J.Crew Rewiews (Medalion Skirt & Silk Crepe Tee)

After two and a half months of not buying anything, last week's STYLE40 promo finally got me to place an order with J.Crew.  I was not on any shopping ban, it was just that nothing was tempting me enough to pull the trigger.  I was not even checking the website, so I am sure there were better deals and popbacks during my time of abstinence, but I decided to try on the Silk Pleated Skirt In Mini Medalion and the Collection Silk Crepe Tee in navy. 

The skirt was one of the very few items that got my attention in the January rollout. In general, this is one of the silhouettes that I like to wear in the warmer months, fuller, shorter skirt with slightly slouchy t-shirt. 

Silk pleated skirt in mini medallion

I ordered the skirt in size 6, which is one size up from my pencil skirt size, so I can wear it a little lower on my hips. I think the length is acceptable and not too short. 

The color is pretty and from what we have seen in Fall 2013 preview, it should still be 'in' for the next season. The print is pretty and somewhat reminiscent of menswear, like ties or old fashioned pocket squares. It is a rather thin silk that has hardly any weight. That might be a good thing, as it drapes well and does not create too much volume, but it also feels a bit cheap and definitely not worth the full price. It has a poly lining, which does not bother me, but it creates a lot of static. 

In one size up, the skirt sits about 2-3  inches down the natural waist. There is no pockets :(

The skirt looks good with navy and blue, I also liked it with pink and of course you can wear it with white/ivory and black..

The color is a little different shade than my burgundy Tippy, but it still looks good together, imo. 

	Overall, even with 40% off the sale price, I am still not sure if the skirt is worth the money. It is cute but not really striking and you can probably get something similar for less. I will most likely return it, although I will keep it for a week or two to decide.
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Collection silk crepe tee

I wanted to get the Collection silk crepe tee from the time it made a debut on J.Crew website last year. Well, I always wanted the ivory one, but could never catch it at the price that was acceptable to me. A while ago I actually ordered it at full price to know my size and determined that it runs TTS. The $188 was more than I was willing to pay and the little pocket bothered me a little bit. But overall, I think it is one of J.Crew better staples, the silk is substantial and it drapes well.

The shade of navy is very pretty. Not so dark that it looks almost black, but not blue either. The shape is a little boxy and it may be short for some, but I actually like it this way. The boxy shape makes it more casual and t-shirt like and the shorter length is better for wearing with skirts. It is still OK with pants one me, but I have a relatively short torso for someone 5'6.

The tee is still not cheap (around $100) but I think it is worth it, as it is a very nice basic, if you need something like this. The reason I was interested in the navy version was because I had two skirts to wear it with in mind. One was the Gallerista skirt, that I often wear quite casual, but wanted to have a dressier option. Another skirt that I love but it was always missing a perfect top, is my Silk Indigo skirt from few years ago. I like how the tee looks with both of them and that sealed the deal for me.

I also tried it with my Madewell Rouge Dot skirt and Foulard print capris that are other slightly orphaned items in my closet and it worked with them quite well. 

I think this tee fills a small gap in my wardrobe and will pair well with a few of my favorite items. I still would like to get an ivory one but the navy might be more practical. The only thing I am a little concerned with is a dry cleaning. I hate dry cleaning items, especially in the summer because it is so expensive and I never get around to it so this limits the item versatility. I did recently machine washed my Blythe polka dot blouse and it came out perfectly, but somehow I am more hesitant about the silk crepe. I am not sure if this is justified.

Have you tried washing this type of silk crepe? Or is it too difficult to iron it afterwards? I would love some advice here.

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What do you think of the skirt and the tee?

Do you think I should keep any of them?

Did you buy anything with STYLE40?

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