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! :)
OT but wanted to note that I received my Rewards card yesterday, and Madewell is offering 30% of sale.
ReplyDeleteI'm all ears for any suggestions on pairings with the wool cafe capri in dark saffron. It was an awesome deal, fits nice so I'd hate to return it!
ReplyDeleteThis isn't very detailed, but I'm loving dark charcoal grey with mustard-y yellow tones. I'm planning to wear my spicy gold No. 2 with a charcoal schoolboy and an ivory silk blouse.
DeleteI agree with lzab. Dark grey would look good with those pants. Also navy, white, black. I'd stay away from greens.
DeleteI love that color! Unfortunately I tried three different sizes and they were not flattering on me (JCrew, would it really kill you to line them?). This was disappointing because I had dreamed up all sorts of outfit combinations! Sigh. Maybe I'll try one more times.
Delete-- white/neutral top with a navy blazer over it
-- with a striped blue/white or black/white buttondown
-- with a striped sailor tee
-- with a chambray shirt or the navy Indian voile boy shirt
-- with a navy Tippi
-- animal print cardigan or sweater
Here's an outfit idea (not my blog)
http://www.sydneysfashiondiary.com/2012/02/review-jcrew-wool-cafe-capri-in-00p.html
Izab: love the idea of the charcoal gray.
DeleteRose: black sounds great too.
Rosie: holy cow what a list!
Thanks to you all for the thoughts. You may have just saved me from returning them.
I did come up with one idea on my own: the perfect shirt from fall2011 in royal paisley. It has purple and a bit of the saffron color. Only problem. It's already too cold to just wear a silk blouse. I would freeze!
Some ideas on styling sequins for daytime HERE.
ReplyDeleteI have what is probably a really basic question, but one that stumps me.
ReplyDeleteI have recently really started to wear jackets. They just make any outfit look so sharp (which most of you JCAers already know).
My question--how do you handle this in winter?
Do you wear a large winter puffy coat over a blazer?
Do you wear, say, the Icon Trench over a blazer?
Or, in winter, do you mostly wear sweaters, and no blazer and wear your winter coat over that?
I like the idea of being inside and having on my jacket.
But is that practical and does one layer a winter coat over the jacket?
When I first started my job I had to wear suits every day but now that the dress code is relaxed I still like to wear jackets indoors. I solve the coat problem by having different sizes of coats. I bought a less-fitted style, one size up so I can layer underneath. I have a cocoon coat from London Fog that works really well for this, as well as J.Crew's stadium cloth Bridget coat from 2009. I even bought a second Icon trench in a size up so I had one I could wear with layers underneath.
DeleteFrom this year's lineup I would say the Elements, Toggle, Cocoon or Duffle coats would be best for layering. The Collection shawl-collar coat could also work nicely. I do recommend trying one size up to ensure you have enough room in the shoulders and across the back/chest. It may look a little bit bulky but you're layering so that is to be expected. Having the topcoat loose is also important to avoid wrinkling the jacket underneath. If you can, go to a B&M wearing a jacket and try a size up in coats to see if, and which one, works for you. HTH
Like xoxo, I used to wear blazers all the time, but now I wear mostly sweaters in the winter and blazers during the spring/summer/fall. If you still prefer wearing blazers, leave them at work and change when you get there.
DeleteI always had that issue and I hate the blazers under coat. I find them usually uncomfortable with two sets of sleeves etc. JCrew coats are often cut with narrow armholes and sleeves making it even more difficult. I find that some jackets I can wear because they are generally slim and not bulky, for example my Academy blazer from Madewell. Most J.Crew blazers would not work for me. If you can leave your blazer in the office and change into it that works great (or bring it separately). With thicker blazers, I wear them mostly instead of coat with a scarf if it is colder (but not too cold) but then I usually take them off in the office.
DeleteI wish I had your office Rose. I don't have enough hanging space to leave more than one blazer and one sweater at the office. I need to use the same cabinet to hang my coat.
DeleteI tried carrying my jackets in my bag but some of them get too wrinkled and some are just too much to fit into a nice bag. (No backpack for me if I can possibly help it.) I also like the look of a blazer under a partially-opened coat. Of course, I'm in a colder climate than either Rose or ajc and the extra layer is good for warmth too.
I agree that the cut that makes JCrew coats so sleek and tailor makes them difficult to wear over blazers. In particular, I find that the waist, arm holes, and sleeves can't accommodate anything thicker than a lightweight wool suit jacket.
DeleteIf I'm wearing a blazer or indoor jacket, I layer it under one of my larger fitting coats from Banana Republic or Talbots.
I bought the boulevard green stovepipe trouser in wool flannel. I love the fit, and despite wishing the pants were lined, I'm planning to keep them. Now, though, I'm having trouble figuring out what to pair with the boulevard green beyond plain white or off-white tops. Any JCA suggestions? (I'm a pale-skinned blonde, if that makes any difference.)
ReplyDeleteI would try a bright blue, a deep purple or navy top.
DeleteI love robin's egg blue/ aqua/ mint with boulevard green.
DeleteMaybe camel?
ReplyDeleteA cute outfit & a review of the new farmyard Fair Isle sweater in this post.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa, I can't get reply to work, but I think you could pair any number of colors with that green (I love that shade). Camel, grey, black, navy, white, and cream all would work well. HTH!
ReplyDeleteThanks, cate and Leah!
DeleteThank you so much to everyone for your thoughts on how to layer over a jacket--or not to layer. I guess if I end up doing the layering, I'll be using my fat Spiewak puffy coat instead of something from J Crew.
ReplyDeleteIt does make me wonder how useful jackets really are. The cool months when a jacket is a sufficient layer are really short (I live near AJC--you are in NJ? I live in NYC). So it does make me think twice about all those nice Schoolboys.
Anyway, thank you so much again.