J.CrewAholics

The following is a 2 part guest blogging special by Virgnia, who was an assistant to Tim Gunn on his show Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style. You can follow Virginia on Twitter at twitter.com/virginianam.

Hi all. Thanks for coming back for the continuation of how to get your ten essentials with J.Crew. Yesterday, we covered the basic black dress, the trench coat, the dress pant, the classic shirt, and jeans. Today, we will continue with:

• Any occasion top
• Skirt
• Day dress
• Jacket
• Sweat suit alternative

Some of these are not as self-explanatory as the items from yesterday’s post.  But they are equally necessary.  So let’s get to it.

Any Occasion Top: Silk georgette pleated tank

This shirt is a great any-occasion top. You can wear it with a blazer during a business presentation, under a cream-colored cardigan at brunch with your grandmother, or pair it with dark denim with sky-high heels for an evening out. It is chic AND the pleats give it character!

Versatile Skirt: Super 120s high pencil skirt (in black)

The versatile skirt, like the any occasion top, should be able to be worn at, well, any occasion. Tim says that the hem should not fall below the knees nor should it be any higher than right above the knee.

My personal recommendation is the high-waist pencil skirt because it is a very flattering cut – it defines the small of your waist while slimming your tummy. I suggest black because, again, it makes the skirt more versatile (running theme here) and you can wear it to any number of occasions all year long. The bright pink color, as gorgeous as it is, does not allow for the same flexibility.

Day Dress: Cotton bow dress (first one) Edie double cotton dress (second one)

This category is so broad that one example cannot speak for the entire. So I chose two that I personally plan to purchase from J.Crew. According to Tim Gunn, the day dress is more sportswear that should not be able to serve as an alternative to a cocktail dress. So stay away from materials like silk and jacquard.

Tim also asserts that while it is easier to throw on a dress versus coordinating separates, often times, dresses convey more effort. And I have to agree. Imagine the two dresses here with a pair of ballet flats or even espadrilles: not complicated but still very pretty and feminine.

Jacket: Stretch wool two-button jacket

If you want a sharp look, few clothing items can accomplish it better than a well-fitted jacket, especially a blazer. It does not always have to be worn with matching dress pants like in this photo, but you can pair it with denim or shorts and still look polished.

Another tip for taking an outfit up a notch: tuck in the shirt.

Sweatsuit Alternative: Perfect fit long-sleeve crewneck tee (first one) Beachcloth ruffle dress (second one)

You probably wondered what in the world this is but, like the day dress, it is a broad category. It can be jeans with one of J.Crew’s perfect fit tees. Or the beachcloth ruffle dress. It basically is anything that is casual and comfortable but does not scream “slob” when you are at the supermarket or picking up your little sister from school.

Bonus -One Trendy Item: Jeweled palm-leaf necklace

Use one indulgent trendy item to update all the looks above. I love bold, color, and wow. So I naturally fell in love with the fabulous jeweled palm-leafed necklace. It will undoubtedly make a statement with any basic black dress, classic shirt, or solid-colored tee.

I will end with a final Tim-ism: Always shop with a goal and strategy. The ten essentials items and J.Crew are fantastic places to start. Getting the right ten essentials that work the best for you will take some time, but it is absolutely worth it. I wish you the best of luck in your shopping endeavors – I hope this helped!