J.Crew: The Business of StyleCreative Director Jenna Lyons discusses the iconic brand and its inspiration
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Length: 5 min 20 sec
J.Crew: The Business of Style (Part II)Tracy Gardner discusses the iconic brand and its inspiration
Click here for video link
Length: 6 min 58 sec
L-o-v-e-s it! There is such a wealth of information shared in these interviews, as they cover an array of topics: the current economic times (how to bring "it back to full price"), J.Crew's strategy, Mickey Drexler, Michelle Obama, wedding line, accessories & jewelry, Madewell, the website issues, and so much more.
And how great does Tracy look with the Berry-trim Astrid jacket in Charcoal (Item 96309; was $248.00, now $169.99- $99.99)? ;)
What are your thoughts on the videos? Do you agree or disagree with any of the points made? For example, do you agree with the best sellers listed (e.g. jewelry, corduroys, wedding line)?
How cool is this? Much better than that other jcrew site...but I'm sure she'll try to steal this like she steals everything else...ideas, names, the 2 minutes each day I took to read her lame blog, her ebay buyer's money for her used clothes, movie clips...
ReplyDeleteAlexis:
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these! Very interesting! I liked hearing what Tracy and Jenna had to say and I also liked the behind-the-scenes peak at the JC offices. Thanks again!
anon @ 1:24,
ReplyDeletejordan sent these videos to both blogs. there's no stealing involved. quit trying to drum up unnecessary drama. nobody wants to read about it.
It would be nice if the readers on this blog would stop hiding behind their anonymous cruelty against Leigh and the other blog and let both blogs flourish -- what is the big deal?
ReplyDeleteWho? Rapunzel1921? Sivouthy Lam? Leigh? Which personality are you talking about? Oh...you mean the jcrewaholics triplets?
ReplyDeleteplease don't resurrect your invective here. take your venom somewhere else. it's sucking the fun out of this blog.
ReplyDeletei know please lets just talk fashion and shopping!!! stop giving that subject attention!
ReplyDeletethanks
cece
Ok fine...I'll go back to jcrewholics and make up fake names and comments...sorry ladies, I will behave.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Leigh/Siv Lam/Rapunzel1921
A good listen. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe videos are on the other jcrew blog too.
ReplyDeleteJordan and Alexis: thanks for sharing this with us!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the videos...very interesting! :)
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 1:39 and 1:43,
ReplyDeleteit;s understandable readers are upset eBay reseller Rapunzel1921/ Sivouthy Lam/ Leigh @ JCrewaholics mislead readers to find items she is now selling for higher prices on eBay
but i;m with cece, let;s talk fashion
the vids are interesting!
Happy Saturday! Thanks for the post Jordan & Alexis.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! I love the interviewer's outfit too.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the name of the sweater she is wearing?
Hi One is Never Enough! The sweater is the Soiree Jacket seen Here . I believe the color she has on it the video was called Heather Silver.
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks so much for sharing that with us! What resonates the most with me is the interview with Tracy - she says that they are staying the course and doing what they do best regardless of the economic times. To me that is the most important thing she could have said. Sure, they'll react with special promos and more sales, as we have all seen. But more importantly, they have planned their work and now they are working their plan - and in the end they will retain their classic image, good taste, high quality fabrics with wonderful workmanship and fair prices.
ReplyDeleteJ Crew will be a retailer that comes out on top when all this craziness in the economy subsides.
Thanks FFM. Love your blog and polyvore outfits!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the videos, very interesting.
ReplyDeleteJenna Lyons could use some coaching or a way to deal with nervousness. She was like a teenager: um, like, you know, it's um, well, um.... over and over. A little preparation goes a long way. Not that I wouldn't be nervous for a television interview, but contract that with Tracy Gardner who was able to speak intelligently and appeared calm, thoughtful.
J.Crew is in no way an iconic brand, but these are interesting videos.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to hear that their jewelry line is a big seller. To me it is cheap junk that tries to get in on the latest trends. Certainly not anything I would call "classic".
ReplyDeleteThe corduroys are definitely best-sellers. People on this blog have posted about them over and over and over and Polyvore is full of sets with the JCrew cords. I own several pairs in a few different styles myself.
J.Crew wedding as a best-seller? I guess there is potential as most wedding dresses are grossly over priced anyway. My neighbor owns a bridal boutique and it is an extremely lucrative business. He's not shy about revealing the ridiculous markup that people are willing to pay, because it is their wedding and they must spare no expense.
I like Tracy's comment "sharpen our prices." Doesn't say reduce or adjust, gives the viewer the idea they will respond but doesn't commit. She is one smart cookie, IMO.
FFM - is she just wearing that soiree jacket completely unbuttoned? I have that piece in honey glaze and have not worn it yet because I felt like it only looked good buttoned and then even then, wasn't sure about it....bought it on fs, I feel it has potential but just haven't spent much time working with it....maybe I should go try it on unbuttoned again!
ReplyDeleteNice to watch. Thanks for posting but no earth shattering info. given! I was hoping so some juicy tidbits and more insight into JCrew....
ReplyDeleteI noticed that Tracy Gardner stumbled all over herself after she was asked about how J. Crew keeps quality up in a tougher economic environment. Correct answer: they don't! Quality has been declining!
ReplyDeleteDid anybody else notice that Tracey failed to answer this question and seemed flustered when she had to respond to it?
Love that Jenna said jewelry is girl candy even for 'fat' days!! So true.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 9:00 - at first I agreed with you, but then I'm thinking, how many blogs are devoted to J.Crew in whole or in part? How many people blog about J.Crew daily? When Michelle O responded to Jay Leno on The Tonight Show, she didn't say, "It's from a store/line called J.Crew.", she said, "It's J.Crew.", no further explanation required.
ReplyDeleteFor a lot of people, it IS an iconic brand.
ladolcevita: It looks like the interviewer in Tracy's segment had the heather silver Soiree sweater fully buttoned over a white Victoria shirt. I have often thought of buying that sweater, but have held off because I can only imagine it fully buttoned, as well.
ReplyDeleteAnony@10:07
ReplyDeleteYes, I noticed exactly the same quality issue avoidance...
Also, found Jenna's comments about the jewelry line interesting in that I think the quality of their jewelry to be very poor. As well as HUGE! I just don't get it. People just "buy into anything" b/c of the JCrew name and don't look at quality.
I noticed on another blog people willing to put up with holes in brand new candy tees. That is something I wouldn't do EVER no matter how much I "wanted" something. If people put up with poor quality JCrew will continue to churn out poor quality. Send the defective items back people!
I am looking forward to the photo shoot with Lauren Hutton. Maybe that American icon catalog will come out around summer/4th of July? Thanks for the link Alexis. Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteNo, sorry, it is not an iconic brand. An iconic brand is one where you could drop into anywhere in the world, and the item would be recognized for its maker - the Chanel jacket is iconic, for example. The Hermes square silk scarf is iconic.
ReplyDeleteGo to most places in the world, and J.Crew would mean nothing to the people there, and the recognition factor would be zero. The fact that people blog about a brand - and I'm sure you can find Chanel blogs, too - in no way makes a brand iconic.
JCrew is NOT an iconic brand. I agree...no way...most of my friends don't even know about it...I am the only one that likes their cloths...
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to think the pilling of J.Crew's cashmere is iconic.
ReplyDeleteI thought Jenna Lyons did a great job expressing her/J. Crew's POV...I found her personality to be rather charming :)
ReplyDeleteI thought Tracy did a good job overall and knew how to avoid the answers she did not want to share.
ReplyDeleteI was not impressed one bit with Jenna Lyons. She came across as very flighty and scatterbrained--don't think much of her at all....after that interview.
Anony@11:18
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one...JCrew is iconic for sweater pilling! Yes, indeed:)
I enjoyed the videos although I agree with the other poster about Jenna Lyons needing some help with nervousness. I found that very distracting. I can't wait to see the Lauren Hutton shoot! I think J. Crew is certainly an iconic American brand. Just curious, what is the oldest piece of J.Crew you own? I've been a fan since the 80's, when as far as I know, they had no stores. I *still* have a wool cardigan and a striped cotton shirt from about '88 or '89 that I wear regularly! Both pieces are still in great shape. The sweater is boxy but warm and great for weekends. I wear the shirt to work with skirts and slacks. I had some other pieces from the 80's but finally got rid of them in a closet purge last year, mainly because they didn't fit anymore - they style was classic!
ReplyDeleteIs J.Crew an iconic brand?
ReplyDeleteApparently is IS to you.
And apparently, to you, it IS NOT.
It doesn't always have to be a case of who is right and who is wrong people. Just enjoy the discussion and don't try to come off as the expert. It is not complementary to your post.
It matters because it's unfortunate that some people don't understand what iconic means, and there's nothing wrong with educating them on this matter.
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:27
ReplyDeleteThere was a post on this blog a while back about the oldest J.Crew item we have and still wear. There was some interesting items and it was a fun post. I have items dating back to the early 90's that I still wear. They were made in the U.S.A. and top quality fabric, tailoring. I have loved J.Crew for a long, long time.
I also have some Clifford & Wills items that I still wear, one pantsuit in particular that still looks current and fresh and garners many, many compliments. You probably know, but for others that do not, Clifford & Wills was a secondary line of J.Crew that featured mostly professional work clothing. Some of the suits were really fun. They were all quality fabric and construction too. It was great and I have often wished they would bring it back.
11:42 - If they don't know the meaning of iconic, there is always dictionary.com
ReplyDeleteIt's somewhat subjective anyway. Some people would say the Carrie Bradshaw character on SATC was a style icon, others would disagree. Does it matter? Frankly, it does not. Luckily we live in a free society that allows us all to see it from our own point of view.
"Luckily we live in a free society that allows us all to see it from our own point of view." That's some specious reasoning there.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'd forgotten all about Clifford & Wills. The company I miss is "Tweeds" - anyone else remember them?
I think the majority of this blog's followers were in diapers (or maybe not even born) when JCrew started. I love JCrew's evolving style, however I remember the days of the "very cool" barn jackets in high school, and I look forward to return of Lauren Hutton. My first JC purchase was a pique polo that lasted for YEARS. I finally had to donate itbecause it was too small.
ReplyDeleteI thought Jenna was fine, she's the CREATIVE director, afterall, I found her charming. I'm glad L.Hutton will be featured, bec. from when I shop at the BM, it seems many shoppers are 40+, not like the models in the catlogues. Glad Tracy said from 20-grandma is their customer. I saw a 60++ woman buying the sequin shell at the BM once time, she looked rockin in it, it was kind of a surprise to me, but it was a classic shape. Agree w/ Anon 11:42.
ReplyDeleteLeslie:
ReplyDeleteGod,you're right! Let's just say it was an early morning for me. I does look good with the shirt under it - I also have that shirt. Should run up to my closet to try! It's snowing so hard today can't go out anyway!!!
Apparently ABC thinks J.Crew is an iconic brand. Someone should set them straight. Hurry!
ReplyDeleteSpring forward mine too...the first purchase I remember was a light blue and white striped pique polo from JC and it lasted longer than I was skinny enough to wear it :o) . It might have been from the warehouse sales they used to have in Newport when I was a teenager in the mid 90s. Those were the days! I look forward to Lauren Hutton photo shoot too.
ReplyDeleteI think any brand is iconic if they last long enough. People see Ralph Lauren, and they think, yeah, he's a piece of Americana. Perception is reality, and if a brand has staying power, then yes, I would say it's iconic. I think jc still has a few years ahead of them to really put their footprint in our minds as being "iconic", since they were really started in the 80's. I think I was 2 in 1980. LOL.
ReplyDeleteladolcevita: Let me know how it looks IRL with the Victoria blouse underneath. I'm curious....
ReplyDeleteI agree with the OP, Jenna is a creative director, not a PR person or CEO. I think she came off as a super nice person, with a great amount of creativity. Whether or not you like her style, it seems she and her team are able to come up with several things each season that speak to several different demographics. They are a business, out to make money, and if they didn't do that, they would fail miserably. Like some other posters here, I have been shopping JC since the early 80's when they were just a catalog. My first purchase was a mix/match bikini (hot pink bottoms, orange top!) that was awesome. Of course, I quickly "outgrew" that and have moved on to their clothes. Which reminds me....whenever I get a new "wow" piece of JC, my 11 year old daughter says, "Mom, can I have that when you outgrow it!" LOL!!! I had to explain that typically, adults don't like to outgrow their clothes like kids do!! Too funny!!! A JCA in the making!!
I'm in my 40's, so I think I'm somewhat qualified to know what is and isn't iconic. JC is iconic, whether you like it or not!
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 11:16, most of your friends don't even know know about JC? Do they live in the U.S.? Just curious...
I think what's iconic to some isn't iconic to others. It's just what you identify w/style. I love Jcrew and I can totally see myself wearing their clothes in my 30's, 40's, etc, as long as they stay stylish, color within the lines and price reasonably.
ReplyDelete12:45 and 12:49
ReplyDeleteI live in the US.
I am 40 so I feel I know what iconic is--so don't insult me! I each his own. JCrew is a popular brand. Iconic it is not!
Hey anon 1:07- How did I insult you? It doesn't matter what age you are, calling something iconic is a matter of opinion. You're 40, so you must have thought Elvis was cool. People who are 12 think Miley Cyrus is cool. No one is here to insult you, and if you feel slighted, maybe you should just chill out and write an essay (50 words or less) on why you feel you are the defining voice on what iconic is. We are all lovers of jcrew here, so you're pretty much trying to attack a loyal fan base.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:49
Give Jenna and Gardner a break - she's not a broadcast journalist, politician, or trial attorney. She's head of creative. And Gardner grew up in fashion merchandising.
ReplyDeleteSpring Forward and Anonymous at 12:00 - I agree with you. I'm 41 and a management executive. JCrew is a cross-generational brand and is classy enough to be worn from management executives to college students. It is age-appropriate and setting-appropriate in all such cases. Glad they will be featuring Lauren Hutton, although I can't remember when she was actually one of their models (as Jenna pointed out).
ReplyDeleteI like them both. They're very real and don't try to twist their interviews into something it's not. Kudos to them both!
ReplyDelete^ P.S. Jenna is 40
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the vids Alexis. I think it is refreshing that Jenna does not appear overly coached and primp for the interview. She looks and acts like a regular, albeit stylish woman. I get so tired of the hollywood-ifying of our country. Where every one on TV is overly styled. 10 pounds of makeup, 3 hours getting their hair done, and botex to boot.
ReplyDeleteIf you love a label or designer, does it really matter if it's "iconic," by *anyone's* definition. Judging by our Polyvore sets, our most fashionable and popular members mix everything from Hermes to Forever21 and from Coach to Target.
ReplyDeleteIf you're in your 40s, it's sad you don't know what iconic is. Chanel is. Coca Cola is. Marilyn Monroe is. J.Crew isn't iconic. Pepsi isn't iconic. Paris Hilton isn't.
ReplyDeleteOT - can anyone tell me if the cascading astrid fits the same way as the hanging flower astrid? TIA
ReplyDeleteIconic = tradition. Who is to say I can't celebrate Christmas and Santa Clause and not Kwanzaa?
ReplyDeleteTo say something that is wrong with what someone believes is considered discrimination.
If you don't think jc is iconic, go to another blog where all they do is idolize Coke, Chanel and everything that was cool to you in the 50's. Don't be an old fart and rain on our parade!
"To say something that is wrong with what someone believes is considered discrimination." That might be the most retarded post ever on this blog.
ReplyDeleteBy your argument, you didn't support the 9/11 terrorists because to disagree with what they believed in would be to discriminate against them.
I wasn't even alive in the 50s, so that comment is amiss. Not to mention, of course, discriminatory, but then you'd probably miss that nugget.
That should read, "By your argument, you didn't disagree with the 9/11 terrorists because to do so would be to criticize their beliefs, which you believe is discrimination."
ReplyDeleteLOL. Anonymous 2:21 is a totally politically incorrect nugget. Didn't your mother ever teach you not to bring up religion or politics?
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the videos Alexis, I really enjoyed watching them!
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the video on "A Bigger Closet"'s blog with the fit model? That was great to watch too.
That's funny. Ok, back to the interview.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the inside of jcrew. Makes me want to run through there and help pick out some cool outfits. I think it's like a live polyvore playground!
Oh, girl, put your claws away. This is about the Interview W/JCrew's Executives!
ReplyDeleteJenna must be doing well, because she's been given a crap load of shares in the last 6 months.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/insiderTrading?sortBy=d&sortDir=DESC&symbol=JCG.N
A 40 year old thinking Elvis was cool? Huh? Most people born in 1969 would be into late 70's-early 90's artists, like Madonna...Prince...etc. Someone needs a calculator.
ReplyDeleteI like Elvis, and I'm 12. 12. That's right. I'm a tweenie! What's wrong with that? Don't hate me because I don't own wrinkles and don't know what botox is.
ReplyDeleteThe word 'discrimination' is a great example of a formerly normal, non negative word that has been commandeered by the media and force fed into our lexicon in order to create drama, as drama sells newspapers. Perhaps they will take 'icon' next, but I doubt it, as it's less likely to create the drama they themselves create in order to have something to report that will sell papers.
ReplyDeleteI am in my 40's, (Elvis? He was dead by the time I was 10 years old-don't think so) and I've been shopping at J Crew since it's inception. I bought into the Whitey White Upper Crust Preppy East Coast fantasy just like everyone else. Just think, for 45$ you can buy some chinos or a rollneck sweater, and soon you, yes you, will be rowing for Harvard or feeling the breeze blow through your hair as you gaze philosophically over the Commons as the fall leaves float to the ground in the background. Sigh.
However, I don't see J Crew as Iconic at all. I can see how others would of course, as referenced above, words can carry many meanings, and their meanings, especially primary meanings, can evolve as our world changes.
Just a few Saturday afternoon ramblings....
Please take those jcrew ramblings and keep them to yourself. We don't want to start a war with those who like jcrew and elvis.
ReplyDeleteGrow up people, iconic who really cares!! Now back to fashion.
ReplyDeleteiconic - characteristic of an icon.
ReplyDeleteicon - a picture, image, or other representation.
Given these definitions, J.Crew is a representation of fashion and American brands.
Iconic does not mean "recognized world wide".
Educator, educate thyself.
Wow. It seems to be a regular thing now where a post turns into a question of who is right and who is wrong and people get nasty about it. Can we get over the iconic thing and back to the topic at hand? After all, it was a comment by the ABC interviewer, not something we have been asked to define.
ReplyDeleteI am the Anon who first posted that I thought Jenna could use more coaching. It was just an observation, not a condemnation. She comes across as very sincere and I'm sure she is talented or would not have the job. I know that television segments are edited to reflect what they want to portray so I was disappointed that this was the best of Jenna available. But it is a reflection on my expectations only. I'm sure if it were me in the interview I would not have performed nearly as well.
The videos are interesting and I love to see a bit behind the scenes of fashions I enjoy. I am an artist so learning what inspires and drives others is always interesting.
Well put, anony 3:45 PM
ReplyDeletehehe, an "icon" as a picture is a religious definition.
ReplyDeleteIcon within fashion means something that is recognized the world over, which J.Crew is not.
Jordan-
ReplyDeleteHow can we thank you ENOUGH for this juicy insiders peek into the interworkings of all things J Crew?! I LOVED seeing and hearing from Jenna--I WANT her job as crazy and hectic as it may be. I loved hearing the President, Tracy, as I have never even seen her before let alone heard her speak about JC.
I wish the second interviewer had bigger kahoonas. I could tell she wasn't going to ask the tough questions after she weasled her way around the website issues. I would have LOVED to see a Katie Couric or someone really delve into some of the website issues or quality concerns. But, this was not that type of interview.
I personally would have loved to ask some other great questions that were not touched on and had those interviewers done their homework (HERE:)LOL, she may have had more to inquire about. Ultimately, it was GREAT fun to watch:)
People need to get back to the post at hand--what a waste of time.
Bug Pin
ReplyDeleteSo true, the interviewers could have pressed Tracy about the quality issues and website issues and what they are doing to address them. By the reaction from Tracy, it's obvious they are well aware. Now they need to fix. Or sharpen, as she said. LOL ;)
I like Spring Forward's and personalensign79's idea of noting your first J.Crew purchase. Perhaps this would make a good thread on its own.
ReplyDeleteMy first purchase was a white linen blouse that I bought my freshman year in college and wore for a nearly a decade.
Wow, did Starbucks refuse to serve many of you coffee today or what? I'm only going to touch one thing from the 'iconic' debate -- can we not use "retarded" as the equivalent of "stupid" please?
ReplyDeleteAs for the videos, I loved watching the camera pan over the rooms with clothes and idea boards laid out everywhere. Man, it would be fun to work there!
I thought Jenna came across just fine. She's the creative director, not the president, so she doesn't have to portray herself as businesslike. She seemed like a fun person I wouldn't mind sharing a drink (or three) with, and I certainly like the clothing she comes up with! As for Tracy's interviewer, I too think she could have been a bit more of an actual news interviewer instead of star-struck fan. "J. Crew is back!"
The Chicago store had the spring catalog out! Please let me know if you would like it, (anonymous 3:54, you can wait until Summer to get yours).
ReplyDeleteI would like it! Please email me at chuggos at cox dot net. Much thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnon at 5:47 PM: would it be possible to share some of the images in the new catalog with the blog? The members and I would love to see some of the new arrivals. :) Feel free to email me at jcrewaficionada at yahoo dot com.
ReplyDeleteIf a statement is retarded, that's what's appropriate to use, kitch7. Please get off your soapbox now.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jordan and Alexis!
ReplyDeleteWho is Sivouthy Lam everyone keeps talking about? Not a person from the company??
Great video...Jenna Lyons may be stylish, but she is not very attractive. She is proof that a good sense of style can overcome not being a true beauty...
ReplyDeletePlease Anon at 5:47PM - I think a bunch of us would love to see the new Spring catalog. I am anxiously waiting and hope you will share it with Alexis so we can all see it.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!!
Jenna is beautiful and talented. I kept getting distracted by her unwashed hair. I know that seems petty, but, really!
ReplyDeleteI thought these were great. I loved hearing what Jenna's day was like and seeing behind the scenes at their offices was terrific. Now when I fantasize about working at J Crew I can picture it more clearly! I thought that they both were charming and real. If someone came into my office to interview me (a Marketing Director) I doubt that I would come off any more polished! Thanks so much for posting, Alexis.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the people who work at JC headquarters can just throw on whatever clothes are laying around at the office the way Andi does in "The Devil Wears Prada". That would be so cool! I want to work there!!
ReplyDeleteHiding behind anonymous at 6:28 -- someday, I hope you'll find maturity. In the meantime, I just hope you'll grace us with your silence.
ReplyDeleteSomeday I hope to realize wishing death on someone is worse than using the word retarded.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, 8:59 is not me, but someone with a somewhat twisted sense of word perception.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I still stop feeding the troll.
Anon at 5:47PM, please do share the catalog with Alexis! We would truly appreciate it. Thanks!
ReplyDeletekitschy7 - thanks for your comment/request at 5:28
ReplyDelete- AnotherEsq.
when has this blog become so negative!!! I mean seriously people this was a very happy and positive site, please dont ruin it with negativity. Lets just talk fashion and stop the hating! take it somewhere else please!!!
ReplyDeleteCECE
You're welcome Esq, and thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteAlso, my pledge should read "I will," not "I still." And I haven't even had my glass of wine yet tonight. *sigh*
I doubt the employees of J.Crew (at any level) can just pick up articles of clothing at work and wear them. Besides, the ones on site for the models would probably not fit a whole lot of people, especially the executives who tend to be more mature figures. Even if you are a 4 at 40, clothes don't always fit the same as someone who is a 4 at 20 years old.
ReplyDeleteMy sister works at the offices of a high-end fashion retailer. They receive generous discounts on purchases and are "strongly encouraged" to wear the brand to work. If they wear a competing brand, they are asked about it and depending who is asking, it can be extremely uncomfortable to the point where they just make sure they don't wear the competing brand to work again. The expectation is that you are a walking billboard and should show unconditional support for the brand.
Now, with J.Crew, most people working there would likely wear a lot of J.Crew because it's definitely wearable by a range of ages, styles and figures and even if they don't get a huge discount, the clothing is affordable.
I was a model until my mid-20's. I would have loved to be a fit model for J.Crew.
Does anyone know if store associates are required to wear JC while working at the store? Back in the stone age (during college! LOL) I worked at The Limited at we were required to wear the clothing and only items that were still full price. They had a generous discount and offered a program every 1-2 months called PDA (Perfectly Dressed Associates) where there were about 10 new items that were usually no more than $10/piece. Just curious, as I'm moving to NJ at the end of the school year and am thinking about working P/T at a JC there. Also, what is the SA discount? TIA~~
ReplyDeleteLeslie,
ReplyDeleteI don't know if SA's are required but they do wear only JC, so I assume that they are required. A few weeks ago, I saw an SA wearing a Chino Cooper jacket which I really liked. It was from late summer, so I don't think they are required to wear the newest merchandise.
I worked at a store a few doors down from JC, and one of the SA's at JC also worked at my store. Actually, she hated working at that particular JC store, because I inquired about getting a job there. Certainly, every store and every manager is different, so I think it would be cool to get a job in a JC store with a good manager.
Thank Anon! When i worked at The Limited, my manager in South Florida was awesome. When I transferred to the Tallahassee store (when school started again in the fall) my manager was a psycho!!! Hopefully, I can track down a good one in NJ!! Thanks for the input!
ReplyDeleteCool interview with Jenna Lyons. And she confirmed my memory that Lauren Hutton had done JC shoots years ago.
ReplyDeleteassociates are not required to wear J.CREW but if you love the brand so much that you work there, and you get a discount, wouldn't you wear it too???
ReplyDeleteThey're definitely not required to only wear "in season" items, because I saw an SA wearing the tomato Cheshire last month.
ReplyDeleteI'd be curious to know what the discount is, because while the SAs may love the clothes, I don't think SAs salaries are exactly conducive to regularly buying a lot of new stuff.
ANONY@12:49 on 1/10
ReplyDeleteI assume you are in your 20's and quite the baby yet with lots of growing up to do.
Esp. since Elvis was in my mother's time frame not mine. A 40 year old would not have been privy to much Elvis...need to do some date checking...
SA's are NOT required to wear JCrew. That I know for sure! They should wear items "that look like JCrew though"
ReplyDeleteI believe the discount is 60%.
I also don't agree with the person who stated that JCrew's prices are reasonable. That is a matter of opinion. LOt of people I know choose not to spend a lot of money on clothing b/c it is not important to them. I buy a few pieces but I also take lots of vacations...6 or so a year.
Some of you sound immature. Who cares about Elvis? I'm 30 and I find his songs just as enjoyable now as I did when I was 10. Age doesn't matter.
ReplyDeleteIn real life, do you find yourselves challenging every single thing that comes out of everyone else's mouth? If so, that's pretty annoying. No one likes a know it all, and some of you sound like you wake up with a point to prove.
If this offends you, it's probably because it is directed towards YOU.
Leslie:
ReplyDeleteMy friend worked for JC over the holidays and I believe her discount was 30% off full-price, 50% off sale prices, a select number of full-price for 50% off and then "items of the week" for 60-70% off. As for the item(s) of the week, it is a changing item that they are offered for much less than normal. I know they were offered cashmere 70% off one week, the thompson bag for like 60% off, etc.
She also mentioned during the "red card" period in Dec that the SAs were mad because customers got slightly better prices than they did by using that card (sale was 30% off, plus 25% off with red card).
Overall, it seems like a good discount, especially since nearly everything makes it to sale now and they can snag those items at 50% off. I know they can also use the discount online. HTH and good luck if you decide to work there! :)
anon 11:51 & Sad: Quit being so rude!
ReplyDeleteAnon, 1:56, I'm guessing the point applies to you. Otherwise you would have ignored it.
ReplyDelete^Take your own advice.
ReplyDeleteGood one. I guess you proved my point, 2:21.
ReplyDeleteSad - LOL. I'm with you.
ReplyDeleteAlexis - did the JCA from Chicago ever send you a digital copy of the new catalogue? I think several of us would love to see it!
ReplyDeleteThanks
I'm not sure why anyone would want to share with those to are so challenging and rude. The thing with these blogs, you never know what kinds of people you're offending- especially people who are so quick to shoot off their mouths.
ReplyDeleteAnon, 2:29 (you are not one of these people)
anons: Is that you Leigh?
ReplyDeleteI stopped in my BM today and they gave me the lookbook. I have to say that there were many, many items that I liked very much. And some great looking jewelry. If this book is the trend for the new spring roll outs, I'm going to find many must haves.
ReplyDeleteAnon at 2:31 PM: I haven't been sent a copy of the new catalog yet. But if anyone does, I will be sure to post it. :)
ReplyDeleteWho is Leigh?
ReplyDeleteAlexis, I have a hard copy of the catalog. It's the same as what is online (http://www.jcrew.com/AST/FooterNavigation/browsecatalog.jsp which was already posted).
ReplyDeleteThanks Alexis!
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a Lookbook floating around too. If a JCA has it and doesn't mind scanning it, I'm sure some of us would love to that too!
Thanks
John Denver! The Carpenters!
ReplyDeleteTHE BAY CITY ROLLERS!!
:-)
Anon @ 11:54
ReplyDeleteYou find J.Crew prices unreasonable.
You don't spend much money on clothes.
You go on six vacations a year.
Sweetie, maybe it is time for a FULL-TIME job.
I can't imagine where you go, or (shudder) what you wear on those "six vacations a year".
LOL
Hey, maybe those are 6 STAY-cations (where you bum it at home and blog here)...lol. I guess if you count each day you take off as a PTO/Vacation Day, yeah, 6 days off would be like 6 vacation days. 8, if you count the weekend.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 9:00 - good one. LOL, literally.
ReplyDeletehey hey hey...i'm baaaack...haha. is it you, my blog soulmate? hee hee.
ReplyDeleteI could never work at JC. I would spend more than I made!!!!
ReplyDeletehey everyone! im an interior design student in boston- and this semester my project is to come up with a new prototype for a retail store- and i chose j.crew. i was wondering if eny one had any thoughts about j.crew interiors- fitting rooms, product placement, setup of the stores. and the image that j.crew gives to its costumers. anything will help! thank you so much!
ReplyDelete