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! :)
Deja vu all over again, I see the banner reads 30% off all items with code Happyspring which is exactly what I saw at 5:30 yesterday morning that changed to %20 off with code Hispring. Why go from 20% off to 30% site wide? Maybe 30% off dresses or outerwear or a specific time of item but this just seems weird.
ReplyDeleteAnd 4th quarter/FY 2016 J Crew earnings conference call today, any guesses?
ReplyDeleteI just pulled the results from the SEC filings in advance of the call. Posted downthread.
DeleteLots of misses for me this week with pants, none of the crop chino (wide leg chino pant, wide leg crop chino pant) from the sale section work for me.
ReplyDeleteSome jeans:
vintage crop in Leopoldo wash: I ordered two sizes. My regular size fits but the leg is an awkward length. I'm also trying a size up. The fit of these reminds me of the vintage slim jeans with a more fitted leg. The denim is sturdy with stretch, but not suffocating. At the sale price, and not final sale, theseare a great deal if you can find a size that works.
Point Sur trumpet flare jean in washed black: I ordered two sizes. A size down and. A size up from my usual as that wasn't available. The size down fits perfect. The denim has stretch but also feels great. The washed black looks like a black jean, not a black twill pant, the length works with a little heel for me. I ordered them in the blue also to see if I have a preference, they're great jeans to dress up. The leg is long and lean, and the flare is not too dramatic and starts at a flattering spot.
Has anyone seen the polka dot textured jacket in real life?
ReplyDeleteSega61- I had not planned on buying it and after trying out at the store on a whim- loved it. It is very well made. It is a nice ivory color and the ruffle trim on the edges are subtle and whimsical. I am 4 in regent blazer and a 4 in this fit well. The length hit me well below the waist. I am glad I got it but I am still working on how to get the maximum wear without combining it with the polka dot dress or dress as it has been styled.
DeleteIna reviewed it on her Instagram @inawonderland5.
DeleteI stopped by my store over the weekend - they were having a new arrivals event and offering 25% off $125. I had the pleasure of meeting a few JCA readers who follow me on IG which was a nice treat! I tried on several items - polka dot shift dress (love), garment dyed trench dress, gingham ruffle hem dress, fringy lace dress, stripe/gingham ruffle sleeve top, lace up tee, and the dramatic sleeve sweater in summerweight cotton.
ReplyDeleteYou can see photos and brief reviews on my blog here.
Not pictured but I did also try on the berry Tippi, which I would say runs TTS to a bit small - I tried the medium and it just fit. I also tried on the suckered gingham blazer which was just ok imo, the puckered material makes it a little more casual imo. I tried the white I also tried and purchased the Heels on Fire tee - love the thicker cotton and embroidered logo on this. The tee runs a little small - I opted for a medium but it is a fitted look which I'm fine with.
Thanks for the helpful reviews, Anne!
DeleteThanks from me, too, Anne. Love the polka dot dress!
DeleteYes, thank you! The dresses look great on you, it's nice to see longer lengths.
Delete@maryeb @tm93 @jan thank you so much :)
DeleteI've been trying J. Crew's sunglasses. I didn't think the Jack and Jill styles were that great, but the solid plastic ones all seem like nice quality. My favorites are the Ryan (seem to be sold out but they pop back) and the Betty. The Pipers were also nice. I didn't try the Irving or the Sam styles.
ReplyDeleteAnyone reviewed the ruffle-waist linen pant in leopard print yet? I'm nervous about the linen (I don't have time to iron after every wear if it's similar linen to the JC linen shorts) and whether it's lined (because... linen).
ReplyDeleteIt is not lined!
DeleteHow is the material thickness? Like sort of see-through? Don't-wear-pink-undies thickness?
DeleteNo its not thin. It is more like a sturdy linen. I did not do the underwear test. But i think you should be good with any color,because the material is not flimsy and sheer. HTH
DeleteI would still wear neutral undies though haha
DeleteJust scrolled through your IG and saw your review! It looks great though longer than 26" inseam.. were you wearing it low on your hips? Either way I think I'll need to try on in store because I'm also unsure about sizing.
DeletePlunge V-neck bikini top in Italian matte
ReplyDeleteitem E7185 (navy)
i bought a size small (34B). way more flattering than i was expecting. close enough in color to the navy bottoms i bought two years ago that you can't tell unless you put them right next to each other. solid clasp in the back. i don't feel like it might accidentally come undone like the hooks on the french bikini tops. ample coverage without being dowdy. i hate the inserts they put in (they always shift) so i just toss them. since i have a very straight figure, i'm often self-conscious about bikinis because i don't have that ooh-la-la swimsuit model figure, but i feel really good in this top! i tried it on with a couple of different bottom styles and it looks great with all of them.
Miss JR, I agree that is a great top! It does have a nice, sturdy clasp. And I have had one of the French tops pop open on me (luckily before I left the house to go to the pool)! Another great top is the Cropped Halter Bikini top (C4342). It is very cute, a little sporty and a little sexy. Some of the reviews aren't great since last year the top didn't have any built-in cups/coverage. It didn't bother me since I have very little to cover :). Apparently, they have remedied that this year. The top is on promo right now so it is eligible for an additional 30% off.
DeleteHey ladies, I posted this on my insta, but I'm taking back a gray merino blazer in a size small to the jcrew near me. If you're interested in snagging it, leave me a message with your email and I'll message you the store number!
ReplyDeleteJCG just filed FY2016 and Q4 2016 results with the SEC. Overall sales are still decreasing YOY a noticeable amount, though the plunge this year wasn't as bad as last year. Madewell sales still going up but not as fast as last year. Quick cut and paste:
ReplyDeleteFiscal 2016 highlights:
•
Total revenues decreased 3% to $2,425.5 million. Comparable company sales decreased 7% following a decrease of 8% last year.
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J.Crew sales decreased 6% to $2,018.1 million. J.Crew comparable sales decreased 8% following a decrease of 10% last year.
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Madewell sales increased 14% to $341.6 million. Madewell comparable sales increased 5% following an increase of 8% last year.
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Gross margin was 36.1% compared to 35.7% last year.
Here is just Q4 results:
ReplyDeleteFourth Quarter highlights:
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Total revenues decreased 2% to $695.0 million. Comparable company sales decreased 5% following a decrease of 4% in the fourth quarter last year.
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J.Crew sales decreased 5% to $572.6 million. J.Crew comparable sales decreased 7% following a decrease of 5% in the fourth quarter last year.
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Madewell sales increased 11% to $102.9 million. Madewell comparable sales increased 6% following an increase of 12% in the fourth quarter last year.
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Gross margin was 34.7% compared to 33.3% in the fourth quarter last year.
Thanks, Cass! will be interested to hear Dear Leader's take on The Meaning Of It All.
DeleteSure; I'm constantly in SEC filings for work so at least I could look at some more interesting ones for a moment. :P
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DeleteThanks Cass! Gross margin is up which explains some of the cheaper materials we've seen on classic pieces. Interesting! I'm going to listen in to their earnings call To hear what they say. Thanks for the headsup about the call!
ReplyDeleteThanks... I'm too lazy to sit through the call to hear all the numbers repeated to get to the good stuff--please report back on what Mickey says.
DeleteBtw according to SEC filings Jenna is still earning $1m per year salary. :P
Short 15-min call, I joined late so missed most of what Mickey said. However, in giving guidance for '17, he said they're expected to close at least 20 Jcrew stores, while open 2 new Jcrew and 10 Madewell stores. J crew by itself is expected to continue revenue decline, which is partially offset by growth in Madewell/others. YTD thru mid March Jcrew sales is down 14% while Madewell is up 7%. Other than that, and other than what I missed, nothing we didn't already know :)
DeleteWow. 14% decline YTD already? There were def some spring items that sold out pretty quickly but I guess it wasn't enough of their offerings.
DeleteThanks to both Cass and aeio2 for sifting through and posting all of this info! Curious to see what happens next.
DeleteDitto! All those numbers made my eyes glaze over. I know I am being more selective with my purchases as are many others. I am not spending as much at Jcrew so far this year but not spending that money at any other retailer either. It's all my fault! Baahaha.
DeleteAbout a quarter way through the call and they mention piloting in store pick up of items which I thought was interesting. I'm not sure if that means deliver to store or buy on line and pick up in store, that would mean they really need to get a better hold of their inventory issues.
DeleteDid Mickey give any sort of insight as to why they think sales continue to decline, other than general changing consumer habits?
Delete@TeriLynn13 , I believe that piloting program you're talking about refers to the latter (order online and ship to a store near you.) Ina had mentioned recently that it's currently being tested in some stores (in Chicago and Atlanta, IIRC). I placed an order last week and while checking out, a box came up saying, 'you can now choose store delivery', but when I entered my zip, it said NYC was not eligible yet.
DeleteA few JCAs were saying this seemed like a promising option, so that if you want to try on and return an item right away, you can do do right in the store.
Thank you for posting the financial results. It's sad to hear that more stores will close but not surprising. Hopefully not many more than twenty as that already seems like a lot. I'm surprised there's already a large enough decline in sales over last year.
DeleteI got the embellished Jackie cardigan in the light blue color with the orange sequined flowers. It's going back, the orange is too neon for me.
ReplyDeleteI also received the Irish linen popover in 3 colors (flax, aqua and white). The white will go back, but I love both of the other colors. Really nice top! TTS. It's going to wrinkle, but that's just linen. Colors seem just like the linen perfect shirts J. Crew has sold in recent years.
I also received the Safari Shirt Jacket in the tan color and it's super cute. Also TTS, maybe runs a bit large. It's a swing shape, just like the Madewell Northward Cropped Army Jacket. I think the J. Crew jacket is lighter weight.
Also tried the Madewell Distressed Collarless Jean Jacket. This is TTS, no stretch that I noticed. It's fitted, whereas the jackets I reviewed above are loose. This jacket is really different. It definitely adds interest to a boring outfit. The two blues in the jacket are distinct, have some contrast. I can't decide if I'll keep it, becauseI have a jean jacket and don't really need it.
Lots of reviews...some good some it so good.
ReplyDeleteThe plaid tassel flats run really small but they are adorable. I'm exchanging for a half size up. Lots of combos I can see with these (polka dot midi, strip midi, white eyelet dress). I also really love the red stripe midi. At 5'10 anytime I see a midi I jump on it because skirt options are so limited and skirts are my jam. This is a great weight and style (not see through!). I also really love the merci tee. High quality cotton, not see through and not too small. I really love it (and so fitting since French is spoken in my house, but not by me lol).
I'm on the fence of the heels tee. It's a nice thick cotton (not see through) and the emobroidery is nice but it runs small. I have to think about this one.
Going back is the elephants tee. Not a fan of the material which clung to my mommy tummy. Not at all like the bee tee which I like much better.
I also received the zip front sleeveless dress in navy today. The dress is a heavier cotton and zips completely down the front but has a covered placket so you'd never know there was a zipper. The dress hit me above the knee (I'm 5'8") but I'd still consider it work appropriate. The dress was straighter than I expected. I am curvy and an 8/10 these days and in the 10 the skirt just fit but the top was a bit loose The waist could be cinched in a bit but there was still more material than I would have liked in the middle of the dress. I think I'd prefer the skirt in the 10 and the top on the 8. I'm not going to force it if it's not a perfect fit.
ReplyDeleteI do love the substantial material and this would be such an easy work dress and could be layered with a button down or striped tee. I will try and post pics later.
Received a few orders today, mix of sale and new rollout, and found some winners.
ReplyDeletePatent double cross band sandals in desert pink. This is a very nice sandal; I sized up half size and they fit well. They're comfortable and the nude color is very versatile. Ina also reviewed them on her IG @inawonderland5.
Gingham stripe ruffle sleeve tee. I bought a similar stripe style last year and wanted to try this one because of the pattern mixing. Cotton is a good quality & fit is tts. It's 30% off and a really good buy. Saw an SA wearing this when I went to see new roll outs. Very cute on her with denim.
Safari jacket in teak from new roll out. Agree with @cate that this one is very cute. Fit is tts, but the arms are short on me. It's a good weight for spring and will work for summer as a layer for air conditioned offices and classrooms. Not a must have, so I'll wait for it to go on sale.
Metallic gold sandals with navy satin bow. I wanted a block heel metallic sandal for summer and was hoping these would work. Gold color is very nice and leather is soft. Fit is tts. The bow looks kinda cheap and doesn't lay well. There are also silver grommets where the ribbon is threaded instead of gold. Why? Returning them.
Elephant print tunic cover up. If you like elephants, this is the cutest thing ever. Fit is tts and it's slightly sheer. That's to be expected since it's a cover up. This is a keeper and can't wait to wear on vacation.
Collection Ratti silk pajama pant in hibiscus. This pant is old, but since I loved the Drake collab, decided to try when an 8 popped back. I really like this pant; fit is tts and the print is very nice. This is a 3 season option. They're $63 with current promotion, so if you like this style and print, I recommend that you try them. Also ordered the matching silk shirt which is a popover. Will share thoughts once it arrives.
I love that Ratti geometric. Hard to tell on my monitor, but is it red, pink and black. (Yellow too) or. Just pinks, no. Red? I'm tempted by both pieces, although i don't. Think the pants would. Work. For me. (And now. My size is sold. Out.)
DeleteDid you take the same size in the Ratti one as the Drake's silk pants?
DeleteReceived Ratti silk popover today. Fit is tts. Silk is a good quality & I really like the shirttail hem. Works well with a half tuck or untucked. Popover style allows for a layer if you want to style with a stripe top like the style guide. Can also mix in Drake pink Bengal.
Delete@Suz Has No red. Color is more of a clay brown;piping down the side with f the leg is also in this color. Yes to yellow (more mustard in tone), pink and black.
ReplyDelete@shoppingcelle I would take your normal size. I sized up in the Drake because the thigh had a slimmer cut. May just be how that pant was cut. Hope that helps.
*of
DeleteThat's so weird. It looks red, pink, yellow and black on my monitor. Oh well, one less thing to buy. I look forward to seeing it on you.
DeleteLookout high rise denim in Meyer wash- I took my usual lookout size in these. They fit well and feel soft (not as much cotton in them but I like the feel). The frayed hem at the bottom was more pronounced on some and while I was hoping to get a pair with minimal fraying the store only had one pair in my size and the bottoms were pretty frayed. I still bought them as I really like the fit and comfort. I'm a lookout convert. :) I'm trying to buy denim in store vs online because the fit and wash varies in the same size. So if I like them in store I'm just buying (on promo) instead of waiting for sale when I may not get the best fitting pair.
ReplyDeleteLookout in Fairoaks wash- these were very tight in my usual size, not sure if it was a fluke. They were soft but with the sizing and the cutoff bottom I just didn't like them on me.
Just received the mini skirt in fringy lace. Light blue. Don't know why it is not in the ready-to-party store like its counterpart sheath dress? I really like this piece - a great mix of fitted but skimming, and substantial in heft/weight yet still light enough for warm weather. It is listed as below the waist fit and it was closer to the waistline than that, but its OK as no thick waistband that would sit high.
ReplyDeleteIt is a mini, and I am, ahem, old, but because it is has a tailored cut - slightly a-line - it looks fabulous and not at all unseemly. It looked great with a dark tee and even better with a black silk blouse knotted at the waist. Low metallic heels and I will be ready-to-party.
That's a great review! I'm not so crazy about the way it's styled online (I mean it's cool to wear it with the sweatshirt, but I would notice it a lot more if it was shown as you describe). The length is definitely modest for a mini. I'll keep my eyes on this one.
Delete