The Fab Life

Making every day fabulous

J. Crew New Arrivals – September 2018

Hello! Wow, it’s been a while. Six months in fact. It’s been a slow spring and summer in the J.Crew space and I admittedly have been heavily utilizing my Rent the Runway subscription for work clothes and wearing a lot of last summer’s J.Crew purchases on the weekends. But when this latest J.Crew rollout was released, I had to stop by and check things out. And try and get a quick blog post in before we hop across the Atlantic for vacation!

I tried on a lot of items so this will be a long post since I won’t have time to split it in two. So here goes! Reviews may be on the short side due to volume but I’ll do my best. First up, the Point Sur All Over Pointelle Crewneck Sweater in ivory.

This also comes in pink, navy and loden and is 100% cotton. I really liked this and I am wearing a small which fit, but I may have tried a medium for a little more room. I’m wearing with a Tencel tank top underneath and the 9″ high rise toothpink in Solano wash (loved these and wearing a 29 – waist was a bit bigger than my other 29s but need the room for my legs). I’m not quite ready for fall but this outfit was a great staple combination (I’d pair with a leopard or camel belt.

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J.Crew New Arrivals – February 2018 Mini Rollout

Hello! I had planned on not posting again until the next rollout at the end of the month or to write a post about my Rent the Runway Unlimited experience, but sometimes things don’t go as planned and you make a last minute trip to the store to check out some of the mid-month new arrivals. I did succeed in leaving the store without buying anything, but I do have a few items on my wishlist.

First up, the Cotton Skirt in Liberty® Floral Symphony and the Cotton Jackie Cardigan with Eyelet Lace

I’m wearing a medium in the cardigan and a size 6 in the skirt, both of which were good. I may have been able to size down in the skirt, but the 6 was plenty comfortable. The cardigan is pretty but not completely my style and I would have preferred it to be more of at true mint color than this dusty blue mint shade. This also comes in black and I can’t seem to find this color on the website anymore so it’s either sold out already or they’ve pulled it off the site for the current promotion. The skirt is pretty but I would have rather had a pencil skirt in the print. I also expected the print to be a bit more saturated than it was, as most other Liberty prints are. The skirt is a pull on and there is no zipper.

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J. Crew New Arrivals – February 2018

Hello! It has been too long – somehow it’s been a few months since I’ve posted last. January had me busy with some traveling and plenty of post-holiday shopping (hello 50% off sale at J.Crew that lasted ALL month). I’ve been feeling a little shopped out lately as I often do this time of year. Don’t worry, I usually recover in time to be all over spring purchases. But I am trying to be more mindful about purchases and taking time to actually wear the clothes in my closet. The January/February rollouts are often the less exciting ones at most retailers as they’re trying to preview spring clothes and we’re still working our way through winter clothes as winter is showing no signs of budging. However, I had some returns to make this past weekend so I stopped in to my store and tried on some of the new arrivals at J.Crew.

First up, the Wrap Dress in 365 Crepe.

This is a big love for me. I thought it looked just ok on the model, if not a little sloppy the way the dress is flopping open in the website photo. But, as you can see, no flopping action here and there is a little button inside the dress to keep everything together. It is a true wrap dress so it’s a bit of a chore to get in/out of it, get tied up correctly and all that fun stuff. I don’t have the right bra on but it would be less busty with the right undergarments and I would probably employ some double sided tape to make sure there were no wardrobe malfunctions. I’m wearing a size 6 which is my regular dress size and I’m 5’8″ and this was above my knee and as you can see the sleeves are bracelet if not 3/4 length. I could possible do a tall in this and I may still try that out for sleeve length but the length of the dress itself doesn’t bother me. This reminded me of a DVF dress I rented recently from my Rent the Runway Unlimited subscription (more on that in another post soon I promise!) and while not as heavy as that dress, I can definitely see being able to wear this all year, hence the name! This also comes in a dark green, which my store did not have but I was happy with the black.

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J.Crew New Arrivals – December 2017 Style Guide

Hello! Somehow it is already time for holiday season rollouts. I have a bit of a weakness for these rollouts – sequins, sparkles, velvet, plaid, I want it all. And there’s never enough time to wear it all. Which is what I am trying to keep in mind this year as I decide what to add in to the holiday rotation. This year’s holiday style guide was smaller than in year’s past and the new strategy at J.Crew seems to be doing smaller rollouts every few weeks. I was admittedly a little underwhelmed with the first rollout but stopped in to check it out in person and was pleased to see that a lot of the plaid will be coming in the next few weeks.

First up, the Lady Jacket in Sequin Tweed which I am wearing with the Perfect Shirt with Velvet Bows and Easy Pant in Velvet.

I loved all of these pieces. The velvet pants were a surprise love. I’m wearing a 6 which is a size down from my usual pant size and I still felt like I had a bit of breathing room. I’m wearing a 6 in both the jacket and the button down so they are true to size. The button down is a redo of last year’s Thomas Mason version. It reads a little waitstaff-ish on it’s own, but I think styled right, it’s a great holiday top. It is on the thinner side but that wasn’t a deal breaker for me (you can see my black bra under it in the next photo). I didn’t try the Thomas Mason version last year so I can’t compare the two. I did really like the jacket but know it would probably not get worn enough with the more voluminous sleeves, but I’ll consider it on sale. The only thing that bothered me was the lining was navy and orange which just didn’t match the look of the jacket. Not that you can see the lining but…black and red or grey would have made more sense. I have the Easy pants in matte crepe (both the Factory and the retail version) and while I wear an 8 in those, I thought the 6 was a good fit in these. I did take these home.

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J.Crew New Arrivals – November 2017

Hi there! Another month has passed and it is again time for new arrivals at J.Crew. This is the last fall rollout before we will see holiday items in November. There was no style guide this go around, only a small coat mailer, much to the chagrin of many J.Crew fans. My wallet is happy that I didn’t love every last thing in the rollout, but I did find a few things to take home, mostly staples for fall as I continue to rebuild my wardrobe.

First up is the Striped Turtleneck Sweater-Dress.

This dress comes in black/saddle and grey/ivory. My store only had the black/camel color in the store and it was almost sold out when I stopped in to shop. I am wearing a small and still have room. It is on the generous side but due to my curvy figure, I wouldn’t have attempted a smaller size. The ribbed mockneck is a nod to the 90’s without being blatant. The dress is a merino blend which is unfortunate and I’m hoping this one will hold up. I appreciated the length right above my knee. I have already worn this with black tights and black ankle boots.

Next up, the Cameron Bow Stretch Chino Pant with the Tiered bell-sleeve top in drapey crepe.

Earrings: J.Crew Drop Stone Earrings / Shoes: J.Crew (old, similar here and here)

My SA was wearing this combination when I stopped in, and I tried it out as well. I am not one to wear a lot of khakis so while they were cute, they were a pass. I’m wearing a size 10 in the pants which is a size up from my regular pant size and a size 4 in the blouse so I sized down in the blouse. I probably would have been fine with a 6 in the blouse as well. The top comes in ivory (it’s sort of a pink hued ivory) and ruby red. The red is a little muted and very pretty as well. I know every retailer is carrying piles of ruffles, bell sleeves and off-the-shoulder looks lately, but I liked this top and I would probably wear it after the trend has passed.

Next up, the Peplum-Sleeve V-Neck Sweater with the High-Rise Toothpick Jean in Prescott Wash.


This sweater also comes in smoky olive, heather river (light blue), and black. Again, it’s a wool/acrylic/nylon blend. I’m wearing a small in the sweater which is my regular size and it was a good fit. I like the slightly flared sleeves and slim fit in the body. And these jeans. I’m in love. I hadn’t tried the high-rise jeans since they renamed them and I love the dark wash with the faded front. I’m wearing a size 29 which seems to be my regular denim size these days.

Next up, the Tres Chic T-Shirt.

This is so cute! I’m wearing a size small. It seemed to run a tad small but not enough to go up a size. The tee is ivory and the lettering is blue and navy. I’ve bought my share of statement tees and I was glad to add this one to the collection. I’ve already worn it with my chino ruffle jacket, jeans and leopard flats and I’m sure I will be getting more wear out of it in to the fall.

Next up, the Embellished Cable Sweater.

I liked the look of this in the rollout but unfortunately it was a little too cropped for my taste. I’m wearing a size small in this and it’s still relaxed in the body. This is cute and I think if you’re more petite or don’t mind the more cropped look it’s a fun take on an ivory sweater. I thought I wasn’t going to like the not so full turtleneck neck but it didn’t bother me.

Next up, the Convertible Sweater Cape.

This comes in XXS/XS S/M and L/XL. I’m wearing the S/M and it was the right size. This was incredibly soft but it seems like it would be a shedding machine. But it was cozy. My issue is that always try on ponchos or capes and think I’m going to wear them and then never do, so this was a pass for me.

Next up, the Harlow Cardigan Sweater with Velvet Front

I am wearing a small in this cardigan. I liked the look of this laid out on the table but when I put it on it had the feeling of wearing a black vest over a grey cardigan and I wasn’t a fan of the contrast. The material is a wool blend as well which is also disappointing for their cardigans. Length wise it was ok though and this was my first try of the Harlow cardigan. I’m pretty set in the cardigan category, this was a pass for me.

Last up, the Ruffle-Hem Dress in Paisley Floral.

I saw this print online and I really wanted to like this in person but the print fell flat for me in person. I’m wearing a 6 in the dress which is the right size but ugh, these ruffles. There’s a ruffle right below the bust and then one on the back of the dress below the rear which made the back of this dress really unflattering as well. There is something off about the print to me. I didn’t try the blouse which was the piece I originally thought I’d like but since I didn’t love the print I didn’t try it out. I am really missing old school J.Crew prints lately!

So, that’s my recap of the latest J. Crew rollout. There are apparently more items arriving in store this week so it wasn’t the full rollout last week. Any items you are loving? Not so much? Would love to hear what you think and thanks for stopping by!

 

J.Crew New Arrivals – October 2017 Style Guide

Hello! Time for the first big full fall rollout at J.Crew! It’s usually my favorite time of year but for some reason this post took me forever to put together. Probably because I didn’t find that I loved everything I tried on. I didn’t leave completely empty handed but I was able to be a little more discerning and with the rate of things hitting sale these days, and the summer weather still upon us, there’s not much point at buying a lot out of the gate.

First up, in which I go against my goal of not buying too many fancy items that I will hardly wear. This is the Tiered Skirt in Polka Dot Embroidered Tulle which I am wearing with the Rue Saint-Honoré” graphic T-shirt.

I am wearing the 6 in the skirt, so the smaller of my two skirt sizes because it has a looser skirt and a small in the t-shirt. There was something about this skirt that spoke to me when I saw it online. Yes, it’s a little dressy for the office. I definitely wavered on purchasing this but with an extra 15% off coupon with the in store promotion, I went for it. I’m hoping it will make it in to the holiday party rotation and maybe to work as well. Yes, this is me attempting to justify this purchase. Onward.

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