Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Buying Pencils

Did you get all your back-to-school supplies shopping done? We just did. We are those last minute shoppers, frantically searching the half empty shelves at Staples and Office Depot, in a desperate attempt to find the perfect binder. But somehow it always works out in the end.

Of course,  in the fall clothing department, I am way ahead of schedule. With the recent 30% off, I have just ordered some wool pencil skirts, that I will not be able to wear for at least another month.  Now, pencil skirts were NOT on my list, as I feel I already have too many, but it was hard to resist the price and thinking that 'they are not going to be cheaper anytime soon', etc. I know this is the game the retailers play with us, but I still fell for it.

After deliberating a little, I have ordered not one, but three pencil skirts. After trying them on, I thought I will add in to the discussion about declining quality and different fit of this year's J.Crew pencil skirts. 

Size 4

First up is the No. 2 pencil skirt in herringbone in Watercolor Blue. I was looking for a light blue skirt and the color seemed pretty from the website pictures.

The fit is about the same as my other wool pencil skirts. The material is thinner than my double serge wool but I think it is a looser weave of the herrighbone. I have an older ('08) charcoal pencil skirt in herringhbone and I think it is very similar. My '08 one has a bit more defined waist (and truly fashioned waistband) but also tends to show more lumps and bumps because of the fabric weight. The shape is about the same, although the charcoal one seems shorter because it sits higher on the waist.

I felt rather dowdy in the Heather Acorn when I tried it (see HERE), but not in this one, I think it is the effect of the color. I never thought J.Crew pencil skirts were very body conscious anyway and it is mostly colors that make them stand out.


The Watercolor Blue is pretty and the name seems very appropriate. It is not a clear pastel shade and has a lot of gray in it. This makes it more sophisticated but also more difficult to match with other colors. I found it worked with my Liberty shirt and also with my gray cashmere sweaters both in brownish gray and silver gray, white and black of course, but not much more. I think it would be nice with a silk burgundy blouse but I don't have one to try.



Overall, I think it is a pretty skirt and worth the sale price, if you can work with the color and don't mind a little less structured fit.

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Another wool pencil skirt I wanted to try was the No. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge wool in Festival Blue.  I was also curious about the Tall sizes.  Regular pencil skirt length does not bother me and I can wear it to the office without problems, but I wanted to have another option.

For comparison purposes, I am 5'6" with 33" inseam. I wear 4 in regular pencils and I ordered 4 in Tall.

Like I mentioned above, I have tried a regular length in this skirt in Heather Acorn and I did not like neither the fit nor the fabric.  I almost gave up on this year's skirts but I have heard reports from other JCAs (thank you kitsmommy!) that different colors may be better, so I ordered Festival Blue and Berry Pink, both in Tall.

Size Tall 4
I have to say, if the Festival Blue was the first No2 double serge wool skirt I tried this year I would not notice any decline in quality. It seems very nice, I like the wider gross grain waistband and the color is beautiful. It does not seem less structured or more prone to pilling. The fabric is thinner but that is not necessary bad


The fit is different, but I attribute it to being the Tall size. It seems more tapered towards the bottom, I guess because it is longer. I am not sure about the longer length overall but I do like the drape. The longer length has slightly different proportions and would definitely benefit from some heels. The espadrilles that I am wearing, which are almost flat, are not doing anything to elongate my calves but if you picture it with black Valentinas, it should look much better.

The color itself is TDF, but like most blues, I find it difficult to style. Besides black, it looks best with printed top that has some deep blue in it. The Liberty shirt worked, also my Silk Indigo cami and Paintbox floral cardigan turned out a perfect match. The shade of French Dove Graphic Tee is also very close match, so it may be an option paired with a black cardi. It may also work with certain shades of burgundy (again!) and brown.


Overall, a great skirt, if you have enough to wear it with.

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I also tried Berry Pink but as soon as I opened the package, I knew it is not going to work for me. It is a pretty shade (watermelon with a drop of milk?), just not something I wanted to add to my wardrobe.


The fit is the same and the fabric seems same quality.

Size Medium

Another thing that I have thrown in with my order was the colorblock perfect tee. I have it in black/natural and I love it, so I thought navy and blue may be a good option too. It is, but I think I would have prefered a Small. It looks OK in the picture but it felt loose irl and I think Small would have more streamlined fit. It  looks nice with dark denim or navy skirt.

The last item that came with my order was the patent leather skinny belt. I love this belt and this is a third I ordered. One was 'borrowed' by my older daughter, never to be seen again, second one I recently left in the hotel room, so I needed a replacement. It runs large. I am wearing a Small and I use the second  hole when wearing it at my waist so be sure to size down.  On the other hand, it is great that I can also wear it with jeans!

***
That's all folks!

What is your experience with this year's double serge wool?
What do you think of the fit of tall size on me, is it nice or better in regular?
Which blue skirt would you pick?

What colors would you  pair with either blues?

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

36 comments:

  1. This is so helpful, A JC. I have the festival blue in long in my cart, also in tall, so I am glad to hear there is a good chance I will love it. I think you could wear a modern red top with the paler blue skirt.

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    1. I was afraid that the tall is going to be too long but after all it is only 25.5", they used to have regular skirts that long. I like the modern red idea, thanks!

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  2. I really want to try the festival blue pencil skirt and if it drops more in price,i probably will.
    Have you tried pairing jade or green wit the blue skirt.I think i would pair it with the right shade of pink too.
    I only have one pncil skirt(warm jade) and i love it!

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    1. Funny about the price, even last year I think itwasafter January when the pencil skirts dropped in price, definitely seething is not working for jcrew, could it be quality?
      I think jade green with festival blue would be striking!

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  3. I love the blue double serge skirt on you. It looks good with the liberty shirt. I got the same skirt, but I ordered it in petite bc I actually wanted a shorter option from my older double serge skirts. The color is gorgeous, but the material is deffinitely thinner. I also returned the berry colored skirt. That color is not for me. I didn't even open the package once I saw the color. I tried the herringbone skirt in purple and the fit was off in both regular and petite sizing. The regular one felt soo long. I got a hacking jacket in that same material at the sample sale in June and kind of toyed with the idea of having a fun Fall suit, but that was not meant to be:).
    I love the colorblock shirt on you.
    Thanks for the reviews!

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    1. Hi A, I think longer length sounds good in theory but sometimes it is hard to pull off. While I think longer length looks more elegant, I think proportions are not ideal on me and only work with heels or tall boots. For some reason the herringbone seems almost as long as the tall, it must be sitting lower on hips, I think the waistband is wider.

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  4. Oh I love the longer length, I think I'll order that if I ever order another pencil, I think the shape is so much better and more reminiscent of the proper 50's pencils skirts which I love. I took my J Crew skirts to the tailors last week but they couldn't let them down which was a bit of a bummer. Tall it is from now on - oh do you just stick with your regular size but order the tall option?

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    1. Definitely the look is more elegant with no knee visible. I also think it is better with boots. I never liked when you get the line between the skirt and boots interrupted by the knees. But I am afraid the proportions may be off especially being short waisted. I think the blue would be stunning on you with your blue eyes and dark hair. Remember i can always ship to you.. Yes, the same size in talls.

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    2. Me too I hate the boot leg gap! I think I'm short waisted too, but wait ...on my other pencils my waist is up quite high, does that mean short waisted? That's why they all seem too short on me.

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  5. The two blue skirts are both really nice you and you have a good collection of tops to pair with them. The tall really elongates and flatters your figure and with the heels even longer. I'm not that daring with color combinations so I'd wear the silk indigo floral top (I have it and love it, such nice quality silk) and a black Jackie style cardigan and the black Valentina heels and feel very comfortable.




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    1. Thank you AmW! We could be twins, I actually tried exactly the combination you suggested and I liked it a lot. I left the top untucked, otherwise it ballooned too much. Since the skirt is longer it balanced the longer top.

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  6. I just got my first ever No. 2 pencil skirt in deck stripe and love it! Want to jump in for another one and thank you so much for your detailed reviews! They are truly helpful. I think I would go for the tall size(even though I'm not really tall, 5'6"). Think the fit is much better on you than the regular size.

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    1. I am also 5'6 so it should be the same length on you. It is a little misleading they call it tall, 25" used to be regular length, it is not even going to be knee length on taller gals!

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  7. what a great review - thank you!! i wanted to get the festival blue but realized reading this post that i have a similar cobalt coloured cotton pencil skirt and will have duplicated. i'm quite intrigued by the herringbone though, and will go back to look at the site. these skirts really suit you and your tops - great buys! xox P

    phiphisblog.com

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    1. Festival blue is Reilly stunning but the more I think about it the more I am inclined to keep the watercolor blue, it seems to go with more in my closet and I originally wanted light blue skirt, I was stalking Nordic blue from 2010 forever but never scored it.

      If anybody wants to get rid of theirs in size 4 or 6 please let me know!

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  8. Thanks for posting the color combinations with the tops! That was really helpful. I'm loving all your picks for the Festival Blue color - the camel/beige tones are absolutely delicious matches.

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    1. It was actually helpful for me too! I held the skirt against everything in the closet and found some things I did not think about at first .

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  9. Thank you as always for your great reviews. You really take the hard work out of shopping for the rest of us. Will you be going to J Crew for Fashion's Night out? I am debating.(You can e-mail me if you are:))The berry is a gorgeous color, but one that would be hard to match- I agree.

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    1. I am tempted but I have to check with hubs if he can stay home, I will email you, it would be more fun if we we meet up.

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  10. I really like the watercolor blue skirt, that color is so pretty.
    I'm not buying any pencils this year, I have an older heather acorn and the pink boucle pencil from 2009, that's enough for me.
    Excellent reviews and thanks for the tip on the patent belt!

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    1. I thought I would get heather acorn but it was so blah I was not even tempted. I wanted a blue skirt but if I keep it it will only be one, currently I leaning toward herringbone one.
      That black belt is a great basic, I love it!

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    2. I'm with Dani, no pencil skirts for me this year, at least not solid colored ones, since I have ones from past that I love. For the acorn color, I went for the sterling skirt from last year so I think I'm set there. I love how the black belt really punched up your shirt and skirt, ajc.

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  11. Great reviews as always ajc! :) They all look so flattering on you! I'm disappointed in the reduced quality of the No. 2 double serge, so am not keeping mine, but I still think it looks nice and flattering. The length is perfect too.

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    1. The quality of festival blue did not bother me, thinner does not mean worse but I suppose the skirts must not be selling so well since they are deeply discounted already, I don't remember it ever happening but they also increased the price which I don't think it is a right move. If you price something to high many times you end up selling it lower that you should, you'd think that the know that...

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  12. I think the Talls look good on you, but the Regular length might give you the flexibility to wear a flat shoe. It looks like the shoe you have on in these pictures has at least a little heel on it. But maybe you won't ever want to wear flats with a pencil skirt, so in that case, I like the Talls. I think the Festival Blue looks better than the Watercolor Blue herringbone. I would probably put navy or gray with both blues. Thanks for the reviews!

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    1. Care, I rarely wear flats except for boots in which case I think it would be ok but I am leaning towards the lighter blue because it is a more versatile color for me.

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  13. Thanks for the reviews and I really like the herringbone and festival blue on you. The tall fits you and looks very glam. I've never ordered a wool pencil and had one in my cart waiting for a sale and voila I went to check your size and to my surprize that was today's post. Perfect timing !

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    1. Hi Marsha, glad to be of service. Cannot believe you haven't bought the pencil skirt yet! I am consistently 4 in double serge wool, I don't think I have it in any other size.

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  14. AJC - I really love the festival blue! Thanks for the great reviews! I am not like Tabs - at only 5'2", I need things to go no further than mid-knee unless they are a maxi. Anything else simply makes me a look shorter!!!

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    1. I'm only two inches taller than you WMM, with flats no, but with heels I love a longer line pencil skirt as it gives such along lean look.

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    2. I think you will love the festival blue irl! And I agree, I like shorter lengths on you, definitely!

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  15. I love the blues on you, ajc. Definitely keepers. :)

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  16. Agree with Gigi. All of the skirts you tried, actually, look fabulous on you!

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    1. After seeing this pics last night, I was oh SO tempted, but took a look at my fall/winter closet this morning and saw all those gorgeous hued JC pencil skirts... still with TAGS on them... so decided I need to sit this year out...

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  17. I ended up ordering Festival Blue too, but in a reg. version, can't wait to see it in RL. So many great color choices this season, hard to choose.

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