J-Crew's back baby (...and so am I)

I'm making several apologies on this post:  first and foremost, for not posting since August.  I'm really sorry about that - moving to London turned out a lot busier than expected, and I've only really settled into my new life the last few weeks.  My second excuse for hiatus is that I forgot to change the primary e-mail address for the blog from my University e-mail, and it promptly disappeared.

(York were kind enough to restore my account so I could retrieve the blog.   You just wouldn't get that consideration down South.)

My second apology is more relevant to this post, and is entirely down to personal incompetence: I may have accidentally smeared handcream all over the back of my iPhone (electronic devices deserve pampering too) and this heavily impaired the quality of my already-shoddy photography. 

Anyway, onto the point of this post.. 

Before visiting the store last weekend, the only knowledge I had of J-Crew was the following:

• We've never had one before.
• K-Mid is known to wear it.
• My mother sees it as the natural 'step up' from my University wardrobe.

Since visiting the store, I have drawn the following conclusions:

• It's expensive.
• I need everything. 

I was greeted by a burly looking bouncer and America's image of London: four impeccably dressed models sporting Palace Guard hats and that classic British accessory, a phone box.   The store was full of yummy mummies and impeccably-dressed couples wielding bags from Burberry, Chanel and Selfridges.   All in all, I was pretty impressed.  Think of an Abercrombie for grown-ups:  sharp, clean better-lit and devoid of irritating teens. 

The first thing I picked up was the 'Schoolboy Blazer' in grey, with navy tips and beautiful gold buttons.  It was love at first sight and, at £268, fitted perfectly into my Christmas treat budget.  The blazer comes in graphite, vintage mahogany (both pictured) and 'pinot noir' (read: pretentious American for 'oxblood') which, in case you hadn't noticed, is staying firmly in over the next season.

 

Schoolboy Blazer in tipped wool £268

We all know I'm a sucker for a graphite and navy combo, so I promptly dumped all my belongings on Nicholas and headed to the mirrors.   I was a little disappointed trying it on;  I have a long body that doesn't tend to suit shrunken blazers, so I'm sad to tell you I left without the blazer (for now).

What did you think?
(tee: Whistles, jeans: Superdry)

I find that women split into two categories when it comes to fashion: those who change their jewellery daily, carefully matching necklaces and rings to certain outfits, and those who ignore their overflowing jewellery box and opt to wear the same three things day in day out.  I fall into the latter, despite my best efforts, so the seasonal knits (sorry - I refuse to say 'sweater') were perfect for me. Classic colours and styles were embroidered with brooches and necklaces, making them an ideal no-effort look for those who wished they could pull off the bejewelled look.

Starburst Sweater in 'Dusty Quartz' (£98), Donegal Sweater in 'Pewter' (£98)
and Collection Cashmere sweater in 'Indigo' (£298)

Much as I want to purchase the Donegal, I'm determined to leave my uniform of greys and blues behind (and my last grey-jumper purchase was mere days ago), so I'll be adding the Starburst to my list this Christmas.  In terms of classic jumpers Merino comes in at around £79 - not unreasonable for an upper-high-street name - however the 'J Crew Premium' can be seen in the price of basic cable knits (£88) and cashmere (starting at £188) , and I can't help but feel you can get similar/better quality elsewhere.   I'll cover this in a general winter-wardrobe post later, but if you're stuck for good cashmere this season try Whistles.

Another of my (sadly unachievable) favourites were the printed cigarette trousers, which were available in a variety of jacquards, tweeds and silk tie prints - if I had the legs to wear these to work I'd snap them all up in a second.  Again they're pricey, but I've not seen style or quality like this anywhere else so far this season..

Capri in Berry Bouquet (£248), Mid-Rise Toothpick Cord Trouser in Bottle Green (£98, other colours available),
Printed Tweed Tuxedo Pants (£250)

It could be that I'm turning into an old woman but I was also a fan of their corduroy stretch trousers, especially the fact they sell a mid-rise option.  I may be short but I'm also incredibly pear-shaped, and this often leaves me in an unfortunate position when buying jeans.

 

I really think people underestimate the value of a good pair of PJ's and J Crew has outdone itself here, selling a range of cotton, flannel and silk nightwear in both outfits and separates.  It's tradition that everyone in my family recieves a sleep-related present on Christmas Day, and I'm really hoping mine is one of these two (the nightshirt comes in plaid too).   They even sell a onesie.

PJ Set in Bright Cerise Flannel (£98), Cotton Nightshirt in 'Hydrangea' (£68)

I might have walked out of J Crew empty-handed last weekend but I'll be back, armed with my personal Christmas list and my gift-list for others.   Sure, it's overpriced, and it might be a few steps up from my current wardrobe, but in many cases J Crew's offerings are unique enough to justify the price tag.  

Autumn @ Jack

One of my favourite brands Jack Wills unveiled their Autumn Preview a couple of days ago and I thought I'd walk you through the looks, dish out a little advice on integrating new pieces into your current wardrobe, and get you as excited to buy this collection as I am!  

I love the pieces I've seen so far - the colour scheme is reminiscent of Victorian style; reflecting Jack Wills' tendency to celebrate and take inspiration from its British heritage.  The preppy brand's key colour this season adds a purple-hue to traditional oxblood shades to become Damson, and features on jeans, smart tees, dresses, playsuits and prints throughout the collection.  I'm 'pale and interesting' so the dark greys, navy and damson shades really suit my complexion.

In terms of cut, style and detail I think the Autumn collection is a little more grown-up than we've seen in previous seasons;  the delicate use of sheer fabrics, subtle polka dots and dainty floral patterns bring femininity to the androgynous cuts of jeans, shorts and boy-fit shirts.  These beautiful pieces add elegance to loungewear and casual clothing; the Marston Tee can be paired with black jeans and loafers during the day and a suede point-toe stiletto - this year's staple shoe - to carry your outfit through to the evening.  You could even add the Shelsey Cami to your workwear wardrobe; with a smart black skirt suit or cigarette trousers.

The Hamfield Crew (£49.50), Shelsey Pleat Cami (£59.50) and Marston Tee (£59.50)

 Wear with: the 'French 75' heel by Whistles, JW's own Maddison or J-Brand's 912 Skinny Jean.

Their key transitional outerwear piece moves away from the traditional rural uniform of weed, wax and quilt jackets towards the parka; the coat is often associated with an 'urban' or 'street' look (and championed by Liam Gallagher in the 1990's) and is available in navy or khaki, reflective of it's military origins.  The best thing about this coat is it's versatility - it can be thrown on over anything, and easily rolled up and popped in a bag when you don't need it til later. 

The Alwyn £98.50

 Wear with:  Contrast a sharp shirt and patent loafers with rolled-up trousers and the Alwyn parka for a slightly grungy city look.

'Kitty' by Charlotte Olympia, £465 (Selfridges)

If you're buying anything from this collection, or using it as inspiration for the rest of your Autumn wardrobe then here's a basic summary: stick to dark shades (greys, purples, reds and navy), pair  feminine tops with masculine-cut trousers, and never underestimate the power of a classic shoe.  Swap your ballet pumps for brogues and smoking slippers, and give your feet a rest in the evening because the mid-heel is back: point-toe styles in classic black patent and suedes, or wear a glitter or spiked pump for a little extra glamour.   Louboutin's 'Pigalle' is an absolute classic, as is the Whistles French 125 (/75) if you're not feeling irresponsible this month.

It isn't available in-stores yet, but my favourite piece is the Damson tweed jacket pictured below with the Bradnam short and a plain tee.  If you follow me on Twitter you'll have seen me raving about my guilty love of shorts-suits and, if anything, this little mix-and-match outfit has confirmed I've secretly been right about them all along.