Follow Up to J.Crew Event at Collection Store (NYC)

As mentioned in the October 20th "J.Crew Event at Collection Store (NYC)" post, J.Crew invited a few of their top card members to attend an event with Creative Director Jenna Lyons. The invite promised "an evening of cocktails and private shopping to celebrate the arrival of the 2009 Holiday Collection".

A big "thanks!" to both Marietta & Roxy who not only shared their experience, but both shared pictures of this event. Also, "thanks!" to Stefanie & Cass (in this post) who shared her experience too! {yey!}

The following is Marietta's review & photos:
I just got home from the Collection store holiday event. It was great! Lots of wait staff serving wine and hor dourves, alot of SA on the floor to help with sizing/searching for items, etc. It was pretty crowded, if I had to guess I would say about 30-45 people.

Everyone was super friendly, and best of all Jenna was there! She looked great, and was taller than I expected her to be! She was wearing black Minnie pants (at least they looked like Minnies to me), the blue and white cotton check shirt, military jacket in olive green, black ankle booties, a colorful statement necklace (didn't look like JC to me), and a fuzzy scarf. She was approachable, introducing herself to people, although I didn't speak with her personally. I wanted to introduce myself after I checked out at the register, but she was helping someone with jewelry, and I was too beat and hot to wait.... it was smoldering in there!

But, perhaps the best part of the experience (besides the 15% off) was the lovely gift that was included in my bag... a silver JC box, tied with a grey grosgrain ribbon.... a long gold necklace with multi sized creamy gold pearls and a little bling in between.... so pretty! I checked the JC site, it's not there, so I wonder if it's a retail only necklace? The boxes were behind the register, so I think you got one if you made a purchase.

I picked up several things: Heirloom flora earrings in crystal, Gunmetal matelassé skirt, Glimmer pocket cardigan, and a open merino cardigan in a honey glaze with sequins down the front... I don't see this online, but so pretty! Also came in a purple lavender color. Style # 20377, $138. It seemed to be pretty popular amongst the ladies there tonight.

All in all, I'm so glad that I went, and really appreciate events like this being thrown by JC! :-)

The following is Roxy's review & photos:
I only took a couple of photos (attached). One is of a stunning jewelry display from outside the store with a (not real but very real-looking) owl in it.

The second photo is of a ridiculously awesome party top I tried on. Probably not to everyone's taste but I loved it. I was so excited I forgot to write down the style number though...it's $178 I believe.

We did receive gifts, it's a gold chain with scattered pearls and rounded rhinestone beads on it. They gave it out randomly in both pearl and champagne pearls. My friend got champagne pearls and I got white pearls. Overall it was a really lovely event

The following is Stefanie's review:
i was at the collection store event too! way crowded and hot, but well worth it. jenna actually approached me--i was wearing my coveted tiered lace cami and she came up to me and asked how i got it--apparently even she couldn't get one and she jokingly (or at least i think she was joking!) offered to buy it off my back! hmm...i think we could have struck some sort of deal! ;)

i came home w/that pink mohair coat (it's a bit shocking and likely not for everyone but i love it!), the same sequin mustard open cardi mentioned before, the feathery vest (again, not for everyone but i love the quirky items) and some jewelry--also preordered a bunch--an ombre coat, sequined skirt, sequined tank (i'm all about shine lately!), bow mini, and one more top that i can't recall the name of right now--i'm shopped out!

a fun night, but i think my credit card needs a rest now :)

ps...i'm pretty sure the necklace jenna was wearing was one of those 'one of a kind' bird of paradise necklaces tht was featured in october's catalog

The following is Cass' review:
I was at the Collection Store event too. I was going to buy that same sequin cardigan in the lavender, but they told me they don't carry XL in the collection store, and it was already a cropped fit so it was just not going to work.

I bought a single flower pin for $12 b/c I wanted to get the gift they had behind the counter to people who were making purchases. They did graciously give me the necklace too despite my sparse purchase. I was a little disappointed with the offerings b/c I expected there to be new stuff but there was not item I had not seen either online or in another store (I saw that sequin cardi in black at the 45th and Madison store).

Jenna seemed to be pretty friendly and as Marietta mentioned was dressed in her quirky way. Was doing the whole ankle socks thing. There were, however, some regular ladies there trying to pull off JC styling quirks but just looked like fashion victims!

"Thanks!" again to both Marietta, Roxy, Stefanie, & Cass who shared with us. It was so nice of them. I feel like I attended the event too. :)