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This is a compensated review from BlogHer and JCPenney.
Trends are fun -- each season, there is something new to try, something fresh and cool. The trouble with trends, of course, is that while they look great on models and movie stars, they don't always work for real people. But that doesn't mean you can't find a way to work the trends into your own closet. The trick, as I'm sure I've said before, is to find a trend that works with your current closet and add a few pieces that you can mix and match with what you have.
Thanks to JCPenney and BlogHer, I got a chance to road test one of my favorite trends for fall '08. JCPenney provided eight Oklahoma City bloggers with $300 to shop their new fall lines -- and they sent me shopping, too! Which was super nice of them.
My favorite trend this year is the British Hunting Weekend look (even though I'm not British, nor do I hunt -- I just like that tweedy Wellies-and-pearls look). I picked up four things when I shopped -- a herringbone jacket, a ruffled plaid shirt, a navy puffer vest, and a ruffled henley. i also grabbed a faxu tortise cuff bracelet and a pair of oversized sunglasses (because Preppies know how to work the accessories). My basic closet is fairly conservative and classic, so these pieces go well with what I already have.
I shopped JCPenney's American Living line, which is a most easily described as an All-American look -- think gin and tonics on the whitewashed porch late in the afternoon, under a billowing Stars and Stripes. I really like everything from this line, which is the epitome of dressy casual. I fell completely in love with this cropped herringbone blazer; it's both tailored and feminine, which is a keystone of Preppy chic. The lines are classic and trim, but the fit is modern and hip. I'll wear this with jeans and a tee, or over a little black dress.
Ruffles are big this year, too, but I'm not a particularly girly girl, so most of the ruffly silk blouses I'm seeing won't work with my wardrobe. This ruffled Henley was the perfect combination of girly and clean cut. The placket is satin, which is a nice touch, and the light purple is a fun take on another fall trend (purple! it's everywhere). This is a great shirt; it will go with jeans (I'll pair with a boot-cut to balance the slim fit of the top) or a skirt (the ruffles make it just a little dressy). I'll also layer it, under another ruffly shirt, or a cardigan, for soccer games and workdays. And of course it will be the perfect foil to the navy puffer vest; I'll be sporting this look at more pee wee soccer games than I like to think about.
I love that this shirt works so well with my current closet, but I also love that it's different from anything in my wardrobe. Shopping trends is about finding that balance of workable and challenging. (And yes, it should be funny to you that a henley is what challenges me.)
Finally, I decided to push myself to try something really new (you know, since that's what I'm always telling you all to do). Because I am always singing the praises of catalogs as look books, I grabbed an outfit that was on the mannequin in the store -- a ruffled plaid shirt and a navy puffer vest.
The blouse isn't like anything i own -- I don't usually do big ruffles, and I haven't worn plaid since the early 1980s. But I really like this blouse -- it's got a funky retro look that is both a little nerdy and a little hip. The colors -- navy and green and red -- go with so many things in my closet (that's my sweater over there on the left). I'm tempted to pair this with my black taffeta skirt for the holidays -- I think that would be a fun look.
You can see everything I bought at Flickr, mixed and matched with pieces I already own. I'm looking forward to wearing all of this, all winter long!
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