I returned to the city last night to a boatload of mail—much of it of the rather pressing and urgent variety. But naturally—me being me—the first thing I directed my attention to was the new Madewell catalogue. And I must say that, after a weekend of looking at the big September issues of the fashion mags—and drowning in all of the Important Trends of the Season—it was refreshing to see how blithely Madewell chooses to go its own path. They’re not so much about fashion as they are about cool. And fun, which isn’t a story the rest of the fashion world tells nearly often enough.
For starters, I decided I needed this happy little t-shirt. And improbably enough, a bunch of other kelly green items as well (kelly green being a big Madewell color this season. Who decides that they’re going to make an Easter color huge for fall? I love this). I decided to pay a visit to the lower Fifth Avenue store to have a little look.
This top comes off a bit shapeless and eh as a still- life (click here to see what it looks like on a model, just in a different color) but it’s the perfect underpinning for people like me who have stared, bewildered, at their closets and wondered why on earth they’ve never been able to get it together to throw a couple of nice pop-y brights into the mix. Also: you can’t see it here, but it’s got the tiniest bit of a cap sleeve, which can be so much more forgiving on the arms than straight-up sleeveless.
How fantastically throw-it-on-and-go is this? I used to wear silky little dresses like this to the office all fall and winter with boots and tights and a cardigan. And it’s not as short as it looks: 36 inches, which isn’t bad for those of us who are less than model-length. (It also comes in black, which is probably lots more versatile, but not nearly as much fun.)
As far as that which is not green goes: I still can’t decide if this colorblock sweater is too young for me (it’s got little heart patches on the elbows) but boy, is it cute.
A rare case of polka dots that work. Probably because the dots are more dash-ish, and because of the solid strip at the neck and the arms, which keeps it from being way too much and instead makes it really, really chic.
And here’s what I wound up buying: the t-shirt that inspired my visit in the first place and these, which I could not be more on board with. My search for a pair of suitable fall oxfords hasn’t been particularly extensive but it has been frustrating: all those browns and blacks just kept looking so clunky and unfeminine. But the pointy thing going on here—which I wasn’t sure about until I tried them on (I feared they would look too Jazz Shoe)—is actually very sophisticated, even graceful.
Oof. That dress. Black, of course.
I think there is some corporate connection between Madewell and J.Crew and that company’s latest catalog had me almost reaching for my sunglasses. Because of my coloring, I love bright colors (aside from black and white, neutrals just kill me). But I still need my tweed.
Love everything. But I still can’t on board with the oxfords. I did in the 80s and not ready to go back. I’m in search of the perfect jodhpur boot. I’m kinda thinking these (if I can get them to ship to the US, they’d be a bargain!) http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/Saxon_Action_Leather_Jodhpur_Boot_(sizes_UK4__UK8)-(2979).aspx (Then again, this could be the start of the Catalog Challenge #2, only shop sporting catalogs)
Those are cute. The hyperlink left off the suffix though, just fyi. I copied and pasted and it worked fine.
The shoes … Love!! I’m onboard with the brights this season. Orange is my favorite.
That kelly green is my favorite color. I’m so excited to see that I can stock up this fall.
The oxfords…I like them on other people, but here’s my conundrum: I think they make my feet look enormous. I’m a size 11, sometimes a 12. Do these shoes have the power to make feet look not-boat-like? I avoid sneakers other than running shoes for the same reason.
I just can’t figure out how to wear the oxfords. Tights look silly and when I try socks I feel ridiculously jeune fille. And those little socklets always stick out around the edge and look matronly. The no-show types fall off my feet and I end up with blisters. Sigh.
I’d have to see the oxfords on. What do you wear them with, pants or skirts?
The colorblock cardi works very well. It is too bad the elbow patches aren’t real ones, because then you could just take them off. It looks like they’re woven in or intarsia-ed. Even with them though, it’s still pretty cute. But I’d change the buttons to matching ones. It’s not that hard.
Or put real patches over the hearts!
Oooh, that’s a good idea.
I like the kelly green silk top…but is that a sheer strip running down the center? If so, that would completely ruin it for me. It might be a stip of differently textured silk, but I can’t tell.
I have to disagree on the cap sleeve vs sleeveless issue.
Cap sleeves usually cut the arm off at a really awkward place, and cover the shoulder. Everyone has pretty shoulders! When we start not loving our upper arms, it’s the area around the bicep that’s gotten flappy and/or wrinkly and begs to be covered up.
Great that you found your fall oxfords. The best oxford I’ve discovered is the Skylar by Cole Haan. http://www.colehaan.com/colehaan/catalog/product.jsp?catId=100&productId=647032&productGroup=522675 They’re much more delicate looking than in the photos. They’re almost dead ringers for the much more expensive Church’s classic. I bought them in a gorgeous medium brown and a taupey off-white called Smoke that’s more feminine. CH says the Skylars have a “padded leather sock lining,” and they’re actually amazingly comfy without socks. The CH website offered lots of interesting colors in spring, but those are gone now. It would be worth it to try some of their stores to see if any of those shades are left.