"Thanks!" to many of you, including HeidiG & Marietta, who shared the following email J.Crew sent this morning.The email features J.Crew's Ballet Flats (click here). I own several (as in too many!) ballet flats from J.Crew. I have so many because I love the look– from the narrow-ish style to the fabulous designs. Right now, I am lusting over the Pippa Mirror Ballet Flats (Item 19844; $135.00). I saw them at a brick and mortar (B&M) store and thought the mirrored-foil material and asymmetrical three-loop bow looked fantastic!
However, for those who do not have any, be warned that they are *not* comfortable. All of J.Crew's ballet flats are office shoes (which means, they are the kind of shoes you wear sitting at your desk in the office, not the kind to run around town completing errands). The last few years, J.Crew added a wee bit (and I do mean, very very little) of padding to ballet flats. However, they are still not that comfortable. ;)
The email also reminds us about J.Crew's Personal Shopper (PS) service (click here to sign up). This service has been discussed several times on this blog (click here to view some posts). Some JCAs have reported fabulous service through their PS, even developing a great relationship with him/her. I have a personal shopper, but haven't used this service in a long time. I just never connected with the PS like some of the other JCAs have.
What are your thoughts on J.Crew's ballet flats? Are there any ballet flats from J.Crew's latest arrivals that you are excited about? Do you have a personal shopper? Have you been utilizing the service? :)
Alexis, thank you for noting the lack of padding in JC ballet flats. I dont own any (I love Juliets and Joleys, "collect" those)and it is so helpful to know they may not be very comfortable for some. I love the styles but will have to resist.
ReplyDeleteRuffles: You are not alone for "collecting" Juliets! Have you checked out SimplyJCrew's collection (refer to this post:…just recently Gigi had post about “multiples”. I didn’t respond, however I buy multiples all the time!). I own a few Juliet heels myself- they are the only mid-heels I love! Unfortunately, J.Crew's shoes (as in most of them) are just not comfortable. But they are so pretty! :)
ReplyDeletealexis-thanks for noting the comfort level (or lack thereof!) of jc flats. since becoming a stay at home mom, i've become a bit of flats whore (much easier to chase a little one then in heels!)-i bought a few pairs of jc flats recently and while i love the look of them, i was shocked to find how much my feet ached after just a short period of wearing! not that i want anyone else to suffer, but thanks for confirming it's not just me--jc flats are not comfortable!
ReplyDeletealso, wondering if anyone feels the sizing is a bit off? i have a pair of the perfect flats and find i should have sized down, but in the lulus, marjories and janes i went with my regular size but had to get them stretched a bit! confusing!
I'm glad someone asked about the sizing, because I just ordered two pairs of the Marjorie flats and am wondering how those are going to work out. I'm a 7.5 in most shoes (but, oddly enough, take a 6.5 in the Juliet mid-heels, as well as other heels, due to the way my foot slides forward in them). I wound up ordering a 7.5 and was curious about whether the Marjories were pretty true to size. I hope I don't end up having to send shoes back and forth for a hundred years before I get to wear these things for real.
ReplyDeleteStefanie: LOL! I loved your phrase "flats whore". I am going to start using it now! :)
ReplyDeleteI have to also 100% agree with you about the sizing issue. I find that J.Crew shoe sizes are about 80% consistent. As in 90% of the time, I am a size 9 in flats, and about 70% of the time I am a size 9 in heels. (Which can make it a bit difficult to order shoes online sometimes.)
And for the Lulus- again, I found the same thing you did! They are snug in my normal size (but too big in the size up). Happy to hear I am not the only one! :)
Susie M.: I hope the marjorie flats work out (they look so pretty in person!) I think those flats are true to one's normal J.Crew flat size. :) And your line ("I hope I don't end up having to send shoes back and forth for a hundred years before I get to wear these things for real.") is great! :) Because I have been there before! ;)
I also find that the ballet flats are too delicate for normal daily wear. Like Alexis said, they're an office shoe. As a stay at home mom, I wear a lot of ballet flats! But the J. Crew flats simply cannot withstand the normal shoe wear and tear of chasing after little ones. The patent leather ones hold up much better. Unfortunately, my Claires from the summer did not fair so well.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes the sizing on the flat is a little strange. I normally take a nine but I size up to a 9.5 or a 10 because the shoes are so uncomfortable!
Jennifer: You raised a great point about normal daily wear- the ballet flats are too delicate. (In terms of some of the fabric used- like silk). I find if they are used for a day of normal walking around town, the silk fabric on the back of the heel starts to rip. It's the weirdest thing.
ReplyDeleteI just ordered a pair of marjorie suede flats last night using the free shipping perk from updating my info. The only truly comfortable pair of JC flats I've ever had were the Blythe leather flats from 2? years ago. I continue to buy them because I love the look.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with stefanie regarding sizing. I bought a pair of perfect flats on final sale in my usual 9.5 and they are huge. I bought two pair of lulus and one fits true to size and the other is snug. My leather marjorie flats feel true to size in length but the width is so loose it makes them hear to keep on! Needless to say, I no longer buy shoes on final sale!
OT, but I wanted to share the response of the 1-800 CS rep when I called to complain about my dream sweater, which is horribly pilled after one wearing. I was told:
ReplyDeleteOur manufacturer has told us that the dream fabric will pill anywhere there is friction, under the arms, etc. This should not be considered a defect.
Translation: We know we are selling cr*p. Cha-ching!
I do believe I could have bought a better quality sweater at Wal-Mart.
thank you all for validating my sizing concerns...now i know, i'm not crazy-j.crew shoe sizing is the crazy one!
ReplyDeleteand here i thought my feet grew and shrunk from day to day! :)
I'm a HUGE ballet flat addict! A tip for everyone - buy the cheap insoles from Target, the kind that are about $2.00 and you have to cut to fit. They made a huge difference. Just enough padding without making the shoe too tight.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the honesty on the fit. I tried a pair in Spring and was surprised at how uncomfortable they felt, I thought it was just me:)
ReplyDeleteI'm bummed to hear that the flats aren't comfortable. I've never purchased a pair, but am currently considering buying several. But I can't bear an uncomfortable flat.
ReplyDeleteIsn't the whole point of a flat that it's a comfortable, versatile shoe that you can slip on and wear anywhere? And it's not like the flats are cheap, either. The least JCrew could do is add some decent padding.
I have several pairs of the ballet flats--I can't resist the cute prints. Just to echo what Lori had to say, I suggest adding a little insert for arch support and heel padding. I have a thin leather support that I purchased at a foot comfort store. It's not a full orthotic (no way one of those will fit into any cute shoe, lol) but it helps a lot.
ReplyDeleteJust my $.02 on the metallic Marjories: I have had bad luck with my metallic leather items from JC. The finish is entirely worn off last year's skinny belt (which I bought for about $4 so I can live with that) and the finish on the footbed of the Dauphine sandals is worn off any place that the foot touches it. True, it's mostly covered by the foot, but it looks disgusting. For my Marjorie ballet flats, in several spots the pink metallic finish has worn off to reveal a dull silver underneath. IMO the metallic Marjorie is a ripoff at FP.
(When I wrote JC about the problems with the metallic finish I didn't receive a response.)
OT...does anybody know how the Templeton boots fit? Are the comfortable? I've been eyeing the short suede Templeton's for some time now but I haven't heard anything about fit or comfort.
ReplyDeleteI have the Teuta flats (not really ballet flats, cause they have a pointy toe) and they are super comfortable. Same for my Penelope silver, grey and black ballet flats - love them. However, I have the Serengeti flats and they are not all that great. I guess what I'm saying is that some of the flats are more comfy than others.
ReplyDeleteOT - anyone buy the Cadogan flat boots? I just shelled out for them on Friday and am eagerly waiting for them to arrive. I hope they're comfortable!
I avoided ballet flats for the longest time because I love heels too much. Then I bought a pair of City Ballets and a pair of madras ballet flats. I love them both and find the City Ballets to be fairly sturdy but the cotton madras I treat with special care. I have a pair of the wooden sole slides with the same madras and they started to tear after walking only about 10 blocks so I am afraid the ballets will do the same. Office shoe only indeed!
ReplyDeleteYou are right Alexis, J.Crew shoes are so pretty but just not comfortable. I hope that the return to more leather construction will change that as the synthetic materials do not form to your feet or allow your feet to breathe, adding to the discomfort.
I just bought a pair of L.L. Bean black leather ballet flats and can't believe how comfortable they are.
ReplyDeleteI spent a day recently up and down stairs cleaning out my grandfather's house and my feet felt comfortable and supported all day.
Granted, the Bean styling is not as stylish as Crew, but they have a range of leather, wool and silk prints.
For someone with high arches, these ballet flats are my salvation.
I have one gorgeous pair of J. Crew ballet flats . . . metallic ones from two years ago with a bow on the toe. Delicate, not really comfortable, I agree. The other problem with ballet flats is that they don't work when there are puddles all over the place, like here during most of the year.
ReplyDeleteI wish J. Crew would do some real flats, like they used to. They're on the right track with the oxfords. Does anyone have them? Are they comfortable?
so we all agree that j. crew flats are definitely not the epitome of comfort, but what other brand of flats are stylish JCAs wearing this fall?
ReplyDeleteUm why pay J.Crew over $125.00 for uncomfortable flats that one cannot even wear outside the office? Forget it. Steve Madden and Nine West make cute and comfortable flats for 1/2 that price plus no blisters.
ReplyDeleteI bought the pippa flat in silver. The fit is fine except it seems to not be cut tall enough on the interior side of the right foot- the shoe squishes the top of my foot in that area. I think I'm going to return them and wait til they go on sale- I'd rather wear uncomfortable shoes that I got on sale than full price!
ReplyDeleteI have to echo GlobeTrotter. JC flats are adorable but I will not be dropping a penny on them until I can wear them without developing blisters. They are ridiculously overpriced and my feet deserve better :)t
ReplyDeleteCorry: Sorry to hear about the pilling of your Dream sweater, I have been wondering whether the material was any different from the last 2 yrs version apparently not. Looks like J Crew sweaters are on my do not buy list!
ReplyDeleteThanks, casual-crew. I'm really down on JCrew today. I called bluefly this morning and almost fell over at the excellent customer service: they checked to see if the bag I was interested in was ever on sale for less (as they would price match!); they checked inventory and told me how many were left in each style; they would send me a $30 off coupon via e-mail. It just reminded me of how tired I am of JCrew's games all around.
ReplyDeleteThen I checked the JC website and saw--I am 99% certain--the sweater I just returned two weeks ago (a winter popback that I returned just under the 60 day mark because I discovered it was defective when I pulled it out to wear) was on sale. It is clearly defective merchandise, and I marked it as such all over the return receipt so as not to be charged return shipping. Sure, there's a chance someone else just happened to return the sweater about the same time I did, but I doubt it.
As someone who has been on the receiving end of defective merchandies several times, this really irks me. Talk about dishonest business practices.
Sorry for the rant. To contribute to the shoe discussion: I wear Delman ballet flats and more often than not they do not give me blisters when worn with bare feet, right out of the box.
I highly recommend the Coach Fayth boots as a substitute for the Nottinghams. They are excellent quality and about the same price. I've barely taken them off in the past two weeks.
I will second Delman. This fall, I also purchased the BR flats with the big stones on the toe and have been fairly happy with them. If I didn't have such as narrow foot, I would probably be raving about them. My favorite shoe of this fall is a pair of Calvin Klein ballet flats in a pewter color with a pompom made out of beads on the toe.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a problem with the comfort of the J.Crew flats - they've been great for me, but the quality is not great for the price. I feel that if you are spending upwards of $100 on a ballet flat, it should have a leather sole, lining, etc. These manmade soles and linings on a bunch of their shoes is ridiculous - one step up from payless at four times the price. Sure, the designs are cute, but wearing bad quality shoes is not good for your feet. I've been finding adorable flats at Boden - they have comparable prices to that of J.Crew and the pairs I have purchased have been soft leather, leather lined and soles. Great quality and comfort for the money, imo.
ReplyDeleteI'm another one who has found the shoe sizing to be all over the map lately. I'm usually a 7 or 7.5.
ReplyDeleteLast fall, I bought a pair of Juliet mid-heels from a B&M store and got a 7.5. This year, only their size 8s fit me in pumps. In the flats, I seem to take a 7.5.
Then last week, I tried on the Metropolitan suede ankle boots, and I needed a 7.5.
Very inconsistent, and I would never buy shoes from final sale w/o trying them on in store first.
I don't own a lot of JC flats - if I'm going to wear something not-super-comfy it might as well be a pair of cute heels. I made exceptions for:
ReplyDelete- Lulus (love the flats more than the peep toes, very parisienne)
- Pink Snakeskin Jane Flats (soo cute!)
- Yellow Patent Lizzie Mocs (comfy - can put a whole insole in these)
As far as other brands, I also like Delman, Me Too, and Palladium. Have a pair of Jean-Michel Cazabats that I adore but are also an "office shoe."
Kitsmommy, I know what CK's you're talking about - they are soooo cute! I've been eyeing them at my Macy's for a while.
ReplyDeleteI don't normally wear flats, and have tried JC flats many a time but they've never been quite right. I do have a pair of suede JC Barcelona flats from probably 4 or 5 years ago. They have a leather lining and sole and have held up well. As far as heels so, I have to give big rave to Ann Taylor's Perfect Pump - they are incredibly comfortable and TTS. They're padded from heel to toe and even at 3.5", they're easy to walk in. I highly recommend to anybody looking for a basic heel!
Corry, thanks for sharing about the Dream yarn. That's so annoying - the only sweater that I've had my eye on is the Anton, but because it's Dream I just can't do it. I wonder if it's the crappy cashmere that's used in the dream blend that has something to do with its (lack of) durability?
silver lining, I just did a google search (never having had a sweater pill like this before) and it turns out it is likely the nylon? I was surprised to see the 30% nylon content in the sweater when I received it. I don't think I've ever owned a sweater with nylon before. Is there a reason to add it, other than to cut costs?
ReplyDeleteWhy can't JCrew make 100% wool sweaters in great colors? I'd certainly pay more for them. For now I'm looking at LLBean and Lands' End, where for $50 or so you can get 'em.
And now I will shut up, I promise!
Corry: Lands End has 10% off today with free shipping if you purchase a regular item. Their cashmere is not on sale so it qualifys for their promotion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you I want a 100% wool sweater with no blends of anything. The pilling could be the result of the nylon or the cashmere.
If the Dream yarn by its very nature pills, per the manufacturer, why are they still using it? I almost shelled out FP for the Lombard cardi but decided against buying it when I realized it was made with the dreaded blend. Their regular merino wool holds up much better--they should use that instead. Funny, I was returning something in the store last week and the woman at the register next to me was buying a men's merino v-neck as a gift and said "What are you wearing" to the male CS. "I think this sweater is better than yours--look how yours pills!" The CS said, "yes, this is a cotton-cashmere blend." It was indeed terribly pilled down the front and should have been put in the trash rather than displaying how poorly it had held up!
ReplyDeleteI will not buy shoes from J. Crew since the company does not specialize in shoes. They specialize in clothing. The shoes do look great, but as a teacher, it is best to save my feet and leave the pretty shoes for others who can sit while working. I can only lust from afar.
ReplyDeleteI have Super Feet insoles for my shoes. For those who want extra comfort, Super Feet insoles are the way to go. It will last longer than those foamy ones from Dr. Scholl's.
ReplyDeleteWendy: I heard of Super Feet before. Which kind would you recommend (the berry, blue or green)? Also, do you have to take out the pre-existing sole of the J.Crew flat to use the Super Feet insole? Thanks in advance! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Alexis,
ReplyDeleteI have the Super Feet in green and high heel Super Feet in black. It really depends on your foot, if it pronates, etc. You can always try out a few different versions when you go the store. The Super Feet for high heels have saved my feet. It is a bit pricey ($30), but well worth the price if you can wear a cute shoe and not have sore feet or back the next day.
Yes, you would need to take out the existing sole of the shoe in order to fit the Super Feet insole, or your feet won't be able to fit into the shoe. The high heel version is just an insole for the heel itself, so you don't need to take out any sole.
HTH, Alexis. Great blog. I enjoy reading it and the comments.
OT - I just received my mini patent Campo in black plum and I am quite disappointed for a number of reasons.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the color is more wine than dark purple, similar to the photo you see on the Featured Bags - Campo page under handbags. It is not the dark purple shown on the individual Campo product page.
Secondly, there is slight puckering on the stitching on one side and I noticed it immediately. The glossy patent finish really highlights any defects. I tried to show this with the close-up photo but the patent reflects so much it is difficult to see it clearly with the flash and without is too dark.
Thirdly, the patent is really, really stiff, it looks and feels fairly cheap IMO. I said when I ordered it that patent can look really cheap or really luxe and I'm afraid it is the former in this case.
Lastly, it has a chemical smell.
I have already repackaged it for return to J.Crew, no deliberation required.
One more thing, the website lists it as 3.25" deep but that is at the top closure. When I measure the bottom it is a full 6" across. The stock photo on the mannequin appears accurate.
Here are a few IRL photos
http://s828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/ShuLvr_photos/?albumview=slideshow
If anyone has specific questions I'd be happy to answer.
Wendy: Superfeet have saved my feet too! They are truly amazing. I have the green inserts and try to use them in any pair of shoes I can. My feet are incredibly flat and these work so well...I can't even explain. I was actually going to ask if anyone had tried putting inserts in the ballet flats. In some shoes, they just won't fit right.
ReplyDeleteI've bought many pairs of J. Crew's flats and find the sizing to be TTS or ever so slightly larger (but not enough to size down). I agree with so many here that the quality is the challenge. When I realized I was paying almost as much as I would pay for Tory Burch Revas, but they would last far less time, I stopped buying so many.
ReplyDeleteNow I only buy their most ornate shoes such as the Jules patent flats and heels. Those were the first shoes I've bought in the longest time and I love them.
While the feathers on the new flats are cute, how long with FEATHERS last?
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ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear I'm not the only one that has had problems with JC flats. I sold all of my flats.
ReplyDeleteOn 85% of my JC heels the lining has unglued from the shoes.
I too couldn't get the sizing right with the lulu peep toes. I bought them in burnt sienna in an 8(ebay) and they were way too big then ordered them in a 7.5 (JC online) they were too small. I bought them again in a size 8 (ebay) and they fit perfectly.
ShuLvr-
ReplyDeleteSame issues with the large coconut patent campo. I'm on so on the fence with that bag (puckering, stiff)... I just really want to love it so much... but I can't quite bond with it. I take it out of its sleeper bag and look at it everyday and can't bring myself to use it... thinking I may still return it. I'm leaning towards returning... thanks for your reivew.
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ReplyDeleteAlexis...
ReplyDelete- greens for very high arches
- blue for medium or high arches
- blacks for low arches
J.Crew flats are beautiful, but sooo uncomfortable for flats.
I have a weakness for shoes even though I don't have pretty feet.
ReplyDeleteI own a lot of JC flats and most of my shoes are from JC. I know most of them hurt my feet, but I just can't help myself...I end up buying them since they are cute. I have though had to sell some shoes on ebay since they just did not fit well.
I stay away from JC patent flats since they are just too stiff. I recently purchased Tory Burch Reva patent flats and they are very comfy. Also, JC crackle metallic flats seem a bit stiff too. I own the Jayne metallic flats, but they hurt my big toe after wearing for few hours. By far the most comfortable flats are the ballet flats from couple years ago, Marjorie leather flats and some other ones I own.
JC seriously should not do final sale for shoes since it's so hard to find the right size. I'm usually a 7 but sometimes have to get a 7.5 for sandals and boots.
Wendy & Marketeer: Thank you so much for letting me know about the difference between colors for SuperFeet. :) I am a little hesitant about removing the existing J.Crew sole though. I am hoping it is not difficult to do. :)
ReplyDeleteShuLvr: So sad to hear about the Campo. And what's with the chemical smell? J.Crew should look into that. :( Thanks for sharing your review. :)
JCmama: LOL! I know what you mean when it comes to your line: "I know most of them hurt my feet, but I just can't help myself...I end up buying them since they are cute." So true! So true! :)
The Bailey flats are gorgeous. I can get much use out of them for sorority events and meetings.
ReplyDeleteBut I fear they will sell out before they go on sale because they've been in some magazine spreads. I think I've only paid full price for one pair of J. Crew shoes in recent years, the Twyla sandals (which aren't particularly comfy).