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I think I’ve been doing pretty well with my “one in, two out” closet purge. I’m not quite even but I have sold 32 “loved but not worn” items from my closet to others who will “love AND wear” them. Not bad for 13 days. Today, I went by J Crew to make two returns – the Jackie Pullover in Canvas and the Stripe Sweater Dress. I was just going to return both items but I did walk around the store to see if there was anything that peaked my interest to try on but I didn’t find anything…except for this.

Enameled Giraffe Cuff

Isn’t she just the cutest thing? It was the last one in the store and I was told this is an in-store only item so it may not show up online. It’s $98 and the Style # may be 74693 from what I can tell on the tag attached to it.  The Frog Necklace was sold out and so was the Bubble Necklace in yellow, which I never saw. It has a hinge where it opens, which you can see in the second picture.

What do you think of the Giraffe Cuff?

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Before the new year, J Crew updated their site with some new arrivals for Resort/Spring 2012. I was anxious to see the No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Warm Jade along with the new Jackie Pullover. My store won’t be receiving anything until next week and I didn’t want to wait that long so I placed an order.

Here are my first reviews of Resort/Spring 2012.

No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton – #59369, $110, Warm Jade, Sz 6 – I quite like this color IRL. Online, the color did not look like the little sample color in the catalog so I was worried it wouldn’t be as lovely as I hoped. But I didn’t need to worry. I love the color. It’s vibrant and a very pretty green, maybe a little darker than the pictures below. This fits well in my normal size 6. The cotton is nice, a little thick (double-serge) and sturdy. It is unlined, which I believe is how they were last year too, and that’s ok with me. I added some heels to get a better idea of the length, which is 22 inches long. I don’t think I’ll have this hemmed as this hits just below the knee on me. This one is a keeper, even at full price.

 

Jackie Pullover – #65341, $65, Canvas, M –  I ordered the Jackie Pullover in Canvas and Byzantine Blue.  I thought about ordering the Warm Jade and Bright Violet but I was immediately drawn to the Blue in the catalog and I also wanted to see a neutral color in this new item. I have to say I am a little disappointed in this pullover. Immediately, even while still in the plastic packaging, I could tell this was a different texture and was thicker than the Jackie Cardigan. I was expecting something a little more lightweight like the cardigan. I don’t have any of the Jackie Shells so I can’t compare the two.

The Canvas color is a nice neutral and goes well with the Warm Jade pencil skirt. I just couldn’t get over the texture of this sweater. The Cotton V-Neck Sweater is a much lighter weight than the pullover. My normal size Medium fits perfectly.

Here I have the Jackie Cardigan in Pearl (from 2010) on top and the Jackie Pullover in Canvas on the bottom. I tried to capture the texture I’m seeing so I hope you can see it too. As far as material they are both the same Cotton/Nylon/Spandex but with slightly different percentages.
2010 Jackie Cardigan: 66% Cotton, 29% Nylon, 5% Spandex
2012 Jackie Pullover: 66% Cotton, 31% Nylon, 3% Spandex

Here is the Byzantine Blue. This is another vibrant color and I originally thought it wouldn’t pair well with the Warm Jade pencil skirt but I think it does. I’ll look for this color in another cardigan or top. This is the color I was hoping the Jackie Cardigan in Pacific would be. I honestly do not like the Jackie Pullover but I know a lot of you will so I hope the review and pics of the colors will help you. I’ll be returning both colors.

Now, Whitney, has a completely different view of the Jackie Pullover. Go to her blog, Only Boring People are Bored, to read all about it.

Before I knew my store would not be receiving any Resort/Spring 2012 until next week, I stopped by to have a look. There was nothing new that interested me other than this skirt.
Gimlet Skirt in Coaster Stripe – #55688, #118, Dark Blue, 6 – Here’s what J Crew says about this skirt.


A festive fan of pleats along the waist renders this classic A-line skirt a sophisticated pick for all your invitations of the season. We can’t get enough of its ladylike length (it hits right at the knee for that fabulous swing). The best part? We fashioned it in alternating transparent and opaque stripes, just like the vintage dress one of our stylists sported around the office to rave reviews. 

I saw this skirt and immediately thought of how I would stroll around Paris and Italy wearing it with a lovely linen blouse and sweet little wedge sandals. It’s very organza-ish but is actually Cotton/Nylon. The close-up of the pattern and material does not do it justice. The size 6 fits well on me. This skirt is meant to sit at your waist or just a tiny bit lower. It hits right at the knee (perfect for the times we’ll be sight-seeing and walk inside a church).

I kept this skirt in the bag, in my truck, for a week before bringing it inside but I could never get it out of my head. See, here WAS my dilemma. I have a Banana Republic Seersucker skirt that is similar in style to this skirt. I immediately thought of that skirt, after my strolling around Paris/Italy thought, when I saw this skirt. But I decided they are both two different skirts and I don’t have strolling visions with that other skirt. The only negative about this skirt is that it doesn’t have pockets. That would make this skirt absolutely perfect in my book.

What do you think?

Stroll on ladies, stroll on.


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**This post will be text and image heavy.

Who wants to see a few images from the January catalog? I was able to get one while in the store yesterday, where it is down to slim pickin’s, let me tell ya. Even the full price items were running a bit bare. It was the same at Anthropologie. I wasn’t able to scan this and had to use my camera so the colors aren’t as bright as they appear in the catalog.

Garment-Dyed Twill: #62443, $108 – Festival Green, Blue Grotto, Light Citron, Bright Papaya, Neon Persimmon

Ankle Stretch in Classic Rinse: #46240, $125

Ankle Stretch in White Denim: #59424, $98
You’ve seen me in the Light Citron here. I am not sure if the Warm Jade will be an in-store only or will show up later in the month online. I caught a glimpse of the Bright Papaya in-store and it looks like a great color for my skin tone.

Ripplestitch Sweater in Stripe: #62111, $88 – Ruby/Chalk, Shallow Sea/Navy, Navy/Chalk, Heather Grey/Navy
Cutler and Gross Round Sunglasses Collection: #52953, $495
Toothpick Jean in Festival Green
Jayne T-Strap Ballet Flats: #57117 – Bronzed Beige, Black
Tillary Purse: #63033, $148 – Warm Sienna, Collegiate Green, Dark Poppy
The Ripplestitch Sweater description states: ‘Like daughter, like mother. Due to popular demand, we took one of our most popular crewcuts sweaters and updated it just for you.’
The Jayne T-Strap Flats look very cute and the t-strap seems to have some sort of embellishment on it.

Keeper Chambray Popover: #44875, $78
Pleated A-Line Skirt in Ashbury Floral: #61602, $198, Silk, Fully lined – Bright Blue
Biella Metallic Penny Loafers
You’ve seen me in the Perfect Shirt and Jules Dress in this print. It doesn’t state the length of the skirt but it looks to be a midi.

High-Waisted Buckle Short: #60118, $68 – Shadow
Cashmere Shell & Cardigan in Heather Henna
Tillary Purse – Collegiate Green
Bubble Necklace (It’s back in more colors!): #92687, $150 – Turquoise
More colors of the ever popular Bubble Necklace. I am loving the Tillary Purse in Green too!

No. 2 Pencil Skirt
-Double-Serge Cotton: #59369, $110 – Natural, Citron, Black, Warm Jade, Casablanca Blue
-Basket-Weave Tweed: #63598, $128 – Grass Green, Marine Blue

-Waterfloral Collection: #60160, $228 – Glamour Pink
Now, I need another pencil skirt like I need a new pair of shoes but if I had to pick only one thing I would grab the cotton in Warm Jade. It speaks to me and is saying “AudreyBella, buy me first.”

The Downtown Field Jacket: #19034, $148 – Mossy Brown, Black
Cashmere V-Neck Sweater: Heather Blush
No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Basket-Weave Tweed: Grass Green
Viv Flats: Henna
Edie Purse
Shrunken Fisherman Sweater: #41313, $88 – Beechwood, Cerise, Byzantine Blue
Minnie Pant in Stretch Twill: #18850, $79.50
Bubble Necklace: Either Coral or Papaya
Drea Patent Peep-Toe Pump: #64452, $198 – Neon Peach 
The Shrunken Fisherman Sweater was one of my favorites from the early Fall. I had the Beechwood in my closet for several months and just wore it recently with my Navy Flair Skirt. Absolutely love it. Now, I can’t wait for the Byzantine Blue. I’d love to find it in White. Maybe that will be brought back later in the Spring.
So the Drea Peep-Toe Pumps are not quite the Joley Peep-Toe but the colors look gorgeous. I have a Kate Spade pump in a similar color of the Byzantine Blue but I’d love to see the Neon Azalea. 

Drea Patent Peep-Toe Pump: #64452, $198 – Neon Peach, Wild Mushroom, Casablanca Blue, Black, Neon Azalea 

Lucca Suede Sandals: #37224, $198 – Apricot Mist, Heritage Green, Soft Fuchsia, Navy, Espresso
Jackie Pullover: #65341, $65 – Canvas, Creamy Peach, Byzantine Blue, Warm Jade, Bright Violet, Vibrant Flame, Navy, Black
So the Jackie is coming in a pullover. I guess the popularity of the Tippi Sweater convinced TPTB to bring it in a cotton. The Warm Jade and the Canvas would be my first two picks.
The Tillary Collection
Bucket Bag: #63024, $198 – Warm Sienna, Dark Poppy (no Green! boo hoo!)
Purse: #63033, $148 – Warm Sienna, Collegiate Green, Dark Poppy
The Bucket Bag reminds me of the (and I’m dating myself) Dooney and Burke buckets that were so popular waaaaay back when. I love the green and wish it came in the bucket bag. The red looks very striking as well. I’d love to see it IRL.
Café Capri
Solid: #57064, $79.50 – Warm Jade, Casablanca Blue, Black, Natural, Desert
Italian Basket-Weave Collection: #60162, $228 – Glamour Pink – It’s on Net-a-Porter here.
Green is my favorite color if you haven’t guessed and this Warm Jade looks amazing. I really can’t wait to see it IRL. I’ve only see the Casablanca Blue in-store so far. 
Blythe Blouse in Silk: #37871, $98 – Alabaster, Neon Azalea, Maraschino Cherry, Fiesta Purple, Royal, Black
Café Capri in Italian Basket-Weave
Tillary Bucket Bag: Dark Poppy
I wish I could have captured a better image of the Bucket Bag in Dark Poppy. It looks to be a gorgeous red in the catalog. I hope it’s the same IRL.
Jules Dress in Waterfloral Collection: #60743, $285 – Glamour Pink
Biella Patent Loafers
The description says this Jules Dress is in the basket-weave cotton, like the Café Capri and No. 2 Pencil skirt in this print. This print looks amazing and almost tie-dye-ish.
Of course, this isn’t the entire catalog and only looks to be a glimpse of what Resort/Spring 2012 will bring. I’m not sure when we will see these, if it’s tomorrow or in a few weeks. There were Classic ballet flats and Cece ballet flats in various bright colors. Shorts and button-down shirts in new Spring colors too.  
What do you think of the new items? 

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I haven’t taken advantage of any of the J Crew-palooza promos since Cyber-Monday. But with today’s 30% off online and in-store I decided to stop in and make an exchange and see what new arrivals there might be. There were some bright new items for the Spring 2012 Collection. I was really excited to see new colors of the Tippi sweater. You’ll see three of them below. I tried my best to capture the truest color of everything but without the right light it was a little difficult.

Tippi Sweater – #46725, SGR (something Green), M, $72.50 – Love this color! I couldn’t pass up the 30% off so this one came home with me.

Truer to the real color

Tippi Sweater – #46725, NAZ(Neon Azalea), M, $72.50 – This is a great color too and not as bright as the Blythe in this color.

Floral Perfect Shirt – #60715, BBL, 8, $88, 57% Cotton/43% Silk – The texture reminds me of the Rose Vines Perfect Shirt. I do like it with the Neon Azalea Tipp and it looks good with the other Tippi below.

Jules Dress in Floral – #61607, BBL, 6, $188, 100% Silk/100% Acetate Lining – On the hanger this print is a lot to take in. But once you get it on it’s not so bad. I love that it’s 100% Silk.

Stripe Sweater Dress – I tried this on here and this one is the size Small. I decided to exchange the original Medium for the Small. It fits better and will probably stretch a bit.

Tippi Sweater –  #46725, LBL (something Blue, maybe Lagoon?), M, $72.50
Collection Striped Silk Tunic – #56512, FGR (something Gray), 8, $128 – This size was big on me but I didn’t have the chance to try on the 6.
Ankle Toothpick Jean in Garment-Dyed Twill – #62443, LCI (Light Citron), 30 – These jeans are so comfortable and soft and bright! But they do show things you might not want shown (dimples and extra things and stuff). Not sure if the Blue Grotto will be the same. The Neon Persimmon looks like a good color too.

Such a pretty color for Spring!

Closest pic to the true color.

Stretch Perfect Shirt in Classic Stripe – # 44175, SUN (Sunflower), 8 – I like it tone-on-tone with the jeans.

City Mini in Blackwatch Plaid- #62440, BLA (Blackwatch), 6 – This must have been just an in-store only release. Cute and there weren’t many left in the store. But I was able to snag the Schoolboy Blazer in Blackwatch Tartan on sale plus the 30% off so I passed on the skirt.

What do you think of some of these Spring items? I am really liking the Tippi colors and you’ll be seeing the green on me soon.