Discuss amongst yourselves: Madewell

Okay, so what are our thoughts on Madewell?

At first I automatically deleted the emails I would get from this company, though I would occasionally stare at the rugby striped shirt or weathered denim in the preview pane and sentimentally recall my days of attending college 15 minutes from the greatest outlet mall to ever host a JCrew or Polo.

And I realized that is just it – it’s too “college” for me. Even the model’s look like JCrew model’s little sisters. The Karen to The Babysitter’s Club’s “Stacy.” The Skipper to Barbie. Okay, enough of that.

Sometimes I am struck by something I like in one of the “looks:”

This yellow top is, at first glance, cute and more structured and tailored than most of the Madewell goods, but it’s the sort of thing I realize I like because it reminds me of something else. I’d like to say maybe this is a good place to buy “basics,” but the prices aren’t really much different than shopping at a JCrew outlet store. And I’d rather get the basics there, where they have more of an attention to detail, versus the worn-in American Eagle type deal.

In fact, I’d rather wear Crewcuts. Seriously, those little girls clothes are CUTE. I think if I was in this demographic of tweenie, urban, Olsonites, maybe I would like it more. But it seems like another shade of gray on the Urban Outfitters/AE/Abercrombie and Fitch/Gap spectrum.

What does everyone else think?

 

it happened!

the infamous giraffe necklace has gone on sale!:

though $99.99 is till ridiculously expensive for this plasticized bauble, I have to say it is (as predicted) growing on me. Mainly because of the pretty, smoky gray beads. That viscous little giraffe I could live without. Maybe at $79.00? Unlikely but stranger things have happened. I did do a complete 180 on Kate Hudson after that adorable InStyle article about her a few years ago. That was before the whole Owen Wilson thing.

 

Would you rather…?

Would you rather hang out with Martin and Osa or Mr. J Crew?

I think Martin and Osa seem like a fun crowd. I mean…they are explorers and could recount the stories of climbing the icy tundra.  Hopefully Martin and Osa work as a happy pair to create clothing that reflects the needs of traveling stylish women and men. I have not know this store very long but I feel that instant connection with their soft pallet of colors and ”wear till their threads” basics. M & O makes me smile as I walk in and know I will return at a later date as I walk out.

So…

Am I right that J Crew obviously takes the role of a Mr.? His store is full of bright colors and a pipe dream of a woman who is so naive headbands and pearls are part of the standard model. Season after season a myriad of sun dresses denote every mans dream. We know JC is a “Mr.” Crew is a multiple offender of the impractical and ill-fitting. Only a man would continuously recreate variations on a chino that will never properly fit anyone above a size 2. But still I love Mr. Crew. John, Jack, Jim, Jordy, I could dream of this preppy puppet master all day. We could converse endlessly about polka dots vs. seer sucker, bugs as adorable embroidery and enamel jewelry accents. I Imagine sipping a gin and tonic just off the croquet court chatting with J. Crew and I beem with happiness… I think that answers my question because I just could not turn down a date with J Crew.

Martain and Osa..take a hike. (but continue to make excellent adorable clothes!!)

 

pps. if it does not work out with Mr. Crew I will be sure to send you a roving text message booty call.

 

POP QUIZ! J.Crew Extra 20% Off Sale Top Picks

So obvi we can’t let one 20% off sale go by without a J.Crew post!

Here are my top picks:

This dress is so SO beautiful and elegant. The collar is a little wide and boatneckish. Super sophisticated. With gold espadrilles or cute colored flats, perfection!

This tunic rocks! it looks amazing with white cropped matchstick jeans, white bermudas, or even just over a bathing suit as a beach cover up. Comes in a fun bright orange too.

If you haven’t bought this yet, you should be slapped. Here’s a plan to help you remedy this situation:

1. Take your Starbucks money/horribly fattening Au Bon Pain sandwich money for three days and throw it in your desk drawer.

2. Grasp the wad of cash in your sweaty palm and exchange it for aforementioned silk tank.

3. Jump and twirl with glee.

Still pricey, but super cute and add a little spark of fun to any boring outfit. Like jeans and a white shirt.*

OKAY! Stay tuned for picks from Shiloh and Apple!

* Sidenote: for years, Shiloh and I have been justifying bizarre color and print choices by saying “how cute would this be with jeans and a white shirt?” Yet neither of us has EVER seen the other actually this fabled  jeans and a white shirt outfit that we have spent so much time and energy acessorizing. One day. One day. Maybe with those patent posy flats…

 

starfish shaped rocks

how cute are these??

($65 at J.Crew)

 

JCrew Final Sale Sneak Attack.

So many posts about JCrew lately. It can’t be helped, they are very newsworthy.

I am sure JCrew devotees know about the latest online sale strategy–the Final Sale. Now at first the Final Sale phenomenon was a fleeting, occasional deal. Once in a while, JCrew would take their sweet markdowns and mark them down EVEN more on one condition. You buy this item without trying it on and its yours–no exchanges, no returns. NOW the sale is 24/7 Final Sale, no relief.  I swear this has become a new form of gambling. You would wait and wait to see if the price of your fave sale item would drop without getting sold out, then when you saw it go FINAL SALE you would wonder–can I fit into this FOR SURE. Am I CERTAIN this color isn’t ugly? Sometimes for $19.99 you are willing to risk it. Sometimes JCrew would even double down with additional incentives–20% off final sale. Why, that item is like $17.234576 now! WHAT a deal! And your gambling trigger finger would click “Checkout”, only to have your wide-leg cords in “Deep Surf” arrive and look more like “Syracuse-purpley-blue”.

In-store sales are a totally different game. They are straight up pricing, racks of stuff to try on–of course not everything is there but, what you see is what you get. Imagine my delight when the very blue Joelle blouse loved by Harlow was at my local JCrew, in my size, AND all sale items were extra 25% off! I had TOTALLY avoided the Final Sale online gambling debt!

So I thought. When I got to the register, the chipper salesgirl informed me that since it was an extra 25% off, it was Final Sale. WTF?! Sneak ATTACK! Now, online I would slink away and leave my shopping bag open for days due to my compulsive returning. But what can I do in person? I interrogated the sales girl about why the Final Sale exists. Her reply–cause they are such great prices, they want to clear merchandise.

That doesn’t help my Syracuse pants, girl.

 

JCrew Spring Sale: heart shaped picks

Dear Heart Shaped Readers,
Today is a great day! Why? Because it’s Spring Sale day at jcrew.com. Here are my top picks:

I focused on tops, thinking they are so versatile in the summer with just white pants, shorts or jeans:

Joelle blouse: adore alone or under an amazing jacket.

Python-print silk tank: so blousey and cute, but kind of edgy with that snakey pattern. Perfect under a cardigan, or on its own after work.

Travastere paisley boatneck: this is so precious. It looks great with white cafe capris, but also dressed down with jeans.

Any of these shirts would look amazing with a chunky gold bracelet:

Oversize scrolled-link cabochon bracelet

And an ADORE pair of gold flats!

Liv metallic ballet flats: these are the perfect replacement for your horrendous tory burch revas. ADMIT IT, YOU HATE THEM. Well, hobble no more. These are so cute and also comfortable thanks to the butter-soft leather and cute strap. Everyone has them in silver, go for the gold.

Enjoy!

xoxox

Harlow

p.s. Here is a late entry just sent into me from Grier – I can’t believe I missed it!:

Striped Katie Sweater Jacket: I wear these sweater jackets to work almost every day. They are so cute and really dress up a pair of dark jeans. Adorable!!

Thanks, Grier!

 

Go von Furstenberg yourself!

Are you ready to have your world rocked?

DVF is having a crazy online sale (like, 70% off people!) today through Monday!

 

Gossip Gurllzz!

Hey Gurlll. Here is the Gossip of the day.

1. This animal on Gossip Girls is U-G-L-Y ugly. I don’t know what cage he escaped from but the fact the he was cast in a show and we are all supposed to BELIEVE he is attractive is very irksome. I mean I know actors are playing a part, like Dustin Hoffman playing an autistic nut in Rainman and that dude  that played a blind man in Ray but seriously HOW are we to believe that high schoolers would not taunt and ridicule this kid for his T-rex looks (no matter how much money his family has). This is why i do not watch this show.

 

2.  Our favorite Food Network munchkin had a Mini Munchkin !!  Giada De Laurentiis of Everyday Italian popped out a “Spigetti” loving spawn. Can’t wait to here this SoCal beast to serve up some Italian words like she is straight off the boat from Sicily.

 Did we know her husband was a clothing designer!? Interesting. Do we know his stuff? SHOULD WE!?

3. Join my movement to BAN CHILDREN ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION! I am starting the campaign on Amtrak. At least here we can designate a specific “children’s car.” I know what you are saying “why doesn’t she just sit in the quiet car?” Well you know what!? I don’t want to. I want to be able to text message and laugh out loud. I want to answer my cell phone and tell an inappropriate story about being really drunk and dancing all over Jour et Nuitand I DON’t want some kid screaming in the background of my call. Nor do I want to even HAVE to strain myself to give the mothers the evil look. I just want to stumble to the platform with my hangover and cell phone and ride the train silently smiling at stelar accomplishments of the weekend.

* (On my ride home I sat next to a charming (creepy) man with a laptop and GPS devise attached to his window. He was a pair of overalls shy of of total over the top but fully equipped with a Rail Road crossing bookmark, and conductors hat. He stopped the train attendant (is that what you call him?) EVERY TIME he walked by to ask him “hey do you know Jimmy from DC he works the Maine-Boston line?” (Eye roll) He looked my way OFTEN but I was smart with my book and headphones NOT to make eye contact. I did, however, look over as the train was nearing 150 mph. He was getting jumpy and would have jumped right out of his chair had he not been poised with his camera to take a picture of his computer screen when the train hit 150mph. SADLY it only hit 149 and while I he told his wife and me this was still “very fast” you could tell he was disappointed. 

This creepy train man is only one of the hundres of reasons kids should stay away from trains. I might start a kids only travel service much like CBS’s show Kid Nation. I will have Kid planes, Kid Resorts (Kids Med? Ritz Childon? Marrisnot?). Its going to be huge. So No more kids in the “Adult” car!! Separate Planes, Trains and Buses!~! Who is with me!!?

4. I had an amazing time in NYC. We hit some really hot spots resulting in an awesome recap brunch with Suri and Emme. NYC Rocks!

 

Longchamp’s New Effort: Le Heinous.

Shiloh and I agree, this is not okay:

  

For shame, Longchamp. For shame.

We do not like it when a classic, elegant brand turns around and le sells out.

Le horrible!