Learn How to Wear a Scarf {video time!}

"Thanks!" to Elaine (in this post) who raised a great style-related question:

...First, I need someone to tell me how to start working scarves. I have a small box FULL of JC scarves because I can't resist the beautiful prints, but then they just sit there unworn!

When I try to casually loop them around my neck atop a tank or cami, the way women in their 20s do (I'm 39), or the way the scarves are looped in the hero shots online, I look like a neckless bag lady and like I have no idea what I'm doing. ...

This topic pops up often in the fashion-blog-o-sphere. Truth is, it can be really tricky figuring out how to properly loop the scarf into a chic style around one's neck.

One post to check out is Slastena's "How to Wear Scarves in Summer". A lot of visuals to help illustrate the tips mentioned.

Also, there is a great tutorial that has been making the rounds on the net. (For example, check out the "25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes!" and "How to Wear a Scarf" posts.) The video showcases several easy ways to wear the same scarf:


As long as retailers keep rolling out amazing prints for their scarves, we will be rocking them! They are a great, and simple, way to accessorize any outfit.

How do you wear your scarves? Do you have any tricks of the trade that you employ? If so, please share! :)

30% Off Final Sale at J.Crew

A big "thanks!" to Nicole (in this post), who shared the following promotion from J.Crew this morning.

J.Crew is offering customers to take an additional 30% off all sale items (no min) with promo code SHOPNOW. Yey! Not sure when this code expires.

Let me start off by saying how much I appreciate this community! Why? Because I cannot see that offer on both my phone and laptop. The only promotion I see is: "risk free swim: enjoy free shipping & free returns on all women's swim styles". (I should add that this is different from yesterday's message of flat fee shipping.) Not sure why J.Crew is showing the SHOPNOW to some customers and not others...

Will you be checking out the Final Sale section? Are there any items you are hoping to see or to get?

J.Crew Updates Website with New Arrivals!

"Thanks!" to many of you, including JulieStyles (in this post), as well as Life as a Cat (in this post), who let us know that J.Crew had an update to its website today (click here to view online).

There are some new arrivals for men (click here) & women (click here). {wahoo!} It looks like Crewcuts (click here) has been updated, but not the J.Crew Collection (click here).

The August catalog still not available to view, but the July catalog (click here to view) is. J.Crew really needs to get this up online! The catalog is already out- both at stores and in mailboxes. So why not online?

What items are you most excited about and why? Which items are you surprised (or not surprised) to see? Which items did you hope would be included? Were you expecting a bigger roll-out today? Also, did you receive the latest catalog? :)

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! :)

J.Crew Store Location Series {where next?}

*Image above is from Paperless Post, found through NYC Recessonista's post

A big "thanks!" again to GigiOfCa {of the delightful Gigi's Gone Shopping blog} who came up with the brilliant suggestion for a city guide series. So far we have covered:

1. {Dallas, Texas Edition}
2. {San Francisco Edition}
3. {Boston Edition}
4. {Chicago Edition}
5. {Washington, D.C. Edition}
6. {L.A. Edition}
7. {NYC Edition}

Are there any other locations that should be covered? Should we go by state/region (e.g. South Florida, Connecticut, etc.) Or have we hit all the major cities with various J.Crew stores located in them? Let me know what you think in the comments! :)

"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.

J.Crew Final Sale {nice update & new markdowns}

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Cate O (in this post), as well as Irina, who let us know that J.Crew has a nice update to their Final Sale section online (click here) this morning.

Lots of merchandise for everyone (1150+ for Women and 240+ for Men). Moreover, it looks like several new pieces made it to sale, along with some new price reductions. Yey!

It seems that all the sale pieces from brick & mortar (B&M) stores are starting to make their way back to the warehouse. This means we should be seeing some great sale stock in the upcoming weeks.

Lastly, it sounds like stores are still running an additional 30% off their Final Sale. Yey for that too! :) It looks like the stores are no longer running any additional percent off sale.

Did you check out the Final Sale section today? Were you able to snag any amazing deals? If so, please share! :)

Let's Babble About the Bubble

Congratulations J.Crew, you did it! You broke me and now I am obsessed with your Bubble Necklace (item 92687; $150.00). {sigh} Well played.

Honestly, I did not care for the necklace when it first came out in Spring 2009. (I believe it was around then.) I initially thought "meh". It is too big and clunky, and the price tag... woah! Just beads people.

Then last holiday season, I got my hands on the red version for an incredible price (thanks to all those post-holiday-lets-liquadate-merch sales). I did not wear it much at first, but slowly it became my go-to necklace.

The red version is great, a classic, but it doesn't work with every outfit. And that is how my collection of Bubbles began...

Next thing I know, I am getting all the colors being offered including my all-time favorite: white. (As an aside: I have worn the white version every other day and it is worth every penny of full retail price! I receive a compliment on the necklace each time I wear it.) Who knew the red Bubble Necklace would have been my gateway necklace?!?

J.Crew is selling these like hot cakes! Every time I stop into a J.Crew store, I notice a fellow shopper checking out with one of these necklaces in her shopping bag. It doesn't help that J.Crew keeps re-introducing them in additional amazing shades.

So now I am obsessed with these darn necklaces and can't seem to get enough of them. Am I the only one?

Are you a fan of the Bubble Necklaces from J.Crew? Do you own multiples of J.Crew's iconic statement necklace? If so, please share your obsession! :)

Quick Poll: Are you a fan of the Bubble Necklace?

"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 Anthropologie, 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.