Notes From the Dressing Room- Fall Time at J. Crew

I was very excited to view J. Crew's new fall arrivals online and in the catalog. So much color and texture had me wanting this wave of hot weather to end, so I can put on a blazer. Here are a few new arrival reviews from a much anticipated visit to the store.

Jardin skirt in Rich Purple, $88, available here

Schoolboy blazer in Pearl Grey, $188, available here

Let's start at the bottom. I zeroed in on this color while I was walking through the store. It is a gorgeous shade of purple!! The fabric gives it a nice, floaty feel, especially with a few layers to it. I didn't feel like the poofy-ness made it look extra big on the body. With all of those plusses, this just wasn't a hit. It's at the "trendy" midi-length and I think this would have looked better if it was either shorter or longer. Fit is tts.

There have been complaints from the J. Crew fans out there that the Schoolboy blazer just isn't up to par with its previous year's versions. I've never purchased a J. Crew blazer before, but I have to add to the chorus that this blazer just wasn't all that fabulous. I was really disappointed too since it looked so great styled in the catalog. Sizing was limited in the store, so I tried on a size up from what I normally wear. It fit pretty well on me minus the shoulders and sleeves being a bit big. My main source of dissatisfaction came from how thin the wool felt. The thinness might not be bad if you plan to layer it with sweaters or turtlenecks, but it translated into a poor overall look. I don't think it is normal to find such wrinkling in a good wool garment, especially a blazer. I definitely don't feel that the almost $200 price tag is warranted. Let's hope the other blazers are better because I have a Hacking jacket coming soon (fingers crossed).

Chambray Tuxedo Tunic in Rich Purple, $69.50, available here

New Cafe Capri in Wool in Camel, $118, available here

With so many wonderful colors available, I had to try on the wool cafe capri pants. I've been on the lookout for a nice pair of khaki pants for the upcoming season. This pair will not be it. I've read a few reviews that stated these pants were itchy and that they were. They were also a pretty thin wool, which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but given how wrinkled they were on the hanger, it doesn't bode well for the fit and feel of these pants. I tried on a size smaller than normal and the fit was just a tiny bit snug, so I would say this is tts.

I'm normally not one for tunics, but this one was such a soft, pretty shade of purple. I thought this was a nice piece and would look lovely styled the right way (and probably with a belt). Fit is true to size, but you should probably base that on your bust size.

Ruthie Shirtdress in Gatsby Green, $118, available here

Hmm, what to say about this dress. It has a good shape to it, but in my regular size, this dress was a really snug fit and the bust part just wasn't working. It's a good olive tone, not too light or dark; I just didn't think it worked for me. It might be good to size up in this one.

Elodie Sleeveless Blouse in Navy, $88, available here

Toothpick Cord in Snowy Thistle, $89.50, available here

This top is pretty cute and looks like the Blythe blouse without sleeves. One interesting thing is that this top is described as silk, but it has a suede-like feel. I'm used to the silkiness of silk, but the texture of this blouse is interesting (and not necessarily in a bad way). I sized down in this top and you can see that it is pulling a bit across the front. I would say go with your normal size, but note that the actual body part might be looser.

I'm all about lavender at the moment, so when I saw this pair of pants in the catalog, I knew I had to try them out. Although they are a light pair of cords, the color would lend itself well to some of the more darker fall colors. I could easily pair this with navy, green, or brown. I tried this on in what I think is my normal pant size, they fit fine, but I have a feeling that it could possibly stretch out with wear.

Minnie Pant in Stretch Twill in Vibrant Flame, $79.50, available here

I have to confess that I just couldn't get on board with the Minnie pant, but this color I couldn't resist. I know this extremely bright color may not work for everyone, but I personally love it. The fiance thinks that this color would be too bright for the fall/winter, but I think this would make a wonderful bright accent on those dreary days. The fit is tts, although I also think this will definitely stretch out with wear. Unfortunately, there were only two left in the store and they didn't have the size down for me to try on.  I also have a big issue with the length. I felt as if this looked like my pants are too short rather than like an actual pair of capri pants, if that makes sense. Shorter ladies can certainly get away with them looking like pants and it would probably hit a better spot on the leg for the tall gals.

Although this was one of the few items I did like, this stayed in the store. I'm still not 100% convinced the Minnie is for me, so I'm thinking about whether I should get something else in the vibrant flame color.

Pipe Dream Hoodie in Bright Persimmon, $78, available here

No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Gilded Tweed Mini, $128, available here in full pencil skirt length (mini version Style #50648)

Close-up of pattern/texture

This hoodie is soft and comfy, but also thin and loose in the arms, almost like a dolman sleeve. I think the orange color is great. Fit is larger than normal, so I would suggest you size down. Although I liked this one, I'm a little hesitant to spend so much on a thin hoodie. I would definitely be concerned about the wear and tear of washing for this type of material.

Tweed is one of my favorite fabrics, so I had to try on this skirt. I love the texture and the colors in the skirt. The fit is tts and I think it is a great skirt. However, this is not the thickest of tweed and so the price gives me pause for paying full price.

Although there was some good pieces with this rollout, I didn't buy any clothing items. However, a new Crystal Venus flytrap necklace is all mine. This does make me excited to see what comes out next. Oh, the color combinations I will be able to create!!

Are you excited for the new J. Crew fall items? What's on your list of faves?