"Thanks!" to many of you, including minzunuami (in this post) & Irina, who shared the following offer from J.Crew this morning.J.Crew is offering free shipping on all J.Crew Factory items (click here to shop online). What's fantastic about this offer is (1) there is no minimum (yey!) and (2) it is automatically applied at checkout (no code required- just like the old days!) This offer expires Sunday, March 6, 2011.
I am loving this promotion and hope that something similar will be extended to regular J.Crew online.
I am also curious if J.Crew is offering so many exclusive Factory promotions to move their Factory inventory. (Especially since prices are so much better at brick & mortar Factory stores as oppose to Factory online. Online needs to give shoppers more incentives.)
What are your thoughts on J.Crew's Factory new offerings? Will you check them out?
Posted some reviews of factory items, including rugby silk stripe top and eyelet mini here:
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I still don't quite "get" the whole factory store thing. I remember when outlets were simply overstocks from retail. JC Factory seems to be pumping out dupes fast and furious, which to me is just another piece of the puzzle. Do I buy something from retail if they're just going to offer it at the Crewlet soon? It seems like the Crewlet quality is about the same as retail lately. Ehhhhhhh...!
ReplyDeleteshopwithm: thanks for the reviews. I have to tell you that I think the eyelet mini looks fantastic on you (but you have to go with what feels comfortable)!
ReplyDeleteGood move getting the outlet flipflops on sale. I bought my daughter an adorable pair last summer, and she wore a hole through the sole in 2-1/2 weeks. Although they look exactly like the regular crew flipflops, the sole is much less dense/durable.
I recently received the crewlet navy schoolboy blazer for about $50 -- a very nice jacket for the price. I am sure the original JCrew jacket is much better made, but I won't wear it enough to justify spending $188.
I had ordered the regular JCrew double breasted Bonnie blazer in navy for $90-something dollars (it is back to $188 now) because I loved the look of the double-breasted buttons. Unfortunately, it was a little boxy and I'm not sure it is actually navy -- it looks black to me.
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ReplyDeleteI think that ever since they started making factory pieces in previous retail prints and now even in exact duplicates, that it makes the retail pieces feel less special. I would rather they come up with original ideas to make for the Factory and leave the retail pieces for retail only.
ReplyDeleteI kind of like the Factory concept of clothes that are similar to the regular J Crew items but more economical. I think J Crew is smart to broaden their customer base, they already appealed to an incredibly wide age range, now they appeal to a wider income range too. But I will say that the whole outlet phenomenon has turned me off, I remember when outlets were regular clothes that came from the regular stores (not just J Crew but all outlets), but when it turned to specially made clothes for the outlets I stopped shopping there. Factory for me is an exception, mostly because I can buy online. :)
ReplyDeleteJCK can you provide a quick review of the schoolboy blazer? I am wondering if it runs true to size. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI really don't want to spend a lot of money for anything knowing that I am going to see a bunch of junky copies the next season. It does make my retail items feel less special even if they are better quality.
ReplyDeleteThey need new designs for the retail store or to use much older styles. I don't even mind them reusing popular fabrics in new styles or making older styles in new fabrics, but I resent the exact copies.
Thanks for the reviews shopwithm - the rugby stripe top looks great on you. Something I'm definitely taking a second look at now!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone seen the Factory Motorcycle Jacket IRL? There's no model photo online (which is true of most items) and I just can't get a feel for what the jacket *does*, if that makes sense. Is it cropped? 3/4 sleeves, boxy? What goes on? Hmmm,...
Any comments and suggestions appreciated, even if you haven't seen it in the store!
I just think the Factory prices are through the roof..... if I were able to score some great deals on "factory" items then yay...but pass for now!
ReplyDeleteI got the Navy Crewlet Schoolboy blazer in a size 6, my usual J.Crew jacket size. I think it is pretty true-to-size for their blazers, maybe just a tiny bit looser. I also have a Bella Herringbone blazer and Lady Day Coat in a 6 -- they are both slightly more fitted than the schoolboy. I think I could achieve a more fitted silhouette with the schoolboy by simply moving the buttons slightly, but I probably won't. For reference, I usually wear a 4 (and sometimes a 2) in perfect shirts and a small in knit shirts and sweaters).
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could size down in this one becaue the shoulders are just right, and I think the back vent would probably pull open if I went any smaller.
As I said previously, it is a nice jacket for the price, but not nearly as "fine" a garment as the regular J.Crew version.
Agree with silver, kitsmommy and FFM. While I have loved the opportunity to score select Factory items that mimic older treasures I missed out on, I just find myself confused about why they approach Factory items the way they do. I guess they've found it profitable, but I can't help but think it eats into sales of higher-priced items.
ReplyDeleteoh and shopwithm, ITA on the Factory silk. i was able to see it IRL for the first time a few weeks ago and it does feel very polyester-like. that prevented me from buying the Factory Twyla tops -- just wasn't crazy about the handfeel of the material.
ReplyDeletei LOVE that ombre coat on you, OMG! that's something i probably would look twice at, but it's fab on you.
and damn. now i wish i'd bought the gold beach cardi during extra30. i almost did. rats.
re: the minaudiere, i almost ordered that too -- what do you think the chances are that the glitter's going to start flaking off? that's the concern that held me back.
I ordered a scarf from the sale section: $9.99, no tax or duty charged.
ReplyDeleteI can vouch for the metallic beach cardi in camel too. It's very nice IMO.
Alexis, you aren't kidding about the prices being better at the B&M Factory stores. I scored a printed silk Twyla for $9.99 and the ruffled Carly dress for $17.99 last weekend. I couldn't believe all of the spring items already in the clearance section. Where I live, it certainly won't be warm enough to wear any of it for a few more months!
ReplyDeleteI have a factory cotton cardigan in the ballustrade print and it is surprisingly good quality and a very flattering cut, slightly more room in the bust than the retail Jackie and nipped in at the waist. I totally forgot that I had it, it was left in a tote bag last spring and I just rediscovered it recently.
ReplyDeleteI tried the factory Maya cardi and it was a disaster on me but a friend at work had a knockoff from Joe Fresh that was a dead ringer for J.Crew's retail Maya except that the color was a rich berry, which was never in J.Crew's lineup so I knew it wasn't true crew.
I have only purchased a few factory items. I am wearing my hipslung factory jeans from late 2009 today, and they are by far my favorite pair of jeans. The quality is amazing.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I bought the factory Annalise (sp?) cami last fall in the polka-dot print that was used on the Kelsey. I love that shirt! I really wanted to love the Kelsey but felt like a clown wearing it and was glad to see the print used in a different shirt. The silk is comparable to other retail shirt I have. It isn't French seamed, but it is great quality for the price.
Still, I find any store that makes knock offs of its own company's clothing to sell for cheap to be odd. Banana and AT do the same thing, and like J Crew, they are still expensive for the quality.
Elaine -- Thanks, the coat was a wonderful surprise. It still might pop back, and probably so will the metallic cardi. As for the gliter clutch, I don't think the glitter will flake off at all, so I wouldn't worry about that. It's a cheapy version, but is perfect for a night out, KWIM?
ReplyDeleteI haven't checked them out and honestly without extra % off I'm not wasting my time since I know store prices would be much lower.
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ReplyDeleteMost of the time I would say Factory clothes aren't worth their price point, especially when they aren't much cheaper than retail. And just like others have mentioned, traveling long distances just to snag a few deals hasn't been worth it ever since Factory has replaced their stock of discounted retail items Factory made cheaper versions.
ReplyDeleteI take exception with a few stores and products, one being crewlet. However, I have seen little at my Crewlet that I couldn't live without. The online factory does have a couple of nice options I can no longer find at JC or at my nearest Crewlet.
In general I have found the material and fit of Crewlet items less than desirable. IMO, the Crewlet Tiered Lace Cami has been the nicest item that's come out the Factory.
In regards to the Navy Schoolboy Retail version, I found the fit a bit looser than other schoolboys of its type. So, the crewlet version may not be that far off. I haven't seen the crewlet version, but it appears to have a different navy hue, and the material may be a little different as well.
I've also noticed crewlet's cami & tees to be TTS to small, compared to their retail counterparts. And of course crewlet's silk is cheaper looking compared.
If anyone is interested, I did a review on the Factory Printed Perfect shirts on my blog. I was able to get them on sale last month for about $20, and they were very worth it--even at the current $30. Quality on par with retail IMO.
ReplyDeletehttp://egyptomaniac57.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-j-crews-factory-printed-perfect.html
ITA about prices being a lot cheaper in B+M factory stores as opposed to the Factory section online. The B+Ms always have an additional % discount. Unfortunately, I currently do not live near one. The only time I can get to one is when I visit my family in MD and even then I have to travel about an hour.
ReplyDeleteThe quality of the factory items can be hit or miss. Sometimes an item is far inferior to a "regular" J.Crew item (some of their tees, for example)and sometimes it's just as good, IMO. I have a pair of 27S bootcut cords that I got at a factory store that fit MUCH better than a pair in the same size that I got at the online sale section recently. I even think the factory pair had a nicer lining. Like I said, I wish I lived closer to a Crewlet because they have MUCH better deals than the online Factory section.
I would agree with hit or miss on Factory quality. I received two factory cardis yesterday and they're fabulous, I can't distinguish them from regular J Crew, and considering that I spent less than $20 for each it was a phenomenal deal. But I see by other posts that some of the stuff is junky.
ReplyDeleteThe only factory item that's really intriguing to me is the lace skirt. Has anyone tried that on or seen it IRL. Without a % off, I"m not buying, but was curious to hear what it's like. TIA!
ReplyDeleteJRuby18 - I bought the lace pencil skirt in the grey colorway - it runs a tiny bit small. I got my normal 0 and it's a little more snug than other JCrew pencils. (I took a 00 in this year's double serge wool pencils for reference).
ReplyDeleteI got it at full price and it's questionable whether it's really worth that IMHO but it sold out very fast in that color and size, so apparently i'm not the only one who wanted it. I do think it's really pretty, and delicate, but I wouldn't normally spend that much on a skirt - I just loved the retail version that was hundreds and this was pretty close.
Taller ladies will be bummed that it's shorter than JCrew's skirts -- but it throws petite ladies a bone since it's not easily hemmed!
Does anyone know of any reviews on the stripe flutter tee?
ReplyDeleteCan Anyone comment on the fit of the Factory Donegal wool schoolboy blazer. I've been hunting this down for awhile in my size, but finally at least a size bigger popped up. Hoping it runs small or I can possibly get it tailored.
ReplyDeleteI just ordered a Factory linen-cotton slub cardigan. I hope it's not awful. :) And I hope it comes quickly, because if I like it I'm going to order in more colors.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info JCBelleMarie!
ReplyDeleteI used to live a few miles from the factory store so I shopped there a lot, and I can tell you the quality on 90% of the items is better at retail. Also, you can usually get things for cheaper at retail if you wait it out and play the game.
ReplyDeleteThings I'd buy at the factory store:
1) Items that retail doesn't have what I want (chambray shirt for example, the retail one was huge, the factory one was a more fitted look)
2) Things that are dirt cheap (<$25 an item) that seem to be good quality
3) Button up shirts (they are about 75% as good as retail, and you can almost always get them for $30 or even sometimes <$20)
Things I will not even consider at factory
1) Perfect fit tees (compared with the ones I have from retail, they discolor and lose their shape faster and more dramatically)
2) Outerwear- it doesn't even begin to compare to the retail stuff
3) Thin knits/tees
4) Men's button ups- the quality of the men's washed shirts is significantly better at the retail store, enough to justify the high price.
Other comments:
Factory stuff seems to be more "normal" sizing and not as vanity. For example, I can wear a 00 in most stuff at retail but a 0 seems to fit in a lot of the factory stuff. If you are used to shopping in retail, you may want to consider sizing up.
The fabrics of the retail suiting are much nicer, but the factory store tends to have more trendy suiting items and you can get them for a pretty good deal if you wait.
Jackie cardigans at the factory store seem to me to be a bit longer (the ones at retail are too short for me) and you can usually get them for about 1/3 of the price.
Wolfy, I think the schoolboy blazer fits pretty TTS, at least for me. I am normally a 2 (in vanity sizes), but 4 in "real" sizes, and bought the 4. The quality is not as good as retail, but if you get the factory version at a good price, I think it's worth it. Also, if you get it larger, but at a good price, it may be worth getting it altered. Hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteI'm wildly excited about the zebra-striped items in the factory. I missed out the first time when I tried on, waited for sale, then lost out.
ReplyDeleteThere are some okay items from the factory store, but much of the offerings seem to be of lesser quality or a re-issue or recycle of previous offerings.
ReplyDelete