Posts with tag j.crew

It sounds like we might see a forty-something, realistically shaped, African American woman on the cover of Vogue. Pinch us, we must be dreaming.

Last night Michele Obama took a break from the Presidential campaign trail and made an appearance on the Jay Leno show. She talked about her husband Barack's ailing grandmother, Toots, and her daughter's lack of awe for his upcoming 30 minute T.V. special. But the big news was her stylishly cheery yellow ensemble.

We've always loved J.Crew for the fact that we can get quality, classic pieces at a decent price -- a dress isn't going to be cheap, but it won't look or feel cheap, either. Still, the price tags were never enough to dissuade us from perusing the racks. At least, not until now.

When you come across a book with a title like What a Man Should Know, you might expect the contents to center around the simple things that men don't seem to understand about their relationships with women. Fortunately or unfortunately -- depending on your POV -- that has nothing to do with what J. Crew's first book is about. Chess, wine, how to wear white after Labor Day, these are apparently a few of the topics that author Max Blagg covers in his survey course in the art of being a scholarly gentleman.

Some men might tell you that what you need to know to be a man can't be learned from books -- it's all about true grit and personal experience. Pure lies. According to J. Crew, the transformation from bumbling miscreant to a sophisticated man of the world can be covered in a paperback containing 50 manly pieces of advice. We wonder if it's like the Dangerous Book for Boys for men?

Yeah, we're fishing for a free copy. So what?

[via Style.com]

Maybe we're inspired by the Shirley MacLaine Chanel movie, but we can't get enough of chic and easy to wear dresses like this one from J. Crew. It's sophisticated and sporty (let's face it - it's basically a super long tee) but it's the dainty cashmere flower detail at the waist that sold us - we're suckers for things that are beautiful just because they can be.

$238 at J.Crew

Admit it -- you're totally not over Blair Waldorf and her crazy/awesome Gossip Girl trends. You love that she always has a frou-frou headband and you're dying to wear one, too, but you're not sure where to get the best one for your buck. We can help you.

Summer trends can be so much fun. Currently, we're really enjoying the nautical trend -- navy and white, khakis, boat shoes, etc. And, when if we really want to play up that trend, we have no problem choosing accessories that, with anything else, would look a bit costumey. You know, shapes like sand dollars and starfish can make for some really fun jewelry!

Every woman needs a great little black dress. If you don't have one, but also don't feel like sorting through racks and racks of dresses at the department store, J.Crew.com has a helpful shopping section dubbed "The Little Black Dress Shop." Most of the dresses are the traditional J.Crew fare -- simple shapes, A-line skirts, understated fabrics -- which is perfect if you are in the market for the timeless little black dress. But if you're more in the market for something unexpected and nontraditional, the Little Black Dress shop will not disappoint. I'm particularly fond of the black and white strapless Sacha dress and the Delphine striped organza dress.

Every year, you tell yourself you're going to start your holiday shopping early. How could you not, when stores and malls start decorating with tinsel and lights as early as...well, early October? You think I'm kidding? I went to the Beverly Center a few weeks ago and they had already begun the trappings of their "Winter Wonderland."

Styledash will certainly be on hand this season to help you find good stuff for your friends and family (and yourself along the way), but until we package everything up in a nice neat little post for you, BusinessWeek has gotten a jump start with some gift suggestions for the fashionista in your life. In fact, since 65% of gift-shopping this Holiday season will be clothing, the recipeient doesn't even have to be fashionista.

The first in their series focuses on something totally easy, and easy to find: a hat-gloves-scarf set. I like their recommendation for cashmere from Banana Republic, $48 for a pair of gloves. J.Crew also has a pair of cable-knit cashmere gloves in bright baby blue for $38.

Yesterday, I learned that those signs posted above intersections that exclaim "Photo-Enforced" aren't just a joke. And in honor of receiving this mailed-to-your-door citation, we're going to celebrate the color red (which means STOP!). Yes, red can be quite the "Hey, look at me!" color, but with proper taste, it can be worn (and accessorized) with success.

Here's a few ways to porte le rouge and look darn good. This cashmere crewneck sweater from Polo, which, I admit, is beyond the typical budget. But hey, it's slick. (And they say it's "saffron heather," not red. The color is very similar to that red light that I ran, however). And this old-school English tie from J. Crew sure is red, yet still classy.

And finally, this Ferrari-branded laptop computer. It's not completely red, but the mere mention of Ferrari screams red. (Somehow I don't think I've learned my lesson.)

So watch out for those intersection cameras. They even send you a picture of you driving through the intersection, so hopefully you'll now know to be wearing red.

Remember when you had corduroy pants in every color? To match every color of rugby shirt you had from J. Crew? Ok, so maybe that was just me, back in my prep-ster days in high school. But I never wore corduroy in a dress because it only ever reminded me of...jumpers. I'm sorry, but I have yet to embrace the jumper. But until the day that jumper does not equal "Osh Kosh B'gosh" for me, I can only do corduroy in a shirt dress, like this one from J. Crew that comes in a deep espresso color.

The dress is cotton, with a fitted bodice that buttons up the front and has a full skirt. I like the way it is paired with boots, but I'd love it more if the boots were a little lower -- to show some knee. Regardless, the dress will be cute no matter what shoes you wear.

The argyle pattern has been around for a long time, with its origins said to be dating back to the Campbell Clan of Argyll, a western region of Scotland, according to Wikipedia. And this pattern, an array of diamond shapes in a diagonal checkerboard arrangement, is not, in my opinion, going out of style anytime soon.

It's always there to add a little color to the typical sweater or a little excitement to the standard pair of dress socks. It's a great way to portray the business-casual look, which is useful for work, dates, or simply a night on the town with friends.

This season, Banana Republic and J. Crew (two of my favorite brands) have joined in on the argyle addiction, with both companies debuting several argyle sweater options for the fall. The first six sweaters pictured on Banana Republic.com sport the argyle pattern, and J. Crew has several choices, too. J. Crew utilizes lambswool, while most of Banana Republic's sweaters are cashmere. (Okay, it's mostly wool and only 10% cashmere, but still!)

Both companies also have a selection of argyle socks. If anything, argyle socks are bound to get you a few comments (whether they're positive or negative).

Summer is over, so it's time to start investing in sweaters and dress socks. So why not make them interesting with argyle?

Granted, I wouldn't normally admit this, but seeing as how it's Sexy Underwear day and all bets are off, I'm going to confess that I have a special soft spot in my heart for J.Crew men's plaid boxer shorts. They're simple, they're soft, they're basic -- and at $16.50 a pair, they're pretty inexpensive.

So why even mention them on Sexy Underwear Day? Well, when I walk around the grounds of the University of Virginia and I catch a glimpse of a plaid poking out from the top of a pair of khaki shorts, my heart starts to melt. As much as I like to complain about the juvenile shenanigans of the undergraduates in Charlottesville, the sight of their plaid boxer shorts also take me back to a simpler time, when life was easy, and all I had to worry about were the cares of a happy, but totally boy-crazy, co-ed.

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Some people might think that the sexiest shoes come out in the springtime. And who can blame them? After all, it's hard to debate the overall sex appeal of a strappy sandal with a three inch heel. But that doesn't mean that we should all start belittling the alluring offerings of colder season kicks.

I'm of the opinion that luxe fabrics, good design and unique embellishments can more than make up for a lack of skin. And this fall's offering of shoes certainly does not disappoint. Between the boots, the heels, the platforms, and yes, the flats, we're well on our way to stealing the title of "Sexiest Shoe Season" from the warm-weathered spring.

Here are a few of our favorites:

Jimmy Choo Eleven leopard print pumps
What could be more sexy than leopard print and a sweet little heel? While many people might be put off by the busy leopard pattern, this shoe is actually extremely wearable. Pair them with black, white, denim, camel, or red and you are ready to go. Hot to trot, if you will.



Miu Miu Velvet jewel shoes
As far as shoes go, flats tend to get shafted when it comes to their sex appeal. But sexy doesn't have translate into a three inch heel. If you substitute the stiletto for a luxurious fabric like a rich velvet, flat shoes can be just as desirable as their taller siblings. Slip on these bejeweled shoes, and everyone will notice.