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.
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 armsā¦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 š š 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 donāt 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!
Iāll be heading back to try some other things I thought looked promising.
I really like the ruffled top
on you! Very refreshing.
Itās 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 didnāt feel your best, maybe it wasnāt 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 isnāt 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 didnāt go well with the wider pants. Thanks for showing us Jennifer!
Iām tall, too, so I know what you mean by āsillyā 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.
Itās this current trend of little āangel-wingā shoulder ruffles that looks fairly ridiculous (on me). I thought Jenniferās denim top looked niceā¦.but sheās 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, donāt 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. š® 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 Iāve 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 Iām self conscious of them so youād 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, whatās next on my ānot for meā list? Yikes! Was it Betty Davis who said that aging wasnāt for sissies?
I appreciate you, Jennifer!!
That was what I hoped with the tee but the pieces were wrong. Things are tougher with age š
I think all of the tops you chose were good choices to save the pants. I donāt 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 youāre 25 or younger.
Iām 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! š
I enjoy your posts! Keep up the good work!
Iāve 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.
š 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