Clash of the Tartans: JCrew versus Talbots

After what I told you in my last post you probably weren't expecting me to come back this soon but as a matter of fact this week I have time to blog guilt-free in the evening as my husband is on (another) business travel (and DD is sleeping tight and doesn't need me).

As many of you, yesterday I received in the mail both the JCrew and the Talbots holiday catalogs. As you probably remember I had decided to swear off Talbots after trying really hard to fit into their clothes. Well, I have to say that after browsing both the catalogs I was much more excited to go to a Talbots store than to Jcrew (where I went in any case to make yet another return). It takes more than a red background to make a holiday catalog look appealing and I think that Jcrew really missed this one. The holiday season is when you want to stock up on party clothes and feel elegant and pretty even if you have nowhere to go (just in case an invitation comes at the last minute). You don't want to be reminded that even if you buy those tartan tuxedo pants you will end up wearing them at home with your slouchy sweatwhirt (that is, in case you still have a sweatshirt not covered in sequins that you can still wear doing sweats). I am really tired of this styling and you know that I love JCrew. I still find individual pieces that I like but between the prices that seem really all over the places (seriously, who wants to buy a $265 sash?) and the same styles offered over and over I am ready for a break from the Crew.
There is actually only one item that I would buy in the entire Jcrew catalog and it's the tartan boy shirt. I tried it today in my regular size (0) and really liked it:




But it's a pretty casual cotton shirt and I am not sure if I want to invest in this one. Maybe I am just not preppy enough for wearing tartan in the daylight. In any case I hold off because I wanted to checkout the holiday collection at Talbots before making any purchase.

I went into Talbots with very little trust that I would actually like the clothes when I would see them in the store, let alone try them on. And in fact, as usual, Talbots greeted me with its retirement-club vibe. At first I had the impulse to take the exit without trying anything on as verything seemed bo-ring, even the most showy sequin top; but because I went there with the purpose of trying things on, I started to look through the racks and picked up a few things that had caught my eye in the catalog.
Now, what's surprising this time around is that I liked the items more once I put them on than on the hangers. I think it's an effect from Crewlade overdose.

My first pick is the Plaid pinch-pleat ruffle top. To be honest I would have preferred a non-ruffled neckline, but I really like the fit (it's flattering) and the fact that it's silk taffeta. I am trying a 2 (regular):



In the same spririt JCrew is offering the Eliza plaid tee. I would have been all over it (especially since I missed on the Phoebe blouse in 2006) but they cheapened it with the beading at the neckline and I didn't even try it on.

Next, these wool plaid pants that I don't see on the website, but are the same fabric than the Kate Fit Plaid jacket. They are fully lined and if I am not wrong they retail for $119. This kind of pants is too classic for me, but they are nice quality per se (even if not incredibly flattering). I am trying a 2P (I am typically a P in bottoms and a regular size in tops at Talbots) and I am not sure if they are supposed to be cropped or "ankle":



JCrew is offering the Cropped plaid tuxedo pants. These are nice and fully lined and more young-looking than the Talbots ones, even if some may dislike the cropped style. My store was out of my size so I couldn't try them on but they feel nice at the touch.

The ivory sweater that I'm trying with the Talbots pants is the Cashmere ballet-neck sweater. It is very plush (it must be a 7-gauge cashmere) and feminine. Personally I tend to buy cashmere turtlenecks and cardigans as opposed to pullovers but this is a nice one, even if a bit on the expensive side.

The next one is the one that I was most curious about. I liked it in the catalog but not when I saw it in the store (I thought "not for me"). And surprisingly LOVED it when I tried it on. It's the Plaid taffeta skirt. This also comes in 0P on the website but they only had the 2P in store (as a general rule they don't have 0s in store), which I think is my size anyway. I dared the combo plaid shirt/plaid skirt and actually liked it. It would look great with a black sash and a black cropped jacket and of course heels are de rigeur with a full knee-lenght skirt like this one:




Now, my holiday calendar is very busy this year. Not only my mother in law is coming for the holidays (which means more nights out for my husband and I) but I have four parties/occasions to attend already and they are all pretty formal. I am thinking that this skirt would be perfect for two of them at least, but I also have the JCrew marveille taffeta mini that needs to be worn (even if that one doesn't need a formal occasion and I can just wear it to go out for dinner). So for the time being both the top and the skirt are on hold for me at the store and starting tomorrow I can use the 25% off coupon that I found in the catalog to buy both. I am VERY tempted, especially because it's a classic skirt and I can wear it for years to come. I am afraid to say that JCrew isn't offering anything like this this season.

So, who do you think wins the clash of the tartans? JCrew or Talbots? Would you wear a tartan skirt with a tartan top?