Madewell's Fall 2011 Look Book

"Thanks!" to Gem Twin (in this post) who shared that Madewell's Fall 2011 Look Book is available to preview over at Fashionista (click HERE for article & images).

Check Out Madewell’s Entire Fall Lookbook–You’re Gonna Want Everything
By Leah Chernikoff
May 17, 2011

We got to preview Madewell’s fall collection a month ago and now we can finally show you why we were craving the cold. Here is the brand’s full perfectly disheveled layer-tastic English prep school-esque collection for fall.

There are some girly-er items too–pleated skirts and maxis but paired with tough worn-in brown leather belts and thick blazers.

And there’s good news for your white jeans, too: if Madewell has anything to do with it, you’ll be wearing them right through summer into fall.

We did get a sneak peek of the collection awhile back (refer to the "Sneak Peek: Madewell's Fall 2011 Collection" post). It's great to see better views of the clothes and how Madewell is putting together those pieces.

My favorite look is the one shown above. The yellow cardigan paired with the maxi grey skirt is perfection. That old-school satchel is prep-tastic!

What are your thoughts on Madewell's upcoming Fall Collection? Do you like how they styled the pieces in the Look Book?

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! :)

"Looking to LOVE" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a positive situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including stellar experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

Product Review: Indigo Pea Jacket

Indigo Pea Jacket
Click here for product page
Item 39331
Regular: $148.00
Now: $89.99

I mentioned awhile back (refer to the "J.Crew Jackets & Blazers... Still The Same?" post) that I got this jacket. I thought it was time for me to actually review it now that it is in the sale section! J.Crew describes this jacket as:

A spring classic beautifully rendered in a new metallic-threaded cotton and given a fresh update with artful weathering and outsize metal buttons. (The metallic threads are specially woven throughout, lending a subtly tousled, essence-of-the-season texture we adore.) Notch collar. Long sleeves. Welt pockets. Partially lined. Hits at hip. Import. Dry clean.

So now my review... My initial reaction is that the jacket is super cute for Spring. I love the nautical inspiration behind it.

When it comes to sizing, I went with my usual size 0. The shoulders were a tad snug, but the body fit me fine. And here's the thing about the body: it was a great fit from the front view, but it was certainly not fitted from the side. So overall, not a fitted or tailored jacket.

The shine of the material is subtle, not in-your-face glitter. It was not scratchy either. Which is a good thing, since it is not fully lined. Honestly, the jacket could have used full lining, and a pretty one at that. When you take off the jacket, the body (which is not lined) looks cheap with its exposed seams inside. Moreover, it didn't look great when I tried rolling up the sleeve.

The gold buttons on the front and back are a great shade that provide a great contrast against the navy blue backdrop. But the buttons feel and look cheap. They should have used the gold embellished buttons of the Schoolboy Blazer.

Although the jacket does not have that much structure to it (it's a bit floppy and seams like it would be prone to wrinkles), the collar does stay up like in the first image of this post. This is actually pretty great as it frames the face nicely.

Overall, it felt to me that J.Crew should have spent a bit more on the details (like the lining & buttons) to make this jacket a classic staple that would be a "go to" for years.

Ultimately, I ended up returning it because I found I never wore it (let alone took the tags off).

What are your thoughts on the Indigo Pea Jacket? Do you own this jacket? Have you tried it on at a store? Do you like this style? If so, please share with us your review. :)

"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

Weekly Share: Other JCrew-like Retailers

This is the weekly "Other JCrew-like Retailers" post (similar to the "Off On A Tangent" posts), where we can share our finds from other retailers that have offerings similar to J.Crew (like LE Canvas, Gap, BR, Talbots, Ann Taylor, and the like.)

If you have recently encountered items that are similar to J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including experiences with certain merchandise pieces, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

J.Crew Email: What to tote today: the Bronwyn bag (plus, FREE SHIPPING)

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Irina, who shared the latest email from J.Crew this morning.

The email features the Bronwyn Hobo (Item 42142; $268.00) which J.Crew describes as:

This garment-washed, go-everywhere carryall is the ultimate summer travel companion. Crafted in beautifully battered leather for that lovably worn, well-traveled feel, it sports adjustable buckled straps and plenty of pockets (so it's always adventure ready). An interior front-wall patch pocket and a back-wall zip pocket keep pencils, cell phone and keys organized. Top-strap magnet closure. Dark pewter-finish hardware. Three exterior pockets. Cotton twill lining. Import. 8" handle drop. 15"H x 16 1/4"W x 2 3/4"D.

The Cognac version does look like a super cute bag for the Summer. The other two versions (Tuscan Olive & Black) are great for Fall.
J.Crew is reminding us that their offer for free shipping for on orders of $150+ with promo code SHIP150 expires Wednesday, May 18, 2011.

What are your thoughts on the Bronwyn Bag? Is this the kind of bag you would wear for Summer, Fall, or year round? Have you seen it in person? If so, please share! :)

Madewell Email: Here comes summer (+ free shipping on all orders)

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Irina, who shared the latest email & promotion from Madewell this morning.

The email focuses on new arrivals for Summer. They are also offering free shipping (no minimum!) with promo code YESPLEASE. This offer ends Thursday, May 19, 2011.

This is a great promotion for those of you interested in one or two of Madewell's items online.

Will you be checking out Madewell? Are there any items you are interested in getting? If so, please share. :)

J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs!}

This is the weekly "J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs}" post, to help each other share our reviews.

So if you have recently purchased, or stopped by a J.Crew store to try on an item (or two) from J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Also, this request is not just limited to clothes. Please feel free to discuss bags, shoes, jewelry, accessories, etc.

In particular, if you could mention a few of the noteworthy details like fit, size, fabric, and the like— that would be fantastic! Thanks in advance! :)

J.Crew Factory Versus Regular J.Crew {spot the difference!}

In Friday's "J.Crew Email: THIS JUST IN: OUR FIRST HANDBAG COLLECTION..." post, I mentioned how sellers on eBay sometimes "forget" to mention that a J.Crew item is from the Factory store and how to tell the difference.

So I thought it would be a good post to discuss how JCAs can spot a J.Crew Factory clothing item. Simply, J.Crew Factory items have two small white dots under the J.Crew label.
In order to help explain, I have posted two images above of the labels. The top on the left is from J.Crew (sans dots) and the top on the right is from J.Crew Factory (two visible dots on tag).

Unfortunately, I am not aware of any distinguishing characteristic that separates J.Crew Factory from J.Crew when it comes to jewelry, shoes, sandals, and now handbags. The only way I can tell the difference is when I personally see the items.

For example, J.Crew Factory jewelry is super light compared to the original from regular J.Crew. Same with their sandals. Also, J.Crew Factory ballet flats have a different leather that you can feel the difference. However, these are all things you cannot determine too well through an image (like on a listing at eBay).

What are your tips to tell apart J.Crew Factory from J.Crew regular? Please share! :)