Excursion through JCP at the SMall

I turned 25 a few months ago and I'm going through a quarter-life crisis.  Things for me are going as God would have them but He and I aren't exactly on the same page of what that means.  I say all this to explain why I find myself in the middle of the country (literally, not figuratively) when I hail from the Northeast and went to school in Atlanta.  I've struggled to find good fashion let alone great.  I've never been the chief sheriff on what constitutes amazing looks but since I've been here, I've been able to really dive into style.  With so few places to go I've made it my mission to find what I can in unexpected places.  My latest find has been JC Penny.  When I was younger my mom dragged me there all the time and if there current deals are any indication of what shopping there in the 90s was like I see why.  The new rebranding they are endeavoring in is working.

I recently saw this shirt on GQ's tumblr with an extensive explanation of why this bumble bee is made of thread spun from 18k gold warranting the pretty price tag of $985.  Here is a much different men's tailored women's button down with many more less extravagant member of the apinae family and only costs $35.

I have been searching for a white peplum top to adore.  I recently went to a wedding dress boutique (I did not know that at the time otherwise I would have run in the other direction) and found this cool leather peplum top for $69.

But I'm still looking for summer white.  While this trend reached its saturation this spring, I think it's a great feminine look especially for those of us deficient of natural womanly curves (such as myself).  It's a great attention getter for my coke bottle ladies and gives some definition for my less shapely females (I.e. it works for everyone).  Here's what I found at JCP for a meager $17.  I love the back detail.  I'm also very fond of high sleeve lines.  They make my line backer shoulders look less NFL more LFL (lingerie football league).

  

I love the back detail.  It makes the top really pop.

I don't know where I am going but I LOVE THIS!  The nice thing about JCP is its one of those stores where designers are featuring their less expensive capsule collections.  Marchesa's version is called and this is without a doubt my favorite from the line.  I wish I had a wedding, or some formal event to attend because this would be a shoe-in look.  I almost want to have a ladies dinner party as an excuse to buy it.  The dress is currently on sale for $50 and with no where to go I'm super tempted to buy it.

The moral of the story is: don't be afraid to look in unfamiliar places for love (as in clothing items you might fall in love with).

~ Ms. Styles

P.S. A simple fitting room etiquette note.  I hate hate HATE when I'm looking at a beautiful shirt, its the last one in my size and I have to leave it on the rack because someone left their makeup traces all over it.  Be courteous to other fashion soul sisters.  Do whatever you can to avoid contact between your face and the garment.  I wore a bold red lip today, so every time something went over my face I blotted my lips.  I also unzipped/unbuttoned shirts completely to avoid my face all together (putting shirts on from the bottom up instead of the top down is also an option, just be tricky not to stretch the shirt out over your hips and bottom).  Good shopping karma will come back around.