Thursday, January 7, 2010

Product Review: Sequin Tiered Ruffle Tissue Tank

Sequin Tiered Ruffle Tissue Tank
Click here for product page
Item 20448
Regular $49.50; now $34.99

J.Crew describes this top as the following:
Our ruffle fixation lives on with this flouncy silk-ribbon-trimmed tank. Rows of horizontal ruffles (some bedecked with sequins) cover the front with a few wrapping around the back bottom hem for added interest. Lightweight, bias-cut cotton with a very soft wash.
I really did not pay any serious attention to this top when I first saw it on the hanger in a local brick & mortar (B&M) store. However, I couldn't help but fall in love when I noticed the "soft graphite" version under a simple black cardigan on a mannequin.

I ended up going with the Black version, as I thought it would be more versatile. (I can easily see the black version working from day to night easily, as it doesn't come off as a tee necessarily. The soft graphite and ivory on the other hand, do appear like a tee with sequins. Not a bad thing as they are both very pretty tops. But something to consider.)

The scoopneck tank is super light but not to the point where it becomes see-through. It is also very comfortable to wear. I would also recommend going with your normal size (as it's true-to-size).

The sequins on the tee are just the right amount— they are not everywhere so it doesn't overwhelm you & they have just the right amount of sparkle.

As for the ruffles, they are a delightful touch on the front & sides. Although there is some bulk from the ruffles, they are easily brought back to shape with a simple cardigan. I should add that there are only one or two minimal ruffle rows wrapping the bottom of the back. It's actually great that the back has minimal ruffles— it doesn't add any more bulk.

I would definitely recommend this top for those JCAs who are considering it. It's a great piece I can't wait to use with my cardigans! :)

What are your thoughts on the Sequin Tiered Ruffle Tissue Tank? Have you tried on or own this top? If so, what is your review of the top? Would you recommend it to another fellow JCA?

54 comments:

  1. Love this top. I tried all 3 colors. I didn't like the grey as I felt like the sequins showed a lot. However, Dina said that the grey is great on her & she got a lot of compliments. I think skin color may determine how the sequins pop or not. Blk was ok, the sequins didn't look so sequin-y as on the grey, but ivory was the best for me.

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  2. I was just looking at this today @ my B&M but didn't have time to try it on.... bug. Might have to go back tomorrow to check it out. Thanks for the review:) They had the Ivory in my size and it was $34 + 30% off.

    Alexis- Love the new look- very fresh!

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  3. This is very OT, but I had to alert my fellow JCAs who happen to be a size 7 1/2 in J.Crew heels. There's a pair of the Joely Pearlized Peeptoes in Shore Pink in the Georgetown DC B&M, for only $49.99 with an ADDITIONAL 30% off! Please, please tell me that this pair will find a home! If only they were my size (believe me, I tried them on), they'd be in my shoe closet right now!!

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  4. Oooh, Alexis, the new blog header *is* quite lovely.

    Drewablank, that reminds me of the shoes I saw at Walnut Creek.

    metallic gold Mary Jane w/the pewter leather, 6.5 - $59.99 + 30%

    They had at least 12 pairs of shoes, for local JCAs. I can't recall the other pair because I didn't memorize the shoe names too much this time around.

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  5. I love the concept but really debated the sequin portion. I think they look great around the holiday season, but wasn't sure how it would work for my wardrobe after the holidays. I definitely didn't like the grey version (because of the sequin). I think both black or ivory are fine. I ended up choosing the ivory.

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  6. I just purchased the black tank this weekend at my local B&M too! I haven't yet tried it on, but I'd been lusting over it online for at least a good week or so (and debating whether I should just go buy it full price on New Year's Eve Day to wear that night, but I ended up letting that ambition go). I'm looking forward to wearing this next holiday season. The black really is cute! Thanks for the review!

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  7. I purchased all 3 colors online when they first came out and ended up keeping the Ivory, which I love. I've already worn it several times under my Snow Leopard Cardigan and my Striped Forever Cardigan. I think it is the most flattering out of all the tissue ruffle tanks that have been produced so far. :)

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  8. I call this the 3rd generation ruffle tank. I guess everyone loves this style. especially with the added sequins for a more holiday feel..

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  9. OT, but huge sale section update this [Thursday] morning! When I looked there were nearly 900 items...some oldie/goodies.

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  10. I'm surprised (and glad) to hear the favorable reviews on this tank. I saw it in my b&m, but I didn't care for the combination of casual cotton and sequins, not to mention the fact that the tiered ruffled tops sometimes make me look like an enormous meringue, so I passed. Maybe I should have a closer look.

    Love the new design, Alexis!

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  11. I tried this on in ivory, size small, and found it less flattering on then the brulee, tango or rolling ruffle tops. The ruffles seemed more 'fluffy' and less flattering in the waist area.

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  12. Like Heidi it didn't fit my body. The bottom ruffle hit me at exactly the wrong place. Too bad, I was into the sequins. I love the fit of my non-sequined tiered ruffle tanks.

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  13. I bought this last weekend in black at the B&M store. I was eying it up on the rack but didn't have much hope for what it would look like on (I thought it would drown out my shape).

    I was pleasantly surprised! I thought it looked great, and the ruffles, while being fluffy, didn't detract from the overall silhouette. I am a borderline small/extra-small but went with the xsmall on this one.

    The small amount of sequencing is also a tasteful touch. I see it more as a party top than anything else.

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  14. I just bought the grey version this weekend and I absolutely love it. I wore it out with skinny jeans, tall black boots and a kinda bulky, thick black cardigan this weekend. It worked so great; I'll most definitely do it again!

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  15. Like Heidi, I wanted to love it, but it didn't work for me. The ruffle cuts right across my boobage. Wasn't feeling it. When I returned it, the SA told me tons of people were buying it that day for NYE.

    I ended up picking up the studded black tank at White House, Black Market. It's totally cute and fits me way better.

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  16. gook commented yesterday about her featherweight cashmere cardi falling apart. I have 6 or 8 featherweight cashmere cardis (it's freezing where I work all year long) and they are a mess. I also have a lightweight cashmere sweather from White and Warren and it also pills badly. I think the thin yarn and looser weave makes the sweater more prone to pilling than the winter weight ones. I also noticed that the waist on the older cardis is much wider and more substantial. The newer ones are very thin and pull funny. The older ones lay much more smoothly. I'll deal with shaving the pills off the sweaters but I won't buy any more because I hate the waistband. I'm will looking at lightweight merino for spring instead of cashmere.

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  17. Also wanted to add a quickie review to this section. I got the pencil skirt (currently on sale for $89) in dusty blossom yesterday. I know there has been debate about the color; I'd describe it as a beigy pink--more of an earth tone than a pastel.

    I love this skirt. I got it in a P2and found it TTS. It's a lovely, soft color and material and is very flattering on. (I'm also very pale, but I didn't find this skirt to wash me out--I just had to pair it with a darker color). It's also surprisingly versatile. I paired it with the Strada shirt, a white perfect shirt, charcoal tie-neck drapey top, and a black turtleneck sweater and I thought it worked well with all of them.

    If you're on the fence about this one, I'd definitely recommend it.

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  18. OT question: I received one of the silk camis with the snaps on the lining and I can't figure it out. Any tips on how I get it on? Do I try to put it over my head with the lining in place and then snap it or snap it first?

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  19. Someone snatch up the heels Drewablank posted about!! The shore pink Joleys are BEAUTIFUL but they do run a little small....

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  20. Re, sweaters falling apart: I have two merino 4 pocket cardigans, and one of them ripped at the seam at the top of the sweater in back. I've never had a sweater rip before.

    The good news is that my B&M is getting it fixed for me for no charge and they will refund the price if the repair is not satisfactory.

    Thought I'd also mention that BR just got in a really cute cardigan in a cotton blend with two pockets.
    It is a bit heavier than the lightweight merino or cashmere but it is not a winter weight either.

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  21. I purchased the ivory and love it!

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  22. Lauren S are you talking about the snaps for bra straps?

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  23. I bought a pair of joleys in ash size 7 1/2 at Towson last night. I think there were around 35 bucks. The manager said they were an online return because Towson never has shoes.

    I think they are a tad big on me so you might see them on the exchange next week. :)

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  24. I tried calling the Georgetown J Crew and they no longer have the Joely's, I was hoping!!
    Thanks for the heads up!

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  25. Gigi, is that what they are? I'm such an idiot, lol.

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  26. Lauren S - Put the cami on. Then flip over the shoulder strap area & hold it with one hand. Put your bra strap in place against the cami, holding both the cami & the bra against one another. Then take the little thread w/the snap hanging from it and snap it across the strap. The thread looks flimsy, but I haven't had one break on me. The process feels awkward, but if you do it in front of a mirror it's much easier.

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  27. OT: Sorry but I need to vent. I should have expected this given we are dealing with the JCrew warehouse and popbacks but instead of receiving the watercolor leopard dress last night, I received the $600 Ombre Watercolor coat, which is umm... not my cup of tea. And of course when I called, the dress had since sold out online and in store in my size.
    The lovely JCrew rep last night made a note on my account for free shipping and no final sale (like w/ my original order) in case they could find it later. Low and behold, the dress popbacked in today's update but when I called to reorder another rep told me "no final sale and free shipping" would be a one-time courtesy. How is it a one-time courtesy if I am forced to reorder due to JCrew's incompetence? Ugh. We'll see if the dress actually arrives this time.

    Sorry for the rant so I will leave you with this - does anyone watch Cougartown? Have you noticed that the best friend is always wearing JCrew. Last night she wore the amethyst antler tee and long boyfriend jacket. JCrew has also been popping up on Haley on One Tree Hill and I am pretty sure every woman on Castle wears something JCrew every episode.

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  28. This top looks cute but it isn't for me. I work in a very conservative environment and after years of conformity I could never feel comfortable in sequins for anything but a special occasion. Glad to hear it is a winner for others because it looks fun.

    OT - I wore a blue cashmere cardi from 2008 yesterday and there was so much pilling, by the end of the day I looked like a muppet. DH said it looked like I had two Grovers stuck to my chest. Awful.

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  29. I really wanted this top since, but the xs was a bit loose on me so it did not work. But my friend tried on the black and she loved it. I like the black version better as well. My friend had to go a size down BTW.

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  30. Good Afternoon, all!

    Gigiofca is right, all is dependent on skin tone. In the winter I am paler than pale and the grey suits that pallor of mine the best. :)

    Rosa also brings up a hugely important point, size DOWN. I bought an X-small and I am so glad I did. It fits beautifully in the bust and is not too long and not too short. Had I bought a small it would have been too long and too big in the bust.

    I did a review a long time ago on this top--maybe November? I layered it under the Evening Primose Cardi and it looked divine with that.

    Stephanie--what an amazing thing to happen. Wow. There is quite a bit of price difference between the watercolor dress and that coat...quality control, J. Crew. Maybe that should be J. Crew's New Year's Resolution...get shipping to have QUALITY CONTROL.

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  31. Cute top!
    http://yuppielady.blogspot.com/

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  32. I orderd the current year blue cashmere sweater and sent it back today. I just wasn't wowed by the Blue Hydrangea color and got worried about pilling. Not glad to read others neg. comments wish they could be positive but the fact is JC cashmere is not a good investment.

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  33. @Joanna: I'm so sorry to hear that the Joelys are gone. I'll make sure to keep my eye out for more deals and keep y'all posted. ;)

    @Stephanie: 'So sorry to hear about your dilemma. You know what? J.Crew really has to step it up in terms of customer service. So many other retailers are so far and beyond them right now - in terms of their website maintenance, inventory, order consistency, etc.

    I agree with Dinagideon. It all boils down to quality control, people. Sites like Banana Republic, Anthropologie have the feature of allowing the customer the option to "quick look" at the item if you don't want to open the item page. And don't get me started on their zoom capability - the J.Crew website sucks on this aspect. Sometimes it takes forever for a picture to load, and sometimes it doesn't at all. And if it does, we all get this or this. :(

    And Stephanie, I noticed that too! That show's the reason I finally gave in and bought that pleated posy top! Hahaha! I love that show. :D

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  34. Gigi, you're the best. Thanks for the break-down. I thought at first I got a defective top, lol, but now I'm loving the fact that I don't have to worry about strap peekage. Thanks again!

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  35. Thanks for the review! I saw this in person, the sequins seem just right and not too in your face with the bling. Locally there were lots left in both black and ivory, but only in xs and s, it looked like.

    Congrats to whoever scored the pink Joleys for such a great price. My crackle metallic Joleys got here about half an hour ago, and they are to. die. for. I'm styling them right now with the slate ultra kit weekend pant and a tee that DD flung a nugget at during lunch, so fab. The heels do run a little snug, but man are they pretty!

    Stephanie, the actress that plays Hayley wears JC alot, I noticed on some DVD extras, so it's great that JC is on the show so much too.

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  36. You guys are right - shopping at JCrew would be less stressful (and who needs stress when shopping) if they practiced a little quality control. And it should also tell you something that the saleswoman didn't even bat an eye when I explained about the mix up. Why? Bc it happens all the time.

    But I'm happy for now bc I found the pearl box earrings in-store when I went to return the coat and those are backordered online until February so score for me. I also saw a cinnamon stick pencil skirt, size 6 for $79.99 + 30% off at the 45th & Madison store, if anyone was looking for one.

    @Drewablank - That show also sold me on the pleated posey top. It looked amazing on the show but droopy when I had tried it on when it first came out. The top just needs a lot of attention and then it looks amazing.

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  37. I forgot to mention that I also love the zoom capability on Anthro's site. Nordstrom also does that and I feel more confident ordering when I can see the details and the fabric up close, especially w/ final sale!

    ChessyGoodness, I have the dvds but have never watched the extras but now I will so I can play my fav game: JCrew spotting. In real life, I am spotting A LOT of this season's peacoats.

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  38. I love this top! Even at the full price when I bought it I thought it was reasonable. It looks super cute with jeans and is very comfortable.

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  39. I have this in black and love it! However, I had to size down. I can't wait to wear it on it's own when it warms up, too.

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  40. Excuse me, off the subject-has anyone one tried either the Cotton Nouvelle jacket(beechwood) or the Blaine jacket(pewter)? How do they fit? I wear a 2 in dresses, but normally size up in jackets/coats. Also, as far as fabric, any opinions on which looks better and overall versatility between the two? Thanks! Oops, almost forgot, Alexis, I love the new look on the blog. It makes me think longingly of Spring. It is incredibly cold where I live and has been for over a week.

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  41. I have the blue hydrangea cashmere sweater from this year and it is starting to pill around the waist after 10 wearings, previous years sweaters pilled after a couple. There is little improvement in JC cashmere from previous years.

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  42. Stephanie,

    Those jewel-box earrings look gorgeous on line. I wish I could see them in person. I can't figure out how big they are. I know the website says 1-1/2", but I'm having trouble visualizing how the would look on my ears. I have ridiculously small earlobes (non-existant, really).

    Any thoughts on how they sit on the ears?

    --jean

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  43. Jean, I haven't had the chance to try them on for real yet but they are huge (or maybe I'm just not used to wearing danglies.) Maybe the size of the heirlooms but heavier looking and much bigger than how they seem online. I held them up to my smallish earlobes and I think they will hang well.

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  44. OT, but does anyone know what time the updates are happening now? I was being an insomniac like Stefanie last night and checked at 2:00 a.m. my time, no update. When I got up at 4:00 to let the puppy out, the update had happened and things I would have wanted were already sold out. I need to know when to get out of bed!

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  45. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  46. Thanks Silver Lining. I'm going to try to hit that time, I have a few things I really want to try to nab.

    Heidi, I feel your pain! I'm in Arizona. It is literally the middle of the night for me when they restock now. I talked to someone at J. Crew today and asked if they could tell me when the restock would happen. She said they restock all day. I know the numbers vary slightly throughout the day, it was like she was unaware that they have a major upload at one specific time.

    I did notice something interesting last night. At about midnight my time all the pages appeared for items that would be updated. The number of items didn't increase, but those pages appeared. They had the red sold out language. Those are the items that subsequently updated with quantities to purchase later on. So at least I know what I missed by sleeping :)

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  47. Desert Flower,that is an interesting observation ... it appears that the site managers "restore" the popback item description pages before the actual inventory numbers for the items get uploaded (which on a more sophisticated website would never be transparent to the consumer!).

    I wonder if it is always that way. I need my beauty sleep, don't get up in the wee hours to know ...

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  48. Wow, frustrating. Here's a thought that might work if you JCAs out West see a page restore in the middle of the night for a treasured popback without the inventory updated ... CALL THE 800 #. The people taking orders on the phone may be able to see and access the inventory updates faster on their system than they get posted to the lame website.

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  49. The more the website updates are discussed, the more likely it is that J.Crew will change any kind of *pattern* there is to it. It has happened before and will more than likely happen again.

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  50. FFM is right, and its unfortunate. I'll stick to discussing this kind of thing on boards that are private, not searchable, member only with no lurkers :)

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  51. Stephanie,
    At least they gave you the one-time courtesy! When I reordered after they sent me the wrong thing, the man acted like he was doing me a favor to place the order. No free shipping, no non-final sale.

    I tried this top today and it wasn't for me. Cutey on the hanger and on some of you JCAs but not me :(

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  52. Desert flower, I have a question. Can you please email me? Thanks so much!

    mommydearestjca at yahoo

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  53. I got the grey color yesterday with 30% off. I have been into ruffles lately. I got a Plaza Cardigan from anthropologie that it will not go on sale anytime soon and also got a ruffle cardigan from Ann Taylor. I didn't plan to get any ruffle tank when I stopped by my local jcrew store but the tank caught my eyes and remember your review. It's so cute and it will look good under a simple cardigan or jacket.

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