Playing with an interesting JCrew outfit (or rescuing classic cardigans) - YouLookFab Forum

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Playing with an interesting JCrew outfit (or rescuing classic cardigans)

Tanya

Veteran

First of all, I am going to warn you that today is my play-in-the-closet day, which might result in huge number of posts, so feel free to skip them Also, a lot of the pieces have wrinkles from storage, so please ignore those.

A week or so ago I received a promo email from JCrew with photo #1. It immediately grabbed my attention as I own almost the exact same pieces ( my striped tunic is silk not cotton and therefore more flowy, but still). Plus, I have two lovely cropped V-neck cardigans, merino in forest green and cashmere in light purple, I have been thinking how to update for the upcoming season, so it was perfect timing.

Pics 2 and 3 show my recreation of the outfit. I left the cardi unbuttoned as it is fairly fitted. What do you think - does it work? Did I pick the right shoes? Also wondering if it looks seasonally confused and where one might wear such an outfit. In pic 4 I substituted the BF shorts with BF jeans for a more wearable version. Does this work proportion-wise, or it looks better with shorts?

#5 shows a similar outfit from their website, with classic skinnies and the shirt normally buttoned. #6 is my recreation of it. What do you think about that? Overall, do outfits like these manage to make this classic cardis look more current? Many thanks!

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Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from SarahTheWhite

catgirl

Veteran

Cropped over long is such a favorite of mine. I can't do cardis like you can, sadly. I love the proportions of the first outfit although I am not sure where you'd wear it. It's not seasonally confused to my eye, but I live in a shorts and long sleeves place - never too hot for long sleeves! I think it's a great casual outfit for movie or coffee. I actually prefer the proportion with shorts, but the jeans look great and probably more practical too.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

It's a faithful recreation, and I am a lover of cardigans (especially in colors like yours!). The long shirts look a little too long to me, though, whether on you or on the JCrew model.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I like it, Tanya! I prefer the proportions of the shorts version (which you wear so well) -- they are a bit more unexpected, and oddly, the outfit as a whole comes across as more "finished" somehow, to my eye. I like it with the oxfords but I'm sure a lot of other shoes could also work. I don't find it seasonally confused. I might wear something like this to...buy groceries (where I would need a cardi for the AC). Probably not to a movie (because my legs would get cold). But maybe for an evening walk. Or out to an outdoor patio as the weather begins to cool a bit.

I don't like the jeans version quite as much and I am trying to work out why. I think your shirt is a bit less boxy than the one in the photo and also your cardi seems to be a different cut and a bit shorter. Also, maybe the black of the leggings makes a difference somehow, although I can see why you wouldn't put it with the purple. I do still think this is worth playing around with some more.

Neel

Veteran

Another vote for the shorts version! I really like the messy look :). And you have the perfect type of body to pull that look off. I also like the jeans version but not as much as the shorts.

I think I would like the 3rd outfit more if the cardi were a BF cardi. The cardi seems to be a wee bit short.

Fantastic effort and I think the cardis do look modern when paired with other modern elements.

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you for input ladies, I appreciate them all very much. It looks that the shorts version looks good.

Suz, thank you for the detailed analysis, as I also do not like #6 as much, though I like #4. My shirt is actually boxier than the JCrew one, but it is silk and therefore drapes well, while the JCRew one is cotton and probably stiffer. My cardi is shorter, and less boxy for sure. I have tweaked the outfit (#7) with a stiffer cotton shirt and dark charcoal ponte pants, for a look more similar to #5. Does this look better?

E

Veteran

I'm so impressed with your recreation abilities! A long blouse, short shorts, and shorter cardi over top is one of my go-to summer looks for its practicality in the heat & strong sun, so I don't think it's seasonally confused.

The colours & textures look great on you & I agree with Suz re: preferring it with shorts vs jeans. I must admit I'm not used to the half tuck, but it does add interest. But I do love your shoe choice.

In 6, I think there needs to be a bit more contrast in your recreation. In the inspiration pic, I love how the bigger buttons on that cardi echoes the black leggings: maybe your version just needs a graphic focal point to 'crisp' it up? Or darker wash jeans? It's a cool look.

Tanya

Veteran

E, we posted at the same time! I have just added #7, exactly in line as you suggest

E

Veteran

Oh that's funny! I love your new version: now you've nailed it.

Tanya

Veteran

Thanks E, I am glad to final version looks better.

Neel, thank you ! I am going to try it with BF cardi and post that too, but I think I have had enough outfit changes for the day and will do the BF cardi version tomorrow.

christieanne

Veteran

I am not a huge fan of the half tuck with the long shirt - maybe less contrast on the tuck would work for me but maybe I have a poison eye for that? It seems very severe. I do like the concept of the cardi over long shirt either with shorts like you recreated it and also I really like #7. Updating cardi is a great challenge. I am a cardi hoarder so this is inspirational!

lyn67

Veteran

Hi Tanya! Love your forest green cardi, and you are almost there but I just noticed in the JCrew pictie the cardi is a bit shorter than yours, so it doesn't reach the waist of the shorts, there is a bit of shirt peaking out in between. Can you do that, too?

From the other stylings, I love nr 7 the best!

ironkurtin

Veteran

Hmmmmm I think I'd like to see the shorts outfit with a shirt closer in tone (not necessarily color) to the cardigan. One reason the inspiration pic works is that the shirt and the green are closer in color than the cream/turquoise. Do you have a longer shirt in a different shade?

And I think #7 looks super sleek. Those are classic cardigans, I say mix it up!

One thing that might be fun to try is a white tee or tank (no pocket), and pearls with your jeans or cutoffs, and some ballet flats. Hair up. Very modern Audrey!

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you Christieanne, Lyn and Ironkurtin!

Lyn, I can try blousing the shirt a little to achieve that effect, but i am not sure it will work.

Ik, those are great observations. The shirt in #7 is white cotton, as opposed to cream silk one in #2. Do you think that one might work better? I will sure try your Audrey suggestion tomorrow as well, sounds fun!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I really do like #7, Tanya. The crisp cotton shirt is so different from the silk one and the black really adds something! I think this works!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA: it is very instructive to see how extremely small tweaks can make such a profound difference. It explains why sometimes we get frustrated in trying to recreate inspirational looks from our closet and why we need to think quite analytically as well as creatively in doing so.

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you Suz, and I think you are quite right about the little tweaks. The thing is that one sometimes can not quite figure out on her own what the tweaks should be. This is where YLF is so helpful.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How fun.

I'm sure you have a striped shirt, Tanya. No? Try that for #1, like in the photo. I think you nailed the first look with the shorts - but am eager to see the striped rendition too. xo

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you Angie!

The silk shirt in #2/3 (the shorts look) is striped, but the stripes are sort of broken and faint so don't photograph well. I do have some conventional striped shirts, but they are all normal length, not tunic length like on the JCrew. Do you think it would still work with a shorter striped shirt? I am happily going to post more versions tomorrow, it is too dark for photos now.

Do you think that other looks (4,7) work or not so much?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Yes. Try the look with regular length striped shirts. I am curious.

#4 and #7 work really well too. xo

Tanya

Veteran

Thanks Angie! Will do as you say tomorrow

Anonymous

I looked at this twice, went away to go back to reading a book, but kept thinking about it. I tell you, this YLF stuff is all -consuming at times! I think the idea of the cardigan/shirt and shorts is a great idea, and really like it. I really like the second JCrew photo with the oatmeal cardi/shirt combo too.

The thing I noticed about the JC cardigans is that they seem to have longer sleeves and a bit more of a looser fit on the arms and in the length of the body too. To my eye, it's the juxtaposition of a luxe-looking shirt/sweater pushed up ( as opposed to being short already ) against a pair of shorts, or the tight fit of a pair of leggings that makes the look here. (Luxe looking in terms of having lots of length in the sleeve to push up , cuff and play with.) I want the sleeves on your cards to be longer, as well as the body of the cardigan too. You are obviously tall and long-limbed (lucky) so could carry off a bit more of a looser fit on the sweater.

Does that make sense to anyone other than me? lol.

Tanya

Veteran

Thanks Lisa! That makes lots of sense actaully, and I were to buy new cardigans, I would definitely buy them with details as you describe.
The thing is though, that I am simply trying to come up with updated ways to wear these two that I have had for years. Overall I have not been much into cardigans lately. So I am simply trying to "rescue" them from the possible donation, if that makes sense.

Gigi

Veteran

Everyone has had really good comments. I think this look is difficult to copy without doing it almost exactly, as other commenters have mentioned. The small tweaks make a big difference.

One thing I noticed is that the part of the shirt that is tucked in the J Crew rendition is semitucked, while the tuck in your rendition is more of a complete tuck. Can you make your tuck a little "messier," like in the J Crew version? I think that might help mitigate some of the contrast between the tucked and untucked sides of the shirt.

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

I don't have anything helpful to add... Just that this is a really fun thread and I'm watching with interest, and looking forward to tomorrow's looks. You have done such a great job. I particularly love the last one. I have such a soft spot for leggings/ponte pants and cardigans...