Thursday, September 1, 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! :)

46 comments:

  1. Need help with the cotton double serge pencil skirt in mauve morning...I have been wearing it with white tops, matching pink pumps and handbag, but it's such a snooze of an outfit. Any other suggestions?

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  2. Looks like a few new items are showing on the new arrivals page. It's worth a look. Enjoy!

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  3. I just got my Orange Toga Dress in the mail last week. I love the way it looks on, but I'm not sure what to wear over it. I feel like I can't wear black with orange. Should I wear a sweater, blazer? Does anyone have this dress and have advice about how to layer over it?

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  4. New cuts at the top of this post.

    kim517 - For the toga dress in orange, try a shade like beechwood in the featherweight cotton cardi. If you want something along the lines of black, go navy instead of black. I haven't tried it w/a blazer, but you should experiment.

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  5. would welcome styling suggestions for the skirt I'm wondering about on my blog this morning...

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  6. Cass, re: double serge pencil skirt in mauve morning: I would treat that color like a basic - meaning, put just about anything with it. It depends on how extreme you want to be. J Crew's cashmere comes in a fantastic vibrant flame, you could pair the skirt with the cashmere crew cardi (wear it backwards if you want to pair it with a fantastic necklace), and accessorize with leopard print belt/shoes/bag. You could wear the Elodie blouse in jazzy purple or paradise blue. I also like the around town sweatshirt in yacht blue, super fitted, also with a great necklace. There are a ton of possibilities with this skirt! Hope this helps!!

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  7. Im looking for some help with the new wool plaid cafe capris (the blue and grey ones)I bought a tippi sweater in purple but want to know how to style them when it get cooler. Socks? Shoes? other tops?

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  8. Kimi I'm thinking a wrap of some sort would look best w/a Toga Dress, but I haven't seen the actual dress. Just assuming from it's describption what it looks like.

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  9. Cass-- I agree with Stephanie, treat the mauve skirt as a neutral. I could see it with pieces like a gray, black or navy stripped top, or a chambray shirt. A leopard belt or shoes would be amazing accessories.

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  10. Thanks for the suggestions...love the leopard print shoe/accessory idea. I already have grey leopard peeptoes from JC circa 2009?

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  11. Slightly OT - has anyone successfully altered the waist on the embossed beach dress (item 21847) from circa 2009? I bought this dress on ebay recently, and the funny inverted double pleat in the front center doesn't want to fall, it just wants to poof out even though the dress is a size up from my normal. I think the fabric is getting hung up on the cotton lining. Would it help if I had the skirt lining changed to something with some "slip" to it?

    If you've altered it, can you describe what was done or send a pic? hollytaratv(at)gmail(dot)com

    I'd love to have this dress altered now so it will be ready to roll for next year!

    Thanks JCAs!

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  12. Ok - I need help styling for my little one's upcoming 1 year photos. I am still reeling that it has been almost a year! Will be during leaf season and outdoors. In NC, so weather is still fairly mild. I'm thinking the nightfall blue pencil but which top. DD is wearing a champagne color dress. If you like the traversa with it, what type of shirt underneath?

    Open to suggestions as I am drawing an absolute blank here.
    http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=36475283

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  13. Is anyone planning to take their sequin tanks into the fall season(cmon, other JCAs bought the 150 or so styles hawked in the past couple years besides me, right?)?

    I thought these were so last year but I did notice Heid Klum on the cover of August Glamour in one with faded jeans.

    Is a sequin tank still wearable for something besides New Year's Eve, or are they only suitable for my Goodwill pile at this point? TIA.

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  14. Ruffles - Sequin tanks are still definitely in. I was in Barney's in Beverly Hills and saw several sequin tops in their new collections. Also, Ali Larter was just photographed in a very cool sequin blazer. I say keep rocking them . . .I know I will! They aren't out of style yet!

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  15. hi, i bought the linen garden skirt in beige color called aged pearl. i want to wear it to work...i am an attorney in a business casual/relaxed environment...can someone suggest a top to wear? thanks

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  16. I wear my sequin tank under cardigans (predictable, I know), but I plan to try it over button-ups. I always love the look when I see it and this year I'm going to try it. :)

    I'm still waiting for the casbah shirt to go on sale so I can pair it with my navy sequin tank.

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  17. I bought the Chimera Jacket is the rose color a few years ago and still have not worn it!!!! Any ideas? I have the matching double serge wool skirt with it as well, but would like ideas for wearing casual and work. Thanks!!

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  18. Thank you CCS and Math Teacher, you have inspired me to SPARKLE ON!

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  19. Ok, I need some help with the liquid silk skirt. Everything I've tried so far has either been a little too precious or a little too little house on the prairie. How do I modernize this?

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  20. PetiteMommy, there are several nice suggestions on how to style this here. HTH

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  21. The Trans, I would wear a cropped jacket, like the double-breasted sweater jacket in the saddle or vibrant flame and some long boots (with or without heels) with it. I really don't like how they styled it on the model.

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  22. Unknown - The garden skirt looks like the pleated lawn skirt from 2009. I tried it in the fitting room w/a buttondown & belt & liked the look. Irl pics at the bottom of this post. Mind is drawing a blank on another look right now.

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  23. Ok so I thought I'd share if anyone is interested I just uploaded some pics of my latest Jcrew Fall outfits (new arrivals of course)...and just realized I totally went crazy with this last cardholder's promo order. Would love the comments on what to keep. Thanks in advance. jcrewobsession.blogspot.com

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  24. Any suggestions on what tops and shoes to pair with the paisley pencil skirt from this summer (style44248)? Thanks!

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  25. The Trans - I tried on the Liquid Silk Skirt with a plain t-shirt (mine was white, but almost any colour would work) and then wore a skinny belt at the waist and some pumps and really liked the look. I imagine it would also be nice with a crisp button down blouse tucked in. I might also try it with my Vintage Bateau striped shirt tucked in. A structured blazer might be nice as well (cropped might work better, I haven't tried this yet).

    I would try to avoid cardigans on top with this one - I generally think that something structured or quite casual works better with this skirt and helps to tone down the precious/little house on the prairie vibe. HTH!

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  27. jcrewphd, check out polyvore sets created with this skirt. They may give you an idea or two...

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  28. I could use some help with the Tippie sweater in leopard. I love the sweater but I feel like I look too New Jersey in it. I am tall and busty; it might just be hopeless. It just works so well with my coloring ... have tried it with the flare jeans and Frye boots and though that is a comfortable look for me, it just looks a little trampy and dull. Any suggestions? Thanks!

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  29. Rose: thank you for the link. Great sets there!

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  30. Cancan - One thing I love the Tippi sweater with is colored denim. Collections from J Brand to American Eagle have shown some sort of colored denim (except J Crew come to think of it...). I love the Tippi with red jeans/skirts. You could also tone it down with a camel colored bottom, but use a color for accessories - red, magenta, blue... Actually the Mona heel comes in fantastic colors that would go with the leapord Tippi.

    Hope this helps :)

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  31. I'm not surprised that crew is not having a holiday weekend sale. They never really do! There is a sale section again, and some very recent additions - even from the roll out last. They are also doing $10.00 off scarves, and there are some sweaters $10.00 off as well. I did pick up the silk spun sweater which came to about $30.00, as well as the black poncho hoodie which was reduced, educ. discount also given, and I had a gift card. Have a great weekend everyone!

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  32. Suzy,

    I ordered the Black Poncho Hoodie. What is the fit like? I would appreciate your feedback since I risked buying it without seeing it.

    TIA and happy holiday weekend to everyone!

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  33. Hi Wendy,
    There were 3 sizes at the store: XXS/XS, S/M, and L/XL.
    I bought the small/medium. For me, that is the first garment I have bought in over decade that had a "S" for small on it, lol! I were mediums or larges in tee shirts and sweaters. It's a cute fit. The armholes, because of the cape/like (poncho) style, require that you were a cami or tee underneath, but that's how i'd want to wear it anyway. HTH!!

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  34. "wear" = why did I type it exactly the wrong way TWICE? LOL

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  35. Thanks Suzy! It does help. I feel better now about the risk that I took. Can't wait for it to arrive.

    Have a great weekend!

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  36. @ Rose: Thanks so much for directing me to that link!

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  37. The new No. 2 wool skirt in the blue color is so pretty - it's like the peacock color but maybe a bit more blue. Love it and brought it home:)
    Also got the summer weight chino shorts and they are actually cheaper online - ugh.

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  38. Thanks Caitlin and Rose! I love the idea of this skirt and really wanted to keep it but just couldn't figure out how to make it work. Will try those ideas :)

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  39. Cancan,

    As a resident of New Jersey (who has previously lived on Staten Island AND in Brooklyn), I can totally understand your fear of the Tippi sweater in Leopard. I used to associate this print with big hair, heavy makeup, stilettos and overdone jewelry.

    But, I've slowly come to love animal prints...in small doses. My fear has limited me to wearing shoes, belts, and a perfect shirt which I wear under a black or camel cardi.

    To downplay the print on the sweater, I would try to pair it with very classic camel-colored pants or a skirt. I, personally, would be extra-cautious with jeans and even black pants. Sorry, but as a child I was scarred by the sight of some very bad leopard based-outfits!

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  40. Cancan & JCK, I LOL at your posts. I just had images of nanny Fine's mother (from The Nanny) flashing before my eyes. :)

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  41. @A: you mentioned "No. 2 wool skirt in the blue color" - is that the double serge wool? I can't find a blue online but I think a rich blue would be great with the dark grape tippi sweater that I'm about to buy.

    Speaking of the grape tippi: opinions on whether it works better fitted or loose? I tried on two sizes. The XS was fitted but nowhere near tight (loose through the midriff) but the S looked slouchy and boyfriend-ish and possibly better.

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