J.Crew June Collection Rollout, Punk Floral Swoop Dress, Mari Sandals and Lululemon

Summer is around the corner.  Seattle had some warm weather lately (80 degrees!) and I was excited to wear some summer things early.  Another sign of summer is the J.Crew June rollout is coming out! I received an invitation from my very Personal Stylist at J.Crew regarding an upcoming "story party from the company” from the June Colllection.  She also shared some new images with me.  Here is a sneak peak of the June Collection:

What do you think of June Collection sneak peak?

Here's another summer look I love.  This came out in the recent email ads.  I love the white paired with the panama hat:

All of this excitement about summer made me crazy from the heat and purchase something outside of my comfort zone.  It's the Swoop Dress in Punk Floral, already sold out (I got this at the Seattle Pacific Place J.Crew store).  The dress silk, shorter than I normally purchase and cutout in the back - not my usual style, but I fell in love with this dress.  It fits true to size.   I plan to wear it on vacation next month when we go to Maui.





In real life

I paired them with the new J.Crew Mari Sandals in shocking pink.  I love the neon pink.  These are so much fun if you like bright, bold colors.  I fell in love with these shoes.  They are so much fun.  They are also much easier to walk in than expected.

Here they are in real life:

I've been all about color lately.  Even for workout clothes, I've tried to add some color to my basic gear.  I bought the Lululemon Scoop Me Up Tank  in power purple.  I've been doing yoga, sculpt class and meeting with a trainer at the gym.  I am motivated to work out and fun workout gear makes it bright and energetic! 

What are you looking forward to in the summer months?

  

J.Crew 2012 Black Friday Holiday Shopping

Happy Thanksgiving!  I did some pre-Black Friday shopping yesterday.  I went to J.Crew at Pacific Place on Wednesday and took advantage of the in store 30% off for cardholders. Score!

I got the polka-dot sequin top on sale for $70 with the additional 30% off:

I love, love, love it.  Did you know it's black and not navy?  That was a surprise from the catalog and online.  This will be great for the holidays.  The sequins are placed well and the polka dots are not obnoxious.  It fits true to size, perhaps a bit short with low-waisted jeans.  This will be fun layered or on it's own with jeans, cafe capri, pencil skirts - lots of options.

Here it is in real life:

Here it is with a chambray shirt, bright dahlia capri pants and Tory Burch Wedges in an awkward pose:

J.Crew Keeper Chambray

Here's how I will style it with items I own:

Polka-dot Sequin Top by handbagaficionado featuring skinny jeans

I must have been on a polka-dot kick, because I also got the Gabby Top in Dot for $62.99 after the Black Friday 30% discount:

In real life (my 13 year old daughter took this - we were being silly and posing.  She told me to "work it" and this is my sad attempt).  I paired it with an old chartreuse Halogen cardigan from Nordstrom (this is a great quality cardigan that was quite a bargain for under $10.  I've got plenty of use out of it in the last 2-3 years):

J.Crew Gabby Top in Dot - silly pose

I also got Colorblocked Infinity Snood in store item only (#ED2014).   After the 30% Black Friday discount, I got it for $24.49 (it was $55)!  This scarf is gorgeous.  I had to have this scarf.  It will go with so many things I own.

(My boatneck tee and my J.Crew Crystal necklace under)

Beautiful shades of orange, red, pink and purple

Underneath I had one one of my Painter Boatneck Tee with Gold Snap - they are in store for $17.49.  I now have navy, modern red, grape and neon pink.  They are great for layering or on their own.  I saw black in store but not in my size.  I will be on the lookout.

Here it is with the J.Crew Excursion Quilted Vest in candied cherry.  I love this vest and wear it a lot.  I want one in pink and navy now:

Do you plan to take advantage of the Black Friday sales?

Fall 2012 J.Crew Purchases

I've been resisting fall and trying to hang onto summer.  Seattle has been beautiful in September and I don't want it to end.  Sadly, October begins and I must give up all of my summer fun and get with the fall program.  I got some nice bright pieces during a recent trip to J.Crew to help me with my transition.  I got the Colorblock Boatneck Tee, a great top that fits true to size and can look good dressed up or down.  I got it in the autumn coral color featured in the October catalog:

I wouldn't wear it with these pants the way J.Crew paired it, but you get the point:

Here's how I wore it (two bad attempts at an iphone self portraits, but you get the point):

Simple Saturday by handbagaficionado featuring a matte lipstick

I also got the Tippi Cardigan in Colorblock on sale:

 I am trying to figure out how to style it.  Here it is in the October catalog in a neutrals.

I may need this one, too!

Here are a few looks I do like for transitioning to Fall.  The Nicky top in jade.  I am kind of obsessed with this color lately.

Nicky Top with leopard shoes

Here's the same top:

and this (Cashmere cardigans + pencil skirts = perfection):

I am excited about the new J.Crew October 2012 roll out. 

Casual prep cool!  Love!

Love this, too!

Love!

When I need a coat, this is the one I want!

What do you like most about the new J.Crew roll out?

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 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?

October 2011 Reviews: J.Crew Hacking, Schoolboy and Nouvelle Jackets, Natasha Top and Silk Polka-dot Tee

Happy October!  The change in weather finally motivated me to look at fall outfits. I stopped by the J.Crew in Seattle.  I wanted to try some of the new blazers for fall.  I work for an internet retailer and I can jeans to work.  Although the dress is casual, I like pairing blazer with a pair of jeans.  It pulls it together for a polished look that you can dress up or down.  You can never have enough blazers.  I wanted to see the Hacking Jacket in Herringbone in real life.

In addition to the charcoal color above, the store had Grass and Vibrant Flame. They didn't have the Vibrant Flame in my size, so I wore the size down below to just show the color.  The Grass color was in my regular size.  I posted it below so you can see the beautiful orange color.

J.Crew Hacking Jacket in Herringbone  with Lace-Over Tank (in stores for $19.99)

J.Crew Hacking Jacket in Herringbone, Grass with Silk Polka Dot

 Tee

Paired with Selvedge Chambray Shirt

Paired with the Lace-over tank

 I also want one in the heather dark grape color:

I was less enthusiastic about the J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer in Blackwatch Tartan in real life:

I had such high hopes for this one and it wasn’t meant to be.  The overall fit was weird.  It was too small and short on the sleeves in my regular size and it was too big under the arms and snug at the bust.  The sleeves were odd.  Sizing up didn’t help.  I heard my Personal Stylist advise another customer that the jacket was better suited for people with petite frames.  I’m almost 5’7 and felt like I mistakenly put on my 12 year-old daughter’s jacket.  I’ll pass on this one.

I love the Natasha top in Vivid Poppy.  

It's bright and simple.  Fits true to size.  Love the color.  Here it is close up in real life:

J.Crew in Vivid Poppy
Halogen Cardigan from Nordstrom 

I was wearing a black Halogen Crewneck Cardigan from Nordstrom similar to the J.Crew Jackie.   I paired it up with my sweater. This top is so cute.  I had to get it.  I see lots of options.  Here it is in deep lagoon and black under the Nouvelle Jacket in Super 120s, which I have:

Natasha and Nouvelle Jacket

I also ended up with the Natasha in black, because I need a new black blouse. Yes, I am a multiple buyer.  If this goes on sale soon, I may cry, but I have some meetings coming up that made me decide to go ahead and get them now.  I will wait on the blue to go on sale.

I’m on the fence about the Silk Polka-dot Tee.  I love the print.  It is cut it similar to the J.Crew Casbah top which I own.  It’s a bit shorter in length, so if you reach up (see how I am raising my arms for the pic) it's short.  It’s nice for layering.  I’ll wait for this one to go on sale. I need to love it for $98, and I don’t.  I may be convinced at a cheaper price.  It has an exposed zipper in the back which I am on the fence about for a blouse.  (Update:  I just saw that the store has these on sale for $49.99.  That was quick!)

 I need another leopard scarf like I need a hole in the head, but look how seriously soft and neutral this printed scarf in wool is and it’s on sale:

I also ended up with three (yes, don't judge, I am a multiple buyer, especially on sale) lace-over tanks (in taupe, below, poppy and ivory) on final sale for $19.99 each in store.  There are great with blazers, cardigans or on their own.  They are sized bigger, so you may want to size down.  I like the coverage on top, since they don't go as low as some of the j.crew tanks, so totally work appropriate.

How was your week?