Unique ways to wear classic J.Crew pieces

The fall season is upon us! Most bloggers are posting about how excited they are to dress for a new season, showing off their heavier items with multiple layers. I may be in the minority, but I much prefer dressing for summer. Give me bright colors and thin materials any day! Alas, the seasons change whether we like it or not and so the colors get darker and the layers more plentiful! I needed to replace some of my staple pieces from last year, so I turned to faithful J.Crew for some quality classics.

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with J.Crew. I usually find what I’m looking for there and it’ll be good quality. However, the possibility of running into another person on the street or in the office who’s wearing the same pieces is quite high. My solution? Find new, fun ways to style classic pieces! Even if someone else is wearing the same piece, I’m constantly challenging myself to make it look unique. It’s not the what; it’s the how!

Below are several items I bought on my fall shopping trip to J.Crew with suggestions on how to make each one fun, funky, unique…you choose how to make it YOU!

A note on sizing if you choose to purchase any J.Crew items online: I find their sizing to run incredibly big. I sized down about two sizes for tops and bottoms.

Mayfair blazer in four-season stretch

The pleating in the back sold me. I was looking for a blazer with a feminine shape, and this one ticked all the boxes.

Pairing ideas:

  • With your favorite graphic tee

  • Over a bold color like neon or magenta :)

  • Pair with a pattern like stripes or florals

Everyday chambray shirt

Always in style and always in rotation. The last one I owned was with me for too many years and it was time to refresh.

Pairing ideas:

  • Denim on denim—go for it! If you will, I will!

  • Whites! Ignore the voice that says it’s after Labor Day

  • Pair with something fancy, like a shiny or leather skirt

  • Layer over a turtleneck as it gets cooler

  • Layer over a dress to give a shirt + skirt appearance

The straight-leg cargo pant

Another item that needed a refresh, and I was looking for something with a relaxed fit. I was hesitant about cargo pockets at first, but I’m really loving these pants.

Pairing ideas:

  • Love a good pastel + army green pairing

  • With pants that give a casual vibe, punch it up with killer heels

  • Crop tops with high-waisted bottoms…always

Button-up shirt in MAGENTA Better Silk

Here’s the thing….silk shirts are never a practical purchase. They wrinkle easily and show every sign of sweat. That being said, sometimes a girl just needs to feel fabulous and this shirt did that to me. I say throw out sensibility every now and get yourself a lovely present, especially if it’s on sale! Hint: it’s on sale now!

Pairing ideas:

  • Dress down with your favorite jeans

  • Play around with how you wear it: button to the top and/or only tuck half

  • Tie at the waist over a patterned shirt

  • Pair with leopard anything

One last tip about J.Crew: there’s always a sale going on so be sure to check for a promo code before purchase. At the time of publishing this post, some of these items are 25% off with code BUNDLEUP! Treat yourself with something that makes you feel like YOU!

To ensure you don't miss a single outfit, follow @MagentaBlazer on Instagram and like the Magenta Blazer Facebook page.

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