A Worthy Substitute: American Eagle for Coach

Now, I wonder how many of you are scoffing at the subject of this worthy substitute already - does she really think you can substitute American Eagle for Coach? On some levels, no, of course not - Coach is Coach (unless it is Factory Outlet Coach), and American Eagle is American Eagle. However, on other levels, I do believe you can substitute something for Coach, and I feel that the bag by AE could be a very worthy, and very affordable (especially relatively speaking) alternative to Coach. [And in case you might think that I feel this way because I don't own any Coach, I do, and plenty of it.]

Within the past couple of years (cannot remember exactly which one), Coach debuted a gorgeous pattern - its Bleecker Tattersall, which consisted of muted shades of colors (blue, green, orange, and pink) on a cream background. Many of the Bleecker Tattersall items also include a silhouette of a horse and coach, along with the Coach logo. I really loved this pattern, because it reminded me of vintage, classic, and modern pieces all at the same time.

I even had the opportunity to purchase a Bleecker Tattersall tote at the Coach Factory Outlet store at Christmas. I saw another customer walking around with it, and hunted throughout the entire store until I grabbed the last one. Coach was also running a coupon promotion that day to sweeten the deal. I went back and forth on the tote a few times, as I wasn't completely enamored of the way that it closed on top.

When he heard about the bag, the Boyfriend told me to go ahead and buy it, and he would give me the money for it, as an early Christmas present. In the end though, I returned it, as I already have a wonderful Coach bag, and decided the top closure on the Bleecker Tattersallwas too much on the dislike side for me to keep the bag. A huge factor was also the price - the bag, at the Outlet, cost almost $200, and I couldn't justify that for yet another bag.

Now, it's not like I am walking around regretting that I didn't get the bag (I got some great cookbooks instead!), but when I saw this bag at American Eagle last week, it immediately called to mind the Bleecker Tattersall. I think it is the pattern of the bag - those soft, muted colors on the cream background - that made me consider this as a worthy substitute for Coach.

This bag is called the Plaid Mini Duffle (style #0427-7222), and retails for $59.50. Still a little on the pricey side, but much easier to swallow than $200. AE describes the bag as such:

The perfect girly accessory to grab when you're on the go.
• Soft, sturdy cotton
• Spring plaid pattern
• Bright color interior lining
• Soft leather straps
• AEO logo keyfob attached
• Classic duffle shape
• Three interior pockets

Imported, Machine Wash

From what I recall, the bag is lined in a muted pink color (a little brighter than the pink stripe on the outside), and is very roomy. Don't let the "duffle" in the name fool you - it's shaped like a duffle bag, but still looks like a nice, girly purse. I would imagine the leather straps are what raise the price on this a bit (don't recall any other purses that were this expensive from AE before), but they are a very nice, classic touch.

The bag is fairly light, and the handle drop is nice and long, so you can carry this in your hand, on your arm, and just as easily throw it over your shoulder. Another huge plus for this bag is that it is machine washable. Speaking from experience, it is next to impossible to clean a Coach bag yourself, even if it is a fabric bag (as opposed to leather).

The AEO keychain is an okay touch, and actually reminds me of Coach's tags on their bags. I'm not sure I would keep the AEO one on my bag if I got it though - I'm not sure I'd want to listen to all those chains and tags jangling around together!

So what do you think? Would you consider the AE Plaid Mini Duffle as an alternative to a Coach bag?

Just for reference, the Coach print at the beginning of this post is no longer available through Coach. They have updated the Tattersall print this year to include some scribbling (below).

A Worthy Substitute: The Limited for J.Crew

Hopefully at this point you are not tired of seeing worthy substitutes for J.Crew. To be honest, J.Crew is probably the brand that I regularly shop with the highest prices (Banana Republic comes close, but I usually shop the Outlet rather than retail), so I am most interested in finding good substitutes for J.Crew at the moment. But I am trying to find other substitutes, so keep checking back if you are tired of the J.Crew ones.

J.Crew has two practically-the-same necklaces. The Stone-Bead Ribbon Necklace (item #11488), which comes in a number of different colors, and Glass-Bead Ribbon Necklace (item #11487), which comes in black and grey shades. Both necklaces are $55, and are described as such:

Stone-Bead Ribbon Necklace
Brass and semiprecious stone beads. Length adjusts with 40" ribbon ties. Secured by little brass rings. No clasp. Import. Full necklace length 24".

Glass-Bead Ribbon Necklace
Brass and glass beads. Length adjusts with 40" ribbon ties. Secured by little brass rings. No clasp. Import. Full necklace length: 24".

I have this necklace in a dark grey color, and had my eye on a couple other colors, as well (although one of them is no longer available). I think it is a nice piece, and definitely not has heavy as I thought it would be. I think it works best to dress up a simple outfit.

The Limited has a necklace they call Burnished Beads on Ribbon Necklace (item #1486692), and it retails for $29.50. It is described as such:

Like sand-scuffed pebbles, our silver beads have rounded edges. Strung on a grosgrain ribbon, they create a sophisticated, muted monochrome look. Lobster claw clasp.

It's not an exact match, but I think it is close. I have not seen this necklace in person, but the stones seem less delicate than J.Crew's (even though J.Crew's is probably heavier), and I think the necklace has a slightly different vibe, owing to the larger, flatter, more trapezoidal shapes, as well as the burnished look of the stones.

What do you think? Would you wear this necklace? Do you think this necklace could be a worthy substitute for J.Crew's?

A Worthy Substitute: Old Navy for J.Crew

J.Crew's Nolita Denim Jacket (item #10296) currently retails for $98, and is available in both regular and petite (sorry, tall ladies!). J.Crew describes the jacket as such:

The kind of jacket everyone should have in their closet. Now with a perfectly distressed, weathered look that's as soft and comfortable as your favorite pair or jeans. Cotton. Classic fit. Straight shape. Point collar. Long sleeves. Button trim. Patch pockets. Stitching details on coat. Hits at hip. Import. Machine wash.

I actually never considered purchasing the Nolita jacket, because I already had a very worthy substitute - Old Navy's Denim Jacket (item #610900) in Dark Worn color. This jacket comes in regular, petite, and tall. It also comes in a much paler wash, called Vancouver. It was originally $29.50, but is currently marked down to $25 - almost 1/4 of the price of the Nolita!

This jacket fits very well (check back tomorrow for the full review of this jacket), and unlike J.Crew's Nolita Jacket, it does not come with wear and tear already built into it. You may like this "distressed" sort of look, but I prefer to spend my money on clothes without holes in them. Note that the Nolita jacket has "distress" in the back, front, and sleeve.

What do you think? Is the Old Navy denim jacket a worthy substitute for J.Crew's?

A Worthy Substitue: American Eagle for J.Crew

J.Crew is currently selling a gorgeous Fireball-Charm Necklace (item #14649) for $55. J.Crew describes the necklace as such:

We love the way the charm sparkles. Set on a shiny 12K gold-plated brass chain, it boasts brilliant hand-set Czech-glass rhinestones on a brass fireball. Lovely alone or layered. Signature spring clasp closure. Import. Length: 31".

I really like this necklace, but I do not wear a lot of jewelry, and couldn't justify spending so much on this piece, even if it is very pretty.

I did, however, find the necklace below at American Eagle today, while browsing their sales. I don't have a lot of details, but I think that this necklace provides a very worthy substitute to J.Crew's. I believe it is even called Fireball necklace, because the matching earrings are called Fireball earrings. Sadly, I could not find the necklace online.

The detailing is not as intricate as J.Crew's - the faux pearls are a lot bigger, and raised silver bumps are used for shine instead of rhinestones. The chain length is fairly long (drops below the bust), but does not appear to be as long as J.Crew's. For just $15.50 though, I think this is a great buy!


Do you like this necklace? (If so, keep your eyes open for a future Monday giveaway!) Do you think it is a worthy substitute for J.Crew's Fireball-Charm necklace?

A Worthy Substitute: Old Navy for J.Crew

J.Crew's Elizabeth halter (item #95001) is a very beautiful piece, but also comes with a high price tag for anyone shopping on a budget or just looking to save money. It retails for $88, and is occasionally on sale (when they have any available) for $59.50. They are available on eBay starting around $50ish dollars, but the sizes and color combinations are limited. [I have a few of these halters, and hope to do a review on them at some point.]

What makes the Elizabeth halter special, in my opinion, is its collar. The ruffle is frilly enough to be feminine, but not so frilly as to be overwhelming, or make you look like you should be in the 16th century. The silk is also very delicate and light.

Old Navy offers an online-only style, the Ruffle-Trim Shirt (item #646156), which Old Navy describes as such:

For those days when you wish your job was outdoors! This breezy ruffled shirt, fashioned from lightweight cotton batiste, is ready for work or play.

For everyday wear, I prefer cotton to delicate fabrics like silk, satin, chiffon, etc., so I think this shirt is a great find! I can see wearing this both to work and out for dinner, and am seriously considering using my Gap rewards to add this to my wardrobe. The collar detailing is not as elaborate as J.Crew's Elizabeth halter, but I think that could be an advantage in the sense that you don't have to fluff or spray starch the collar to get the frilly look you want.

And while the J.Crew Elizabeth comes in some very pretty colors, I simply love lavender, and think it is a great color for spring. Old Navy also offers it in a blue flower print. Colors and details are below.

What do you think? Do you like this shirt? Do you think it is a worthy substitute?

A Worthy Substitute: Rocket Dog for J.Crew

I've decided to add another type of post to this blog, called A Worthy Substitute (tagged as worthy substitutes), where I find items that I feel are good substitutes for other, more expensive items. This won't be restricted to items from the main stores covered on this blog, but shopping and items in general.

Today's worthy substitute is for J.Crew's Lulu Metallic flats, which I have just taken notice of thanks to the ladies over at JCA, and my new obsession, eBay. A picture of them is above. Not willing to dish out the money for these flats, coupled with the fact that they are pretty much unavailable in my size, I decided to try to find a metallic, glitter-y flat that might make me almost as happy.

I searched Endless.com, which is probably my favorite shoe site, and stumbled upon these flats, by Rocket Dog. They are the Memories Crackle Metallic Flat, and are currently priced at a very reasonable $39.95. Hooray! The only downfall was that they didn't have my size, and in fact, they only have sizes 6.5 and 7 right now, but I'll keep checking back.


I know they don't have the feminine fabric bow, but I think the style and color of the shoe come pretty close. What do you think? Do you think Rocket Dog's flats are a worthy substitute for J.Crew Lulu's? Do you want to see more worthy substitute posts?