J.Crew of Season's Past: {a look in the closet}

It's no secret that I like to search for images of J.Crew pieces from seasons past to collect in my virtual J.Crew LookBook. So I thought it would be fun to post an image or two from my virtual LookBook of beautiful items that J.Crew offered in the past.

The first look features the Alpine Holiday Skirt (Item 88945; $395.00). J.Crew described this whimsical skirt as: "Straight from the archives of an Italian couture mill: a scenic ski print in breathtaking colors on heavy cotton sateen. We love the vintage romance of the '60s Alpine resorts — and the precise alignment of the print on our limited-edition skirt."

I want to say this skirt came around 2008 2007, during the Holidays. (Please correct me if I am wrong.) Although it is a skirt one would wear a few times a year, it is absolutely adorable! And I love that it is paired with an olive tee and J.Crew's Patent-Leather Mary Jane heels in yellow. (Honestly, they need to re-issue those heels ASAP!)

What are your thoughts on the look(s)/item(s) from the past? Do you find the look(s)/item(s) classic or do you think they are dated?

Seek & Find: Will you visit J.Crew this Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopping by a J.Crew store this weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the WINTER sale, or to see some new WINTER/SPRING arrivals {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

P.S. I noticed that many of you have already been reporting sale items (and in which stores) in other posts which by the way "thank you!" :) I really appreciate how helpful we are for each other!

J.Crew Updates Website with New Arrivals!

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Tiffany Rose (in this post), as well as Irina, who let us know that J.Crew had an update to its website today (click here to view online).

There are some new arrivals for men (click here) & women (click here). {wahoo!} It looks like Crewcuts (click here) has been updated, as did the J.Crew Collection (click here).

There was also a major re-vamp of the website's design & layout. You will immediately notice the difference as several features like the log-in, and bottom navigation, have all changed location & look.
It definitely has the appearance of being more streamlined and Spring-y (if that at all makes sense). It looks nice enough, but my hope is that the update also mean the website will work more efficiently, and reflect accurate inventory.

The latest February catalog (click here to view) is now available to view. The brightness of all the colors will definitely put a smile on anyone's face. It looks like the days of over-the-top layering is gone. Instead, simple layering with bold pairings are favored.

By the way, you have to check out the Weddings & Parties section of the catalog. The images are gorgeous!!! It is a nod to what J.Crew does best (boats, water, tropical location setting, group shots). I don't know why the rest of the catalog could not have the same theme. I would have loved it!!!

As for the new arrivals... Overall I am excited from what I see. The real test comes when I see them in-person. ;)

Excited! The Perfect shirt in Liberty Art Fabrics Margaret Annie floral (item 62528; $150.00) is a throw back to J.Crew's earlier collections. The perfect shirt in a perfectly fun signature print from London's Liberty Art Fabrics! Doesn't it remind you of the Laura Shirt (Item 90108; $98.00) from a few years ago?

I am also loving the Peplum Top in Fresco Floral Sateen (Item 66184; $350.00). If it weren't for the price tag, this super feminine top would be mine. I love the sleeves, the define waist, and flared bottom. Pretty!

In Theory. The Schoolboy Blazer in Herringbone (Item 37852; $175.00) comes in fabulous colors and is a classic shape. So you would think I would love it, but I don't. I am kind of meh on it. I saw this one in-person at my store (drawn to it because of the bright hues it comes in) and the new metallic-threaded herringbone fabric looks too rumpled for my liking. It almost looked and felt like a weird linen material. It would drive me crazy trying to steam clean the wrinkles out. Pass.

What items are you most excited about and why? Which items are you surprised (or not surprised) to see? Which items did you hope would be included? Were you expecting a bigger roll-out today? Also, did you receive the latest catalog? :)

JCA "Help Style Me!" Weekly Post

This is the weekly "Help Style Me!" post, where we can share items we are having trouble putting outfits together with. Elaine (in this post) says it best, "You know, that thing you bought because you love it and you keep pulling it out and then putting it away without wearing it?"

Please share your J.Crew item (either that you own or are thinking about getting) that you would love help creating an outfit with.

Also, please help out by offering your styling advice. Feel free to include links to your blog (where you incorporated that piece) or to Polyvore (where you showcased an outfit with that piece). Thanks in advance! :)

"Looking to LOVE" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a positive situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including stellar experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

J.Crew Email: Ends today! EXTRA 40% OFF sale items (in stores and online)

"Thanks!" to many of you, who shared the following email from J.Crew this morning.

J.Crew is reminding customers to take an additional 40% off all sale items (no min) with promo code OURTREAT. This offer expires today.

As mentioned in yesterday's "J.Crew Final Sale: Take Additional 50% Off at Stor..." post, customers can take an additional 50% off in brick & mortar (B&M) stores.

There was a really nice update this morning- which is great to see while this promotion is running.

Now the question is, what will the next promo look like???

Will you be checking out the Sale section? Are there any items you are hoping to see or to get?

"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

Weekly Share: Other JCrew-like Retailers

This is the weekly "Other JCrew-like Retailers" post (similar to the "Off On A Tangent" posts), where we can share our finds from other retailers that have offerings similar to J.Crew (like Anthropologie, LE Canvas, Gap, BR, Talbots, Ann Taylor, and the like.)

If you have recently encountered items that are similar to J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including experiences with certain merchandise pieces, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

J.Crew Email: Get private access to our most special Collection pieces

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Kelly, Irina & Angie's Closet, as well as Josanne (in this post), who shared the following interesting email from J.Crew today.

The email announces a Spring/Summer new arrival event for February 6, 2012. They share:

Get your exclusive private access: We're giving you the chance (before anyone else) for 24 hours to pre-order styles from our Spring/Summer Collection LookBook photographed at our show during New York Fashion Week. Sign Up HERE.

Once customers click on the link, they are taken to a page to fill out their email address.

After they submit that info, they are asked to share this semi-secret pre-sale with their friends & family (by submitting their email addresses) and sharing it on their Facebook page.

I have not heard or seen this type of pre-ordering from J.Crew before. It will be interesting to see what it is like and how successful it is.

Did you get this email? If so, did you already sign up in order to check it out?

J.Crew Final Sale: Take Additional 50% Off at Stores {yeah, you read that right!}

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Ema (in this post), Erica (in this post), as well as GigiOfCa & Leah (in this post), who let us know the following great news:

J.Crew is offering an additional 50% off Final Sale items in brick and mortar (B&M) stores

I happen to stop by my local B&M and can confirm this good news. An associate let me know that it just started today.

I also want to mention that students and teachers should be able to use their 15% discount in addition to the 50% off sale items at stores.

Of course, there is not a lot of sale merchandise on shelves as they are transitioning towards Spring and the new arrivals. (As GigiOfCa mentioned, all sale items will be shipping back from stores to their warehouse at the end of the week.) However, it is a great deal on the sale items that are available (which tend to have lower prices in stores too).

This probably means that we will probably be seeing a lot of updates to Final Sale at JCrew.com in the following week or two.

Will you be stopping by a B&M store to see what is left in sale? If so, please share! :)