Thursday, July 28, 2011

JCA "Help Style Me!" Weekly Post

This is the weekly "Help Style Me!" post, where we can share items we are having trouble putting outfits together with. Elaine (in this post) says it best, "You know, that thing you bought because you love it and you keep pulling it out and then putting it away without wearing it?"

Please share your J.Crew item (either that you own or are thinking about getting) that you would love help creating an outfit with.

Also, please help out by offering your styling advice. Feel free to include links to your blog (where you incorporated that piece) or to Polyvore (where you showcased an outfit with that piece). Thanks in advance! :)

42 comments:

  1. OT. Madewell added their fall lookbook to the website here. I kind of like look #2 although the rest are not so much my style.

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  2. whooops. trying again. subscribing

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  3. OT, but in catalog news, Madewell is launching a print catalog shortly! You can already sign up for it on the website (although whether or not it will ever come is questionable). Regardless, I find this very exciting as I never receive the J.Crew catalog and I'm more of a Madewell girl myself.

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  4. This is completely off topic, but I thought some of you might have some advice.

    Last week, during the 40% off extravaganza, I ordered a suit (jacket and pants) for my husband. On Monday, I received a note that the pants were out of stock and would not ship. I received the jacket yesterday, and by coincidence, the pants appeared again this morning.

    In my hurry to get the pants, however, I entered the wrong inseam size. It's not tragic; I ordered a 33" inseam when it should have been 34". I called J.Crew, and the rep said they could only cancel the order and reorder the pants in the correct inseam size. I knew that if we did that I risked having the pants disappear. I asked if she could contact the warehouse, where the pants will be cut to the appropriate length and advise them of the correct inseam. She said it could not be done. I called again later, and a different rep agreed to pass along the note, although she said the warehouse would not receive her message. I am not even sure she really typed or sent a note.

    I know this is my fault for entering the wrong inseam. But, I thought J.Crew's ordering systems could handle a bit more flexibility. They are showing the customary top-notch customer service by allowing me to return the pants even though I bungled the order. But I want to keep the pants, and, hence, I was wondering if anyone has faced this issue before or has any advice on how I can get through to a department that can help.

    Thanks!

    Vivi

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  5. I love the camel coat, several pairs of the shoes and a couple of the blouses in the Madewell lookbook. I don't like their overall looks, but some of the pieces should work quite well for me.

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  6. kitsmommy I completely agree with you that some of the Madewell pieces are very nice on their own and could easily work in more polished outfits too.

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  7. Vivi-
    can you order a second pair or pants and specify the correct inseam, then just return the first pair that they were so nice to allow you return?
    I am surprised they cut them to length in the warehouse??? I am imagining another way to customize them is to maybe order them without them cutting them to an inseam length, then take them to a tailor who will do it for 5$ with him trying the pants with the shoes he intends to wear with them, so they are perfect.

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  8. I thought there were some really cute pieces in the Madewell lookbook, although I'm really too old for their target audience. And I must say, I think some of their shoes look more promising than JC's.

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  9. Carol,

    Thanks for your answer.

    I should have mentioned that this was the last pair of pants available. So, I could not order a different pair, and if I had canceled this order, I probably would have been left without pants at all. the Sorry about the confusion.

    Thanks!

    Vivi

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  10. Has anyone hand washed their silk retro shell? Tag says Dry Clean Only, I'd really like to avoid that but I'm thinking it's DCO because it's lined? I don't want something wonky to happen so I haven't been brave enough to try yet.

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  11. My impression on my first Madewell visit a couple of months back was that their quality is superior to that of JC for clothes. The camel coat looks gorgeous.

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  12. Kristin, yes, I actually washed my Retro shell for the first time this week. I washed it in the sink in cool water and hung it to dry. It was completely fine. I'm pretty sure it would even be fine on the delicates cycle in the washer.

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  13. Amy - thank you so much! I am so glad to hear that. What color is your shell? I have the navy, I hope the color doesn't drain. I would much rather hand wash things.

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  14. OT, but... what is the real difference between regular and extended calf boots at J.Crew? I have narrowish calves, the regular fit me fine, but I really want the Weatherby boots (31987) in cobblestone which are currently only available in extended calf. Are they a ton bigger? I don't mind them being loose but I don't want it to look silly. I would wear them with pants or skirts.

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  15. JCrewJD, I can't comment on the Weatherby boots in particular, but since in my experience JC boots run so wide I would be really leery of ordering an extended calf if the regular works for you. JMO. I have pretty thin calves and over the years I've had never been able to wear JC boots because the shafts are so wide. Also, I've tried to find a shoe repair that will take in the calf on tall boots and no one I've contacted does it any more (it only works on boots structured in a certain way).

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  16. Also, ideas for styling the heathered grape hacking jacket? I never know what works with royal purple.

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  17. JCrewJD, I think I have average calves and I once bougth the extended calf with the same thinking as you but they are too wide and do not look good. I almost never wear them for the reason. HTH.

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  18. Hexicon and ajc, THANKS! You just saved me alot of money. I will wait for the regular calf to pop back in my size... sigh.

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  19. A handful+ of new price cuts listed at the top of this post.

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  20. Hexicon, I think that purple Hacking jacket would look great paired with gray and if you want to get bold that vibrant flame or spicy gold pencil skirt would look great with it.

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  21. Sorry that this is OT. I am looking for a JCA who owns the original double strand giraffe necklace to send me a couple of good, clear resolution photos. Anyone willing? I would be eternally grateful!

    redhed_01 at hotmail dot com

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  22. Hexicon, I wear a lot of purple and I find it goes well with many shades of blue from navy and cobalt to baby and aqua shades. I also like it with a light, creamy taupe, pinks, corals, black, other shades of purple and plum and it could also go well with ochre or greenish gold/yellow.

    For inspiration I often look to scarves for color pairing combinations. The Hermes website lets you search scarves by color so you could check out the combinations of their current purple scarves and see if you find some designs that give you color ideas.

    HTH

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  23. I am so bummed about ordering the wrong size Nicola pumps and they are all out. What time of night does jcrew do updates?

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  24. Can anyone tell me if the Calvary skirt and the Ruthie shirt dress run true to size or large?
    If it is true to size I'm a petite 2 but I'm worried about them running large.

    Anyone tried these on?

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  25. Vivi, that stinks, but you're probably out of luck. I will say I appreciate JCrew (and most other companies) allowing order cancellations. I was FURIOUS when I placed an order with Loft earlier this summer and chose the wrong shipping option. Not 5 minutes after I confirmed, I called CS and was told they their new system didn't allow any changes or cancellations at all. Nothing. I would not normally do this, but since it was the last pair of pants, maybe a great tailor can let them out so the original cuff or seam won't show? Sorry, that stinks!

    JCrewJD, I have to agree, extended calf is probably going to be too big :(

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  26. Vivi, can they possibly check the retail stores to see if a pair is available somewhere out there?

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  27. Any styling ideas for the Navy summerweight bermuda shorts? I Love these...have them in khaki too, but the Navy is reminding me too much of my son's catholic school uniform or Angus Young ;/ Sooo....how do you funk up some navy bermuda shorts?

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  28. pathos, how about something like this?

    http://www.stylebop.com/product_details.php?id=201091&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=linkshare&utm_campaign=linkshareUSA&partner=linkshareUSA&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-MDnJxxfiZXY9ktUtpNHhHg

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  29. Suzy Babar-

    I am usually a size 4 in bottoms, and I took a 6 petite in the Calvary skirt. I'm 5'4 and the regular size seemed really long. I think that means it is tts. Hope that helps.

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  30. Ladies with the Cocodrillo pencil skirt could you give me suggestions on how you would wear it? I've worn it with simple v-neck t-shirts in navy and white, but that's about it. TIA!

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  31. Hexicon
    Here's a gorgeous outfit with purple /blues /cognac

    http://www.stylebop.com/look.php?nbr=13883

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  32. Pathos,

    I recently ordered the same navy shorts, and I really liked how they looked.... now you've got me thinking that I might look like an overgrown cub scout in them. But not if I wear them with my talitha cami and silver flip flops!

    I think they'll also look good with all my blue and white striped/checkered tops (I've overdone the nautical theme this season) as well as bright pink -- the retro shell would work great with these shorts.

    The longer length and dark color has me feeling like these can be "dressed" up; I plan on accessorizing with silver and gold, or bright pink belts and shoes.

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  33. JCK- I think you are on the right trend with gold and silver. They need to be lightened up and feminized.

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  34. I am thinking about orderring the extende calf boots but they only have the calf width for a size seven, does any one know what the calf width is for a 9 1/2 or 10. Thanks for the help.

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