The XX Factor: What women really think.

Boo, J. Crew

I'm buying into the whole Michelle-Obama-redefines-fashion-for-first-ladies theme. She avoids the usual clichés; she projects athletic and feminine; she does designer fashion and "off the rack." The one thing I'm having trouble with is J. Crew representing "off the rack." As the fashion narrative goes, the fact that she buys clothes in, like, an actual store is supposed to inspire us regular folk in this faltering economy to do the same. But in my mind, I just can't fit J. Crew and Joe the Plumber in the same space. For one thing, those jackets (beautiful, sherbet-y, perfect) that she bought her girls cost close to $200, which is quite a lot for a kid's coat. For another, J. Crew's brand identity is aspiring high WASP—linen pants, crisp white shirts, striped shorts for the yacht. Before I gave up, I was always discouraged by how J. Crew pants stretched a foot too long on me, thus making it clear I was not one of them. Come to think of it, J. Crew is sort of the Sidwell Friends of chain brands, which may help explain things ...