Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Fitting Room Reviews - Feb 2012

My J.Crew store is a 'concept store' and gets the new arrivals couple weeks ahead of other stores.
I got excited when I saw that they have already received the green flower print peplum top from Spring 2012 Lookbook because I knew quite a few JCAs were interested in it. I also spotted new tipped schoolboy blazer and I thought I would take few pictures of Edie Attache bag.

For the purpose of judging how the items run I am 5'6, 135 pounds (on a good day), 34D, 30" waist, 37" hips. I almost always wear size 4 in J.Crew pencil skirts and city fit pants, 27 in denim, 6 in high waisted items, size 6-8 in dresses and tops, and I am between Small and Medium in non numerical items. Oh, and my arms are relatively short, many times the long sleeves are too long on me.

Spring 2012 Lookbook Look #7 Peplum Flower Blouse 

also wearing double serge cotton pencil skirt in casablanca blue

See great review of this skirt here on xoxo
Size 6
size 8 - I think I like the fit better than 6


Inside out - I am learning from xoxo
Side zipper

The tags

$350 - Are they kidding?

97% cotton 3% elastane  lining 100% acetate dry clean only

Edie Attache Bag in pecan $288


Attache Bag

Metal Feet

Very Open Top - Deal breaker for me

Can be used cross-body
Scroll below to see it on me.

Tipped linen schoolboy blazer
Size 6

With Edie Attache

 close up

It wrinkles!

Edie Attache side view - it sticks out

Unbuttoned

The Tags

100% linen, lining 52% rayon, 46% polyester
$185

What do you think?

Here is my take:

I think the flower top would be cute if you are young, tall, willowy and, if in any circumstances, you are never ever mistaken for your (wealthy) aunt Mildred, currently happily retired in some sunny location. If you aswered yes to all the above, you can add a tulip shaped puffy skirt (in what color?) and rock the  Dior Spring 2012 silhouette.

Unfortunately, I am past the  ironic stage and curtain style flower prints may be taken all too seriously on me. This top is not for me, but I can see it looking fabulous on many of you. The peplum puffs away from a body, I was trying to get side shot but it was above my self photographing skills. I think it fits TTS, not much difference between 6 & 8, see the pictures. I'd prefer 8 because of the lower waist.

Edie Attache Bag is very nice, beautiful color and right size, and being able to carry it cross body is a plus. But the lack of secure closure on top is a deal breaker for me. If I put my laptop/ipad there I would worry that it might get wet. What if I leaned over to pick up something, would  my lipstick and keys fly out through the opening? It is a very structure bag, which also means it sticks away from the body, I don't like that look.

The schoolboy blazer is very nice. It has the usual schoolboy fit, not the greatest on me but that is expected, I am not a fan of schoolboy cut. Since it is linen it wrinkles but that gives it more relaxed fit, not a bag thing.
It is soft and it would be easy to wear with any color top underneath. It will go well with jeans and dresses.
I like the piping, since I never got a tipped double serge blazer I am not so bored with the look. On the other hand, the price is steep for this kind of blazer, I think you can find something similar for less.

That's all folks.
No, I still I did not buy anything and nothing went on my wishlist.

How about you?

26 comments:

  1. The blazer is beautiful and looks very polished, and so does the bag.

    The top is a bit much with the large floral print IMO.

    Thank you for the reviews!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rose, I like the blazer a lot. I just don't need it since I hardly ever wear blazers in the summer.

      Delete
  2. The top is pretty on you, but ikwym. I really like the tipped blazer and I thought it was very flattering on you. The open top on that bag, what a disaster. Yes stuff would be flying out of the bag, at least for me!
    Nothing on my wishlist, though my mini-brompton hobo in the coral is on the way, due to land here on Thursday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dani, believe me, this top looked worse irl. I actually laughed at my reflection :) I am sure some can wear it well, but I will not be the one.

      Delete
  3. Thanks for these great reviews and photos. The peplum top looks really cute but it could easily fall into the matronly category. Crazy pricing too!

    Too bad the Edie is open on top, so unpractical. I like the look of the linen blazer but the schoolboy fit does not work for me. Thanks for the shout out, the cotton double-serge looks fab on you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Crazy pricing it is! I have a feeling it will sell out in first few days then end up hanging around the sale section forever.

      Delete
  4. I have a picture of my mother in pretty much that same peplum floral top -- she's going to a wedding circa 1983. I just can't get my head around wearing anything similar! I do quite like the linen blazer, though! Looked great on you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think that peplum top is really cute, but it is one of those pieces that need to be styled right to look cute and not old lady-ish or straight out of the 80's. I got a peplum tee from H&M for $18, so I will be happy with that and not bother with the J. Crew version.
    Love the Edie bag but I can see why you aren't crazy about the structure. It kind of reminds me of the Michael Kors Hamilton bag.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi fshnonmymind, if anybody can rock this top it would be you!
      I could not think what bottom to wear with it. Definitely not the matching trousers.
      Those structured bags look slick but don't lay nicely against the body imo.

      Delete
  6. That top is heinous. What were they thinking? It looks completely old ladyish/early 90s big flower print all rolled into one. It definitely does not pass the "if it was hanging in KMart/JCPenney/wherever, would I like it?" test. Thank you so much for the IRL pics!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi j.CrewJD, "if it was hanging in KMart/JCPenney" is a great reality check that saved me from many unfortunate purchases.

      Delete
  7. Actually, now that I look at it again, a nearly identical version of that top was worn by Blanche on the Golden Girls at one point in the late '80s. Love the show but the fashion should never be repeated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hilarious! I love the Golden Girls, my go-to show for the cardio machines. IMO they are the original Sex and The City. Dorothy = Carrie, Rose = Charlotte, Blanche = Samantha and Sophia = Miranda. Just a different time and place but the same characters and dynamic with a little bit less focus on men. Most of the time.

      Delete
    2. Do you think J.Crew is going to call it Blanche Blouse? Golden Girls rule! I never thought about it, but yes, original SiTC is right on the money.

      Delete
  8. it took me a minute to get up off the floor when i saw that price tag. who are they kidding?

    the schoolboy blazer is v cute but like you, it just doesn't look good on me. the bag is pretty too.

    you really are such a trooper providing these reviews. my closest j. crew is about 50 miles away so you save me a lot of time and energy by posting these. xo janet

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are not kidding about the prices, Mickey once said they want to be in the place where they will sell umbrellas for $800. Usually it backfires and they end up struggling to sell it for 25% of original price.

      Delete
  9. Hurrah! You are blogging, I am so behind but delighted to be following.

    ReplyDelete
  10. @ J.CrewJD: LOL! Apparently the Blanche Devereaux look is coming back: http://www.pinkisthenewblog.com/2012/02/jessica-alba-channels-her-inner-golden-girl-with-her-blanche-devereaux-outfit/.

    @ AJC: Thank you for the review of the Edie Attache. The open top is a deal-breaker for me as well. Now I can stop coveting it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Found your blog today on JCA! I'm looking forward to your reviews since you have a concept store and get to see everything first! I'm also interested in checking out Project 333--I probably don't wear HALF the clothes and shoes in my closet. Great blog!

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  12. Total deal breaker on the open handbag. What were they thinking.

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  13. Thanks for these reviews! I've been on the fence re: the schoolboy fit for ages, I've always found it a smidge too boxy in the midriff. Plus with these new spring-y fabrics, I'm not sure I want to spend near $200 on something that is wrinkle-prone. At least the chambray version is more reasonably priced imo.

    ReplyDelete
  14. GAHHHH I want that tipped jacket now! If it comes in Tall sizes and I can wait it out through a sale/promo, it WILL be mine.

    $350 for that dress - ZOINKS. Not a fan of peplum anything, though. It's got a retro vibe I just can't work with.

    ReplyDelete