Welcome to the week of J.Crew! I’m lusting after so many pieces from the Fall collection that this week I’m giving extra love to one of my favorite American brands.
From blue jeans to blazers, cashmere to coats, and pretty pastels to pumps – J.Crew has it all. Here are my picks for favorite items currently in-store at J.Crew. Take a look, oh and tell your credit card not to blame me when it gets a workout from these Fall must-haves!
1. Double Breasted Coat: J.Crew. Something about this coat just evokes the spirit of Fall being in the air. Maybe it’s the burnt siena color, the menswear-inspired shape, or the tortoise buttons, but this coat is simply unique.
2. High-Heel Snakeskin Printed Leather Boot: J.Crew. Quite frankly these scare me, but I love them. I see them with mini dresses, an all black ensemble, or even over jeans with a turtleneck and coat. The combinations are surprisingly endless!
3. Cotton Poplin White Dress Shirt: J.Crew. A classic white shirt. Enough said.
4. Italian Silk Square Paris Scarf: J.Crew. I love using scarves to add polish to any outfit. And this Parisian-print silk one is both feminine and classic with its navy edges.
5. Strappy Pointed Toe Velvet Flats: J.Crew. I can’t rave enough about these gorgeous velvet flats. In a dusty-rose shade, you can see the beauty of the fabric and the detail in the Mary-Jane inspired straps and buttons. These are just too sweet for words!
6. Faux-Leather Pleated Mini Skirt: J.Crew. I actually bought this skirt last year in black, and I definitely got my money’s worth. The length is flattering, the faux leather doesn’t feel cheap,and I love the juxtaposition of an edgier fabric with the girly pleats. This year’s oxblood version is a must-have!
7. Tippi Sweater: J.Crew. This is one of my favorite sweaters that I own in multiple colors. It’s a great weight, perfect for layering under blazers and heavier coats alike. Plus, the rainbow of available colors absolutely irresistible. This season, I think I’m going to go for this deep forest green. The gorgeous gem color inspires thought of Fall and will pair nicely with black, neutrals and other jewel-tones.
I love J.Crew. Always have, and I think I always will. They have always had really great classic pieces, fun accessories and definitely don’t shy away from color or fun prints. They’re my first stop for cashmere sweaters, blazers and sensible (but never stuffy) shoes. In addition to the youthful and preppy styles, the quality is also a major selling point for me. I find that I can keep my J.Crew items (such as my cashmere collection) for years, and they truly stand the test of time.
Having lived in New York for a couple of years now, I’ve seen my wardrobe slowly start to become more dark and monotone. The stereotype is true… New Yorkers love black! But while I might live in new York, I’m still a Southern girl at heart. This season I wanted to get some new pieces that bring color back to Fall! I loved this candy-colored striped sweater that was bright, yet not overpowering. I feel like I can pair this with jeans, cropped pants, or even a full skirt for a playful look. To pump up the color volume even more, I opted for a bright azalea-colored blazer, or as J.Crew likes to call this color, “Wild Flamingo.” Side note… wouldn’t it be a great job to come up with the names for J.Crew colors? Where can I apply? Ok, back to reality. I finished my look with a quintessential J.Crew statement necklace and my favorite silver pumps. Seriously, these are my favorite. Just ask anyone in my office.
This outfit reminds me that I can still be playful and appropriate with my work-wear. And isn’t having fun what fashion’s all about?
Wild Flamingo Rhodes Blazer: J.Crew. Rainbow Stripe Sweater: J.Crew. Billie Denim-Boot Crop Jeans: J.Crew. Everly Mirror Metallic Pumps: J.Crew. Lucite Link Necklace: J.Crew.
So I recently got the opportunity to expand my Fall wardrobe and try out a service called Trunk Club. What’s Trunk Club?
Trunk Club is a curated fashion service that allows you to partner with your very own stylist who helps select new items for your wardrobe, and then mails it to you directly. Basically, you have a fashionable person who picks clothing based on your taste and then a trunk of wonders shows up at your door. How great is that!
So you might ask, I can pick my own clothing.. Why would I need that? Let’s be honest, shopping can sometimes be a stressful experience… and you definitely know what I mean if you live in New York! There’s the crowds, trying things on in a cramped room, and then making a decision on the spot.
Well, Trunk Club allows you to try on in the comfort of your own home, take time to think about it, and even see how pieces blend with others that are already in your closet. That’s a big one for me… Seeing how new purchases will fit in with items I already own, thereby making sure the purchase is really worth it (for more info, read My Golden Rule).
One of the reasons I really like Trunk Club is the interaction with a stylist that can help push your fashion boundaries a bit. Admittedly, we can all get stuck in our fashion ways a bit. For instance, I have an over-abundance of moto-jackets and fit-and-flare dresses. Yes, those are styles that I think work for me… but sometimes it’s great have someone else with style and taste pick out some items for you. You can end up with great pieces you love, that you might not have initially picked for yourself! Speaking of stylists, shout out to my great and patient stylist, Anne, who really took the time to learn about my likes, dislikes, go-to pieces, and lifestyle before curating some items she thought would work great for me.
So after receiving my trunk – the items I love ended up being a couple pieces I could see myself wearing to work. A pair of grayish black ripped jeans, and a silk striped blouse from Equipment, and sensible but stylish Stuart Weitzman sandals. My one call-out is that I feel like I had some fit issues with a couple of the other items in my trunk, so it might take a while to get body-type and fits perfected. If you live in a Trunk Club city, you can also visit the showrooms! Once you receive and try on, you have five days to make a decision if you would like to keep or return the items in your trunk. The best part is that the service is absolutely free, and you only pay for the items you decide to keep!
Overall, I’d say the total experience is fun and convenient – having someone pick out pieces that might push you out of your comfort zone a bit. Both the styling and customer service are great, with quality items (think DVF, Equipment, Vince,) hand picked by stylists who truly want to work with you and embrace feedback. It also comes with easy to understand instructions and care (printed instructions, return labels, and even tape strips to reseal the box).
For more information, you can check out Trunk Club at trunkclub.com.
Blouse: Equipment. Jeans: Topshop. Sandals: Stuart Weitzman.
What do you dolls think, would you ever try a shopping service?
