Saturday, July 28, 2012

1-2-3-4 J. Crew Summer Dress Sale

1-2-3-4 J. Crew Summer Dress Sale


Tahari by Arthur S. Levine khaki dress / J.Crew boatneck dress

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Friday, July 27, 2012

Crewlet Rosebush Tee

Crewlet Rosebush Tee



J.Crew graphic t shirt / J.Crew pencil skirt / Clutch handbag / Madewell belt


I miss J. Crew's graphic tees, so I'm psyched by this new one at the Crewlet online in one of my favorite JC colors. :-)  Whatcha think of this combo, y'all?

All is from my closet except that I don't yet own the Isabella pumps, but by wild coincidence I'm currently stalking a pair on eBay.  Can anybody tell me if these ran TTS?

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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

1-2-3-4 J. Crew Summer Dress Sale

1-2-3-4 J. Crew Summer Dress Sale



Tahari by Arthur S. Levine tee shirt dress / J.Crew stripe dress


Dresses for sale, ladies, as I slowly work my way thru my monster closet cleanout!

Please e-mail questions or interest to: jcauncmom@gmail.com.

All dresses priced at $20 with free shipping.

1. CLASSIC -- NWT J. Crew Shirtdress, Size 4, Item 80094, Color KHA. An eBay purchase that’s too small for me. Seller represented this as brand-new from her closet. Tag and button still attached, but no price on the tag – looks like it was mail-ordered. Retail, not Factory. I’m not sure of the season and can’t find this one online, but it is absolutely identical to the Tahari shirtdress shown here – same color, same embellishments. 100% Cotton. Fits small, no stretch. 

2. Super EUC J. Crew Stowaway Dress (Sp 2011), Size S, Item 42589. Original retail $68. From my own closet, worn twice, gently laundered. Cotton with a hint of stretch – and the cotton is soft as an old-fashioned baby diaper. Fit is roomy and forgiving.

3. EUC J. Crew Boathouse Shirtdress (Sp 2011), Size 6, Item 39308. Original retail $98. From my own closet and has been worn a few times and gently laundered. It’s light, breathes well and is very comfy, but is a little big on me and I was recently thrilled to find it in a smaller size on eBay. 100% Cotton.  Fit is slightly roomy, especially through the waist and hips.

4. Super EUC J. Crew Silk Cargo Dress (Summer 2010), Size 6, Item 26669. Original retail $138. Color is "wet peat".  I wore this twice and it's too big for me, but I've held onto it thinking I might get it altered but that's never happened -- I'm too lazy or cheap or both. :-)  The style is classic, exactly like the cotton khaki-colored one that I'm selling (item #1), but this version is in a lightweight silk that's very fluid.  Fit is very roomy.

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Saturday, July 21, 2012

Shirts: In my closet. Sweaters: Not... yet. Uh oh!


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Thursday, July 19, 2012

A Little Pop of Pink

A Little Pop of Pink



J.Crew j crew sweater / J.Crew long skirt / J.Crew j crew sandals / Coach quilted handbag / Dean Davidson long silver earrings / Knot jewelry


I love fuchsia, but sadly, fuchsia does not love my coloring (fair, Irish, freckly & auburn). Solution: Keep it away from my face and enjoy it in little accessory doses. Thank you to the beautiful Slastena for the inspiration to go searching for these Audra patent sandals on sale -- they are precious and super comfy.  If they'd fit my feet I'd also have bought the same color in the fab Marci patent wedges.

The Coach bag was (can we talk?) a hormonal splurge in this color, but one of those things that I'll own forever and love every time I use it.

As for the rest of the outfit, a happy accident.   The Tippi Sweater in Heart-print Crepe is one of my favorite spring purchases this year (I sized down to an XS as it ran big).  I'd sent it to the dry cleaners, and The Hubs hung up the dry cleaning on a hook in our closet right at eye level with the No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Deck Stripe. A summery match made in heaven!

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Monday, July 9, 2012

Raj Podge

Raj Podge



J.Crew tuxedo shirt / J.Crew pencil skirt / J.Crew ballerina shoes / Kate Spade handbag / Lois Hill handcrafted jewelry / Necklace / Persol sunglasses / Banana Republic wide belt

OOTD plan for a "business casual" meeting Tuesday morning 7/10. Sleeves will be rolled up twice and I'll wear the neckline casually open on the Frances tux shirt (which is long-sleeved -- thanks to the Polvorer who clipped it this way :-)).
 
Love love love love love these Persol sunnies.

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Birthday Dinner: Denim & Sparkle

Birthday Dinner: Denim & Sparkle



J.Crew striped t shirt / J.Crew long pencil skirt / Tory Burch flat / Tory Burch handbag / Coach jewelry / J.Crew retro jewelry / J Crew belt / Ross-Simons - Swarovski Crystal Channel-Set Clear Crystal Hinged...


OOTE for a fantastic birthday dinner for me last night with my boys and my younger son's lovely girlfriend at Nan Thai.  The food is delicious and truly artful, the dining room is exquisite, and the table staff add great beauty -- all delicate, lovely Asian women wearing elegant slender traditional Thai dresses.  Really a feast for every one of the senses.


Having both sons here for my birthday has been a very special treat.  For many years, July has found them away at their beloved Eagle's Nest Camp or, while they were in college, somewhere interning, summer schooling in Chapel Hill or studying abroad.  But son #2 (Blues Boy) is back living at home job-hunting after college (we love having him here but hope for his sake that it's temporary), and son #1 (Journey Boysurprised me by coming home for the weekend from Asheville, NC, where he now lives and works.  He's heading back to NC later today.  I woke up very early this morning, remembered that it was my birthday and that they were both right here in the house, and wow, what a rush of happiness!  I got up and tiptoed into their rooms to peek at them sleeping and plant a smooch on their heads -- a mom habit that'll never go away, I'm sure.  Both of them still sleep like spinning windmills in a wild tangle of legs, arms and covers.  I pity my future daughters-in-law. :-) 

All items are as shown in this set, except that my belt is a similar J. Crew patent skinny from two years ago in another animal print, and my earrings are similar yellow gold diamond half-hoops.
 
And missing:  I also wore a great little leather lariat necklace that I bought last winter at a craft show.  It's an inexpensive but well-made piece and I've had a lot of fun with it.  I'll try to remember to take an IRL pic the next time I wear it.   There's a 1"-diameter crystal fireball charm knotted onto each end of the tan-colored lariat, and because it's a short length of leather it lays neatly in the center of the Mini-Orbit Necklace.  They're really adorable together.


Have a wonderful day, everyone, and try to stay cool!


P.S.  Apologies again for this weird formatting -- I don't know what is causing it but I'll try to get to the bottom of the problem!  GRR!

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Saturday, July 7, 2012

(Really) Old Meets New(er)


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Elephant at Work

Elephant at Work



J.Crew tweed skirt / Liz Claiborne high heels / Kate Spade handbag / J.Crew j crew jewelry / J.Crew vintage crystal jewelry / J.Crew button jewelry / J.Crew leather belt / Girls' bow tank in big spots

This cute tank is Crewcuts, and the size 14 juuuuuuust fit me (and could be a hair looser under the arms, truth be told, but I'll deal.)

These shoes are another pair of the Liz Claiborne Johnnie pumps that I also have in black patent moc croc.  These are also patent in an ombre finish in a gradient that runs from dark navy to cobalt blue. They blend well with J. Crew's Casablanca Blue and Byzantine Blue from Spring/Summer '12. Super comfy with a cushioned rubber outsole and stacked heel, look pricier by far than they were.  Highly recommended!

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Friday, July 6, 2012

Movie Night

Movie Night



J.Crew j crew pants / J.Crew strappy leather sandals, $155 / J.Crew tortoise necklace / R.J. Graziano yellow gold earrings / J Crew belt


My version of a popular Polyvore combo.  All items are exactly as from my closet, except that my earrings are similar.

Of all the J. Crew perfect shirts in my collection (big and growing, I love 'em), hands down my all-time favorite is this, the Contrast-Stitch Perfect Shirt from back in the day.  And these sandals (also not new) are the best hormonal purchase I ever made, too.  They weren't comfy at first but did break in.  Cole Haan did a very similar shoe this spring that I've seen all over PV.

Have a lovely weekend, friends!

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Soothing Classics for a Sad, Sad Day

Soothing Classics for a Sad, Sad Day



J.Crew cami top / J.Crew wool skirt / Pumps / Liz Claiborne high heel pumps / Aspinal of London chain handbag / David Yurman south sea pearl necklace / David Yurman gold hoop earrings / David Yurman bangle / J.Crew patent leather belt

Hi everyone!


I wore this simple outfit yesterday (another 95 degree-plus melting day here in Atlanta) for the very sad but breathtakingly moving funeral of a dear friend's husband, a healthy and super-fit guy who lost a heroic battle (after only six months!) with esophageal cancer.  What a vicious and unrelenting disease.  All spring, as he fought with every available weapon and NOTHING worked or even seemed to slow down the juggernaut, I often thought of our blogger pal  DrBabyMamaDrama, who lost a good friend to the same cancer a year or so ago.  If you're looking for a place to put your cancer research dollars, folks, you can't do better than to help with funding the fight against esophageal cancer.  


Now, I know y'all are thinking that this seems an odd set to come out of my longtime busy-life lurkdom with, but I wanted to share this outfit as an example of truly classic, well-made J. Crew items from my closet that have stood the quality test of time -- as opposed to, say, 50% of my 2011-2012 JC purchases and nearly all of my 2010 and later JC tees.  Shame on J. Crew.


This skirt -- the 2010 Fallyn in whisper-light wool flannel -- was only $98 at original price and ended up marked down at my B&M to $59.99 plus extra 30 off.  I remember thinking it was a "find", but wow, what an understatement.  It's worth stalking on eBay, ladies. Gorgeously made, exquisite fabric, true to your JC pencil skirt size, super flattering (love the small knife-edge pockets on the rear), and zero wrinkling even after you sit in it on a hot day. I wish they'd bring this fabric and style back.


The cami is, of course, the incomparable silk Victoria, from 2009.  I have this in three colors and wish I had it in 30.   The Frances (from 2010, I think?) was similar and also lovely.


Shoes are a highly-recommended recent DSW find -- just plain little Liz Claibornes, but ridiculously comfy, very pretty on the foot, breathe well, and look way more expensive than the $55 I paid for them.


Accessories -- Belt is identical to mine. Re: David Yurman jewelry - my bracelet and earrings are real, my necklace is a great knockoff (not cheap, but not the REAL price!) from a local "source". My bag is an old and beloved similar Brahmin chain clutch in patent croc.


I'll be back soon with cheerier stuff to say and cute things to review!

P.S.  I have nooooo idea why this post looks like an old Western Union telegram, y'all.  Sorry! :-)




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