J Brand is having a “private” sale on it’s new ready-to-wear line, and it’s a pretty good one. I fell hard for the look on the far right the second I saw it, but I thought the prices on the line were just a tad inflated. Now that they’ve marked the line down 40-60%, the prices are about where they should have been in the first place…

Lena sweatshirt dress – $90
Aimee vest – $119
Annie Blazer – $219
Bette pullover – $86 + Ellie skirt – $180

And it looks like I found another great cropped sweater in the Bette…

WEARING:
Ella Moss dress
Splendid cardigan
Dannijo necklace
Prada sport sandals (secondhand)
Jas MB bag

I’ve had this dress for a while (got it with a Refinery29 Reserve several months ago – speaking of Refinery29 Reserves, did you guys get the Rachel Pally one that started yesterday?? I did!!! Can’t resist cheap(er) Rachel Pally…) but don’t wear it very often because it’s VERY snug in the hips. When I bought it, I was about 10 pounds smaller; thank goodness for long cardigans

Speaking of long cardigans, and weight, I’m 4 classes in to the living hell that is pure barre and I love it! It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done (that includes Bikram) and I have NEVER felt burn like that before, but that means it’s working, right? I’m also back to cutting out all the “white stuff” from my diet, which is what I did last year to lose 30 pounds, so at least I’m back on the right track. I feel good anyway, and that’s the most important thing.

Living hell aside, if you’re looking for a new workout, try pure barre – it’s pretty amazing. But sooooooo hard. You really feel like you did something when you’re finished though, and once I get to where I can complete all the repetitions for all the movements, I’ll REALLY feel like I’ve accomplished something

Through 5/20, use code 15OFFBAGS for 15% off bags and 15OFFSHOES for 15% off shoes at TENOVERSIX.

(sorry for the duplicate post if you also read Grechen’s Codes – but since this one involves Rachel Comey, I wanted to post here too )

WEARING:
Loup Bustier maxi dress – purchased with a Refinery29 Reserve deal
Demy Lee sweater – also purchased with a Refinery29 Reserve deal
Prada sport sandals (secondhand)
Jas M.B. Bag
Locket from Catbird

I’m always on the lookout for cropped jackets, sweaters or tops to go over dresses & wear with skirts. Ask Sharon. The problem is that NOTHING is ever cropped on me, even if the style is cropped, because I have such a short waist. So, I’m always disappointed. BUT Imagine my surprise & delight when this Demy Lee sweater arrived from Eaton Trading Company (the one that I got with the Refinery29 Reserve last week) and it is PERFECT.

Now, I have a dilemma. bird has the same sweater available in nude, and I did purchase the Refinery29 Reserve deal for them recently. Do I buy a second sweater using that reserve? #firstworldproblems

I always want to buy multiples of things I love, but never seem to. In this case, I may just do it…the sweater is just too good. And since it never gets REALLY cold here, I could wear it nearly all year around. Sold!

Do you buy multiples of things you love?

Have a great weekend!!!

Vince tank top – $28.80
MICHAEL Michael Kors Salon Z Cardigan – $49.75
James Perse tee – $45
Marc by Marc Jacobs flower tee – $46

A kind & generous reader let me know just now that she got these Rachel Comey hitch boots – in perforated leather! – at Steven Alan this week and saved an additional 15% with code springwelcome. That would make them $254!! Not a bad deal for Rachel Comey boots. In perforated leather no less.

And now for something completely different, but not really. I’ve been toying around with adding a “Marketplace” category here on Grechen’s Closet where readers could submit items for sale. I would be VERY picky about the posts/items I’ll eventually include in the marketplace; they would have to be for designers like Rachel Comey, Repetto, no6, Alexander Wang, etc. Since many of you come here to seek out items by these designers anyway, it seems logical to offer a solution for where to buy them used as well.

I would stay completely out of the buying/selling process, my role is curator and facilitator. I cannot be responsible for authenticating anything, although if I can tell that something is obviously fake, I’ll reject the post. I also wouldn’t charge any fees for doing this, maybe I’ll create a badge for you guys who are bloggers to post on your blogs though. Or correction, I’ll have Linda create a badge for me

Is this something you would be interested in using? Either selling or buying? what would make you more or less inclined to use a marketplace like what I’m talking about?

Tom Bins safety pin earrings – $322 at Zoe
Razor necklace at Kirna Zabete
Screw bracelet by A.L.C. – $395 at Barney’s Co-Op
Screw top ring by A.L.C. – $125 at Barney’s Co-Op
Boyfriend chain bracelet by Bing Bang – $75 at Charm & Chain
Knotted nail ring by A.L.C. – $84 at Azalea (20% off with code GRECHEN20)
Hexagon Ring by Mociun – $357 at Mociun

I love edgy jewelry. Up until recently, that’s been mostly spikes, thorns or skulls, but lately hardware-inspired jewelry is making a comeback. A.L.C. pretty much devoted their whole line of jewelry this season to hardware styles: screw tops, bent nails, handcuffs – and Cartier’s iconic Juste un Clou rings and bracelets have been around since the 70′s, but have been re-issued this year.

My favorite pieces are A.L.C.’s twisted nails (which, unfortunately are also painful, according to a friend who had and returned the knotted nail ring) this season, but I always love the simplicity of Mociun’s jewelry, and Tom Binns takes the lowly safety pin to new levels with his crystal earrings. What do you think? Are you wearing hardware-inspired jewelry this season?

What’s your favorite piece?

WEARING:
Lanston dress
Splendid Cardigan
Jas M.B bag
Lizzie Fortunato necklace
Prada sport sandals (secondhand)

So…I got my haircut again yesterday. Obviously. I went in wanting it shorter because it’s getting hot here, and the cut is nearly exactly what I wanted (similar to this model’s cut on Rebecca Minkoff), but my bangs aren’t long enough yet to really achieve the look. AND, I’m not sure it’s a great cut for me. I like it, but I think I’ll like it more in about two weeks, when it’s grown out a bit. It will also take some getting used to; I’m still kind of shocked when I walk by a mirror. This cut definitely requires me to do more with my makeup, since my face is “out there” as it were – nothing to hide behind!! So I played up my eyes today, and used some blush. Anyway, hair grows. I’m generally pretty adventurous with my hair, but haven’t been the past couple of years, so I’m making up for it now

I’m wearing a striped top from Zara today and wondering why I don’t have more striped tops…this one by Altuzarra for J Crew is a contender…

I’m kind of “shoed” out for a while, but I spied these Ballast wedges by Lucky Penny atAnthropologie recently and thought twice about adding another pair of wedges to my shoe wardrobe. They are so cute, and lightweight…