Posts tagged fashion

I’m a big fan of Kate Spade jewelry (though I don’t really own any) and saw that they now are selling these beautiful bracelet watches that are inspired by New York City!

They range from about $195-$250 each, (which is about the same price as a Michael Kors watch) and wear as a bracelet with an engraving inside. Also the blog is super cute and shows you which New York park, monument, or building inspired the time piece!

It’s so perfect because I actually do use a watch, now that I’m no longer a student and can’t be using my cell phone as a time-teller! It’s classy and functional!

My favorites are the “carousel” and the “cooper,” though I have to try it on before I decide I want to spend my money on it (the curse of small wrists makes it hard to buy bracelets that don’t look bulky!). Which one is your favorite?

Polyvore featuring a long sleeve sheer blouse

What’s one of the more fun perks of interning, working aka entering-the-real-world?

Getting a new wardrobe for it!

That’s why I’m thrilled that Local Pages is allowing me to giveaway $50 for any professional apparel company on their site!!

Since Local Pages is kind of like a yellow pages with cool deals and coupons, this means that pretty much all the stores you already shop at at are on the site!

Some of my favorites on their site: J. Crew, Bloomingdales, Urban Outfitters. They even have those city-specific boutiques like Manhattan’s Pookie & Sebastian and Seattle’s Aprie.

1 Easy Step to Winning $50:

- Tell me about your ultimate dream job by leaving a comment, and be sure to include a link to Local Pages (http://www.localpages.com/).

I’ll pick the winner, announce the winner and Local Pages will mail you a $50 giftcard to any store on their site!

Read below for eligibility requirements

Read more …

That was the subject of my email to the CEO of J. Crew when I noticed that my favorite blazer had a tear in the elbow.

Yes, the CEO - Millard (Mickey) Drexler. Let me tell you the back story though…

I bought this blazer right before I started working. I had been eying it for so long but resisted because it was expensive. However, because I landed a new job I splurged and never looked back.

You can imagine my disappointment when the buttons started to loosen (one fell off that I had repaired) and then the elbows started to wear away resulting in a tear. I logically took it back to the J. Crew on Madison Avenue asking for a replacement. Very graciously they said they couldn’t replace it, but since it was bought from the Fall 2010 collection they would send it to their tailor. The tailor refastened the buttons but was unable to repair the tear, so they offered elbow patches. I agreed because I thought there was no other choice.

So sad to about the tear in my blazer =(

I then spoke to my friend Molly who is prep-fabulous and an avid J. Crew shopper asking for her opinion of what color elbow patches I should get. She told me that because the blazer was so expensive it was unfortunate that, that was the only way to repair it. She suggested I email the CEO (who is also a BU grad!!) since we had both met him and seen him speak at our school as freshmen.

Nervously I wrote him, sent him pictures and asked him if there was anything the company could do. 17 minutes later he actually responded even though he was traveling!! His email:

Hi Divya – copying my partner Brittany – believe the team is “on it” – thanks for letting me know –

Best,

Mickey

Soon enough, I received an email from Brittany apologizing and asking me what my size in the blazer was! Thrilled I thanked her and gave her my size. Literally two days later I received this package in the mail:

In it was a brand new blazer! You know how I adore wonderful customer service and because of this I am even more loyal to J. Crew. I am stunned at how responsive their team was — after all, I’m sure the CEO and his partner have much more important to things to do than tend to one young customer’s ripped blazer. However, the fact that they did made me value them more than any other clothing store I shop at (though Nordstrom is my other favorite).

Lately, I’ve been loving Kate Spade’s spring theme. I don’t actually really own anything Kate Spade (my mom has a classic black purse from them) but I’ve been contemplating making my next wallet purchase from them.

Many of you know that I used to ride my bike around BU as a senior. It was a cute vintage high-handled bar street bike appropriately named Mary Poppins. I miss it dearly and have thought about bringing it to New York. I’m just too scared to bike on the streets here!

Today, I just got an email about the new bike that they have at their stores. The catch - there’s only ONE in each store! It’s probably way out of my budget for a bike, but I love how they came about the idea!

They said:

“As we’re brewing ideas for campaigns, collaborations and other creative endeavors, one of our team members will come across a vintage advertisement or photo that inspires a particular project. such was the case with our new bicycle. Taking a cue from this 1960’s woman’s day ad, we pictured our girl in a swingy summer dress pedaling through the streets of soho on her custom, kate spade new york green abici bicycle”

I love the 60’s era and how they’ve taken the same concept from the 60’s and made it relevant to today’s woman.

While all of us might not have a toddler in tow, I think many of us would love to bike around on a warm summer day downtown!

Last night I decided to rearrange my closet. For inspiration I opened up my J Crew catalog and started ripping out pages of outfits I liked. I came across this page:

Looks like a normal ad. Notice anything different? Ah, the adorable boy with neon pink toe nails may have caught your eye. Then did you read Jenna Lyon, the President and Creative Director’s quote?

“Lucky for me, I ended up with a boy whose favorite color is pink. Toenail painting is way more fun in neon.”

I won’t lie, I read it twice and thought “hmm, that’s different.” But then I simply flipped the page and thought “Good for her. What a cool mom who isn’t caught up with what most people worry about — their son, the color pink and nailpolish, she’s embracing it instead.”

Then today, my mom emailed me, saying I probably already knew (which I didn’t) that J. Crew is all over the news because of its controversy around gender roles and the ad that showed a boy with pink nail polish.  

I googled, and sure enough found the article from Fox News where Dr. Keith Ablow writes:

“Yeah, well, it may be fun and games now, Jenna, but at least put some money aside for psychotherapy for the kid—and maybe a little for others who’ll be affected by your ‘innocent’ pleasure.”

What? … ? ?

I’m sure he knew what he was writing and of course his strong piece was prone to have strong responses. I’m just stunned at how people take a simple ad and turn it into such controversy. I, a consumer, and someone who has grown up watching the media around polarizing politics, recession and the controversy around gay/lesbian rights thought we had come a long from something like this. It in fact, along with my upbringing and experiences have made me (what I like to think) very open minded. So I’m wondering, is this even an issue? Is pink nail polish really encouraging him to choose a gender role? I mean, if eventually he ‘chooses’ the more masculine gender, he might be embarrassed when he’s older (about being featured in a national ad with pink nail polish) but that’s probably the worst of it isn’t it?

ABCnews spot

This seems all so petty to me. Who cares. Really. Only thing I thought was, if I some day had a son and his favorite color was pink, would I paint his toes neon pink? Would I care what society thought? I don’t think so, I mean I’m pretty sure I played with toy cars and nerf guns and turned out as girly as can be. So the reverse I’m guessing is true as well.

I would only hope in the time that I have a child that the world would evolve to live and let live. I think my biggest worry would be how harsh society’s judgments would be on him (did he choose to sport this fab neon pink on his toes). Because as we can see from my google results - neon pink has caused quite the stir.

What do you think? Is there anything wrong with painting his toes pink?