"Thanks!" to Drewablank (in her "J.Crew's Official Blog" post) who let us know that J.Crew's blog is up and running (click HERE to check it out).According to the about, the blog is "a glimpse behind the design: inspiration, style & musings here at 770 (aka the home base for J.Crew)."
This news was mentioned in the "J.Crew To Launch Its Own Blog {welcome aboard!}" post back in February. I wonder why there wasn't a bit more promotion about the site going live.
My initial thoughts:
- Overall, it's nice. Especially the "Who's Wearing What" feature. It's always fun seeing how J.Crew pieces are being styled.
- I like the "Cool Clicks" side bar, and hope they will consider adding the JCA blog's link.
- I am curious about the title: "the (un)official J.Crew blog". It initially made me wonder whether they were run by J.Crew. (The only way I could verify it, was the email had a J.Crew extension: lauren.festine@jcrew.com.) I like to think it is because the JCA blog is the blog for J.Crew. But I know better, I know that is not {sadly} true.
Il go check it out now so I'll reserve judgement till I've had a peek!
ReplyDeleteI just checked it out--while it looks interesting I have to say I would check your blog, Alexis, before it any day!
ReplyDeleteI checked it out and it's okay, but it doesn't hold a candle to THIS blog!
ReplyDeleteTabitha: Let us know what you think! :)
ReplyDeleteGenny & AppGal: Thank you ladies! You are the best. :)
I just emailed Lauren (from the J.Crew blog) a request to be added to the Cool Clicks. Hopefully the JCA will be added! {fingers crossed!}
ReplyDeleteI think it's an official J Crew blog because it's copyrighted to J Crew. I think it would be fun to read sometimes (I like the free people blog, too), especially the "how to wear" parts. I imagine the writing will be kind of corporate (like the language you see in the catalogues).
ReplyDeleteI'll be curious to see if they would link to this blog . . . it seems like they may want to control their image a bit more (which seems like why they might be resisting adding reader reviews to the website, although, frankly, I'm more likely to buy a product if I can read a review of it first. I sometimes will search for a review on this blog or another one before I make a purchase!).
Alexis:
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they're titling it the (un)official blog to make it appear to be fan made even though it's a corporate blog? Either way, as much as it's nice to peek into the J. Crew world, this is still the official J. Crew blog to me because I get real opinions about the clothes. Loving the new header. It actually has me kind of excited for spring clothing.
Hannah: Interesting & good point about the reader reviews. I did see a link to Moodboard (which is on the JCA blog roll call too). So here is to hoping they consider the JCA blog. :)
ReplyDeleteNoMoneyFun: I thought the same thing! That it was to appear fan based, not corporate based. I also agree, that its fun to peek inside J.Crew! :)
I would bet the (un) official thing has something to do with legal issues. Something along the lines of that disclaimer you see at the beginning of DVD commentaries "The views expressed are not those of Lionsgate and do not imply endorsement of...blah rah"
ReplyDeleteSo J.crew is not held to anything the blogger might say.
I sort of like it ... although that tiny serif font leaves much to be desired in terms of readability.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, I sometimes find it weird when a corporate blog -- (un)official or not -- strays too far afield from talking about things that are really tied to the brand.
Some of the things I see are a bit *too* unrelated to make good sense to me. Cute, but unrelated, and I'll skip those things. They strike me as things that are personal to the blogger, and honestly, that's not what I'm looking for. I want info about the brand that I can't find anywhere else. I want promotions for those who frequent the blog. I want it to be a 2-way street, so we feel engaged with the brand. I'm not getting that feeling just yet.
It's almost like the hired-hand blogger went too far in an effort to NOT make the blog only about the company.
I am NOT trying to be overly critical, and I realize it could and hopefully will evolve over time. I'm just sort of measuring this against what my expectations were.
As others have said, I think I was expecting something a little more like this blog. Hmmm.
It smells like JC is launching Dream doggy sweaters for the holidays.....
ReplyDeleteGood way to recycle those holey defective sweaters from the return pile, no?
Alexis,
ReplyDeleteLet's be clear. You & J. Crew Aficionada will ALWAYS be the first, the original, and the best J. Crew blog.
Period. The end. My Humble Opinion.
JCA is still the only one that counts...
ReplyDeleteI like it! Though irrelevant to clothes at some parts, it endorses their image.
ReplyDeleteIt seems weirdly unprofessional. Why do they have to sneak and take pictures with their cellphones? Don't they want to show the clothes in the best possible way? They should look to lululemon on how to represent their brand in a blog. This blog is so much more polished.
ReplyDeleteJCA, often imitated, never duplicated. ;)
ReplyDeleteAlexis, if only you had a sewing machine and were able to make jcrew-esque clothing we could all buy...maybe they'd get the hint!
sub
ReplyDeleteElanie,
ReplyDeleteThe font bothered me too! I didn't want to say anything but now that you brought it up I find it very unreadable!
I have a tendency to gravitate towards blogs that have a personal feel to them, and this new "unofficial" J. Crew blog doesn't have that (whereas JCA does, of course). Plus, the font is so terribly small that I didn't bother reading any of the text!
ReplyDeleteif you read the 'about' part and the bloggers names i think its all coming from the people at jcrew individually which is a cool idea...
ReplyDeletei don't think its supposed to be fancy catalog shots....more real and what they think is cool.
over all design is nice and clean
Just checked it out. Not impressed. Why the small font, like everyone pointed out?? And why call it the unofficial blog? Isn't it clearly the official blog? They use language in it that sounds like they aren't trying to hide it - things like "here at J.Crew". And why no press? Are they trying to get a word-of-mouth under the radar following? I don't think that's going to work, J.Crew is just not that cool :(
ReplyDeleteIf you click on the contributors, you can see the blogs they follow very clearly. Gigi, JCA, etc.
ReplyDelete@buericana: I agree, the lululemon blog is great.
ReplyDeleteI like the J crew blog though, it's always nice to get some new style ideas. It would be nice if they incorporated in some pieces from past seasons as well, so it doesn't always seem like a sales pitch. A bit of a "shop your closet" kind of thing.
Just checked it out. I like this blog much better but have bookmarked it and am sure I will frequent is often as the JCrew obsessed fan I am. The (un)official thing seems silly. Are they trying not to seem corporate...or did they just think it looked cute written like that (with the "un" in parens)?...who knows. I know I won't care very much about the other extraneous topics like dog sweaters and antique shops in Brooklyn...I just want j crew...that's why I love it here! :)
ReplyDeletePatsystone, Tippy, Christy, buericana, jbird, & Crew Cricket: Thank you!!! This blog is only great because of our wonderful community-members. :)
ReplyDeletebuericana: Where is the contributor section? I am curious to see it. :)
The font is too small, I'm going to echo that! It's irritating.
ReplyDeleteI thought it would be much more polished. I guess we'll have to give it time. I'd like to see outfits on the designers, and "destination inspiration" well okay let's see what they are bringing to WEAR while they are running around Italy looking at printed silks.
JCA is clearly always going to be more fun. It's the community you've built that makes it great Alexis!!
Meh, for all the obvious effort, it feels like someone at corporate trying too hard. And I agree about the font - difficult to read. I might check the unofficial official blog from time to time, but not like JCA. Now that is a must-read :)
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteAgree that JCA will always be the first blog I check for all things J.Crew. I told my PS about JCA a few nights back. He started asking all kinds of questions about what type of information was posted. He took down the name so that he too could start reading. He stated he needed a blog like JCA to help him when women asked questions re. the fit of certain items. He was too funny asking about different items and what the reviews had to say! JCA is THE J.Crew blog. Period.
ReplyDeleteyours is the only jcrew blog i'll ever read, alexis:)
ReplyDeletep.s. i haven't had a chance to say this yet but i love your header for spring! too cute!
Echo what DaniBP said - JCA will always be more fun! I enjoy reading blogs and will add the (un)official J.Crew blog to my daily list but it won't be the first one I check every day, this one is!
ReplyDeleteThank you Alexis for all you do to host such a wonderful blog. I love hanging out here.
trying too hard. JCA is the JC blog and more. It has a breadth of viewpoint, candor and experience that is completely lacking from the "(un)official."
ReplyDeleteWhat Crew Cricket said. :)
ReplyDeleteDitto the sentiments of everyone else. Alexis, you set the tone for a unique J Crew experience and camaraderie. Your blog is my go to for all things J. Crew!
ReplyDeleteDaniBP, MommyDearest, Karen, Sharon, xoxo, WFF, Rose, & Awakening my Wardrobe: Thank you so much ladies! These comments have made my day. :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the official J.Crew blog- one thing that I guess I should have seen coming, is the inability to comment on their posts. Too bad. It's not like their Facebook page doesn't have customer comments either. Ah well. I am still looking forward to their future posts. Maybe they can show us how to style some of the harder to wear pieces (like the Denim Jumpsuit - I can't believe that item is for realz!?!)
I'm surprised in the unOfficial (they are right JCA is the official one) JCrew Blog, but in a good way. I expected a totally commercial blog that is fluffy with no personality set out just to sell me something, but it certainly isn't that. I got some small styling tips, enjoyed the pictures (photographer on a motorcycle...swoon), and overall didn't feel like it was a waste of the 10minutes I invested in it.
ReplyDeleteThank you JCrew for surprising me a little today.
Now back to JCA...
Alexis- look on the right below blog archive to see contributors. I clicked. On a few names and saw the blogs they follow
ReplyDeleteMeganCrew: Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteBuericana: I checked again and could not find it. Under the "archives" button, all I see is search. If you happen to have the link, do you mind posting it. Only because I am curious. :)
This IS the official "unofficial" JCrew blog! Now off to take a peek at the wannabe...
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHow to style the Denim Jumpsuit here.
ReplyDeleteOverall I feel 'blah' and unimpressed w/JCrew's 'blog'. I will check it out from time to time (as I do their fb page) because I like most all things JCrew, but it is not a replacement for, nor duplicate of this blog (& I'm not implying they were trying to replicate JCA). As others have written, 'their' blog seems 'cold' or impersonal.
ReplyDeleteI'm not interested in their blog because like you said Alexis, there is no avenue for people to comment. I get enough of JC talking "at" us through their catalogs, Thread mailings, Facebook page, etc. I'm much more interested in what the JCA community has to say, because I know there's not an agenda behind it. This community is the best! Thanks for providing such a great space, Alexis. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's not bad, but just reminds me of all the different sections they have on their homepage, only put into blog format.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more w/everyone else. Your blog blows theirs away! :-)
ReplyDeletehmmm i agree with megancrew, its seems not fluffy and too selly, the posts are pretty individualized- all the cool things j.crew likes? i expected something like their facebook page but its very different....we will have to wait and see.
ReplyDeletea lot of brands are doing these types of blogs now, looks like they are finally doing more social media.
Agree with FFM ... I'm just not seeing a value-add here. I also find it odd that it's built like more of a web page than a blog ... from what I can tell, the text is actually an image, etc. It's doesn't feel spontaneous or engaging to me. I did notice that commenting back isn't happening there, but I want to see if anyone else noticed it. ...
ReplyDeleteThis here JCA blog is the be-all, end-all for me. I don't buy anything without checking with y'all first, whether it's a new item or something from 2006! Between the current members and the archived discussions, the depth and breadth of knowledge here about the brand is unparalleled. My hat is off to Alexis for 'doing the blog thing' correctly!
seems very bandwagon-y. jcrew should have had a blog component on their own site years ago.
ReplyDeletethey're just following every other label that has a tumblr, and the only reason to have a tumblr is so they can get reblogged by other tumblrs. endless back-patting and free promotion, with little real commentary (of course, with jcrew's steady decline and lack of originality, that's exactly the medium they need).
Your blog is better! There blog is too short on what to wear and how and what is on sale. That is all I care about! JCA or bust! :)
ReplyDeleteSorry...Their blog..not there blog :)
ReplyDeleteWhat everyone else said! Thank you Alexis for running this, "THE" JC, blog. The community here is well-established, strong, helpful and informative. What more does a JCA need?
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for a lime/yellow bag for a month or two, and I just found it! On the "A Sneak Peak of Warmer Things To Come" post. I'm glad I saw that one, so that I don't go a buy one that I like less, then be upset when that one comes out!
ReplyDeleteAllie
Am I the only one, or has J Crew gone down hill? I've been a major fan for years, but now find the clothes poorly made and unflattering. Last several trips to the store I've found nothing appealing. Does anyone agree -- or know what's going on?
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. I just died when I found this blog, I love it!!! And am J. Crew obsessed as well. Thanks for sharing your finds.
ReplyDeleteAlexis, I think that JCA is THE J. Crew blog! they have nothing on JCA!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteRose -- LOL, that made my day!!
ReplyDeleteAnd Alexis, your blog is my go-to blog for J.Crew! You run an amazing space here!!
hmm....it's OK. Not sure a company with a catalog and a web site needs a blog. However, any PS who does not know about THIS blog, has not been doing his/her homework.
ReplyDeleteI'm not in the right thread but I thought these shoes were so cute I had to share... For those of you who are flat oxford lovers and want something appropriate for warm weather, Jeffrey Campbell's Kelly. I love the two-tone.
ReplyDeleteJoanne,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I still like JCrew but the obsession is over! I cannot count on quality anymore and the styling is not to my taste. I still check out the new arrivals in hopes that I will see something I like:)
Honestly? I'm not a fan of the "un"official being linked to a J.Crew-backed blog. It seems misleading to me.
ReplyDeleteOne of my biggest pet peeves are companies who try to promote themselves without seeming to do so, KWIM? It almost seems a little unethical to me.
Why not just call it the "Behind The Scenes" blog or something similar? Less misleading while still describing what they are trying to write about.
Thank you again JCAs for the nice comments on this blog. And a big THANK YOU to you all for making this place such a wonderful community to be a part of. :)
ReplyDeleteWe just did a fun "Working Woman's Summer Wardrobe" post that features a lot of fun J. Crew work garb!
ReplyDeleteWe love you website for work wear inspiration as well!
Lindsey and Kelsey
www.inspiredbypinterest.blogspot.com