Thursday, May 21, 2009

Some J Crew Dresses - Group 1 (not under consideration, but for information and entertainment)

Lots of cute J Crew dresses out there right now. And I took several for a try-on last week when I was at the store. I actually am curious about your opinion on 3 of them. But...first up... a couple that are not even under consideration for me, but thought I would post for both information and entertainment value:

#1 - the Drawstring shirtdress (#14940, $69.50). When Summerilla described the dress to me at tea, I was interested. So I tried it on. Just did not work. I actually think it looks better in the IRL pic than it did in the mirror, so you can imagine how bad it was on me.

The dress comes in sahara and navy. The fabric is really nice and lightweight, making it a perfect summer dress, even with the sleeves. (And I don't know about you, but I always freeze in AC.) But because the fabric is so lightweight and the skirt has some fullness, I felt rather breezy in back - like the skirt could fly up at any moment and I wouldn't even know. Not a comfortable feeling. I tried this in an M, and it felt big on me, but I don't think I could do an S. I like how the sleeves are rolled in the catalog pic, but I don't think that would save it on me.

The problem with the fit on me is that I have high hips. My hips don't curve out gradually, like a feminine shape, they jut out like a rectangle - it's weird, but hey, I know how to work with it, so I wouldn't change it - but it makes dresses like this with a waist on the actual waistline fit weird. Who would look good in this? Someone a little shorter, so that you won't worry about the skirt flying up, and someone who has a semi-normal waist - could be really cute and a great summer piece (and at a nice price!). Just wasn't the piece for me.

#2 - the Cotton bonbon dress (#15324, $78). Ok, I'll admit finding out the real name of this dress almost made me reconsider it because I love the bonbon idea. But no, it really was not good on me. But it could be good on someone. I didn't try this on because I was seriously considering it. Rather, it was because I saw it in store after hearing about it. (Again, Summerilla had tipped me off. Have you seen her blog? Way cute, check it out.) Anyway, to totally date myself again here, all I could think of was Sarah Jessica rocking this with a big scrunchie holding her side ponytail. I'm pretty sure I saw this actual dress in Footloose. And you know what they say about repeating a trend that you were around for the first time...

The dress comes in navy, dark charcoal, spearmint, and seashell. The cotton lawn trim around the neckline is very pretty. And the knit top is quite comfy. The dress has definite possibilities...for someone else. If you don't have much of a shape on the bottom, it can definitely give you one. And if you aren't exactly smooth across the rear (you know, the whole VPL thing), no worries because the tiers camouflage all of that. I tried an M, and the top was just too vacant. But the S was too tight across the ribcage. I think if you had a non-curvy/straight figure, this would be the definitive dress to give you curves.


I am realizing that including the 3 contenders would make this post waaaaay to long, so....

Next up: the dresses under consideration.

19 comments:

Summerilla said...

Aww thanks for the shout out! Much appreciated!

1- I was really questioning this dress when I first tried it on because it was so loose on me. Then a non-crewless SA brought me in a belt to go with it and rolled the sleeves all crew-like and I was sold. This is one of those dresses that seriously has to be played with and accessorized. It's definitely not a throw on and go dress. I'll try to post some IRL photos of this dress with the belt and all tomorrow!

2 - Yep! This was exactly the dress I was talking about. I first saw the spearmint from a far and loved the color but when I got closer I was a little concerned about all the ruffles going on at the bottom. It reminds me of a ballet costume I wore when I was little. Secretly I think it's cute but since I am bottom heavy I think this would make me look bigger so its a pass for me.

Okay enough rambling or my comment will be longer than your post!
I'm heading to Montgomery Mall to do some returns tomorrow... I think I have about 6 things to return all on different receipts. The SA's are going to hate me tomorrow.

HeidiG said...

Re #1 - you don't remember if it was in store in the navy do you? I think I could have liked it better in that than the sahara. Still pondering...

Summerilla said...

Tyson's had it in a pewter type color, a really light gray but no navy. I actually tried the gray on first but it was a no go for me in that color. I wish I had seen the navy, I think it's definitely the better color choice out of all of them.

Patina said...

i love the shirtdress on you, but i can see how the how marilyn monroe thing turned you off. It's soooo darn cute. can't wait to see the dresses that you are considering. i hope you try on the new jersey dress. i do think i want that one

HeidiG said...

I did not try on the jersey one. But maybe next time... (I don't always like the belted thing going on - but it is very pretty)

JTS said...

I think you look great in the Bonbon dress! :)

GingerSnap said...

I would love to have the "Bon Bon" dress, but from your review as well as a couple other bloggers who reviewed it, it apparently is not that flattering and runs large. Boo. I am really excited to see the dresses you ARE considering! Did you try on the satin esque one with the ruffle neckline? That one would look super-cute on you!

HeidiG said...

GingerSnap - I think the bonbon dress would probably swallow you whole! And yes, the ruffled cotton sateen dress is on the list. But I am crashing, so will post tomorrow am.

Anonymous said...

Wow, that first dress is just awful in style. NOthing to do with you. Just a bad bad dress! and I like shirt dresses. SCARY.

Also, I like the second dress in theory but well, it does seem outdated and something to "find" at a thrift store or in my parents closet from the 80's that I left behind......

wow, scary JCRew!

HeidiG said...

JTS-thank you, but I am going to chalk that up to the dark color of the dress camouflaging the poor fit of the bodice - it was too loose and low on me.

Anon@5:31 - you are so right - I keep wanting to like the shirtdress b/c it is so lightweight, it would be such a great summer piece...but it just isn't good on me. I am very curious to see Summerilla's pics to see if they can save this dress (but I can also see the cut of this dress being perfect on her).

Anonymous said...

That first dress looks like the Darma jumpsuits! I wonder if Jenna watches Lost and was inspired? I think if you styled it up it could work, but you can do better!

The second dress I thought was cute...and then I realized it looks just like something I wore to my eighth grade formal! Yes, there was most likely a scrunchie involved too.

AnneG said...

I bought the Bon Bon dress yesterday in Navy...it's going back today. I tried to style it several different ways but there's no getting around that drop waist. I think it's just a non-starter for me and my figure plus probably a bit too young for a 40-something. Although, I think the quality of the dress is very good -- quite subtantial for just $78. I am disappointed but if the dress doesn't fit, you must acquit!

HeidiG said...

Stephanie - was the scrunchie on a side ponytail and did you have a perm and/or bumper bangs? I think we are just too old for it, you know?

AnneG - thank you, Johnny Cochran! :) Yep, at 37, I think I am too old for it. But I am really glad you made the point about quality because I thought it was a very well-made dress for $78.

Zoë Moët said...

I think the bonbon dress is really cute in theory, but the long waist kind of ruins it for me, even on the model (and the model who is wearing it there is very lovely, so that's saying a lot). In the dress's defense, I did see it styled very nicely in the June catalog, where it was kind of pulled up a little and belted to bring the waist up to a more natural level. Perhaps they should have just made the dress that way in the first place :)

HeidiG said...

Zoe Moet - I completely agree - it's just a difficult dress that won't be great on most people. I just don't get it. Therefore, I'm not getting it. hehehehe, totally cracking up at myself. :)

Unknown said...

Yeah...these are passes. I love the black on you, but I can't get over how 80s that cut is. They took a huge risk w/the drop waist. Though I don't know how good it would have looked w/ higher ruffles either.

HeidiG said...

Gigi - so true. I've been through the trend once, so... :)

C said...

shirt dress is just to voluminous and since you are tall, I can not imagine a petite person NOT looking like a circus tent in it....

The bon bon dress looks better than you think and I wonder if you had maybe a bronze belt (not too much contrast in the color but a little) at a low waist/high hip level, if it would create a waist and look perfect...just an idea.

HeidiG said...

C - thanks for the suggestion. I am not really a belt person, but I think that look would work - not so sure about it on me. My issue with both of these dresses is that they aren't thrown-on-able. To me, esp in summer, I should be able to throw on a dress, add sandals and earrings and pretty much be ready to go without fussing much. I do admit to being lazy. :)