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! :)
Ok! I do have a review, but first, just wanted to let everyone know I started another blog the other day with full catalog scans (and hopefully other projects in the future).
ReplyDeletehttp://thejcrewarchives.blogspot.com
I've added one from Fall 2007 and Feb 2008 so far and have many others in the pipeline, which will be added chronologically.
So the review:
Featherweight Cotton Cardigan in Smoldering Brick and Sea Mist, XS - I know I've reviewed these before, but I just wanted to report I'm absolutely loving them! There's something about the rolled neckline that's especially elegant. Also, they shrank a ton on the high setting just as I'd hoped they would, which is a word of caution to anyone else planning to dry them. The buttons add a surprising amount to them as well. I'll be wearing the Smoldering Brick with my Tea-Stained Dobby Dress, which I'll put up a blog post of (soon!).
Oh btw, I took the link to my personal JC blog, Feeling J. Crewzy, off my user profile as I want my new Archives blog to be public and searchable, but not my personal blog. So for future reference, the link to Feeling J. Crewzy is here, and I will post again soon (I have my tripod again), promise!
sub!
ReplyDeleteSubscribing. :)
ReplyDeleteMetallic linen henley in gold - fit beautifully in medium, but was completely sheer. A cami is a must and unfortunately here in NC it's simply too hot to wear an extra layer in the summer. I was devastated to return it. The gold color was very muted and would have worked with so many pieces. I'm thinking you Northern gals can handle wearing two layers during the warmer months.
ReplyDeleteFeatherknit tunic tee - It's slightly longer than waist hip length and I dearly love it. The sleeves are elbow length and the jersey is nice and sluby. It looks much richer in person that online. I chose the warm elm color...it's a lovely greenish bronze.
Has anyone tried on the lace blouson dress? I'm a 4/6 with hips, is it a straight fit?
ReplyDeleteI bought the Washed Crepe Flora Dress in dusty cedar a month ago and had the metal zippers removed from the sleeves. Even if you leave the zippers this is a gorgeous dress. I love it so much I just bought another in smoky charcoal when it popped back. The dress is the most incredibly thick silk crepe and is lined in silk charmeuse. The bias cut makes the dress gracefully skim my shape without being tight, the dress looks like it was made just for me. The neckline and hem are modest enough for any occasion and the fabric and tailoring really ramp up the glam factor - it looks very luxe. If you are looking for a versatile special-occasion dress that will flatter to no end then this is one to consider.
ReplyDeleteI also bought the Weekend Dress in navy on sale recently and it is a great-fitting casual dress. The skirt has just a slight A-line and overall looks like a belted shift on me. The hem is a bit short as I'm on the taller side but it's not a mini and for casual wear it's totally fine. Such a cute little dress for spring/summer and could easily be taken into fall with tights and boots and a cardigan over top or a tissue turtleneck underneath. Love it.
Received the Schoolboy blazer in canvas yesterday. I have been looking for a classic khaki blazer for a while and this is it! I love the material...has a bit of texture to it without being too much. It's soft to the touch and lightweight enough that I can wear it this summer. Fit is right on. I ordered a 4, which is my normal size in schoolboys. I'm glad I caught this on popback!
ReplyDeleteWill probably do a more in-depth review w/pics later this week on my blog if I can find the time!
Seersucker banded underwire top - bought in my normal bra size, 34A, and it's HUGE. Like I could fit a grapefruit in each cup! Sizing is way off and I'm disappointed, I wanted to wear this Memorial Day weekend!
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ReplyDeletelife as a cat, I have that cardi in Smoldering Brick too, love it, wearing it over perfect tee in almost the same color and the Giant Red Paisley Skirt. Working on coordinating smoldering glances.
ReplyDeleteWellfedfred - Lol smoldering glances!
ReplyDeleteI always forget to review my Factory finds...
Lots of gorgeous spring dresses in, in time for weddings and graduation. When I went Sunday, the entire Women's section was 40%!
Factory Lorelei Deco-Dot Dress, purple with white polka dots (not on website?), 0 - Soooooooo gorgeous. The shape is amazingly flattering. It comes almost to the knee so it's a nice, elegant, modest silhouette that would be good for a wedding. The color is a light purple, warmer than the Soft Violet shown on the website. The fabric is the same puckered cotton shown on the site, pretty substantial. Also fully lined. It seems like the factory sizes run smaller (or haven't been vanity-sized) the way the FP stores have so I was actually able to take the 0.
This is pretty late but I finally got my hands on the double serge cotton pencil skirt in citron - it popped back a couple weeks ago in my size. It arrived today and I *love* it! The colour is an acidic greenish yellow. The fabric is very densely woven, so the skirt has just the right heft and crispness that I was looking for. Fits kind of generous for a size 6 so it might need a bit of tailoring to get it right but otherwise, very pleased!
ReplyDeleteI also got the button-back tee today but very disappointed - the fabric is so flimsy and sheer! It is going back asap.
xoxo, I am glad that the Flora dress worked for you. I bought it on a popoback a few weeks ago and even if I agree on the quality of the silk, the fit was completely off on me, very unflattering and too short (for this kind of dress). Just wanted to add my perspective to your enthousiastic review.
ReplyDeleteEma, I'm so surprised you found the Flora dress too short as I believe you are quite petite and I am on the tall side at 5'9" and the hem hits just above my knee, about an inch longer than it appears on the model. My second one should arrive today so I'll see if it was just a fluke but I wonder if perhaps someone purchased yours and had it hemmed then returned it because it seems really odd that it would be short on you and long on me.
ReplyDeleteOT - did anyone else receive the Free Membership to Tablet Hotels email from J.Crew?
ReplyDeleteI purchased the crepe silk flora dress and mine was obscenely short as well- mid thigh and I am 5'7"...
ReplyDeleteWell, maybe I got a fluke Flora dress or perhaps the larger sizes were longer. I bought it in size 10 to fit my bust, which means there is plenty of room on the bottom as I usually wear a size 4 J.Crew skirt.
ReplyDeleteHi ladies,
ReplyDeletejust put up a review of the Prabal Gurung Exploding Bow Blouse herefor those who were curious, LOL.
Hope it helps!
:)
kimchi girl
French cut "party chicks" bikini top and "barbados" underwire top were both ADORABLE, but too big. I am a 32D and I ordered a medium in the french cut and a 34c in the underwire and they were pretty huge. I have reordered in a small and 32C, so I am hoping for the best! The bottoms fit more to size and are equally adorable.
ReplyDeleteKimchi Girl - You look great in the PG! And I'm not even a fan. :) I'm disappointed the top isn't silk though.
ReplyDeletelolita lee- thanks dear! yes, totally bummed that it's not silk. :(
ReplyDeletexoxo, that's probably the reason (I am quite long-legged for a petite but still I am 5'2"). Now I think that I should have sized up because the 0 was quite small overall. In any case the zippers at the cuff were a deal-breaker for me, they totally ruined the dress (I hadn't thought of having them taken off by a taylor as they are pretty long: did you just cut that portion of the sleeve or the taylor was able to take them off and resew the sleeve along the seam?)
ReplyDeletekimchi girl, I agree it's adorable on you, you totally pull it off (BTW, I would keep the azalea color, it seems more special)
bought the Perfect shirt in linen and I think it is fantastic. Now, I am a sucker for white button downs, so I might be biased. I usually wear a 6 in perfect shirts but it accomodated my 34D chest in size 4 and the rest is fitted and nips slightly in the waist. Love the longer cuffs and the fact that it stays tucked in. My hips are about 36" and the fit is snug, so it may be too narrow if you are pear shaped. I think I will buy one more if it goes on sale.
ReplyDeleteI also bought the Travel treasure pendant necklace. I like it a lot. It is nice and simple, 'wear it anywhere' type of necklace. Really pretty and just the right amount of sparkle. I also like the Pearl and pendant necklace and locket necklaces. Check it out if you are not into (or over) so called 'statement' necklaces.
Anyone try the Whisper linen boatneck in the dark lilac? I'm wondering if it's see-through and needs a cami under it.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have the Collins or any other shoe in the dusty cedar color? Seeking opinions about the IRL color. It looks pretty neutral in the Collins picture, but very caramel-y in the Cece studded ballet flat picture, reddish-brown in the Jamestown ankle boots picture, and taupe-y brown in the Lucca sandals picture.
ReplyDeleteEma, it must be due to sizing up in the dress because I got the charcoal one today and it is about the same length, maybe just a smidge shorter but still just above the knee. It's typical with J.Crew dresses that I have extra room in the bottom and sometimes will have a tailor bring them in but with the bias-cut fabric the skirt tends to almost shrink-to-fit so I didn't have to take it in and as a result I have extra length. If I pull it out a bit to mimic that I were a size 10 on the bottom of the hem rides up significantly.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the zippers there was enough room to get my hand in the sleeve with the zipper closed so the tailor gradually narrowed the arm seam until the cutout portion where the zipper was and at that point just went straight so it looks like the original design was just the straight seam down the arm. The tailor did say that if the sleeve was too narrow after removing the zips she could put little keyhole/button closures (same as the back of the dress) on the underseam of the arm, but it wasn't necessary.
So often I have such a poor fit in dresses because I need a size 10 on top but take a 4 on the bottom and it really doesn't translate well to most J.Crew dresses that aren't designed for a large bust with no curves below the waist. That's why I can't wear any fuller-skirt dresses - a size 10 just looks way too big for me. I guess this is one case where something works for my shape.
Thank you and ChristinainSeattle for chiming in on the length issue. I would hate to recommend something as a perfect length, when it really would not be for most JCAs.
I've been having issues posting on blogger today - is it just me? I get error messages in spanish :)
ReplyDeleteWondering if anyone has a review on the fatigue skirt or the brooke skirt? TIA :)
One more (long) comment and I'll quite hogging the thread - promise.
ReplyDeleteI received the Linen Bermuda Jacket in Indigo Tile today. The color is gorgeous and the linen is so incredibly soft, I have linen jackets from other retailers and never have I felt linen so soft. It is woven in a herringbone pattern that I didn't notice when I zoomed in online and it's not mentioned in the copy. It adds a bit of interest to the linen fabric and intensity to the color. I ordered my usual size 10 and also size 8 as I find the linen jackets can be a bit roomy and I was glad that I did because I had to SD to the 8 for a better fit. The first button is below the bust so that allows me a bit more room and the 8 fits better in the shoulders and back.
This jacket is selling out in Indigo Tile in some sizes so if you want to pick one up you may need to watch for a popback. I have a size 10 that I'm returning if someone is interested please email me at dunc209 at shaw dot ca.
I also received the Perfect-fit Polo in white and while I love the cut of this tee the white is quite see-through. I don't want to wear it with a cami or tank underneath so it will be going back and I may try another color. Already have this in the navy and deep cobalt and they are also thin but not sheer and I have worn them both already, very nice.
I just received the new women's Japan Love tee (#52460), and while I really like the graphic (I'm a sucker for maps and the embroidered heart is really sweet), this is a very thin tee...slub cotton thin...as in I can see the "'J Crew Helping Hands Size M' through the back" -thin. Fits TTS, with the "boy fit" they advertise.
ReplyDeleteI just received the factory cotton printed pencil skirt in the salt color, which is the color code for the Palermo paisley print. OMG, it is beautiful! The print is exactly the same as the bikini and even more striking on the skirt. The background color looks really white to me even if I suppose it is what the JCrew color mastermind calls "salt". In any case it isn't ivory, which was what I was afraid of, and it is very summery.
ReplyDeleteThe fabric is definitively different from the retail ones (the composition is 98% cotton and 2% spandex), not as stiff (or "flimsier") and with a satin-y finish even if the retail ones are always textured and I don't know if there is a non double serge cotton and non textured retail pencil skirt to compare with. Now, the fit. My regular 0 was a little bit loose in the waist and fine on the hips so to get a good fit I need to wear it lower. If I wore it at my natural waist it would be above-knee length while it hit my knee if I wear it like I said. Because the print is so bold I don't know if it is work-appropriate and has a casual, vacation-y vibe but I definitively reccomend it, especially if you are craving for a special print. HTH!
Also received the gingham scout chinos in 00. This is the third pair that I order as I could not decide between the 0 and the 00. The 0 was more comfortable but stretched out A LOT in less than an hour and was almost baggy and very loose in the waist. The 00 was tight at first but again, it is stretching out to a more comfortable fit and I prefer it on me because it is more cropped while the 0 is more of an ankle lenght pant. Bottom line: if you think that they are tight as soon as you receive them, think again after wearing them a few hours.
Has anyone spied the newly arrived "Surplus pant" $74.00 item 31654 in their B&M? They look identical to some pants I bought last fall. I think they were calling them "Annie" and they were in-store only. I love them and got both colors. Hopefully these are the same...
ReplyDeleteAnyone tried the new cashmere cardigan for 2011? When it first came out it was named the Annette cardigan, but they later dropped the Annette and now it just says cashmere cardigan. Just wondering how it fits / thickness of fabric in comparison to last year's cashmere v-neck cardigan?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I feel bad because I submitted a review of the Schoolboy blazer in herringbone in the prior Reviews thread. I only had the blazer on for a few minutes before I decided I wanted the tall version (even though I'm short) because I didn't want the shrunken look. Well, the talls arrived, both charcoal and aged driftwood. I tried the charcoal on first, very nice, sleeves are a mile longer than I need but that's OK. However, as I was posing in front of the mirror, buttoning it up, unbuttoning, determining sleeve length, I noticed that I felt like I was being pricked. And it just got worse and worse the longer I had that jacket on! I don't know what the heck is in that fabric, but it's prickly as heck! I took it off. Anomaly of just that one jacket? I tried the aged driftwood on. Same problem! The jacket is beautiful, the fabric looks nice (especially the charcoal color), but it does have a serious issue. I think it's the outer fabric, not the lining, I noticed that I was feeling the prickling at the neck too, and there is no lining there. Truly bizarre. Sadly, both jackets are going back.
ReplyDeleteImabachick...I have the cashmere cardigan (bought it when it was the Annette). I think the fabric is about the same as the fall and winter cashmere. I have worn both colors I bought (aqua and vivid purple) a few times and so far no pilling. The fit is fairly consistent with the fit of the former cashmere v neck cardi. My only gripe is that the band on the end of the sleeve seems just a little tight while the rest of the sweater fits great. I just bought the pond green on promo earlier in the week so the sleeve thing isn't a huge deal to me. Maybe I just have thick fore arms :)
ReplyDeleteI, too, received my pre-ordered Japan Love Tee today. Although the embroidered heart was a nice surprise (I expected it to be printed), the shirt is so thin and sheer that I almost don't find it wearable. I will most likely return it. Too bad!
ReplyDeleteJust posted reviews on antro (skirts) and jcrew items (dorrie, finespun tie tee, shrug tee)
ReplyDeletehttp://megancrewreviews.blogspot.com/2011/05/jcrew-tees-and-dorrie.html
ReplyDeleteforgot the link....
I'm from London, UK, and LOVE j.crew. Its very expensive over here and limited in choice so I ordered online on the American site to be shipped to my friend living there. I bought two jumpers and a white top.
ReplyDelete'Spangled striped jumper'
'Shrunken fishermans jumper'
'Scallop lace shell top in white'
I cannot wait to get them!!
Hi everyone! Has anyone purchased the Rumi dress? It looks soo cute online, perfect to just throw on and go, but I never know with these dresses...
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've been a long time admirer of the Loreli embossed beach dress (the warm jade color is gorgeous, they paired it with a beige cardi and brown belt in the June catalog and it's the first outfit in years I've wanted right off the catalog page) but Idk how practical it is for casual/day to day wear..can anyone comment on the length/material/"dressy-ness" of it? Thanks! :)
C, I tried on the Rumi dress last week in the blue in a size 4, since it was the only size they had left. I surely thought it would be a bit snug since I’m usually a size 6 in zip up dresses(have those hips!)..but it was huge on me, especially the top, which is really strange. Plus, for some reason, I didn’t like the black and white rope belt in person (with the blue). In theory, I would have love the fit..if it actually fit..ha :) I’m anxious to see what the size 2 looks like on me, but let me tell everyone, I am not a size 2..so who knows! But the blue color is gorgeous and I like the material of the dress.
ReplyDeleteI picked up the Rowboat Dress in Faded Black last week as soon as I saw it online. Love it, even more so in person. It is the perfect dress to throw on and run around in this summer. I’m 5’3 and it hits me about mid thigh. I love this dress for the fact that the material is thick enough that I don’t have to wear a slip underneath or fear the dreaded VPL, but still light enough for Texas summers…sort of (nothing is really…maybe a swimsuit? Ha). Only had a small and XL left, so I took a small, which worked. Was a tad big, mainly up top, but still worked great. I also really like the trim on the sleeves and the buttons on the back.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love the Maritime dress, I love this one more. This is probably one of my favorite buys in awhile. I felt so preppy and cute in this when I wore it this weekend.
Late to the party, but I just received the Fatigue Skirt.
ReplyDeleteFirst reaction is that the colour is definitely more khaki green than khaki brown than I expected from the picture online. (I suppose I expected British khaki.)
The fit is good. I ordered my usual pencil skirt size and it is fine. However, the skirt is 3% Spandex and there's quite a bit of stretch, so much so that I could pull the skirt lower on my hips no problem. I would suggest that if you're between pencil skirt sizes that you size down with this one.
The skirt itself is really cute, I like the detailing which isn't too OTT military. It's a nice alternative to both the typical pencil skirt for the casual office, and to flirtier skirts on the weekend.
TXGirl: thanks for your review on the Rowboat dress, i am interested in this!!!!
ReplyDeletePerfect Fit Long Sleeved Crewneck Tee, Dried Rose, XS - I noticed a weird inconsistency in the thickness of the Perfect Fit Tees across styles. I ordered three Boatneck Tees from Spring, including the Dried Rose, and noticed that the Crewneck is thicker than them. Maybe inconsistencies across factories? Or maybe this was intentional as they figured you would want a 3/4 sleeve tee to be thin and a long sleeve to be thicker. But I ordered both the Boatneck and Long Sleeved Crewneck from the Summer collection and they were both similarly thick. Also, I'm not sure how the Spring LS Crewneck compares to the Summer tees in thickness as I returned the Summer tees (yucky colors), but I don't think it's as thick. Still, I appreciate that it's still somewhat substantial and more tightly knit than the Fall tees.
ReplyDeleteAlso, love the Dried Rose color. But I always love myself a good mauve, including the Vintage Wisteria from Fall.
I know it's now sold-out, but here is a review of the Schoolboy blazer in canvas. If you can catch it on pop-back, it's worth it!
ReplyDeleteI bought the Perfect-fit stripe snap tee in ashen brown. It fits TTS - I took my usual XS, and it's quite flattering on. I like the 1/2 length sleeves and the little snap detail on them. Ashen brown is a weird name for the color, I would describe it as more of a dark peach stripe on ivory. I liked this so much I bought 2 more in the solid version - cobalt and grey - during the recent promotion.
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