Tuesday, August 27, 2013

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! :)

88 comments:

  1. Review of oversize pocket merino v-neck HERE.
    Will have review of Eaton boy trousers next. I love them. For tts and good for those of us that are not blessed with curves. The wool is not scratchy and I could wear them now. I never could wear unlined cafe capris but I could wear these. Walnut color is beautiful but black looks very sleek as well.

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  2. Hi, JCAs

    Hope everyone made some good purchases with the FALLSTYLE promo!

    Here are some reviews mainly from my shopping excursions this weekend. Some of these were also posted in the Weekend Seek and Find (to get in before the 25% off FALLSTYLE promo ended), but thought it would be helpful to post here again for those seeking reviews of these items.

    *Tartine satchel in pebble leather black: I just received this today and love it. The leather is beautiful and looks like it is very durable and not prone to scratches. The bag is a good size to carry all of my essentials but not too big. The straps are long enough to comfortably fit over my shoulder. I thought the bag may be too bulky and straps too short to comfortably fit on my shoulder but not the case. I love the gold hardware too. It looks very luxe and expensive. I prefer the pebbled leather over the smooth leather in this bag.

    *Factory pleated shift dress in wool flannel: I also made a trip to a Factory store to make some returns and tried this dress. I love this dress, so much in fact I bought in all three colors (red, blue and gray) It will be a perfect staple for me to wear to work. It is so flattering and hits my waist in the perfect spot and the length is great, just above my knees (keep in mind I am 5'4" and short waisted; I know many JCAs complain that Factory dresses are too short and high waisted, but they actually work well on me for those reasons). I think this is the Factory version of the Allie dress (but in wool). I actually did not like the Allie dress on me at all but the Factory version worked. I stuck with my normal J Crew dress size.

    *jewel collar baseball tippi in silver graphite. I am a huge Tippi fan and this one is no exception. I really like this but the cream color in the front is very see through. I was wearing a black bra so it probably made it worse. I always size down in tippis. This fit like all of my other tippis so I would get your true tippi size. Wishlisted. I will wait for this to go to sale as I really don't need it.

    *tossed heart button down shirt. I really liked this. It fit TTS, much like the heart throb from last year. Wishlisted for now.

    *Drapey crepe henley tunic: I really liked this, a lot. More than I expected. Very luxe fabric and it is lined. I sized down in this one. I LOVED the bright cerise color and would go for that one if I do buy it. Wishlisted for now.

    *Andie chinos in tuxedo stripe and fatigue. These don't work on me but I do love the look of the tuxedo stripe look. My true size is too tight and the size up is too loose. Pass for me. I want to the Gap right after J Crew and bought their skinny mini chinos which look similar to the Andies in a fatigue color for 23 bucks on sale.

    Hope these help somebody!

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    Replies
    1. Ann Taylor has a tuxedo stripe chino. Maybe you can try that. The style number is 313640.

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    2. Thanks, 312JCgirl. Your reviews are really helpful!! I

      Good to know, st. Thanks for sharing the style # for the AT chino.

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    3. st thanks for the tip. I haven't shopped at Ann Taylor in eons.

      Maryeb I'm glad the reviews were helpful

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  3. Hi there,
    I'm new to J Crew stuff and I've just found a couple of tops that I quite like. I live in Australia and have realised that the prices are jacked up for us, but there's free shipping at the moment. The cost of these two tops is what I'd pay in the shops here anyway, so now I'm just wondering about the quality. They're both cotton and in the tee shirt department.... Any help would be much appreciated!

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    1. Hi Jane, I'm in Aus too. I buy a fair bit from J Crew, and you're right about their price hikes for Aus customers. It's annoying, so I only buy with a discount code!
      I think quality is fairly good compared to Aus high street stores. The fit is certainly better for me, as I find many labels here are not suitable for petites, whereas J C has petite sizes.
      I've got quite a few reviews on my blog. I'm on an iPad so can't link to it, but if you click on my name, it will take you to the blogger page and my blog is called 'Clothing Fixations'.
      In addition, if you're thinking of ordering, I think MAGALOG15 still works for 20% off for Aus customers. It's goes a bit of a way towards making it more affordable!
      This blog is an amazing source of info, so I'm sure others will be along to help, too.
      There are reviews of lots of items if you search the threads here too.

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    2. Hi Jane. Which specific tops are you interested in?

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    3. Thanks so much, Ruth!

      I'm interested in the Painter elbow-sleeve boatneck tee in nautical stripe, but now I see it has sold out in my size overnight (I snooze, I lose, I guess!). I also quite like the elbow sleeve top in engineered stripe, the vintage cotton tees and tanks and the regular tees.
      Obviously I'm finding it hard to get good basics here in Perth! Tees that don't have twisted seams or holes after a wash...

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    4. I bought the Vintage Cotton cap-sleeve tee several months ago. I like it a lot, very comfortable in the summer heat. It feels soft and light weight, lighter than the perfect fit tees, but not too thin. I got it in a medium blue color that I do not see on-line. It was not sheer in that color.

      I have quite a few of the Perfect Fit tees. These are a nice medium weight and have held up well over the years.

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  4. Hi JCAs - slightly OT, but I know we like to talk fabric and washing from time to time. This is the Laundress' fabric glossary, which also has a link to a washing chart. It's a pretty comprehensive list of the characteristics of fabrics and fibers, and how to wash them. Good stuff to know, especially as we think about what items are truly dry clean only, and what we can get away with washing.

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    1. Thanks for this link, silver_lining, & thanks for the reply to my question. :) The washing chart is esp helpful.

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    2. Thank you for the list, silver_lining! pretty extensive. I do agree with hand washing silk; I have been hand washing all my silk tops from JCrew with cold water using a delicate laundry detergent, then hanging to dry and they come out fine and still shiny. I tried washing wool sweaters in machine with same detergent (but I did use the dryer on gentle cycle....next time will not push it and just hang dry again). This tip definitely helps saving on the constant dry clean only. Thanks a lot.

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    3. Thank you! This will be very helpful.

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  5. I was wondering if anyone has had the chance to confirm whether this year's cashmere is of better quality than over the past couple of seasons. I ordered a few sweaters with the 25% off promo, but am worried about keeping them out of fear that they will turn into a fuzzy mess on the first wear like the ones I bought in 2011 and 2012. Any thoughts would be great!

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    1. Hi Catherine, I did order the red cashmere sweater (colection cashmere tippi in monarch) and to me, it felt same as last year's cashmere sweaters in polka dots and the bateau-neck cashmere sweaters. Hope this helps.

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    2. I haven't gotten any cashmere yet this year, but the 2012-13 cold season's cashmere was actually pretty good IMO. A few years ago, JC cashmere totally took a nosedive and I bought and literally threw away several sweaters -- they pilled so badly that I did not even want to use them to sleep in! I swore off for a few years until last year, and after trying a cashmere sweatshirt last fall that held up fabulously, I bought several more and have not been disappointed since. So if this years' is like last, I think you'll be fine. Maybe try one first, through a couple of wears and washes, before you decide whether to keep them all...?

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    3. Thanks for the feedback! I thought I got the boyfriend cardigan last year, and it pilled pretty terribly, but now that I think about it again, it might have been a winter 2011-2012 purchase. The knit on the boyfriend cardi that arrived this week seemed equally soft/likely to pill or fuzz, but the crew and v-necks in the same order seemed to have a tighter knit. If last year's were noticeably better, I think I may take a chance on the crew neck and see how it goes! Thanks again!

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  6. Any views on the factory silk shirts? And, if anyone has a code for factory that you won't be using, I'd be grateful: kikkicee@live.com

    Thanks.

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    1. they feel a little lighter weight and a different (lower quality) silk than retail, almost same feel as the JCPenney silks to me, but they drape just as nicely. Shame no tall size....

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    2. Hi CC I have a few of the Factory silk shirts (heart throb and french hen). The silk seems a bit thinner than their retail counterparts, but not so thin that I would need to wear a camisole underneath (unless perhaps it were a white or cream). I do like them and still think they are a good quality. I usually layer my silk shirts under blazers or sweaters so the lighter weight actually works well for me.

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    3. p.s. CC I just sent you a code. Enjoy!

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    4. 312JCgirl, was your code sent by Factory in an e-mail or did you get it in store? I don't recall getting an e-mail one from them recently - if anybody else has one they're not using I'd be happy to take it off your hands. ;)

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    5. Thanks for helping out!

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    6. Silver_Lining I received 20% off $125 coupons both in the mail on its own and included in a few of my Factory and retail online purchases. They expire 8/28. I will email you a code if you reply with your email address.

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    7. Hi 312 JC girl? Any extra codes by chance? :) kelsey514@gmail.com

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    8. I actually found one - didn't look close enough in my last package. Thanks anyway!

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    9. Kelsey I just sent you a code. Enjoy!

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  7. 25% off denim styles through the 29th online and 2nd in stores, no code necessary.

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    1. Of course, the one denim item I want, the blackout denim jacket, is not included in this promo:(

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  8. BRIDGET DRESS - I was so excited to see a dress that was in the same vein as the Emmaleigh: super 120s fabric, good for work (I love one-piece dressing), pockets. It fits like a dream, feels very expensive, and is TTS for me (I am an 8 in both dresses). But as someone (Liz?) said, the cranberry color is a yucky dull brick. The heather flannel is nice but I have an Emmaleigh dress in that color. I hope JCrew will make the Bridget in some other colors, as it has the Emmaleigh, because I would love to buy them! As it is, the 2 colors I have now are going back.

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  9. Now that the 25% off $150 promotion is over, remember you can use your orange Bounceback card until September 15th.

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  10. I tried on a lot yesterday, and found a lot of items didn't really work for me. Ones that did work were the Skinny Utility chinos, tweed front Merino sweater in graphite, and the necklace tee.

    The chinos fit me better through the leg, bottom, and waist than the Andie does. The Andie was too tight in the waist, and then got looser through the thigh, which wasn't a good look. I like the chino in faded black and tuscan olive. I got my usual size.

    The tweed front Merino sweater is boxy, yes, but I think it can be pulled off. It is more for the short-waisted, like myself, but it looks great and the colors are so much better in person. I like this in the graphite. I sized down from a S to an XS.

    The necklace tee is something that has been reviewed a lot, so I'll just piggyback on those reviews and say that it is beautiful and that it is worth it. I would get my usual size.

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  11. This is a bit off topic but I had a question about J Crew's Wishlist feature. I had an item in my wish list that went out of stock (which was showing up as out of stock in Wishlist for a while). However, I noticed that the item is now completely gone from my Wishlist. I was assuming (and hoping) it would stay in my Wishlist so I could check for popbacks (like for example, Anthropologie's Wishlist). Has anybody had a similar experience and/ or talked with J Crew about this? I thought I would check with the JCAs first before contacting J Crew. TIA!

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    1. It has happened to me with some regularity. Very frustrating. For some silly reason I had assumed that the wish list would refresh and show when an item popped back or was back in stock. In a word, no.

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  12. Review of the Hen Cardigan from Factory here.

    (ended up returning it, only so many quirky cardigans need to come live in my house, and I really need to be wowed these days to keep an item)

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  13. I thought I'd copy my reviews from yesterday to this post where it belongs.

    I received a large order of things to try on today from the latest rollout - this is probably better for tomorrow under reviews but I thought I'd post before the 25% off ends. These days I need to really love something in order to keep it, so here's my thoughts:

    The bad (for me...)

    - half placket dress in tossed hearts 02804 - blah. It looks very well made but for summer not fall. Didn't like at all.

    - double cloth lady day coat in retro pink 49622 - I've wanted a pink coat, but this one has a lot of purple in the color - more like the bright dahlia from the past. Return.

    - camo wool scarf 08100 - dark muddy colors with peach along edge rather than pink. Didn't like at all.

    - scalloped cutout silk top in octagonal 02772 - very formal and stiff. Maybe good for a business suit. Return.

    - silk boy blouse in tossed hearts 04575 - I thought I would love this but it is too much like what I already have. I usually take a 10 in silk blouses and this one was tight so that I couldn't button the bottom button. I think a 12 would be way too big on top. Return.

    - silk short-sleeve shirt in octagonal dot 04296 - the print is much darker than online. It is a silky pajama top - if I loved the print, I would keep it, but the dark color makes it very blah to me.

    Love and am keeping:

    - merino pocket tunic 03444 - navy - I love this! Fits perfect in a medium.

    - tartine mini-satchel in pebbled leather 05787 - vintage pewter - the perfect size and seems like a well-made bag. Mine came defective with a huge V impression on the front and the back, so I'll exchange it for one that looks like the online picture.

    - scanned floral tee 06396 - the background of this shirt is gray not white like I thought it was going to be but I really like it! I got a medium and a large - the medium will be perfect after doing a little "J Crew stretch" on it. The large is too big for me.

    Hope this helps someone!

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    1. Hi Debby. There's been some debate on whether or not to size down in the Merino Pocket Tunic. Is medium your usual size?

      I love the Scanned Floral Tee and wondered about the color. Good to know the background is gray not white.

      Thanks for reviewing so many items. It is very helpful for those of us who usually order on-line!

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    2. I take a large in the Tippi sweaters and a 10 or 12 in shirts, depending on the cut, and a 12 in Schoolboy blazers, and the Merino pocket tunic was huge in a large and fits perfectly in a medium. It's loose but doesn't look sloppy.
      Hope this helps!

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    3. maryeb, I had a couple of reviews of the Merino Pocket Tunic on my blog. I say you can size down one size if you are not pear shaped/plan to wear this with a casual skirt. For wearing with my minnies and pixies this winter, I took my regular sweater size (S, navy) because the sweater covers my behind and looks like what it is intended to be, a tunic. HTH

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    4. Hi Rose. Thanks for the info. I see that you compared two sizes on your blog. It's nice to be able to see the difference in the fit.

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  14. Merino Pocket Tunic #03444 in Garnet:

    Usually flip between XS and S and went with the XS in this. def roomy enough for me to still layer a shirt under it. i could possibly get away with a smaller size but i think it works well as a baggier sweater. will look great with skinny jeans. love the pockets. keeper.


    Scalloped cutout silk shirt in octagonal dot #02772:

    I went with my usual shirt size. fits great in the shoulders but way to roomy everywhere else. i like rolling up my sleeves but since it's silk, i can't with this shirt. if the sleeves fell above the elbow or it was a slimmer fit shirt, i'd totally keep it. but since i can't size down because of the shoulders, it looks like a sack and i'm returning it. which is too bad because i really do like it.


    Silk georgette skirt in navy #03392:
    got my usual skirt size. TOTAL LOVE!! swishy without being overly full. comes just past my knees (i'm 5'4"). looks great all dressed up with heels and dressed down with sandals and t-shirt. i don't like the dark oak color personally (it's probably the worst coloring for me) but if it came in other colors, i'd totally snatch it up.

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  15. Replies
    1. great review, i agree 100%. i loved the top in green (er, blue?) but felt the keyhole plunged too deeply. maybe petite sizing would be a different story, wish the b&ms carried them.

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  16. I got the Martie boots in black. I've been looking for an ankle boot with a shortish heel that would go with work pants, cords and jeans. This one fit the bill. It runs TTS if a little wide for a pointy toe, which worked in my favor since I often have to size up to a 7 if the toe box is too narrow. The leather feels soft, though I'll have to break them in where they rub around my ankles. I'll consider the cobblestone color though I'm a little worried that color will show nicks and scrapes quicker than dark brown.

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  17. If anyone has a Factory code, I'll appreciate it!

    gigiofca@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks very much to 312JCgirl for the Factory code! JCAs rock!

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    2. You're welcome Gigi! I'm glad it got put to good use:) Thanks for all you do for the JCA community!!

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  18. Does anyone have a review of the Factory stripe peplum tee in black and white? Am wondering if the peplum is flattering or does it make one look paunchy?

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  19. Guess I'll post this in the right place here (sorry for repetition):


    Some new arrivals arrived in the mail.

    The Oversize Merino Pocket Sweater looks just like last year's version and seems to fit just the same too (let's hope it doesn't pill the same, but I expect it will). It's a slouchy fit, not fitted through the shoulders. I sized down. The name is similar to the new Merino Pocket Sweater, but the fit is different. The Oversize Merino Pocket Sweater pockets are on the sides and IMO it is not a tunic, it hits at the hips.

    The Marlie Purse in Tweed is almost very nice. The one that I got has some indentations on the leather, I assume from shipping. It was packed in a flat rectangular box, so I am sure that's why. If I keep this purse, I'm requesting a replacement. They shouldn't have smashed this purse into a flat box like that, ugh. I do love the purse, though. The size is perfect for me to wear cross-body. There are 2 slip pockets inside for phone/keys as is usual in most recent J. Crew purses. The flap closure has a hidden magnet that keeps it closed, so it is very easy to get into it. The buckles are just for decoration. On the back side, there is an open pocket that has a magnetic closure. The strap extends to a good length for cross-body (I hate cross-body purse straps that are too short).

    Nike Air Pegasus 83 sneakers are exactly as pictured, no surprises. They're pretty cute and I'll wear them as a sporty option when I'm not doing serious exercise. I'm not sure how supportive they'd be for real exercise, but I think I'll look at the Zappos reviews on them and see what people say.

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  20. My FALLSTYLE package (okay, one of my fallstyle packages) arrived today.

    I ordered the Interlock Cotton Henley and I'm sending it back. It is great material--a thick cotton that will be wonderful on cool fall days. But the fit for me was wonky--way too long and tight on the bottom, and too loose up top. I think it'll be a great shirt for the well endowed, and the straight up and down types. But it was not for me. The gray color, I might add (which was what attracted me) was gorgeous.

    Valentina Pumps! In Apricot Mist! In my size on a popback--I had been stalking forever. So pretty. I'm usually a size 7, took a 7.5 in these as I do with all pointy toe shoes. Gorgeous and comfortable. I finally have a neutral colored shoe.

    Collection Diamond Print sweater (or something like that). Someone asked about it elsewhere--I had posted about it elsewhere but can't find my post. Basically--it's double the fabric. This is nice, as it means the fair isle won't snag, like it did in those wonderful chunky Collection fair isles from last year (came in magenta and green, or whatever JCrew called it). But it adds significant bulk to the sweater, and makes shaping hard. JCrew seems to have compensated by making the sweater large.

    I had to size down to an XXS to get it to fit--and then it was sort of short. Interesting problem--fair isle. I sized up to an S last year in the barnyard sweater--also two ply. Anyway, you'll need to experiment with sizes, unless you have a nice bust to automatically always give you shape--this is not me, alas.

    OT--But my Marissa Webb blouse arrived. Gorgeous. Truly a classic with a twist--I got her polka dot blouse which isn't just a polka dot blouse, and which goes with everything I have, but doesn't look like anything else. Wonderful design. I take a 2 in JCrew Perfect shirts, and sized up to a 4 in her blouse and am glad I did for my shoulders and arms.

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  21. I purchased the Tartine satchel in pebbled leather in vintage pewter last week. It looks grey online, but reads more dark taupe to me IRL. It's a beautiful neutral that will go with anything in my closet. The quality of the leather is superb; it is very soft, feels great to the touch and smells divine (you know, the way good leather should!), and I definitely prefer the pebbled finish to the smooth look of the earlier Tartines. The size of the bag is perfect for hauling all my stuff around -- not too large, not too small. (I tried out the Brompton hobo earlier this year, and while I realize that it's a completely different style, it was just way too big for me. Would consider the mini Brompton though.) The weight surprised me a little at first, but I attribute that to the inside structure which gives the bag its firmness and shape. The handles are just long enough to fit comfortably over the shoulder, but it's not going to be easy to open the zipper when worn that way. That's okay, as I don't mind to carry my bags in the crook of the elbow either. The added shoulder strap will be handy for traveling and/or walking longer distances. All in all, a beautiful and well-made bag.

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    1. Ivanka I just received the black pebbled Tartine yesterday and echo your comments. It's a beautiful bag!

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    2. Congrats on getting the black Tartine, 312JCgirl! I was torn between the black and grey, and for a minute or two even considered the reddish brown color (spice). They are all just beautiful. :)

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    3. Thanks! I know, I love all three colors. I was debating between the gray and black and went with black because it's more versatile for my needs.

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  22. I picked up the fluted skirt in 00 and in ivory and really love it. I have a very similar ponte skirt from Ann Taylor that I bought back in 2009. It's black and in 2P, which fits almost the same at the waist as JCrew's 00. The Ann Taylor one was almost half the price and picks up lint, but has held up well these past few years and I don't anticipate needing to buy another black fluted skirt for awhile. But I have been looking for a lighter-colored companions and this ivory beauty fit the bill! The color makes it a 4 season item for me and the material is an upgrade from my Ann Taylor skirt. Weighty, sleek, and drapes well, even on my 5'1'' frame. Very happy with this purchase.

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  23. I posted most of this in the weekend thread last night, but I'm copying it over for anyone who didn't see it and adding my review of the Drapey Crepe Henley Tunic.

    Here's what I loved:

    Tippi Baseball Sweater (parsley breeze) – I got my usual Tippi size (XS), but it was bigger than the solid or polka dot Tippis. I think the fit of this one is closer to the butterfly stripe or flower Tippi from the spring. The only thing I don’t love about it is that the neckline is higher than most Tippis.

    Crepe Racer Tank (windsor violet) – I sized up to a 2 in this one. I normally wear a 0 in sleeveless shirts, but this one felt tight in the chest (34 A so I don’t say that often!). I LOVE this dark purple color, the thick crepe material, and the way it drapes.

    New Schoolboy Blazer (black) – I got my usual Schoolboy size (2). I tried on the gray one a few weeks ago and thought the extra length made the boxiness worse. For some reason, I love it in black. I kept this one despite the serious lack of a need for blazers in my life. Hard to explain my 3 Schoolboys, but they fit so well…

    Drapey Crepe Henley Tunic (hammock green): Same thick crepe material as the racer tank, so the way it drapes is really flattering. I ordered a 2 in this one and it fits well in the shoulders. The rest of it is big, but I think that is the intended fit. I can't wear the Blythe blouse, because the size 0 fits everywhere except the shoulders and the size 2 fits in the shoulders but is huge everywhere else. This shirt is much better and I'm keeping it.

    Other things that came home with me: Wool No. 2 Pencil Skirt (black), Colorblock Wool Baseball Hat (beige grey), Bar Stripe Tee (gray navy), and Antique Floral Tee.

    Here’s what didn’t work out.

    Merino Pocket Tunic (gray, garnet) – I ordered both of these in my usual Tippi size (XS) but they were way too big. I love both colors and the wool is really soft. I might try an XXS the next time I’m in a store, but it would have to be on sale since I can’t pull off skinny jeans or pixie pants. I should probably leave this one to the ladies who can rock this look.

    Collarless Popover in Indigo – I tried this one in a 0, which is my usual boy shirt and popover size. It was way too tight in the shoulders (I have broad shoulders), so I would need a 2. I had the same problem with the short sleeve popovers in plaid and polka dot, so I sized up to a 2 and had the sides taken in by a tailor. I didn’t love this one enough to go out of my way to make it fit.

    Racer Tank in Dot – I tried this in the same size as the solid crepe racer tank. The fit was the same through the shoulders, but the rest of it was boxier. I thought the dots were blue, but they’re purple. Pass.

    Excursion Vest (saddle) – The fit of this seemed a little bigger than the green puffer vest I got at the Factory store. The sand color was not flattering for my skin tone, but would look cute on someone else. I looked at the camo one and decided (like other JCAs have said) that I could get it much cheaper at Tractor Supply. I think my little brother had one as a kid.

    Collection Wool-silk A-Line Skirt (Neon coral) – I had high hopes for this one, because I thought the material would feel the same as the Allie Dress. It seemed thinner and more casual to me. The color is pretty muted compared to the recent neons J.Crew has had. This hit a couple of inches above my knee (I’m 5’5”). I was looking for something really dressy to wear to a wedding, and this seemed more appropriate for work or church. The pockets are cute. Pass for me.

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    1. I had the same problem with the Blythe, so this info on sizing is really helpful. Great reviews, thanks!!

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  24. A couple factory reviews - hen pullover sweater & the silk two-pocket blouse in green here.

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  25. I thought the collection gabardine shirt would be perfect for fall. It's a nice weight and shape for a wool shirt but it's much too scratchy itchy for a shirt. My favorite recent purchase is the men's high line sweatshirt in a pretty grey heathered fabric.

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  26. A few quick reviews:

    The travel scarf is very pretty. it is very similar to my Madewell storyteller scarves. Unfortunately, I don't like the size. I wish this was one of the large squares as this is a lot of fabric.

    The maple tweed skirt looks gorgeous, but the fabric is really itchy. I wish they would go back to wool/cotton tweeds. I think the fit is TTS.

    The Eaton boy trouser in grey was darker than I expected. I think they run TTS, but I am curvy and they don't work on me at all.

    The tossed heart shirt is lovely. It is a beautiful silk crepe and has a nice drape. I purchased the larger of my shirt sizes as I wanted it to have a looser fit. I do think it is a little slimmer than some of the silk shirts. This is definitely a keeper!

    The cashmere tee in heather cabernet is another keeper. I have several of these in different colors and this one is the same fit and good quality. I haven't had that much of a pilling issue with these tees. I do think the color is a bit darker and cooler in real life than it looks on line. This looks very cute layered over the heart shirt with last years charcoal sterling skirt.

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  27. @Kitsmommy - what colors are in the maple tweed skirt? Sometimes colors in person look slightly different than they do on my computer screen. It looks to me there is cream, reddish brown, and black... is this correct? Would you say the colors in the skirt are more vibrant in person?

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  28. Sorry, but I already packed the skirt up to send it back. I didn't look at the fabric closely enough to pick out anything but the garnet color and cream. I think the skirt looked the same IRL as it did on my monitor. I dislike synthetics anyway, but this is really awful. I couldn't stand the way it feels. Even though it is lined, it itches like the most prickly wool sweater you could imagine.

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    1. @ Kitsmommy - Thanks so much for the quick response! That's disappointing it's such an uncomfortable skirt. I have the yellow tweed skirt that came out this spring, and I adore it. I wore it all spring and summer. I was hoping this skirt would be a winner for fall and winter.

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  29. I'm so glad I got into a b&m to try things on.

    Horsing around sweatshirt- bought this in navy in my usual size small. A nice weight to it, I liked the length (not short) but did find it a little loose in the arms and chest. The SAs said it's supposed to fit slightly loose so I stuck with that size. Am now wondering if I should've sized down.

    Tippi with the embroidered shoulders- I had to size down as my usual small looked laughable on me/shoulder embroidery stuck out really far. Much better one size down. Glad I tried it again because this time the length was ok in the smaller size and its on sale in store. I tried one a month ago but it was too short, go figure.

    Crepe drapey tunic- I took my smaller shirt size and bought the cerise which is really bright irl but not neon. I love the color but am second guessing myself now as I don't know if it suits my fair complexion. Also I realize now that it draws attention to my thighs in the back where I'd prefer it didn't. It feels nice and substantial. I'm trying to avoid too many dry clean items and it sounds like viscose is tricky to handwash. might return and wait for it to hit sale.

    I crossed some sweaters off my list...
    The merino pocket tunic didn't suit me (looked too rectangular). I had to size down one size in this. The merino was lovely though.

    Colorblock stripe merino sweater also didn't fit well. The front looked good but there was an area of loose material around the waist in the back. I also wasn't keen on the solid color for the back IRL.

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  30. A little off topic...does anyone have a bounce back code they aren't going to use? I want an excursion vest, but I won't pay full price.

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    1. LeeLee29 - I have a retail bounceback code for online. What's your email?

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. LeeLee - Thanks! Emailing you right now.

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  31. Hi everyone, I just posted reviews of the Collection Leather-front Merino Cardigan, the Houndstooth Tippi (navy/gray) and the Horsing Around Sweatshirt (navy) HERE.

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  32. A few quick reviews. None of these pieces worked for me:

    Andie chino in fatigue -- sized up as many of you recommended. Fit well around my (non-remarkable) bum, but too big in the waist and thighs. Sizing down might be okay for the rear (I'd expect the fabric to stretch out sufficiently), but could get me into trouble in the calves (I cannot wear toothpicks at all.) In any case the hems ended more than an inch above my ankle (tall sizing), and the fabric was rather heavy, with no drape. Cropped pants = summer and heavy cotton = fall/winter, so when am I supposed to wear these? Nope.

    Silk keyhole top in foulard (#03214) -- I've been enjoying the summer version of this style (#73344), so jumped on this beautiful pattern. But the new version is made of thinner silk, with a poly lining, and that lovely jewel pattern was printed noticeably out of register. Return. If you want to try this top in either version, I recommend taking the larger of your numbered sizes if you are in between two, as I am.

    Merino leather-pocket sweater in black -- I took the smaller of my letter sizes, M, after reading your comments on this blog and getting measurements from the JC online chat. Online this looks like serious chic potential, no? On me it was pure frump. Disliked the dropped shoulder design and the crewneck, which should've been more open imo. It also was too short to be chic, but then I'm 5'10"; ymmv. Heavy dense wool knit, seems even heavier than my oversize merino v-neck from last year (which also is an inch and a bit longer). The leather pockets are nice and I still like the concept, so might try a size L if it smacks me in the head on a store visit, but I doubt it will end up in my wardrobe.

    Here are the measurements as per online chat:
    Chest circumferences S 42", M 44", L 46.5". Sweep (bottom hem circumference) is always 1/2 inch more, so it is the slightest of A-lines. For comparison, I always take an L in Tippis for a slightly loose fit, and those are a 40" chest circumference.

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  33. hello everyone,
    very o/t, but i was wondering if anyone has a promo/bounceback code they'd be willing to part with? i've been in need of a pair of cece suede ballets in black for a while now, but they still cost a bit too much even on sale. I've bought all my other cece's for no more than $65, but the black ones rarely go down in price. a code would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

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    1. just in case, my email is cpo.012286 at gmail

      thanks, again.

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  34. I wish I knew why it happens so often that I end up loving a ride-along and having "meh" feelings about the star of the shipment. I bought the Pinot Noir Minnies last week along with the Scallop-Trim Mini Skirt in black so that I could get the 25% off + free shipping deal (and both were on promo - bonus), and I'm sending the Minnies back and keeping the skirt. There was nothing wrong with the Minnies, I just didn't love them once I saw them on my body, and I'm trying to do that thing where you only keep clothes in your wardrobe that you absolutely love. The skirt looked terrific on, isn't super-short as far as minis go, and the fabric is a very soft, drapey wool with a nice hand. The scallop detail is very subtle but adds just a little something extra...highly recommend! Fits tts.

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  35. Someone asked for a review on the Velvet Schoolboy and it arrived today. It's very nice and it is slim fitting so I would not size down. The grey is a slightly brown grey rather than a blue grey. It's a keeper.

    I also got the horse sweatshirt and it fits TTS, I like it!

    The embroidered Tippi is just okay and the embroidery made a poit and stands out from the body, sort of "wing-like" so I'm returning that one. Placed several orders over the course of the promo week so this is just the first one.

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  36. Has anyone tried on the Collection café capri in pintucked shantung? I would love to know if you purchased the pink or black ones, and do they fit tts?

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    1. Yes, I have, in black. I love them, they fit TTS.

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  37. Does anyone have a bounce back coupon they care to share? I want to get the velvet schoolboy in dusty lavender before it sells out!

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    1. My email is starrflyr13@gmail.com

      Any reviews on this blazer would also be appreciated!

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  38. I would love a bounce back or catalog coupon code if anyone has one they won't use. I got left out despite several in-store and online purchases.

    Thanks!!

    jenny.dubya@gmail.com

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  39. I got my Nike Air Pegasus sneakers this week (had to order from Zappos, but fine with me - free shipping!). My normal size (10.5) didn't fit, so I had to size up to 11. For anyone thinking about this sneaker, keep this in mind. Otherwise, they're SUPER cute!

    I also decided to try the Minnies. I wear size 12 in pants, so had pretty low expectations and was prepared to hate how I look in them. Surprisingly, I really love them!! I feel more comfortable wearing them with a tunic or something a little longer, but they are SO comfortable and dressy enough for work!

    I also love the scanned floral tee. The pattern is fun and very dressy - definitely happy with that purchase.

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  40. I also go the Nike Air Pegasus from Zappos (ordering 1/2 size up) and they are LOVELY. I'm not a sneakers person at all and I absolutely adore them, but don't know how to style them!

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  42. HELLO30 for 30% off promo & final sale. Free shipping on $100+. I like that! Also good in-store, thru 9/2.

    Check out the Irl Pic Guide - Sale.

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  43. Review of the silk ruffle beanstalk top, now $79.99 in-store. Plus some quick price notes.

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