J.Crew » Feather Factor

Field Parka

Feb 222013

This week has been a busy one for me at work and while I usually try to catch up on reading in my free time, I’ve become addicted to watching episodes of The Good Wife. Is anybody else watching this? The show has really grown on me and now I’m a huge fan!

Army Jacket 2

J.Crew parka (LOVE this version, under $150 here)
360 Sweater cashmere sweater
Ann Taylor pants
Van Cleef necklace (similar), Chanel bag
Louboutin heels

I bought this parka more than a year ago and used it mostly to go over summer dresses. Lately though I’ve been wearing it multiple times a week as topper to stay warm in the winter, and I love that it has big pockets that actually close. Whenever I want to pop out for a quick coffee or errand I can just put my keys and phone and not carry a bag at all! I’m beginning to understand why men wear cargo pants.

By the way – if any of you are looking for some reading material, I would highly recommend Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright, which I recently finished. A very balanced and fascinating book which I’ll probably want to read again soon, there was just so much to absorb. I’d actually recommend all of Lawrence Wright’s books, especially if you like non fiction.

Reader Letter: A Closet on a Budget

Dec 142012

A few weeks ago, a very sweet reader Barbara sent me this message (paraphrased a bit for length):

I always enjoy reading your blog and I love the fact you are so ” down to earth” about fashion & shopping.

Your shopping advice is always very useful and I was hoping that in the future you could do another one of those posts specifically for… low budget? Which brands and items would you consider as good buys for the future, good alternatives?

Barbara’s email really got me thinking about some of the best values in my closet, and what lessons I might glean from all of my many, many mistakes in the past. There were a bunch (believe me!) and today I wanted to share three of my personal tips/learnings about building a great closet on a budget – where to save, where to spend, and some of my favorite brands.

Save: on evening wear and cocktail dresses. I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite items to peruse when browsing through luxury racks are the dresses. I sweep right past all those neutral cashmere Akris shells on to the excellent satin sheaths, the sequined slip dresses, the printed A-lines. Unfortunately, cocktail dresses and gowns get probably the least wear in my closet. And, they are never as versatile as I think they’ll be. I have TWO white Temperley dresses that I adore but that sit dormant whenever there’s a wedding (same goes for the bandage dresses). There are gowns that are too formal for whatever event, dresses that aren’t formal enough, and the list goes on. Continue reading »

Peter Pan Top and Judge Judy

Dec 102012

This Peter Pan collar tee is one of my few apparel purchases lately from J.Crew that I’ve ended up keeping – everything else from coats to sweaters I’ve had to send back due to issues with fit, fabric, or something else. Such a shame but they keep having excellent codes and so I keep falling prey. I don’t know why I keep getting tricked by the girls in the catalog, everything looks good when you’re tall and leggy and the clothes are pinned in the back!

I kept this top because it’s very comfortable, not too tight, and thus I felt it would be a good conservative top for some of my skirts. Since this Alexander Wang skirt is more fitted and can be shorter depending on how it’s draped, I thought that a more conservative top would help balance it out, especially for the office.

J.Crew top
Alexander Wang skirt
Hermes bracelet/Casio watch
Hermes bag (similar)
YSL pumps (similar & on sale)

Also, I recently re-discovered the fabulous Judge Judy after catching one of her episodes while waiting at the dentists’ office. I had forgotten what a cool, no nonsense woman she was, I never get to watch daytime TV anymore! I decided to order two of her books (used, both together cost $5 including shipping) which I just finished this weekend.

My husband raised an eyebrow when he saw the titles by my bedstand, but seemed to consider saying something in his mind and then decide against it. Ha! Anyway, I would recommend the two books for a quick read, especially if you’re able to get them used with a discount. You can find them here, and here.

Statement Necklaces

Dec 032012

I have always admired costume jewelry but rarely purchase it. I honestly don’t have a great “eye” for finding fabulous costume items, and the pieces I’ve liked in the past have all been fairly expensive (Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, etc) to the point where I would rather skip a few and buy a “fine” jewelry item. It’s a shame because there are certain statement necklaces which I love and could never afford to buy the “real” version of, and I would really like to have more versatile accessories.

So when I saw my friend Frances with a gorgeous necklace from J.Crew, I decided to take the plunge. The price wasn’t too scary and when it arrived I found that I loved it. Thank you Frances for the inspiration!

Helmut Lang jacket (more sizes here)
James Perse tee
J.Crew necklace
BDG denim
Louboutin heels
Hermes bag (similar in three lovely colors)

One thing that I’ve noticed with these larger necklaces though – they weigh on my neck! It’s not painful but I definitely feel their presence. I know that there are many ladies who wear necklaces much larger and heavier than this one regularly, so perhaps I just have a weaker (ahem..wimpier) neck. What have been your experiences with larger, heavier necklaces?

Older Entries