More reasons to get excited about Fall!
Cheers!
Thursday, November 7, 2013
J. Crew Brings in November Style and Favorite Classics!
It only seemed fitting to give J. Crew a little lovin' seeing that it is my blog's namesake alittle"crew"zy; and of course, November and December of two of my favorite months for J. Crew. The styling is impeccable and I think we are all getting ready for some serious layering in the colder months. November makes me think of long walks through the gorgeous falling leaves, visits to the barn to see the horses saddled up and ready to ride through the chilled air. And most importantly, it is
such a wonderful time of year to be thankful for what we do have rather than what we don't have either materialistically or spiritually. I find November to be a time of grace and reflection.
It's also that time of year to store all warm weather clothing and get out the sweaters, boots and overcoats. If you are a smart shopper, then you've probably already invested in classic pieces such as blazers, cashmere, pea coats, riding boots and of course some beautiful accessories such as a good handbag and chunky, bright jewelry which J. Crew is never short of! It also seems to me that J. Crew has rekindled its classic offerings and provided lots of choices in colors, textures and styles so I am going to highlight a few of my favorites. For the November Style Guide they traveled to the Cotswolds of southwest England which "is know for its rolling hills, centuries-old stone walls and sprawling estates," as J. Crew described. The photos are beautiful.
Let's start with coats and think loose, soft and cuddly. This season J. Crew's Duffle Coat is a personal favorite because I just love the vibrant fuchsia color. It's gorgeous! I also like the color twist on their traditional Majesty Peacoats. This one at left is Heather Mineral, like an aqua.is pointing to the oversized, cocoon-like coats in vibrant colors. And for those who like the classic colors of red, tan/off white, navy, black - those are available as well. If you are looking for something a little different, perhaps edgier, then go for the Contrast-Collar Topcoat - love! It is
perfect to jazz up jeans and the white/black is a more modern while the beige stone seems more royal. It is more tailored and hits below the hip which I like very much.It is a good time to stock up on J. Crew cashmere which I have a
running wish list at all times. I really like that they've pushed the styles with different cuts, lengths as well as prints and gorgeous solid colors. However, they are pricey, at the low end - in the $100's all the way up to $400. I have always had good luck with their cashmere and I use the The Laundress cashmere or fabric sprays to keep them fresh with less time at the dry cleaners.
Also, you can always add those little special touches to add sophistication and a personal feeling to your wardrobe items. J. Crew shares a video below on "The Secret Language of Monogramming."
Published on Aug 21, 2013
We rounded up four style experts to get their thoughts on the venerable monogram. As it turns out, a couple of letters can speak volumes.
I never used to be a big fan of flats or ballet flats, but J. Crew has won my closet over with an array of colors, styles; my current fav is the Kiki suede studded ballet flat. This is the perfect "edgy" flat for jeans or for a night on the town when your feet just can't go another pair of heels. They come in warm fig and black. J. Crew says these were inspired by the streets of Paris. They have a tiny vamp or heel with a pointier toe. I adore the little grommets and the chic bow which give it just enough of dress.
I can never get enough of JC jewelry which makes a big statement and Jenna really started the layering up trend with bracelets, necklaces - I love it! The jeweled fan necklace has to be a conversation topic because it is gorgeous and was inspired by art JC found in the markets of Marrakech. It is mixed media with Czech glass, resin, light gold ox plating. The color is vintage burgundy with the purple and crystal accents. This would be perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas dress up.
I have to say that each year J. Crew comes out with a fantastic handbag and my favorite for this season is the Hughes Satchel made with a soft and structured design. It is very unusual looking. JC designers experimented with large scale origami and used such construction to come up with the overall design of this bag. It almost looks like a modern version of the doctor's handbag which have been very popular over the last few seasons. I love the pale graphite color, and it also comes in brigade blue, burgundy and black.
J. Crew spotted a very cool boot by designer Penelope Chilvers
As for J. Crew's Collection pieces, I won't say that I was totally wowed. I do love the Ratti tile coat because of the print, bright Fall colors and it is just so different. At $1200, it is steep, but you don't see pieces like this often. I will still hope for a healthy markdown!
I also loved this Necklace Sweatshirt which is not overly gaudy. It is playful and fun to wear with
Another fabulous accessory from "J. Crew in Good Company" are the Lulu Frost shoe clips which are stunning. They are inspired by estate jewelry, but have a deco, retro look to them. These are one accessories worth the investment, particularly if you want to dress up some of those ballet flats! They are stunning and come in two other designs as well.
Lastly, if you ever wondered how J. Crew comes up with all their fabulous colors then you'll love this video which shows how "art meets science" meets a guy named "Luigi"! This little film is called Color Crazy.
http://youtu.be/AEABSGDZBI4
I adore the November Style Guide; in fact it is one of my favorites by J. Crew in a long time. There were just enough stylish and a bit edgy items mixed with the affordable classics.
What are some of your favorites?
Cheers.
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