Tuesday, September 7, 2010

J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs!}

This is the weekly "J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs}" post, to help each other share our reviews.

So if you have recently purchased, or stopped by a J.Crew store to try on an item (or two) from J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Also, this request is not just limited to clothes. Please feel free to discuss bags, shoes, jewelry, accessories, etc.

In particular, if you could mention a few of the noteworthy details like fit, size, fabric, and the like— that would be fantastic! Thanks in advance! :)

49 comments:

  1. Totally OT, but 30% off FS now with free ship on $150. Geez...I think I'm going to get sucked in on this one.

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  3. I reviewed the merino cielo & peekaboo sequin cardis in this post.

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  4. Have anyone seen the Brompton satchel in stores? I'm looking for one but it's not on the website anymore. :(

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  6. I blogged about several items on Sunday, including the Arrow Sweater-Jacket, Dot Chiffon Betsy Wrap Cami, and Paisley Flouncette blouse. Click HERE

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  7. Wearing the gingham check shirt in abyss blue with the canterbury bells sweater also in abyss blue. I can see why people are buying multiples of this shirt...the fit and look are wonderful. I sized up in the sweater to a small so that I could fit the shirt under it and I have received compliments from just about everyone on my staff :) Yay!!

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  9. Has anyone tried the ink blossom halter dress? It looks so cute in the pictures but since it's final sale, I'm scared to bite the bullet without hearing some personal reviews about fit, etc. Thanks in advance!

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  10. I ventured out to my store yesterday to take advantage of the sweater and jewelry promo.

    Love and got the Arrow Sweater in heather elm (green). Fits tts and love that it's 100% Merino wool. However, when I got home one of the sleeve has a knot/pull on the knit so I have to go back to get it exchanged.

    Also, got the Vintage Bateau stripe top in olive color. However, I also discovered the hem unraveling after I got home. OMG, this shirt should not have passed the quality control. Or is there quality control anymore at JC? Back it goes... Btw, I took the same size as I did with my previous VB tops. Arms are a bit snug but I didn't want the body part too loose since it will give a bit when worn for a bit.

    I also got the Rimini in Cobble Stone. I think this one is shop worn since I can already see some fuzz on the arms and the front. Arrgh...nothing is perfect. Fits tts but the arms are snug. I would not be able to layer but a fitting tee or tank top most likely.

    I also got the draped v-neck (yoga) sweater in burnished olive but it may go back since the deep v style is causing a visual "bump" in the mid section area where I'd like to see it visually minimized. Size down ladies. I was swimming in my regular size.

    I also got the Novo stripe wrap top. It's on sale for $59.99 and there was only one left in my size. I took my smaller cami size since the chest part is pretty loose. Also, the v-neck is pretty low so I will be wearing with a black cami underneath. It's also fully lined.

    I wanted the crystal steps necklace but the store had sold out of it during this in-case jewelry 25% off promo. I was able to order it on the red phone, a one time courtesy...

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  11. Boyfriend Merino sweater: I mentioned before that I really wanted it and was so sad when it did this weird thing on my collar bones/shoulders. Instead of a relaxed drape it sort of stood up in peaks if that makes sense. Well, I saw this sweater on one of the main female characters of HBO's "Rubicon" and it does the SAME THING on her. Fun to recognize it though. I think some of the male characters have on JC too.

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  12. Amy,

    Be careful with dresses fit. I own plenty of dresses and halter ones all the same size but I got one on final sale once and could not even get it zipped up. I had used up my one time courtesy return.....

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  13. jcmama, I don't think they have a quality control department anymore. I noticed a QC number in my recent Lands' End order, but I can't remember the last time I saw one in a JC bag and I've received several items with obvious defects that should never have made it into regular inventory. I suspect they're cutting costs by eliminating QC.

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  14. gem twin, Thanks for the review of the boyfriend merino sweater. I like the sweater a lot, but I already have a mountain of BR merino sweaters from last year that I've barely worn. Since the fit of the boyfriend sweater is a little off, maybe I can just let it go and not feel like I'm missing anything.

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  15. I just reviewed the Northern Lights necklace in gold on my blog. It's a beautiful piece. Click here for pictures!

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  16. Thanks, Genny! That's what I'm scared of...

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  17. Has anyone tried tehe Tux henley? New with the last rollout and now on final sale. I'm wondering if it's TTS or runs big. Thanks!

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  18. Herringbone plaid boy shirt Item 29581 Oh, way too tight in the chest/across the back in my regular size 4!! Size up if you have any chest or meat on your bones. (34b w/a tissue tee on when trying it on.) It's 99% cotton & 1% spandex so it 'gives' a little but not enough. The spandex makes it feel a little flimsy to me. Also, the button holes had strings pulling away already, adding to the 'flimsy' feeling. Not a full price buy for me. (Ordered online so it looks like I was the first buyer so it's not like it's been through a bunch of try-ons.) I still like the colors. I've tried several plaid boy shirts & have now decided to send them all back. After seeing several late teen/twenty-somethings wearing plaid shirts this weekend I decided it's not really my style at this time in my life. I may pick up the Carmicheal, the beautifully colored Seth plaid boy shirt or the Herringbone on sale.

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  20. MDPA, I found the tissue tux henley to be TTS. That said, I have a larger chest (36C) and I would have worn it unbuttoned with a tank underneath. It's really cute and I debated, but I don't find myself reaching for tops like that in my closet, so I left it. I might have gotten it anyway if they had the online colors in the b&m's. HTH

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  21. Thank you, math teacher! I love the apricot mist color, so I think I'll try my regular size. It looks like a cute tee for weekend wear for $17. Thanks!

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  22. I received the cobblestone wool minnies and natural merino turtleneck last week. The minnies fit VERY odd (i have the twill minnies and quite like them) and the turtleneck was so thin I would have had to wear a cami... sigh... hope that the next order will be better (moss skirt) as I hate to send things back...

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  23. IRL, I had a different experience with the Herringbone plaid boy shirt. I am normally a 0 in JC tops, and either an XS or S in tees, and the shirt fit me almost perfectly. A tiiinnnyyyy bit of pulling at the chest (I am a 34C), but not bad at all. It's interesting how the same item can have so much variation to it!

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  24. WMM, I would love to read your review of the moss tweed skirt once you receive it. I'm considering it but the high synthetic content is making me a bit wary. Would like to know how it is IRL.

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  25. Hey Andrea, that's my review. I'm disappointed but I could always try a size 6 which means sizing up, if it goes on sale. Hopefully it works better for others!

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  26. IRL, I have noticed a lot of size discrepancies in items I've tried on as well. I was considering buying one blouse that I tried on in two different stores a few weeks apart, and it was almost like I was trying on two completely separate items. It's so weird!!

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  27. I totally get the frustration on the plaid shirt fits. I have the plum, the Seth and the Herringbone. The Plum and Seth I had to size down, but the Herringbone took my regular size.

    I wore the Seth this weekend with light cargos and the navy herringbone Bella and the Crystal Patterns necklace. I'm so so on the Plum and I don't know why I haven't returned it but I've kept it so far. The Herringbone was $10. less in the B&M than on line.

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  28. xoxo I didn't realize the moss tweed was synthetic. I tried on the jacket today and I can totally see that. What a shame because the fit of the jacket is really cute.

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  29. it's a bit late but hope this still makes it to someone! i was in the century city, CA area to visit the madewell store and made a stop at jcrew as well. they were having a 20% off novelty cardigans, rimini included. an unknown (retail only?) color, light peach, was on sale for 54.99. picked up the cobblestone color with the 20 promo as well. will post IRL and reviews shortly.

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  30. Any reviews on the ESME PRINTED PLATFORM SANDALS (item 26309)? I'm thinking about ordering them for an event, but would like to know whether to order my smaller or larger size. Thanks :)

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  31. Btw the metallic bell sequin skirt online http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/skirts/aline/PRDOVR~29021/29021.jsp ($275) looks so much like the inshore version but that one is $118 (I think? Somewhere around there)

    I asked a employee the difference and she asked others and said there is no actual difference?!? I don't know how that could be possible with the huge price difference but they look the same.... Anyone else have any insight??

    Tia !

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  32. Paisley flouncette blouse in this post.

    mommydearest - Review of Esme platform on Slastena's blog.

    Amy - The ink blossom halter is jcrew.com only and I don't recall seeing any bloggers that tried it. I stay away from halters even though my shoulders are probably average. I agree w/J Crew dress fit. It's even tougher to get accurate on their halter dresses, I've noticed. I'd call of chat w/personnel to get measurements.

    jcrewlove - The 2 skirts are different, imo. The more expensive one is a bell cut w/elastic & pockets. They mention tulle, patina'd sequins, etc... The in-store skirt is a pencil skirt, made of poly, no pockets. I guess you can expect the Collection skirt to be better made and more rare, given that it's sold out. That's my $0.02.

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  33. jcrewlove, the in store version is also a bell skirt, but the fabric is very different: the sequins are sewn on a tweed base in the Collection version (the sequins are bigger too) while the store version is lighter and flimsier(tulle?)
    The color is also pretty different (olive for the collection version and a deep gold for the store version). HTH!

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  34. Ema thanks so much for the info! Now that it is sold out I want it! Completely irrational!! Thanks for the help! :)

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  35. My wildcat ombre skirt arrived today. As with so many of my recent JC purchases, I'm happy for it given the amount I paid ($39.99) but if I'd sprung for it at the FP of $98, I'd be disappointed. This is a very ordinary skirt, and the color of the pink ombre is different than depicted in the website, more salmon than azalea.

    Oh, and LOL, my confirmation word is "shame"!

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  36. Tried on a bunch of things today:

    Velutto shift (29219) - The only good thing I can say is the rich plum color is pretty. The fit was AWFUL on me and the price ($198) is laughable for such a mess. I'm sure some of the JCAs will rock it, though.

    Dot chiffon Betsy cami (28509) - The fit is so bizarre. I sized down and even the chest (I am a little busty) was baggy. The tie was at completely the wrong place. As Gigi and others have mentioned, it's stitched down but I think you could rip those stiches out and move the tie. Still, I am tempted by the online addtl 30% (with free shipping) because it looked so pretty under a cardi. I couldn't wear it alone though.

    Microspun cowlneck tee (29659) - Light and fluid - the fabric has a really nice hand. Tried vintage wisteria on and it was fine, but I'm sure the lighter colors would be totally see-through. Fit was off, like everything else, it seems, this season. Took my normal small and the sleeves were tight (not uncomfortably so) and body way too boxy. There is no cowlneck, just a sort of sad droop at the neck. Pass, even on sale.

    Vintage bootcut cords (28363) - Fine, but I prefered the cut and fit better in previous years.

    Peekaboo sequin cardigan (29849) - Last year's crewneck ran big, this year's v-neck is running small, IMO. They also changed the buttons to a smooth plastic - which slipped right out of the buttonholes (ie, on me it wouldn't stay buttoned).

    Wool Bell skirt (28704) - hangs straighter than the velvet version. I went up 1 size in the velvet, and I liked 2(!) sizes bigger in the wool.

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  37. Oops, I forgot one!

    Tulipe cami (28734) - Really pretty, but just didn't hang right on me. The smaller of my cami sizes was slightly more fitted, but just didn't hang correctly. My larger cami size (normal perfect shirt size) hung better but just wasn't flattering through the body. Online, it appears to have great shape through the waist. On me, there was no shape. Too bad.

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  38. And one more!

    Tiered ruffle silk cami (30280) - Fit was TTS, but it hadn't been steamed. The third tier stuck straight out and was completely out of shape. Even when I tried to fix it, it wouldn't go where it should (hard to explain) so it was impossible to tell how it should look. Pretty color, though. If you're ordering it, maybe ask whether it is shipped folded. I think that's what ruined the tier and if you don't have a steamer, I'm not sure how it would work.

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  39. LOL Hexicon that must be for 'shame' on J Crew!

    Subscribing!

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  40. I purchased the Embroidered flower patch shell item 27285 from final sale & rec'd it today. The fit is tts & a perfect fit! My only complain is some of the embroidered flowers extend off the edge of the material so there are some fuzzy ends & loose strings that need to be sealed. Overall not bad. I was really put off by the size of the bedazzling sequins but as soon as I put it on I realized they were not too overpowering. I ended up getting the Caribbean Pink but would gladly snatch up a black/cream one on popback.

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  41. Posted a review on the retail-only (for now) green chiffon floral Cecelia cami, and also some fitting room pics on my blog!

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Dear J.Crew Aficionadas & Aficionados: Please feel free (and encouraged) to share your thoughts and opinions. :) However, please note that this is still a personal blog. So comments that are considered inappropriate (e.g. obscene, racist, homophobic, personal attacks, rude, and just plain mean) will be removed.

And now back to J.Crew! :)