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 Spring 2012 and Recent Shoe Acquisitions

Happy 2012!

I'm ready for Spring to arrive and I'm looking forward to Spring and the new J.Crew 2012 Spring roll out.  During my recent shopping adventures, I had to check out the No.2 Pencil Skirt in Gardenshade Floral:

In real life it's a less bright and more faded, similar to the No.2  Leopard Print wash (Imagine me in beautiful heels, less pasty legs and with a much more flattering pose that isn't end of day post dinner to really appreciate it).  I wish it looked like it did on the model, but the colors are still flattering.  I I would pair it like the model has above, but it would pop with lime green, periwinkle blue and works well with black, navy or cream.  It's so versatile and would be a wardrobe workhorse year round, so it deserves to be in my closet. Sold!

J.Crew No.2 Pencil Skirt in Gardenshade Floral, $128

Meet CeCe, Mona’s Little Sister!   
I have an announcement regarding an addition to my shoe family.  My beloved Wild Berry Mona Pumps (which I acquired a couple of months ago) just got a flat shoe little sister, Cece, the ballet flats.  I am not a flat shoe kind of girl.  My husband can’t stand them on women (it’s kind of like sweats in public, he considers them a sign on giving up!) so I have a bit of an aversion of flats due to his feeling.  Then I started seeing some of the cute Tory Burch ones, and decided that it’s so wrong, but it’s so right.  I vetoed him.  Other than the disapproving eye rolling and jokes, he’s going to come to terms with it.   

J.Crew Cece Ballet Flats

J.Crew Mona and Cece in Wild Berry

I was drawn to these naturally because I love pink and this has a slightly purplish hue to the pink vs. fuchsia (which I also appreciate).  I’m sure it sounds crazy to have two shoes of the same color, but I need the coffee shop or running errands casual shoes and the beautiful work shoes, the ones that people have stopped me and commented.   This wild berry color is adorable and so complimentary.  It especially works well with all of my J.Crew Bright Dahlia colors and coordinates with some of the other colors in my closet.    How could you go wrong when it feels so bright?

Leopard Print Wedges: The Splurges and the Deal
Speaking of shoes, I need to tell you about my  recent Leopard Print Calf hair Wedge score. First, there were the Christian Louboutin Peanut Leopard-Print Wedges at $965.  These are the shoes I stop and look at and hope that they go on sale at 90% off, or a more affordable brand comes up with a great knock off.

Christian Louboutin peanut 70 leopard-print wedges, $965

Then, J.Crew came up with a great leopard wedge knockoff in with the Martina calf hair wedge at $358.  Seriously, J.Crew? Pricing over $300?  As much as I wanted them and liked the print better, I decided to wait for a good sale to justify.

J.Crew Martina Calf Hair Wedge, $358

Finally, I went to Nordstrom Rack and spotted Ivanka Trump 'Linear' Wedge on sale for $37. They are a nice calf hair print, comfortable and look almost identical to the J.Crew version and very comfortable, which is important. I won't compromise comfort for cost.  

Ivanka Trump Linear Wedge, $37

In real life:

Grrrr....

I think I can calm down on shoes for a while, at least until more spring styles come out.

Have a great week and happy Valentine's Day!

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?