Taking One For The Fashion Team
Happy Thursday ladies. I didn’t know just how unsalvagable the outfit this mannequin was modeling was until I started trying options, so bear with me. I’m a big fan of the classic styles at J. Crew Factory. The quality is great at the prices are reasonable. Here’s what I found.
Oy…ruffles on the shoulders combined with sleeveless are not a combo I ever aspire to wear, but since you’ve asked to see me model what the mannequin is wearing, here you go.
Truth- I did not initially bring this top into the dressing room. But when I saw how bad things were going, I figured I had nothing to lose and went out to get it. In for a penny, in for a pound =:-0.
These pants are one size too large for me because they run large so they’re bulkier looking than they should be. They come in 5 colors, classic and petite, XXS-3X. I am wearing a classic small.
The first thing I did was tuck the drawstring inside and if I owned these paper-bag pants, I would cut it off. I tried adding a simple tee and a slightly structured jacket. I didn’t hate this, but the jacket was too large for me so I just felt sloppy in this. I’m wearing a medium in the tee and it’s skin-tight so it runs very slim and I suggest you size up.
The more I looked at this combination the more the green combo began to have a hospital scrubs vibe… and the cream blazer just made it worse. The blazer is sized classic and petite, 0-22. I am wearing an 8.
Then I tried this poplin sleeveless gingham shirt. I preferred this pairing but the pink felt too vibrant for the sage green. It’s a great little shirt that comes in 6 colors, classic and petite, sizes XS-3X. I am wearing a classic medium and the armholes are too deep for my comfort level so I will order the petite.
Then I added their classic white denim jacket. I looked and looked at this combination and finally ruled it out because although the denim jacket has some minimal shaping, it looks too boxy with these wide-leg pants. The denim jacket is sized S-3X, I am wearing a small.
More from J. Crew Factory
What are your thoughts?
Every restyling of a mannequin is clearly not a home run but I hope you find them entertaining.
Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
The trouble with the sleeveless ruffled shoulder tops is that they remind me of the smock tops that were so popular when I was entering junior high. Some things you just can’t go back to! So while they may be new and refreshing for the younger set they are just a reminder of how awkward they were to wear for some of us older ones.
The gingham shirt and denim jacket were cute on you. I could see them with jeans all summer!
Certain colors ,like this light green, are difficult to work with. I’ve never been a fan of drawstring anything. I’m a seamstress, the gathering needed to use drawstrings, usually means too much fabric is used around the waist. I look for darts/ seams if possible. Clothing manufacturers may be looking to cut corners to keep the prices lower. Seams would slim better on bodies.
I agree
Always enjoy your DRD and the new version of the “would you wear it” mannequin restyles. While at first I loved the wide leg pants and thought of a myriad of top possibilities to wear with it [especially when viewing the color collection online – the soft aqua my fav], seeing you with these on and being a full size smaller than I, my first thought was these just add unnecessary bulk with the fully elastic waist and drawstring. Reminds me more of sweats but without the same couch potatoe comfort level. Thank you for helping to disuade me from this purchase. As my daughter lives her hectic long hour work life in scrubs, your comment about the full green outfit strikes home. I still enjoy your adventures into various stores and showing how outfits fit on us “real figure” individuals. Helps me make informative decisions. Please keep up these enjoyable and entertaining trips Jennifer. Your efforts and styling tips are greatly appreciated.
I’m really glad you find these helpful, Katelyn.
I agree with your assessment. Your explanation as to why different combinations work or don’t work is really helpful.
Funny….taking one for
The team. Doesn’t it feel like that sometimes in a dressing room? I think you got close with the gingham shirt because it was tied at the waist. My solve….a white linen collared shirt, tied at the waist (like you did) with long sleeves rolled up. Tres chic
Yes! I looked for a white shirt and they were none which shocked me because I would expect them to carry one.
Hi, Jennifer:
I started chuckling while reading this, and my husband asked me why. I gave him a brief synopsis of the premise and he came to look over my shoulder. The photo he saw was the one with the green pants, t-shirt and white jacket. He wore a nearly identical outfit while a hospital resident in the early 80s. He said, “where’s her stethoscope?”
I thought you’d get a kick out of that.
LOL! I got that vibe too:)
I think a lot of JCrew fashion are for the younger set but they do have some winners. Those cute little ruffled tops and dresses would suit a child, certainly not a mature women. I see a lot of influencers in their 40s wearing them but my daughters would never.
What really surprises me is that they didn’t steam those pants. How can anyone look good in a wrinkle piece?!
The pants have kind of a doctor’s uniform vibe. It would be tough to dress these–a white or black T may be an option.
Ummmm I understand your comments, but you really don’t look too bad in anything. Although I think the ruffle sleeves are a little too young for me and I find the less can skin I show the better I look at 67
Thanks for taking one for the team. I hope the stores you visit notice posts. I’ve learned a lot from you! Your quip at the end of every post resonates…wear what makes you feel confident.
I work in a health-related field and those pants definitely have that “scrubs” vibe! I really don’t care for that style at all.
I really like the gingham top paired with the white jacket. Super cute!
Your hair is looking great!
Thanks so much
Everything pretty much has been said, so I’m just going to add that your hair is looking terrific!!
Thank you 🙂
I agree with other readers that these clothes are for young girls. They like the really baggy long pants and can get away with the look. Having to alter new clothes is not for me. The gingham sleeveless looks good on you.
In desperation, I ventured into a Forever 21 store in search of flared jeans. The main stores at the mall carry only sizes 4 and up for some reason. The tiny print on displays refers to other sizes being available online. Been there done that…I want to try the fit. Too many returns. So the music is playing and I look around. I swear I got the side-eye from one clerk! No help. I did find flared jeans. So flared it was just silly!
I will stick to the tried and true online retailers.
Sorry, that happened to you.
Not a fan of the paper bag pants…too much maintenance.
Liked the tee shirts and surprisingly the ruffled top was cuter than expected.
Thanks for what you do to keep us aware of the dos and don’ts!
Happy Thursday Mary
I thought the color of the pants threw off everything you tried on. They might have worked in a sand color, but at 5’3″ and a very short inseam, I would not wear them no matter the color! I really liked the gingham shirt but I wouldn’t wear the ruffled sleeved top. Thanks!
The tops were all cute but not for my 72 year old arms…LOL the wide pants would not be a choice for me. Too many wrinkles, even when pressed they wrinkle so quickly, you look like you slept in them. As lovely as linen might be, cool fabric and all, I definitely would look for something else. Thanks you for trying the mannequin 😅😅 have a great weekend Jennifer!
Have a great one yourself, Dianne
My thoughts – ditch the pants. With the exception of the green top, they are colorful and bring out your sparkle. And, all of them would look better with other pants or with skirts.
Thank you for a morning chuckle. You certainly did take one for the fashion team. Of course, not all styles will look well on everyone, so I greatly appreciate you telling us why you think certain styles don’t look good on you. And the size disparities are great appreciated. Luckily I have a J Crew near me, so I can return to the store, but I agree their sizes do not follow conventional styling. Thanks for plodding through all of those outfits!
I’ll be heading back to try some other things I thought looked promising.
I really like the ruffled top
on you! Very refreshing.
It’s certainly a change for me
I really like your dressing room diaries. It helps us so much. I liked every top you tried on. The problem for me are the paper bag pants. The only thing I could figure out what to wear with those is just a tucked in t shirt.
I think a tucked in tee would work best too
It’s all about the pants. The are not workable unless a person is very tall, I guess. All the tops are great. In fact, the ruffled chambray is very cute on your shoulders, would look great with white slim jeans maybe.
I really liked the first pairing on you, but I guess we dress for how the clothes make us feel. If you didn’t feel your best, maybe it wasn’t for you regardless of whether I or anyone else liked it on you. I feel kind of funny in ruffles myself. I also tend toward more classic styling. That said, the shirt is not too TOO ruffly, like some dresses I see out now. And the casual style of the pants tones it down somehow too.
What I found helpful about this post is your comments about the sizing: runs big, too tight so size up, runs small, etc. For me that means DO NOT ORDER ONLINE because who knows what will fit and then I am stuck with online returns. Thanks for your honesty helping your blog followers!
I agree. The pants are the problem, not the tops.
I’m in and out of J.Crew Factory on a fairly regular basis and I find their knit tops all seem to run small.
For the most part I don’t shop online from factory stores b/c consistent sizing is something they can’t maintain when stocking lesser priced merchandise.
The first outfit looked really nice on you. I know it isn’t really your style, but your shape was perfect for it. Thank you for trying all these clothes on. I have been wanting a white blazer, but the one at Talbots is more my style.
There was no salvaging this mannequin look today. I agree about the color, this particular shade of green does give off a hospital scrubs vibe, so I usually avoid it when shopping. I know ruffles are big this year, but I am tall so I feel they can make me look silly. I need to be very careful of amount and placement.
Many of your separates are really nice and certainly closet staples, they just didn’t go well with the wider pants. Thanks for showing us Jennifer!
I’m tall, too, so I know what you mean by “silly” ruffles. I actually own more than a few Talbots dresses with a ruffled hem (they love to do that!) or a sleeve that is formed by a gathered flounce. Those seem OK.
It’s this current trend of little “angel-wing” shoulder ruffles that looks fairly ridiculous (on me). I thought Jennifer’s denim top looked nice….but she’s not six feet tall!
The ruffle top is much too young for a mature woman. My feeling is if I wore something when I was a child or a teenager it is not appropriate now.
I enjoy all the dressing room diaries you do. I would look into the Girlfriend tees instead. I bought a few from my local JCrew Factory recently because they do fit pretty true to size, don’t cling to the tummy and come in great colors.
Thanks for the tip!
Super job Jennifer, trying to salvage this mannequin. That being said; for myself I prefer a softer draping fabric for such a style of pant and also agree with Deb (below) that their length/inseam are too short that IMHO is required to achieve a pleasing balance utilizing a top and footwear even with the help of colour.
-Brenda-
Great points, Brenda
Jennifer, you really did take those outfits full on. The days of walking into stores and finding lots of choices are gone. Looking for clothes that look well on the older me takes more time. 😮 It means looking at the inventory with a different eye. I have been surprised at how much J Crew fashion leans to the younger group, as someone mentioned.
I like the wide leg light fabric pants in the summer, because they feel much cooler and are very comfortable. The ones you modeled look stiff. (?) Flowy fabrics are my preference, and found some from Loft. I wear them with a fitted tea or cropped linen blouse.
Great post. Thanks.
You hit the nail on the head for me this morning, Marie. Thank you for saying what I’ve been thinking.
I actually liked the first version with the ruffled tank. It would have looks better with a pair of pants your size. I did not care for any of the other options.
Thanks Debbie!
What happened to the days when retailers at least tried to get some of the wrinkles out of clothes?
Agreed! At least most stores do it for what the mannequins wear.
Jennifer,
Thank you for your fashion victim post!! I liked the color of the pants with the Tee shirt, but what I really want to know is what is your arm work out?
Lauren
I have 3 sets of weights at home and do some online classes through the Pelaton app as often as I think of it. The skin is very loose underneath and I’m self conscious of them so you’d think that would motivate me to do more.
I really like the red checked shirt, so cool to wear. I did not like the pants, too wide for me .
The blue ruffle is cute and youthful looking. I used to wear these kinds of tops when I was much younger. You look good in it and has a nice fresh vibe . I think for the beach in Florida would be good. I do have a a sleeveless ruffle that does not have so much skin showing and I feel cool in the heat here in Texas. What happens to our skin after 60 , oh my . I miss wearing sundresses, crop tops and such. Those days are gone. Sigh.
I hear you Sue. I miss wearing many things too.
Maybe a smooth fitting, v neck tank would compliment these wide leg, linen pants? You could then add the open, third piece. The pants seem too big on your small frame and I totally agree with cutting off those drawstrings!
The sleeveless, gingham shirt would be perfect for so many of the hot days of summer! I am not wearing sleeveless these days and like another lady mentioned the other day, what’s next on my “not for me” list? Yikes! Was it Betty Davis who said that aging wasn’t for sissies?
I appreciate you, Jennifer!!
That was what I hoped with the tee but the pieces were wrong. Things are tougher with age 🙂
I think all of the tops you chose were good choices to save the pants. I don’t think the pants can be saved. The bottom of the pants leg is just too wide and they do look like hospital pants or pajama bottoms.
They felt so by the time I was done.
IMO-Jcrew has abysmal clothes this season, unless you’re 25 or younger.
I’m going to dive deeper into their selections next week to see what I can find.
Thanks for taking one for the team! We are so grateful you do so.
Your attempts at salvaging the pants inspire me to go into my closet and just start trying different combos with what I already own, as I am not about to go buy that top with the ruffles.
Awesome, I love that!
Those pants would never work for me: my ankles are very skinny and don’t need to be accentuated by a wide bottom. Ruffled, sleeveless tops are a definite no for me! I prefer more tailored looks. I think that you look terrific, btw!!
Wow! I don’t think any type of top will work with those pants! The gingham blouse is cute. It would look great with white cuffed shorts, or black bermuda shorts. I don’t like the ruffled shoulder top at all! with my broad shoulders it would look awful!!!
My broad shoulders too!
Just not a fan. Great try at making it work! Yes just a white t maybe pants could be longer as well? Not a fan of the short wide leg.
Not a fan of linen – looks great on hangar- wronkels mess with my ocd! 🙃
I enjoy your posts! Keep up the good work!
I’ve come to terms with the wrinkles in linen but there are days when I am challenged by it more than others.
You DID take one for the team! I think that top would work on a 16 year old.
I appreciate all the other looks today, and everything you do for us.
🙂 So much fashion is directed at the younger women these days.
I like the first styling – sleeveless ruffled denim look top with the wide leg pant. (Agree you need a smaller size). The look is better than the others – at least to my eye.
You look great here!
The problem is the distracting drawstring. If the drawstring matched the pant color, it would look better and could be worn with a simple white tshirt. I like the other color choices better — cream, light blue, light pink, black. Thanks for the try on.
I agree they would help