Referencing {FAQ}

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs!}

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! :)

102 comments:

  1. I reviewed the Leather Tipped Bell Skirt and pintucked tees on my blog:
    http://handbagaficionado.blogspot.com/2011/09/jcrew-fall-arrivals-louis-vuitton-alma.html

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  2. Extra 30% off final sale with code LOVEIT.

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  3. Also, if anyone has a review of the Double-Cloth Envelope Coat I would really appreciate it! My mom loves it and I want to surprise her with it, but I need to figure out what size to get for her first :). Thanks!

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  4. I lost my mind and paid the 50 % mark up for the No 2 vintage tweed pencil skirt in the pale pink colour.
    It's lovely but I bought it to add life to all of my old black items but it looks awful with black.
    The tweed is thick and it does add width but I need hips so that's a good thing for me, I bought the 00, it's my first J Crew pencil skirt so I don't have much to say on sizing other than yes it fits - though I am a US 4 in the "real world' I have no idea what to wear it with.

    Pic of it will be going up on my blog but not till Friday.

    The flare skirt is arriving today from Net a Porter but it's not the colour I want, but to get the colour I wanted from J CRew would cost $240 for a skirt priced at $119 for everyone else. I doubt I'll keep it but I'll review it ASAP.

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  5. quickie reviews:

    ruthie shirtdress (50554): YUCK! short. thin. runs small. way overpriced.

    flair skirt (47315): LOVE! usual size was a little snug. went up one size. fits lovely. henna color is beautiful. want one in cool pine and heather acorn too. can see pleats adding bulk depending on your shape, but i had no problem.

    plaid pencil skirt (51425): NICE. usual size was too big/too long. but nice skirt. lovely subtle plaid. classic piece. may buy it in petite sizing (i'm 5'4").

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Vintage Cotton Stripe Baseball Tee: Fits TTS to slightly big, it is very stretchy, very soft, thin but not see through in the grey.

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  8. Caitlin: I ordered the envelope coat in three colors in a size 10 because I loved the look online and wanted to try the red, blue, and camel, and they all went back. I am normally a 10 in jackets (sometimes a 12 like in the Hacking blazer.) The 10 coat was on the large side... I didn't try an 8 though.
    It looked awful on me. When zipped it was totally shapeless and when open, the front flaps open; the "lapels" are each as wide as the coat so you can't really wear it open like the model does in the picture.
    Other people might have a different experience... just not good at all for me.

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  9. Does anyone have any thoughts on the café capri in wool or the flair skirt in double-serge wool? Are the pants lined? How's the quality and fit on both? (I'd likely get a petite.) I'm a little cautious about the skir because of the pleats in the front, but I want to love it.

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  10. Julia, I think the word is that the wool cafe capris (along with all of the suiting pants this season) are unlined. I don't recall any JCA's mentioning a lining in any of the pants this season.

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  11. The flare skirt arrived, OMG, LOVE!
    I took the size 2 and it is just beautiful, it has a really elegant flare to if if you size up and sit it just under the tummy button. I had planned on wearing this with boots and tights for winter but it is too elegant, I'm now wearing it to an event on Friday night so it will appear on my blog on Monday.

    Buy it, it's amazing! Now I really want the rose one which will cost a fortune from J Crew.

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  12. Julia, I have a review of the cafe capri pants in houndstooth here. HTH

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  13. I tried the new plaid wool cafe capris. They are really nice, thick wool, fully lined. They didn't do anything for me (too tapered) but were really high quality.

    ITA that the Ruthie shirtdress is a disaster. Not to mention the green color is really ugly in person.

    Shutterbug dress: I had to size up to a medium (normally a small/4/6), because the arms were tight and since the knit is thick and substantial with no stretch, it seemed necessary. But the small was OK in the body so unless you have a large chest or not-super-skinny arms like myself, normal size is probably ok. This is a really cute dress and it is marked down to $54.99 in stores. I am tall but it will be work appropriate with tights; fell a few inches above the knee.

    I also tried the new polka dotted short sleeved top in store and I didn't love it. But after seeing AppGal's review, I think it is one of those tops that needs to be tucked in to look good. It's boxy and to me boxy untucked is not a good look. Also, sizing down could help. They only had an 8 for me to try and I felt frumpy in it. It has an exposed back zip which I also did not like and am realllly getting sick of!

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  14. Oh and my icon trench in a size 8 is arriving today; here's hoping it fits better than the black size 6 I had from fall '09 and that the sleeves are long enough! Will report back on that.

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  15. I ended up returning the number 2 pencil skirt in heather acorn. Not because it isn't a great skirt. Because I have to come to terms with the fact that heavy wool isn't versatile enough for me in the desert. I already have half dozen thick wool pencil skirts and that's more than enough to get me through the brief winter we have.

    I've also returned the liquid silk skirt. Again, nothing wrong with the skirt. I think it's gorgeous. I'm trying to be very careful what I add to the closet after several big purges and I need to be honest with myself about what I wear most. Flared skirts isn't one of the things I wear a lot.

    I'm awaiting the cumberbutton pants and the leather wrap bracelet, both purchased on sale, and I'll review when they arrive.

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  16. I have some reviews/pics in this post and this post. Includes pics/reviews of the following items: Flair skirt, merino pleated skirt, in-store only polka dot top, in-store only teal color of No. 2 pencil skirt, Liquid Silk skirt, Fair Isle vest, Blackwatch Schoolboy blazer, among others!

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  17. have a bunch of reviews including silk skirt, some sweaters, high waisted skinny cords and blackwatch plaid schoolboy blazer. Will post them on my blog tonight.

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  18. Has anyone seen or tried the Dearie dress? I'm loving the Getaway Green color and am thinking it would look cute belted with tights and boots. Am worried material is on the thin side though.

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  19. Today I'm wearing the grey/modern red striped boatneck tee and I LOVE it. The boatneck is smaller than their usual boatnecks and I think more flattering. I took my usual sz. that I wear in their perfect fit t-shirts. It is really cute. I tried on the blue tweed pencil skirt in the store and it definitely fits a little more snugly than their other pencil skirts, but I still wore the same size as I take in the pencils. I also tried on the liquid skirt in pink. It is BRIGHT, like too bright for me. I thought it was flattering. I wore a size up from my usual skirt size. It was way too long on me (I'm 5'4"). I'd have to get it in a petite if I ever did get it. Otherwise, it would look way too frump-tastic on me.

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  20. Does anyone have feedback on cashmere lately? I am loving their colors this fall but know in the past the cashmere has not been good quality. Just wondering if this had changed... thanks!

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  21. Julia -- There are lots of opinions on this board about the Wool Cafe Capris if you do a search. My own opinion is that they are very nice, despite being unlined. (The houndstooth version is lined, however). I expected to find the pants itchy, but was happy to find that they were very comfortable and very flattering. I would say they fit TTS. The colours are gorgeous in real life, but most are currently backordered online.

    I bought the Flair Skirt this past weekend, and like those JCAs who posted here, I love it. Again, I didn't expect this one to be flattering on my body type but I was pleasantly surprised. It will look smashing with tights and boots, but will also suit a heel for business. It sits high on the waist, like the pencil skirts (my usual size hits at the belly button). The pleats won't work for everyone, for sure. But the length is good and I like that I've got some variety in my closet with all my pencil skirts. The Cool Pine is a wonderful deep green, easy to consider a "neutral" IMO -- that's how great this colour is! Made me change my mind on wearing green.

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  22. @Caitlin: I ordered the Double Cloth Envelope in Heather Caramel and I'm in love with it. I can see how some may think it's shapless, but that's the style I was looking for. I absolutely love the coccoon shape and the zipper and the funnel neck! It's so cozy and lovely. For reference, I am 5'3 and size 16. I ordered the 16 and it's perfect. I posted a few pictures in The Purse Forum here. They're from my iPhone but you can get the idea: http://forum.purseblog.com/the-wardrobe/j-crew-aholics-thread-529669-274.html#post19825609

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  23. OT-Does anyone know the pants that this model is wearing?

    Camel Wool Pants.

    :>

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  24. pathos, those look like the wool cafe capris to me.

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  25. Be honest JCA's who like the Flair skirt - will it not be flattering to someone who doesn't have a small waist and also has a bit of a tummy? I haven't even thought of trying this skirt b/c I imagine it will look like a wreck on me.

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  26. Teddie dress review here: http://respecttheshoes.blogspot.com/2011/08/teddie-graham-crumbles.html

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  27. Jruby18: I am very thick-waisted (but slim-hipped and flat-butted, ha) and carry most of my weight in my tummy. I was very surprised that I liked the Flair skirt as much as I did. See my link above for pics on how it looked on me.

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  28. Speaking of tummies, mine is flabbier than I'd like thanks to my kids -- I've sworn off all of J Crew's elastic waist, paper-bag waist, bow-tie waist, and various other waist-thickening skirts -- yet I can't stop crushing online at the leather-tipped bell skirt. Can anyone comment on the "contour waistband" whatever that means? Bulky? Or no?

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  29. Jruby18, I always wear size 4 pencils and they fit me well but I have to size up to 6 in flair skirt (I only tried on the plaid one that is not online yet). I thought that the waist on 6 in flair was the same as on 4 in No2. It looked good with the top tucked in but total no-no with the shirt untucked. I am bigger on top and it just made me look wider all over. I like to have an option of not tucking in, so it was a pass for me. Big scale plaid might have compounded the effect, it is probably better in solid.
    On the other hand, I think this skirt will drape better in rose print version since it is made of lighter fabric.

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  30. Does anyone have the stadium peacoat from 2010 with the gold buttons? Is the fit similar to the 2010 stadium peacoat without gold buttons? TIA!

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  31. Jruby18 -- I do NOT have a small waist! I'm 5'5" and have a straight build. I have a bit of a tummy but actually I think the skirt helps me there because of where the waistband sits I feel "held in", LOL. I thought for sure it would be a train wreck on me because I don't have a small waist, but it worked.

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  32. jen: the leather tipped bell skirt was a total FAIL on me. Like I said above, I'm thick-waisted and because of that, it didn't sit right on me. I was sad because I loved the fabric. I would have loved a Flair skirt in that fabric! I have pics of it in my 2nd link above.

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  33. jen: Tammy reviewed the Leather Tipped Bell skirt here on her blog.

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  34. @Shannon, I bought the Dearie dress in the Getaway Green. The color is gorgeous and pretty accurate to what you see on screen. It's a thicker cotton material, so you'd be able to wear it well into the fall/early winter. It does run large though. I'm normally a small in most J.Crew cotton dresses and had to size down to x-small (probably could have gotten away with an xx-small in the waist, but was afraid the shoulders would be too tight). The x-small fits well in the upper body. I wear with a belt to give a little more shape around the waist. Looks super cute with boots or heels. HTH!

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  35. Jruby18:

    i have a very boyish build... not much difference between waist and hip measurements and i LOVE the flair skirt... usually wear a size 4 in skirts, but i sized up to a 6 in this. i say give it a try :)

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  36. I also have the same question as Amanda...how is the cashmere quality of this season. I received a Isabel sweatshirt and a zip hoodie from my last order and the cashmere was completely different. The Isabel was sooo soft and amazing...while the hoodie was scratchy. Does anyone have any comments about this? I want to order some of this season cashmere with all of the beautiful color, but I am a little nervous!

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  37. I have the cashmere cable sweater from this season and it is very, very soft and plush. I haven't worn it yet so I can't comment on the pilling factor but this is a VERY nice sweater. Definitely nicer than some of my other JC cashmere.

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  38. Glad to hear cashmere cable is nice. Still looking for a nice pair of camel trousers.....any suggestions? I don't think capris will be that wearable for me in the windy midwest city. You can't wear socks with them, lol!

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  39. Thanks for the info, guys. Thanks to 2 c-sections, I'm permanently thick-waisted w/a tummy. I also have slim hips, so I just wasn't sure how that skirt would be on me. But hopefully it'll be in store so I can try it on!

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  40. Thanks Debby and Alison!

    My reviews:

    Teddie Dress - This hasn't been too popular with JCAs, but I love it. Fits TTS in my usual 0 for dresses, but definitely a bit more snug through the torso than other suiting dresses from this year (Attache, Boardroom, Index). I found those other dresses to fit a tiny bit big in a 0 (but not enough to size down), so I would say that if you are between sizes you should order up, and if you are usually an *exact* fit in one size with no room to spare you might want to consider ordering up. I like the exposed zipper as it adds some interest to a simple dress. I didn't find the unlined sleeves itchy and I am quite sensitive to that usually. The shape is very flattering on my body type, defining my waist and then belling out slightly through the skirt. It is a bit short on me (I'm 5'9), hitting about 4 inches above the knee. It has about 1.5-2" of extra material that can be let out. As it is right now it's perfect for a night out, but I will let the hem out so I can wear it to work as well (my office environment is not at all conservative).

    Flair Skirt - This is a lovely skirt, but didn't work on me. I have a small and high waist with a wider ribcage and normal hips (basically an hourglass) and this looked ridiculous when worn in my smallest size at my natural waist (too short, too wide, too little girl-ish). When worn in my larger size and a few inches below my natural waist (as I think it is supposed to be worn), I felt like I lost my waist completely and looked wider than I am. I also wasn't crazy about the narrow waistband with the more voluminous skirt. From the reviews so far I get the sense that this one works better for those who have more of a ruler shape. Too bad for me as it is a lovely skirt and the Cool Pine colour is beautiful!

    Liquid Silk Skirt - I love this one! I think it works on me for all the reasons the Flair Skirt didn't. It is TTS and definitely long, as it hits at the lower part of my kneecap and I am 5'9 and high-waisted. Both colours are beautiful, I went with the navy for versatility and also because I think the wrinkles will show a bit less than in the dahlia.

    Mona Pumps - Finally got a chance to try these on and I am a reluctant convert. The shape is what got me...so streamlined and I love the shape of the toe, with just enough toe cleavage. I am not great in heels over about 3.25" and I found these fairly easy to walk in. I went with the same size I took in the Juliets, which is my normal shoe size. I know most people find these to fit a half size small, but I prefer my shoes to be a bit tighter and I assume they will stretch slightly with wear.

    Julia - The Wool Cafe Capris in Houndstooth are lined and I love them! They fit TTS for pants. I think this shape looks fantastic with a round or almond toed heel. The regular wool ones aren't lined but I didn't find them itchy. I am considering ordering them in the new Port Wine colour.

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  41. Just saw the double-breasted sweater jacket (47265) in the B&M. It was pilling and shedding so much that it looked like a Muppet! Also, the buttons looked too heavy and the buttonholes too stretched out. I wouldn't even pay $19.99 + 30% for this one.

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  42. Received an order this morning-

    Dolman sleeve merino dress-sadly, this is a return for me. It is loose in the body (obviously meant to be), but the skirt is just too narrow and tight. It didn't look good belted, clung to tights - no.

    New rose print cami - this is lovely. Nice light silk, beautiful print. I took my normal cami size (2, I'm a 4 in perfect shirts). Pricey at $118, but I'm not going to take a chance on this one.

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  43. I ordered the Super 120s pencil skirt in warm sienna, but was disappointed with the colour. I should have paid more attention to the name "sienna", but on screen it looked like a really nice heathery dark camel. However, IRL, it really is more of a sienna colour than camel, i.e. with a reddish undertone. Otherwise it was a lovely skirt. Fit is TTS.

    I also picked up the classic eather ballet flats (item 36243) in burnt sienna - love them. The addition of the padding in the insole makes a big difference to the comfort, compared to my suede ballet flats from 2009. These also fit TTS (I ordered my usual 7.5). Unlike the skirt, these are a really nice caramel colour, and not a sienna colour.

    The Silk Lucinda blouse (item 48793) arrived with the above two items, but it is going back. Fit is very generous. I had to size down to size 4 for this one and it's still pretty roomy. Unfortunately, the colour made me look like death warmed over - it's a yellowy colour - and it's too sheer. I'll stick with the Blythe blouse which is a more flattering off-white.

    I also picked up the linen stripe popover (item 45278) during the last 30% off promo but it was a disappointment. A bit too sheer, and a little scratchy. Oh well, at least I got it on steep discount!

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  44. Not sure if these have already been discussed somewhere, but I'm looking for info on the weatherby rain boots. I have an old pair of no-name brand, which I wear alot (gardening, etc). Now I'm looking to replace them with a quality pair and I was almost ready to spend the $125 on Hunters, but now I see these from JC. Has anyone actually tried them? Does that zipper really keep water out?

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  45. Stene, they put up some propaganda on the JC site about the cashmere during one of the previous rollouts. I can't find it now, but they were saying that the darker colors aren't as soft, and the heathered colors are the softest. I haven't worn this year's cashmere yet either (cable sweater), but it feels soft and plush. HTH!

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  46. Count me in the flair skirt LOVE camp. I like the thin waistband actually and I think it is what keeps it from being poufy/unflattering. My usual size was perfect. Love the liquid skirt too, but sadly I have nowhere to wear it.
    Pics (along with a few other items) here

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  47. Amy - That is sooo interesting. Actually my softest cashere are both heather colors, one is light and one is dark. Maybe I will try to stick to those colors. It is disappointing that all aren't the same feel...really makes me steer clear :(

    P.S. I am wearing my new cafe trousers in the navy and they are amazing. Super soft and they sit higher on the waist. I am 5'6" and they are fall perfectly with kitten heels. Highly recommended!

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  48. That is so odd about the cashmere colors. My cashmere cable is "tulip", I think, a color that I've never seen available online in that sweater; mine is from the clearance store so could be a fluke.

    Now I feel the need to go home and feel up my cashmere sweaters to see if the J.Crew theory holds true! Maybe this explains why I love heather gray cashmere so much...

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  49. I love the Flair Skirt. I purchased the henna, which is a lovely brick red, though I may return for the heather acorn. I agree that the skirt looks best with your top tucked in. I have a bit of a belly left after my second baby, and I felt like the pleats disguised that well. I love the shape of the skirt, and think it will look great with boots and tights.

    I also purchased the leather tipped bell skirt and loved the fit of it too. I don't love the elastic waist, but it looks great with a thick leather belt. I have "athletic" thighs, and both of these skirts hide my flaws well.

    I also bought the perfect shirt in clay check on the advice of my PS. I would have never given that shirt a second look, and I'm glad I did. The color is listed as faded black, which is a total misnomer. The squares are burnt orange and blue, with black squiggles, if that makes sense. Will look great with jeans and my navy schoolboy, and if I keep the henna flair skirt, it will be cute with that as well...though it will definitely be a 70s secretary look.

    Finally, I bought the Finespun blouse tee in chili pepper. LOVE. I'm always looking for red tops (GO UTES!) to wear to football games, and this one is great. The little bit of silk around the collar dresses it up a bit, I have this in my "sale watch" as I'd like to buy in camel and maybe navy too.

    Looking forward to trying on the polka dot top, I loved the black and white silk striped top with the exposed zipper from this past spring, but never pulled the trigger on it.

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  50. JuneBug682: thanks for your helpful comments regarding sizing, color and material of the Dearie dress! I am now really looking forward to adding it to my fall wardrobe. Can't wait to feast my eyes on the Getaway Green IRL!

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  51. Caitlin, that's interesting about your take on the flair skirt, I'm a ruler and love it because when I sit it just below my tummy button it flares out really wide and gives me the illusion of both a waist and hips. I'm very envious of those who are that shape naturally!

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  52. Bourbon&Pearls: I'm so jealous that the Flair Skirt works on you, it is so lovely! I think it would work on a normal hourglass too, I'm pretty sure that the only reason it doesn't work on me is because I am so high-waisted. It has looked fantastic on all the bloggers I've seen it on! Knowing me I'll keep trying it on every single time I go into the store, hoping for a different outcome :).

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  53. Kelley - Did you order your usual size in the Finespun Blouse or size down? I see it comes in an xxs, usually a sign that I need to size down. It really comes in a lot of lovely colors.

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  54. OT: will someone please post Alexis's email address? My computer tries to install a new email account each time I try to hit the email link on her profile. TIA!

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  55. I've got nuthin' to review today but the Winterlude blazer arrives Wednesday with that Merino fair isle in the heather dusk, I'll post reviews here.
    Now I'm tempted to try the Flair skirt after all the love!

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  56. I found the cashmere propaganda:

    http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Navigation/cashmere-affair.jsp

    You have to click through the first four pages, then click on "learn more from our cashmere designer."

    It seemed to me they were trying to respond to grumbles about cashmere quality, etc.

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  57. Amy, thank you for posting, it is a very interesting read for all the JCrew cashmere lovers. I had totally missed it.

    I recently hand-washed two cashmere sweaters from last year with The Laundress cashmere wash (I followed more or less the instructions for care) and they came out great (maybe they look a little bit "fuzzier" than when new). I agree that pilling doesn't come from washing but from wearing.

    BTW, this year's cashmere cable sweater is a 7-gauge cashmere if I am not wrong, so it doesn't compare to the turtlenecks and other 12-gauge sweaters, which are thinner by nature.

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  58. Has anyone tried/seen the Sightseer dress? I love knit dresses and this one looks like it could be a great casual piece or a major disaster that puckers, twists and develops holes. It says catalog/online only so I am hoping that someone has ordered it and can provide an opinion.

    I was planning to have a few reviews on my blog today but I just got back from my 16-day business trip a few hours ago and I'm sleep deprived so my comment here is about all I can muster.

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  59. I tried the Dearie dress right when it first came out and was sorely disappointed. I chose the larger of my two knit top sizes (medium or large; I went with Large) based on garment dimensions from an online chat. The large fit thru the shoulders but the rest was HUGE. It hung like a sack on me. The elastic waistband floated around my torso and didn't cinch to my frame at all. The material was nice but I was also disappointed in the color. It wasn't the rich, saturated cool pine green I thought I'd get - it was more muted and drab (in my opinion). I ended up getting a ponte knit dress from Lands' End, of all places, that fits like a dream and is the pine green I had wanted!

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  60. It isn't unusual for darker cashmere sweaters to be less soft. The darker dyes tend to make the fibers more rough and generally the softest fibers are saved for lighter colored sweaters to begin with as they tend to be lighter and more uniform in color.

    If you want a stellar cashmere cardi, grab one of the Boden gorgeous cashmere cardigans from the limited edition collection. I have the sulfur and coral colors and both are amazing and still nearly pill free after a spring and summer of frequent wears. They are well worth the high price tag but will change your expectations cashmere. They are very plush and rich for 12 gauge or so cashmere.

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  61. Hi everyone

    These are my first reviews.

    I have been helped so much by this thread in the past as a lurker so I hope these help somebody else :)

    Big order today!

    Biella high heeled loafers in warm brown :

    Not the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn but they seem to be fairly well made and I love the color. I am normally between a 7.5 and an 8. I ordered an 8 in these and because of the height I am getting just a tiny bit of heel slipage as my foot slides forward but nothing a heel pad won't cure. The toe box is a bit narrow and the 7.5 would have been too tight.

    Cashmere Henley in vibrant flame :

    Love this!! I am between an small and medium and based on measurements I sized down to small. It fits perfectly. The color is fabulous. The leather buttons are a little heavy but nice. Keeper

    Cashmere cable sweater in heather camel:

    Sized up to a medium, slightly boxy and big through the arm holes but I think the small would have been too short in the body for me. Works in the medium as slightly slouchy. Love the color and as others have said it's the softest J. Crew cashmere I own.

    Lambskin Lumini jacket in sandy brown:

    Way too cropped for me, particularly in the back. Nice color and soft leather but breast pockets are larger than I expected. Return.

    Classic flare jean in jezebel wash :

    Too long for me even in the short length ( I am 5'4" ). I think a lot of the flare would be lost in hemming. High waisted but still gave me a bit of a muffin top. Nice wash and I like the narrow cut through the thigh but a return.

    Pique stripe tee :

    Really liked this. Sized down to a small. Heavy cotton that held a nice shape.

    School Boy Blazer in Velvet :

    I ordered the Bristol Blue that someone was asking about last week. Beautiful! More depth than the online photo I think. I am typically an 8 in blazers and jackets for my shoulders and bust and even though the measurements on this are slightly smaller than the wool schoolboy it fit perfectly.

    Broken in boyfriend chino short :

    I am typically a 6 in bottoms but I sized down to a 4. They fit well overall but were a tad shorter than I would like so I just let down one roll of the cuff.

    5" chino short :

    Ordered typical size 6. Fit well.


    Hope this helps someone!

    TJ

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  62. This may have been mentioned before - does anyone know if the leopard pencil skirt runs TTS? Since it is on back order, I want to get the size right. Thanks!

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  63. Aw, I'm so glad that the Flair Skirt is working for so many people, because it didn't look good on me AT ALL. The salesgirl and I stood in front of the 3-way mirror for 5 minutes to try to come up with the exact reason *why* it was so unflattering, but I think it was just my shape (straight up-and-down with large bust and man shoulders)...too dowdy on me. The cool pine color is gorgeous, though.

    Merino Pleated skirt gets an A+ for fit and comfort.

    Ruthie Shirtdress is cute and flirty(even though the colors are a bit dull), and the weight of the wool/cotton blend is nice for fall.

    I want to buy the Emmaleigh dress in *every* color - what a flattering fit and perfect 4-season weight.

    I want the Academy Stripe Schoolboy SO BAD. Dear J. Crew, re-stock size 8.

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  64. I guess I will be the tie-breaker for the Dearie dress. I really liked the getaway green color and the fabric was very soft and a good weight. I sized down one size and agree waist is still a little bit big but know xs would have been tight in the arms. And, most importantly, it did not hit me at my mid-thigh. It will be work-length appropriate! (doing the happy dance)

    Ruthie dress, Navy, runs small by one size. Tight in chest and shoulders and i have a negative chest measurement. I liked the sleeve length, but total length was too short on me AGAIN! I am still on the fence with it because I could make it work with tights on the weekends.

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  65. Desertflower, have you tried the no 2 plaid pencil skirt in the brown color? It is a much lighter weight wool than all the others. It might just work with the desert heat. I found it to run a little tighter in the caboose than the other no.2's. I am in between 6 and 8 in the wool no.2s depending on how much va-va-voom I feel like showing off and went with the 8 in the brown plaid.

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  66. Amy - Just got done reading the article. It now makes since to me why my Maurine (spelling) cashmere sweater is the softest. It is probably a low gauge and heather gray. I will be on the lookout for more sweaters like this. Thanks again Amy! :)

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  67. Shekster, I haven't tried the plaid no. 2. I may give it a go tomorrow night if it's in the store. I'll be in that shopping area for Fashion's Night Out.

    What I'm really searching for is a camel oolored pencil skirt I can wear year round. If there was one in Super 120s, that would be great. I see they have a similar color in suiting, alas, at 22" it isn't office appropriate for me.

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  68. Received my icon trench; wearing today to battle tropical storm downpours we're having here in upstate NY. The 2009 batch must have just had abnormally short sleeves, because this new one is perfect! The sleeves cover my wrist and while I wish they were an inch longer that would them too long for the majority of JCAs :)

    I guess they could solve the problem by offering a very basic item in tall sizes... but obviously that's asking too much.

    Overall, I love it and am happy I can make it work even though I am tall.

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  69. Hi JCrewJD - glad your new Icon worked out! I'm in upstate NY as well and wore my Icon today. It's great in this weather - we're expecting torrential downpours all day!

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  70. Hi silver lining! Yes... it was POURING on my way into work (heading west toward Rochester). Seems like it's going to be worse toward Syracuse. (I seem to remember you mentioning shopping at Carousel so if you're out that way, I hope you stay dry and have no flooding!)

    The icon performed well in the rain; the water just beaded off. It's so fun to have a J.Crew item that is really high quality, looks awesome AND does what it's supposed to! A rarity these days, it seems.

    Oh, and the other item I rec'd with that order was the Leslie Lace Shell in size tall 8, because that's all they had left in the blue and I took a chance. It is a little big but since I'll always be wearing it to work under jackets/sweaters, it's ok. The tall length is amazing; highly recommend. It hits at my hip and looks perfect. Some people said to size down but it seems to run TTS since the 8 is just a little big and my normal size would be 6. So I think you can stick with your regular size. HTH someone who may be shopping FS during this lovely promo.

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  71. Amy, JCrewJD and others: thanks so much for the comments!! I live in London right now and am preparing to make my first order (hooray) from the UK site. Not to mention I'm heading back to the states in a few weeks so I'm going to buy in bulk. :)

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  72. hi all! i'm wondering if there are any reviews of a dress i bought at my b&m last week--it might be in-store only as i can't seem to find it anywhere online!

    on my receipt it's called the 'sally dress', style #48695. it's a collection piece--a sleeveless thick wool, pleated dress. i bought it in the tan color--came in black as well. sizes were rather depleted at my store and 'we will find it' turned up nada. the SA convinced me to take it 2 sizes down from my usual--wondering if it just runs huge or if i was conned?! ;)

    has anyone else tried this dress or knows what i'm talking about?! thanks!

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  73. Maryeb, I found the Finespun blouse to be true to size to a little bit large. I'm a medium, and while I could have probably fit in the small, it wouldn't have had the same slouchy fit. Hope that helps...

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  74. I am also in Upstate NY lamenting the rain and the fact that I don't have a raincoat that I love. I was debating the icon trench and your comments sold me...off to purchase :)

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  75. Thanks, Kelley.

    Want to double check on the sizing for the Matinee Trench. I see it's on sale in lots of sizes, makes me wonder if there is something wrong with it. I checked back through the reviews and saw some people loved it, but didn't mention much about how it fits. I'm 5'3" and wondering if I should get the petite or regular, size up or down. Thanks

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  76. If anyone is still checking this post, I have (finally) gotten some reviews finished. http://mysuperfluities.blogspot.com/2011/09/j-crew-fall-2011-fitting-room-reviews.html

    Lot of the new arrivals in here, especially from the August and September roll-outs.

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  77. I'm considering the Academy Coat and the Symphony Coat. Are these in stores yet? Does anyone have any reviews of them? Really interested in quality and fit, and are those ribbed cuffs weird on the Academy Coat, or interesting? Thank you!

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  78. Dina, thanks for the great reviews, love your blog by the way..

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  79. Review and pics of the Schoolboy in blackwatch here:
    http://shopwithm.blogspot.com/2011/09/jcrew-review-schoolboy-blazer-in.html

    It's so cute, and I'm still loving it at a sale price, but I'm disappointed in the buttons (same lightweight gold) and fake (wth?!) leather elbow patches.

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  80. The Winterlude blazer is really nice. I loveth. Soft wool with a rather large nylon content (20%) but I am guessing that will make it durable?
    It is a great fitted outdoor/indoor piece, the pockets are big but lie flat, very flattering tucking/pleating action going on at the back.
    I took my usual size.
    The merino fair isle in the dusk/black is going back, a bit itchy and the fair isle seems printed on rather than knitted in, if that makes sense.

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  81. I splurged on the black Toscana shearling stole. I've been looking for something like this for quite some time. I love a lot of the faux fur pieces out right now, but I don't love the prices (particular for faux!), so I decided to go for the real thing. I loved the idea of the stole because I don't necessarily want an entirely furry garment - just an accent is fine for me. Anyway, the fur is supremely soft and luxurious looking. The stole is about 36" long. It is NOT double-sided, which is my only complaint. From the website pic, it looks like it is fluffy on both sides, but IRL it is backed with black cotton. It does have the tuck-through slit as advertised, and the placement of that is just right for me. This is a keeper for me because I think it looks great. It arrived packed in a plastic bag with some tissue, and I thought there should have been a storage box or something, but oh well.

    To compare, a faux fur scarf I tried on in a dept. store also had the tuck-through slit in it, but it was at the end of a 60" scarf, which would require you to loop it around your neck at least twice, which made it look like a cheetah whiplash collar - that was a no-go.

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  82. Has anyone tried the Daylong v-neck #48463? Would love any info. Thanks.

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  83. Jinks, I have the Daylong vneck and love it. It has a slim fit that isn't too snug, the vneck is totally work appropriate and the fabric is heavenly soft. I highly recommend it.

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  84. Desert Flower- Thanks, would you say it fits TTS? I usually wear a small, should I stick with a small or go for an XS if I want a looser not too clingy fit. Also do you have a lighter color, if so is it at all sheer in anyway?

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  85. I should also mention that some button front shirts have a tendency to buckle at the bust line for this reason do you think that it might be a good idea to get my normal size Small?

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  86. Jinks, I have the Daylong shirt and I chose the larger of my two knit top sizes. I have the vintage champagne and would call it semi-sheer but I think it is work appropriate with a nude bra beneath (no cami). I'd go with the larger of your two knit top sizes and not size down if you want it to fit like the model's pic. :o)

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  87. stef, I know what you are talking about ;-). I saw it at the Collection store, it looks like a winter version of the Accordion dress. I didn't try it on because I thought that all those pleats in that fabric would add weigth but maybe I should try it on and see. In case you are looking for another size you should probably call the Collection store.

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  88. Thanks for the info on the Daylong tee. I hate not knowing if I have to size down or not. So the concensus is to stick with you normal size for the Daylong?

    Also does anyone have the featherknit floral tank #49600? Does this fit TTS or would I need to size down from a S to an XS? Thanks.

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  89. I'm slim through the torso and small chested - 34B - and I have an XS in the daylong shirt. That is the smaller of my two J. Crew knit sizes.

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  90. I was just curious, does anyone know if the 2011 No. 2 pencil skirt in the new peacock blue color is the same as last year's nightfall blue? I'm wondering how much they differ, and if it's worth having both. Thanks!

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  91. I purchased the Memo Dress (48444P) in Warm Sienna and was super excited for a 120's dress with sleeves. I
    was quite disappointed that it didn't fit as expected. This dress claims to be "meticulously tailored" with a darted bodice with pleats at the waist. I ordered a "0" and the bottom portion of the dress (skirt area) was perfect but the top seemed way too big. I am a 32C but felt like a -AA in this dress. I'm afraid if I order a '00' it will be too small/tight. I'm not real sure how I feel about "Warm Sienna"--I for some reason expected a solid but it is heathered. So sadly, back it goes.

    The Gallerist dress (48482P) on the other hand is SUPERB! I ordered a '0' and it fit perfectly (in spite of the side zipper which is horrendous to get on in general).

    Finally, I purchased the Emmaleigh dress (size 0) in Peacock Feather (which is beautiful), and the fit is perfect.

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