Banana Republic Give & Get Goodies

J.Crew really has not been that exciting to me lately. I don’t really like anything enough to go to the store to pick up or to make the effort to get tag-alongs for the free shipping online. I did place an order for a few things over the weekend, which I’ll share in a preview thread tomorrow. But the highlight this week has been the Banana Republic Give & Get 30% promo, which finally lured me back into the clothes shopping world for a brief weekend. Here are the few things I picked up that I’m really excited about.

Banana Republic Silk Cascade Ruffle Shell – in both Sidewalk Gray and Bright Berry

Banana Republic Silk Cascade Ruffle Shell

Silk ruffle tops are my new thing now. Love them, can’t get enough. They are so easy to wear but look so professional. I can stumble out of bed in the morning, pull on a silk ruffle top and a random skirt off the hanger in my closet and I’ll look put together. People at work even comment at why I’m so dressed up. It’s pretty awesome.

Get it here from Banana Republic for $69.50 (but I’d wait for a promo!).

Banana Republic Pima Cotton/Wool Shawlneck Cardigan

Banana Republic Pima Cotton/Wool Shawlneck Cardigan

I pretty much bought this sweater out of my love and obsession with J.Crew’s Palisade cardigan. That cardigan is perfect because it serves as a coverup/cardigan but loosely and casually holds the cardigan in place so the two sides don’t flap whenever the wind blows. I hate it when that happens. I feel like an unwilling flasher. The one thing I don’t like about the Palisades cardigan is that the material is so thin, it feels like it stretches out so easily and looks kind of sloppy at the end of the day. This cardigan seems to be slightly more substantial, so we’ll see.

Get it here from Banana Republic for $89.50.

Banana Republic Leather Patch Pocket Jacket

Banana Republic Leather Patch Pocket Jacket

None of you know me that well, but if you did, you would scoff at the fact that I bought this jacket. I mean, I just never pictured myself to ever wear a leather jacket; it just wasn’t me. Then I somehow stumbled on this while I was browsing BR looking to maximize my use of this great promo. It looks right up my alley, even paired with a typical outfit I might wear. I thought about how I thought I was SO not a denim jacket person before I bought one from J.Crew and saw how unexpectedly adorable it looked on. I can totally look awesome with leather jackets and not even know it (probably unlikely…), just like a few of the reviewers on the BR site. So, at 30% off, I had to buy it if even just to confirm whether or not leather jackets work on me. Plus it always makes an order super exciting when you’re buying something totally new and un-you.

Get it here from Banana Republic for $298.

ETA: Got the email of doom today – this jacket is no longer available and they are crediting back the full amount. BOOOOOOO.

Louis Vuitton Empreinte Collection Fall ’10

I have a huge obsession with bags. I’ve inconspicuously excluded it from Crewlade, but frankly lately nothing at J.Crew is really exciting me…and coincidentally, I’ve learned about this new bag collection from Louis Vuitton that I’ve totally fallen in love with. Since I hit my bag-buying peak a couple years ago and rarely fall in love these days, I think it’d ok to share my few-and-far-between bag purchases with you guys here. Hope you don’t mind!

On to the pictures (courtesy of stylerumor.com)…mmm mmm!

Louis Vuitton Empreinte - ArtsyLouis Vuitton Empreinte – Artsy MM

Louis Vuitton Empreinte - LumineuseLouis Vuitton Empreinte – Lumineuse PM/GM

Louis Vuitton Empreinte - LumineuseLouis Vuitton Empreinte – Lumineuse PM/GM

Louis Vuitton Empreinte - LumineuseLouis Vuitton Empreinte – Portefeuille Long

Louis Vuitton Empreinte - Inspiree (Bowling)Louis Vuitton Empreinte – Inspiree (Bowling)

Louis Vuitton Empreinte - LumineuseLouis Vuitton Empreinte – Lumineuse PM/GM

Louis Vuitton Empreinte - ClutchLouis Vuitton Empreinte – Clutch

Louis Vuitton Empreinte - ArtsyLouis Vuitton Empreinte – Artsy MM

Louis Vuitton Empreinte

Here’s a price list:

Artsy MM – $2330 USD
Petillante  (Clutch) – $1300 USD
PF Secrete Long (Long Wallet) – $760 USD
PF Secrete Compact (Compact Wallet) – $660 USD

Lumineuse PM (Tote) – $2130 USD
Lumineuse GM (Tote) – $2720 USD

Inspiree (Bowling) – $1680 USD

Colors released: Blue, Taupe, Bordeaux, Navy Blue (false black) and Off-White.

Tentatively release date: October 15th, 2010, now pushed back to January 2011. Boo.

What do you guys think? Love it? Hate it?

J.Crew Honore Dress

I first saw the Honore Dress at the J.Crew in Union Square (NYC) while I was in line to pay for my Cobblestone Bracelet. I was instantly enamored but had no time to get out of line and try it on.

J.Crew Honore Dress

When I came back and looked it up online, I realized I’ve seen this stock photo before but totally bypassed it because it was so forgettable online. It’s funny how some clothes look so plain online but so cute in store; it just means J.Crew didn’t really bring out its beauty in their photos! Anyway, I finally got my hands on it today.

J.Crew Honore DressJ.Crew Honore Dress

I’m wearing: Banana Republic Dahlia Wedges (now only $29.99!)

In theory, it’s so my style. I love the poofy classic A-line shape of the skirt and all the girly details at the chest with the ruffles and rhinestones. In real life, I think you can immediately see why I couldn’t help but cringe. It’s so, so short. I’m 5’6 so if it’s this short on me, not sure about girls who are even taller. I know this is more positioned as an evening dress, but I was hoping to dress it down enough to wear to work. Now that I see how short it is, it’s pretty much over. Here’s my attempt anyway at dressing this dress down.

J.Crew Honore DressJ.Crew Honore Dress

I’m wearing: Banana Republic Dahlia Wedges (now only $29.99!), Banana Republic Wide Belt (similar here), J.Crew Equestrian Leather Belt

If this dress was a little longer, I would be all over it. The waist falls perfectly at my waist, so I feel like it is very flattering and really makes you look like you have a tiny waist with a nice hourglass figure. Super cute either with a wide or skinnier belt (though seems more flattering with a skinnier belt now that I’m looking at these pictures). Since you can’t really see the detailing at the chest in these pictures, here’s a close up:

J.Crew Honore Dress

The material is quite substantial and very nice. I got my usual size 6 and it fits fine everywhere except the chest…way too tight and nowhere near enough material for me. Perhaps if I size up a size, I’ll gain some length and additional chest room??

Get it here from J.Crew for $128.