image above from the J.Crew Archives blog
A big "thanks!" to Life as a Cat, of the amazing The J.Crew Archives blog, who scanned the January 2013 catalog. To view the entire catalog in an easy-to-view slideshow, check out her "January 2013" post."Thanks!" to Fabulous Florida Mommy, of the lovely Fabulous Florida Mommy blog, who also scanned part of the January 2013 catalog. To view the catalog in an easy-to-view slideshow, check out her "J.Crew: January 2013 'Partial' Catalog" post.
What are your thoughts on the latest catalog? Do you like the styles displayed on the pages? Anything you love or question? Please share! :)
I hate to say it - I was very bored/disappointed with the new catalog. Nothing really caught my eye (except that lovely skirt!). I think it's typical for January, though - after the holiday rollout, the lull before the spring storm! I am excited for their warm weather lineup - though I know I won't be wearing any of it for another three months!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. I have gift cards sitting in my wallet and not one thing moved me at all in the new rollout.
DeleteAgreed! I love that I am normally inspired by the J.Crew catalog, however the most recent mailing was incredibly diappointing! The styling was not particularily interesting compared to some of the past mailings
DeleteThis catalog is so beautiful, with the clothes styled against this background of white sand and striking "colorblocked" balloons. Pure eye candy! As far as the clothes, only the light grey shoes with leather bows elicited any sense of craving at all... The scroll skirt is certainly beautiful (I saw it irl already, and I am sure glad to see that they are still offering this length!) but I wouldn't get much wear out of it at all. I'd love that print as art on the wall, though!
ReplyDeleteI've had the catalog for a few days now and was just perusing through it last night, trying to get excited about it. The styling was pretty ho-hum for me, especially since this is the first styleguide for 2013. All of the items seemed like repeats and the only thing that stood out was the Scroll Print skirt. It was nice, but not a must-have in my book. I still have love for JCrew, don't get me wrong, but was not very inspired this time around.
ReplyDeleteI ordered both the Jules dress in scroll print and the Long No. 2 pencil skirt in scroll print. I love this print so much, it reminds me of the old J.Crew prints that I love so much! I will keep probably one or the other depending on fit, and will post a review as soon as they get here (hopefully Friday or Saturday)!!!
ReplyDeleteUm, a lot of stuff in this catalog has been languishing on the final sale racks for ever! Ahem - tippi sweater in iced lilac - I am looking at YOU!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone tried the Collection Colorblock Cashmere sweater (I'm attracted to the Brown / navy color)? The fitting of ths sweater on the model seems looser than the Cashmere tee.
ReplyDeleteI also like the scroll prints, but cannot wear those colors. Oh, well.....
I think we can officially close the casket on ruffles.
ReplyDeleteyes, please.
DeleteCan I throw the polka dots in there too? They're cute but they need to give them a break.
DeleteWhile I loved the location concept, the clothes failed to excite or surprise. Seems like a lot of the same old, another polka dot Blythe ?? I like the scroll print but the Jules is not flattering on me and long no. 2 will be too long. Maybe the shorts but I don't know if I can pull off the 3" inseam anymore.
ReplyDeleteHoping there is more to love in the next rollout, I have gift cards to spend....
I enjoyed the catalog, it's fun and pretty, but there wasn't much that caught my interest. I think this is because I've got a lot of their basics and don't have the lifestyle for their more unusual pieces. I wish J. Crew would do casual (not fancy!) shorts and pants with a twist. Why no fun basic type cargo pants, for example? Why no fun 5" chino shorts? Why no fun graphic tees? The fun stuff is always impossible for me to wear (3" chino shorts, pencil skirts that don't suit my lifestyle, fancy capris, or too-short Jules dresses).
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY! If that scroll print (or the botanical print, love that one too!) was on some cotton twill bermuda shorts, or a Bella skirt, or a blouse, or a cardigan, I would be all over it. I would have said capri pants but I am a little capri-ed out after the fall/winter overload.
DeleteReceived my catalog in the mail today and I was excited to sit down and flip through it longingly wishing for spring. Nothing really spoke to me. I can go anywhere for solid color basics and that what this rollout is full of. What I buy from Jcrew are the beautiful prints. Other than the Jules dress and pencil skirt in the scroll print the pieces are boring. I can (mostly) get away with the length on my 5'3" frame but I have yet to buy a Jules dress. The scroll long pencil is way too long for me and there is no petite option Why couldn't they make this print in a longer (not 3"") short, a blouse or even a cafe capri. Speaking of capris where are the fun prints. I know it sounds crazy but I enjoy purchasing at least one piece from each rollout and this one may be a challenge to find a keeper.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what length the Jules dress is? As pictured on p. 12 of January catalogue ("style guide" my elbow), it resembles a tunic, or at least a dress that should come with a warning that one must not sit down while wearing it.
ReplyDeleteWhich brings me to a vent: Does no one at J.Crew realize that "falls above knee" or "falls below knee" means different things to a woman who is 5-3 and one who is 5-10? Is everyone who works at J.Crew Jenna-sized?
I totally agree with you, Barbabelle! Clothing companies should really start using measurements instead of "Falls below the knee" or whatever...I'm short, so "falls above the knee" usually means knee length or slightly below the knee on me, while "below the knee" means that it's at an awkward length!
DeleteI totally agree. It makes me so mad that JCrew doest not list length...Anthro, Boden and even Madewell list dress/skirt lengths. Come on JCrew time to get with the program!
DeleteI just received mine and love the artwork/images in this - I'm so ready for warmer climates already! I've just rediscovered my love for J.Crew and bought a few cafe capris in the sale for Spring. I so wish now I'd bought the dahlia ones when they were in stock! Happy to have found your blog to share the love:)
ReplyDeleteAgree about the lengths. It would've been nice to see the long no 2 print in a petite since one doesn't want to alter the length and destroy the print. And 5" print shorts would include more of the population. Kinda over seeing women with shorts inseams stuck in their thighs.
ReplyDeleteWhere's the scroll print cardigan? That's a missed opportunity.
We'll probably see a scroll print cardigan next year at the Factory- that's my guess.
DeleteThere were only a few images that caught my eye in the new catalog but overall there was nothing that I wanted to run to the store and check out in person.
ReplyDeleteI know resort wear is a big thing in the fashion industry these days but I can't do much with shorts, sandals and bare legs when it's freezing outside. We all can't jot off to the Caribbean in the middle of January.
I just placed my order for the Jules and pencil skirt in scroll print. Of course as I am in Canada, both were marked up accordingly in spite of the fact that US and Canadian dollars are on par....
ReplyDeleteMehhhhhh. Agree with gigi that they should've done the scroll print on a cardigan. Merino. I see nothing I want :(
ReplyDeleteI took the catalog out the the mail box, stood at the kitchen counter and perused it while my husband was making us a cocktail. It was "have polka dots, stripes...got too many of those, don't need that, boring, short dresses and even shorter shorts, Oh...I do like that skirt, but do I need another pencil skirt with a blue paisley print? I didn't even wear the Porcelain Paisley skirt from last year that much....." and so on. By the time he made the drinks I had looked at it and tossed it in the recycling bin. I love the layout and lovely location....just don't see anything very new to get excited about. Bummer. I'll still check out the scroll skirt. But might feel like I've already got this covered with the porcelain paisley. We'll see!
ReplyDeleteNo comments, since I haven't received the catalog yet. Living only 5 minutes from the closest JC store in Manhattan and a short bus or subway ride from the farthest, why should I expect to have catalogs early? or at a time when they still have relevance? but I am happy that I have lovely E-friends like Life as a Cat and FFM to make up for this irrationality. Not that I'm grumpy or anything.
ReplyDeleteI live 10 minutes from a J.Crew, yet I always get my catalog 1-2 weeks after the rest of the JCAs. I feel ya.
DeleteMine arrive very late in the mail too. I always get them sooner from the store.
DeleteAdding to the vent re: above/below the knee ... I once ordered a skirt described as falling just below the knee. Nope! It was above the knee on me and I'm only 5'2" tall.
ReplyDeleteI actually got my catalog on New Year's Eve which is very early for me and took a look on New Year's Day. It was cold and nice to look at warm location pictures. Only item that I liked was the STRIPE COTTON-SILK POPOVER on the cover and it has already sold out. WTF. Love the Scroll Print but dress too short and No. 2 Pencil too long. And as so many of you mentioned you would not want to shorten it. Oh well, nothing for me this rollout.
ReplyDeleteThe Jan catalog was a major disappointment imo.
ReplyDeleteI liked the striped skirt and shirt ensemble that you posted here, a couple of the shoes, but for the most part it wasn't a very impressive catalogue. I'm kind of worried about the spring rollout, it's not too inspiring either:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/S2013RTW-JCREW/
I hope I'm wrong about that!
totally boring and disappointing. Everything was so basic and the styling was meh. I didn't feel inspired or motivated. They really scaled back on the jewelry and accessories this time around. I thought this was suppose to be a "style guide"?
ReplyDeleteEverything is just WAY overpriced. Also, I am trying not to buy as much "made in China" this year and it seems like pretty much everything JC does has that label. The hilarious part to me is the idea that anyone is in the market for full-priced summer clothes. I mean, I live in Chicago- winter is just getting started. I'm thinking sweaters, cords, etc. Not mini dresses and white cotton pants. And when are we going to stop with the fixation on mini skirts and dresses? Ugh. Enough already. I'm sorry this is a rant but they have kind of gone off the deep end.
ReplyDeleteMy order arrived and the Miri Mid-heel pumps are great (see Looking to Love thread)! Basic, but I love them. Circle dot popover is kind of cute but I'm not in love with the open dot print. I'm keeping it, though, because I like the feel and weight of the fabric. It seems like it will be versatile and I know I will wear it. Tried the leather (not metallic) Kira sandals but they were a fail on me.
ReplyDeleteHi Cate, did you find the Miri mid-heel to be true to size? I tried my usual size in black and they actually felt too big AND the side of one of the shoes was all crinkled up....defective...unbelievable. They seemed comfy though. Why were the Kira sandals a fail? I was considering them. Thanks!
DeleteThe Miri pumps and the scroll print items are indeed great. Too bad that JC chose to make a Jules dress out of the print rather than a dress that most of us can wear.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me that the catalog should show any dress or skirt on a model WHILE SHE IS SITTING DOWN. That way we can see just how short it is. Also, JC might see how unworkable their lengths have become.
The catalog would be scandalous! lol
DeleteLOL! Agreed!
DeleteI join the communal yawn. Scroll print is beautiful but kind of wasted on the Jules and the shorts (although I like the shorts but debating if I can pull them off, even on vacation). I don't like the hot baloons idea personally, it seems a bit artificial like they are trying too hard. The styling is meh (stripes on stripes is getting tired). However as many have said January and February are typically transitional months and we won't see the highlights of the collection until March so we should be patient and enjoy the winter purchases!
ReplyDeleteMy order for the boyfriend merino sweater arrived today and i love it!
ReplyDeleteJust make sure you size down!!!!
I finally sat down with the catalog last night...aside from being underwhelmed, the thing that stood out to me the most is that more and more of the items seem to cap out at a size 12 opposed to 14 or 16...I noticed this with the special occasion dresses as well as the cafe capris, so I'm not sure if it is more than usual or they were standing out to me. I will be very disappointed if they are trending towards a smaller size run.
ReplyDeleteNothing really excited me. The scroll print is nice, but in person, the Jules dress is thin. It is lined, but sure doesn’t seem like it. And the skirt is way too long for me at 5’3. But the shorts…love from a far, but there is no way I’m trying on those until my post-holiday body hits some more yoga sessions. I can’t do shorts now…and that is saying something since I live in a mild climate. My legs do not need to see daylight for some time…ha.
ReplyDeleteAnd I like the Stripe cotton-silk popover that is sold out; however, I liked it when it first appeared in the last rollout and disappeared. Guess it is a sign I don’t need that shirt and should find a substitute.
i just tried to order the Collection Jules dress in the botanical print & the only size available is a 0. wtf!?! it's sold out in all other sizes already?? i love the Rosie dress too so i guess my bank account will be saying *thank you* to JCrew, lol!!
ReplyDeleteAnybody liked the Turquoise necklace? Any thoughts? It looked pretty in person...
ReplyDelete