Jenna's Picks for Fall

Ok, so in continuation of yesterday, J Crew's Jenna says that this fall is all about the mix. Tomboy references with feminine flourishes. And pile on the jewelry. (This will please Big Sister who is creating new jewelry designs as we speak...she has also discovered the fine art of "copying" high end at low end prices...)

Jenna's first pick is the Schoolboy blazer. I love this little jacket, tailored slightly with bold gold buttons. I can see it with pencil skirts and jeans...and everything in between. It's $189 because it is well-cut and wool flannel...but the upside is you would have it for years. Definitely a classic item, not trend.

Second pick is the silk strapless evening dress. At $158, it's reasonably priced for silk...but for fall and winter, you would definitely have to wear some sort of little jacket over it. And I love strapless, but it means you had better be working out those arms if you are going to brave it in the winter without a tan...

Third...merino cardigan. I love this little sweater...$68...fine material..slightly gathered in the middle which is really flattering...a nice length...dressy or casual...(in fact, it would work paired with pick #2)

Fourth. Skinny tortoise patent-leather belt. These skinny belts are definitely trend items, but at $39.50, it's not a bad buy. You could wrap it around the cardigan, belt it through jeans...or use it over your favorite LBD for a funky look. I would buy this in a minute...

Number 5...Crystal necklace...It ties with a ribbon...and it has a definite victorian feel to it...I can see it looking great with a white t-shirt and skirt....but at $98, I think it is over-priced, because it will be "out" next year. $98 jewelry needs to be more classic in my modest and budget-minded opinion...

Sixth...Golden-orb Ring....$50...and lovely..faux pearls and gold beads....an eye-catcher...trendy, but not so much that you couldn't mix it with other things...

Seven...jeweled garland bracelet....again, interesting and trendy, but $95....and so busy that you would have to wear it with something simple...and then leave it in the drawer for awhile before the next wear.

Eight...Oh the Lexi tote...a gorgeous smooth leather bag with tassled pieces and a long skinny strap in the most gorgeous color of light, light lavender that you can imagine...I will keep watching the sale section for this one...because at $325...it is probably worth it for the quality, but too much for me...

Nine...my favorite on the list....Nottinghill Ankle boots...$250...classic...stylish, yet understated,..moderate heel....I will be staring at them all fall...

And finally, #10...Vintage matchstick cords...I love them....soft cordorouy in pretty pastel colors...paired with the schoolboy blazer they would be perfect....The fit on these are a little tricky, but they are worth the extra time on the treadmill. At $79.50, they aren't a steal...but the material is a step above the norm...


So that's it for today...as I said yesterday, half of the fun of this catalogue is the layout and styling...but I will also say that most of the time, the stuff looks just as good, if not better, in the dressing room.

And until tomorrow, when we stay on the subject of fashion and beauty products...and do a quick update on what has worked...and what hasn't....

On Dream Jobs and J Crew

Several years back, when I was in working-mom mode, my official title was Director of Retail/Buyer. The core duties of this job included doing the buying for several shops at a resort, and staffing and managing each shop. But my favorite part of the job was the merchandising. This was my love. It was actually the part of the job that I could have hired out...and I did a few times, borrowing the talents of a couple of girls from Crate and Barrel...but all in all, I took this part of the job on out of sheer enjoyment.

When The Boy was a baby, I would tuck him in his little papoose, and head to one of the shops either before of after hours to merchandise. I'd often bring with me my rip sheets from magazines...ideas about a story or scene I wanted to create...and I would work for hours trying to create the picture I had in my mind. Often times on buying trips to New York, I would spend hours window shopping (especially at Saks) to gather ideas. The windows at Saks are true masterpieces...especially at holiday time. One glance at them, and you immediately want to enter the store. This is the mark of terrific merchandising....the ability to tell a story and get your customer to understand it and buy into it.

Yesterday, my beloved J Crew catalogue arrived. I had been expecting it because Beloved Niece had warned me that it was out. She and I share a love for anything and everything J Crew. When the catalogue arrives, I generally stare at the cover for a few hours before I let myself open it. You see, this catalogue is a merchandiser's dream. Whoever styles it is brilliant. After all these years...my dream job would be to merchandise the J Crew catalogue. It's a lofty dream...but one that makes me happy...and also gives me ideas to write about...a winning combination.

The catalogue has come up with a page called "Jenna's Picks". Jenna is suppose to be a style editor who picks 10 or so items that she deems "important for the season" I happen to know that Jenna actually exists, because I read an article about her in Vogue. Jenna has my dream job. Not only does she pick the items, but she puts them together in a creative way...and then picks a location to photograph them in order to create her story. This season's story takes place on the beach in California. It all has a very victorian/cozy yet modern/ vibe.

With apologies to my male readers, and anyone who hates this sort of thing...we will spend tomorrow analyzing Jenna's picks for fall. Because this is my true love...and if i can't actually do it...then I can at least write about it.

I would also like to add that Big Sister has inherited similar genes, because the key to many of her sales on www.thelittlejewelrybox.blogspot.com, is her ability to tell a fashion story...

So until tomorrow, when I we will take a stroll through the catalogue and see what we wish we were buying for fall...