.png)
German (DE) 
English (US) 
Spanish (ES) 
French (FR) 
Hindi (IN) 
Italian (IT) 
Russian (RU) 
20 hours ago
2
Despite the fact that I'm a fashion editor and it's my job to scour the 'net for the best products, I often find myself shopping at the same stores. And when it comes to clothing, who can blame me? Finding the right size can be tricky when online shopping, so when I find a retailer with clothes that fit me just right, I'm reluctant to deviate. But there is a downside — as much as I hate to admit it, my closet is kinda boring. With cool fall weather blowing in, I was determined to make a change. New clothes from new stores, I decided. The first stop for my fall haul? JCPenney.
Like many people, I spent a lot of my parents' money at JCPenney back in the day. It was one of my favorite places to shop — I still remember saving up for a pair of Arizona Jean Co. overalls! Over the years, however, the stores near us closed, and I just sort of forgot about the retailer. But guess what? JCPenney is back, baby! Not only are there a handful of stores still standing, but the website is full of gems I was genuinely excited to add to my shopping cart.
After about an hour of browsing, I narrowed down my selection to 10 items totaling about $300. I expected a mixed bag in terms of what I'd actually want to keep, but to my surprise, I legitimately like nine of the pieces I purchased. Here are the highlights:
I loved this cream sweater vest as soon as I saw it on the website, and I was thrilled it lived up to the hype. The knit fabric is soft and stretchy with zero itch factor, and it looks good as a top on its own or layered over a tee. I got a small and it fit true to size for me, but the button did give a little, so women with a larger chest may want to size up. It's also worth noting that the weave is a bit loose, so some may prefer wearing a camisole underneath for extra coverage.
Polo sweaters are shaping up to be the must-own style of the season, so of course I had to snag this chic navy blue number. I wasn't overly excited about it, but that all changed when I put it on. It's warm and cozy like any good sweater should be, but it also looks polished. I tried this on with both a satin midi skirt and jeans, and it looked excellent with both. It's a wardrobe staple that's trendy now, but will also work well for years to come.
I'm a sucker for a satin midi skirt. I don't love dressing up, so I've found that this style makes me look fancy without being overly fussy. And it's easy to dress up or down depending on the occasion. I'm thinking this will look good with flats and a sweater for the work day, but I'm also planning to wear it to my family's Christmas party with a dressy tank, heels and sparkly jewelry.
One quick note about the length: The skirt looks midi on the model, but hits well below the knee on me. For reference, I'm 5'4".
Full disclosure: I'm usually pretty snobbish about my handbags. Ordinarily, I don't go for anything other than genuine leather, but I took a chance on this Liz Claiborne style and I'm glad I did. Not only does the material feel really high quality, but it's spacious too — much larger than it looks online, and the craftsmanship is solid. I also have to say, it rivals a designer "It" bag that costs more than triple the price.
I've been on the fence about the resurgence of vests. I like how they look on other people, but wasn't sure I could pull the style off without looking like a poindexter. I was pretty sure I was going to hate this corduroy design, but to my total surprise, I really liked it. The color in person is definitely less golden than it appears on the website (not a negative, just a fact), and the fit is snug in the bosom area. If you're well-endowed, this particular piece might not work well because there's very little give in the chest.
I can't get enough of the mocha mousse moment, so that's what inspired me to buy these jeans. As it turns out, they have an oh-so-subtle cheetah pattern that makes them even more fun and interesting. The fit was just for me — I love the wide leg, not too tight in the hips or booty, and the pants hit right above the ground for me in flats. I will say, the denim is on the heavier side, but I didn't mind because there's a bit of stretch built in. I plan on adding these to my weekly denim rotation and pairing them with sweaters and button-downs.
Surprise, surprise — another mocha brown piece I love. When I unwrapped this sweater, I couldn't believe its feel. The knit is so high-quality, it feels better than styles I've gotten from Banana Republic that cost way more. The gold buttons are also a really nice, elegant touch — just a little flash without being too gaudy.
My only tiny qualm about this vest? It's a bit cropped, and it doesn't button to the bottom. I didn't love my tummy showing when I tried this on with mid-rise bottoms, so I'll be pairing it with high-rise jeans.
Was I concerned about the flare on these trousers being too dramatic for my frame? Yes. Luckily, they fit me more like wide-leg pants, and they wound up being really flattering — both slimming and elongating.
I love these pants as a work option. The material is sturdy yet comfy, and the weight works well for fall, winter and spring. My critiques? One, no belt loops, and two, they are very, very long. I had to put on a 3.5-inch heel to make them work for the pic above. Anyone just a little bit short will need to have these hemmed ... or wear really high heels.
In the spirit of stepping (way) out of my comfort zone, I ordered this pleather dress. I imagine you're probably turning your nose up at the sight of the word "pleather," but I gotta tell you, it's not bad at all. In fact, it's a real dazzler. Just add heels, jewelry, a bold lip and a few curls, and you're bound to turn heads. The dress is lined, so you don't have to worry about the faux leather sticking to you, and the belt allows you to easily cinch the waist to your liking.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Comments