Fresh and Beautiful J. Crew...Spring 2013 Wardrobe Staples!

J. Crew's April Style Guide is beautiful and well, fresh! I found this particular batch of Spring-worthies
to be more attainable focusing on those items to stock up on which in my opinion gets back to the pieces that J. Crew is  so well-known for.  Even the coveted Collection pieces are completely relatable and well aligned to the other Spring items.

I think that it is never too early to wear white so whether you are traveling to St. Bart's (where the Spring items were photographed) or just slipping on some easy, breezy pieces J. Crew does a great job. I was a little distraught that the eyelet front sweatshirt was no longer available, boo J.Crew. (Please stock up like your catalog implies us doing!).  An alternative is the Daisy Lace 3/4 Sleeve Tee which is just as pretty (and comfy)!

The Daisy Lace Mini as shown left is a cute little (emphasize little!) wardrobe staple.  This one is a great dress me up or down piece.  I only wish J. Crew would offer more curvy girl options.  Wouldn't you love an area that officially says "Plus" like other retailers such as Talbots have long offered to customers?

The Boy Shirt in Classic White is a must purchase for any season and buy a little over sized for a casual feel.  I love Blythe Blouse in Silk, so lovely...

rolling the sleeves up and throwing jeans or shorts on with this one.  If you like really oversize, then pick from the men's options which I've done before and really gives a laid back feel.  Dress up with the

Back to the positives...another fav white item is the Schoolboy Blazer in Tipped Linen.  I love the grosgrain tipping with matching buttons.  This blazer is a favorite of mine and cut beautifully to where to the office or with a pair of jeans.

Pick a pack of No. 2 Pencils? The No. 2 Pencil Skirt comes in a beautiful array of colors and materials.

The double serge cotton is a favorite of mine and I love the slightly longer length that this skirt provides.  This skirt also comes in eyelet tweed, martel wash, denim, jacquard, tuxedo, appliquéd, scalloped lace, raffia stripe, floral printed, ecru washed, stretched suede, wool, super fine cotton, lustre twill, Super 120's and silk!  There is a skirt for everyone in this No. 2...it's definitely a wardrobe staple.

How about a Liberty Art Fabric known for its beautiful printed florals or a chambray button-down? This is a another stock up for me and there are sumptuous colors and prints for Spring.  My personal favorite is the Perfect Shirt in Citrus Print.  This is a sunny staple that screams, "I am ready for Spring"! Well, not really, but you get the point...

The Havana Clutch is a great staple clutch which I actually
got in a previous season; favorite color is fuchsia, but it also comes in natural gold or black wicker for a more conservative look.  This is definitely a day to night little
clutch and I am glad it returned for Spring.

And how about the Quorra Ballet Flat which I adore because it is super comfortable.  I love the neon pink which is not really neon, more of a muted and pastel pink.  I love all of J. Crew's ballet flats.  The Collection Daisy Chain Ballet Flat reminds me of my favorite little girl Easter shoes, but they are all grown up - except for the $225 price tag :(...
So go bold or a little neutral.  This is another staple that you can't go wrong with and there are enough subtle style changes and colors/prints so you won't get bored with this little shoe.  I love to see this shoe return season after season.

What are your favorite stock up items?  Do you think J. Crew is more focused on their traditional roots?  Whatever they are doing, they're doing it right.  Spring has sprung at J. Crew and I love it!

Cheers...

Mood boards, an exercise in therapy to the driving force behind a designer's collection...

Tory Burch sp '13 “Remix”
Courtesy of Peter Schlesinger/
nymag

Mood board's have long transformed a designers eye swathed with a healthy dose of emotion that just might be the ingredients for a new Collection.  Truth be told, many use this open blank canvas to organize thoughts, emotions, next steps toward a project or maybe even to dream a travel board that carefully points out each place in the world that one might like to explore.  Mood boards for me are the ultimate expression of one's creative self.

There is something quite soothing about the mood board maybe because it marks the beginning of  something very exciting or perhaps it gives one a better sense of control and communication where they may have struggled in the past.

Amanda Harlech for
Chanel/Mood board

There are really no rules to Mood Boards.  I am always inspired by certain fashion designers boards before their collection is born.  One that recently caught my eye was that of Amanda Harlech's behind Chanel's S/S 13 collection.  Amanda is Karl Lagerfeld's creative collaborator. Her board evokes a lightness or as "Karl says, the bearable lightness of being". I came across this fresh little board in the February UK issue of Harper's Bazaar (page 61 entitled MY MOODBOARD). I personally see white mixed against Aegean blue, marks in plaid and window-framed in black.  The textures range from light and airy to a lovely tweedy symbolism we know about Chanel.  Hints of red, pink, fuchsia and purple let us know that Spring is really coming.

I've collected a myriad of mood boards and fashion designer's inspirations which I've placed on Pinterest boards devoted to the previous.  It is named "fashion mood boards & designer inspirations" subtitled: "A place of beauty, inspiration, vision and of course -- mood." (Chris).

Carolina Herrera SP 2013 "Timeless"
Courtesy of Carolina Herrera

These boards do not necessarily have to drive actual work, they can serve as an excellent way to work through one's emotions be that they could be joyful, sad or really confused.  I would encourage not setting too many boundaries otherwise you could lose sight of why you were doing the board to begin with.  Also, don't feel like you have to restrict yourself to singular mediums.  As you'll see in Harlech's, there is beautiful and different fabrics, magazine pictures, sketches, jewels, ribbons and so on.  The great thing is that it can be as minimalist or ornate as you desire,

J. Mendel, Joseph Altuzarra, and Bibhu Mohapatra)
Spring/Summer 2013 NYFW

I invite you to take a look at the boards I've saved through my Pinterest collection. And I challenge you to try one if you never have before.  It is incredibly cathartic and is almost always guaranteed to lift your spirits or maybe get you on track to something very special.  Either way I'd love to hear how you use your mood boards and what are some of your favorites!

Cheers!

"Designed in New York. Made in Italy" - J. Crew's March Style Guide Brings Some Lovelies!

I love J. Crew's March Style Guide for so many reasons, but mostly for the shoes!  The Italian Shoe Collection (designed in NY ;)) boasts some beauties worth talking about.  You know I am a girl who loves a little sparkle so here it goes!  The Collection Janey Jeweled Bow Snakeskin Flat (above) has a very bedazzled bow.  I think these would compliment a pretty neutral dress or suit.  They have just the right amount of "lustrini"!

The Collection Etta Sequin Pumps are the real deal with sparkle which J. Crew says all 8,612 sequins (for the pair) are hand-sewn.  Now that is a lot of sparkle!  I love these pumps because they can break all the rules with conservative office wear.  These babies could show off your sassy-side with a beautiful sheath dress or pencil skirt and white blouse.  They say, "I am a confident and sparkly woman! And the bonus on these pumps is that they are made with a cushioned foot bed which helps you take the day into night without changing shoes.  Now, you can click your heels three times and feel amazing in these pumps!

The colors and prints in the Collection are just beautiful.  From "dazzling sun", "neon pink", "admiral blue" to prints in "yellow multi floral print" and "hummingbird floral" which are already sold out :(  These colors can take us from Spring right into Summer.

 And for the girl who prefers the more neutral palette, the Collection will be sure to please.  In addition to the Collection Janey Jeweled Bow Snakeskin Flat I love both the Collection Daisy Chain Ballet flats and the Collection Etta Crystal & Stud Pumps.  The  Collection Etta Crystal & Stud Pumps are in "Pewter" with an amazing array of gold, silver and crystal sparkles.  These pumps too have a cushioned foot bed so that you don't have aching feet after a long day!

The flat that I adore from this Collection is the Janey Metallic Flat. I just love how the upper is smooth allover silver with a gold-toned heel.  I think this is great giving flexibility to what you wear both in your other accessories, clothing an/or jewelry.  The combination metallic finish is also unique in that one typically sees an all-over silver or just gold shoe.  It is a very modern ballet flat for sure.  The Janey flat also comes in patent, snakeskin, calf-hair, prints, jewels and crystals!

So that's a wrap on the newest Collection of J. Crew shoe-wear.  It gives me a positive pop of Spring that so many of us are craving would come all too soon!

Cheers.