I'm with J

Another day, another dollar.

A not so new brand has popped up on my horizon recently.

I'd always dismissed them as being a little too Ivy League preppy. You know the kind of preppy that's a caricature of preppy.

But then I went into their store.

And then even better than that, I went onto their website.

A+ for effort for the stylists and photographers. And the model bookers as this website just wanted to make me own EVERYTHING they're selling.

And the best bit is with the post-xmas credit crunch, the sales are looking rather inviting.

I know I'm not with Vince and his Entourage, but I definitely think I'm rolling with J and his Crew.

www.jcrew.com



A white tank and blue jeans. Very simple but the way its been styled with that certain je ne sais quoi. 3 tanks for $20. And they look as if they're slightly long which makes sure you're always saying no to crack, no matter how low riding your low riders are. Love it, love it, love it.




Bright red trousers always makes me think of Spain. i swear, I've never been anywhere in the world where the men and women wear bright red trousers as much as Spain. Anyway, these fabulously sophisticated looking cords come in a wide range of colours are are reduced from $79 to $19. I love a well cut, well fitting pair of cords in Autumn, Winter and Spring so if you haven't discovered the ass-tastic properties of fitted corduroy, this might just be the ticket.




Very preppy but i love it. I love the way this big button cashmere henley been styled with the ruffle collar shirt, gold belt, mustard skirt and jade clutch. I wouldn't wear it that way (I'd go for superskinny skinnies and heels) but it just looks fabulous. Want it.




See? Even when you're totally chilling out at the weekend you can look equally fabulous. i think its the off kilter colour combinations that really do it for me. I abhor matchy-matchy, its all about the carefully executed contrast. Jade green and mustard, hadn't thought of that one before. Loving it. And two 'Perfect Fit' Mandarin collar Henley tops for $35? Love it even more.




I'm in all types of love with this coat, the Double Cloth Lady Day Coat. Reduced from $330 to $149. They fit like a dream and I would buy one if I didn't get an extremely fabulous coat for Xmas. See...I'm trying really hard at this moderation with shopping thing this year.




I would never have thought of wearing this skirt like this, but its just Cashmere Mafia (RIP) fabulous. The Double Serge pencil skirt is just all types of office sexy and its reduced from $128 to $79. Go on, buy it, make the men in the office weak. The skinny belt (which is making a comeback) really adds something. I'd like to thank my two little nieces for the pink stingray skinny belt they got me for Xmas. Too cute!




They have a wedding and party collection which has some surprisingly fabulous dresses. Like this one, The Silk Tricotine Cecelia dress. Don't know about getting married in it, but it is very sexy in that skims-the-bod-in-all-the-right-places kind of way.




Another dress from the wedding and party collection, this is the Silk Taffeta Kate and its not my usual style but I love it. And that fabulous shade of champagne. I defy you to not look a million dollars in this baby.




And then there's the J Crew Collection which is a a new offshoot that's just seen them open their first J Crew Collection stand alone store. And quite frankly with a homepage like this, why wouldn't you want to hotfoot it down there?




The milk chocolate cashmere coat, the bright pink scarf, the beaded belt and the surprisingly sexy jacquard trousers. J Crew Collection...Me likey.




Who knew it was possible to work so many layers and manage to look so chic. I'll draw the line at the 'khaki pants' though. For men only. Loving those sparkly shoes though.




J Crew Collection at its sexy secretary finest. Why is it only on TV and in magazines anyone manages to actually look like a sexy secretary? And can anyone tell me what on earth is sexy about secretaries anyway? Enough for that to be one of the strongest typically sexy female stereotypes. I just don't get it. Surely the broad with the corner office is a bit more enticing?




I love travelling, I love travel accessories and two of my all time favourite brands are Valextra and Globetrotter. Not for the faint of hard or weak of pocket but damn, I want this suitcase!

Who Wears The Trousers?

There’s nothing like a sublimely well cut, tailored, fitted pair of trousers to make a woman feel like a million dollars.

Think Katherine Hepburn in her sharp trousers suits, or the striking figure Bianca Jagger cut in that white suit. Right now, I'm all about the loose fitting lounge/palazzo pants, sailor pants but not really the skinny. I’m not a huge fan of the skinny and as the name suggests (and contrary to popular belief) they look best on their long limbed namesakes. But a fabulous pair of cigarette fit cropped trousers a la Audrey Hepburn will always be on the money. I have a cropped pair and I love them but not all that inspired to get more. But on the topic of the perfect white/tuxedo/sailor trousers....I'm definitely game.

I’ve done the hunting and gathered a selection of the best of the bunch around now.



Blind them with the pinstripes in these hip hugging, leg lengthening flares with the nautical button detail. I'm so in love with these trousers. Easy to dress up or down, think of them as a chic alternative to jeans.


I love the ribbon belt, a fabulously girlie detail on some otherwise serious trousers. The colour makes them a fashion mainstay as they go with everything. And for summer they look great with white, brights and navy is the new black.


At $15 Old Navy comes up trumps with these fabulously wide leg sateen trousers. These are the type of trousers best worn with very high heels to make your legs look superlong and lithe.


A very subtle pinstripe on these Marc Jacobs trews takes them from a little bit boring to a very stylish geek chic option.

$50 from Gap. These might just be the perfect pair of white wide leg sailor trousers I've been searching for. Fitted but not too tight with a good crease and a flattering flare...I think I'm going to get these now.


I'm not normally a Gap fan but I am loving these $60 trousers! They'd be great for work obviously but they'd also be great for the evening when you're a little bored of your jeans. The Demi Boot Cut makes them supremely flattering and leg lengthening which is what we're usually all after.


DVF is one of my all time favourite designers and I maintain, if you want to spend a little more cash on some timeless pieces, DVF is your woman. And I am soooo in love with these palazzo pant style tuxedo trousers. If you haven't tried the palazzo style before, you should, trust me, you will look a million dollars. The superwide legs are so flattering and sophisticated. Jeans are so ubiquitous and boring these days....dare to be a little different. And dress like a real woman.



Couture Couture High Waisted Flares look quite similar in style to the first Tracy Reese pair but sans pinstripes. I'm really liking this style. I'm so getting myself a pair of sailor trousers.


And last but not least I'm loving these Chloe retro flares. Love the superpale blue and the shape just looks like they'd be really flattering don't they?

Enjoy. And let the hunt for the perfect white/tuxedo/sailor trousers begin!