Thursday, February 18, 2010

Borrowing from the Boys - at J Crew

A little springtime for you all...as we sit here with snow all around. I do love tulips.

You know what I don't love? Boots. I am sick and darn tired of boots. Normally, I really like boots - I would even say I love my black flat boots because I feel rockingly awesome in them. But that sentiment loses a bit of its luster when I am forced to wear them day after day by all this snow.

And this is not a diatribe against the snow. And to update my earlier diatribe against politicians in DC (not the natives but those from elsewhere) - Chris Dodd, we love you. If you hadn't heard, he lifted the since-9/11 ban on sledding at the Capitol. Attention Durbin and everybody else: *that's* how you endear yourselves to the metro area.

Maybe I'm just cranky because we've been indoors so long and I get irritated at the jerkie neighbors who don't shovel their sidewalks, even after a week, and I can barely walk Lucy around the block. I'm just sick and tired of being forced into boots. Maybe it's the stubborn streak.

So, I have officially abandoned boots for the time being. Sure, I'll put on my FUggs to go to and from the bus stop(I'm not *that* stubborn...or stupid), but otherwise, it's back to flats for me.

All of which is a really, really long introduction to yesterday's outfit. (Today? hehehe, still in sweats - going to the office later, haven't dressed for that yet.) The previous day, which would have been Hallelujah, The Kids Are Back at School Tuesday, I popped down to JC to do a couple of returns. As I strolled back from the semi-anemic sale section, I saw a gorgeous sweater...laying on the table in the men's section. Why not try it? It couldn't be any worse that some of the boxy sweaters I tried on from the women's section lately. So I meandered off to the dressing room, swapped out my current sweater for this one, and fell in love.

Let's backtrack...I love all of the fab JCAs who are rocking the crewcuts wear, like Dina. Problem is that crewcuts just doesn't cut it (hehe) with my shoulders - and torso length. But, when you are JC and the women's sweaters in store aren't thrilling you, where do you turn? Yep...the only other section is Men's.

Ta da! J Crew Men's Cotton Half-Zip Sweater (#21666, $69.50) I was anticipating that I would love the feel of the sweater, but would have to give a sternly judgmental eye to the fit and potential boxiness. But to my amazement, it was rather form fitting. On the body, it's much leaner & longer than the online picture would indicate. This would be great with leggings because it covers the butt.

And that thick cotton knit - where did you go? I haven't seen you in the women's sweaters in quite a while. They call it a "chunkier full milano stitch." Can we order that in women's, please??? It's warm enough for winter and will be great for spring, too.

I love the zip neck. Zipped up for warmth. Unzipped to show off a cute tee or fab necklace. This is a perfect piece with jeans, obviously. But I will also wear it with cafe capris and white jeans come spring time.

I got the navy, but it's also available in irish moss and heather stone. Bottom line - how often do you buy something and simply have to wear it the next day. I'm sold!!

Rest of outfit - Chico's Ultra Slim Leg jeans, white crewneck perfect fit tee, clementine pearl garden bracelet, and moc croc loafers. And I was happy all day.

Polyvore from yesterday:

14 comments:

DaniBP said...

I love the sweater on you! I bet you'll get lots of wear out of it, for years!
Agree on *sick of boots*!
Do you have those little sidewalk plows? We have city guys going up and down the sidewalks in their cute little mini-plows at least once a day. Good thing because I hate shoveling snow!

ashley said...

i totally agree with you! im TIRED of wearing boots, leggings, and my big ol' puffer! i wanna wear flats and show my arms & legs. UGH!!!!!! ps: i love your borrowed from the boys look :)

Summerilla said...

Oh what sized did you get this in? I don't know I missed it in the post. You look fab in this - much better fit than those JCrew sweaters we tried on that one day at Tysons.

I started wearing my flats this week too - although I did cave and wear the boots again today because they went better with my sweater dress.

Anonymous said...

I hate boots too, especially when you are trying on clothes in the Winter time. The mens line has some really nice looking clothes, the sweater looks good on you, and I love the zip neck too, it really adds warmth to the sweater.

JulieStyles said...

Hey-Did you get your dresses? How did they work for you? From your PV buddy, JBinSF

J.CrewJD said...

It looks great on you! I think it's easier for us taller gals to pull off the men's clothes. I just got the men's cashmere cardigan for myself. It is awesome and fits really well. Sooo tired of boots too. Even though I have several pairs of cute J.Crew ones... I'd rather be wearing my Lulu flats!

how i met your father blog said...

Totally hear you on the boots.... I love my snowboots... but pink and green flowered snowboots can only get by in the office for so long!!
P.S. -- I, too, LOVE slipping into a great men's sweater! It's such a cozy alternative!

Suzy said...

Hi Heidi! Thank you for sharing. I can now admit that I have bought men's fleece hoodies from J C, as well as cardigans (I really like that new men's cotton cardigan with all the pockets...) and, I confess, I have kept the socks I bought with you in Bethesda that day for myself! haha I sure wish they'd make some of the men's fabrics for women as well. And while they're at it - some of those cute crew cuts tees! There was an Eiffel tower one months back, and I loved the valentine looking heart tee for girls came out recently. As you know they would never, never fit me either!
As for the boots - I still love my boots but i am tired of wearing them so much. I started wearing my flats this week - even without socks or anything! Why not, today it even hit 50 here!!! YAY!
Take care!

C said...

I have a charcoal grey melange zip neck mens jcrew sweater for at least 10 yrs now... it is super warm and long.
If you ever notice, often some of their more unisex mens' polos come in size xs... easier for women to wear.

Anonymous said...

Your snow woes could be worse--you could live in NEW ENGLAND! We get it and good!

A Bigger Closet said...

Lovely spring tulips! :)

The sweater looks great on you Heidi. I've bought a few men's items from JC as well, along with the striped crewcuts tee.

HeidiG said...

Update - I have continued my no-boots rule...4 days running, so far. I will admit that I am wearing FUggs to the bus stop, but that's it.

DaniBP - thank you! I didn't know we had the mini-plows, but I've seen them out quite a bit since the kids went back to school - so yes, apparently we do - or someone lent them to us.

ashley - thank you!

Summerilla - I got it in a M, which is weird, because we were all trying on S sweaters taht time at Tysons and they were way baggy. I guess it's just a different fit.

casual-crew - I like the zip neck too, - yes, cozy, and gives me option (including extra heat when walking to the bus stop).

JulieStyles - hey!! yes, did get dresses - just haven't had time to post. Just put up the first dress. Tally is 2 definite no's and 1 probably. I guess that's better for my wallet.

Em - after this, I definitely need to start stalking the men's section in store more often! I woudl love one of their cashmere cardis!!

little miss can't be wrong - maybe I need to get green & pink flowered snow boots??? they would definitely brighten up my mood!!

Suzy - I will ahve to check out that men's cardi with the pockets - and I keep forgetting about the socks - I've been dying to try them ever since you got your pair!!

C - thanks for the tip - I will definitely check out the polos!

yogagirl - oh come on now, you're sounding like one of our immigrant politicians... I'm not complaining about the snow - I'm just bored of the cold. That's why I live in the Mid Atlantic, not New England. If I wanted more cold & snow, I'd move north. But I stay here instead.

A Bigger Closet - thank you! And you can do crewcuts and the men's? Lucky... :)

HeidiG said...

Update - I have continued my no-boots rule...4 days running, so far. I will admit that I am wearing FUggs to the bus stop, but that's it.

DaniBP - thank you! I didn't know we had the mini-plows, but I've seen them out quite a bit since the kids went back to school - so yes, apparently we do - or someone lent them to us.

ashley - thank you!

Summerilla - I got it in a M, which is weird, because we were all trying on S sweaters taht time at Tysons and they were way baggy. I guess it's just a different fit.

casual-crew - I like the zip neck too, - yes, cozy, and gives me option (including extra heat when walking to the bus stop).

JulieStyles - hey!! yes, did get dresses - just haven't had time to post. Just put up the first dress. Tally is 2 definite no's and 1 probably. I guess that's better for my wallet.

Em - after this, I definitely need to start stalking the men's section in store more often! I woudl love one of their cashmere cardis!!

little miss can't be wrong - maybe I need to get green & pink flowered snow boots??? they would definitely brighten up my mood!!

Suzy - I will ahve to check out that men's cardi with the pockets - and I keep forgetting about the socks - I've been dying to try them ever since you got your pair!!

C - thanks for the tip - I will definitely check out the polos!

yogagirl - oh come on now, you're sounding like one of our immigrant politicians... I'm not complaining about the snow - I'm just bored of the cold. That's why I live in the Mid Atlantic, not New England. If I wanted more cold & snow, I'd move north. But I stay here instead.

A Bigger Closet - thank you! And you can do crewcuts and the men's? Lucky... :)

prashant said...

I keep forgetting about the socks - I've been dying to try them ever since you got your pair!!
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