J. Crew Chinos for Women

Lately, J. Crew's womens clothing has stopped sucking so bad and consists of more than sparkly trinkets, wool blend cardigans, printed long t-shirts, and hackneyed khaki crap. I applaud them for actually trying to stay ahead of the curve and taking a needed cue from menswear. So much so that I decided to enter their store again, on the hunt for the relaxed Broken-in Boyfriend Chino. (After 5 months of sweltering heat and nonstop short-donning, when it dropped down to the high 70's last week, I dug out a pair of skinny jeans and pulled them on. Not only did I rip a belt loop trying to stuff my legs in, I spent the rest of the day feeling very suffocated. Are skinny jeans the corset of the 2000s? I need pants that let me move, please.) I did not find them, but spotted a deliciously rust+mustard wash of the Waverly Chino. It was the deep color that attracted my attention (listed as OTR on the tag- any idea?), a color not unlike some of the darker offerings of American Eagle and A&F baggy khaki shorts circa 2000. They were a wardrobe staple of the popular "preppies" through all of high school- remember? It was bold, not the usual tempered down khaki, nearly ecru, tint of women's khakis. The straight leg cut gave no hint of being a feminine cut, and with rolled up legs, it was the perfect item for the Americana-loving girl looking for bottoms. J. Crew calls it their "skinniest chino ever," yet it is nearly the opposite of the skinny jean, and could easily be construed as androgynous if not worn with the recommended heel and fitted top. Be like the boys; go with some Clarks Originals.

Made in: Some impoverished country

Handmade? No

$69.50

Today's Ebay Find: USSR Striped Sailor Shirts

The iconic Breton shirt, mainly the one produced by Saint James, has been making the rounds in classicwear blogs and J.Crews this season. It's a very wide-necked, thick knit, conservative top. For those of us who don't prefer to shell out more than $40 for a plain shirt, there are a few listings on Ebay for similar nautical tank tops and shirts produced for the Russian military.

For more striped shirt sightings and history, see iseastripes

Made in: Russia

Handmade? No

$25+

Flannel-lined pants

why aren't these available year-round? image from omiru

The first version I ever saw of these was in 8th grade or so, in an L.L. Bean catalog, the jeans. (We got sent these to our house for years after I succumbed to a humongous monogrammed backpack of theirs to replace my leather-bottomed Jansport.) They didn't look glamorous back then, and they certainly haven't aged well since then. The women's, especially, scream "mom" and "frumptastic." Though Texas will probably only put out 2-3 days chilly enough to warrant these pants, I still demand that a proper and modern kind of flannel-lined pants for women be made. I read somewhere that J. Crew offers these as chinos for men each winter- they look nice don't they? The women's looks a bit more Gap-py, with oddly summery color choices. J. Crew, now that you have boy plaid shirts for women, please make a pair of these with an appropriately dark pant fabric and a classic plaid lining.

J. Crew Caprice Jacket

Here is a women's jacket that can be described as a girlified mountain parka. It sounds like a terrible concept, but J. Crew actually executed it successfully, as they do on occasion. I bought it when the Texas summer swelter had started, so it is hanging on my coat rack waiting patiently for cooler days. I knowingly broke my rule about trying not to buy crap made in China, only because I had intermittently searched too long for a decent forest green parka. It is much boxier than it looks on the mannequin, which I find charming. (Excuse the iPhone photo quality. One day soon, a DSLR or micro four-thirds.)

Made in: China

Handmade? No

$49