Dogwood Decadence NecklaceClick here for product page
Item 24160
Regular: $135.00
J.Crew describes this necklace as the following:
Czech crystal-studded flowers and masculine oval links, hand-dyed silk satin ribbon and smoky acrylic faceted drops combine to create one of the most elegant statement necklaces of the season. 1" silk ribbon. 18K gold-plated metal casting with steel chain. Signature spring clasp closure.When I glanced over the Jewelry section of J.Crew's online site, my eyes could not believe the mess that is the Dogwood "Decadence" Necklace. I put the decadence in quotes, because I am not sure if J.Crew was being ironic.
Seriously J.Crew, WTF? (Pardon my language ladies & gentleman.) I don't know what I find more outrageous, the crazy design that is being referred to as an "elegant statement necklace" or the ridiculous price tag of $135!
As for the design, it looks like an art project that either has yet to be finished or was done half-ass (again, pardon my language).
J.Crew can promote the "hand-dyed silk satin ribbon" all they want, but they totally cheapen the necklace with its random placement and frayed edges. As for the "masculine oval links", they are just plain weird. It actually reminds me of my childhood summers rummaging papa's tool storage in the garage for bolts & the like to make a necklace.
Oh J.Crew, you can do better than this. You can do much better!
Do you think I am being overly-critical? What are your thoughts on this necklace? Would you buy it or leave it at the store? Have you see this first hand, and if so, what are your impressions?
Quick Poll: Do you like the Dogwood Decadence Necklace?
The dogwood necklace is a bit of a mess. I've seen black dogwoods before...
ReplyDeleteOops!! That should read that I've never seen black dogwoods before....
ReplyDeleteBah! Enough with ribbons tied randomly on necklaces! I'm as over that as I am over ruffles on everything. Dear lord, I might actually have a reprieve from spending money at JC this spring. Nothing at all is floating my boat, and I'm happy for that. Praise be!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, this is a complete mess. Just plain weird.
ReplyDeleteUgh, so sick of all things tangled, rumpled, ruffled, frayed, distressed, sequined, raw-edged, effortlessly chic, borrowed from the boys, authentically aged, hand-nicked, patched, swoon-worthy, we'd love to tell you where this is from but we don't like to brag (read: China)! For the most part, JC's jewelery collection looks like a joke. There are definitely some hot messes in there.
ReplyDeleteO/T Martin & Osa has their Spring line posted some nice items in there.
ReplyDeleteI received my Sriped Popover this week and I love it. The quality is good, I sized down to eliminate the tent effect to give me a more closer to body fit.
I hate the necklace.
This necklace is ridiculous. And the price points for these tangled, ribbon-tied costume jewelry things have gotten correspondingly ridiculous. I'll go to Tiffany for sterling silver.
ReplyDeleteI still don't understand what all the hubbub over J Crew's jewelry is. You can find much better things in any local antique shop, Ebay, and Etsy. much better quality too.
ReplyDeleteI liked silver_lining's comments about everything being "rumpled, ruffled, frayed, distressed, sequined, raw-edged, effortlessly chic, borrowed from the boys, authentically aged, hand-nicked"....spot on!
I want J Crew to stick to making uncontrived nicely-cut, quality clothes, which they do still, but keep adding on more of these affectations that turn me off.
I don't think it is much different than most of their current jewelry -- overdone, ridiculous, and absurdly over-priced. I have purchased quite a few J Crew necklaces over the years, but not lately.
ReplyDeleteA lot of J.Crew jewelery designs make me laugh and shake my head both for the style and the price. This piece is fug and so dated, along with a lot of the other haphazard-looking pieces. How often could you wear these and for how long? Maybe I am overly harsh but I consider jewelery an investment and always go for the real thing and something that is actually heirloom and not just named so.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the laugh Alexis.
I completely agree! It is so ridiculous. I am not often a critic of J.Crew's prices, but I think their jewelry prices are pretty unreasonable.
ReplyDeleteThis necklace just looks like they're trying to hard. End of story. Give me something simple and elegant over masculine any day of the week.
ReplyDeleteWhat is that??? Hate it!
ReplyDeleteOK, Ladies- I might be smoking the Crewlade.
ReplyDeleteI thought "the necklace is OK. There's something about it" If I was in my 20s, I'd wear the black but I'm liking the gold version for me. I was having trouble with the photos on the item page, but the gold comes up with you enlarge the photo of the black one and select gold.
It might have something to do with the "Rita Wilson Fashion" topic on Oprah yesterday on jackets and the "biker chic" for any age segment.
In any case, regardless of my vote, I won't be buying any jewelry with ribbons or twistedness- to fragile and too trendy for my current and not-to- end-real-soon Recessionista Mode.
ITA with everything Silver Lining said . . . can I add that the *name* is stupid too? "Dogwood Decadence" WTF?
ReplyDeleteFor me it's not so much the necklace part (the chain and flowers) -- that's not bad. It's the random and cheap looking ribbons that are so hideous and crazy! It's like they can't just have a simple necklace anymore, it has to look like a tangled mess they pulled out of the tickle trunk.
ReplyDeleteI really wish they would stop making the asymmetrical necklaces. This one looks better in the gold than the black, but the fact that it's crooked and $135 ruins any potential it may have had, IMO. :)
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of costume jewelry and own quite a few pieces. Lately, however I am buying from f21 and Banana. J Crew still has some cute designs- Heirloom Flora series, Grand Piano necklaces, so I picked a few pieces on sale. Gone are elegant beads wigh Swarowski crystals that were swoon-worthy. Current offerings ( past 6-8 months for sure) are not appealing at all. Wonder if someone new is designing jewelry this season?
ReplyDeleteYou're right, the black one is a total no no haha ... yikes ... but the gold version of it is kinda cute, I have to admit.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the black ring links on this, but I really like the gold (more toned down) version of this necklace.
ReplyDeleteOT, AT is having extra 25% off all their sale items and 40% off a single FP item with code SAVE40. They have some good quality winter-weight cashmere cardigans that are now $45. BR/GAP/ON is having a tiered code up to 25% when you spend $150 across all three brands.
Actually, I meant I like the gold less expensive dogwood necklace--the one at $98. Didn't realize this one also came in gold!
ReplyDeleteMeredith,
ReplyDeleteI don't understand it either. I think JCrew jewelry is way over priced and cheap looking costume jewelry. I am a fan of well made costume jewelry that looks real and JCrew does not do anything for me. I look at it and think "Cheap" instantly.
Well, call me crazy but I love the gold version of this necklace. As a foundation layer of a group of necklaces paired with a button down shirt, I think it's perfection. I don't mind that so many don't like it -- just means I'll be able to grab it on sale! :)
ReplyDeletetotally questionable! yeesh!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is nice at all. The black hoops look like the ones I have for my curtains! And yes, the prices of the jewelry are way too high for the materials used! Acrylic beads? They mean plastic... We can definitely find better quality elsewhere!
ReplyDeleteIts ridic!!!! I have 3 jcrew necklaces that i have bought in less than 1 year...the accessory of the season and all that and i swear to God i have received 2 broken and 1 just trashed because it kept breaking and falling on the floor and i couldnt keep finding the missing pieces so just literally threw it away...no more jcrew necklaces for me !!
ReplyDeleteI don't particularly like the necklace, but I did order the dogwood bracelet, ring and earrings in gold, and I love them!
ReplyDeleteExcuse me, who is designing THIS $#$@???? (sadly, we all know the answer) Quantity - read "too much publicity and promotion" - oftentimes means NO quality.
ReplyDeleteHow sad, J Crew, how sad.
I wonder why THIS wasn't the item JC named no-no?
ReplyDeleteOT question: can anyone comment on the fit of the merino ethereal cardigan? TIA
ReplyDeleteFugly!
ReplyDeleteIf this necklace was on sale for $20 I would buy it.
ReplyDeleteI guess J.Crew is still having "come to work drunk Thursdays".
ReplyDeletesilver_lining -- I busted out laughing when I read your post. It's all true...as for "Dogwood Decadence," this thing is a complete disaster. Alexis, I loved your comment about digging through your dad's tool box and finding stuff to make necklaces. I did the same thing when I was a kid. Seeing this necklace makes me want to hang out in dad's shop all over again. LOL!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHexicon, I find that it fits TTS.
ReplyDeleteNasty . . .
ReplyDeleteThere is a new landing page and a *few* new arrivals on the site.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is so ugly. Anyone who would pay $135 for it is, well... drinking way too much crewlade.
ReplyDeleteI also love it when they say that something is made out of "resin", as if everyone doesn't know that means "cheap plastic"
ReplyDeleteGood Lord A-Mighty!!
ReplyDeleteThis almost makes the bug pins look like high-quality products.
Hexicon, I am obsessed with the Ethereal cardis, wore the heather gray today. I agree they do fit TTS.
ReplyDeletei guess i'm in the minority on this one, but there's something about this that i like. i could see it with the cropped green velvet jacket by elevenses (anthro) that's i'm craving as well :) i've been seeing a lot of the ribbons in necklaces lately. i can't say i'd want all those crystals, but overall, i like the black metal look w/ ribbons.
ReplyDeleteThat necklace is scary!
ReplyDeleteAside from the dogwood bracelet (which isn't black), I really didn't see any pieces in J.Crew's newest jewelry offerings that I particularly want - even on sale. I did get quite of their fall '09 jewelry pieces on sale, and I'm happy with those.
Yikes! I actually like the gold earrings, maybe the gold bracelet and the ring is okay but this necklace in the black has to GO! B-A-D
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the skull aesthetic that we saw so much of the past two years. Black metal does not look good IMO and as soon as a piece of the finish flecks off it will be ready for the trash. Ick all around on this one.
ReplyDeleteI used to love ribbons and ruffles but I have to say, even I'm a little over that particular style. But the thing that I'm the most annoyed w JC stuff right now is the 3/4 sleeve on EVERYTHING! Maybe bc it's heart of winter right now and I'm constantly cold, trying to "layer" w/ 3/4 sleeve shirts are a pain.
ReplyDeleteNote to JC: Please stop making every shirt/sweater in 3/4 sleeve. Especially for winter items. Enough already.
i love the "concept" of jcrew's jewelry and like some of the other posters have mentioned, the fall offerings were quite OK and i took advantage of the recent sales to pick up a few things. the dogwood mess made me laugh, but mainly for the price point.
ReplyDeletei just came back from American Eagle and they have a buy one get one 50% off on jewelry plus extra 30% off sale items, so i scored a couple of necklaces already marked $9.99 each, that when worn together mirror the look quite well. so do the math, i paid for 2 necklaces for $10.50! so what if it's going to be passe in a few months, it's soup and sandwich money!