Being a translator, I love all things language and I'm particularly fond of dialects and accents, so it's been great trying to figure out how all of you ladies would sound. This thread is great fun.
I get the same thing when translating: sometimes I hear someone speaking 'the language' when I read the sentences (quite yummy when I'm doing a text for one of my clients, a Scottish translation agency, I do love me some Scottish mmmm;-)

Hmm...my computer went Wonky, and now I can't see what Inge said. Could you repeat it?

You rival Tanya's blood hound sale scent, Ana!

We speak English at home. Greg is an English South African, but he also understands Dutch perfectly. So I can speak Dutch to him as well, but he’ll answer back in English. It’s not uncommon for one sentence to comprise of at least two languages in this household!

I have an Eastern European accent as well, not quite as strong. I was taught English fairly early in life, and over the years spent in the states it morphed into one if its own kind. It gets more pronounced when I get nervous, and that makes me even more nervous!

Angie, I went to an art school in Brittany for a printmaking and painting class. it was definitely one of the best times of my life with one of the most diverse groups of people I have ever encountered (and that says a lot since I lived in Brooklyn at the time).

Now I imagine you sound like Trinny and/or Susannah!

Marianne, you shouldn't be self conscience of your accent. I love them! I think most Americans will instantly think you're better looking/more intelligent/exotic if you have an accent, hee hee.

I'm only good at finding J. Crew sales because I haunt that site, it's ridiculous.

I'm trying to learn Spanish so I can speak it to my kids (when/if I have some). It's fun because lots of people speak it here in Austin, so I get to hear it all the time.

I'm still upset with my parents that they didn't speak their ancestral languages to me or my sisters. My dad speaks French and my mom speaks Italian. My parents can each understand the other's language--but my mom is more proficient speaking French, than my dad is at speaking Italian. The only time they spoke French a/o Italian was if a relative was visiting or if they didn't want us kids to know what they were saying.

Good idea to learn Spanish Ana and thanks for being our J. Crew blood hound. And I’m sure your accent is precious Marianne!

Art class in Brittany sounds rather fabulous Maya. SUCH an education in more ways than you probably realized at the time. We lived in and just outside Paris.

Combine both Trinny & Susannah and you’re close to what I sound like. They too have neutral British accents.

When I told my friend that there were others who say bagel the way she says it, she was thrilled. I've been teasing her about that since I've known her. Maya, I asked her if her hometown was near Oswego, and said about 3 hours away...she was from Fredonia...I think it was very close to the Canadian border near Niagra.

Strange, something did go wrong Ana, I typed in my comment, clicked on the submit button and then it just disappeared. So here it is again:

Being a translator I love all things languages and I'm particularly fond of dialects and accents. It's been fun trying to figure out how all of you sound, so this thread is right up my alley.

And I get that too when translating: sometimes I can hear someone 'speaking the language' when I read the sentences (especially yummy when I'm doing stuff for my Scottish translation agency, I do love me some Scottish mmmm;-)

Maya, you have sharp eyes! My mother tongue is Mandarin.

Angie you didn't mix me with another Julia, I am going to visit Hong Kong this year. I came from China 15 years ago and live in the U.S. permanently now. I will go to China to visit relatives and friends there, and stop by Hong Kong on my way this Summer.

This is indeed an international forum and that makes me feel comfortable and at home.

I wish I could meet all of you and hone my accent imitation skills. When I read to my daughters, I try to create distinguishable and accurate character voices. Right now we're reading a book in which the heroine is British, but my British accent is pretty poor, I'm afraid! I myself have a midwestern twang/southern drawl, but I'm trying to speak more properly (no more dropping the -ing off of my words, etc.).

Nicole, I never learned Spanish from my father either, although I understand it fairly well. This is a disappointment for me too. Hmmm. This makes me think I should make him speak it to my kids when he's around them.

Well, Ana, I'm duplicating the clamdiggers and I also ordered the blouse, although I don't usually have much luck with lots of detail on the chest so it may be going back if I don't love it. I also got the shrunken shawl in clover but I hope it's not too small because I usually take a small and all they had was xs. I love this color though.

Patience, I was worried about the blouse in the chest area as well, because that sort of detailing tends to poof out on me and make me look like I'm wearing a tent. This top didn't do that at all, which is part of the reason I love it! Did you order it in the papaya or the shell color? I think with your skin tone both would look great!

J. Crew cashmere runs large. I usually take a Medium (occasionally a small) in J. Crew tops, but I always take a small in the cashmere. I just got my cardigan yesterday and the small fits great! XS should be good for you, and the Clover will be wonderful with your coloring. Remember it's a "shrunken" fit which means the sleeves are very fitted and 3/4 length, and it hits at my hip bone, which is kind of high but looks cute layered over a longer top or with a skirt. I think it would be really nice with a poufy circle skirt.

Will you post a picture when you get it? Lisamartin ordered the geranium, and I did too, so we'll all have to compare notes.

I ordered the papaya. I've always thought I can't do light pink. I will post pictures but it may be a while before I get around to it. Keeping my fingers crossed on the cardigan.

The papaya will be so pretty on you. I hope the cardigan works out, too. Post pictures of both when you get a chance.

I have a question about the blouse again. I wore it today with the black belt I posted and I love it! I got a compliment on it too!

I don't mind wearing it with a belt, but there's a lot of adjusting and things I have to do to it because the fabric is slippery and then when I take it off the blouse is really wrinkly around where the belt was. I can iron this out and everything, but I'd like to wear it without the belt as well, especially on hot days when the fabric around the belt would get all sweaty and icky. Having the blouse be open and airy would be nice. Is there an accessory I can wear or something that would sort of add interest to the blouse and streamline it? I was thinking maybe a long beaded necklace like this:

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/p.....=cat303259

Maybe in black or some other color? Ivory?

Anyway, just curious on your thoughts or any other suggestions you could make, you all have been super helpful.

Thank you!

I just studied the top again. I am having a difficult time picturing any type of necklace that would hang over the top itself. (Opposed to a necklace that sat inside the shirt, on your flesh). The top is pretty detailed, with the gathering, pleats and ruffle around the arm opening. I'm afraid that any thing long over it would be too complicated. I could be wrong, and wouldn't know for sure with out seeing it.

Personally, I think there is something to be said for simplicity some times. I see nothing wrong with wearing the top as is, with out a belt or cardigan or jacket. Maybe that would be a good day to wear your hair in a different style (two long side braids or squiggily ponytails--when you take your hair into a pony tail and just keep twisting it until it's like a crazy little bun.) The top speaks on it's own and when it's hot and humid, I think it will look best if you look cool and simple. Does that make sense?

I found a picture in the J. Crew catalog where they have a photo of the blouse with a necklace, but they've also added a cardigan which I think does make it too noisy. It's the lighter pink blouse with the pink necklace though, and I was thinking about the black one with my bright coral blouse:

http://i66.photobucket.com/alb.....0256-2.jpg

I do get what you're saying about simplicity though and I like it. I just want the outfit to look polished, with or without a necklace. I though if I didn't wear the belt, maybe it needed something else. Thank you!

After seeing the top withe the necklace, I am sticking to my original thought that it does not need the added distraction.

Thanks Nicole!

Ana, put down the belt and walk away slowly It's OK to wear things without belts sometimes!

Seriously, I think the shirt will look fine without a belt too, and still look polished. Wear funky shoes and carry a statement bag...you'll be fine!

Ha ha, thanks Dani. I actually just came out of a phase where I didn't wear any belts and ALL my tops were blousy and loose and made me look 10 pounds heavier than I really am, so I'm *extra* careful about wearing that style now. I think this one might eek by because it at least has some shaping, and hangs straight down rather than tents out like my old ones. I was just wondering if there was anything I should add to make it more polished, but you and Nicole made some good points, so I think I will wear it as is.

Could the shirt use some darts or some taking in at the side seams? (I'm not suggesting it because I think the shirt looks too big or anything--but if you are concerned with how it looks w/out a belt, maybe you'd like it better if it was a tad tapered).

I thought about that but it wouldn't really work because of the shaping that's already there. It has pintucks where you would normally put darts, and I couldn't have it taken in because it actually is very fitted around the bust area. That's why I think it passes, because it's not just a tent, it actually has some shaping and it's rather fitted up top. I didn't think it was bad, but I just wanted to double check, because like I said before, I don't always have the best judgment when it comes to tenty shirts.

I agree with Nicole that a necklace is not the best option here because of the details on the shirt. I think you could really wear it as is and accessorize with a nice pair of shoes and handbag. Or if you really want to wear jewelry, how about a funky pair of earrings or a bracelet?

When you originally posted the picture without the belt, I actually liked it without the belt even though most people focused on the belt picture. This is actually a look I'm trying to incorporate this summer-- fitted through the shoulders and upper chest and voluminous or straight below-- per Angie's suggestion of blousie tops for the heat. I go back and forth about this look because my eye keeps adjusting to close fitted things and then it's hard to adjust back. My conclusion is that bottoms are key to make it look right as well as the particular design of the top. For example I loved the ink blue jcrew blouse from her ink blue post but it really was just a tent on me. Hopefully when Angie gets back she can clarify this blousie top look; we seem to keep coming back to it.

On another note, I got my clover cardigan and I love it! I'm going to wear it in my cold office today and I took a picture this morning so hopefully I can upload it soon. I will also try to get pictures of the blousie tops I've bought this season to see if I'm doing it right.

That's great Patience! I'm so excited, because I bet the green looks great on you. Did you get the papaya top as well? Did that work for you?

The top won't be here till next week. I actually ordered too much stuff with that coupon so we'll see what works.

Definitely post pictures (I know you're busy though), maybe we can help you narrow it down.

So, I know I wore the papaya top a little bit yesterday, but I'm going to wear it again today without the belt, and maybe my white shorts or my jeans. We'll see how the experiment goes.