The Fab Life

Hi! As promised, I’m back with part two of my September 2016 J.Crew try-on session last week. You can see part one in this post.

First up, the Colorblock Stripe Ponte Dress. I cannot walk by a striped dress and not try it on.

Necklace: J.Crew Enamel Locket Necklace

This dress runs big. I think it looks better in the photo than it felt on me in the dressing room – I felt like it was just a tad too tight and short for my comfort. This is a medium and is definitely hugging my curves. I didn’t try the large, but the sleeves are bigger than the body in this dress and while I would have appreciated the room in the hip/length in a large, the arms would have been huge and odd looking since they’re 3/4 length. I would size down in this one. As you can see, length is above my knees but it’s a cute toss on and go weekend dress. It was a substantial weight too, not too thin or super thick, it reminded me of the maritime dress from a few years ago.

Next up is the Rhodes Blazer in Wild Flamingo. I ordered this online when it was showing low stock and my store was practically wiped out of it as well.

This is my first time trying the Rhodes Blazer and I would say it runs TTS to a bit large. I think the cut is flattering but I had to double check that this was actually wool. As I noted with the Rhodes pants, this is a woven wool – it’s not what I expected at all. I’m used to my (non super 120s) wool blazers to be a little softer and the woven material was really throwing me off. It’s a warm jacket and the saturated pink is beautiful. However, I do have the pink Schoolboy blazer (and a pink wool hacking jacket…and a wool pink Bella jacket) from a few years ago so I’m not sure another of these blazers is totally necessary. Let’s just say I was on the bright pink blazer bandwagon well before J.Crew determined there are 226 shades of pink. I’m still kicking myself for not grabbing the peppermint pink blazer from last year. I digress. The gold buttons aren’t a deal breaker for me but I would prefer them in a more muted tone. I’m a 10/12 in blazers depending on the blazer and this is a 12.  Here’s a closeup of the buttons and you can see the woven nature of the wool. I do adore how it’s styled in the catalog with a black/white striped tee and dark jeans and I’ll be copying that look this fall regardless of if I keep this blazer. As I said before, I love how the style guide this season is refreshing some ways to wear classics.

Ok, enough of pink, onward to the Tippi Sweater in Argyle in Black/Ivory. This also comes in cabernet/geranium (read: burgundy and pink) as well as elm/aqua (brown/aqua blue and what looks like a peachy color).

Pants: J.Crew Teddie Pant/ Loafers: Charlie Tassel Loafer in Snakeskin / Necklace: J.Crew Enamel Locket Necklace

I’m wearing a medium which is the smaller of my two sizes but I feel is the better size in the new style of Tippis. The wool is on the lighter end and seems to be less substantial than the regular Tippi sweaters. I have a few old school J.Crew argyle sweaters that I’ve found on eBay over the years so this isn’t a must have for me but it’s cute. The only reason I might go up to a large in this would be to prevent the pulling across my chest which is my main complaint when wearing argyle like this. It’s just what happens when you have a chest!

Next up, the Margot Top in Silk Foulard. I’m wearing a size 12 in this blouse and would consider it true to size.

The color is out of my general wheelhouse (blue/brown) but I love a good foulard print and J.Crew always nails it. I like that the ruffles aren’t over the top and while I don’t wear a ton of brown, I would wear this under a navy suit. The silk was substantial weight, and the colors are a little more saturated than they show in these photos. I also tried it with the Campbell Blazer in Houndstooth (shown below) and it looked good paired with that.

I’m wearing a 10 in the blazer and I thought it seemed flimsier than most of their wool blazers and the wool is on the scratchier side but it is lined. It was lacking the structure I’d like in a blazer. It felt wimpy to me if that makes any sense. The houndstooth is navy and white.

Last up are a few of the leopard items, starting with the Shift Dress in Leopard. This dress also comes in petite and tall. I’m wearing a 12 which is my usual J.Crew dress size.

Oh, I don’t even know where to start with this dress. First, the material. It’s shiny and heavy and weird. I love a good leopard print and this dress would have been so much cuter in a nice wool. The front chest area is also stitched in a v-pattern which doesn’t really add anything to the look of the dress. It fit like most shift dresses fit me – tight in the hips. Shift dresses are a style I shy away from and this dress will probably look good on people who look good in shift dresses. They’re not my thing. I do think paired with a black turtleneck and tights and booties it would be really cute for winter, but gah. The fabric. It reads cheap to me. The tie-waist skirt is the same material and given items with a thick waist tie don’t do much for my figure, I passed on trying on the skirt. I guess we can’t win them all, but J.Crew, this would have been so much better in wool.

And lastly, the Lightweight wool Jackie Shell in Leopard. I tried a large in this since that’s what size I wear in the cotton Jackie shells (but still find to be slightly short). The wool shell was a little longer but ooh look at those big arm holes. Yikes.

For some reason, I didn’t grab the matching Jackie cardigan in Leopard to try on but I’m usually a large in the Jackie sweaters. Arm holes aside, I like the print on these, and they are a nice lightweight wool. I haven’t bought any of the wool Jackie cardigans because I can do without the gold buttons, but on this leopard print, they pretty much blend in to the wool. If you can size down in the shell, that would probably solve the arm hole issue but I think the smaller size wouldn’t work with my bust.

There you have it, the second half of my September catalog try-ons and I feel like I still have to get back to the store for one more round of perusing the store. As I said before, I foresee some closet cleaning come fall so I can focus on what I’ll be looking to fill in come fall/winter. Any of these your favorites? Not so much? Would love to hear what you think and thanks for visiting!!

Hello! As promised, I’m back with some of the new J.Crew fall arrivals. Fall is always my favorite clothing season and while I’m not rushing the rest of this summer, I was excited to get my fall J.Crew style guide and find there was plenty to love in the new catalog. This is probably one of my favorite rollouts in a while (and not only because it features a fantastic shade of flamingo pink). I found there was a lot to love in the way of neutrals and I enjoyed seeing styling that I can implement using my current closet items. I feel a post-summer closet purge coming on and I’m definitely trying to be a little more deliberate about what I’m adding to my closet this fall to make sure that it’s money well spent. But..in the mean time, let’s try on some clothes! I am splitting this in to two posts because I had more photos than I realized.

First up, the Ruffle Front Chiffon Top in Vibrant Paisley and the Double Pleated Skirt in Vivid Paisley. I’m wearing a 12 in both so I would say they are true to size. I had to go back and make sure I had the print names right…vibrant…vivid, what’s the difference? They look the same to me! Typo, perhaps?

Necklace: J.Crew Enamel Locket Necklace / Shoes: J.Crew Elsie Suede Pumps

I have to say, I didn’t hate this. In J.Crew speak, this “hookup” of two items in the same print had an odd appeal to me. Looking at the photos there’s a bit of a retro vibe to this and the pendant necklace is adding to that look. I liked the skirt a lot more than I thought I would. Sometimes the lighter weight skirts highlight my hips and problem areas. The blouse was also very nice and I appreciated the very subtle ruffles, they were not anything that added to my chest area. The blouse comes in a navy polka dot version as well. The skirt length was reasonable for work and I think it would look nice with a neutral or burgundy top. Here’s a closeup of the print:

I tried it with the Tippi Sweater with Ruffles in fuschia blossom (shown below.) but it was a bit too much pink for me.  The neutral shoes are a must with this much pink!

I’m wearing a medium in the Tippi sweater and have found this next generation of Tippi sweaters runs generous as I’m a medium or large in tops.

Next up are the Rhodes pant in Italian wool in wild flamingo.

I’m often a 14 in suiting pants (which end up gaping at the waist) and these are a size 12. They just fit and you can see where they’re pulling a bit in the leg. I wouldn’t have worn these with a tucked in top so the 14s might be worth a try but I’m a little worried they’d be too big. The wool on these is woven and I’ve seen several comparisons to the wool café capris of a few years ago which I would agree with – but these have a thicker weave fabric. I’m not personally sold on the fit for me though so these were a pass for now. I do really like the thicker cuff on the bottom.

Next up, the Edie Top in Shirting Stripe. I was on the fence on this top but couldn’t stop thinking about it and had to see it for myself. It runs true to size, I’m wearing a 12.

Pants: J.Crew Teddie Pant/ Loafers: Charlie Tassel Loafer in Snakeskin

I took it off and put it back on so the sleeves are scrunched up and I didn’t notice until later. I am back and forth in my opinion of this top. The ruffle needs a little fluffing and I tried it on with the pink pants too but I liked the black pairing much better. You can see the pairing with the pink pants on my Instagram page here.  I love the shirting stripe and this made me want a basic top in the same stripe! This enamel necklace is growing on me too. The loafers are true to size as are the Teddie pants.

I also tried the Ruffle Top in Shirting Stripe to see if I liked this better than the Edie top. This is a size 10 so it runs a bit large. This is cute, it has an open back but I found these ruffles to be even more cutesy than the other top.

Here’s the Edie Top in Shirting Stripe paired with the Regent Blazer in Warm Camel. This is a size 10 which is the smaller of my two blazer sizes and the size of most of my older Schoolboy blazers.

I have been wanting a solid camel blazer as the one I had from Factory wasn’t quite the right shade of camel for me. I have a few of the heavier wool Regents from last year and I really like this lighter wool solid version and I can’t believe this is the first time I’m trying it on as I like the fit even better than the heavier wool ones I own. The natural state of this blazer is a popped collar but this current style guide shows it with the collar turned down which you can do with it as well. This is at the top of my wishlist right now and I am loving some of the looks in this month’s style guide featuring a camel blazer and more neutral pairings.

Lastly for this post is the Monday dress in Fiery Sunset. This is a size 12 and as you can see, Spanx would be needed. The lighter color highlights any imperfections but the cut of the dress is beautiful, it’s a work-appropriate length and while the sleeves are a bit much for me, you could throw on a blazer and be good to go.

So, that’s it for now…I’ll do another post with the rest of my try-ons. How about you, what are you loving from this rollout? Any favorites from this post? Would love to hear what you think and thanks for visiting!

After a quick early morning look at the new May J.Crew arrivals, I ordered a few items that immediately caught my eye, including the No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Paisley  and the Cotton Off-The-Shoulder Top in Stripe. I was excited to finally see a cotton printed pencil skirt (and at a reasonable price point!) in the latest rollout. With the regular length showing a measurement of 25″ (hooray!) I ordered the regular length in this skirt and decided on my regular size 12 due to the cotton/elastane mix. I have had to size up with the non-stretch skirts of late, but most of the J.Crew cotton pencil skirts in my closet are a size 12.

Top: J.Crew Cotton Jackie Shell (older version), Shoes: J.Crew Leather Elsie Pumps

I have to say, I was unsure when I saw the print up close – the main colors are royal blue, yellow, coral and a salmon pink. I don’t wear a lot of blue, and at first I was a bit stumped as to how to style it other than a chambray shirt. This is one of those prints that I like better from far away than up close. I’m wearing it here similar to how it’s styled in the catalog, however, I found that several colors, like lavender and coral, look good with this skirt. Here’s a close-up of the pattern:

I also have the Short-sleeve Popover in Stripe and will try that pairing as well, similar to the website styling. The fit on this is perfect so I’m pleased to say it is true to size – the waistband hits at the higher end of the waist, and I’m thrilled that it actually hits at my knees (I’m 5’8″). The cotton is a textured cotton and lined with what I’m guessing is polyester (the tag doesn’t specify). I personally don’t mind the poly lining as I’m not usually wearing these types of skirts anywhere but work in the summer time. I know some of my older cotton pencil skirts are either unlined or lined with cotton. Overall, bravo, J.Crew. Please make more skirts like this! Here’s the skirt with a (slightly wrinkled) lavender Tippi sweater.

Sweater: J.Crew Tippi Sweater

Next up, the Cotton off-the-shoulder top in stripe. I wasn’t necessarily waiting for these tops to come out, as others were, but I like the look on others, and I was looking forward to trying a new silhouette for summer. I ordered the 12 and 12 Tall in this top, as I was worried about the top being too short. the 12 Tall ended up being a bit too long and large, so the regular 12 is the right size for me. Before I pulled the shirt down off the shoulder, I could see thinking it was too short, but…since this is an off-the-shoulder top, the length is just right. The cotton is lightweight shirting material, similar to the cotton popover I referenced earlier.

Jeans: J.Crew Billie Demi-Boot Crop in White / Sandals: Target Gladiator Sandals

Talk about an easy go-to summer outfit! There’s something to be said for a good collar bone. I didn’t play around much with jewelry, the pendant I tried looked awkward but when I tried it on yesterday with a simpler necklace, I liked that look. However, I don’t think a necklace is a must with this type of top, some fun bracelets may be the way to go.

Here’s another shot from the side.

I don’t think I’d go down another size in this top, so I’ll say it’s true to size. The only thing I’m not totally looking forward to is having to pull out the strapless bra to wear with this top. But, like I said, it’s a different shape than we’ve seen in the past few years for summer tops so I’m looking forward to switching it up a bit.

So, these were two wins from the latest rollout. Have you tried either of these items? Would love to hear what you think and thanks for visiting!

Hi! It’s time for J.Crew new arrivals again and this time I’m bringing you photos from the dressing room at one of the J.Crew locations in Manhattan. The May 2016 catalog items were released earlier this week and my first chance to check them out in store were at the tail end of my trip to New York City this week. I had grand plans to hit up a few J.Crews in the city, but most of my shopping time was spent in the stores I don’t get to visit in person at home (sorry, J.Crew!) But, there was a Crew a few blocks from where I was staying, so off I went as a last stop this morning before I had to get to the airport.  I did order a few items online earlier this week, including the No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Paisley (yay for a printed cotton pencil skirt!) and the Cotton off-the-shoulder top in Stripe.

I apologize in advance for the Working Girl vibe in most of these photos as my white Converse Chuck Taylor IIs were my walking around and shopping shoe of choice these past few days (even if they are a little bit dirtier now).

First up, the Short-Sleeve Cotton Shirtdress in white. This also comes in black and coral and also tall and petite sizes. These types of dresses are always hit or miss for me but it seemed like a great summer dress if it worked. This is a size large.

Size wise, this is good and I wouldn’t mind the few extra inches the tall would give me. But look at those wrinkles. Sheesh. That’s just from taking it off the hanger and trying it on. I’m feeling very Tom Cruise in Risky Business in the white version of this or feel like I should be in a nurse’s Halloween costume. Maybe the sneakers are throwing me off. Styled right, some people could pull this off. I’d consider this in black though and I appreciate that it’s cut a little more generous through the hips and isn’t indecently short in the regular size. Aside from being a wrinkle magnet, it’s also a bit sheer in the white. My summer is pretty short in the northeast so I have to decide if this would get enough rotation but I’m definitely thinking about it in the black.

Next up, the Silk Smocked-Waist Dress in Paisley. This is a size 12. These types of dresses are either flattering or a total disaster with the smocking.

I would have liked a little less smocking in the middle and a few extra inches on the hem. I have a black dress from Banana Republic from a few years ago with a similar style (less smocking, longer hem) and I wear it all the time. This dress sadly doesn’t come in tall so it’s a pass for me. I am also surprised as I looked up the style number that it’s silk – the material was incredibly lightweight and not memorable as being silk. Some people will look really cute in this dress and I’m surprised that I liked it more than I thought I would even if it’s not totally for me.

Next up, the Short-Sleeve Dress in Multi-Tweed. This is a size 12.

Yeah I know, I look like I’m off to take a power walk over lunch. I liked this dress a lot and it’s a pretty mix of pastel blue, yellow and purple. With a pair of pastel heels, it’s a beautiful spring/summer work outfit. However, it is a wool and acrylic blend and it was on the warm side. The colors are obviously warm weather colors but the material reads like a cooler weather dress. For an air conditioned office, this could be perfect, but if you’re planning on a summer shower in a warmer climate, I’d skip this. Here’s a closeup of the material.

And the last dress, which I’m happy to say is en route to me, is the Diamond Jacquard with pique a-line dress in navy. This also comes in white. I never purchased last year’s a-line jacquard dress and while this is similar to a shift that I already own, the dress was close to sold out online which pushed me to try it out. This is a size 12.

Well, I’m glad and disappointed to know that my J.Crew store isn’t the only one who has trouble keeping their mirrors clean. And I was there first thing in the morning – J.Crew, find your windex!! Aside from the dirty mirror, this dress was a perfect fit. The jacquard material wraps around the side and back of the dress and the a-line is exactly what it should be – a-line! J.Crew bills a lot of their dresses as a-line that usually end up straight on me so I was glad that my hips had some room to breathe in this one. Do I need another navy dress? Well, no…but the fit on this was pretty spot on. And the length was right at the knee in the regular length. Here’s a look at the jacquard pattern around the side of the dress.

Next up, the Mixed Paisley Top. This was originally sold out in almost all sizes online when the collection rolled out earlier this week, but the sizes seem to be back in stock online. This is a size 12.

Jeans: Paige

I liked this blouse when I saw it on others online, but the fit is funny in the arms on this one, so it was a pass. I like the look and idea of the top but the seams in the arms/shoulders rubbed and were tight, and going up a size would have just made it fit funny. I’m all for a nicely printed cotton top for summer and this might work for some with smaller shoulders.

Lastly, the Patchwork-Striped T-shirt in a large. I’m wearing it with the Midi Skirt in Cotton Clip-Dot (size 10) but it looked so ridiculous with my sneakers, it didn’t photograph well.

The cotton on this is substantial and I’d say it’s TTS to a big. I might have tried a medium in this for a more fitted look. If you’re stripesick, this could be another one for the collection. I found it to be a bit busy, like, why mess with a good thing? Speaking of stripes, I also tried the Teddie pant in seersucker and they ran really small – I could barely get the size 12s on, let alone zipped. I liked the seersucker fabric on these, but size up if you’re trying them.

So, there are some of the new May 2016 new arrivals. Have you tried any of these? Any favorites or not so much? Would love to hear what you think and thanks for visiting!