"Thanks!" to many of you, including Marietta & Ketan, who shared the following email from J.Crew this morning.The email features a favorite look from their latest November catalog and breakdown how they pull it together. In fact, J.Crew is "obsessed with the layered-on texture and subtle mix of pattern".
The styling is quite a difference compared to the styling of November 2007 (as featured in the "J.Crew of Seasons Past: August 2007!" post).
What are your thoughts on the outfit in the email? Are you also obsessed with the layered styling J.Crew offers as of late? Any pieces in the outfit that you absolutely love?
The pencil skirt is too short. I wish they made them in the longer lengths like they have in seasons past. I am so glad I bought at least one last year! Wish I had bought another! The older length is classic and won't go out of style. This one will look dated in a year or two (unless you are 5'4" or under.)
ReplyDeleteNot crazy about the styling at all. Too chunky and midwestern - reminds me of Sundance Catalog's styling.
ReplyDeleteAgh...so tired of retailers using the phrase "we're obsessed"! It is so overused these days.
ReplyDeleteIs the Sunnie pencil skirt really this short IRL??
ReplyDeleteI want to know where this person is going. I think that a hip urban person with a job in fashion could wear this. I don't think most of J. Crew's customers fit that demographic.
ReplyDeleteAppGal,
ReplyDeleteIt was on me. Looked riduculous IMO compared to other JCrew pencil skirts. Shorter gals might be rejoicing however.
Where does she work? I can't wear a skirt that length or that many bracelets or those shoes to work.
ReplyDeleteI have the in-store Sunnie and its much longer. Its like the summer pencil skirts.
It's definitely a lot of "look". I would look 10 pounds heavier if I were to attempt it.
ReplyDelete"Our slouchy, crazy cozy knit is our topper du jour this winter..."
ReplyDeleteWhat the what? That doesn't make any sense at all. I think J. Crew needs to edit, and I don't mean just its word choice.
I am actually wearing the cardigan in that color today, but I think I styled it more like the old J. Crew Days. It is pretty chilly here today, so I threw it on (in lieu of a coat) over a charcoal wool sheath dress, black tights and black boots. Frankly, I prefer my styling version better...
ReplyDeleteI agree wity you, Pansy...the look is a bit "Sundance Catalog".
The sweater is actually shedding pilling and shedding all over me today. I will have to review it after wearing it the full day (this is the first time I'm wearing it).
Well they got the crazy part right.
ReplyDeleteAs my mother would say, "Did she get dressed in the dark?"
I wish J Crew would go back to the simple chic sophisticated styling that got most of us hooked in the first place. In this photo you can't even tell what the clothes are.
The styling looks a bit too "effortless" for my taste. I prefer styling that looks like someone put a little thought and effort into getting dressed, rather than just threw on random garments in the dark.
ReplyDeleteThis is so undesirable to me. It's not preppy, it's a thrown together mess!
ReplyDeleteI like the plaid on plaid and subtle color mix but couldn't walk far in the cute booties with my vintage back....
ReplyDeleteI don't know what's worse, the outfit or the models's posture
ReplyDeleteMore like "We're obsessed with making our models look drab & washed out. Our inspiration was, umm, our last catalogue, which our designers found full of piled-on layering & borrowed from the boys stuff, and decided to copy because we've run out of ideas."
ReplyDeleteOT... just found a bella (factory, but still) on eBay, size 2, the camel wool. here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/STUNNING-J-CREW-WOOL-SCHOOL-BOY-JACKET-2-/270658429877?pt=US_CSA_WC_Blazers_Tailored_Jackets&hash=item3f047fe3b5
ReplyDeleteNot my auction.
Pretty sure that model's legs are about five feet long, and the skirt is hiked up high on her waist. We'd be flattering ourselves (even the taller amongst us) if we thought the pencil would look so short on us.
ReplyDeleteBTW, can you imagine if it went down to her knees? It'd look like she were squeezed into a tweed tube!
I don't understand the fuss... except if I were to suppose that some people need styling to look in the picture like it would look on them, whereas some people (like me) can see a picture and imagine how it could actually work on their own bodies/with their own styling.
Even though I am a fan of J.Crew's newer styling, I can still look at the old stuff, take a piece I like, and style it up my own way without feeling disgruntled about the picture. It's actually more fun, for me anyway, to put my own twist on a piece of merchandise, rather than wearing it exactly as the retailer intended (be it preppy or sexy).
J.Crew, or Club Monaco, or Banana Republic, or anyone else for that matter can display the product anyway they see fit, as long as there is something in there that I can take away and make my own. Just my two cents (obviously).
They left off the caption: "Any spare change?"
ReplyDeleteNot a look to which I aspire.
Sub
ReplyDeleteYes, styling is just supposed to give you ideas, but I think people on here are saying this, and much of the recent styling at J Crew, doesn't inspire them nearly as much as years past. I wouldn't wear some of the complete outfits in the 2007 images, but I still find them more interesting and the pieces themselves much more wearable, colorful, versatile, and interesting.
ReplyDeleteI don't even know where to begin. Not a look I love, even in the slightest.
ReplyDeleteSame here, not crazy about the styling though I'm curious to see the cardigan in real life. I've been so disappointed with the wool blend sweaters that I won't buy unless I see it and feel it.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to hit 97 degrees here today (record high since 1900). I can only imagine what it feels like to be wearing coats and boots. ;-P
OT, but there are lots more markdowns online. I caved and got these items, hope they don't develop holes.
ReplyDeletePetit jardin mini #30440
now $39.99
Notte tweed pencil skirt #29764 -- now $79.99
Lace tee #31958 -- $69.99 (very pretty)
Dream zip henley #31359 -- now $69.99
(I know, the dreaded dream yarn -- but I tried this on in-store and LOVED it, so cozy but chic too)
Arrow sweater-jacket #29002 -- most colors now $89.99
(I got the heather caramel)
There goes my rewards card! (combine with the 25% off, lessens the blow somewhat, even with shipping)
Whitney,
ReplyDeleteAs I stated I have tried on this skirt and it is this short on me...and yes I am tall:)as a model with legs as long as them:)
Genny, I suspect the model is really tall. The skirt itself is 22", so not too short for me, for example. I am 5'6". I like that skirt.
ReplyDeleteLOL I see we posted at the same time. I didn't realize you were that tall. For regular folk like me the skirt is perfect length. Too bad they don't offer this in Tall versions.
ReplyDeleteOT, went to B&M to do some returns and found the northern lights necklace for 39.99 and the crystal mix ring for 19.99.
ReplyDeleteDue to all the rave reviews I ordered myself the boulevard trench from the red phone and they let me apply the 25% off with the free ship as long as I got an SA on the phone to give their employee # (not sure why that was necessary). I wasn't going to order unless they gave me the free ship with the promo.
I think by the time black friday/cyber monday rolls around they will have to do % off PLUS free ship for everyone or lose major sales to competitors.
Can't really find anything nice to say about the outfit. I couldn't wear any of it to work and I also tend to brush my hair before hitting the office too.
ReplyDeleteI'm also at a loss to the very bright red lipstick trend. I know that red lipstick is a classic staple in most women's make up bag, but J Crew seems to choose a red that is too bright for the model's skin tone. I notice the lipstick rather than the clothes and accessories.
Rose,
ReplyDeleteYes, I am 5'10 1/2" in flat feet:) with long arms and legs. I do not have a long torso. My torso is regular and therefore, tall sizes NEVER fit me. It is hilarious to see me in a Tall shop trying on clothes...silly looking/great for a laugh!
The newer, shorter length pencil skirts do not flatter me at all. They look strange. I first noticed it on one I bought this spring that was shorter than the other two pencil skirts I bought a few months earlier. I am assuming this one would look the same on me as well. I am taller at 5'9 3/4" to be exact.
ReplyDeleteOT, and hope it is ok to post here.
ReplyDeleteI just received the first order sent by Canada Post and the duty was $19.06Cdn instead of $27.48US on an order totalling $114.97, so it is slightly cheaper. The order was shipped last Wednesday and I received it today, and I dare say this was even faster than UPS, if I recall correctly.
As discussed--I think the skirt issue is definitely connected to different bodies--torso length, leg shape, etc The longer pencils just don't look that great on me and I am also 5'-9". I do not wear minis but 22 inches is about perfect. i think its nice that if you check through the skirts they aren't all just one length for a season. They try to have something for everyone.
ReplyDeleteThey should make the skirts longer...it's easy to shorten (and J Crew used to have free altering, I think) than it is to lengthen.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the outfit at all. I love JC pencils but I don't like the pattern on this one. Also, the only way I'd wear that sweater would be maybe w/some skinny jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt and scarf. Although I don't like the oatmeal color of it. so, maybe if it came in a different color....
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI really do not care for the styling on this outfit, or for much of the styling in general at J.Crew right now. I think it does matter how they style the clothes for the catalogs, magazines, and websites. Why not showcase them in the best way possible? They ARE in the business of selling clothing after all, so why not make the pieces/outfits look as appealing as possible?
ReplyDeleteITA, FFM. Styling *does* matter. It's the job of the stylists to present the clothes in a way that makes people want to buy them. If they aren't doing that, then they aren't doing their job. I suspect the people who insist it's unimportant aren't stockholders.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest bother with styling is never the catalogs or the lookbooks. Rather I get REALLY BOTHERED when the items are poorly portrayed on jcrew.com. It really does make me irritated that an item I have bought and fallen in love with in real life looks downright UGLY on the web site. Come on, now, J. Crew...you do realize that once on the site women make real decisions on whether to get a product or not depending on how it looks on the model. Do you think I want to buy something that looks TERRIBLE on a 6 feet tall skinny woman? If it looks bad on her, my 5'8", curvy self isn't go to look better!!! No wonder so many items end up in the sale section.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many examples I could list, but I will give but two...
The washed silk shirtdress (ugh, she looks like she is in a correctional facility) and the Camo crinkled chiffon skirt (yikes, they made the model look crazy!).
I think these two items *could* be okay on their own, not the best, yes, but styled with a bit more careful eye, and maybe more folks would have been willing to bite.
This has been a big PET peeve of mine for a while, even back in the good ole days. I feel like someone, somewhere isn't taking a good long look at the images before they go on the web site. I usually am the Pollyanna of this group, but even I can't get jazzed about their website photography.
I just got the merino dore cardigan in the ivory color. It is so thin! And seethrough!! And the gold buttons are too heavy for the cardigan so they droop! AND AND AND the buttons are too large for the freakin button holes. I had to force (read: FORCE!!!!) the buttons through the button holes to even undo the cardigan to try it on.
ReplyDelete100% a return.
Dinagideon, I agree that the website photography leaves little to be desired. The double serge stripe pencil skirt looks like it's part of a paper doll set and frankly I get so distracted by it that I have no interest in the actual skirt. But I know in real life the skirt is a huge hit with some JCAs. So I always need to see in person for the final judgment. (That's also why I'm not thrilled by the online factory section. No models!)
ReplyDeleteDina, I don't know if the cardi you got was defective but "force" seems like an exaggeration to me. I ordered two, the gold and the black, and I love both of them. The gold is a great color. The buttons were easy to undo and button up. And only the button on the collar was droopy. The sleeves were also a touch long so I sized down to solve those issues for me.
Oh, gosh...well, I sort of like this outfit. Maybe not these exact pieces but I do like the idea of the skirt, the tights, the shorter boot, the socks peeking out of the boots, the longer cardigan, the lipstick. I like the general mix of colors and the layering. I also really like the idea of this email...ideas of how to put together an outfit with pieces from the brand. I wish they sent out more emails like this. I really enjoy the catalogs for that reason...it gives me ideas. Maybe not ones I would copy exactly but ideas of how to put things together so things don't get stale.
ReplyDeleteI bought this skirt in the b&m color and it hits me right above the knee. I'm 5'4". The sa's told me that where it hit me is where most women want their skirts hemmed (that shop at my b&m anyway). I think it's a perfect length for boots. I think if you're taller than me, that it will be too short. It's about 2 inches shorter than last year's perfect pencil and it has about a 2-inch hem. HTH
ReplyDeleteI love the look honestly! I know I can't pull off that cardigan because it's too big but I love the idea of it!!
ReplyDeleteAppgal- totally agree on the "obsessed" -- JCrew uses it in almost every email now!! Ahh!
ReplyDeleteDesert Flower- well said.
Barbabelle: More like "We're obsessed with making our models look drab & washed out. Our inspiration was, umm, our last catalogue, which our designers found full of piled-on layering & borrowed from the boys stuff, and decided to copy because we've run out of ideas."
Hahahaha
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEmily, I don't know that it is so easy to shorten a pencil skirt. You would either raise the hem and subsequently shorten the back vent - there is no extra fabric to open the vent higher - which would mean more stress on the seaming above the vent when you walk or get in/out of a car. Almost impossible to repair the skirt if it rips. If you want to shorten it at the waistband you need to put in a shorter zipper and adjust the darts, otherwise the shaping would be off. Neither sound like simple or inexpensive solutions to me. Maybe I'm wrong and it really is nothing.
ReplyDeleteI like the Sunnie skirt, it is on my wishlist. I think it would be almost as versatile as the double-serge bronzed ochre and I have a major weakness for plaid. The rest of the pieces are blah. The boots look like she is ready to go a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson, the huge sweater lapels I find laughable and is that a handbag or a suitcase she is carrying? Ick.
I heard that the 25% off $150 starts tomorrow in stores:)
ReplyDeleteI think she looks like a hobo who randomly grabbed a bunch of items and threw it together. hah.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
ReplyDeleteI generally won't have a pencil skirt with a vent or pleat hemmed. It ruins the placement of the vent and the skirt looks awkward no matter how good your tailor (and mine is amazing!).
A simply cut full skirt is another story, but most pencils with any kind of detailing around the bottom need to fit off the rack.
I did recently shorten a 33 inch straight black skirt to 22 inches. It had a long vent that went to about 4 inches above the knee. Now it has a nice little 4 inch long vent on the side and is perfectly proportional, but this is rare.
They need to do what BR does and offer petite, regular and talls.
As for this outfit, I think the blandness ruins an otherwise cute outfit. The skirt is only too short because it is hiked up to well above the models waist.
ReplyDeleteIf you put in on a mere 5'4" mortal like myself with a brighter colored cardi and some nice pumps, it would be perfectly acceptable even in my conservative office. Once again JC managed to make some ok pieces into a not so great outfit.
I like pieces from this look, but not the overall look. I follow a blog called Look 4 Less, which recreates... looks for less. The author actually just posted how to recreate this exact look without paying the J. Crew prices. I found it interesting, and thought I'd share. http://www.thelook4less.net/2010/11/inspired-byj-crew-reader-request.html
ReplyDelete