Yes, It's What's On the Outside that Counts

First of all, following the lead of so many others, I started a secondary blog for selling clothes.  It's Heidi G - From My Closet.  As I say in my sub-header: "Because the post office is closet than the consignment shop."  (It really is.)  Browse all you want.  I'll still list on the JCA Weekly Exchange and Polyvore, but this will have more than just J Crew-wear.  And I'll be adding to it regularly.

Secondly - my Public Service Announcement for the Day/Week/Month/Year:

Clean out your dryer lint - the lint screen and the outtake hose!  My neighbor across the street had her dryer catch on fire earlier this week.  Not a fun experience at all.  Fortunately everyone is ok.  Which brings me to my next point - don't turn on your washer/dryer/dishwasher and leave the house...unless you are 100% sure that everything will be perfect.  This will be a definite mindset change for me!!

Enough lecturing...and back to regularly scheduled blogging...

How much time do we waste on just the clothes, yu know, the shirt/sweater/pants without stopping to consider the outer and the under and the with?  I'm certainly not going to pretend to be an expert on the underpinnings to put with an outfit (that's why we have Cleo's blog, Trousseau Adventures).  But I am pretty comfortable talking about the "outer" and the "with" stuff...at least as it relates to my style.

Sometimes it is really is all about the outerwear and accessories.  Remember in Silence of the Lambs when Hannibal Lechter made the comment to Clarice about "your good bag and your cheap shoes"? 

We do love our clothes...but if you're throwing on a crappy coat or cruddy shoes, it will ruin the whole look.  And when it's cold, rainy, snowy, or just not 75 degrees outside, most of what others see is your outerwear and accessories.

To illustrate here on the left. First picture: Before, perfectly fine, simple, standard type of outfit for me (I do adore this Cambridge cable turtle!) Second picture: After, with sunglasses, trench, & bag.  C'est plus chic, non? (then again, didn't we learn that from Jackie O, Audrey, Grace, et al?)

Starting with the outerwear...How many coats do you have?  How many do you wear?  How many are actually flattering on you?  Which ones improve your outfit instead of actually competing with it? 

I do try to make sure my outerwear at least works with my outfit for the day - if not actually taking my look up a notch.  In fact, if all I'm going to be doing is running errands, it's easy to just slip on a plain, simple (i.e., typical me) outfit, but add a coat that is either bright/happy/cheery as the focal point of the outfit - yes that would be the Winnie coat - or in warmer temps, the green Gap corduroy coat I wore today.  Conversely, I find that my charcoal gray heather hooded car coat from Bloomies 10 years ago (aka my pregnancy coat), adds wonderful texture to ensembles.  It all depends on mood.  And weather.  But you don't have to spend a fortune on coats.  It's something to work on over time.  And the way sales happen so soon in the season...you hardly ever have to pay full price, unless it's something that you are just *dying* over.  But the great thing about coats is that when you talk CPW (cost per wear), you get a lot of value for your money because you were them so often.

The quickest way add luxury to an outfit is with a big, cozy scarf.  Even if it's not super cold outside, a generous but lightweight scarf always chics up a look.  And if you're always cold like me, it keeps you warm!!  This is not a wardrobe item that has to cost much.  If you want to lay out a ton of cash, be my guest.  I won't judge.  But you really don't need to.  Most malls have that kiosk in the middle where they sell the pashminas rather inexpensively.  And just about every store, or at least the ones I go to, has a wide selection of scarves, wraps, etc.  The beauty of the scarf is that it comes in so many different colors, textures, fabrics, patterns - you are sure to find something that's right for you.  One of my favorites is a damask hot pink wrap that I got from Old Navy about 5 or 6 years ago for $10 on mega-sale.  I'd say the CPW of that one is down to pennies, or at least dimes.  And the light gray cashmere wrap I got from Banana Republic right after Christmas for $30?  Definitely under a dollar per wear and dropping rapidly.  Of course, you don't always need one with a turtleneck like I have here.

Shoes?  Bags?  Hats?  Sunglasses? Oy, I could go on for a while...but it's been a crazy busy week, and I'm done. Good night all! No, I'm not going to bed quite this early, but will be pretty soon. So I will probably try to catch up on blog reading until my eyelids close...

Polyvore from March 2:

3/2/10 by HeidiGblog featuring J Crew

Join the Fun... with Purse Pals

Blog Update - after my personal success of Peace for the Holidays, I am attempting to incorporate that more into my life. Unfortunately, blogging ends up shuffled to the side sometimes. My top priorities continue to be Health (including adequate sleep) and My Family. Work comes in second since it does help pay the bills and...to be honest...I just can't do a crappy job on something because I really hate to let people down. Oh, the guilt. And work has involved some busy hours lately. But I only have so many hours I have on this project and I won't keep up this pace forever... It will slow in time, and I will blog as I can because I do love it and I do miss it. But no more excuses from me...just wanted to let you know that's the new norm here and now I will stop my whining because I am boring myself.

Couple of news-y items to discuss today. It seems like everyone else is catching up with us, fellow JCA & PV fans.

First, Robin Givhan, our Pulitzer Prize-winning (seriously) fashion editor at the Washington Post, penned the Fashion Moments part of the Post's Best and Worst of 2009. 2009 Best Fashion Moment #4?

J. Crew and its creative director, Jenna Lyons, show the world modestly priced fashion that's good enough for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II.

Works for me! Don't think I would go with the Vintage Slim jeans in worn-in wash for that occasion, however. (BTW, yes, that article was from December 20. At least I'm within 30 days.) (Jenna Lyons photo credit - New York Observer)

Although, if you are hiking in Arizona, jeans are probably a good idea. Did you see this? Denim may thwart rattlesnake venom? But again...maybe the worn-in wash isn't the best for that outing either. Go for something without holes. But when you mom/DH/SO starts hassling you about those expensive designer jeans, you can tell them it's just for your health (see note at top of post on health being a priority).

Next, how many of you get Rachel Zoe's daily email newsletter- The Zoe Report? (Love her show!!) Her style and mine don't exactly mesh 100% (duh), but she's always lots of fun to read and it's interesting to get a different perspective. And if I don't have time to read, I can always hit delete. You can sign up for the newsletter on her website.

But here's the fun part - did you know that RZ (or one of her staff) looks at Polyvore? Ok, she might not be a Poly-whore like some of us, but quite a few of her newsletters on different trends refer readers to Polyvore. For example, a 12/30/09 post on "Warrior Princess" - i.e. embellished headbands - the email included this Polyvore link and tag: "See how embellished headbands completed the always fab looks on Polyvore.com."

Granted it was just a search on headbands, but hey...someone in Camp Zoe is watching. But um, yeah, I'm pretty sure she's NEVER hit on one of my PVs...ya think? (Rachel Zoe photo credit - petite.about.com - this was the preppiest pic I could find. If you want the prep, you go with Brad.)

And finally...you know, you can always find J Crew in unexpected places...like on the shoulder of your daughter's friend's dad when you drop her off for a soccer birthday party. Yep, my new Purse Pal, Mr. snaphappy was sporting his wife's Selby satchel. (She ordered her own after coveting mine and fantasizing about stealing it. *That* sure would have been awkward at the bus stop.) So...it just goes to show you...you never know where you'll find J Crew.

I did have to show Mr. snaphappy how to hold the purse correctly - most men are just not born with the knowledge ingrained, apparently.

(photo credit to the talented and always fun snaphappy who has promised to try to join us at our next DC JCA outing)