J Crew Extra 40 July 2012

Seville Printed Wedge Espadrille in Chocolate, Soludos for J Crew Classic Espadrille in Navy White Stripe, Linen Cable Knit Cardigan in Brilliant Purple

We are still on the East Coast, but have reached Georgia and my parents' house so I've found a little time for J Crew shopping.

I've loaded a vacation's-worth of pictures on my iPad but it is still so much easier for me to work with my own computer at home. So I'm going to wait to do picture sifting and most vacation posting until we return at the end of the month. We've had wonderful experiences and fun in NYC and DC, and Manassas, Culpeper, Roanoke, and Asheville. Fun, learning, sore feet, and expanding waistlines (probably just mine... Great NYC restaurants followed by things like fried pickles and white cheddar pimento cheese in a jar with house made pretzel chips? Can't say no.)

Anyway, I made a quick stop in a J Crew yesterday (and Gap Kids - extra 40 off there too) and found some shoes. Shoes. Why do I end up with the heaviest things to tote back... and haven't even been to LK Bennett yet...)

For sizing on these... I usually wear an 8 1/2 or a 39.  In the Soludos flat stripe espadrilles I took my expected 39 but in the wedge I sized down to an 8.  I tried on a 9 and it was way too big.




Happy Wednesday!

xoxo

OOTD 5.29.12 {caribbean green + sky blue}

I love the drape and feel of these linen cable-knit sweaters from J Crew.  I have a v-neck in an off-white from a few years ago and have been so happy with this Caribbean green boatneck this year that I ordered neon pink and navy v-necks on the recent 30 off sale. I wanted to wear a scarf but felt like keeping my neckline simple so I tied it to my bag.  I do like the colors together.

My shoes were totally weather-inappropriate as it was in the 50's.  But it's almost June (!) and wasn't raining so I wore them anyway.  Plus, I had recently gotten a pedicure with my absolute favorite summer pink - OPI's Strawberry Margarita. Any other good bright pinks out there?

Happy Wednesday!

xoso

J Crew March 2012 {catalog inspiration}

Anyone else think J Crew did a great job with March?

Over the past few seasons I'll admit I'd been losing interest in J Crew. Much of the clothing and styling just wasn't appealing to me. That's all over with this month's catalog. I've found several pieces that would work effortlessly into my Spring wardrobe... and also some inspiration for styles and color combinations for similar pieces that could be found at lots of shops. Here are some looks I particularly like:

So that up-an-hour-earlier is not the most fun for the kids... dark and rainy this morning. I think I'll be drinking a lot of tea today and looking forward to a Poirot or some film noir and a fire tonight.

Happy Monday!

xoxo

OOTD 3.9.12 {Heather Hydrangea}

This sweater is just the most gorgeous shade of blue...

much brighter than it looks in my pic above. Makes me

want to do a search on "heather hydrangea" on jcrew.com

and buy whatever comes up. One wear and quite a bit

of pilling though, be advised. Thank goodness for

sweater shavers.

Happy Friday!

xoxo

OOTD 5.13.11 {J Crew Tie Front Cardi + F21 Vintage Floral Necklace}

This F21 necklace has little enamel (plastic?) dots in a pretty lavender which I really like against the olive/fatigue cardi.

J Crew Cotton Tie Front Cardigan in Vintage Fatigue, Old Navy Jersey Stretch Tank (these are my current fav tanks and code ONSECRET30 gets you 30% off at Old Navy through 5/18, making them $7.), F21 necklace, True Religion denim

My pics didn't come out great but this is a wonderful cardigan... you can cinch the belt and it features pockets in a woven fabric. The knit is very soft. J Crew's online pic looks very "IRL" to me and the color is closer to my close-up pic with the flash below:

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo

Weekend Outfits

Saturday, for a museum visit and early dinner out with the family:

J Crew Mariner Confetti Stripe Sweater in Navy Salt, Loft Marisa Lean Boyfriend Chino Pants (year or two ago), Tory Burch River Fisherman Sandal in Royal Tan

Okay, I changed into brown suede ballerina flats before we went out. But I just love these Tory Burch platform sandals. They will see the light of day soon:

Of course it was a little chilly, so I added a Gap denim jacket from a few years ago:

Sunday, for church and Mother's Day lunch out:

J Crew Lace and Tulle Cami, J Crew Cafe Capri ( year or two ago), J Crew Cate Patent High Heel Slingbacks in Soft Seashell (couple years ago)

Again, chilly, so I wore a black Loft cardi for part of the day. I also have on my favorite new daytime lip color combo...

Nars Dolce Vita, where have you been all my life? I have a little Chelsea Girls gloss dabbed over it. I'll try to post better pics soon.

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

Merino Confetti Stripe Sweater {J Crew Review}

I have to admit I was was slightly starstruck when I first spied the Merino Confetti Stripe Sweater. A mariner's stripe (my favorite) heavily sprinkled with sparkle? Yes. The basic style I love re-made totally glam, and quite different from anything in my closet. I nearly ordered it full price without even seeing it in a store.

I'm glad I waited because the price was reduced quite a bit and it was still available in my size. (The site still shows it as available in all sizes XXS to XL in both navy salt and graphite salt.) Mine (navy salt) arrived a couple days ago and I am delighted! The sweater is a lightweight merino and this is my usual size S. Being mindful of all those sequins, it isn't easy to throw on and off, but re-sewing a sequin doesn't require too much skill and they included a little bag with a few extras just in case. It's difficult to notice at first, but there is a button at each shoulder.

the back

And here are a couple ideas I've had for wearing:

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!!

xoxo

The Siren Dress in Smoldering Brick {J Crew Review}

I have several posts I've been meaning to put together but I wanted to go ahead and mention the Siren Dress I purchased recently since it is an extra 30% off right now in J Crew's sale section. (When I search "siren dress" on jcrew.com only the "waterfront" color comes up, but it is also in the sale section in "smoldering brick" and "faded black".)

First off, I really like the color because it is different from all the other dresses in my closet. I seem to have ended up with a lot of corals and pinks from the last year or two and I have enough black, gray and navy...but nothing in this terracotta/brick-y hue. It reminds me of my dining room walls (Benjamin Moore Audubon Russet), so apparently I like this color.

This is a size small, my usual in J Crew tops and sweaters. I have not decided if I will keep this as I feel like I may need to size down. The elastic at the waist could be a bit more snug... if I belt to hold the elastic up a bit it helps with the length and I do like it belted. For reference I am just about 5'5"and it is definitely dragging the ground unbelted.

The bottom edge is unfinished. I know this is a "look" but I would prefer a finished hem.

The ruching and draping are pretty and there are snaps to hold bra straps in place.

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo

OOTD 2.28.11 {Neapolitan}

This set features J Crew's Neapolitan cardigan (I recently bought the factory version). I wore it the last day of February (can you believe it's March already?!).

J Crew Factory Neapolitan Cardigan, J Crew Tissue Ruffle Tank in Paris Pink, Joe's Jeans, Banana Republic Reade Moto Boot in Black

xoxo

OOTD 2.16.11 {the Corwin Cardi in Misty Aqua}

Here's the J Crew Factory Corwin Cardigan in "Misty Aqua"... the color is very similar to "Cool Breeze" in the V-neck sweater I had on the day before. This is a pretty basic longer length boyfriend cardi with some different details added - a twisted placket along the neckline and down the front, seaming on the outside, and extended ribbing at the cuffs.

J Crew Factory Corwin Cardigan in Misty Aqua, Loft Marisa Lean Boyfriend Chinos (last year), ON Lace-Trim V-Neck Cami in Light Heather Gray, ON jersey scarf (last year), La Scarpa Paris brown suede ballet flats (Paris '09), Anthropologie Sweetest Hive earrings (last year)

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

OOTD 2.15.11 {cool breeze + cognac}

I am slowly working my way through my recent J Crew Factory purchases. Tuesday it was the linen cotton V-neck sweater in Cool Breeze. I know it's still Winter and this is a lightweight linen/cotton (55% and 45% respectively) but I love the color and couldn't wait to wear it ...and I do like it with the cognac Intyce boot and my hot pink mani.

J Crew Factory V-neck sweater, ON tank, Paige denim, Steve Madden Intyce boots (last year), Stella & Dot necklace, Anthro bee earrings

Happy Thursday!

xoxo