Monday, November 10, 2014

Sneak Peek at J.Crew's Holiday Styles!


"Thanks!" to Lauren (in this post), who let that the blogger behind MaisonKMV (click here) has several images showcasing J.Crew's 2014 holiday roll-out. To see all the photos (and there are lots more of them!) check out the "Fa-la-la-la-Looking a Lot Like Christmas at J.Crew..." post. Also, all photos in this post come from the MaisonKMV (click here) blog.


 * Love this plaid scarf!

 * I love that pink scarf too!

I have no idea why I think J.Crew's merchandise appears better in their stores (on the mannequins and on the the tables,) than in the Style Guides. Looking at the sneak peek of the Style Guide the other day on Pinterest just made me depressed. But now, looking at these photos, I just want to grab one of everything. Go figure!

On a bright note, I am really excited to see how festive the stores will look. Yey!

What are your thoughts on the upcoming collection? Are there any pieces you are super excited about? Does your local store carry any of the new arrivals yet? If so, please share! 

54 comments:

  1. I'll be grabbing that red plaid shirt and plaid scarf as soon as they get released! I actually looked for them as soon as I saw MaisonKMV's post but haven't been able to find either item yet.

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  2. I think it's because the in store stylist's heads aren't as blown up! No offence, it must be hard to be under pressure to discover what is "cool" all over again every month...but i would much rather look at an outfit and say "oh yes, I'd wear that!" than "oh, how groundbreaking-but you have to be a model to pull it off"!

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  3. The store activates more senses than the catalogs. Music, lighting. All of those are factors in making the store merchandise more appealing. I don't know what they're doing in my stores, though, because none of the mannequins are enticing to me. I did some try-ons. A few things were mildly interesting, but...uh yeah. No.

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  4. I can't wait for Wednesday's online roll-out. I'm curious about that midi skirt the mannequin is wearing sitting down.

    I've been thinking lately how turned off I am by how much they're pairing sneakers with almost all of of their looks. As if they ran out of ideas on the shoe dept. I get the whole sneaker trend...but I would've prefered to see more polished looks paired with some leather heels, leather/fabric flats, boots, etc...I'm getting a little bored with it. I hope the trend doesn't continue all through spring '15.

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  5. I liked the red dress until I saw the two zippers at the hem. Pass. Same with the grey sweater. Pass again. I do wish they'd ease up on the zippers, it's getting silly.
    I do like the scarves and the red plaid shirt.

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  6. Replies
    1. I've already planned 5 outfits around that red dress lol!

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  7. GSP (where MKMV works) has had another big rollout since this, and that one (last Tuesday) will be, according to the VPS, "the last one before the holidays." Most of the items that are in the Dec. catalog are there now, and I have to say, none of it screamed "Holidays!" I picked up a new plaid shirt, and that was it.
    The red dress also comes in cream, for those of you who are interested, but imho, the red was far more interesting.

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    1. Hi....what or where is GPS ? I read her blog sometimes...are you sure she works at J Crew ? or is she a stylist that has an inside friend ?

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    2. Sorry.....GSP........where or what is it ???

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    3. It's a concept store that's rather huge in Paramus, NJ about 20 miles from NYC. It's called Garden State Plaza.

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    4. Um, Garden State Plaza is the name of the mall. The store is just another J.Crew mall store, albeit largish, except that it gets new merchandise earlier than a lot of other stores. The SAs all call themselves stylists. As best I can tell, the concept part is, if not imaginary, then wishful thinking. I would not consider this the Colette of Northern New Jersey. However the good news is that there is still no sales tax on clothing in New Jersey.

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    5. Sorry if I wasn't clear. I'm from jersey so everything is a mall or plaza. I agree that I have no clue why it's called a concept store either.

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    6. My concept store is GSP. I don't know if MKMV works there. If so, I've never seen her! Maybe she rotates around the stores or something.

      Anyway, in regards to the "concept store" debate, yes, I do consider GSP to be a concept store. They get items in very early and often have pieces that don't hit regular retail stores. It's close proximity to Manhattan, and usually they're on par with the Madison Ave store offerings.

      This is just my two cents. I have no hidden agenda with J.Crew. I work in medicine, and I'm just a fellow aficionada :) I think there are some cute pieces from the holiday collection. The buffalo check pullover was in their store 2 months ago on a mannequin. It did sell out everywhere.

      Heather
      Partial to Pink

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    7. Yes, the store at GSP is the concept store. They get the rollouts before any of the other stores. On the day of a big rollout, all of the stylists from headquarters are there to style the mannequins, sometimes with items that aren't available (even in that store). Usually, the day after the rollout, Mickey and his people come by (before the store opens) to see how everything looks and to get feedback from the VPSs, etc.. And to address the "stylist" vs VPS issue, the employees who work at the store are always called VPS. The stylists are only there when the rollouts happen, and they are not employees of that particular store.

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    8. Yes the store @ Garden State gets the new stuff ahead as Gina said.
      Just don't try to go there on Sunday :-(, stores in Paramus are closed.

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    9. The GSP tends to be a concept mall - many of the stores try out new items there that may or may not make it to the rest of the stores. The vast amount of people (nearly 20 million a year) that come through that mall gives retailers immediate feedback. It is also the mall that retail store stock analysts use to get a gauge on the store's viability. NYT had an article a while back about men shopping at Talbots mid-day. They are stock analysts from NYC that pop over to the GSP and can view a number of stores in one trip. The article was sexist as there were certainly women analysts in the mall but they blend in. So yes J.Crew at GSP is a concept store but so are many other of the retailers in that mall.

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  8. Does anyone besides me think it's sad that we are excited about a plaid shirt, a plaid scarf, and a red remake of the Jules dress?

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    1. if you do like the shirt and scarf.....JOE FRESH...has very similiar styles for 1/4 of the price of J Crew.......

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    2. One Is Never Enough - HA! Yes!!!

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  9. I like the red plaid shirt, and a couple of the scarfs, but nothing else is really that appealing to me. The Crewcuts section, however, is another story...love the red dress in the first pic, as well as the plaid one in the last pic. The faux fur jacket over it is adorable, as is the hoodie in that pic, as well. Those dresses could easily be made into women's sizes. LL Bean carries a very similar version, but has not yet made it in a true red. I'm sure J.Crew would sell out of them very quickly if they were to make one.

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  10. I tried on the white dress with zipper this weekend in store and it is short short. I am 5"9 and when I raised my hands, the dress did not cover my butt. :(

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    1. if only they would make the dresses longer....I am not in my 20"s. I think short dresses do look nice on younger gals. I want a little length...you know at least to cover the thighs!

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    2. Even when I was in my 20s I did not want dresses that short.

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  11. I love the red dress. I saw it in a store this weekend and I will definitely be trying that on. I love zipper embellishments (I know many don't). I also like the plaid scarf. I just got the famed Zara plaid blanket scarf and the fabric is so bulky that I will likely return so this could be a good substitute. I also got an email from my VPS this morning stating that holiday collections will be in stores tomorrow and online on Wednesday.

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    1. do you remember how much the red dress with the zippers was? that's one of the items i'm actually interested in... and do you know what other colors it comes in? i noticed a cream/white color in one of the pics above but that would wash me out.

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    2. Miss JR I think it was $128. I thought that price seemed reasonable. The fabric had a nice weight to it. I didn't see it in other colors but I didn't look around. I am hoping it comes in a black or navy.

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    3. I saw it in the stores too and I think it was $138. Only other color I saw was the cream. I have had it for a couple of weeks, planning on wearing it this weekend. It's a good weight and the zippers are a nice touch. I also ordered the scarf and be prepared it is very bulky. I'm keeping it, but it's better as a blanket than a scarf.

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  12. OT.... after reading reviews of the Melton (fabric content) on masquad shops blog....I will be giving all the coats in this fabric a pass. I see there will be a few new ones released this wed. in this "new" fabric. If reviews change for the positve or they fall to deep discount by end of dec. We will no its no staduim cloth !

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  13. OT...I wish the wool sweatpants had not been so short. I am 5' 5" they were sort of riding up the leg.( longer would have draped nicer) IMO

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  14. I would like to see that gray/red/pink sweater IRL, but not much else is speaking to me. The red plaid shirt is fine, but I feel like I've seen it before and will see it again.

    JC (and other retailers) have gone big for the dressed-up sweatpant look this season. But I'm not seeing women - even young ones - wearing them.

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    1. The elephant print is promising - I'd like to see what items use that print besides the girls dress and the women's mini.

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    2. I pre-ordered and received the skirt in the elephant print. It is gorgeous.

      I ordered the larger of my 2 sizes to get some more length, and found that it runs a bit big. I doubt I will keep it at regular price, although the print is fantastic. The print doesn't line up on the back seam/side seams (but does on the front flap).

      I will be ordering the Sophie loafers in this print - and I think I would pay FP for them (I don't remember the last time I bought something at FP - I think it might have been 2010 and it was a white dress shirt for my husband that I had monogrammed).

      If you want me to email you a pic of the print, you can email me. My email is in my profile.

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    3. I am quite ready for the tapered cropped cuffed sweatpant trend to die.

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    4. Me too, Cass. That style is going to have no staying power.

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    5. will be happy for this trend to die

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  15. OT - Marissa Webb and Banana Republic's summer '15 presentation is today. Saw pics on Instagram, and there's a lot to like...i think its better than J.Crew's (Golden Girls-memaw) styling. lol!

    Look for hashtag #thenewbr

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  16. I was going to say the KMV blog must be on JC's payroll because she seems to love everything regardless of its questionability, but apparently she does work for JC. Sorry I can't get excited about a red check flannel shirt and gray sweatpants plus sneakers for the holiday season.

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    1. I appreciate the photos, but I often question the declarations that an item is going to sell out immediately. In my experience, very little at J. Crew sells out immediately. They have an over-inventory problem, not a too little inventory. What she must mean is that these red sweatpants that look like 6 other pairs of dressy sweatpants that J. Crew is currently selling are going to be marked down + 40% off in five weeks time and then they are going to show up every single time my bored self cruises through the final pages until Fall 2015. Or, if they do "sell out," they will pop-back 45 more times.

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    2. I checked out the blog - are we sure she isn't part of the Drunk J Crew shtick? (She actually said "adorbs").

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    3. how do we know she works for J Crew ?

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    4. I think someone said she works at the Garden State Plaza location?

      LOL @ Blakemd.

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    5. one person says she works there...another says she doesn't....

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  17. OT - New Crewlet reviews of the wool baseball jacket, red check vest (store only for now) and toggle coat (thumbsup).

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  18. Hi all! I stopped by my local store today and they were already putting out the new merchandise. I had to leave my firstborn there but was able to get a catalog ;) It isn't much more exciting than what you saw on Pinterest. The Double Shift Zip dress is offered in electric red, black, and warm ivory ($138). The plaid scarf is $65 and is a wool/polyamide mix. Their is a Collection Boucle topcoat that might interest some ($450). I really liked the prints of the flannel pj bottoms! Their is a gray "Joy" tee with white and gold that will probably be popular. The Merino belted wool cardigan looks promising and is offered in some nice colors. I've never tried there shearling slippers but there is a really cute plaid print. I saw the elephant print and it is very striking. The sales associate was saying that one of her co-workers bought the crewcuts skirt since it has an elastic waist. I imagine you'd have to be pretty petite for that to work though. I think my favorite things are the mens cashmere buffalo check scarf and the Vans sneakers. They are offered in suede and there is a lot of fun colors. Sorry to write a book. Hope this helps some!

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    1. Sounds like some interesting pieces. Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to Wednesday!

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    2. "The plaid scarf is $65 and is a wool/polyamide mix"

      Oh, why not just wool, why the ick fabric? Pass.

      Glad to hear about the PJ! Love their PJs

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    3. Yes...thanks for sharing ! wow...they sure are protective of those cataloges!

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    4. darn....I need more than PJ's this winter...well off to Zara and BR I go!

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    5. Lauren - we like good books! lol at first born.

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  19. I was at my store today and purchased the red tartan plaid button down-I sized down 2 sizes and there is still plenty of room---I am always a size 2 on top in Jcrew 99% of the time-- a definite size down for sure

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  20. Has anyone else noticed they don't seem to carry corduroys this year? Just leftovers from last year left online :/

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    1. I miss the matchstick cords! Had I known they weren't going to make them anymore, I would have bought a few backup pairs last year. The Factory ones do not fit the same. :(

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    2. I miss the matchstick cords, too. Every year I'd look forward to see what new colors I could add to my collection. I would definitely have bought more had I known they'd disappear.

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