Wow, so much to review, so little time. Literally. I’ve got another jewelry holiday trunk show to do this weekend, so suffice to say, I’m rather busy & really shouldn’t be blogging. But after all, we all need to take a break now & then. So I choose to temporarily relieve stress via blogging.

So, in the interest of time, I’m going to divy up my review into the following areas:
(1) Shoe Review (One of my favorite topics! )
(2) Accessories (As a jewelry & accessories designer myself, of course this is another favorite topic!)
(3) Dresses
(4) Tops (Shirts & Sweaters)
(5) Bottoms (Skirts mostly this time)
(6) Sleepwear

Each area will be a separate post.

Yes, I do realize I skipped some categories (outerwear, jackets, pants, suiting, swimwear, etc.). This fashion segment is not meant to be an all-inclusive review. Only the newest & most noteworthy of selections will be reviewed. So, without further ado, I bring you the “Holiday 2007 JCrew Fashion Review, Part One.”

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Part One: JCrew Shoe Review – Holiday 2007

I give a “two thumbs up, way up” to the following pairs of shoes:

While they are both pretty & very tasteful, I already have enough black & white shoes, so I personally gravitate towards the ones pictured on the right side of the page.

The next shoes have a great idea behind them (I love the idea of a tartan print ballet flat), but they aren’t so fantastic that I feel personally compelled to run out & buy them right now. It’s not that the shoes are ugly, it’s just that I do not find them “soul-stirring,” to use Tim Gunn’s turn of phrase (from his show, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style ). If I did find them irresistibly soul-stirring, rest assured that I’d probably go out & buy the darned things right now. Thankfully for my wallet, I can live without them & be just fine. Of course, I can live without a lot of so-so fashion & be just fine. Just because I like something, doesn’t mean I’m going to run out & buy it. I have to really, really like something to do that!

Let me speak to why these shoes don’t “do it” for me. Often times, with the psychology of buying, appeal is based on “first impressions.” Had they been in another color or print, I might’ve focused on them for a bit longer. In theory, they appear to be a cute color combination, but had I been looking through their catalog, my first impression would be to “turn the page.”

So why am I not gravitating to these shoes like a super-strength magnet or heat-seeking missile? It’s not that I don’t like bright, it’s just that these colors aren’t particularly a color combo I want on my feet. I don’t see them meshing with my already existing wardrobe. And quite frankly, I’d prefer them in a more classic red, green, or a navy tartan print. Then, I’d be more attracted to them.

So does that mean I’ve turned boring in my “old age” & only seek classics?! Hell no. But in order for me to find fashion riveting, the style & colors have got to just draw me in like a bee to honey. The feeling is almost inexplicable at first, but in truth, there’s always a reason behind it, if you analyze it properly.

Do you ever wonder why you’re attracted to some styles & repelled by others? Is it pure conditioning? Nature vs. nurture? Will you finally respond after seeing the same swing coat ten zillion times? Is it just the fashion world wearing down your resistance to the latest fashions through repetition?

Well, possibly. But then again, sometimes it could also be another pattern of your own making. You might gravitate to the same pair of black pants, & not even realize you are buying them over & over again, to the point where you’ve got all of the same shirts, shoes, and bottoms in your wardrobe. So does that explain what’s been happening to you lately? If so, then you’re probably either (a) in a fashion rut, & exactly where your fashion sense froze is probably at the moment or era (!) you last remember feeling fulfilled, sexy, young, or happy in your life, (b) just know what you like, & knowingly & willingly keep buying it, or (c) have some compulsive, OCD-like shopping disorder that causes you to buy the same item over and over again.

But seriously, there’s more to it than that. Atleast for most people.

Don’t know about you, but when I look at a photo of a fashion item, I find myself immediately responding to it. And I usually have rather strong opinions about it too, in case you haven’t already guessed.

First I respond to the overall impact of the outfit — it’s color & style — and then, I further examine the details to hone down what it is exactly that I like or don’t like, or what works or doesn’t work for me. Of course, when I see the item in person, this is the time I usually start thinking about practical considerations like, “Does it fit well & flatter?” Or, “does this item have a place in my wardrobe?” Or, “Do I really need another —- (insert the name of the item here)?”

If the style & color of an item hasn’t elicited a response, it’s usually because the item is just too boring for me to notice. I won’t just “oohh and ahhh” over a basic T-shirt, people. If I were to get excited over a T-shirt, then it better be some flippin’ fantastic T-shirt, with something special to recommend to it. (Perhaps an intricate or unique detail which makes that item unlike any other I’ve seen before.) While the basics are necessary wardrobe staples, & can even be “soul-stirring” when considered as part of the larger, overall effect of an outfit (i.e., its fashion “gestalt,” so to speak), for the most part I just don’t see the fuss. Meh. Just fill in the holes of your wardrobe with the basics & be done with it.

I also realize that my fashion choices in this particular stages of my life are based on a common, unifying principle/theme: Is this something I can picture wearing with something I already own, or if not, can I justify the purchase as a fabulously special item that I can imagine wearing with something that I might not yet own but would consider putting on my wish list?

At this stage of the game, fashion for me is about editing, not about adding unnecessarily to an already full wardrobe. For the record, let me just state that I recently bought an entirely new wardrobe, as none of my clothes fit after several months of marathon-training. I didn’t have a tremendous amount of weight to lose in the first place, but it didn’t change the fact that nothing fit me & I needed a bundle of new clothes! However, now that I do have enough clothes to wear, I’m even more choosy about what I decide to add. It’s not even an issue of closet space; it’s more about the purpose that an item serves. Does it augment or compliment what I already own? How easy is it to accessorize? What kinds of creative wardrobe possibilities are opened up by owning such an item?

Also, it really depends on the item we’re talking about. If the item was designed primarily for a practical purpose, like a sports-related garment, I might still focus on fashion, but fit/form and function will also factor heavily into the equation.

And, if I’m looking at a business suit, I’ll also consider functionality to a very large degree. I first look at the quality & type of the material (I prefer wool crepe, due to its four-season wear), how many pieces there are (I prefer getting a modern, tailored suit with a two-button jacket that hits at high mid-hip, a knee-length skirt or shell-type dress, & flat front pants), and then consider factors like whether or not the fabric will pack/travel well. Of course I consider style, fit, & color, but these are supporting factors that must serve the garments’ functionality & versatility. I’m not suggesting I’d wear a dowdy, ugly suit, but that a suit’s form & functionality must go hand-in-hand in order for me to buy it.

Of course, there are some items for which I will have to admit that functionality & versatility play absolutely no role in the decision-making whatsoever. These items are usually “splurge” purchases which are purely there for pleasure. Example: The yellow suede ballet flats (with green captoes) I recently bought at JCrew, which although they’d go perfectly with a pair of khaki capris or walking shorts that I don’t currently own, have no current place in my wardrobe. Absolutely none whatsoever. And since most of my pants are hemmed for heels, I either need to wear them with shorts or skirts, or get a pair hemmed for flats. Since I like wearing high-heeled shoes & boots far too much, I think I’d rather just get a flattering pair of capris that hit at the proper point on my ankles.

While we’re on the subject of capris, I would like to advise petite or heavy-set women, or people with particularly thick ankles, to please steer clear of this fashion statement. If you are tall & lanky (with a swan-like neck), then capris are usually for you. You can still wear them if you are of average height & small to medium build, but please make sure you consider exactly where the capris hit on the ankle. This is particularly important, as most humans don’t want to intentionally look like they have elephantiasis of the ankles.

Now I won’t embarrass anyone I know, but let’s just say that I know some petite ladies who, while thin, should probably not wear capris, as it foreshortens their form. (Petite women can usually get away with wearing walking shorts, but capris are quite another story.) And trust me, when you are petite, you need all the lengthening effects you can get. This is even more accurate of a statement if you are also large-busted & petite. Sorry ladies, but not all fashions are meant for everyone. I, too, realize there are many styles & fabrics that should never ever come into contact with my body, & as much as I love them for their own sake, I know that I will never, ever wear or own these items. Mostly because I know that they will do horrible, unkind things to the shape of my body.

First and foremost is fit. I’m extremely picky about fit, probably more so than most humans. I like the shoulder seam of my shirts, sweaters, & jackets to sit properly on the shoulder, and my pant-legs & sleeves to hit at just the right length. I like tailored clothing which shows my shape without being tight or revealing. However, even if the garment fits well, I won’t buy it if it doesn’t flatter my shape. And of course, if the item is ugly but functional, I probably won’t be caught dead wearing it either.

While I generally like my body & feel great about it, there are some things I just won’t do. Pockets on my very round, rear end? No way. Not unless I’m feeling particularly bootylicious & feel like shouting out its existence, like a freakin’ intergalactic candygram broadcast, to the entire universe!

“Yes, hello? Anyone there?” This is Badunkadunk calling.

Message definitely received, loud & clear.

In addition to design & fit, color also plays a huge role in my buying decisions, & is extremely important to me. It can make the difference between whether I think something is “flattering” or “unflattering,” “boring” or “thrilling,” or “impractical” or “versatile.” Of course, these assessments largely depend on the garment’s purported use, the occasion(s) where it is to be worn, & one’s point of view.

As a fashion & accessories designer & stylist, I work with color on a regular basis. I’m also a painter & all-around visual artist, and have been actively involved in multiple visual art disciplines for years. I know colors & how to combine the proper mixture of colors to elicit visually appealing responses. It’s just something that courses through my veins. But it can also be learned.

Like hair color, it’s important to have highlight & lowlight colors, as well as colors which contrast as well as compliment the other colors. For example, there’s a good reason why black, white, & red go so well together. Or pink, orange, & brown. Or green, teal blue, & purple. (Just look at a peacock. After all Mother Nature’s creations are some perfectly beautiful manifestations of color, as well as symmetry & many other wonderful qualities. Look at the colors of a sunset or a field of flowers.)

You don’t even need a grouping of three. Here are some great classic two-color combinations: Black & white, black & grey, black & camel, camel & pink, pink & orange, red & white, navy & white, loden & orange, charcoal grey & orange, green & aqua, khaki & orange, khaki & yellow, purple & red, grey & teal (or almost any light to medium shade of blue), brown & red, brown & pink, or orange & navy. These color combinations are timeless classics that just work. (In fact, come to think of it, JCrew happens to utilize many of these color combinations; this is reflected in the design of their prints, as well as in their choice of outfits coordinated for their catalog & online photo shoots.)

When it comes to the question of “to buy or not to buy,” there are also any number of random “wildcard” factors as well that can affect a person’s decision-making process: Their mood, patience level, perception of how they’re being treated by a salesperson, how much time they’ve got to shop, etc.

Then, there’s also this: Positive associative memory is a powerful form of nostalgia. When I think back to different points of my life, I realize that a lot of classic items I’ve bought over the years remind me of fond memories from various stages of childhood to early adulthood & beyond. It’s not that I have a desire to regress or relive my childhood vicariously through my outfits; rather, it’s more about being surrounded by positive associations which are reinforced via memory. For example, I associate the toggle coat I own with the yellow rubberized one I remember wearing as a child, the one I wore when I fed the ducks with my grandfather, at a duck pond near his house. I love that memory to bits! And then there’s also the more generalized association of the item with New England & fisherman. Which makes me think of Cape Cod, Maine, & other places I’ve either visited or imagined visiting.

And then there’s the personal association I have with tartan: I remember the classic red tartan pants I loved to wear as a teenager, which my maternal grandparents had brought back from Harrods on one of their trips to London. (My maternal great-grandmother was English.) In addition to the obvious link to my family heritage, there are plenty of related stories I could recount. For several years, my sister competed as a violinist in the “fiddling” competition at the Highland Games. And of course, she wore the classic tartan kilt. Of course, there are many other stories & associations, but that’s enough delving into past memories & my psyche for now.

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OK, that was quite a diversion. Now back to my fashion review. Next up is another pair of ballet flats, this time in crocodile:

While these flats are, in fact, a pleasing color combination, I’m not a big fan of the material in this particular context. I can’t exactly put my finger on it, but I think ballet flats look slightly odd in crocodile. Something’s just off. If & when I figure it out what it is exactly, I’ll certainly let you know.

The average human will also probably find that the above croc ballet flats pack a big punch, particularly in the wallet, as they carry a “hefty” price tag of $495. Keep in mind, these are ballet flats we’re talking about, not a handbag or high-heels. Granted the shoes are, in fact, genuine crocodile, which comparatively retails at much higher prices elsewhere.

Knowing my fiancé, he will surely get upset about me even mentioning crocodile products as he reads this post. Don’t worry, I’m not going to purchase the shoes. So just calm down, OK? (In case you were wondering, he was also rip-roarin’ mad about the infamous JCrew fur episode too.) But anyhow, there it is. Again, please note that I’m NOT condoning cruelty to animals! I’m an animal-lover myself, & have two cats who are basically my adopted children disguised in fur-suits. Of course, now I fully expect animal rights activists to sound off in the comments section of my blog, of course without even reading what I’ve just written…… Sigh.

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Next…..

These peep-toe shoes are not bad, but it’s hard to tell, since I haven’t seen them in person. I find that with shoes, you can’t just fall in love with a picture & then that’s that. You’ve really got to see what they look like on your feet, because in many cases, that can often change whether or not a pair of shoes really suits you & your fashion personality:

The print of this peep-toe shoe might look familiar to you. It was done in a ballet flat too:

Then, there’s the metallic Mary Jane:

Yes, the patent leather May Janes have been reinterpreted, this time, in a metallic leather color. While they don’t scream “ugly,” I’m not a personal fan of these shoes, mostly due to the color. I just don’t wear silver shoes. Too “tin-foil,” “kitschy,” & “man on the moon” for me. And as you know from previous posts, I don’t fancy being mistaken for a life-size cartoon.

I also dislike silver handbags, scarves, or hair accessories. In fact, I refuse to wear silver accessories in general, save the occasional piece of sterling silver jewelry. And at that, it’s usually only an accent, not a fashion take-over.

Think about it. I’m in my thirties & trying to do everything in my power to ward off grey hair. I’m not going to give those little wirey buggers any encouragement to stand out any more than necessary. And silver accessories do just that. Yes, they highlight grey hair. Now I know some fabulously fashionable ladies in their fifties & sixties who look great with a full mane of grey hair. They wear their hair like a badge of honor, & love wearing silver accessories to highlight their hair. I applaud them & say a sincere “good for you!” But my larger point is that it is up to each woman to decide exactly how she’ll interpret the idea of “growing older, gracefully.” Maybe when I’m seventy I’ll change my mind, & go with the flow, but for now, as I’m only in my thirties, I’m going to fight it like hell with everything I’ve got.

Even though shoes are not something worn close to your face, that still doesn’t change the fact that I don’t like silver shoes.

And yes, I know for the longest time, fashion editors were screaming about how great metallics are — for day, for evening, for the holidays, for your entire existence (yes, yes, enough already!) — but personally, I’m not buying it. Most metallics are just way too faddish, & unless you plan on taking a time-machine back to the 1970’s & 80’s, I’d like to leave most metallics back in the era they belong, to recently & hopefully soon forgotten, history.

Fads are usually over before you know it, so they’re typically not that great or very practical when viewed as a long-term wardrobe investment. Yes, I know they are for temporal fun, but at my age, I’m mostly into buying clothes that are modern & timeless. For me, the fun trend-oriented stuff is an occasional frill & thrill in which I might participate here & there, but it’s mostly limited to minor purchases like hair accessories & the like. It’s mostly the classics & sporty fashions for me, with an occasional penchant for ethereal boho-chic & romantic looks.

Now you might argue that Mary Janes are classic. Yes, they are indeed. But I’d rather take them in “holiday red” or some other classic color, thank you very much. Atleast these are colors I know I’ll wear a lot, because not only are they classic colors, but more importantly, they go with tons of already existing items in my wardrobe. And as I’m not into faddish, throw-away fashions, I’d rather buy items with long-term wearability. When it comes to building my wardrobe, those purchases will always win out in the end.

Again, I’m not saying that these shoes are outright “hideous.” They just aren’t for me, that’s all.

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If I do “do” metallics as an apparel choice, it’s going to be in gold, and at that, subtle, tasteful accents of gold. Example: JCrew had a really fantastic pair of leather flip-flops in a liquid gold color that I bought for the beach. I’d wear them with a red swimsuit or a pair of summer-white shorts. Again, strictly summer, & strictly beach wear.

Even if I wore gold for evening, it’d probably be jewelry or a small evening bag, and at that, nothing too “bling bling.” I’d even consider wearing a subtle evening top in a soft, liquid gold color, but again, nothing too flashy or tacky-looking.

Metallics can be very tricky, so you’ve got to be rally careful. Wear the wrong fabric or finish, & you can easily look cheap & tacky. (While I don’t care for the metallic Mary Janes, this pair of shoes’ particular finish & shade of silver are subtle enough to atleast avoid this pitfall.)

Sparkly metallics are especially tricky. Actually sparkly apparel in general can often be a dicey minefield of bad taste & near misses.

As a general rule, I just don’t like sparkle. The only Austrian crystals I want to see are on a Judith Leiber miniaudiere.

While I like diamonds as much as the next girl & have been known to wear a sequin or two on a rare occasion, I’m not a flashy, “bling bling” kind of girl. This would be true no matter what metallic color we are talking about, & no matter what item.

I prefer to “wow” people versus blind them with my fashion sense. There’s no need to “shout” or “hit people over the head” with your fashion choices. You can still “rock” a sensationally fashion-forward dress without drawing attention to yourself for the wrong reasons. Something as simple as the wrong kind of sheen on a metallic will have you looking like you are supposed to be taken out with the trash.

To quote Tim Gunn: Fashion isn’t always a pretty, PC thing. If you want to be equated with taste & sophistication, my advice is to steer clear of the obvious no-no’s:
(1) Cheap fabrics are to be avoided at all cost!
(2) If you wouldn’t want your mother to see you in it, chances are you probably shouldn’t be wearing it to work, and probably not on a first date either, unless you are trying to “get lucky.” Also, loud overwhelming prints, overtly sexy clothing (that shows too much skin or is way too tight), & other ostentatious fashion statements probably are not exactly going to give you the proper positive attention you’re probably seeking either. And I’m not just talking about your professional impression in the workplace.
(3) Unless you are a rock star or a model & are 10 feet tall, you should probably avoid the micro-mini as a fashion statement. It is my humble opinion that micro-minis should be avoided by 99% of the female population. Most people can’t pull off this look, & even if they can, where can you wear them without looking like a cheap you-know-what?! That’s just common sense!

Fashion is the wrapping of the present which is you. So, let your clothing work for you in a positive way & serve as your perfect introduction when you enter a room, (that is, before you open your mouth to speak). But first people need to be able to get past your clothes in order to do this. So be sure your clothing is a credit to you, instead of a distraction which obscures the essence of your personality. In the workplace, let your clothing serve as a window into your mental faculties, your competence, your professionalism, your talent. In your personal/social life, let them transport you into a positive place where you can relax & be yourself. Let your clothes help you to facilitate your goals & realize your dreams.

As the saying goes, “The eyes are the window to the soul.” But your wardrobe can be a key element which can make or break (not only your first impression but also) your perceived accessibility, in terms of meeting new people & forging social connections.

Moving on…..

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I’ll end my review on a positive note. The below pairs of shoes are both really cute.

Love the look of these slingback heels! And as they’re not too high (atleast not from what I can tell in the picture), they’re very functional too. Could picture wearing them with grey or khaki slacks. Very office-appropriate. These’d be perfect for meeting clients or even meeting the parents. Very respectable-looking. Versatile too.

Well, that’s it for shoes. Next up, accessories.