Vintage Zebra-Stripe TrenchClick here for product page
Item 22365
Regular: $188.00
J.Crew describes this trench as the following:
All the true-to-tradition details of a classic trench, updated in a brushstroked zebra stripe (what can we say, we're animal lovers). The best part? The playfully tiered ruffles in back. Yup, this is the piece that will make you pray for rain. Cotton/poly/metallic threads. Long sleeves. On-seam pockets. Functional tabs at cuffs. Fully lined. Hits at hip.The Vintage Zebra-Stripe Trench is no Snow-leopard Simone Peacoat (which I absolutely adore!) Instead, this trench makes me wonder if J.Crew is straying from the classic but chic appeal of their line by going to ruffle-overdrive. Apparently, I am not the only one...
A big "thanks!" to Tiffany Rose for suggesting this item for a "Questionable Item of the Week" post. At first glance, this jacket from the front view does not seem so bad. In many regards, it has a cute zebra print with a classic trench shape. However, from the back... there are a lot of ruffles goin' on. The tiers of ruffles on the back side are way too much. I love ruffles and I think J.Crew does a great job of incorporating ruffles in the past few seasons, but maybe they shouldn't stick ruffles onto every new arrival. ;)
Also, a big "thanks!" to Mack who took notice of this jacket for a different reason. She found a mini-blooper with the stock photos of this jacket. In particular, the image of the jacket on the model shows cuffs around the sleeves while the image on the mannequin does not. To emphasize this blooper, the cuffs disappear/ reappear when you zoom in and out from the image of the jacket (shown on the model).What are your thoughts on this jacket? Do you like or dislike the style (e.g. ruffles) or print? Do you own this jacket? If so, please share your review (& let us know if it came with cuffs or not). :)
I agree. I love ruffles, and especially J.Crew ruffles... but ruffles on a trench? with painted zebra stripes? It is a bit much. Their new flats, on the other hand...
ReplyDeletei wish it came without ruffles....but i have to see it in person. much better without ruffles though. i agree, it's a crazy pattern, the rest should be simpler.
ReplyDelete"Overdrive" on the ruffles is exactly how I feel. I think that the incorporation of ruffles on this trench and as Emily noted on their new "flats" suggests they may be completely out of place. I have ranted about the overuse of their ruffles on more than a few occasions. However, several weeks ago when I politely commented on the too many seasons of ruffle-mania to the lovely sales girl at a B&M, she politely replied, "It wouldn't be J. Crew without the ruffles". I couldn't disagree more. Classic, timeless pieces with a slightly modern edge would be words for me that describe J. Crew and distinguish them from their competition, but I hope that "ruffles" never becomes part of that description or association!
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the Silver Metallic Houndstooth Trench from last year? Classic shape, knock-out fabric pattern, No embellishments. If they had done the same with this zebra print, I would have been all over it.
ReplyDeleteThey must have noticed their error as the one on the model no longer has cuffs now either. I'm not a big fan of the jacket, but it would have been cuter WITH the cuffs.
ReplyDeleteI really dislike this coat, with or without ruffles ...
ReplyDeleteI just got last year ruffled-collar short trench off ebay (a big regret of mine) and I LOVE it, it's so well made (and the ruffles on the collar are detachables!)
I clicked on the product page to look at the ruffles, but there is no longer a rear image of the jacket. What gives?? Did I miss something?
ReplyDeleteFor the same price I just purchased a darling trench from Anthropologie that has a tiered bottom, rather than ruffles. Its a fairly good copy of a Burberry trench that I could never afford. I would have been interested in this zebra version if it had been a coat rather than a jacket, and it had the print but no ruffles. I don't think a ruffled zebra trench jacket is something classic you could wear for years. As a trendy piece at half the price I might bite.
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ReplyDeleteI really wish J Crew did a better job of getting photos that actually match the production item. It amazes me how many times I receive an item that is shorter than expected, missing an important detail or a completely different color than shown online.
ReplyDeleteOn a similar note, I received the sunshine peony shirt yesterday and the celocia cardi in the aqua.
I hate the shirt IRL. The fit is nice and the shirt is made well and is out of a fabric with a lovely texture. However, the fabric color is not nearly as light as it looks online. Online, both it and the pictures of the skirt I have seen look like they have a nearly white background. Instead, it is much darker and more mustard. I decided against it while removing it from its shipping box, which is never a good sign.
The Celocia cardi is nice. I love the gray one from the fall and this is equally lovely. However, aqua is the last color I would have used to describe this piece. It is a actually a minty or jade color - much more green than I expected it to be.
Really, I get more acurate pictures for eBay with my cheap little camera and poor lighting. This is one area in which they can do better.
When I first saw this jacket online I thought it had a lot of potential until I took a look at the back view on the website. Why oh why did they DO that to this jacket? I wouldn't even consider it on sale at this point.
ReplyDeleteOverdone... just like turquoise in decorating.
ReplyDeleteI love both ruffles and turquoise, but it is EVERYWHERE.
I'm adding you to my bloglist.
kitsmommy, I agree. I recently got the twill bomber jacket in wild mushroom which was pictured as a light brown. It actually a pinky or mauvey tan (not a color I can wear). They have since updated the website but I have the pics in polyvore of the original posted color - which I wish I could get - I really liked the jacket otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThis jacket was at first glance interesting until the back view completely turned me off. The ruffles are just stupid. Boden has some cute printed trenches plus I received a 15% off & free shipping coupon with my catalog.
ReplyDeleteOT--does anyone know how or if a We Will Find It works if the item is online/catalog only? if my size/color is sold out online, is it just gone forever (or at least until a popback)? thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteI was considering purchasing this coat and had no idea there were ruffles on the back (no rear image).
I would have been royally honked when it arrived and its backside looked like a diaper cover.
KittyKate,
ReplyDeleteLove your Blog!
chris--that is so telling. is it j.ruffle now?! greaaaat. but i'm stuck in the glory days of j.crew past.
ReplyDeletedesert flower--that anthro trench is lovely. i am hoping it goes on sale at some point!
kitsmommy, can you post a photo of the shirt? I have this in my cart for the next order and really would like it with the white background but I'm curious about the mustard color you describe. I must see before I buy it.
ReplyDeleteTIA
kitsmommy,
ReplyDeleteI got the shirt on Tuesday. I don't like it either--the sunshine peony print one. It is going back. I think Dinagideon has it pictured on her blog. It was a big disappointment to me as well...
Sorry, I don't have a picture of the shirt, but if you are expecting a light background you may be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI think the pictures of the cardi I have seen on other blogs are very true to color/pattern. The skirt picture Slastena has is way off from the IRL color as is the picture on the J Crew site of the shirt.
Though the print looks unique I wouldn't consider getting it due to the ruffles.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I don't see the back view with the ruffles. From the description it sounds like it would look terrible. This ruffles trend needs to end!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the strangely odd, short and boxy shape. This arm length is actually too short on the model and the shape is really...shapeless.
ReplyDeleteSoon to be seen knocked off at F21 for $29.50 sans the ruffles.
Baybaybay:
ReplyDeleteI did a review of the sunshine peonies shirt on "my superfluities" last night. I really like the shirt, but I will put two caveats out there...I tend to look better in the warmer fall and spring colors (you know, mustard yellow, hot pink, orange, lime green), and I also tend to "run hot." So the colors on the shirt are divine to me, and the thinner cotton fabric is a good thing for me.
If you love the pattern but can't wear those colors near your face, the pencil skirt that slastena previewed on her blog (still in pre-order) could be an option.
Anyhow, I bet half the JCAs will love the sunshine peonies print and the other half will hate it! :) But, hey, at least we have one "brighter-colored" option out there after multiple seasons of pale, washed out pastels! :)
Thanks dinagideon, kitsmommy and Genny for the information and IRL photos of the sunshine peonies shirt. It is a definite pass for me, I cannot wear those warm colors and I don't really care much for the pattern on the colored background. You just saved me $98 + shipping!
ReplyDeletebaybaybay,
ReplyDeleteGlad to help. I really liked the pink in the shirt but the warm mustard/yellow really turned me off. At least we both know now for sure......
Genny, I am sorry the shirt didn't work for you. You did make me feel better about my skirt preorder though. I was hoping there was more yellow/mustard in the skirt than shown in the picture on Slastena's blog, and you confirmed that for me! I can't wait for it to arrive.
ReplyDeleteI received the Peony Perfect shirt yesterday and really like it a lot. The two predominant colors of the shirt are very similar to my two all time favorite J.Crew colors Honey Glaze and Bright Fuchsia, which are set on a cream background, along with light pink and tan/camel...very vibrant and pretty, especially for Spring. I ordered both the size 0 and 2...the 0 definitely fits better, which is what I've found in the other perfect shirts I've tried on this year, as well. I think it's a nice change to actually receive something in vibrant colors again. :)
ReplyDeleteEwww, I don't like this jacket at all. It looks cheap and not like J.Crew at all. I did get the men's cashmere cardigan today, in XS (I typically wear a S or sometimes M in women's sweaters) and it is great. It seems better made than the women's cashmere.
ReplyDeleteI saw this when they still had the back view online and I thought it was kind of cute, but that the zebra print and back ruffles were too much together. If it were a candy pink with back ruffles I would have bought it. If it were the zebra print without the back ruffles I would have considered it.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the online photo now it is really a rather blah styled jacket. For $188 anyway.
I too bought the peony shirt. I find that it is colorful but in very limiting colors IMO. The yellow/gold is to overwhelming and looks more fall than spring/summer to me. Not a fan of this print in person. I agree with other. It is going back. FYI: it fit true to size. I own 10's in all my JCrew shirts from years ago and still the same now...for those interested.
ReplyDeleteI was ready to love the jacket until I saw the rear view. I don't get the ruffles on the back and the trech is off my wish list.
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ReplyDeleteI adore animal prints but I'm not feeling this trench. It has too much going on.
ReplyDeletei think the model cuffed the sleeves. The zebra stripes are a little too much. i would like to see this item in person but they dont carry this at my local J. Crew.
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