Store Appeal

J. Crew Collection – Where Glam Meets Preppy

Store Appeal: Known for its notoriously preppy selections, J. Crew is a mainstay among yuppies and hipsters alike, mainly for its classic New England frocks and high-end appeal. While the J. Crew Collection doesn’t deviate from their signature style, the glam aspect of the line does incorporate quite a bit of bling that would have the likes of Mariah Carey drooling. Described as couture-quality with to-die-for prices, the J. Crew Collection is quite versatile, particularly if you’re new to the brand. Founded in 1983 (lest we forget the modern prepster movement was born during this era), J. Crew has expanded past oxford shirts (and shoes) and chinos, into refined party dresses, structured purses, men’s suits and even wedding attire. The store’s new collection has a gentle appeal thinly veiled in nautical stripes and distressed denim shorts.

Our Vote: You may never know this by looking at the brick and mortar store, but J. Crew online is laden with tons of products. From sales to new arrivals, high-end new collections and popular basics. But if you’re not a J. Crew enthusiast, it can be rather daunting surfing through 20 pages of women’s tops alone! But I’m up for the challenge and I hope you are, too. Besides, if you’re like me and get a little nauseous from the sea of popped-collars, pearls and ribbon-clad ponytails that rule your local mall’s J. Crew every Saturday afternoon, then you might benefit from shopping online. And one amenity only found online is the “back by popular demand” section that highlights old favorites brought back…well you can figure the rest out.

Our Favorites:

1.)    J. Crew Impressionist Skirt – $110

2.)    Trapp Troubadour Sunglasses – $395

3.)    J. Crew Sequin Skirt – $398

Be&D Handbags, Shoes and Accessories

Store Appeal: Very rarely does an American designer craft handbags that could pass for the Old World glory that is seen in Chanel and Balenciaga – with the exception of Marc Jacobs.  But many American handbag designers have a very streamlined, modern interpretation, which is not a fault, but they find it hard to recreate what’s already been so successful in Europe for over a century.  American designer handbag line Be&D does a brilliant job of melding the two for modern twist on an old favorite, though this is not by accident.  Be&D, which was founded in 2004 by Be Inthavong and Steve Dumain, is now helmed solely by Dumain, who grew up with an affection for antique luggage and in college studied international business, Spanish and art. The handbags, shoes and other leather goods are modern and sexy, but carry elegant and flattering lines. Just what every woman wants.  My personal favorite is the Be&D Kan Kan Tote.

Our Vote: While the online store is easily navigable, the photos are only one-dimensional and can be a bit lackluster, particularly when trying to demonstrate the detail of the fabrics, materials and hardware used on the products. Nonetheless, the shopper still gets a decent idea of what the product might feel and look like in hand, and fortunately, the dimensions and vivid descriptions of the materials used in each product are listed.

Our Favorites:

1.    Be&D Kan Kan Tote - $1,390

2.    Be&D Rizzo Shoes – $458

3.    Be&D Dallas Tote - $895

Alexander McQueen – Legacy through Fashion

Store Appeal: In no capacity is it an overstatement to say that Alexander McQueen was a genius. He did more with clothing than most others could dare to dream. His collections mirrored the boundlessness of his imagination. While I’ve never been one for the oddities of fashion, something about McQueen’s visions, which often left the earthly realm, resonated favorably with the general public. It seems insulting to call his runway theatrics mere “fashion shows,” as they were performance art in every sense of the word. The fashion world lost a leader and a visionary – but his legacy lives on through his fashion. I have written about McQueen several times since I began fashion blogging in late 2008, and am privileged to continue doing so. His works of art became my immediate favorites because of his impeccable attention to tailoring and subtle detailing, like the sunbeam stitching found on his shoes and purses, and the hour-glass inducing curvature of his dresses. The McQueen brand is currently offering its spring/summer sale – 60% off – which in the world of high-fashion is both a steal and a crime. Nonetheless, if you are a fan of the McQueen brand, you do not want to forgo the Alexander McQueen sale.

Our Vote: There are less than a dozen McQueen boutiques in the world, so the majority of your McQueen shopping must be done online or in high-end department stores. This leaves many shoppers, such as yours truly, troubled with selecting a size, but luckily they have a generous return policy and customer service to assist. The website is a treat to navigate as it, unlike many other brands of the same nobility, provides high definition, multi-angle product shots of the products. The shopper may find it a bit laughable to click on “trousers and skirts” only to be met with geometric-print lycra leggings – not the typical “trouser” I’m used to, but the Brits are famous for their wry sense of humour. If you have a moment, check out the Alexander McQueen Experience which houses videos of his runway collections and a very moving tribute video.

Our Favorites:

1. Alexander McQueen Draped Jersey Dress – $750

2. Alexander McQueen Purple Skull and Bee Cocktail Ring – $280

3. Alexander McQueen Skull Brittana Clutch – $1,350

UnitedShades: Let the sunshine in!

Store Appeal: A key essential now that it is officially summer is definitely a perfect pair of sunglasses. (Speaking of which, need a quick how to? Here’s a great guide to finding the right pair for your face type!) Getting back to track, United Shades is a great site for all of you picky people who want a ton of eyewear options all within the click of your mouse. 38 brands. 7000 styles. Online since 1997, they guarantee the authenticity of all their glasses so you don’t have to take a risk buying a fake pair from a shady site. I focused on sunglasses, but they also carry an amazing collection of glasses as well.

Our Vote: Ever wanted to order a pair of glasses online but been afraid if they’d look good or not? United Shades has the coolest feature ever on their site; virtual mirror! Upload a frontal picture of yourself and then virtually “try on” any pair of shades on the site!  Also, you can narrow your search options to frame type, frame shape, and they have a vintage eyewear section too!

Our Favorites:

1. Ray Ban Arista Gold Aviators, $127.00.

2. Dior Homme Black Tie Sunglasses, $187.00.

3. Christian Dior Symbol 3 Sunglasses, $214.00

Find more from United Shades here.