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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Tips {from a J.Crew Personal Stylist}


"Thanks!" to Cate who shared the following post from Babble (click here to check it out in its entirety):
Tips From a J.Crew Personal Stylist
Posted By Mara Kofoed
August 30th, 2012

I’ve had the opportunity to get to know a woman who was a Personal Stylist at J.Crew in New York.  Her name is Marina Dobreva and she is AMAZING.  One of the best I’ve seen.  (See some of her fashion philosophies here.) Have you guys ever used one of those in-house stylists?  I usually have just ignored those services, but one day I got some help from Marina and realized that it really was a great resource.  And then later, Marina actually taught a class I organized for a group of women in Brooklyn … so fun!

Here are some of the helpful fashion tips that Marina taught in that class….
A personal stylist showcases a few looks and explains a few tricks of the trade to update each look. As for the actual tips? Some of the pieces of advice are good like how to roll a sleeve or to work a double belt. Others, are well... interesting.

For example, take the "Add an Oversized Belt" tip. The post shares, "Marina says she never looks for belt sizes anymore...she just grabs the longest one she can find. It gives you options for tucking it in, looping it around each other, etc." In real life, that extra length looks sloppy. It is just dangling out there, like a limp noodle. (Take a look at the belt again, in this photo HERE.) No, I do not think this will work.

While am I looking at this photo, I see the half-tuck look is not going anywhere. (Refer to the "J.Crew Decides {tuck, not to tuck ...how about both}" post for a discussion about this trend.) I am not going to hate on this look completely. I think some people pull this look off quite nicely. I just know I am not one of them.

I also want to point out the stylist's own outfit. The stylist is the one with the Jenna black-rimmed glasses. She probably looks great minus that huge cardigan. Although, she is just following her own advice. The "The Man Sweater" tip shares, "Borrow a cardigan with a masculine shape. Makes outfits look less overdone, less stuffy." My tip? Give it back to the man she borrowed it from. She is a pretty girl with a really nice figure, that cardigan is of no help.

 What are your thoughts on the fashion advice shared in the post? Any tips that you agree or disagree with?
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25 comments:

  1. cateOctober 23, 2012 at 8:26 AM

    I roll my cuffs that way now, they finally stay put!

    ReplyDelete
  2. xoxoOctober 23, 2012 at 8:58 AM

    LOL, I agree Alexis, she should return the sweater to her guy. It does nothing for the outfit. Even with the sweater off it would be a bit much for my taste with a printed skirt, printed scarf *and* a bubble necklace, never mind the large, looped belt. I kind of like a looped belt but with a smaller bit at the end. Too much just looks sloppy IMO.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alexis {J.Crew Aficionada}October 23, 2012 at 9:09 AM

      I agree- I too like that mini-loop over look when the belt is a wee bit long. But the belt in this post is way too long. The excess just looks weird!

      Delete
  3. wellfedfredOctober 23, 2012 at 9:09 AM

    Gotta tell ya, Alexis, I found the whole thing hilarious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alexis {J.Crew Aficionada}October 23, 2012 at 9:12 AM

      Right?! I could not take the whole thing seriously. Even though a few tips were good (like the rolling of the sleeves), I just could not get pass others (& the stylists outfit).

      I think there was too much sloppiness throughout. And most of us (myself included) cannot get away with that for everyday wear. I also think that is why so many of us (again, myself included) thought the looks Gweneth Paltrow sported of J.Crew were so nice. Despite the (high) price tag of the items incorporated, all the looks were put together and actually wearable, as well as stylish.

      Delete
    2. silver_liningOctober 23, 2012 at 10:55 AM

      I also found it hilarious - the messy topknot, Jenna glasses, crazy layering just doesn't feel original to me anymore.

      Also (and I'm thinking of the November catalog in particular), who can wear multiple button-down shirts? I have a thinner upper body and still would never do this - I'd look like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man!

      Delete
    3. jinksOctober 23, 2012 at 1:57 PM

      Yes, hilarity is the word that springs to mind. "Styling" is just becoming clownish. I totally agree Alexis about Gweneth Paltrow. All of those looks were classic, wearable and normal, why have any of these words been lost in most stylists minds.

      Delete
  4. KristinOctober 23, 2012 at 9:16 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnneOctober 23, 2012 at 9:18 AM

    I like the scarf and necklace looks. All of the belt looks just look sloppy.

    Her huge cardigan reminds me of the huge coat Garance Dore wore to the Kate Spade launch. I didn't like that look either...

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownOctober 23, 2012 at 10:04 AM

    Gotta say, one of the reasons the outfits "work" is because the woman is extremely thin and tall. If you are built like a hanger, then all clothes will "hang" on you as they do on the models.

    A real stylist works with different bodies and personalities and lifestyles and doesn't adhere to hard and fast rules. A real stylist helps you think about yourself and what works on you etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. D*skaOctober 23, 2012 at 10:45 AM

      I completely agree. I always felt like my NYC JC stylist was dressing someone much taller (I'm 5'4"/120lbs) but don't fit in petite clothing) so I have stopped using a stylist. Plus my style changes with my mood so my closet must be versitile. I just learned all the fashion rules for myself if only to know how to properly break them.

      Delete
    2. roxyturtleOctober 23, 2012 at 12:51 PM

      I was thinking the same thing. I love long necklaces, but I've got a larger bust and when I walk they bounce off my chest like some kind of cartoon. And sure I'd love to wear my shirt half-untucked, but I've got an hourglass shape and it just looks like my pants don't fit anymore. Tips like "belt it" hardly ever work on an hourglass. I completely agree that styling tips are all about the individual.

      Delete
    3. The American ObserverOctober 25, 2012 at 12:44 PM

      So, according to you, a "real sylist" is someone who is not tall and thin? I'm tall and thin. Does that make me a "hanger"? Despite the fact that today most people are overweight, that doesn't make it ok for you to bash those that aren't. I think your post is really rude and really bitter.

      Delete
  7. UnknownOctober 23, 2012 at 11:21 AM

    I clicked thru that slideshow a number of times and didn't bother to share it here. I figured JCAs have memorized enough Style Guides over the years to know these things and decide which work for us or not. It's still a nice review, though. Marina has a lot going on in her outfit, but it makes her look quirky. I got the sense of a lot of energy from her photos and that she seems fun to work with.

    Can I just cyber step on & crush those glasses into little pieces? I'm really tired of seeing them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. patmosjdOctober 23, 2012 at 11:35 AM

      LOL Gigi! I am so with you on the Jenna glasses. They're on some Madewell models, too. Enough already please!

      Delete
  8. winewillfixit@gmail.comOctober 23, 2012 at 12:13 PM

    The personal stylist has some interesting suggestions. None of which will work for me. I seek out J Crew pieces for working in a very conservative environment. I cannot do a sloppy belt or half untucked shirt. It seems off note for the people (like me) who got o J Crew as the standard for polished chic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. WhitneyOctober 23, 2012 at 5:40 PM

      Ditto. I've never been able to pull off messy/quirky/sloppy and make it look stylish. Also, your username is my favorite :)

      Delete
  9. StormyOctober 23, 2012 at 12:24 PM

    I used the sleeve rolling technique this morning and yes, it definitely works! Other than that, I do not care for those glasses on her, Jenna and certainly not for me. Thanks for the very interesting post, Alexis!

    ReplyDelete
  10. tamara.chicagoOctober 23, 2012 at 3:51 PM

    So much effort to look effortless. :) And my opinion is that it didn't work. I'm not into the totally mismatched style. It reminds me of the old adage to remove one piece of jewelry before leaving the house. Some mismatching is great, but there's a fine line between OK and overboard. I prefer to combine various textures but stick with just a couple of colors.

    ReplyDelete
  11. MarisaOctober 23, 2012 at 5:45 PM

    I thought the rolling suggestions were great and I totally do the sloppy untuck all.the.time. I've tried long necklaces but no matter what I do I always think *Bea Arthur/Golden Girls* and can't go thru with it, especially with a long, huge cardigan! Definitely a fun read though.

    Check out how to look "Jenna Lyon's polished" in this Lucky magazine Madewell/JCrew pattern mixing love fest article:
    http://www.luckymag.com/blogs/luckyrightnow/2012/10/Print-Mixing-Tricks?mbid=NL_A1_1022#slide=1

    ReplyDelete
  12. LizaOctober 23, 2012 at 9:33 PM

    So glad I read this. I like the double belt tip. I think I'll try the rolling sleeves and cuffs tips. Thanks Alexis.

    ReplyDelete
  13. MJOctober 24, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    When are those glasses going to go away? Very few people, and Jenna is not one of them, can carry them off. HA she ever seen pictures of herself? The stylist's tips are interesting but it seems like it is alot of work to look effortless and "undone". I happen to like looking like I looked in the mirror before I left the house!

    ReplyDelete
  14. The American ObserverOctober 25, 2012 at 12:35 PM

    Aside from thinking that I know best about looks good on me, I am suspicious of the "personal stylist." Why? Because it seems to me that their overriding objective would be to sell you as much stuff as possible. Also, the whole concept assumes that you don't own anything but J.Crew. I have a variety of stuff that I mix and match on a daily basis. The stylist wouldn't know that and wouldn't be interested in it. Also, I did have a wedding consultant work with me and walked away because I felt the whole encounter wasn't sincere (Not that most wedding dress encounters are!)

    ReplyDelete
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