Thursday, May 25, 2017

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! :)

28 comments:

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  2. I would like advice on where to find shorter cardigans that work for pencil skirts and sheath dresses. I find the Jackie cardigans a little too long for this purpose given that I am only 5 ft tall. The collection featherweight cashmere cardigans are a little better since they are more cropped and they were becoming my "go to", but then I got a Tilly cardigan C2588 on pop back just over a year ago. I've read all about the much maligned Tilly sweater, but I missed it since I was on an off cycle with J Crew so I don't know how similar the Tilly sweater and cardigan are too each other. The Tilly cardigan is a bit thin but I am finding the proportions really suit pencil skirts and sheath dresses for me.

    From everything I hear about Boden I suspect if I lived in the US I would be able to find similar cardigans there, but sadly, no Bodens in Canada. Any suggestions for reasonably priced shorter cardigans similar to the Tilly cardigan?

    Thank you.

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    1. Cropped lightweight cardigan sweater - believe this is a new sweater from J Crew. @inawonderland5 reviewed it on her IG.

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    2. I was also going to suggest the newly released cropped lightweight cardigan. I have one, and love it.

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    3. I remember when J.Crew used to make a "dress cardigan" (not sure what proper name) that was specifically designed to be worn over dresses. I think it only came in a few basic colours. I wonder if that's what morphed into the Tilly? I have a few cropped cardigans that I've picked up over the years at Old Navy (I don't wear them too often so the quality has been fine for my needs), and I have a few from the Gap as well, but they don't carry that shape consistently from year to year. I'm 5'9", so for me the issue is finding one that's cropped, but not *too* cropped.

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    4. Hi shopgrrrl - it was "Jenna's Cardigan" (24712), which interestingly still has a picture and a review from 2016! I think this may have been an '09-'10 item.

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    5. That's it! You've got a good memory silver_lining! I can't believe it's still up there, and even more interesting that someone chose to review it last year -- maybe they caught one of those years old popbacks that we've heard about here on JCA? Someone had a 7-yr old popback recently, so I think anything is possible.

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    6. Yes I thought of the Jenna Cardigan right away when I read this. I have it, one of the first things I bought at the beginning of my J. Crew binge era.

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  3. Boden has a website and you can order on line. I have a couple of their cropped cardigans that I wear with skirts and dresses. They are having a 30% off sale currently and the website has a clearance section. There are no Boden stores anywhere around me I order online.

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  4. I tried on the tie waist short in cotton poplin again and my biggest issue with them is the bow. I am going to have to go to you tube to figure out how to tie it, or I'm going to wrap it around my waist and just tie a knot in front. I also ordered a size up yesterday when they became available. They sit right at my true waist (which they're supposed to but it's a very high rise.

    Of course now they're 30% off so I will need to get a price adjustment.

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  5. I stopped in at lunchtime to pick up a pair of the Beaded Orb Earrings. Perfection! Excluded from promo but worth FP, and I don't say that often!

    I keep seeing the quote from Mickey that J. Crew's woes are due to the brand becoming too "elitist." Feels like he is throwing shade at Jenna. I am devastated that his "solution" is to lower prices but make the brand "friendlier, approachable, and democratic." We don't need another Gap nor another fast fashion bottom feeder. That is just the absolute wrong direction for me, anyway.

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    1. agree ruffles...I like what Jenna did to the brand...I don't need another boring trusty cheap brand of basics..I think J. Crew prices are high but fine on sale.

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    2. please don't forget the quality issues.

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    3. Agree Ruffles! I want quality and intersting fashion. Jenna made the brand interesting. Basics I can get anywhere. You can't make a brand for everyone- I suppose that makes me elitist! LOL!

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    4. Count me in on the fight to keep Jcrew a little more high end than your usual mall brand. The factory/merchantile side can appeal to the fast fashion crowd and Jcrew can stay as is (or better) if I get a vote.

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    5. This is making me feel like I should give up hope. We don't need another fast fashion retailer. I admit the starting price points have recently come down but so has the quality. This is not the direction I was hoping for at all.

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    6. WFF, my fear is that reading between the lines, he is saying they are throwing in the towel on improving quality and just lowering prices to "match" the quality perceptions. I hope I'm wrong.

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  6. OT but does anyone have the Resort Dot Dress (item E8825)? Any advice on how it wears/fits would be helpful. I'm looking for a more casual, breezy maxi style that's functional for a mom of two young kids but not frumpy. Thanks!

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  7. My Coach loafers finally arrived and I'm looking for some advice to get my geek chic on. I paired them with my new Maddie pants and feel like I'm showing just the right amount of ankle, but I'm not sure what to wear on top. I tried a Liberty print shirt untucked with a button-up cardi over it, but it looked kind of frumpy (perhaps the cardi was too fitted?). I switched to a looser, longer open cardi and that seemed to balance things a bit better. Any suggestions for other blouse/shirt/sweater/cardi combos to try? I don't have anything in the way of blazers right now.

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    1. Which loafers? I don't remember!

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    2. I love a slouchy vneck sweater with a slim pant. Maybe in a girly color to balance out the masculine style.

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    3. @Suz They're Coach Indie loafers in Oxblood, very manly (my feet look huge!)
      @ShoppingCelle thanks, I was thinking of that but yes, concerned about being too masculine, but I'll try with a bright shirt underneath

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    4. Did you try them with a straight leg jean, cuffed? I know it's simple but that and a white or light button down would be classic. You could add a more whimsical belt or fun jewelry to balance it out.

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    5. Thanks,Suz! Yes, they look great with my straight jeans. I'm hoping to wear them mostly for work with the Maddies.

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  8. Speaking of shoes, I've been looking for a sneaker ish shoe I can wear walking around this summer. I'm not a casual sneaker wearer usually, but our last few weekends away, walking through cities, in warmer weather, I prefer to have a closed shoe option for walking distances.

    I know the white sneaker trend is big but I can't see it on myself, I considered a pair of vans or seavees but now I'm thinking of an espadrille sneaker. (Tried the JCrew laceup ones and they were a bit weird on my feet). I found the Sam Edelman Kavi and was considering either color from Nordstrom, (maybe even the white) but then I found the black as well. I'm assuming I'd be wearing them with jeans, black shorts, maybe a black skirt, possibly white or other color shorts (but definitely black).

    What do we think would work better? (I do also have a pair of rubber soles brogues in white leather that is making me lean towards the black.)

    http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sam-edelman-kavi-sneaker-women/4522472

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    1. Those are cute. I bought the canvas tretorn from j crew several years ago. You might think about them. Have held up well and not clunky. Good for lots of walking. The navy goes with a lot of my wardrobe. I'm thinking about getting the white. I wear regular sneakers for lots of walking even though not cute.

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    2. I opted for the black. If I like them I might try the other colors. I've worn my cute sauconys (black/red or gray) but I wanted something that looked better with regular clothes.

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    3. The Kavi is very cute, good find! I like both colours, but the black will look nicer longer.

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