Referencing {FAQ}

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Love It Or Leave It: Wool-Cashmere Carrie Coat

Wool-Cashmere Carrie Coat
Click here for product page
Item 99071
Regular: $325.00
Now: $99.99

I think the Carrie Coat is the "it coat" for this Winter. I swear, every where I went I saw Aficionadas wearing this coat, and ... it looked g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s on all of them!

J.Crew states that the coat has "a dramatic stand collar features vintage-inspired self-ties to keep brisk winds at bay". I actually think that this feature is what makes the coat a perfect "love it or leave it" candidate, because I have a sneaky suspicion that Aficionadas either love or hate that collar (with little in between). I personally fall into the love category- I actually think the standing collar looks great. And since I own last year's Bella winter coat (which also has a standing collar), I am use to the itchiness from a collar rubbing on my face.

This coat is now on sale for just $99.99 (plus an additional 30% off in stores, and an additional 20% off online). The price just makes this coat look more attractive to me! ;)

What are your thoughts on the Wool-Cashmere Carrie Coat? Do you "love it" or would you "leave it"? Do you already own this coat? If so, please share with us your review. :)

130 comments:

  1. Love it. But I also have the Bella and happen to loooove the stand collar. My bella is black and that camel color won't work for me... that ivory is looking REALLY tempting right now.

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  2. :'( i want the ivory sooo bad now! if any JCAs see it in the store in a size 0, if you could let me know...i will be eternally grateful!

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  3. I have to say that I love it and will most likely get it soon. The question is: which color?

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  4. I think the coat is adorable (the standing collar too), but since I like always buttoning everything up and wearing a scarf too I'm not sure I could really swing it. But I do love the collar.

    Totally off topic (sorry to do it so soon on the post!) - I ordered the Shipley coat in dark poppy a few hours ago (final sale!) and am now freaking out about the sizing. I ordered a size 2, but a few people have noted on various blogs that it seems to run large. I'm 5'4'', about 120 lbs, small-chested, er not particularly curvy. I have a jcrew blazer (tweed, elbow pads... maybe 2 years old) in a 2 that fits perfectly. I pretty consistently wear a 0 or 2, top and bottom. I'd like to be able to wear a sweater underneath the coat (Chicago winters are cold...) but I don't want enough space to fit a puffer, etc. Any help/measurements/messages telling me to calm down would be appreciated! Thanks!

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  5. I have the Shipley and it is pretty TTS. It is actually one of the more fitted coats.

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  6. IF it unfortunately ran a little big, you always have an option to get it altered (though it is not ideal but at least something can be done to it)! :) Hope you enjoy your Shipley!

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  7. Mimi:
    I agree with Ginny (Chiffon Cupcake)...I think the Shipley runs TTS. I hadn't ordered a winter coat from JC in years (I live on SoCal), so I ordered up a size since my last one (gotta love the extra pounds marriage brings!). I, too, panicked after reading posts, but when it arrived, it was fine. I love it and hope to wear it soon (in Chicago, actually!). So, don't fret, you should be fine! :)

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  8. went to SF center and there are a ton of the Carrie for $99 marked and 30% addtl. I love the styling but compared to other coats I have (double cloth fabric, or loftier wool), the fabric is kinda "felt" like, which is not my personal fave texture for keeping clean.

    most are in the acorn but they do have some whites in sz 8+

    hth!

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  9. Chiffoncupcake (or Ginny, I guess!) and Smarty... THANK YOU!

    I actually read your review on JCA, Ginny, which convinced me to buy the coat, but then after I ordered, I thought back to the three coats I tried on in store this year (Madeline, classic peacoat, and Lucinda)... for those, the 0 or xs fit best. But, what's done is done so I'll just have to cross my fingers and wait impatiently for the coat to arrive :)

    Smarty: make sure to pack warm clothing for your trip! The high today was something like -10 with windchill and tonight is supposed to be our coldest in 12 years. Brrrrr. Be sure to soak up the SoCal warmth before you come... I'm jealous! :)

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  10. Mimi: I have similar measurements as you and a Shipley in size 2. I like it the way it is. I can fit a bulky sweater on underneath but still feel like I have room to move around. I don't think it's too baggy at all. For this season, I've been consistently a size 2 in outerwear / blazer, so I'd consider it TTS. Hope this helps!

    By the way, I liked the collar of the Carrie coat but wasn't quite as sure about the sleeves. :) I didn't like the way they belled out.

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  11. Mimi:
    Brrr, sounds bitter cold! Can you believe I am planning to move back next year?? I guess I'd better enjoy this last 80 degree January :)

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  12. I have several ivory and black coats so I decided to buy Carrie coat in hthr acorn color.

    It's definitely my favorite coat so far! I absolutely adore it! I love the color, length, sleeves (slightly bell shaped?) and the collar (cutest part in my opinion)

    It looks great with black boots, tory burch flats, black cashmere hoodie...I really can't stop wearing this coat.

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  13. I have an off-topic question: I just got a Plaza coat, and I can't tell if the pockets are sewn shut, or if it in fact doesn't have any and the flaps are just for show. I don't want to try to cut them open and end up damaging the coat--so, does it have pockets? Thanks.

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  14. Well, the Plaza coat should have actual pockets. Look for vertical stitches that are a bit spaced out. Those should be the stitches that you have to cut. The should come off relatively easily.

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  15. I love the Carrie! At first, I wasn't sure about about purchasing this coat. I liked the stand collar alot but I wasn't sure about the strings/knot attached to it. After I tried it on, it worked for me very well!!

    I'm planning to purchase the CARMEN SATIN PEEP TOES since they're on sale but I'm having a hard time choosing a color. It's between Mint Julep or Light Flamingo. I never seen the shoes in person but I adore the colors. Did anyone purchase this? Thanks for your help!

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  16. I have read a couple of comments in the last couple of days about being scared to buy final sale because it could have a flaw since many of them are returns. I always assumed that if an item is flawed or damaged, that you could return it no matter what. So I sent an email to J.Crew asking about just that and I thought I would post the reponse here...

    We regret any confusion with the matter of returning items. We
    guarantee our merchandise to be free of manufacturing defects, and will
    be more than happy to accept any defective item for refund or exchange,
    even if the item is on final sale.


    Please let us know if the items that you received were defective and
    provide us with your order number, and we will be more than happy to
    accept those items back for full refund.


    If we can be of further assistance, please let us know by responding to
    this email at contactus@jcrew.com or calling a J.Crew Associate at
    1-800-562-0258.


    Sincerely,

    Andrea

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  17. I love the collar on this coat, but then I also have a Bella and the Lucille Jacket, and really adore the dramatic collars. I also really like all the colors that the Carrie coat is available in...wish the Lucille would have been made in these colors. ;) Congratulations to all who have the Carrie coat! It's really very pretty. :)

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  18. anon 6:10: Thank you for posting the email. I still will not purchase FS, even though I can return a flawed items I still have to pay $15.00 - $18.00 to send it back to J Crew and wait a month to get refunded (I live outside the country). It is not worth it to me.

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  19. Leave it.

    Though it does look fabulous in the photos of other JCAs wearing it, I could never pull it off. Sadly, the tall collar is why I had to get rid of my Bella as well.

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  20. How does this coat fit? I am a petite, so never know what to order.

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  21. OT:
    I have a question for FFM
    Do you think I could wear the deep persimmon serge skirt with the grey maggie jacket? If so, what shirt and shoes? What about the bright blue serge skirt with the black or grey maggie?
    My problem is, I have the clothes, I just can't seem to put them together.

    thanks!

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  22. This is a leave it for me. I like the body of the coat, and even the collar can be cute, but that tie is just bizarre to me.

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  23. Big favor JCA's - anyone sees any white Kya camis, size 0 at their local B&M, can you please let me know. I had it in my cart last night but I forgot to place the order before I went to bed and now it is gone!

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  24. Love it! But it only come in regular and petite, no Tall or else i would have bought it in a heart beat!

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  25. LOVE the color, as I am always on the hunt for a camel coat, but nor sure about the way the strings just "hang"there. Also, the fabric seemed a little rough and stiff. The J.CREWS in Long Island have a TON of these on sale. I just ordered the Stadium cloth Lucinda coat and have been wearing it every day! The fabric on the stadium cloth is SO Soft and thick.

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  26. Does anyone have any experience with shortening the sleeves on the double-cloth Tulip coat? I found one for a steal at my B&M ($70!!!), and it fits perfectly, but the sleeves are too long, and I'm a little afraid the bells at the bottom of the sleeves will look ridiculous if I shorten them an inch or so. Any ideas/experiences/suggestions?

    TIA!!

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  27. Christina - It will be more expensive, but a good tailor could take the bell portion off, shorten the sleeve there, and then re-attach. I am an associate, and the coat does not look good with the bell portion shortened. The pleating does not fall correctly.

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  28. It is a cute coat, but I agree with earlier post that this type of 'felty' wool is VERY difficult to keep clean and looks dowdy/dirty in a hurry. I say this only because the ivory is the only color I would consider, and, as I learned the hard way with the ivory peacoat, is VERY difficult to keep clean. My ivory double cloth coats are a breeze, but this type of wool blend picks up every piece of lint, fuzz, etc, out there. Leave it, for me!

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  29. Totally off topic...

    I returned four items a few weeks before Xmas. The items were not showing up as returns, and I just called J.Crew to find out the status of the return. I thought I was going to be told that it was to bad that the items got lost.

    Although I have no proof that I sent the items, the customer service rep credited me for the four items. I was very impressed with their level of customer service! This reminds me why I only buy clothes from J.Crew.

    Vivi

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  30. OT - but can anyone tell me about the Bromley boots? Just any kind of information would be helpful...I have been debating buying them for a while.I prefer the Forest color but only the Ivory Grey is available in my size and I'm not sure if I'm in love with it. With the extra promo, I might go for it but I'd appreciate any reviews.

    Thanks!!

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  31. I agree with Snow. This coat is wonderful, if only they made it in tall:(

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  32. Anon @ 9:27:

    Thanks! For whatever reason, that option never even occurred to me. I mean, for $70, there was no way I could pass the coat up - so it won't hurt so much to spend some extra cash to get the sleeves shortened properly.

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  33. I have Carrie in acorn and I love its swingy-ness and the look of the stand up collar and neck tie. It took a bit of getting used to though, and is still a bit uncomfy for driving because the neck rides up in your face and up your hair at the back. I am always afraid I am going to smudge make-up or worse, lipstick on it! But I love the look so much I deal with it! Also, you can't really wear a scarf with it...

    Ivory is sweeeeeet!

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  34. j pearl,

    i have the bromleys and they are GREAT for new england winters...i have to trek snow to get to my car and these really do the trick...and i've walked in snow with my dog with these for about 30+ minutes and my feet didn't notice the cold at all...i actually got them in forest so i haven't seen the ivory color IRL but they do have sherpa on the inside for extra warmth and they tie up really easily..if you need a winter boot these are perfect esp at the prices right now since i got them for much more...! hope this helps!

    ps for those of you looking for the carrie coat in 0 i put one on hold at the garden city roosevelt field store under monica...its in heather acorn..i'm looking for a 0 in ivory since i already have the harriet in htr acron but i put it on hold anyway if any JCAs were looking for it!

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  35. Bromley boots: I bought them in 8, my regular size, but they were big even with thick wool socks for snow country. The primary problem was that they were big around the ankle so that when I laced them up as tight as they would go, ie the grommet things could not go any closer, it was still way too loose. NOthing could be done so I returned them. IF you are planning to tuck pants in, thick pants, maybe it would work but I was practically stepping out of them.

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  36. This is a gorgeous coat. I love the tailored, slimming look of it and the tie at the top. Congrats to all of you who own this! Great deal!

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  37. I bought the Carrie in Ivory back in Oct when it 1st went on promo for $225. I really wanted to love this coat b/c the styling is so cute! I ended up returning it b/c I ordered a size that was too small and I couldn't really deal with the ties. The fabric ties just kept sticking out in the air. No matter how hard I tired I just couldn't get it to look like the pictures.

    I posted a review on my blog:
    The coat finally came last night! I immediately ripped open the box and dumped out the contents like I was a 3 year old on Christmas morning. I must say that it was very beautiful even crumpled up from being shipped. I am so glad I ordered it in a petite size but not so glad that I ordered it in a 0. The coat fit perfectly except for the shoulders where it was too snug- I don't even think I can fold my arms across each other. Despite the shoulder fit issue the sleeves were the right length as well as the hemline. The coat hit me at mid- thigh which is exactly how I wanted it to fit. The ivory color is so pretty and the wool/ cashmere blend makes the coat extra soft and warm. I was worried about the coat not being lined with Thinsulate but it is heavy enough that I don't think it is necessary, esp. for Texas. I am planning on returning it to the JC store at the Galleria but I want to get a second opinion. The collar is a little funny and I'm not sure if I am just not wearing it correctly so I will need advice on how it looks. Most likely I will re-order it in a 2P. BTW I think the Carrie fits TTS and I just ordered wrong.

    Has anyone esle had issue with the ties?

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  38. hmm that also reminds me...with the bromleys i also had some space left in the calves area so i always put on some thick boot socks i have some from jcrew for extra warmth + fit purposes and it worked for me when i tucked it jeans that weren't skinny jeans...like bootcut or slight flair that i could never jam into other boots...so definitely ups and downs but i don't think a winter boot thats practical like this one can get any cuter...

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  39. FYI
    Website seems to have been updated and maybe there are a few new additions/ price reductions. I have been trying to stay off the website so I'm not sure if those items were marked down yesterday.

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  40. Anon 9:59

    No there are defiantly new mark downs.

    Watson pants now 29.99 (39.99 yesterday)
    University pants now 29.99 (39.99-49.99 yesterday)

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  41. I have the Carrie in black and absolutely love it. I originally wanted it in ivory, but have the Stadium Cloth Trench Coat in ivory from last year. I do agree that the ivory in this particular material would be difficult to keep clean, but I haven't had any trouble with the black. The acorn is great too - I had a hard time choosing which one to get when it first came out. The Carrie has a subtle style, but is very chic. The collar doesn't bother me and I let the ties hand loose. And the overall fit is very flattering (for reference, I am 5'4 and 120lbs.).

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  42. Thanks suilove and Maggie May - I am about to order the Bromleys and buy some thick socks as well!!!

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  43. sorry this is OT but does anyone know how the Cashmere blouson-sleeve bateau sweater fits? I tried the Cashmere Eva this year and found it was huge but the femme sweater fit TTS. So I'm wondering if anyone had some info on the fit. Thanks!

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  44. J.Crew, how can I give you money to buy clothes if your site is always DOWN? :(

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  45. bkp:

    I found that the blouson-sleeve sweater had kind of an odd fit. I am generally between a small and medium, depending on the fit of the top (I wear a small in nearly all of J Crew's cashmere sweaters - bateau, long-sleeve tee, etc) and found that I needed the medium in the blouson-sleeve. It was actually a bit of a toss-up - I found that the sweater was a little clingier than most in the midsection (which is my problem area) but that it fit well elsewhere. I chose the larger size so that I would be a little more comfortable with the way it fit in my stomach. With the larger size, it is a little looser around the neck and shoulders, but not so much that it looks sloppy. For reference, I was also between sizes in the femme sweater - the small was a little tight in the bust (I'm not large-busted, just a 34C), and the medium was a little baggy in the bust - but because it was looser in the stomach, I was okay with a small. If you're not concerned with the fit over your stomach, then I'd say go with whatever size you needed in the femme sweater.

    Sorry if that review is totally confusing - I really struggled with which size to keep for a long time, because there were pros and cons to both sizes. If you have any more specific questions, I'm happy to try and help!!

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  46. Question...

    Can I still recieve an additional student/teacher discount along with the final sale (20% off)?

    Thanks!

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  47. Anony

    YES YES YES

    you can get both discounts!

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  48. Totally OT: Ann Taylor reduced all of their cashmere sweaters to $39.44 (final sale). I bought a couple of sweaters last week and I have to agree with In Style -- the cashmere is pretty darned nice. Can't really go wrong with a price of under $40. I have a coupon code to be used online (96100145) for 20% off your order, too.

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  49. no no no

    they will tell you no online. its happened to me twice! in store (where you should purchase it), they WILL combine however.

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  50. I am ordering the plaza coat in camel I think. My only question is does it run on the small or larger side??? Can somebody help a girl out? lol.

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  51. Does anyone have any fit information about the Lucinda coat?
    I'm petite am hoping to get some advice before buying & not being able to return it...petite sizes can be so tricky w coats as the armholes can be too tight.
    Thank you!

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  52. Anonymous at 10:21 (5'4 and 120 lbs), what size did you take in your Carries? Did you size down? I have similar measurements (34B) and ordered the 2 but am now afraid that it will be too tight across the chest. TIA!

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  53. Hi !
    Can someone help me with sizing??
    I am a 34-36B. I have the pea coat in a small, and the Ecole jacket in size 6.
    Any idea what I should take in the Carrie?
    This final sale thing throws me.
    Any help would be appreciated - love this coat!
    Thx!

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  54. I ordered the shipley in a 0, my regular jacket size and it was so tight across the shoulder and armholes. The size 2 was only slightly better but too voluminous in the other areas. HTH.

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  55. New markdowns - the candy tees are 9.99 down from 19.99 yesterday.

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  56. I opted for free shipping with TDN-30 and called in for my teacher's discount this morning. It's a better deal than 20% and no free shipping. CS has no problems applying the teacher's discount, but if I had used the EXTRA20 code, they won't give me the 15% teacher's discount. The policy (inconsistent, of course) is not to apply any further discount on percentage discount like EXTRA20.

    I know some JCAs have had luck applying their teacher/student discounts on top of the EXTRA20 but I'm not up for long-drawn wrangling with CS. HTH!

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  57. Love it, but since I can only wear tall sizes (I'm just too amazonian to fit their regular sizes) I'm going to have to pass this one by - which breaks my heart :*(

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  58. Off topic...but is the color sea salt more white white or more off-white? TIA!

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  59. It's a pass for me. The collar is pretty but gets in my face and neck too much to be comfy. I love my Bella but the Carrie doesn't work for me.

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  60. Sea Salt is winter white.

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  61. I absolutely love the Carrie coat. Bought it before the holidays on a decent markdown in ivory. I'm 5'4", size 0, and I find the proportions/cut work really well on me, allowing enough size for winter type clothes (sweater, blazer etc). The ivory is dramatic, but I've already dirtied it (spot cleaned with Shout, and it somewhat helped...) and now know why I always stayed away from ivory coats, as much as I love them. I'm so worried getting in and out of the car, and wearing lipstick, so my solution...I bought the heather acorn for more frequent use, since I love the coat so much, and will reserve the ivory for less frequent use. With the price down to 79 after discount, I think it's well worth it for a coat that doesn't looks somewhat distinctive. I usually leave the top button open and ties undone, unless it's very windy. LOVE this coat, can't wait to receive the heather acorn.

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  62. Awesome. That's what I was hoping. Thanks anon @12:54 :)

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  63. Anony@12:47

    No, you got the policy wrong and I do know what I am talking about. I have finally found the JCRew policy in all detail and confirmed by my online P.S. as well as 5 reps.

    I have place three orders with EXTRA 20 and my educator's discount. As long as the promo is NOT global and that is the key...as in HOHOHO and TURKEY or a 20% off all orders (regular and sale) you can use your educator's or student discount. This is the TRUE JCrew policy. I have the "rules" and the details all written down and sent in emails confirming.

    However, there are CS reps that will continue to just be plain confused and/or do what they want.

    But I feel so good now knowing the true policy and I also have it on pretty high authority! I just couldn't stand the NOT knowing anymore and did some work...

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  64. I don't think anon got the policy wrong. JC policies are just plain inconsistent. I tried to get my student discount ontop of EXTRA20 order placed online and was told it's not applicable. I had to work so hard to persuade one CS rep to apply the student discount ontop of the free shipping code. Unless you phone in and get the student discount and EXTRA20 stacked at the same time, you may get lucky. But if you place your order online, you'll have a hard time finding a CS rep who would oblige. I can;t do phone orders - the inventory moves too fast for me!

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  65. Anon@12.59 - whoa, you're a know-it-all, aren't you? Thanks for enlightening us.

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  66. Anon12.59 - good for you. I hope you will deign to work as a CS rep and let ME apply the discounts stacked!

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  67. Christina: I purchased a tulip-sleeve double cloth and had the sleeve hemmed at the cuff. I was too was worried about ruining the look of the sleeve, but because I only needed a small amount taken up, the change did not really change the look of the garment. So you may have options, depending on how much you need to have the sleeve taken up.

    bkp: I am a fan of the blouson sleeve, bateau cashmere sweater. I normally wear S in JC's cashmere t-necks and crewnecks and M in the cashmere cardis. I purchased a small in the blouson and really like the fit. Its not quite as fitted as the turnecks, and is definately more fitted that the Eva, which is quite boxy. Fit seesm similar to this year's bateau sweater.

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  68. Anony@1:05, 1:06 and 1:07

    All I can suggest is get yourself an online P.S. Then you will know everytime that you discount will be applied correctly.

    I order so much from JCrew and I could no longer deal with all the WHAT IF issues.

    I am sorry if I come off like a know it all but I really got to the point where I couldn't stand it and I had to take action and I did! I feel empowered.

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  69. If you could contact J.Crew and get a clarification and post it here, we'd appreciate it. That way, you not only empower yourself, but all the lovely JCAs here.

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  70. thank you so much Christina and Anon @ 1:15. You both helped me decide which size to get :)

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  71. Does anyone have the marie coat and like it?? I ordered it in sea salt and then saw the old reviews on here and now I'm worried.

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  72. T: I returned the Marie coat in black. I'm 5'4", size 0, and it made me look short and stumpy and pregnant again. It looks great on some JCAs, and hpefully on you too.

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  73. I neither love nor hate the collar, but the real deal breaker for me is the length. I think its just so awkward... looks bad with a skirt. I really hate it on the model. I am sure it looks fine with pants but I need a coat that i can wear both with skirts and pants since I travel often and cant take multiple coats.

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  74. OT but has anyone seen the Fireball necklace in your B&M (either the cornsilk or key lime)
    Thanks :)

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  75. I love my Carrie but I agree it looks bad with a skirt. I pretty much only wear mine with pants. I think it looks good on the model, but I am a shrimpy 5'3.

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  76. Anon at 12:33, it would have helped if I gave a size, wouldn't it?! I have a 2 and it is very fitted, but not too tight. HTH!

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  77. sorry for the OT, but does anyone have the crackle metallic mary janes? are these TTS or SD or SU? i wear a 6.5 in pretty much every jcrew shoe...but the mary janes look a bit tight on the toe - thanks so much!

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  78. Anony@1:34

    I have sent Alexis the email info.--did it yesterday--I believe I also sent it to her awhile back but she chose not to print it. It is her blog and her final decision.

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  79. I got it in black and love it. I wear it open without tying the neck and it looks great, too. It's more versatile than it appears.

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  80. Anon @ 2:!2:

    I have not seen the Fireball necklace at my store, but my sister mentioned to me last week that she had seen it in her store in San Diego (I'm 90% certain they had the cornsilk color). The number there is (619) 491-0054 if you want to give it a shot!

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  81. Christina,
    Thanks for the lead! I just called but they sold out :(
    I appreciate your help, though.

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  82. i loved the look of the carrie coat and bought it in black. but when i tried it on, the whole thing was just awkward. i didn't like the bell sleeves, or the a-line shape which of course they don't ever show on the models due to all the pinning or whatever they do. and i did not care for the felt-like feel of it. it was stiff and the tie thing was just too difficult to deal with. also i'm a scarf person so i think the collar/tie would have bugged me even though it's cute. the whole thing just didn't work for me.

    i did however end up buying the shipley and absolutely love it. the material is so soft which was unexpected and the fit is more streamlined which works best for me. i really do still love the look of the carrie but it just didn't work for me. :)

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  83. I thought the blousson was a little big and boxy. I normally wear a S in J.Crew but I wish I'd gotten an XS, but I'm taller than most of the posters (XS) so maybe that's why it was boxy on me? I kept it anyway because I thought it was sweet, but some of the other sweaters fit better.

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  84. I had the blousson at home and I returned it. I didn't like the fit at all. It looked so cute on the model but it was very unflattering on me. FYI, I have a somewhat long torso and a larger chest.

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  85. love it! I didn't see this today when I was searching the sale... I also did spend very much looking because I was scared that my bubble necklace would sell out.

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  86. mimi: the shipley ran TTS for me so don't worry. i don't wear bulky sweaters under it (because i don't have any living in california) but i tried the issy under it and it worked fine...and it fits perfectly over my other thinner sweaters. it has a nice shape so even if it were a tad big it would still look nice. FYI, when i tried the next size up in the store (it was a cat. return) i almost could get away with that one too. :)

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  87. OT: anyone have ideas for what I could wear with the silk dupioni skirt (champagne) and alessia peep toes (root) to a june wedding. Would a cashmere shell and some pretty jewelry be boring?

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  88. Any feedback on the Lucinda coat?

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  89. OT: Anyone else having trouble signing into Jcrew.com?

    I placed an order over the phone, the rep gave me a total and all, but the order was NEVER PROCESSED. Grr...

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  90. This is sorta funny. I was looking at description of the "solid low cross-back tank" swimsuit and the description says:

    "Ties at neck. Shelf bra. Straps cross low in back. High-cut leg. Low back. With full coverage? Fully lined? Import."

    haha what he hell are those question marks supposed to mean?

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  91. Can anyone remind me if B&M honor online prices? I have only done it the other way around (from red phone, online will honor store price plus store discount).

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  92. When I worked for J.crew they told us they wouldn't let us do that in the store.... but I did catch a manager do it for someone who was a frequent shopper and was buying expensive item anyway.

    my advice is to try asking but try and direct it to somebody higher up

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  93. Christina,
    I got the sleeves shortened on my tulip day coat and I actually thought it improved it.
    Of course, I got a size 2 tall because I hate having my skirt hang out from the bottom, though I know that's the style. So, the sleeves were a bit long on me to begin with.
    It's not a hard fix.
    But beware the exploding buttons. Has anyone else had this problem? I looked down the other day and the top of a cuff button was gone, leaving only a ravelly bit of fabric and the button base at the bottom.
    The tailor sewed the replacement button back on but warned me it might happen again.
    I hadn't caught the coat in a door or anything and haven't worn it all that much as it's my dress-up coat.
    I love the buttons and would hate to have to replace them with basic oversize cream ones.

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  94. Fellow JCAs, I need your inputs on these two sweaters in terms of the fit:

    1) Cashmere Pleated Tunic
    http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBrowse/Women_Feature_Assortment/catalogjcrewcomexclusives/sweaters/PRDOVR~11087/11087.jsp

    Thanks :)

    2) Cashmere Harper Sweater
    http://www.jcrew.com/browse/single_product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441791547&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302024121&bmUID=1232056908774

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  95. Ahhh, I am sorry, just realized this post is for the Carrie Coat!

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  96. J Crew's policy is to say no unless repeatedly poked and prodded. It's called the 'Extroverts discount' or the 'Introverts surcharge' depending on how you look at it. That's for the regular people.

    Alternatively, the big spenders of course get special treatment. But that's not a J Crew thing. That's the way of the world.

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  97. Anon @ 5:09, you cracked me up on the in/extrovert comment!

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  98. OT- is the Victoria STRIPED ruffle shirt on sale in B&Ms? Just wondering since it's full price online. TIA!!

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  99. Did anyone else get an email today, "Have you heard?" about the J.Crew credit card??

    haha. It made me laugh after thinking about some of the things I read today. for example..it says one of the perks is a seasonal lookbook by the designers. Read someone's response from customer service yesterday about the lookbook NOT being intended for people.

    Fast / Easy account management through Jcrew.com is another "perk"....haha.

    haha. I might get the card someday...but not until I REALLY want the one-time % off. It only is 10% by the way.

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  100. I'm glad you liked it CC. I figure if I have to repeatedly pay the Introverts Surcharge, I may as well get some laughs out of it. One day I'll have to add up all the cash I'd have saved if I were just willing to go all Rocky Balboa with CS to get the extra discounts the feistier aficionadas were getting. 5:09

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  101. So I definitely just ordered this coat in heather acorn after reading the review and everyone's comments about it...so much for my promise to myself to spend less this year ;).

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  102. I was at the South Coast Plaza store yesterday and a manager said they no longer match online prices and that they only did that during the holidays. I wanted to order the Lillie in black but it was marked $199 in the store (vs. $99 online). She ended up matching the online price b/c they were out of my size online. So it seems like this policy is inconsistent as well =P

    I also saw Solid Kya cami in white (size 0) for the person who was looking for it. Their phone # is 714 979 2739

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  103. there are always some "stingy" store associates ;-)

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  104. Maggie May: I was in my store yesterday, and was purchasing a Portland Merino cardigan ($69.99 in store, and $29.99 online), and asked if they would match the online price - the sales associate said he was pretty sure he could, but that he would check with his manager. When I went to check out, I asked again, and he said that he had verified it with his manager, and there would be no problem price matching the online price (for a savings about $45!!). As usual, I guess it's just inconsistent from store to store!

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  105. OT: There are TONS of Portland cardigans in various colors at the Boston Copley store (617 236 5950). I think I may have gotten the last one in Golden Avocado, but loads in champagne, white, desert brown, pink, and navy. They're marked as 69.99, but have them call CS, and they'll knock them down to $29.99 + 30% off. :)

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  106. Carrie Fit -- I am a 34C-28-35 and took a size 2. I'm 5'2" and prefer a 4 or 6P. I have tried the 4 and it's too big in the sleeve. The 2 is great. I haven't tried it in Petite sizes.

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  107. OT -- A seller on eBay has the python print short sleeve jacket in a range of sizes. Most are $69.99.

    The sizes I saw were 0 or 2 (or both), 6, 8, and I think 10 & 12.

    Thanks again to FFM who told me about a size 2. I didn't win that auction, but I did a buy-it-now with this seller for one. Sometimes patience pays off.

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  108. Anon @ 5:08
    A few weeks ago I was calling literally everywhere for this shirt and pretty much every SA I talked to said that it went on sale a while back and sold out really quickly. I also had JCrew do a "we'll find it" and had no luck.
    I was thinking about just ordering it fp online (they usually restock and have my size in the mornings) and seeing if a B&M will give me a price adjustment. Do you think they would do that?

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  109. If you do a search for j crew animal print or j crew giraffe, you should find the seller.

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  110. OT - Ann Taylor just marked down many of their cashmere sweaters to $39.44 final sale in store and online. They also have free shipping and additional 25% off (use code success25)for orders over $200. Their cashmere sweaters are of better quality than Jcrew IMO. Bummer I just bought several from Jcrew for twice the price AT is offering.

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  111. Has anyone has seen the alessia peep-toes in your b&m and are they on sale? Sorry for being OT...

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  112. I'm a big fan of dramatic collars - I *love* my Bella jackets, but this coat doesn't do anything for me, so I'll leave it.


    Was at a store today and the sale section was on life support - there were just the same tired pieces as I've seen in other stores. The rest of the store looked untouched - I don't think anyone is buying anything at full price. Going to be a tough 1Q for J.Crew.

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  113. I LOOOOOVE it, and got it in the Ivory color for xmas... loves it!

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  114. FWIW, I was ordering tee shirts for my daughter this morning hoping to get the 2 for $35. However, when I put in the EXTRA20 the price reverted back to its original $25 each. I called CS who said there was a glitch and that it was doing that for all the "2 fer" items.

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  115. can someone remind me on the sizing of the Nicky skirt? TTS or SU or SD?

    TIA

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  116. My store will match online prices (same item same color)but they won't give you the extra in store % off on top. They will apply any online extra % off though.
    And associates do not have to call online, all they have to do is look up the item # on their computer.
    I thank god the SA's up here are willing to help customers and not give you silly excuses!

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  117. Nicky is tts unless you are tall and want more length.

    I found the Blouson sweater big and boxy too

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  118. Thank you Shannon!

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  119. I've said this a lot, but I love my Carrie! It's in heather acorn. I normally just button the bottom two buttons and leave the collar hanging, but when it's cold (like today. FREEZING!) I put tie the collar up! It's not too fitted on me.. I can fit a scarf underneath. I love how the sleeves bell out and the length of the coat. : ) Happy customer!

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  120. I have the heather acorn and love it! What I don't love is the fact that I paid $196 for mine...oh well!

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  121. suilove: I think I got a better fit with the Crackle Mary Janes when I ordered up a half size. My Juliettes are a 6, as are my spectator peep toes. But the Crackle Mary Janes have a wee bit narrower toe so I went up and I find them very comfortable with no slipping in the heel.

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  122. I got my Carrie yesterday (ordered online 1/10). I paid $159! Can I get a price adjustment?
    BY the way, I love it! Especially the fabric.

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  123. anon, 8:59

    that was exactly what i hoped to hear about sizing since they have a 7 left at the store in sherbet that i have on hold that i'll now get...thanks so much!

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  124. Thanks so for the help, everyone :) My order was shipped this afternoon and I can't wait to try the Shipley and everything else on!

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  125. i LOVE this coat! just tried it on the store, but sadly, no tall sizes. the sleeves are just a bit short for my taste...but i am still thinking about it. $70! for such a lovely, soft coat. and the collar up or down is great.

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  126. Does anyone know how to tie the ties on the Carrie coat so that they don't stick out?

    Thanks!

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  127. My Carrie Coat arrived on Monday and I have to say I am a little disappointed in the fit. I got a 0 and it's a bit big. I almost wish that I had gone with petite. On me the sleeves are too wide around the shoulder area.

    I think it still looks nice, I just wish it fit a little more snug.

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