Power Outfit, Revisited
You saw this dress not long ago, but here it is again. I really like how these accessories came together, but it’s hard to make this dress look anything other than great. No, I’m pretty sure it’s impossible. Still, a red shoe is always fun. I don’t wear “fun shoes” – i.e. anything other than black – very often these days, but I am still fond of these old J. Crew suede heels. They’re still in good shape and still quite comfortable. I tend to forget that J. Crew still exists (and I used to be obsessed with it back in 2013/2014) so I don’t know what’s up with its merch or quality these days. Is it the same as before? Better? Worse? If anyone else can report, please share in the comments.
Notes: Issey Miyake dress (secondhand, $580); no name necklace (thrifted, $6?); J. Crew shoes (retail, $80).
Lord Commander of the Coven
I call this look: if Jon Snow was the head *itch of a stylish coven. You guys know how much I love my secret Stark-Targaryen, so you can imagine how stoked I was to find this faux fur vest thing. I even paid up for it at Value Village, a whopping $25. It’s from an old Neiman Marcus-Target collab, though shockingly in like-new condition. I don’t think it’s ever been worn. Don’t mind if I do. I paired it with a funky skirt from some weird Australian label I’ve never heard of before. Worked like a charm.
Notes: Skaist Taylor for Target vest (thrifted, $25); “i woman i love” skirt (thrifted, $8.50); Maje top (retail, $35); Napoleoni shoes (thrifted, $6).
Boho Goth
I wore this outfit on the second day of the Wardrobe Exchange secondhand clothing market; I feel like it represents well one side of my style personality which was the goal. The dress is eShakti Custom, which I think means that its original owner “designed” (i.e. customized) it from a menu of options. I dig their style. I like the sheer sleeves, and the tulle layers in the skirt; the embroidery adds a nice boho touch. I added a few more of my own with some beautiful chunky stone rings I bought in a back alley a while back. True story.
Notes: eShakti dress (thrifted, $13); Napoleoni shoes (thrifted, $6); rings (“boutique”, $50 each).
Layering Experiment
I guess I am fully embracing the 90s revival at this point; this vintage (like, for real) Dynamite vest-dress is a total throwback. I can’t quite button it up (down?) all the way, so I have to wear it as a long vest rather than a dress, but I still like it a lot. I haven’t figured out all the way I could layer it, but this first attempt is quite good. Next time, I think I need to go back to my Vogue runway edition for some sweet, sweet inspiration.
Notes: Dynamite vest (thrifted, $4); Banana Republic blazer (thrifted, $9); Tory Burch shoes (thrifted, $20).
3 Comments on What I Wore: September 9-15, 2019
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Whaaaat no comments? Other than the necklace in #1, I like all these outfits!
Love outfits two and three. That faux fur vest is really cool.
I still browse J.Crew a fair bit, though I rarely buy. (I really, really love their sweater blazers, but otherwise haven’t bought much else there in recent memory.) It’s very hard to generalize about how they’ve been doing because I think they’ve gone through a lot of strategy and design leadership changes in recent times (seen in things like introducing a new product line and then abruptly shutting it down within a month; for a while they were going to combine some of the J.Crew Factory and J.Crew product lines, but they seem to have reversed that abruptly too).
On a whole I think the trend of reduced quality at J.Crew since the early to mid 2000s is still holding more or less steady. They still do a lot of weird synthetic blends that are overpriced to me. And they still seem to lack a clear vision of what direction they want the company to head in. They occasionally have some really cute stuff or some cool collaborations that seem to be a step in the right direction, but it’s difficult to tell if those good signs actually mean the company can turn things around. I still have a lot of affection and nostalgia for old school J.Crew, so I keep checking back!
It’s a bummer. I still have fond memories of J. Crew circa Jenna Lyons even though it probably wouldn’t suit my current style. It was so fresh and exciting at the time!