The Chucks Report – Exclusive Edition

This caption from the March 2010 Harper’s Bazaar caught my eye, “Vintage Missoni prints go modern in a new collaboration with Converse.”  These Chuck Taylor sneakers featuring the iconic Missoni print are $200 a pair and will be available at boutiques in NYC and Beverly Hills early next month.  But at that price are they still the ultimate in cheap cool?  Would you wear them daily until the soles disintegrated?  Would you wear them in the rain or on a muddy field?  How about to a beer-soaked dance party where they’re destined to be stepped on and splashed on?  If I bought these, I'd have them encased in glass with a prominently placed sign, "For Emergency Use Only."

Shoe Be Do

I took a step back in time with one of my most recent shoe purchases.  Had to--still can’t understand the appeal of the current Lego-land shoes or the desire to mince along city streets in 6” heels. 

I wrote about the style ascent of women’s wingtips last summer (see July 11 2009 post) and spent the months following that post drooling over fuchsia patent, black and white, or silver wingtips by Robert Clergerie, Kenneth Cole, and Charles Tyrwhitt.  Gorgeous shoes that would force brown bagging every day for the second quarter of 2010. 

A recent article in More magazine on the exquisite former model Veronica Webb featured her in a cute pair of cream colored wingtips with a sunrise high price tag.  I wanted that look and resolved to scour the Internet to find it for a sunset low price.

I was a fan of Bass Weejuns as a teenager and nubuck lace ups as a thirty-something, so it was a small leap to the GH Bass website in search of an affordable oxford.  I found a collection of two-toned saddle shoes that are reminiscent of my (rebellious) Catholic school days.  I chose a dune/wheat combo with a perforated upper and the traditional red sole.  They’re so uncool that they’re cool!  I’ll wear them with jeans and other slim pants this spring.

Won Over

The February issue of More magazine ran a brief article on Tracy Gardner, the President of J. Crew.  Having recently shared my opinions about some of the retailer’s new offerings (see my January 20 and February 20 posts), I read the article to see if she had a good excuse for some of their marketing decisions.  Of course, the interview didn’t touch on the issue of $79 cut offs or $168 skinny jeans with a paint splattered-finish.

What I found instead was a thoughtful over 40 fashionista who loves colorful classic looks with an urban edge.  She believes in timeless versatility and displayed it in the items she wore for the article.  She discussed evolving into your style and “creating the unexpected” look.  And she looked fabulous!  The article also featured available items that are sharp attention-getters such as a water color inspired pencil skirt, a rainbow of embellished tees and tanks, and the sleekest of slim pants.

A couple of days after reading the article I popped into the Center City store and found the clothes that were featured.  I was smitten.  These are looks for women of all ages and stages in life.  I found the classic pencil skirt in a variety of unusual patterns and colors.  Their collection of pants is far from ordinary.  J. Crew now carries fabulous costume jewelry, and their wedding collection is still one of the coolest, most flattering collections that doesn’t have a high end designer name attached to it.

So, now I’m looking at J. Crew with a more favorable eye.  It’s pushing me towards a more sophisticated spring, sans the paint splattered jeans, of course.  For more gorgeous items, visit their website.

The Jean Genie

The latest J. Crew catalog has another puzzling item for sale -- jeans that appear to be paint splattered for $168 (Vintage Slim Jean in Painter Wash).  I had jeans like that -- an old pair of men’s Levis from the Salvation Army that I wore to paint my kitchen.  I never thought those jeans were sexy.  I didn’t wear them with silver gladiator sandals, ropes of opera-length pearl necklaces and a silk jacket. 

If you have a spare $168 to spend on the latest spring looks, I would suggest Calvin Klein dark wash skinny jeans for $49.50 at Macy‘s.  They are just as sexy with ropes of opera-length pearls and a silk jacket.  The extra $118.50 could score both the black gabardine Tahari boyfriend jacket at TJ Maxx, and ropes of inexpensive colorful necklaces at Ten Thousand Villages.

If you must have jeans with a painter’s wash this spring, come over to the house and help us paint the upstairs hall.  We can get pizza!

Green Street Consignment

I visited Green Street Consignment Shop at 700 South Street with a friend last weekend.  It’s one of my favorite consignment shops in the city -- the merchandise is always in good condition, and the selection is impressive with great labels and a nice range of sizes.  The deal clincher, though, is the wall of career pants lining the back wall of the store.  Navy, black, charcoal gray pinstripe.  Boot cut, straight leg, suede, leather, wool, polyester.  Back pockets, no pockets. Cuffed.  Philly’s working fashionistas can unite behind that!  It’s a rack that I’ll tackle on another visit.

The difference between Green Street and Buffalo Exchange is there isn’t an overabundance of items from H&M.  Lately the Buffalo has become an outpost for sorority-girls’ H&M castoffs.  Green Street's selections are more sophisticated and fashionable.  The designer rack features hot names such as BCBG Max Azria, Prada, Theory, and Blumarine.  There are Coach bags under glass and Louis Vuittons on the wall. 

I bought an absolutely scrumptuous Tommy Hilfiger putty colored leather skirt that feels like buttah, a Japanese-inspired slate blue blouse covered in embroidered flower vines, and a brand new basic black chunky rib cotton turtleneck.  The store also sells every accessory that a woman would want -- costume jewelry, hats, scarves, shoes, bags and assorted small leather goods.  It’s all cool stuff and you can use your imagination to create a unique look for any occasion.  So, take your best friend down to what used to be the hippest street in America and spend an hour at Green Street frolicking among the frocks.  You won’t come out empty-handed.