Thursday, November 25, 2010

"Looking to LOVE" with J.Crew

Preface: A big "thanks!" to Ibi who suggested weekly 'Looking to LOVE' and 'Looking to HATE' posts where we could all "deposit" our best & worst current experiences. I think it is a brilliant idea and will try it out for a few weeks. Hopefully this will help out our fellow JCAs! :)

This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a positive situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including stellar experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

23 comments:

  1. I love the plaid coat in the picture from today's J.Crew News: What's Happening Today? post.

    Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! :)

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  2. Me too, FFM! There was recently one on eBay in my size... I was vverrrry tempted to buy it. It's a collection coat... must be from when they first started up the whole Collection line.

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  3. I love it too, and I think by now we're all well aware of how much I love the pre-2009 Crew. BUT, after wearing some of my 2007 pieces this week and drooling over more on ebay, I will say that I do love two aspects of the redesign.

    I like the shorter skirt lengths - NOT the super minis, or really even the 16" minis, but above the knee. The older length was too long on my frame and hits me at a very unflattering point below the knee.

    The other thing I was reminded of is how the tops used to be very unaccomodating for a fuller bust (like larger than a B). The super deep Vs or really high necks and no allowance at the bust made so many pretty tops unfeasible for me. And I am not huge - average, compared to the latest data :) We still see some of these styles, but there is a better mix of cuts that are wearable.

    Still, I would love to see a return to pre-2009 asthetic and quality. A girl can dream!

    Happy Thanksgiving, JCAs!

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  4. I tend to avoid shopping J. Crew in the mall (or any retailer, for that matter). Seems like I only go in the store to return something I bought online.

    I live in the Seattle area and it is interesting to see the difference in a few J. Crew stores. In Bellevue (a suburb), a few years ago they reduced the footprint of the store, and, at first, all the merchandise was pushed together so much it felt cramped. Looks better recently, though. In Seattle's University Village mall, the J. Crew store staffs a security guard right near the door--guess they have a huge problem with shoplifting at that site. It feels a little strange to shop in there when you feel like you are being watched. Sales Associates at both locations have always been professional and efficient for me.

    As far as product line--no one, I mean no one, can beat J. Crew's tailoring in coats and blazers. The quality is top-notch.

    I hope that J. Crew stays with styles that emphasize the waist and doesn't go down the route of boxy cuts.

    I love the Crystal Bloom Earrings--incredibly beautiful.

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  5. I love the JCAs!!!!!

    I also love the feather duster necklace in silver. Saw it on a SA who layered it with another necklace.

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  6. J.Crew's cashmere this year has been much better than in the past. None of the cashmere I've bought this year seems to suffer from the pilling problem quite as badly as previous seasons. Also, the colors cannot be beat. J.Crew has always had great colors for cashmere.

    I love my cowl neck cashmere sweater, it's fantastic and I find myself wanting to wear it everyday! Very relaxed looking and flattering, plus super comfy. I wish they had it in more colors.

    I love that they have more XXS items, too.

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  7. I don't know if this counts but I love the Hansel from Basel striped tights that Madewell offers...even if I went directly to Hansel from Basel and bought directly from their website.
    I bought the striped tights and two pair of the wool ribbed tights and they are warm and stay up very well compared to other sweater tights I own. (Nothing fills me with rage faster than tights that are pooling around my ankles.)
    Although the striped tights are a little more saggy than the ribbed wool tights...maybe has to do with lower merino content? I don't know.

    Anyway, that's what I love.

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  8. Dream zip henley. I got the grey one and wore it twice last week and loved it so much, I ordered the dark cypress as well.

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  9. I'm wearing my cashmere zip sweater over the dot flouncette blouse. I love both of these pieces!

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  10. I had a terrific experience this week with JCrew. I ordered a wooly ribbed turtleneck in the heather fog color during the 30% sale, the item was then cancelled due to selling out, that's happened to me before. I thought Oh Well.
    BUT then I received an email from lovely lady at JCrew who wrote to advise me that she had tracked one down in a store and was sending it to me. I didn't even ask for this service, they did it anyway: I'm impressed.
    So I'm feeling the Love for the Crew, and of course I always love this blog!
    Happy Thanksgiving, JCA's!

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  11. Bright Young Thing, I couldn't agree more, this year's cashmere is much improved. I have several items now and none have pilled like last year's.

    I really love how my old JC items have held up. I have worked in a casual dress environment for a few years but am now looking for another job. I decided to try on my older JC pants and skirts (as far back as 2003 when they were called "low fit"). They all still look great and have really stood the test of time. I'm so grateful to not have to go and buy new work clothes!

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  12. I've had a defective item and a wrong item sent in the past two weeks. In both cases, CS went above and beyond to solve the problems with the minimum amount of hassle.

    I have a closet full of JCrew clothes that I love. Sure, I've made a mistake here and there, and had a bum item or two, but JCrew makes it an absolute joy for me to get dressed every day. Even when I stay in my pjs!

    I am really rooting for the company. I hope going private solves some of the issues we have seen. I am optimistic for next year!

    So today, I too am thankful for Alexis, JCA, the JCAs, and JCrew!

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  13. Happy Thanksgiving JCAs! I would just like to second GiGi's comment. I, too, am thankful for you ladies and this lovely blog that gives me a place to go and commune with people who "get" my obsession. I feel at home.

    That said, the plaid coat in the picture is incredible. Love.

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  14. I love the tartan boy shirt! I bought it this yesterday and found it to be true to size for me. It feels really christmasy. I was unsure about it at first for some reason but I love it now!

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  15. Happy Thanksgiving to the US JCAs!

    First of all, I LOVE the JCA blog, Alexis, and all the lovely people who are so helpful here.

    Second, I just got off the phone with the nicest online PS EVER. I have never used the personal shopper service over the phone, but I wanted to make a large order and was frankly pretty upset that after all the shopping I do at J.Crew, I didn't even get the free shipping on my account. I explained my concern to the PS and she gladly waived the shipping on my order, gave me the TURKEY promo on my whole order (which included factory items), and was very quick and efficient throughout the whole process.

    Also, I totally agree with mommydearest. I own a lot of J.Crew skirts from 2006-2007 that I don't want to let go of because they are so pretty... but I hardly ever wear because of the unflattering length. And as much as I love a very deep v neckline, I just can't pull that off. I'm very happy to see a larger mix of styles and cuts (even if not all of them are design home-runs).

    I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend. Unfortunately I have to go into the office tomorrow (NYSE is not closed the day after Thanksgiving, so neither is the investment firm I work for), so I won't get to go shopping. Looking forward to hearing about the deals people found!

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  16. I also love this plaid coat from the picture. I don't remember seeing it before.

    I am also grateful this day for this wonderful blog Alexis has put together and the lovely JCAs who contribute to the posts.

    @Brightyoungthing: I also love this year's cashmere and have noticed less piling than the year before. I love the colors JC offers each year.
    Also, did you size down for your cowl neck cashmere sweater? I'm hoping for a markdown and additional %off to pick one up some day. ;-)

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  17. jcrewphd, I got a size XXS for the cashmere cowl neck sweater. I usually wear XXS for the cashmere turtlenecks and XS for Jackie cardigans. Just to give you some perspective, I'm 5'1", usually a size 00-0, 32B (TMI?! lol). And the XXS is still pretty loose on me but I think it's just meant to be a very relaxed, tunic look.

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  18. Echoing the sentiments of others, I love this blog and am very grateful to Alexis and other generous JCAs who give their time to post comments, reviews, and information about JCrew in this and their own blogs. It's helped me with so many purchases in the past :)

    This week we've been spending our holiday away from home and I've used my mars-colored silk/cashmere wrap more times than I can count. It's a fabulous color and goes with everything and is so, so soft. It makes me realize that a vital work-horse in one's wardrobe is totally worth every penny!

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  19. I must say I absolutely love the jewelry at J. Crew right now. I'm especially obsessed with the Fenton/Fallon collaboration pieces! My most recent purchase is the Crystal Bloom Necklace (as seen on the cover of the Nov 10 catalog) and I'm in love.

    My jewelry collection has grown and most of it is from J.Crew these days! I hope they continue to create unique and beautiful pieces!

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  20. I have to report my great recent experience! I waited to order the Tartan boy shirt, but finally added it to my bag with several other items. Alas, I received the dreaded e-mail that they were out of stock in my size and they would not be able to fulfill my order. The shirt had been sold out in my B&M for over a week, but I kept trying back on the website for a couple of days, hoping for a pop back, but no such luck. Then, out of the blue, I got an e-mail from a customer service rep, offering to find it for me in a store! Long story short, he found it and it's on its way. That is SERVICE, J. Crew!

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  21. BYT: Thanks for the size info. I think I'll order XS since I normally wear a S.

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  22. I am almost afraid to ask { as not to stir a can of worms again}, did anybody receive any special gifts from Mickey this time around? I believe the earrings were sent out last year. I should not, probably, ask as I am not usually included and do get overly upset over the whole "exclusivity" issue, but curiosity is getting better of me. So, anyone?anything?

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  23. I love my new timber tweed pencil skirt paired with the silvery gray wide ribbed tights. Those tights are really pretty; I just love their color. I also really love my matchstick jeans...I have them in "lived in wash" and they are just perfect...

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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! :)