"Thanks!" to LLK (in this post) who shared some interesting news from her local brick & mortar (B&M) store:...Anyway- my store (central Ohio) had a promotion going on the basic cashmere sweaters- both V-neck and Crewneck- $99.00 each. I hadn't seen that posted anywhere so I thought I'd throw it out there...I am not sure if B&M stores nationwide are carrying this promotion. However, if you are interested in purchasing J.Crew's newest cashmere sweaters (click here to browse online), it wouldn't hurt to ask your local store associates about the promotion. :)
J.Crew's cashmere sweaters have been a frequent topic on this blog. Many JCAs have cited the quality of the cashmere as their main concern. On a bright note, J.Crew offers some of the most loveliest shades for their cashmere sweaters.
Will you take advantage of this cashmere promo (if your store offers it)? If your local B&M store is offering it, do you mind posting the location of the store? (Thanks in advance!) Also, what are your thoughts on J.Crew's cashmere from the latest arrivals (in terms of quality, style, fit, etc.)? :)
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ReplyDeleteOk I am trying not to start this thread by posting a negative comment, it is hard not to when it comes to JC cashmere. I have JC cashmere from the past 4 including this years and they are not holding up to normal wear and tear and delicate hand washing with their special soap.
ReplyDeleteI consider my 2009 purchase my biggest purchase mistake of the Fall, I got suckered in to buying ths style and color. I should have sent it back, the sizing is off. the body is big, and the arms are normal size, so if you size down the arms are going to be tight. The 2009 version feels different I have not worn it yet it is still too warm.
So to answer your question I will not be purchasing anymore cashmere from JC. I can save my money and purchase Merino iwool nstead or cashmere from somewhere else.
I forgot to mention depending which style you choose (I found this out from CS) the sizing is different for each style, the cashmere v neck cardigan is on the small side and the cashmere crew measurements are larger than the v-neck pullover. Cripes JC fix your sizing problem!
ReplyDeleteSorry for the long posts.
casual-crewI've heard a lot of similar comments recently regarding J.Crew's cashmere -- I'm afraid I've noticed quite a good bit of pilling on sweaters I've bought in the last year myself. And yeah, what's up with the sizing? And yet...I love the colors so much....I keep on buying it. Maybe that's part of the problem. :(
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm assuming "central ohio" must mean Columbus (since the nearest other J.Crew around here is in Cincinnati) -- I saw the $99 signs last week at Easton but I didn't think anything of it at the time. Guess I just assumed it was an across-the-board promotion. Might have to stop by and take another look!
Hi casual-crew! I always feel compelled to comment in the JC cashmere posts as well. I tried the cashmere rolled-scoopneck tunic and found the fit to be like you described for the V-neck: too big in the body, but perfect in the arms, so sizing down would not be realistic.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try Lord & Taylor cashmere - they're having a sale ($89.99 for crewneck cardigan, $79.99 for turtleneck) and free shipping over $99. I'll post a review when I get my order.
J.Crew has lower-end cashmere, thin, and higher end, thick (known as "sweet" in the cashmere trade), so touch is important.
ReplyDeleteJust received the cashmere tie-front cardigan #18248, it's heaven! Got a heather gray, but lusting for the sandalwood. [The less you wear a cashmere under a jacket, the less it pills, but as previous JCA cashmere experts have noted here, pilling always happens with cashmere.]
Big update this AM .... 1000 items. Campo Messenger and Andi Hobos are 199 and 149 if anyone is interested! Got Campo in gray! Yeah!
ReplyDeleteGood qualilty cashmere does not pill. Just an excuse that the so called "expert" used a while back to justify JCrew's poor quality. I have cashmere that is very high quality and a decade old with zero pills. Yes, zero. On another note, my sister buys cashmere at thrift stores that is vintage and beautifully thick and made well. Sometimes a pill or two (or three at MOST) can be found around the arms of her bargain finds but that is it! So, please, do not fall for the line that all cashmere pills. It really should not.
ReplyDeleteI refuse to pay full price for JC cashmere. It's not worth it. I find it more reasonable when it gets below $100.
ReplyDeleteI agree there are quality issues but like RatsOnParade I love the colors too much to stop drinking the crewlade completely. My cashmere heirloom henley from last year has held up well so far and I wore it a lot. I can feel a difference though between my J.Crew cashmere from 2005 and 2008. I would buy a lot more if I wasn't so scared for the quality. It's sad that J.Crew is bragging that their tights are made in Italy but can't say the same for their sweaters.
ReplyDeleteI'm good on cashmere crewnecks...but that cashmere boatneck popover - that looks like heaven. Of course, that one's not on special...
ReplyDeleteare there any irl pictures of the campo messenger bag. i looks kind of big and wanted something as a reference.
ReplyDeleteVery wary about the cashmere after the fb here. I haven't bought must cashmere from JC and what I do have hasn't been worn very much. Last year the WSJ did a comparison of several major retailers' cashmere and AT won, I think.
ReplyDeleteRuffles, I should have just covered my eyes and skipped your post, but I couldn't resist seeing what was in the update and sure enough, several thing I've been stalking were back. ;) Bubble necklace $70 (not going to chance ebay on that, after reading about the fakes), cocodrillo shorts (possibly my favorite print ever since the 07 butterflies) and too many others... DARN IT!! I was THIS close to making it through the whole month...
I too am hesitant to buy any more JCrew pilly cashmere. Unfortunately the colors and styles always win me over. I saw a cute cashmere hoodie in the new LLBean catalog. It's not very expensive for cashmere so I"m wondering about the quality. I imagine LLBean would have good quality but does anyone know for sure?
ReplyDeleteCrewCrazy-I have one LLBean cashmere sweater from last year and one from this year. The one from last year held up very well (and better than the JCrew stuff I bought at the same time). The one from this year is cut better (more like you expect from JCrew), but I have only worn it once, so no good indication on quality yet. One thing to note about LLBean-they will basically take anything back at any time for quality issues, so I think they are worth a try no matter what (though their colors sometimes leave a bit to be desired...)
ReplyDeleteI personally like AT cashmere, I find that it's very good quality, and you can get it for a steal during their sales.
ReplyDeleteJust purchased the Charlie ruffled suede platform Mary Janes in rust, on sale for $169.99, and the Chiffon trellis tank in warm shell for $39.99.
They were having this promo in the Southampton store last week when I was there. Curiously, the East Hampton store was offering only the crewneck style at $99, but not the v-neck.
ReplyDeleteHeidi -- I got the boatneck popover last week. It is a very lovely sweater, I love it.
ReplyDeleteLike other JCAs have mentioned, I found the sizing different than the regular crew/v-neck sweaters (in which I take a Medium). In the boatneck, I took a Small and could possibly have taken an XS if I'd wanted a slimmer fit.
As for pilling...I have yet to own a sweater -- cashmere or wool from any store -- that didn't pill at some point. I've come to expect it to a certain degree.
I agree that "older" cashmere is much better (my mother has cashmere sweaters that are about 30 years old that still look like new), but they just don't make 'em like they used to.
I agree w/ casual-crew -- the sizing of JC's cashmere pieces is all over the map! My last JC cashmere purchase was made earlier in the summer - the bauble button henley. Love the style and the buttons, but after one wearing, it was starting to bag out and the pilling was unbelievably bad under the arms and around the waist. I expect some pilling on all wool sweaters, but this was too much. I'm done with JC cashmere, which is a shame b/c I love the color selections and styles. On a happier note, I recently bought a couple of cashmere v-necks from Lands' End, and the fit and quality are excellent. Colors aren't bad either!
ReplyDeleteI'll start with the positive: my cashmere (Divina) henley from last year is still pretty pill-free and looks great. I've also had several cardigans with the cashmere/cotton blend, and they've held up well.
ReplyDeleteI've had several V-necks, and have various luck with them. Usually they last through the season, but once they start pilling, it's all over. They never can be worn again the next year.
My worst experience was with the cashmere turtleneck. When I first got it it was gorgeous--soft, with a rich color. But after the second wearing, it started pilling and looked like crap. Such a disappointment.
Has anyone ever tried a sweater stone on their pills? My mom also has a little buzzer thingie that shaves off pills, but she mostly uses it on my dad's wool sweaters. Any luck out there with either?
ReplyDeleteI got a cashmere argyle buttondown cardigan on sale a couple months ago and haven't have the chance to wear it yet. I hope it doesn't pill!
ReplyDeleteSome items are added to the sale section today! Got the satin derby clutch for 39.99 & the bouquet sash belt for 19.99! The derby clutch is gorgeous... at least that's how I remember from seeing it in the store!
Rebecca --> I just got one of those buzzer thingies for pills. Haven't used it yet but I have a couple of cardigans that I plan to try it out on.
ReplyDeleteI use a sweater shaver on all my of wool and cashmere sweaters. It works like a dream. Sweaters from all different companies pill, JCrew is one of the worst, but it's a fact of life with sweaters I think.
ReplyDeleteI won't buy any JCrew cashmere unless it's on super clearance. I got some gorgeous cashmere sweaters that are thicker and softer than JCrew ones from the Dillard's clearance store for about $10 each last spring. Don't need to spend $178 on any from JCrew!
OT but I have used the free shipping I got automatically by just logging into my jcrew.com account multiple times. The "today enjoy free shipping" message hasn't gone away. Anyone else have this experience?
ReplyDeleteEm--Same thing for me. I've had the free shipping since Saturday.
ReplyDeleteI have tried both the sweater stone and the lint shaver on my cashmere sweaters and prefer the latter as it is quicker and works like a charm. It's just funny that everyday as I'm getting ready for work, I'm shaving under my arms in the shower and AGAIN after I put on my sweater, LOL! But so far it's kept this season's cashmere cardis looking pretty good.
ReplyDeleteWhat's funny is that in addition to the 2 retail cardis I bought this year, I also picked up one at the outlets that I actually prefer! It runs smaller so it fits better, and while I wish it had the grosgrain ribbon inside the placket like my retail ones do, it seems to be holding up as well if not better than the retail cashmere... not to mention I paid half what I paid for the others. If only I'd bought more than one...
I bought two cashmere sweaters on sale this summer. I haven't worn the croquet cardi yet but I have worn the other one several times and there is very little pilling. It is the featherweight argyle cardigan with a metallic silk raw-edge strip running up the placket, can't recall the name. Originally $188 and I got it for $49.99 less 20%. I think Ema also got this one and reviewed it on her blog. Anyway, it is lovely. I've worn it at least 6 times already as it is featherweight. No bagging or sagging and just a couple of teeny tiny pills under the arm but that is it.
ReplyDeleteI bought a cashmere cardi in 2007 and it pills like mad. Even when the pills are shaved off it looks all furry so I only wear it at home. Such a pity, it's a gorgeous color but I feel like a bag lady when I put it on.
i also still have the free shipping option even though i used it earlier in the week to order a sweater for my boyfriend.
ReplyDeletecan anyone answer whether or not this promo is across the board...i see the comments on crew's quality of cashmere but this is no news....
ReplyDeleteThis is way off topic but, I visited my local B&M today and made a sweater purchase. I also had a return, and after the sale was complete the SA ask if I just wanted to use the same bag that I had brought my return in? I said sure, I have no problem with recycling the bags but, ask if she would just wrap the sweater in some tissue for me.
ReplyDeleteGet this....she said oh, we are not using tissue any longer we are going "Green"! OK, I was a bit stunned, but regrouped pretty fast and said OK, but what are you all going to do about the holiday season approaching with everyone wanting boxes and tissue for gifts. Well, she had no idea about that one.
OK, am I just thinking they can't afford tissue any longer but can charge and arm and a leg for shipping but no tissue paper!!!
So, I left with $100 plus sweater with no tissue in recycled bag.
Has anyone else had this experience?
Everyone: Thanks for sharing your personal experiences (the good and the bad) with J.Crew's cashmere! :)
ReplyDeleteKittyKat: That is interesting about the tissue paper. I don't mind if the tissue paper is not included in my purchase. However, I hope they don't change the material for their shopping bags. They are the sturdiest bags around and I re-use them all the time. :)
I no longer buy J.Crew cashmere thanks to the many negative comments read here. I don't like a lot of wool sweaters anyway so no big loss.
ReplyDeletepretty boy, I haven't checked my B&M this week to see if they're running the promo, but they did last year and it was only valid on crewneck and V-neck sweaters--not the cardigans or turtlenecks. It also lasted the rest of the season--i.e. the price on the crewnecks and v-necks never went over $99 after that.
ReplyDeleteI have so many J.Crew sweaters and many of them cashmere.
ReplyDeleteThey have held up beautifully for me.
The only ones that haven't are the cotton sweaters, which I won't buy anymore. Not only do they fade, but they stretch (around the sleeves, neckline) and just don't hold up well. I never wash them (only dry-clean) so I will never buy J.Crew cotton sweaters again (cotton-linen blends seem to be ok though).
For me, my cashmere sweaters haven't had any pilling that I can recall seeing. Again I only dry-clean. I don't know why they even sell cashmere cleaner to handwash sweaters. Sweaters never are the same once handwashed...at least not for me!
The colors and styles keep me coming back for more despite the pilling issues. The fact of the matter is, the cashmere we are all longing for is out there at a price point much higher than we are willing to pay.
ReplyDeleteWoobie- I absolutely agree with you. You get what you pay for! Of course, there is better quality cashmere out there, but are we willing to pay the price? Can't have color, style, and quality all for under $200!
ReplyDeleteI can't speak to the quality of J. Crew cashmere, but I don't think all cashmere sweaters pill. I have a bunch of cashmere sweaters from Ann Taylor, several years old, and none of them have pilled significantly. My J. Crew merino Michelle, on the other hand, pilled within about two wearings. I just bought a fabric shaver in large part because of pilling on that sweater. It helped a lot, although I don't know if it affects the durability of the fabric at all.
ReplyDeletekanishk: What a coincidence, your post matches word for word from my comments from yesterday am. Hmmmm...
ReplyDeleteCasual-Crew: I went ahead and deleted kanishk's comment. It was clear that person spoofed your comment in order to promote their web hosting site. Terrible on their part. :(
ReplyDeleteI love J Crew for certain items such as skirts, jackets and coats, but their cashmere is junk. It always looks cute on line, but the quality of the yarn as well as the fit is always very different in person, IMO.
ReplyDeleteI do think the cardigans look look a little better this year, but I will be waiting for a super sale before I buy and for opinions from my fellow JCAs on durability.
I won't be buying any v-necks or crewnecks as I also found the sleeves to be really tight. A small is huge on the body, but I can't size down as the sleeves are too tight.
There is a lot of great cashmere to be had at decent prices. I always have great luck at AT, BR as well as some of the department stores. I have 5-10 year old sweaters that I just phased out as they are not too big. Not one from those other places had any substantial pilling in spite of years of use. And many of them were originally priced far lower than anything in J Crew.
I would rather pay more for higher quality cashmere and have only one or two very nice sweaters than a bunch of cheapo JCrew sale ones that pill!
ReplyDeletekitsmommy, I agree with you too!
kitsmommy, it's funny you mention the tight sleeves. I have noticed that on several new J.Crew items lately and even asked my husband if my arms were getting fat. What is up with that?
ReplyDeleteAlthough the colors and styles are cute, I am afraid I will never buy JCrew cashmere again. It pills horribly, and most sweaters are paper thin. I am now buying Scottish cashmere from Brora (www.bora.co.uk), Jonhstons (who manufactures the Brora sweaters and has been in the cashmere biz since the late 1700s) and Sierra Trading Post (they have a heavily discounted selection of Johnstons of Elgin sweaters, blankets and cashmere accesories), and Hawick (the have a special ordering system, you can custom order any sweater in any color, amazing!). In addition to the fact that the Scottish cashmere sweaters are FAR better made, and thicker than JCrew's, the hold up much better. I wear them all the time and NO pilling. So all in all, I won't go back to JCrew's cashmere until the match or exceed Scottish cashmere standards.
ReplyDelete