J.Crew Stripes, Dots, Naomi, Bubble Necklace and Other Multiple Purchases

I am a multiple buyer.  It's a bad habit.  If I like something, I buy another (or two, or sometimes three) in another color,then it's overload.   I couldn't pass up the J.Crew ribbon-stripe boatneck tee after this beautiful pic in the July Style Guide although  I already had the one with the bright orange and blue (which I love).

J.Crew July Style Guide

Here is on me in real life, super casual:

J.Crew Factory Resin Droplet Necklace
J.Crew Ribbon-stripe boatneck tee
J.Crew Canteen Pants
J.Crew Golden Cabochon Bracelet
DKNY Ceramic Watch
Cole Haan Air Catalina Sandals

I got the J.Crew Factory Resin Droplet Necklace (mini bubble necklace) at 30% last week.  It's more every day wearable - and cheaper - than a bubble necklace (except of course, I got the citrus lime color.  My husband doesn't get this at all.)

Speaking of multiples, I just ordered an ebay version of the pink and the white like the one that was featured in the July Style Guide (cross your fingers, I am a little nervous, but the seller got good feedback, so I will let you know):

Here it is below it pink (ebay $18.99 - the bottom beads are a bit darker but who cares, the price is great):

I wanted the pink one after I saw this J.Crew pic, but didn't want to pay the $150.

I'll post some with the white one when it arrives.

I also bought the Naomi top on sale in hot pink (I LOVE everything about the look featured below - the hat, bracelets, perfection!).  I reviewed this in the polka dot version:

in Modern Red

Naomi Top in Neon Pink

I also got the painter boatneck tee in navy (fits true to size with gold snaps on the boatneck, which gives it some interesting detail) and Cafe Capri in Pop Art Polka dot (also fits true to size with a bit of stretch).  The pants are fun and will look great with a solid color of navy, pink, red, yellow, green.  They are also on sale this week for $99, so I gave in.  As I posted here and here, I've been on a bit of a crazy cafe capri kick (again back to multiple purchasing!)

J.Crew Painter Boatneck Tee
J.Crew Cafe Capri in Pop Art Polka Dot
DKNY Ceramic Watch
Tory Burch Robinson Demi Wedge Sandals

I must have been inspired by dots.  My daughter turned 13 yesterday, and we redid her room from Pottery Barn Kids Surf to PB Teen Dots (she loved this below in the catalog).  

How was your week?

J.Crew Naomi Top in Polka Dot

This week I stopped by J.Crew in Pacific Place.   It was one of those weeks where I have a closet full of clothes, some still with tags, but nothing to wear for the next day to meeting.  Does that ever happen to you?

I am beginning to wonder if dots are the new stripes? They are everywhere!

My personal stylist was working and talked me into to trying this top.  I do like polka dots, but probably would have overlooked it, since I was a bit underwhelmed by the polka dot overload in the new August 2012 J.Crew Style Guide.

I am happy about my new J.Crew Naomi in polka dot.  This is enough dots be fun but style professional.  The top is blousey and fits true to size.  I love pairing navy and white dots or stripes with a "pop" color, like neon yellow, pink, red or jade green I have jackets, cardigans, pencil skirts, shorts and cafe capri pants in those colors I can work with it - this is a versatile wardrobe piece.

How I styled it for for work this week:

J.Crew Naomi Top in Polka Dot
Banana Republic White Cardigan
J.Crew Cafe Capri in Warm Jade
Italian Shoemaker Shoes
(my stacked bracelets cutoff - but you get the point)

How was your week?

J.Crew Keeper Chambray Shirt Review

Last week I got the J.Crew Keeper Chambray Shirt.  I'm not quite sure what took me so long.  Perhaps the $78  price, or that J.Crew, Madewell and others paired it with everything on the planet.  I saw this paired with for every season, so I finally decided to get one.  The shirt is cotton, long sleeves that can roll up, buttons on cuff and machine washable.  The color is called afternoon sky and it works with just about anything.  The fit is true to size.  In my last post, there was a comment asking how to wear it.  I thought about that question, since there are so many ways, I thought I would devote an entire blog post.  Here are the many ways to style it:  

Chambray, white tee and shorts, easy style

Paired with dark jeans, easy style

Preppy with the Tippi Sweater in Linen

This also works paired with a simple tee shirt, sundress or maxi dress.  Great for summer nights, picnics or concerts.

Paired with the T-Shirt Dress in Dizzy Anchors

I love how J.Crew pairs it with anything and it works.  Sequins?  You bet!   (I'm drooling over the jacket below).

Chambray Shirt + Sequins + Red = Pop and Sparkle

Style with The Sequin Jacket (love this!)

For extra polish, this shirt also looks good with blazers and skirts.

Paired with white pants and  Schoolboy Blazer in navy

Paired with Maritime Blazer and cut offs

You can always suit it up or pair it with a pencil skirt.

Paired with Bureau Jacket in Linen Canvas

Added with a black pencil skirt and any color of cardigan for different looks

Now here it is on me in real life.  I paired in with my No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Garden Floral (seen here) and Mona pumps in Poppy (seen here and here) for work.

J.Crew Keeper Chambray Shirt
J.Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Garden Floral
J.Crew Mona Pumps in Poppy
DKNY Watch
J.Crew Pearls

This shirt would look good paired with pink, leopard, black, navy, red, you name it.  I like adding a statement necklace or loads of pearls. Stacked bracelets would give it an extra edge, as well.

This is also a great super casual shirt to throw on for a weekend morning coffee and paper (I put it over my neon pink J.Crew tee this morning with cropped pants and flip flops):

Keep checking back as I add photos of different ways to wear this Keeper!  The name says it all.

Here are some different ways I will wear it with the items I own:

J.Crew Raj No.2 Pencil Skirt and Valentina Pump Options by handbagaficionado featuring a red nail polish

or this way:

Inspired. Now all I need is the bag... by handbagaficionado featuring long sleeve tops

How would you wear it?

J.Crew June 2012 Rollout and Nordstrom Shopping Goodness

I am really excited about Summer.  I'm ready for warm weather and new things.  I did a lot of shopping this weekend, even for me.  On Friday, I went to J.Crew to see the June rollout. I was excited to see the new colors and styles. 

I was excited about the No. 2 pencil skirt in Porcelain Paisley.  This is so beautiful in real life.  I love the print.  The fabric has a good amount of stretch and the fit is true to size. This skirt is very comfortable.  I love the way they pair it up with pink.  The only thing I disliked was the $158 price tag.  I'm crossing my fingers for a sale soon.

Here it is in real life:

J.Crew No.2 Pencil Skirt in Porcelain Paisley
My J.Crew Mona Pumps in Poppy 

I also tried on the Drawstring Tunic in Stripe.

I had high hopes for this dress because it was so cute on the model.  On me, it was like a shapeless bag.  So difference in my size or down, the fit was off, like a potato sack.  I tried messing with the drawstring to at least show the waist, but it's very limited on movement.  I'll pass.  I tried it with the navy bubble necklace which I love.  The color is beautiful, and this can look casual or elegant.  Great idea to make one in navy.  I also tried the Marci Patent Wedges which I didn't love.  They were not the least bit comfortable and sized small.  They also look cheap in real life but are priced at $198.  I'll pass.

J.Crew Bubble Necklace
J.Crew Drawstring Tunic in Stripe
J.Crew Marci Patent Wedges

Next up was the Whisper Gauze Peasant Blouse. 

I tried both colors in navy and chili.  I preferred the chili over navy since I have too many navy striped J.Crew tops.  This top is huge!  I wanted it to fit like the model and sized down 2 sizes and it was still blousy.

J.Crew Whisper Gauze Peasant Blouse
J.Crew No.@ Pencil Skirt in Porcelain Paisley
J.Crew Mona Pumps in Poppy

In addition the top,  I got the Tippi Sweater in Garment-Dyed Linen in neon pink.  I love this color for summer.

Here it is in real life (I love pink with pearls):

I also got the versatile Keeper Chambray Shirt (why did I wait this long to get one?)

I also stocked up on tees and got two vintage cotton v-neck tees (neon pink again and black).

At Nordstrom, I got the Citizens of Humanity 'Dylan' Cropped Loose Fit Jeans in the San Marco Wash.  I love everything about these jeans.  I had my eye on them from Anthropologie and didn't try them.

At Lululemon, I got the Chaturanga Tank and Wunder Under Crops along with a yoga tote.  I've been practicing hot yoga for 6 weeks now and I can see a difference.

How was your week?

J.Crew Royalty and Purple Rain: Majesty Peacoat, Royal Purple Paisley Print and Beilla Heels

I stopped by the Pacific Place J.Crew in Seattle to return the Natasha tops (I blogged about them a few weeks ago.  I bought two of them at full price because I loved them so much.  You know those cute little dainty buttons?  Well, they don't stay buttoned and they are wardrobe malfunctions waiting to happen.  Let's just say I had an awkward moment in a presentation, which led me to returning both of them). 

I was exited to see the new shipments in with the purple colors, especially the Majesty Coat:

J.Crew Majesty Peacoat

Yummy Colors!

How much do I love this coat?  Well let me tell you about it.  It is so beautiful.  (I didn't take a pic with it buttoned - arg!)  I was a bit surprised by the purple color in real life since it looks different than the catalog or online (Excuse the shoes and tights.  I look like an idiot.  I had on black shoes with black tights and tried on beige shoes):

Majesty Peacoat, Paisley head to toe, new shoes and unmatched tights

If you read my previous posts, you know that I dig the J.Crew Paisley.  I got the summer skirt with navy and orange and love it.  I had to get the Royal Paisley no.2 pencil skirt.  The purple, green and yellow colors are beautiful and the skirt isn't heavy, so you could wear it year round.  I tried on the crazy Royal Paisley with paisley combo with the top and no. 2 pencil skirt, like online:

In real life, it didn't work for me, although I like them separately.  That model would look good in a paper bag, but I can't bring myself to do that much pattern.  It felt too Prince, circa Purple Rain.  

J.Crew Royal Paisley Overkill

  I do like the scoopneck blouse and skirt separately, and can't wait to wear them with other items I own.

I did actually buy something that wasn't purple and neutral.  I got the Biella high-heel loafers in Warm Taupe regular $265 on sale for $59.99!  Shut the front door!  I couldn't pass these up.  These shoes have 4 inch heels.  I can walk in them and they are more comfortable then they look, but they are sitting shoes and not walking a lot shoes.  They are really pretty.  The warm taupe color makes the legs look really long.

Sitting shoes, not for long walks

I now have Prince songs playing in my head. How was your week?