Showing posts with label new arrivals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new arrivals. Show all posts

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Musing on J.Crew newest arrivals and Free People OOTD

Have you checked the new arrivals at J.Crew?  I went to the store yesterday, checked the website and browsed the newest catalog.  I liked some of the looks, but have nothing really on my wish list.  Sure, I liked some of the new button downs, but I already have way more that I am able to wear. I also like some of the jeweled sweaters but it is too much pain (and money) to get them cleaned, I'd stick to providing my own jewelry over the regular sweaters.

Crepe racer tank
Crepe racer tank

In the store I tried on the Crepe racer tank in Brilliant Fuchsia and I quite liked it. I would say it fits big and still had plenty of room in size 4.  I have noticed that recently I have been taking 4 in tops and 2 in bottoms (as opposed to 6 & 4) but still, I would say size down or take the smaller of your sizes, if you are in between.  The exposed shoulder silhouette has been going strong recently and it works well for me but I am getting saturated on this front. The fabric does feel a little stiff but it did not bother me.  It is not a see through, even in ivory I think, a definite plus. The brilliant fuchsia is a very nice berry toned shade, not to bright or neon-y.  You will need a strapless bra with this one. 

Pleated chiffon blouse
Pleated chiffon blouse
I also like the pleated chiffon blouse, its clean lines remind me of something from Vince, at a better price point. I will wait for sale on this one, I don't really need it, but it may be a good buy eventually.


Tipped gamine dress
Tipped gamine dress
Since I was in the store I also tried the Tipped Gamine Dress. I wasn't really interested in it but I thought I would give you some feedback. It fit TTS, I have tried a 6 and it was a little big but they did not have a 4 to compare. I thought it would be better in 4, which seems to be my size these days in dresses and tops.  I don't like pointe fabric for summer and it felt too heavy and thick. it also had a weird and unflattering puffing in the back which was an instant deal breaker but maybe it is just my body. The length was just before the knee in regular size. The dress felt very preppy but not in a good way, more like some kind of costume I would wear to a party at a place with a swimming pool, gardens AND a private tennis court, not exactly my usual crowd, lol. 

Gwen dress in colorblock
Gwen dress in colorblock
The Gwen dress in colorblock looked good on a hanger but I really do not need it. My new office seems to be very casual,  most people were in jeans, sleeveless dresses and sandals so I don't think I would get to wear a suiting dress, plus I will be working 2-3 times a week from home. This is great because outside of the convenience, I discovered that almost all my pencil skirts and slacks are too big and hang in unflattering way on me.  I am a little torn about what to do about it. Should I alter some of my clothes to fit better and hang on to them in case I gain my weight back?  I have been lucky to be very consistent with my sizes over the years and this is something new to me.  Of course, this is a great excuse to buy some new things but I don't want to replace everything.  In any case, at least I don't have to immediately rebuilt my work wardrobe. I think I will wait through the winter and see where I am then...

No. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge wool
No. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge wool

In the meantime, I tried on the double serge wool pencil skirt, to confirm that I need a size 2. I thought it was cut very straight and it was still a little too big in the waist and not tapered enough towards the hem, I did not think it was flattering at all, just really blah. The wool seemed plush and substantial and finishing same as last year. But the fit just left me cold and I think I may prefer altering my older skirts and having them actually follow my curves (or lack of them).   



For now I am enjoying the last days of freedom from work. Here is my OOTD: Free People top (how appropriate), Paige boyfriend jeans, Kate Spade purse and Steven sandals.  

I did buy something from J.Crew recently and I will review it next. I also got a new blazer, that I am VERY excited to show you, but I need somebody to take my pictures and my 10yo is at the camp until mid August. I will try to get my older daughter to be the photographer.  She has been taking the recent pictures but she is always running around during the day...

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What are your new arrival favorites?

How do you deal with weight fluctuations when it comes to your wardrobe? Do you alter or do you keep multiple sizes?

 

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

J.Crew June Style Guide And The New Arrivals

Have you checked out the J.Crew new arrivals and June Style Guide?  In case you haven't received the June catalog, Gigi has scanned it for us here. Thank you Gigi!

I have received the catalog and I quite like the looks. The Tanzania setting certainly adds to the appeal but does not come with the clothes, unfortunately ;) I have browsed through the pages and I liked quite a few of the outfits. Then, I realized that I liked them because I already own the pieces and wear them often.  So yeah, white looks good with denim...

but how come I don't own light wash jeans???

Don't worry, that's binoculars, not a gun


substitute animal print clutch for the wildlife...
I knew it!

 White goes with black...


Even if I am not so wild about the Minnies... I do want the silver sandals.  But I would look for a better value point.


Moving on from the basics, let's talk about the prints.


I like the Hawaian shirt but I have too many button downs and long sleeve may not be that practical for a NJ summer.


The shorts are cute but I have not worn my last year's Apple shorts enough, so I think I will pass. 
 




Now, I want this print in the knee length full skirt. Because I am still stuck on this image, that I saw a while ago posted by FFM:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFvcdj2VEghzgeamTWGH3Ot2rieZrzgA1NX0rJQ5MGoibtUbApzvCNmLIXvoAfjlQxc4VxxWM_GZVOkrjrF1ote3989MYNzdQlWwUFOMaIbH-Q663m5FS5-1fgVzNoXGUFpHDxI-_IE8/s1600/Love+This.53+%28Vanessa+Jackman%29.jpg 

Of course, if JC made it, it would be a 'Collection' piece with exorbitant price, like this:

Collection silk pocket tee in Toulouse floral 

Fortunately, I don't lust after this one. And am I loosing my eyesight or do you see a pocket?


I liked the bridal section shots with the flower background. 

Note to self: I need to position myself next to flower displays more often...

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That's all folks!

What do you think of the new arrivals?

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

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Trompe l'oeil

This short sleeved patterned sweatshirt is not yet on J.Crew website, so I don;t know what the name of it would be when it is released, but the print looks like trompe l'oeil lace. I am sure this scrap of vintage lace was stumbled upon in some Italian antique shop and had J.Crew designers obsessed with it, until they recreated the pattern using the quill pen.

Lace-printed sweatshirt
Jokes aside,  I think this is a pretty top. It is boxy and on a shorter side but I think it works. I am wearing size Small, which is smaller of my non numerical sizes. Medium, which I often take, was way too shapeless.

This is also my attempt to pull of the midi length and I am quite satisfied with it. This is the best I can do I am afraid.


My old pleated skirt is from Express, made of wool and surprisingly good quality. It has that vintage ladylike feel but it is also super comfortable.


I was having trouble finding a necklace that would go with this shirt and I stubbornly insisted it needs one. I finally settled on this one because it also has that lacy quality to it and I liked a little red in this dominantly black/white/gray outfit.
Witch's shoes
My daughter thought the shoes would be perfect for Halloween, if I dressed up as a witch. Oh well, I love them. These are Noelle (sp?) booties from J.Crew that I bought last year.


I think the shirt also works dressed down with jeans and a cardigan but you can see that it is quite short and wearing a sweater is a little tricky because of the thickness of the fabric.


I am wearing my Gap sexy boyfriend crops (review here) and a Tippi cardigan from J.Crew. Messenger bag from Banana Republic and ballet flats by Sam Edelman.


The shirt was tagged at $65 but for some reason it rang up at $75. They have adjusted the price for me and I also used my 20% coupon bringing it to about $50. I brought it home to try it with what I have in my closet and I did not take the tags off yet because I am not sure if it is worth it. What do you think? Should I keep it?

***
That's all folks!

Do you like this new sweatshirt from J.Crew?

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

Thursday, October 18, 2012

J.Crew New Online Arrivals Pics and Links

J.Crew Holiday 2012 line debuted on the website today. Is there anything that caught your attention?

Here are the links to some of the items I already reviewed:

No. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge wool


Review here
Emma top in dot

Review here
not online (yet?)
Review here

Review coming up

Loomknit sweatshirt in stripe

Review here

Frenchie sweater
Frenchie sweater

Review here
Lustre lace mockneck tee

Review here
Polka-dot sequin top

Review here

No. 2 pencil skirt in corkscrew tweed

Review here

Lady jacket in corkscrew tweed


Review here

not (yet?) online
Review here
Chiffon dot top

Review here

OK, after seeing the catalog yesterday I have rather low expectations, so when I started browsing I was actually pleasantly surprised. It is not so bad, I thought. But when I thought of picking some items I like for this post, I wasn't finding much. Here are my quick picks. There is nothing I am drooling over:

I have always liked the Liberty Shirts (sans the price):
Liberty perfect shirt in assorted florals
 Liberty perfect shirt in claire-aude

Love the shape of the coat but I am pretty sure I will get bored with pink. Still, it looks lovely but too expensive for me.

Collection shawl-collar coat
The Hothouse print is questionable for me. I think this dress has a shape like the black and white tweed dress, which worked very nice for me, so I am tempted to try it. On the other hand, I am not sure if I like the print itself or is it matronly.  What do you think?

And where can you wear it outside of special events (which I don;t have any coming up)? And even then, I would probably want something more modern. Still, I want to see it IRL.
 
Hothouse floral dress
The skirt looks like a possibility too. It could be dressed down but again, but I am not sure if I like the print itself and I don;t usually wear green, although I don't know why.

Collection skirt in hothouse floral

The peplum dress may be hot mess if the fit is off but it may be a winner too. I want to try it in black, I don;t think I can pull off both peplum AND red.
 
 Peplum dress in stretch wool
And finally, No2 pencil skirt in Antique White, I thought it would be cool for winter with a black or charcoat sweater.

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That's all folks!
 
What are your favorites from this rollout?

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