Damn you, J. Crew! Part Two**

You know how sometimes you’re so excited to get something, and then when you finally receive it, it’s kind of a letdown?  Yeah, well, that just happened to me with J. Crew.

That gorgeous henna color I was opining about in the last post?  That beautiful deep red hue?

Not so much.

As you might have suspected, I decided to reward myself with some of that henna cashmere after my work trip.  Visions of cute outfits danced in my head, until I opened up the box and unwrapped the sweaters.  What I had expected to be a lovely shade of red turns out to be much closer to, um, copper.  And while copper isn’t a bad color, it’s not what I wanted (or paid for) – nor was it what J. Crew’s website depicted.

Now, I know this opens up a whole ‘nother dialogue about color as shown on computer monitors.  In their terms of service, J. Crew includes (smartly) a blurb disclaiming their responsibility for colors shown on said computer screens.  So I guess I shouldn’t be complaining about my discovery.  I will say that I’ve done a ton of online shopping over the last few years (just ask my husband and some close pals), including J. Crew.  Honestly, I’ve never remembered having a color “fail” with them, ever.  I even viewed their website from two different computers – both seemed to offer the same “red” henna.

Since I get their catalog as well, I leafed back through the most recent issue and located the sweater.  I honed in on the color swatches on the page – lo and behold, it looked a heckuva lot closer to the actual item than online.

In an attempt to validate my letdown, I've posted pics of one of the sweaters.  The first image is from J. Crew's website of the short-sleeve cashmere tee (which appears in the prior blog).  The second and third are my own pics of the same item:

Meh.  Live and learn.  I still love J. Crew.  I ordered a couple of other things, and besides nice fit and fabrics, they look just like what lives online.  Actually, the henna color itself isn’t too bad.  But it’s not as complementary with my skin tone.  So, back those sweaters go.

With all the shopping that one can do (whether browsing or actually buying), it’s inevitable that we’ll encounter a few bumps like this.  I like to think it makes me wiser.

Wiser, that is, until I noticed about 3 minutes ago that J. Crew has an online 20% off promotion for sweaters… 

Let the insanity begin again J

Images:  first image - J. Crew; second & third images - own

**Note: “Hey”, you’re saying, “isn’t this blog about all the stuff you like?  Happy, shiny, pretty things that make your eyes sparkle and your fiscal reasoning shut down entirely?”  Well, yeah, it is.  But sometimes I find occasion to post about stuff I *don’t* like.  Here, it’s the issue with colors shown online (and less to do with J. Crew having done anything wrong).  In other instances, it might just be things that make me wonder, “WTF?”  Gotta mix it up a bit, right?

Damn you, J. Crew!

So today’s posting is going to be fairly brief.  I’m trying to pack for a work trip and get other dorky errands taken care of tonight.  By the time I get back in a couple of days, my brain will be mush, and I’ll be generally incoherent.  Airplane travel (and airplane "air") does that to you.

Oooo, you’re saying, work trip!  And I wouldn’t fault you for thinking it involves browsing through boutiques or vendor shows.

Unfortunately, my work travels don’t so much include fabulous shopping expeditions, but rather  picking my way through construction sites, trying not to trip over a bundle of rebar or get run over by a dump truck that’s hauling ass across gravel.  A montage of concrete, steel studs, cranky contractors, swack, and port-a-potties.  And lots of dust and dirt.  All over your shoes, in your hair and, really, up your nose.

Sounds like fun, no?  Sounds like I need to go to my happy place.  So without further ado, here’s what I like this week:  J. Crew cashmere.

I haven’t shopped here in awhile, and my wallet is glad of that.  I was doing so well until they restocked their cashmere sweater collection with a gorgeous deep red color called “henna.”  I love the color red and don’t feel too bad saying I think it’s one of my better colors.

So this is what I’m currently coveting.

While I’m partial to the red, I’m still a sucker for a well-styled image.  The white of the shell just feels so classic with the denim.  And I love the grey cashmere open cardigan – it just seems to want to go with everything I own.  The red “henna” color is fabulous, and I know I'd wear it a ton.  It's also a "look at me!" color.  Which is great, and why I like the two items in red in the above pictures.  Sometimes, though, I just want to lay low, color-wise.  Which is why I also like the white and grey sweaters.

So, basically, I want all four of 'em.  Oy.  Damn you, J. Crew, and your must-have cashmere in your must-have colors!

OK, that’s about all the brain cells I can commit at this time to pretty clothes.  My reward for a couple days of dodging welding sparks and iffy hotel rooms might just have to be some cozy, cashmere love from J. Crew.

All images:  J. Crew

So Here We Go... Stuff I Like...

With the impending arrival of winter, I’ve been on the hunt for some great boots.  Now, this is Minnesota, so it’s Winter with a capital, it’s-too-cold-to-snow-anymore "W."  Plus, I commute to work by bus, so that means quality time spent at the bus stop.  In Winter.  I’ve got a sweet pair of Hunter boots which I adore, but they’re not going to get me through subzero temps and snow.  So, I’m relying on the brand of boots that people seem to both ridicule and totally depend upon:  Ugg.  Whatever your opinion of this ubiquitous label, I have to say I love them.  I’ve got a pair of tall originals which are essentially my house slippers.  I have another pair, well over 6 years old, that have shone through six Upper Midwest winters, outside.  No measly accomplishment.

So, anyway, back to the boot search.  I checked into Zappos (love them!) and found these, the Ugg Broome II:

The “chestnut leather” is a great tan color that will offset all the black I’ll be draped in, and their fabulous inner sheepskin lining ensures my feet will stay toasty warm.  If my 6 year-old Ugg Brooks are any indication, that lining sure does what it’s supposed to do…  it passed the “bare-feet-in-the-boots-in-minus-ten-degree-weather” test.

In fact, here’s a picture of those beloved boots:

Sigh.  Love ‘em.  And I really like the pretty pair on Zappos.  In fact, I may crumble and buy them shortly.  Not sure if the Broome is as hardy as the Brooks when facing up to Winter's worst, but they should carry me into early December at least.  After that, I'll turn to my old, trusty Brooks.

In any case, my feet should be all ready for whatever Winter hurls at me.  Granted, my eyelashes may freeze together, thanks to the icy winds that make your eyes spill tears (yeah, I'm not lying).  But my lower extremities will think they’re in the midst of summer.

Image:  Ugg Broome II boots - Zappos
Image:  Ugg Brooks boots - own

What's up with your blog's name? AKA, I finally posted something!

OK, I suppose I should explain right here that this is a blog about, well, liking stuff.  In English.

Why the German-speak, you ask?  Granted, I'm brand new here in the blogosphere, but so far I would have to say the hardest thing about starting this blog is just figuring out an appropriate name for it.  I had started another blog about two weeks ago, and I was so glad to have settled on a name that I thought captured the blog's intent.  Until last Friday.  While enjoying a couple of margaritas with some coworkers, I mentioned I was about to start a fashion blog.  One of the girls asked what the name was.  Some weird and mean urge made me say, "Um, it's kind of stupid.  I need to change it..." 

So much for that great blog name.  It had to do with curating, and how I saw the blog as an experiment on how all the things I liked sort of spoke to a bigger theme of self-curating.  You know, how all the items you collect over the years represent who you are.  I still think that's true, but putting "curating" in the title just seemed silly to me the moment my coworker asked about the blog.

Really, I just like things:  a lot of it being fashion.  I spend a ridiculous amount of time doing online window (screen?) shopping.  Another chunk of time (and space) is dedicated to fashion magazines and catalogs.

Some things are new.  Some aren't so new.  Like my Outback Red shirts from, um, 1987.  And my flannel J Crew  mens' shirts from 1993.  I have a hard time parting with stuff because I either really like the design or just like the memories.  Remember the catalogs?  Well, some of them aren't hot off the press, either (I think we'll save that for another post, though).

It's not all about fashion...  I love music, art, architecture, and overall general design.  I also love food and booze.  And exploring new cities.  So there will be posts here from time to time when I want to share a restaurant, boutique, artist or even just a cool image.

Occasionally, I also want to share the designs of some friends who do fabulous work.  I believe enough in their talents to promote them.

So...  whether it's an amazing pair of heels, a new museum design or, um, more heels, it's essentially all things that I like (and sometimes a "who"). 

Literally, "es gefaellt mir" means "it pleases me" in German.  "Mir gefaellt es" is a slightly more casual way of putting it.  But, in the end, it says the same thing.

I like it.  And I'm hoping you will, too.