Quick Stop at J.Crew's Collection & Accessories Store

Recently, I was able to stop in the J.Crew Collection store and the J.Crew Accessories store. The following are my quick impressions of both stores:

Collection store (at 1035 Madison Avenue in NYC)
Anyone planning to visit this store should have the address number written down. There are no large visible signs indicating the store is J.Crew. As many of you have mentioned, there is only the small script (shown in the image above) on a glass door that lets shoppers know where they are. ;)

Also, (as many of you have mentioned), the store is small. I mean really small! But this is NYC's Madison Avenue, so it definitely has a boutique feel to it. The store carried lots of Collection pieces, including last Fall's Python Jamie bag (Item 98959; $3,000.00) that sits under a glass case. I have a feeling that only one was made and no one bothered to purchase it. It wasn't particularly attractive, but it did make me long for my regular Jaime bag. ;)

For the staff... I am usually a big supporter of SAs (store associates). I (usually) find them to be pleasant, attentive, and helpful. Not so much at the Collection Store. I was either ignored or treated like I was in the way of another, more important customer for the 20 minutes I was there. In all fairness, I visited the store on a busy Saturday so I didn't mind it so much at the time. And the customers the SAs were paying attention to, looked like they were getting fabulous service. The only employee in the store who not only acknowledge my existence but made me feel appreciated was the security woman. So if J.Crew corporate is reading this (and according to the analytic software, they check this website about 10 to 20 times per day), give that woman a raise! :)

Overall: Happy I got to see the store that received so much press. Won't be going back. Ever.

Accessories Store (at 99 Prince St in NYC)
Talk about aesthetically pleasing... the layout was amazing. This store is actually adjoined via mini-hallway/ entrance to the 2,600-square-foot Women’s floor (with the Crewcuts and Sale section on the basement floor).

Despite the proximity to the regular J.Crew store, the Accessories Store had its own unique feel. There were tables full of accessories– including headbands, brooches, pins, jewelry, and the like. There was also a wall of Collection shoes and handbags, similar to the Collection Store (shown in the first image above). Incidentally, has anyone else noticed this layout– the wall of shoes & handbags– being duplicated in your local brick & mortar (B&M) locations? A few weeks ago I noticed one of my local J.Crew stores with it and thought it looked fantastic.

However, this space is tight! (Unlike the regular store that it adjoins– which is quite large.) Don't bother trying on shoes because there's no where to go. You can't even bend over without bumping into something. I felt like I was in Stephen King's The Shining maze, where I couldn't get out the same way I got in because the paths had changed (from free to full of people). At one point, I just stood for 5 minutes pretending to look at a Ballet Flat because I couldn't get out. ;)

For the staff... fabulous! There were lots of SAs on the floor and they knew their J.Crew! I had one SA proactively come up to me and say, "I like your bag" as I had the Large Leather Gallery Hobo (Item 13339; Regular $298.00; now $199.99). I turned around to say thanks and he added "and you are wearing the J.Crew Victoria Cami... you are all J.Crew-ed out!" Loved it! :)

Overall: Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area. Excellent array of accessories.

What are your thoughts on J.Crew's Collection and Accessories store? Would you visit (or are planning to visit) either store soon? Do you think these concept-stores are a good idea and should be duplicated in other cities besides NYC?