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| Because I am a loyal GapCard user, I received a $10 credit voucher in the mail a month or so ago. Recently I’d been trying to not frequent the mall so much, so it sat unused in my wallet for a while. After an uninteresting day at work, I decided to stop at GapBody on my way home. I figured I might as well spend it now, before the ware are thoroughly picked over by Christmas shoppers. I know I mention my love for shopping quite often. It’s usually greeted with a grin of agreeance or a shake of head. It’s hard to describe, but shopping is such a social event. It’s one of the reasons I like working at J. Crew. We’re encouraged to develop relationships with the customers, make the fitting room a “party atmosphere” – offering each other advice on a particular fit or color of sweater or calling a customer when a skirt the adored but waited on is now on sale. Yesterday at the Gap there was a clerk filling a crate with recently marked-down underwear. I asked when they had been marked down. When she answered today, I told her that was great! I mentioned planning on coming the previous day, but ended up out to dinner with my boyfriend and then we unexpectedly ran into his grandma, who paid! At first she kind of looked at me as if I was giving her more information than was needed, so I walked away to look at the cozy pajama bottoms. The lure of sale merchandise was too great to stay away, so I had to return to where the clerk was still stocking crates. Another customer was there, and we all started talking about underwear and the sale. This eventually led to language and advice about colors and sizes. I walked away to find a shirt the other customer was holding. We later ran into each other again and commented on each others finds. I don’t know why this means so much to me, but I love when I can talk to random people in shops like we’re friends shopping together. I know how boring it can get to fold tissue tees for hours on end. I really dislike shopping along; I love the advice of others when making a purchase. Probably 70% of the items I buy when shopping along are returned or exchanged. Shopping is a social activity—and I adore being around other people. I think that’s it. There are times when I know that I’ll be alone at home, but if I were to enter out to the mall, there will be people around. Human interaction is something I crave. So, on this rainy afternoon, where I’m bored at work, I think I finally understand why shopping is so important to me. It’s the people. Yes, I love the products, but shopping online just isn’t really my thing, it’s too impersonal. | | |
| Marshall Field's. Last week Friday after I got off work I drove to Woodland Mall to go shopping at Field's for the last time. While the store had slowly been transforming into Macy's over the past year, the name change was not to take effect until September 9. As I turned the corner around Sears I expected to see the Marshall Field's banners which had been covering the Macy's logo for the past month. Much to my dismay, the banners were down and the building proudly declared its name as Macy's. I slowly walked around the store, noting the signage had all been turned over to Macy's. Associates, wearing Marshall Field's nametags, were scraping Field's decals off counters. My favorite department store was unrecognizable. I wandered throughout the store, contemplating what my last Marshall Field's purchase would be. It didn't take long for me to figure out – Frango chocolate mints and Blackberries & Raspberries. Frango and Field's are synonymous with each other. Blackberries & Raspberries are one of my favorite candies, Kizie's too. I never had them until my sophomore year in college. I was shopping at Woodland with Dillon and she stopped at the candy counter, which used to be where the MAC counter is now located. I had never bought candy there before, so I didn't. She purchased a small bag of Blackberries & Raspberries. On our way home, in the Geo, she shared some with me. I was hooked. Every so often, when I needed a treat, I would buy myself this candy. Even when I was in a bad mood, buying these candies would cheer me up. I shared this tradition with Kizie and my mom. I love Benefit make-up just about as much as I love J. Crew. The first time I bought things from the Benefit counter was at Marshall Field's on North Michigan Ave. I spent way too much money and never regretted it a bit. I would purposefully wait to order, or walk to that counter to buy Benefit products because I had such spectacular service. They have my name and address so that I can call them to order things when I run out. There was one particular morning that Robin and I spent shopping downtown Chicago. We had horrible service, the weather was muggy – yet not hot, and couldn't find shoes for the life of us. We decided to make one last stop at Marshall Field's. The Benefit counter drew us in. We left the city that day giddy, just because of two Marshall Field's employees at the Benefit counter. How many countless hours of procrastination have I spent at Field's with Robin, Laura, Dillon, Maria, Mags or anyone else from our floor? Clinique Bonus? Field Days? Mini Facials at the Origins Counter? Eyebrow Waxing? 13 Hour Sale? Free People? We would jump at the excuse to run to Field's to just search the racks for deals. Maggie's Hooded Gray Peacoat. Robin's many jeans. My Ralph Lauren Bathing Suit. Matching halters with Robin, matching white skirts with Maria. The very first time I got my eyebrows waxed Dykhouse took me to Premier Salons at Marshall Field's. My first Coach item was from Marshall Field's. Kate Spade shoes, James Perse dresses, BCBG tops, Ugg boots, Kenneth Cole shoes… All firsts from Field’s. I know that many of you think I’m crazy for caring about a store’s “name change”, but it’s not just that. Macy’s is a New York staple. Marshall Field’s is Chicago’s. Now, I’m not from Chicago, but I shop and visit there a lot. It’s my favorite city in the U.S. Walking into the Field’s on State Street was something special. The great clocks, the magical windows at Christmas, the ornateness of random drinking fountains; it was Marshall Field’s. I can’t imagine that building as a Macy’s. It’s not just a store to me. There are a lot of memories tied to it. That’s what makes it important. That’s why I nearly cried. I know the buildings and memories will still be there, but it’s not the same. A lot of things aren’t the same anymore. My friends live all over the country, even the world. I can’t walk into the room next door and find three girls ready to go to the mall with me. I can’t decide to just skip my homework to get my eyebrows waxed. I’m lucky if I can get a hold of them by phone or text, let alone actually seeing them. We’re getting married, moving away, getting “real” jobs. The change just reminds me of how much else has changed. It’s not all bad, but it’s different. It takes time to get used to, This week has been the first week that I feel like I’m a “grown-up”. I have a job that is 8.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. I have to wear nylons and business clothes. I sit at a cubicle where I am paid to write. It’s exactly like Keith said to me in a recent e-mail, “Of course, we all know we're just kids, and it's amazing that these employers trust us to do all this stuff (even though we are good at what we do). I still feel like a kid, but don't tell my employer that.” I'm still just a kid. Just a kid who wants to marvel at the Christmas windows of Marshall Field's and eat Blackberries & Raspberries. | | |
| Quite often, when people comment on the way I dress I hear, "You always look so cute." Now, don't get me wrong, I love hearing this. (Thrive on it actually.) But, the way I put outfits together really isn't that difficult. The idea for writing this came last Friday when a girl at work said the "you always looks so cute" line. I replied, "I used to work at J. Crew." Thinking about it though, it's not just J. Crew, outfits like I wear are mostly simple solids with one or two prints mixed in. You can get these items at nearly any retail store.
Here is a random selection that shows how I pull together an outfit. I generally pick one item that I want to wear on a given day and center my outfit around that. Last Friday that was a navy 2 inch headband with strawberries on it. Because it was payday it was jeans day at work, so I started the outfit with some denim. I wear favorite tanks nearly every day in the summer; they make fantastic layering pieces. I chose navy to coordinate with the headband and then a light pink for underneath to add color. Now, denim and favorite tanks are not "work appropriate" so I needed a third piece. I selected a bright green cardigan. I accessorized with a white nautical braided rope belt and bracelet and threw on some strappy heels(I would have worn white Capri sandals in white but they aren't allowed at work). I tossed all my purse items into a white leather bag and I was good to go!
When you think about all the items separately, they're not much. Tank top, cardigan, sandals, jeans, headband, tote. It's all in the way you put them together. I don't have pictures of the outfit I wore, but I'll give you something similar from some current J. Crew catalog items.
The Headband.
The Cardigan.
The Favorite Tank.
 
The Denim.
The Footwear.
The Accessories.
 
The Handbag.
xoxo,
amberlynn | | |
| Shorts. I don't wear them. The last time I had a pair of shorts on was two summers ago. I was nannying and had to pick up one of the girls from Girl Scout Camp. I hadn't seen H. yet that day. I walked up to her troop to sign her out and she was just staring at me. I gave her a puzzling look, which she retured and declared, "You're wearing shorts." I must have looked confused as to why she was pointing this out so she added, "You never wear shorts. You wear skirts."
It's true. I'm a skirt girl. I haven't bought a pair of shorts since I worked at Old Navy. This year, however, I'm tempted by the Bermuda shorts and Pedal Pushers.
summer-weight
I can just imagine these with a preppy white polo and navy and pink espadrilles. The summer-weight material is aslo perfect because it will still be cool on those hot summer days.
cuffed
These cuffed bermudas give off a cool surfer vibe.
gentleman caller
Pair these with some heels and a crisp white button down -- who knew shorts could be elegant?
patchwork madras
Is there anything more "summer" than madras? Okay, maybe seersucker.
seersucker
Yes, this is pure summer.
cutoffs
White denim can be quite fantastic. These cutoffs are a great example.
madras
Pair this with a green cardigan and some white flip-flops. You're ready for Cape Cod if you throw in a wide brimmed straw hat.
xoxo,
amber | | |
| Wedding season will be upon on in only a matter of months. I'm sure that you will have a couple invitations pouring in soon. Dressing for a wedding alwasy seems more difficult that dressing for other formal occasions. There are color rules, you can't look better than the bride, do you match your date?, etc. These are some dresses that I would consider had I unlimited amounts of money and ridiculous amounts of weddings to attend. (And, I apologize that most of the dresses are from J. Crew. It's just what I know best!)
The cotton halter beach dress.
This dress would be perfect for an outdoor or casual afternoon wedding. I actually am lusting for this dress, but I already have a pink and navy dresses, don't really like the yellow and can't wear white to weddings. For some reason I can't do brown to a summer wedding. I'm sure I would get over this, but something doesn't seem right to me.
The chalet dress.
This dress is just the right amount of color for a June wedding. The most appealing part of this dress is the adjustable spaghetti straps. Although, the beadwork on the bodice is to die for. That's a fine line. Too much sparkle and you look like you're ready for Homecoming.
The adair dress.
The chaurtuse color might be a little loud for a wedding, but I'm in love with this dress. you can't see it in this picture, but there is a tulle underskirt that peeks out the bottom. Definitely my kind of dress. Sadly, this dress is $395.
The elizabeth dress.
This just might be the perfect dress for a Saturday morning wedding. The website pictures are hard to see, but there is subtle embroidery along the skirt of the dress. The empire fitted waistband makes it a flattering. The store also sells coordinating clutches for the perfect match.
Should I get past my fear of a brown formal dress, these two would be contenders.
The molly dress.
This dress just screams cute, but it shows enough skin and chest to be sexy too. The empire waist is such a flattering fit also. I really hope someon returns this so I can try it on because at $395 I will not be purchasing it.
The colette dress.
My favorite feature of this dress is the deep v in the back, but it also features the empire waist. This dress would be great for an out of town wedding because of the crinkled chiffon silk. Should this dress come in a wild rose, I would almost certainly purchase it.
The ribbon-bound dress.
This dress was made for twirling. There is no possible way to try this dress on without making the skirt swirl. That means it was made well. It also features a deep v in the back, for those wishing for some subtle sex appeal.
And, just for kicks, why don't we look at one wedding dress. This dress happened to be returned in my size two weeks ago.
The vivian dress.
I felt gorgeous the moment I put the dress on, which any good wedding dress should do. I wasn't entirely pleased with the way the seams appeared be seen through the dress. I would have to try it on with a slip to see how it would end up. But, it was classicly gorgeous.
amare sempre,
amber | | |
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