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! :)
Hi! Loving the fluted skirts! How do you wear them so you don't look like a balloon, though? What kind of top, jacket, shoes? Thanks! I am 5'2" and around 105.
ReplyDeleteI'd say something fitted on top to balance with the fluted bottom. Audrey Bella styled hers with the swoop top if you check her blog: http://audreybella.blogspot.com/
Deleteebelandi.com-Thanks for the shout-out.
DeleteLeilasmom - I wore the black with the Kiss Kiss Tee, also tucked in. Unless it's a cropped top, I'd tuck in the blouse, making sure it's not too voluminous. It's a very easy skirt to style. I've worn heels both times I've worn the skirt. I plan on wearing the black with black tights and sleek black flat boots when it gets cooler.
Thanks! I will certainly try a tee! Eyeing the camo tees! I also bought this one from Madewell: https://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/SKIRTS/PRDOVR~05323/05323.jsp
DeleteLove the idea of tights and flats in the fall!
hi leilasmom, i have the fluted skirt in two different outfits here.
Deletei think it's extremely versatile: goes with untucked sweaters, tucked-in blouses, sweater tees, and regular tees too. a camo tee sound adorable.
i'm shorter than you but the skirt already hits me above the knee, so i've been wearing it with flats and very short heels. when the temperature gets cooler, i plan on wearing black tights and pumps with it too.
anyway, it's really a great piece, isn't it? i think you'll have fun playing around with different styles and seeing what works best for you ;)
Dmitri..that skirt looks ADORABLE on you!!! Love it with the shirt... thanks for the inspiration and idea!!!!
DeleteNew cuts from yesterday at the top of this post. There are also some jewelry cuts in-store that aren't online. They're in there as well.
ReplyDeleteCrepe Cap Sleeve Dress in Bristol Blue, which is really a teal color. I need to wear a cardigan over this for an upcoming casual-ish wedding, but what color? and what style cardigan goes with this? I tried a black tippi cardigan, but it was kind of meh with it. I tried a long merino cardigan in a seafoam green color and I kind of like this, but I don't know if it really looks okay. I like this Bristol Blue color, but it is kind of hard to work with.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of wearing the dress with either black or apricot mist Janey flats and a gold pendant/tassel necklace. But I am open to suggestions, please!
maybe a yellow/lime or golden shawl instead of a cardigan? or a schoolboy or other short blazers? It looks like a sweater will dress down your outfit unless that is the look you're going for.
DeleteI paired mine with the navy schoolboy blazer and got compliments on the look. A true dark navy would contrast nicely.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteA sewing instructor once taught me that cutting your silhouette into thirds elongates, while cutting in half truncates. I think you are going in the right direction with a longer cardigan to elongate this silhouette. The long cardigan basically cuts the dress at the bottom third. The Tippi seems like it would be an awkward length because it chops the dress in half, effectively truncating the line. The other way you could "cut" the silhouette of this dress into thirds is with a cropped, fitted cardigan that stops just around the top waistline of the dress, cutting the dress at the top third.
DeleteA cardigan would be a good way to keep your look soft and feminine, while a blazer, as ebelandi and frugalprepster suggested, would add polish with its tailoring. You would probably have to play with length as with the cardigan, and the width of the shoulder in the blazer will also affect whether the length looks good with this dress.
As with all fashion rules, they generally work, but there are always seeming exceptions due to relative vertical and horizontal proportions. I imagine sleeve length may also factor in in this case. And, of course, if it looks good, all fashion rules may be broken!
Do you necessarily have to wear a cardi? How about a gray or a silver shawl or a wrap?
DeleteYou guys are the best, thank you so much! I don't own any shawls or wraps, unfortunately (I'm trying not to buy anything else new for this, bad enough I bought the dress lol). I will try a blazer and see how that looks. You guys reminded me of a few other options in my closet I could try with this. I have a lemon-lime cardigan and a short sleeve navy long sweater and a navy blazer and I also have one of those short Jenna cardigans with the gold buttons (was going to get rid of it actually but it might work with this). clotted creame, thanks for the explanation, I didn't know the thirds rule but it makes total sense. The Tippi cardigan didn't look right and I'm sure that's why.
DeleteCate I was actually going to suggest the "Jenna" cardigan as I think that was specifically made to be worn with dresses hence the shorter length. I find them to be very flattering with dresses.
DeleteThanks 312JCgirl, I haven't had a chance to try it (or the other ideas above) yet. I never know what to wear the Jenna cardigan with, but maybe this dress is it. I have it in gray and black, so I'm not sure if the colors are going to work with this crazy Bristol Blue color.
DeleteI've tried a few more options and the best was the black Jenna cardigan with the black Janeys. The fitted/cropped cardigan was what the dress needed. The black cardigan and black shoes aren't very inspired with the dress, but it's the best i could do without going shopping again :) Thanks again everyone!
DeleteCate I'm glad you found something:) I recall at one point the copy on the website describing the "Jenna" sweater (which I think is called something else now) told the story of how Jenna specifically requested the design team to design a shorter cardigan to wear with dresses.
DeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI just purchased my first Bella based on JCAs' rave reviews. It's the velvet in dark purple/eggplant.
Purple isn't a common color choice for me, and the style is also new to me. I'd love your advice on what colors to pair this with, and how you wear it (with blouses? dresses?).
The velvet seems a bit dramatic/formal, so I'd also really value any advice on how to dress this down for daytime/office wear.
Thank you!
I honestly think the purple Bella would go with anything, t's just an all around color for a jacket....maybe not green, depending on the shade of green, but sky is limit imo. Any jeans and your choice of sweaters or tees, with a colorful scarf, or a button shirt. I've seen it paired with dresses and skirts also so really it all depends on the style you are looking for.
DeleteI have one in a similar color and have found it works well with gray. I've paired it with the waverly chino and heels for work.
DeletePurple velvet is beautiful!!! It looks good with grays and blacks. I love it with camel colors! Looks great with leopard print. Shades of purple with it really make the richness of the velvet pop! Different plaids with a line of purple in it. I like it with a soft pale pink. A white shirt and distressed denim. It looks great with other jewel tones like emerald green. I don't be afraid to throw it on over almost anything!
DeleteThe purple Bella looks great with jeans and detailed floral prints (like the Liberty shirts). Grays and blacks work really well, and neutral colors keep the velvet from being too dramatic. Pencil skirts pair really well with it for an office look.
DeleteIf it helps, here's a few ways I've worn my velvet Bellas recently: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=81322905
You all are the best! Thanks for the advice. It's great to see that this can be such a versatile jacket. Love the Polyvore set-- maybe I'll try to make one soon.
DeleteI recently purchased the Tipped Collar Boy Shirt [on sale!] in white with black piping (alabaster black). I really like it, but it does border on pajama-y/slouchy so I'm not convinced I could even wear it to work. What do I pair it with to make it more office appropriate? Do I tuck it in? I feel like it looks frumpy tucked in! HELP!
ReplyDeleteSomething flowy/slouchy should be paired with something fitted and structured, otherwise you'll end up looking like a blob. :) I would recommend skinny pants, in which case you would untuck, or a pencil skirt, in which case you would tuck.
DeleteTucked into a skirt and with a jacket or a cardi over it looks perfect for the office.
DeleteI would definitely tuck it in for work regardless of what bottoms you choose. To keep up a professional look, I would gravitate towards a more formal pant/skirt to balance the flowy/slouchy look of the top (cafe capri, palay pant, cafe trouser, hutton trouser...etc, or almost any pencil skirt). Something too slouchy on the bottom could make the look too casual. I also second the jacket option.
DeleteLaura Wears
Also...rolling up the sleeves is a great way to add some structure to a flowy blouse. I do this often! It really changes the look (see here and here
DeleteThanks, ladies! Appreciate the advice!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletei recently bought a caramel colored leather skirt from Nordstrom as a birthday splurge... i'm definitely going to wear it like the one pic with the sweater over button-down with heeled boots... but any ideas on how to mix it up a little? my wardrobe is like 95% jcrew so that's why i figured i'd ask you guys.
ReplyDeletehttp://shop.nordstrom.com/S/halogen-zip-pocket-leather-skirt-regular-petite/3475866?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=1565&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-2_6_A
How about an oversized sweater like the Merino swing sweater?
Deletewww.thefamilyoflove.com
I like camel leather with anything leopard print!!! Plaid flannels and leather are a nice contrast. Chambray looks great with camel leather. I love the simplicity of a cashmere turtleneck with a leather skirt tucked in or worn out with a skinny belt. Any cardigan or blazer- just treat the skirt as a versatile neutral piece in your wardrobe. You'll find a million ways to style it!
DeleteHow about the new casual sweatshirt trend?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt took me a couple weeks, but I am officially a camo convert. Better late than never. And considering that practically every camo item is backordered til November or December, I'm guessing there are lots of JCA working on styling their camo items for fall.
ReplyDeleteI decided the gray colorway will work best with my skin tone, so I ordered the tee. How are you all styling the gray?
I love the gray camo tee! I love it with anything navy and a pop of cobalt blue! Navy or black leather would look amazing with it too. Anything black would work. A light gray skinny jean. Or black leather pants or the coated denim. I like a gray skirt and little black booties with it. Wear in with distressed jean and an animal print or plaid handbag. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katie. Great ideas!
DeleteOkay ladies, I have a question. Do you wear your white skinny jeans after Labor Day??
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I wear mine with boots, either knee boots with the jeans tucked in, or with cute little ankle boots, like the Chelsea boots.
Deletei have and i've definitely seen others have as well. but then again, i live in the bay area, where we experience indian summers.
DeleteDepends on the weather. If it feels fall-ish, no. If it feels like summer weather, then yes.
DeleteI have a very dressy cocktail party type event coming up in November. Is there any way to dress up this dress from Madewell?? Thx!!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/DRESSES/waistdefineddresses/PRDOVR~87289/99102955345/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~~~20+17+4294949678~90~~~~~~~/87289.jsp
A blazer is my sartorial solution to everything! It really sharpens any outfit and will keep you warm as temperatures cool down for fall. Add a statement necklace or earrings (but probably not both!) and heels to dress it up more. If you want to do something softer with an elegant shawl or wrap, statement earrings would be better instead of the necklace so your jewelry doesn't get caught in the knit.
DeleteOkay.. so I picked up the contrast blazer this a.m. (70 bucks!!!!..Now, I like it with skinny jeans and a shirt... how else will you wear this blazer (for work)?
ReplyDeleteI went with the Excursion Quilted Vest in the nude color.
ReplyDeleteThoughts on what it can go with?
http://s7.jcrew.com/is/image/jcrew/02725_BR6683?$pdp_fs418$