but I see that Madewell is no longer participating in Ebates...kinda disappointed to see that.
ReplyDeleteI received my collection leather pant-G0130 in the green olive and love it- it is not bulky, TTS and fits and feels great. The question is for the price would I wear it enough? I would love to hear where and how you might wear it..
ReplyDeleteHonestly this is why I returned mine last year. They were great and I got them for a good price but I would never wear them to work as they would be super out of place, do not frequent bars, could not see wearing them to hang out with friends at someone's house as we often do. Really that left wearing them for the occasional night out and even then if it was with friends I would feel weird. I know it shouldn't matter what others think but it would Just not fit in with my life so I returned them. FWIW I read an article in regards to women's most regretted purchase and leather pants was on it.
DeleteInteresting. I purchased the Ryder leather pants for $200 and I'm still well within the return window on them, but I can't decide whether I will wear them or not. They fit great and look awesome, but I can't imagine where I would wear them. I have the leather front Pixies and I wear those quite a bit, but they are more like leggings than leather pants. They are a bit stretched out now (from 2013).
DeleteI bought a pair of leather leggings/pants this winter (not JC and in black). I really love them both dressed up with heels and a blazer and dressed down with a sweater and flats/sneakers. I basically just substitute them as black pants and don't think about that they are "special leather". They are also much warmer than most of my pants which is great.
DeleteIs the green a versitle color in your wardrobe or could you see black getting more wear?
Thanks Muffin, Blakemdjohns- I picked the olive color as I thought I would have more longevity than the black leather leggings. I was planning to pair with ivory or black lace peplum top (F9783) for a dressier look, black washed moto jacket ( madewell item E0488) for a more casual look
DeleteThose both sound like good ideas! Maybe even a good old chambray shirt standby?
DeleteI don't own leather pants so def no expert in styling them but I think that is a very versatile color. I have a pair of olive pants and I wear them constantly. I think the color also goes well with grey, navy, and burgundy/wine.
DeleteLots of good ideas already shared. Olive is a really nice neutral and there are lots of options. I have a pair by Vince & I've worn them with a Vince long sleeve white tee in a half tuck with Gucci metallic floral sneakers (this shoe is like Vans so anything in that look could work for a casual vibe). I've also paired with J Crew bee tee & most recently with the Paris tee & Collection moto jacket in ash. You could also go for a monochromatic look & pair with a Tippi or cashmere tee. For date night wear a silk camisole with a pair of booties or heels & throw on a jacket (leather, denim) or a long boyfriend cardigan.
DeleteI have a pair of faux leather factory Gigi pants and I love them! I usually dress them down with a chambray shirt or with a striped tee and tennis shoes. I only wear them 2-3 times per year but since they were faux at a great price point, I bit. The ladies above gave great ideas for styling. However, if you're like me and are having doubts about keeping them, that usually means they won't get much use and you'll regret it later (here's looking at you jumpsuit sitting in my closet)
DeleteHi! I just found this page but I've been wearing mine with the Express Portofino in the cream color! But there are so many colors and patterns that would look great! And I love the drapiness of those shirts with the more "edgy" pant
DeleteWhat is your most regrettable J.Crew purchase? JessF's comment about regrettable purchases reminded me of an idea I had for a thread, where we reveal our worst "what was I thinking? purchases. I'll go first! I became a big J.Crew fan through a friend of mine who was a big shopper and bought a lot of her clothes through them. At the time, I was a SAHM with two young kids, and very few wardrobe needs. Yet for some reason, one of my earliest purchases was a cashmere cable HALTER top! You know, a halter top for when you need to be warm and cold at the same time. Honestly, I can't recall why I thought I needed it, but that's easily my most regrettable J.Crew purchase (and no, I don't think I ever wore it).
ReplyDeleteLove this! Mine was the burgundy sweatshirt with side zips. My VPS styled it with a white shirt under and I looked ok but it was too casual for work or dinner and too dressy for lounge. I also had that blue long button up with the sequins on the sides. I could never make that work either and without darts looked sort of sack like. Both got given away.
DeleteA few years ago I wanted a bright pink jacket. Instead of the lady day coat I was considering, I ended up getting one of those boxy lady jackets, in a bright pink with navy trim. (It also came in gray). Well, I wore it once with a white tshirt under it and realized it was so not me. Luckily I sold it. You'd think I'd learn a lesson from that, right? I've bought several other jackets in this same silhouette and always regret them. Yes, I even tried on the current black one with the gold buttons and had to really stop myself from buying it.
DeleteThe funny thing is a have no really regrettable J. Crew purchases. I seem to be able to get things on sale and if I end up not liking them past the return period can sell them at a decent price. The two that stick out are handbags. One was a straw weave type of satchel and the other a leather hobo. I think they were on sale but still pricey. I was just disappointed in the way both held up or I guess I should say did not hold up. I have not purchase another purse from them since. The two most regrettable purchases in my mind are from Anthropologie. There were two dresses I bought at full price. One was one of the many iterations of the Bailey44 column dress. I think I wore it once to dinner but never again. Just too clingy for me but kept holding on to it. I think it is still in my closet. The other one was a print Dress that I may have worn a few times but price per wear was too high. I have always been a sale shopper but went through a period where I could not leave Anthropologie empty handed. Thankfully I am over that now.
DeleteGood question! Off the top of my head, I'd say the neon featherweight cashmere cardis that were on offer in 2012-13. WAY too bright for me. And yet I bought four. :P
Delete@Suz Has, I do the same thing with certain pieces! I used to wear tons of black, and then realized I really don't look that good in it, and got rid of most of it. Yet just yesterday, I was eyeing a moto-style knit jacket in black! Thankfully I was able to conjure up an image of my younger self wearing a similar piece and walked away.
DeleteMine is a white featherweight cashmere sweater I bought on sale a few years ago. It was supposed to be some sort of drapey boyfriend-y fit, but it wasn't flattering on my frame at all. To make matters worse, it pilled super quickly, and my hair dye transferred to the collar (I had crazy blue/purple/green ombre tips at the time).
DeleteOut of all my clothes I hold on to JCrew the longest (I'm wearing a cardigan today I got 10 years ago!) However I've purchased some items from factory that were definitely regrettable. Last summer I bought an eyelet mini and the stitching looked so terrible and off, plus it was a bit too big so it ended up going to the donation bin. I also bought a poly floral dress and wore it a few times but realized the bright pink and blue was too loud for my taste. Plus the fit is so strange that when I raise my arms, the dress goes above my bum bum. I'm sure that will end up in the donation bin as well.... Given my track record with the factory, I've stopped shopping there for the most part. I do have a factory chambray shirt that's amazing and gets a lot of love though.
Delete"Gold" metallic short-sleeved wrap jacket, with garish floral print lining. And sash. Never wore it. No idea whatsoever why I bought it. It was on sale, but still. I've since learned to avert my eyes.
DeleteI still have a bug pin. Never wore it ever but it cracks me up so it stays!
DeleteI still have several pairs of Ceces still new in the box when I went into a panic that they were discontinuing them, and then I went and bought an overpriced Collection colorway from an eBay reseller as well. Of course, J. Crew brought them back, and styles have since moved on to pointed-toe flats, and some of my original Ceces are still holding up well enough that I don't feel justified in breaking out the backups. So that's several hundred dollars worth of shoes collecting dust in my closet, and the resale market just isn't there.
DeleteI still have a bug pin too Ruffles!
Delete@nicole - I agree factory can be hit or miss. I'm lucky and have one close by so I can actually see and examine the pieces before I buy them. I think one of my only regrets was a jumpsuit I bought from them last year. It was horrible and I stupidly removed the tags and wore it once. Rompers/jumpsuits are just not for me.
DeleteMy most regrettable purchases have been few but almost always a "fantasy closet" purchase for a life I don't really have. Sequins, leather pants, fussy styles always look great on someone else and I "think" I will wear it, but those are the items I don't wear and just end up "visiting" in my closet.
Delete@Ruffles, that has been my regrettable items too - fantasy closet items. I have a number of 31/2" heels from years past that I maybe wore once each. I'm just not comfortable in higher heels so they sit in my closet. I learned not to buy them anymore. Also some dressier items (dress, silk tops) that i never wear.
DeleteThe oddest purchase from Jcrew for me was a cashmere hot water bottle from years ago which at the time I regretted (felt I drank the crewlade on that one) but once I needed one I was very happy with it and still have it. :)
I agree with Ruffles. I also generally regret buying items I admire on Insta or blogs on others that end up not being suited to me (at 5'11", it's rare that what looks great on a super petite blogger is also flattering on me). I also tend to not wear items that I purchase because of what a "great deal" they are. Still in the process of putting into action the knowledge that if I wouldn't buy it at full price, I probably don't need it on sale. So hard to resist...
DeleteThanks to all for participating. I am quite guilty of the "fantasy wardrobe" trap, both for party-wear and "must haves" for trips I think I'll take (though sometimes I actually do go!).
DeleteToo funny because when I started reading your idea, that exact or similar purchase came to mind! It was for their holiday rollout in maybe 2001 or 2002, cable knit, beaded, sweater halter top. I'm pretty sure I hid the purchase from my mom and then never wore it. I bet it's still somewhere in my parents' basement. I love this idea for comments!
ReplyDeleteI guess there was a whole series of sweater halter tops! I probably bought mine ~2004-2006, but I can't be sure anymore. I don't think I had cashmere anything at the time, so that was probably one of the things that drew me to it.
DeleteFinal Sale. So many Final Sale purchases... I have learned, to a point. If I'm not confident that it would be worth the trouble of reselling or the cost of donating, I won't buy on Final Sale. As for returnable purchases, I most regret the coats and jackets. The linings always rip on mine, or I don't wear them often enough.
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ReplyDeleteI put this in the seeking thread, but anyone want to sell your Teddie mirrored pant in floral, sz 6? gigiofca at gmail
ReplyDeleteAny tips on the sizing of the sequin party top w/ grosgrain ties? I'm usually a 00/0 petite and was going to order the 00 but I waited too long and now it's sold out :( I'm not sure if a 0 would be too big and boxy.
ReplyDeleteI own it and also have a review with pics on my Ig @inawonderland5
DeleteI am usually a 0 and got the 0 in it,so i would say it is TTS. The fit is slightly short and boxy. I tried it also in a 6 (because thats what we hd in store) and it wasnt huge-ly oversized,so i think you would be ok with thye 0. HTH
Thanks!
DeleteI just ordered it! It's such a special piece and it was selling out quickly so I panicked. So much for me holding out for my rewards card to come...
DeleteOff topic but I just returned the navy leather jacket from Jcrew factory in a size small if anyone is looking for it. It is an awesome jacket but I just decided I couldn't keep it. I returned it to the Jcrew mercantile store in Winston Salem, NC.
ReplyDeleteThis is really stupid, but has anyone seen the COLLECTION THOMAS MASON® FOR J.CREW GINGHAM RUFFLE-FRONT SHIRT? I have a similar NON-RUFFLED gingham tuxedo shirt I wore a lot last summer. I also like the ruffle one with the grosgrain ribbon. The Thomas Mason one is on sale (final sale) but is it stupid to buy a shirt that's almost the same as what I have except that it's got ruffles? Maybe the fact that I ask this question is stupid. I have a pic of the similar one on IG tied at the waist with a Madewell lace skirt, it was one of my favorite summer outfits.
ReplyDelete@wearthislikethis on IG.
DeleteI'm answering my own question. It's also a Thomas Mason and looks identical except for the ruffles, so hello, no, I can't do that.
DeleteI am thinking of purchasing the gingham with ruffle. What do you think of yours without the ruffle?
DeleteThere are two gingham with ruffles. Oneis Thomas Mason and its collarless. The other has that rounded collar and has a grosgrain ribbon which I presume you can remove. It's similar to a blue striped shirt that's on sale now. I really like the Thomas Mason one I currently have without ruffles. The cotton is fairly thick and crisp, it doesn't wrinkle too easily. It can be dressed up or down. I think if memory serves it's a little boxy, but that may be because I have a long narrow torso and broader upper back so I size up in most shirts and blazers. If you're on IG you can see it in the pic I'm referring to. I think tying it at the waist is a cute way to have it feel a little more feminine.
DeleteI should add, I'm keeping my eye on the collared one with the ruffles and the grosgrain ribbon. I think the collar makes it more versatile and can be worn open or closed.
DeleteSuz, this all made me chuckle! Thank you, I needed that today. And it sounds like you came to a good decision.
ReplyDeleteI have dozens of things that all look the same. Actually, I don't mind because I like my closet having parameters, but sometimes it's hard to tell items apart. Black shirts, white shirts, black and white gingham, black (or dark gray) and white stripe...it's no wonder I am a designer. I like everything to "fit."
DeleteOff topic:
ReplyDeleteWonder what happens if I use my rewards to partially pay for an item that is backordered till end of February. Rewards expire Jan 15. Anyone ever successfully order this way?
Shouldn't be an issue. They are very helpful.
DeleteI've used the rewards card to guy a gift card first then buy whatever. It's been a while since I've done it, so not sure if things changed... But I'd try that first of you're really nervous about it being back ordered.
DeleteI've done the GC in the past to but it didn't let me this time.
DeleteEh crud. Sorry. :/
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