J.Crew New Arrivals - Bright Is Right!

The next spring rollout at J.Crew was released online today.  I received an email announcing the new arrivals and the headline inside was "bright is right" and they are not kidding.

There are brights in every color.  Neon pinks and reds, brilliant blues and vibrant greens dominate the palette with juicy oranges and sunny yellows rounding it out, along with some purple and a few pastels and whites.  I like color but I can't say I will be pairing up the brights in the manner of the online and catalog styling. 

A lot of the bright colors are not for me.  I look best in cool tones so orange, yellow and red are used sparingly in my wardrobe.  Although green is often touted as flattering to every complexion, it looks horrid on me unless blue undertones are mixed to bring it toward teal. 

There's been quite a bit of love for the new spring prints in the blogosphere.  Prints present a challenge for me and I'm very particular about my selection.  This paisley dress is pretty but I have my doubts that it would work for me.  Lately I limit prints to swimsuits, minis, pencil skirts and the occasional blouse.  BTW, I don't consider stripes or plaid a print.

So, what did I like from the latest rollout?  Here are my picks.

Raindrop Lace Top - I see this piece as something that could easily finish off a summer suit or go under a blazer or cardigan with a contrasting pencil skirt.  It is pretty enough to wear with a light summery skirt to a casual wedding or a formal lunch, which my husband's family hosts regularly.  It's cotton and nylon so I wonder how it will feel next to the skin.  I may wait for some reviews as I assume some will try this one out right away.

Maritime dress in skinny stripe - I don't like the zippers so I will have them removed and at the same time ask the tailor to bring the bottom in a little.  I need a Medium to fit up top but a Small would be best for the skirt portion so this should work out nicely.  The color is pretty and with the heavier weight and long sleeves it will be useful for our cool Canadian spring.

Edith A. Miller Baseball Mini-Dress - I live in knit dresses in the summer and I love the sporty vibe on this one.  It would be a great travel piece since you could wear it out for morning coffee, casual run-arounds or lounging at the hotel.  You could even sleep in it if you wanted (it can be handy to have backup sleepwear when traveling).  Comfortable cotton fabric and easy-care machine wash are a bonus.   

Cotton Ribbed Cardigan - This sweater looks very functional but I'm a bit concerned that the cotton crepe may be prone to snag.  I'm also not a fan of the gold buttons but not a deal breaker.  The silhouette is similar to the perfect-fit mixed-tape cardis, which I love.  The ribbed sweater knit is a bit more refined than the cotton jersey of the mixed-tape.

The pink is pretty too.  The color name is soft fuschia but looks like more of a rose on my monitor.  True fuschia has blue undertones and is usually a much more saturated hue.  Lately though, the online colors don't match as closely to real life.  The white background and bright lighting don't help us get a clear picture of the garment.

Last but not least, the No.2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton - Oh how I love my pencil skirts.  I have this year's cotton pencil in Casablanca blue and now have my sights set on the royal violet.  Versatility is something I look for in my wardrobe pieces and although the color is fairly distinctive on on this one, it will go so well with the cool hues in my wardrobe and the durable cotton in a classic shape make it a favorite now and for years to come.  

Although I originally put the Fabiola dress in my cart because I thought it was knit pique, since it is fully-lined I expect it is really a woven cotton.  The woven fabric combined with the gathered skirt and what looks like a higher waist, made it less and less appealing for me.  I'm sure some will like it and it is pretty , just not for me.

That's all I found to love with this rollout.  I expect I will find more of interest as the reviews start getting posted to the blogosphere but for now, I'm set.  What did you add to your virtual wishlist from today's rollout?