Thursday, August 2, 2012

J.Crew Pencil Skirt in Purple Tweed and My Wishlist Crisis


I haven't posted about this skirt because there was another skirt I saw on display and I wanted to review them together but when I went back to the store, the skirt was gone and I suppose we will not see it for another month or so. It was a deep tone large floral design with a lot of dark green some raspberry pink and I think brown, at least this is how I remember it. It was reading very Fall-ish and bold in a good way. I wanted to take a picture of it but I was rushing and there was a bunch of designers in front of it, setting up a display, so I thought I will snap a photo next time, but it never happened.

Anyway, enough about the phantom skirt, instead let's look at a new tweed skirt that I did try on.


Size 4
I know when the fall comes we are all waiting for the new tweed and jewel tones so this will definitely fall into this category. It fits TTS, I took my regular pencil size 4 and the fit was perfect and not too tight.

TTS
It is a thicker fabric so it may add some bulk if you are concerned with that.

$148, and closeup of the fabric
As you see there is some blue, purple, white and pink in the tweed but the overall look reads purple. It is thicker and looser tweed weave and it may snag. It don;t have a picture of a fabric content but I remember there is at least 25% acrylic in addition to wool an maybe some other fibers so there is a risk it may pill. I miss the times when J.Crew made all wool tweed, it was not so long ago.  It is also snag prone but you get that with all tweed. 


I am not into purples and while this skirt is nice it is nothing special. I think you can find something similar in a department store, in fact I remember owning similar skirt years ago that I deemed too grandmotherly at some point. I think it was from  Liz Claiborne or similar label.

I have no plans to acquire this skirt, although after reading DaniBP's post, I thought it would work nicely with raspberry pink, navy and camel color story. But I must stay focused and this would be an orphan item for me, making me buy several new items to make it work. I am trying to be more focused this year, having been inspired by FFM and this post. If you haven't read it, rush over to it, because she has some excellent advice to give.

On this topic, I am having trouble making my fall wish list. It seems like there is nothing I need and nothing I desire. Of course, there are many pretties that I could acquire and have fun with. But for some reason, it feels empty to me, like I am running in circles, always chasing after something and not enjoying it enough. So I am tempted to just shop my closet and only buy when I see something I really love, but I am afraid that not having a list will pull me in all directions, making unplanned and unnecessary purchases.

There are also some basics that I don't have, but since I have been managing fine without them, do I really need them?  For example, I don't have a simple navy pullover which seems such a basic and must have item, but I have been doing fine without on, between navy v-neck t-shirts and dark blue cashmere v-neck. Maybe it was because we had very warm winter last year and I hardly wore my cashmere at all? And should I buy it from Brora for close to $300 or should I settle on $100 version from say Lord & Taylor? I don't consider J.Crew, not because of the quality this time, but because I want more basic shape than they are offering in their cashmere v-neck.

I have about 8 Brora cashmere sweaters and while they are very nice I am not 100% convinced they are 300% nicer.  Maybe I would be able to tell you after 10 years? Some I bought off ebay and they seem to hold up very well but with everybody complaining that the quality is 'not what it used to be', how do I know this year's version would be any better? I don't know enough about cashmere to be able to tell...

For more discussion on timeless versus fast fashion see Gigi's excellent post prompted discussion around Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth Cline, recommended by Hexicon. Also check today's follow up to this discussion here.

Cashmere Classic V Neck Jumper
I also thought of getting the double serge wool pencil skirt in heather acorn since I missed out on the last year's version, but I am turned off by the reports of lower quality. And I certainly have enough pencil skirts in my regular rotation, it is not like this skirt would make my other items work...

No. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge wool
Another wish list item are cap toe Everlys, but the price of them hurts me too much. And wouldn't other retailers make similar versions of this shoe??  After all, it is not like J.Crew is known for the quality and comfort of their shoes....
Everly cap toe
 leather pumps
Everly cap toe leather pumps

I think I am also afraid that J.Crew has becoming too popular and too instantly recognizable. Some of it is too much for my taste, quite sophisticated but too much of a statement and too fashion conscious. I was never drawn to high fashion labels. Besides the fact that they are out of my price range, they seem too flashy, too stylized, too much of a 'girl with the IT bag' , that I never was. And then the other part of J.Crew is just too bland, too 'mall store selection', with a quality to match.

Fantasy style

If I want to make a reference to the kind of style I aspire to, I  think of something like Emerson Fry. When I say that, you may remember  I have bought few thing there and they were not exactly magical, but I am smitten with an idea of timeless and trend-less but chic and modern at the same time.

It may just be the fact that when you are young, tall, thin and beautiful it just takes minimal effort to look great, but trying to recreate this vision is more like chasing the figments of my own imagination.

***
What do you think?
 
Do you like the new tweed skirt?

Are you suffering from the wish list crisis (is there such a thing)?
Are you disillusioned with current J.Crew offerings or are you still excited about fall rollouts?

Have you made a list for this fall?
Should I buy the cashmere from Brora and acorn pencil skirt from J.Crew?
Do you say buy the Everlys or look for similar shoes from other retailers?

Please share, It would be no fun without you!!!

47 comments:

  1. I want to look like the Emerson Fry girl too!
    As to buying, well, no more pretties for me, I am a complete idiot, I lose my head and heart to silly clothes, two clothing "passions" from last year which gave me the whole heart thumpity thump thing - haven't used them - not once.
    I need daily boring clothes, so yes to a navy cashmere jumper for me, my other Brora and Johnsons of Elgin jumpers are going strong after 12 to 16 years, so I'm going to be sensible, but that fool in me, feels almost resentful - honestly!

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    1. oh that heart thumping pleasure that never gets used! i know that feeling SO well.

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  2. PS. Do you pay taxes and duty on Brora the way I do on J Crew? If so, there must be a really good cashmere label out your way, or I can mule for you!

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    1. I was lucky with my first sweater this summer and I just ordered a jacket yesterday. I have a feeling this one won't slip through. Oh yes you'd be a great mule as the customers aren't pleased with the J.C. cashmere. That would be a great trunk show.

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    2. I never paid any duties, I think US is pretty lax about it, which is not necessarily good in general but great for me!

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  3. Oh and I do have a navy jumper but it's 'something and nylon' and for the last two years I have talked about buying something better quality, it will mean no other shopping for a few months but I have to grow up sometime.

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    1. I am sure you will love the navy jumper and it will bring you more joy than fancy frocks.

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  4. AJC, a big YES to everything you wrote. I feel the same way. I will be looking out until the October roll-out but at this point I am thinking of a long hiatus from Jcrew until the Spring rollout. Nothing feels right to me. After reading the excellent posts from FFM and Gigi that you mentioned, there is really nothing I need to have. My aunt who works for an upscale dept. store here in NYC told me that even if they sell their merchandise at 1/3 off list price, they will still make money. Food for thought when I'm too quick to pressing the "Submit Order" button. On the items that you are considering buying, I offer an advice that has served me well in life, "When in doubt, don't!"

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    1. Thank you Marie! I am so glad for Gigi's and FFM's posts it made me think about it and realize one more time that I don;t have to be buying all the time and that in fact I have everything I need. I like your advice, I should print it and put it in my wallet, next to my JC cc.

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  5. wow...really nice design. I love it. . .thanks for showing it to me . .. keep it up..
    vapor recovery tower

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  6. I like this post AJC. I long to be the Emerson Fry girl with her chic style and great looking clothes. I also want to be the savvy shopper with a small, well-edited wardrobe that is full of only things I love, and I think this aspiration keeps my buying in check. But I love to shop; I love beautiful clothes, shoes, bags, etc, but my lifestyle and budget don't justify these things. I don't spend tons of money each month on clothes, and have often had buyer's remorse-so I like to think I have learned to be a thoughtful consumer. For example, there are several dresses at DVF that I'd love to acquire, but have absolutely no need for. I bought my first DVF dress last summer in NY on my 48th birthday. It was purchased as my only gift with a combination of gift cards from my parents and friends. Though I've worn it a number of times, it is not a go to item every few weeks, so buying another one would be one of my less intelligent decisions. What I do wear all of the time are jeans, sweaters, capri length pants, boots and flats. Sometimes a silk blouse is thrown in for a party. I do wear dresses but jeans are my default. My wish list, like Tabitha's is for more of what I wear every day since I got rid of a bunch of stuff earlier this year and could use a bit more in the rotation. There will likely be a new dress or party frock sometime this year - but it will have have to an item I really love and know exactly when and where I'll be wearing it.

    I'm not sure I answered your questions, but thank you for the opportunity to chime in.

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    1. Oh Julie, you totally expressed how I feel. And I even have couple of DVF dresses that I love but don;t wear often enough. No need to buy more. Sometimes I feel like I am a collector and I just like to have certain beautiful things, even if I don;t use them often. I think that is OK as long as that collection is very small and truly loved. I think Lisa from Privilege once said that if you own a ball gown the invitation to the ball will materialize.

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    2. This is me too, Julie! Sigh. I frequently collect clothes like art. I've done really well over the last few years buying WAY less fast fashion (ie Old Navy). I'll make an exception at ON if I find something I like that's $5 or $10 -- I've gotten some killer ON and Gap things I love for *no* money this summer! -- but overall I still need to cut back on volume.

      I'm like a bird who wants to line her nest with pretty things. ...

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  7. I like the look of the purple tweed skirt but the acrylic content scratches it off the list of possibilities. I had the moss tweed skirt with some acrylic and it was a sauna. I'm really not finding much at J.Crew these days but that's fine. So nice of you to share the preview though, always appreciated.

    I am just starting to plan my fall/winter wardrobe. Here in Canada that is about 8 months of the year so it's more important than spring/summer. I really need to go through my shoe closet first, it's a huge mess.

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    1. Ugh, I used to get so excited for Fall/Winter as my "important clothing purchase" season, but now that I'm in GA it's exactly the opposite! Oh well, at least I can pick up some good deals as the Spring/Summer items go on sale.

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    2. that tweed skirt is a no for me and I am OK with it too. I don;t really need any more pencil skirts.
      I will be waiting for your posts about your shopping plans and strategies.

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  8. A JC-- great post here. I would like an A-line skirt in wool. Boring, I know, but a only have a couple of pencils which I love, but it's nice to have an easier skirt. If a beautiful tweed jacket comes my way, may have to bite on that too. I LOST my cashmere navy cardigan ( ? left it in a restaurant) this year and will be looking for that too.

    At the risk of appearing barking mad, I dug out my records after reading the quality posts of the last couple days. In fall 1994 I bought 2 JC cashmere cardigans in olive and camel, made in Hong Kong, not one pill, original price---$290. One was $100. and one $129 on sale. These are both doing active duty--still. The world has indeed changed. I bought my oldest a grey crewneck at Johnson's in Scotland 12 years ago; going strong!

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    1. Lane - Johnson's are excellent, I only found out last year that they supply Brora with their cashmere.

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    2. Lane, this is something that I coudl do to, check my records for prices from 15 year ago, you are not mad or we both are, lol.

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  9. Great post AJC! I was having the same "thing" this am about the 30% off sale. I almost bought the telegram satchel, then stopped myself. I had a black leather bag on my list for fall and while the lovely byzantine blue suede bag would have looked cute with the icon and the byzantine blue scarf, it was superfluous and I was afraid of the blue bleeding...

    The only reason I was even considering the bag was teh 30% off post! So, as per my post yesterday, I dumped it from my shopping cart and will pass this sale by... The green skirt is intriguing to me - I would like a print for fall - that sounds quite promising!

    One question I do have - have you seen the quality of the fall Jules dresses in wool? I have a fall dress for work on my list and thought of this dress when it showed up this a.m. Then I wondered if you could wear a blazer over it?

    We are all in this together - good to have a support group!

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    1. Agree WMM, It is awful how the sales suck us in ... We do have to support each other, good for you for sticking to your list. I also hope you got an adjustment on your Icon price, but don't spend it right away, lol.

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    2. oh, and the Jules dress, I saw it and I thought it was lovely but too short so I did not feel like trying it. But it will probably be good on you, better in fact than a long dress, lucky you!

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    3. I did get the price adjustment and the $134 I saved will be held on to be used for the list!

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  10. I don't care for the tweed skirt. It's fine, but nothing special. It also reminds me of some armchairs I know ;)

    I think you should probably not buy any of these things. You don't seem inspired by any of it. J. Crew is going to come out with something you love for fall or winter but it might not be for a few months. I think you would be happy with an Everly look-alike. I think the sweater and the pencil skirt would just be one more sweater and pencil skirt because they are basics. If you need basics, buy them, but otherwise I'd say skip them. I also missed out on the acorn heather pencil skirt last year and I think we missed them for a reason: we didn't want them that much.

    My fall wishlist would include some short, rugged, everyday boots, a necklace or two (I like pendant type necklaces the most but am still thinking about the black factory bubble necklace), and a chunky warm sweater or two (this is a challenge because I don't want my chunky sweater to make me look chunky!). I'm thinking about a pair of LL Bean boots too. I am also looking for the perfect pair of ripped boyfriend jeans. And a leather motorcycle jacket. These last 2 have been on my wishlist for a few years now. I have found jeans but not the perfect ones. I may have no need for the moto jacket so that might be a lifetime skip for me. An insulated navy field jacket is also on my list. All in all I am very happy with what I have.

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    1. Thanks Cate, that is a good advice and I will try to stick to it. I want to try the Everlys in case they go on sale one day..
      I like your list and I know what you mean about chunky sweaters, another phantom item for me. Although I have chunky Brora sweater I love, I did spent a small fortune on it but it is special. It still makes me a little chunky but I am telling myself it looks romantic, yeah right...

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  11. AJC,
    So many thought provoking issues- I think it is time we have that coffee! I hope you are not disillusioned with your reviews, because they are tremendously helpful and universally well received. Even I (and I shop in the same stores) always check your reviews, because it is always so nice to have validation of my opinions-is it too tight? is the color gorgeous or garish? is the fit different this year? I love to walk around the mall on a rainy day and poke my head in to see the newest, saving the information for a future purchase. August is always the one month of the year when nothing really speaks to me. I like to enjoy the fruits of my FS purchases, and as you know it is still hot here often until mid October. It is hard to be enthusiastic about full price(probably over priced!) items that are not useful for many months. But I still love to look. :)

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    1. Pat, as soon as I come back from vacation, if you are around we make a date...
      You are probably right about August, I still want to hold on to summer and who wants to even try sweater and jackets on? Who am I kidding, I AM THE ONE trying them, lol.

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  12. it's like the end of a thin harvest, isn't it? There was an anonymous (coded numbers only) comment on JCA a few weeks ago, when the JCAs were venting that it was time for a good promo to or sale to clear out all the old merch, and this person seemed annoyed that shoppers were seeking high quality, fair shipping practices, good materials and low prices. Annoyed! I didn't take up my sledge hammer then, but for heaven's sake, the tension between the goals of buyers and the goals of sellers is what makes a market economy. I suppose that person would have been appalled had I pointed out that in challenging the rights of buyers to question price structures, he/she was challenging Capitalism. Well, one thing about capitalism, bad merch doesn't sell at bad prices. It's not like people are buying stale bread because there are no other choices.

    Well, ajc, I didn't come here to argue, I agree with you that there's nothing much in the stores right now, and it may take some time to restock to where it's fun to go browsing again. I'm not as grumped out about this as many people, August has always been a thin month for shopping. I have an August birthday, I know.

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    1. you are right fred, this makes the market go around and it is a good thing.
      I am glad to be going on vacation again next week, I never shop on vacation and until I go it is still summer and I don't want to think about fall yet...

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  13. you are RIGHT ON again my dear! yes, yes, yes. except no tot that skirt:) it's just ok to me.

    but i hear you on everything else. so often i think...oh i need this or that wardrobe staple but in reality i've been just fine w/o it. and i agree re the j. crew looking somewhat bland or just too fancy.

    fabulous post. you nailed it. xo

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    1. thank you Janet, that skirt is probably totally bland to anyone not drunk on crewlade, I should come to my senses.
      And your post today puts all that in perspective. Really, who cares about wishlists and other silliness?

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  14. Oh Johnsons have North American stockists , they are every bit as good as Brora, just less fashion led and branded, I'm buying my navy jumper from them as its £60 cheaper, if I needed a particular colour I'd go to Brora.

    http://www.johnstonscashmere.com/index.php/retail/about-johnstons-of-elgin/stockist-locator

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    1. Tabitha, I just checked them, there are some beauties. Thankfully, nothing I liked was available in my size or I might have done some damage, I am hopeless...

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  15. Thank for sharing such a nice post. I got really a great stuff from this blog. I would like to recommend it to my friends. Nike Air Max

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  16. Thanks for the review, AJC! I have more woolens currently in my closet than I'll be able to wear during my short southern winter, so I might just sit most of this season out.

    As much as I love Emerson Fry, I didn't buy anything from this past season since none of her items for Spring/Summer really fit the bill for my current wardrobe needs (i.e. shorts and workwear). This is a complete 180 from last year when I bought 5-6 things from EF that I still wear all of the time. We'll see if she goes "back to basics" this Fall.

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    1. Hi Whitney, I cannot wait to see EF fall collection!

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    2. ITA about Emerson Fry. I have multiple dresses and jackets from the beginning of her clothing line that I love and wear all the time, but have been disappointed in recent offerings.

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  17. I am not sure I understand: you are worried because you don't have a wishlist and yoi don't need anything? That's great, congratulations!

    I am kidding (a bit), I understand the feeling of emptyness typical of August as WFF pointed out but really it would be much worst if your list was too long. And while I applaude FMM because she seems to be in a good place right now I am a bit amused at the image of all her readers pencil in hand scraping down lists. I mean, it seems like a very good idea but it doesn't work for everyone. I think it is more important to know what your personal style is and build from there. If nothing is calling your name you don't have to buy anything.
    Something that really struck me in your post is the image that you chose from the Emerson Fry website. That image could be JBrand or a lot of other department store brands and I had to click on it to checkout that it was really EF. It is an image that looks more modern than timeless IMO and tells me that maybe you need to toughen up your style a bit since your fantasies are going in that direction. JCrew is offering yet another pencil skirt and it feels boring because not only you don't need it but also because your style is going in another direction. I am not saying that you should shop for a life different than the one you are living but that you probably need black jeans more than a pencil skirt and while you can probably wait for something that fills this void at JCrew you can have fun and look at other brands. I am sure you will have plenty to put on your wishlist.
    Ok, I hope that you don't mind my analyzing you and that you can find some truth in what I said. If I completely misread you I apologize!

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  18. Hi ajc! First off, thank you for the link-love and kind words...they are always very much appreciated! :)

    Secondly, I understand your feeling of constantly running in circles all the time and not enjoying your purchases, always looking for the next best thing instead. You just described how I used to feel most of the time, and how I think that many women feel. It's almost like it's the thrill of the chase instead of the actual catch that makes us the most happy sometimes.

    I have found that taking a step back and not purchasing anything at all for awhile really helps. Work with what you have in your current wardrobe, and if there are gaps or needs, they will become apparent. That is where your list would come into play in this case. If you are unsure about what you need/want, then just avoid purchasing at all until you figure it out. If there is something you think you 'may' need or want, then write it down on your list. It doesn't mean you have to purchase it, but it will at least be a reminder for when you feel the urge to make an impulse purchase of something that isn't going to work in your wardrobe, or will be a potential return. I do have some actual needs on my list, but many of the items are simply things that would be a nice addition to my wardrobe, not actual necessities (right now most of them are NOT from J.Crew, either). I may or may not purchase them come this fall, but having them written down on my list helps me focus when all the new arrivals come out (so that I don't get so overwhelmed). :)

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  19. I like the pencil skirt on you. A lot. I can see both sides of the fence. Once you find a style, stick to it and it should help shopping & getting dressed become much easier. I find value in FFM's approach of looking for specific items. It's the way I used to shop and have lost my way. On the other hand, Ema may have a point about you wanting to break out. Remember that sometimes we are the only ones that are limiting ourselves. Maybe it's time to see yourself in a new light ;). Or maybe her comment speaks to me because I think my wardrobe has gotten too staid and my fall goal is to bring some funk into it. The good kind.

    The umbrella over the fence is that many of us don't really "need" anything else. However, as I'm going thru a major purge I do see a huge difference among the items. The items that didn't get worn, items that were only worn a few times and items that have survived other purges. The items I haven't worn are a lot of rayon type tops that I thought would drape well and hide my (perceived) flaws. The quality wasn't there to begin with, but I didn't see that at the time. Promo codes are blinding, no? lol In other items that we could count on, quality has taken a hit (i.e. JC pencil skirts FA2012). Items aren't lasting like they used to. As I try on I notice that some things still fit ok, but *feel* saggy or don't feel quite right. Xoxo & WFFred do excellent jobs of pointing out the nuances of how a garment is constructed. So what looks fine on the outside may be missing a dart or seam that would help it hold up for longer periods of time. The fast fashion creates a cavity that we're always trying to fill because it never satiates. Kind of like one good, small piece of chocolate is much more satisfying than a lot of cheap, bad chocolate. I've had a lot of cheap, bad chocolate. lol

    Thanks for the link love. :)

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  20. I haven't physically checked out this season's crop of double serge wool pencil skirts yet - I have one of the ones from last year in viridian green and I think the quality was pretty awesome. Are the new ones a lower quality? I'd be sooooo disappointed if that was the case since the price went up!

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  21. Great post and comments. The pencil skirt will likely be a fuzzy mess in short order. I have a textured wool pencil skirt from 3 years ago, pale pink, a Collection item, that I am bringing out of storage for this fall. The fabric on it is really nice. I do think the quality of the pencils might be declining. They know they will sell anyway I guess.
    Now that I've done my color story I am obsessing less about fall items. I was in JCrew on Saturday in Atlanta and bought nothing. In fact I returned a bunch of stuff I'd had delivered to my Dad's house. I am trying to buy stuff I can really use and wear, one item I am considering from the new roll-out is the wool icon in heather acorn. I have the pencil skirt and the sterling skirt in that color so I would likely wear it quite a bit. Of course I have a salmon colored wool trench already but sometimes I like to disappear a little bit with my clothes, I can't do that if I'm wearing too much color!
    I think that JCrew is more recognizable now, and I think it's hard for us to get excited about the Collection Lookbook pieces with the outrageous prices while the basic items suffer and lack that classic prettiness that J Crew did so well.
    Maybe a step away will help you re-focus. I'm going to go look at Tabs cashmere brand now and try to stay out of mischief!

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  22. My friend has the tie shirts from Emerson Made and loves them and wears them all the time with jeans. The high waisted jeans of hers' look crazy cool but I don't have the pert bum for them. I love all the cardies from 360 at the moment and the cord trou from Ag and have to stop myself from buying more more of the same...

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  23. Hi, I love the purple skirt on you! :) will check it out soon!

    Talbots is having sale now. I'll like to order a few items to try. I have searched through your blog for size reference. Would you be able to advise me what size do you take for Talbots? Both tops and bottoms please.

    Thank you again. :)))

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  24. thank you so much for this post - along with gigi and FFM's recent posts, you have all given me a lot of food for thought. i live in canada and j crew prices are higher to start off with, and then taxes always make it fun. by necessity, i can't buy a full price item unless i absolutely can't live without it (which as we know.. nothing really falls into that category unless you're thinking of a parka up here..:p) we also don't have a lot of j crew and other fun brands here, so it's not as recognizable as what it is in the US i think.

    i'm obsessed with the everly cap toe heel, though, and i have come to realize i just simply love cap toes and will graviate to them no matter what. you don't sound like you're terribly in love with any of the pieces here though, so i agree with other readers that you should wait to see what else comes out. for the fall/winter, top of my list is a pair of boots that fit my legs. seems like i've been on this quest for 6239872 years. thank you for this post! xox P

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