Wool Ruffle-Front CoatClick here for product page
Item 17501
Regular: $268.00
This coat looks absolutely adorable with its ruffles in the front. According to J.Crew: "Made of sumptuously soft wool from a premier mill in Italy, this everyday coat is anything but basic with a feminine bias-cut ruffle at the center-front placket. Seamed shirt cuffs and an inset waistband add to the distinct tailored effect. Slight A-line shape. Rounded collar. Long sleeves. Ruffle detail at placket. Inset waistband. On-seam pockets. Fully lined. Hits at midthigh."
A big "thanks!" to KitsMommy (in this post), who shared her thoughts on this coat with us. The following is her review:
I ordered the Wool Ruffle Front Coat in camel...Now for the coat. The color is lovely. It is very similar to the camel Maggie I got last year. I also really like the length - it is great for my 5'4" smallish frame. I think the coat fits true to size and the style is excellent.
Now for the bad. I was a little disappointed in the fabric. It is a felted wool and just does not feel as nice as the Tuesday Trenches and Maggies I got last year. However, I doubt the unfinished ruffles will unravel due to the texture of the fabric.
The ruffles on my coat were awful and they were the dealbreaker. One side was fine, but the other was ruffled up way too much at the top and none at all at the bottom half.
I also do not like the large snap at the bottom of the placket. If looks fine when buttoned, but I would have preferred another button to having that huge snap on the coat.
Overall, I do not feel that the level of finish on the coat and fabric quality justify its price.
"Thanks!" again to KitsMommy for her great review!
What are your thoughts on the Wool Ruffle-Front Coat? Are you considering or already have purchased this coat? Have you seen this coat in person? If so, please share with us your reviews too! :)
this coat is on my wish list so im happy to get the review.
ReplyDeletecurious if reviewer is returning coat?
i am also 5'4".... happy to know coat lays well on that height.
does the coat run larger/smaller/true to size?
I returned it yesterday. The manager looked at the coat after the sales associate had done the return and commented without hearing our conversation that he thought the ruffles looked badly done on the one I received. Hopefully this was just a defective coat and the others are made better.
ReplyDeleteThe fabric looks similar to the Carrie coat from last year in the acorn color. It has a bit more texture than than the double serge and in my opinion does not feel as luxurious.
I think that the coat runs tts. I am 5'4" 124# and wear a 32a bra and a purchased a 4. It was a bit roomy in the bust and shoulders, but I never can size down to a 2 without J Crew coats being too short in the armholes and too short in the sleeves.
I wrote in a post yesterday that I purchased the pearl gray double serge skirt yesterday from the Tampa store and I wanted to do a quick review of it.
ReplyDeleteI purchased a black skirt last year but never managed to get any other colors so I was really excited to see they were going to be making these this year.
This one has some changes, but it is absolutely wonderful. This year's version is made of the exact same wonderful fabric. However, they have added some new topstitching details and have changed the skirt to a size zip. I compared the shape of last year's skirt with my new purchase and they are very similar. The waistband and hip area are shaped the same, but the new version does taper a little toward the bottom where last year's fell nearly straight. Also, this skirt runs a little larger. I purchased a 6 last year and had to get a 4 yesterday.
My store also had the copper and black. The copper is a soft rust color and is incredible - very saturated and rich.
I love this fabric and hope J Crew continues to bring us more pieces out of it.
I feel this skirt is an excellent buy, even at full price.
Oh, that's so disappointing. That was going to be my new fall coat.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up!
Don't despair if you loved this coat. I ordered one and have a completely different take on it.
ReplyDeleteI am 5'4" and ordered the coat one size up (8) because of the tendency for JC coats to have a narrow fit through shoulders.
Fit: What I gained in the shoulders by sizing up was not worth what I would sacrifice in terms of fit through the body. I recommend ordering your regular size. You won't be able to wear a blazer or bulky sweater under it, but a lighter sweater sweater or layers will be fine under it.
The off-the-rack cut is more well suited to a taller person. Even if I size down, I will have to have the sleeves shortened and the length shortened a couple of inches, which is possible because there is no back vent. Also, I will move the snap up. Its placed too low for a shorter person. Its too bad this is not offered in petites so I could save on the tailoring costs.
Fabric: I did not think the fabric was like the Carrie coat at all, which was a wool-cashmere blend. The finish is completely different. The fabric is substantial but not as stiff as the double-serge, though I think the quality is comparable. The camel color was perfect.
Ruffle: Perfectly laid out on mine.
"Fabric: I did not think the fabric was like the Carrie coat at all, which was a wool-cashmere blend. The finish is completely different. The fabric is substantial but not as stiff as the double-serge, though I think the quality is comparable. The camel color was perfect."
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting as the fabric in my coat was much more stiff than any of my double serge coats or jackets. I have 5 of these (3 Maggies and 2 Tuesdays), and they are very soft and drape well. The main reason I compared it to the Carrie is that my ruffle coat had a slightly textured look similar to the wool/cashmere blend even though the fabric was closer in weight of the serge.
I have actually considered ordering a different coat in camel or trying it in black to see if another one looked different as I really love the style.
My coat fit ok off the rack and was not too long in the sleeves or body even though I am also 5'4." Also, I think someone else here who is even smaller and ordered a 2reviewed this coat on her site and was happy with the length and size.
Any one is interested in this coat, I would suggest at least trying it. As I have stated before, we all have different builds and different tastes. I remember the Tueday's fit was bashed pretty heavily last fall and it is easily my favorite J Crew coat ever...
I ordered this coat in my usual size and it is due to arrive today. I am also 5'4", but I do not have petite proportions; I usually find petite sizes are too short on me everywhere but the sleeves. I will weigh in on this coat later this evening :)
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that it didn't work out for you kitsmommy. Sounds like you definitely got a defective coat. I got this about two weeks ago and I am just insane over it. I disagree about the fabric - I thought it was softer and thicker wool than any of my other jcrew coats. I was impressed. It fits me TTS. If anyone is pondering this coat, give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI reviewed the coat and posted IRL pics on my blog if anyone is interested. Find it here:
http://anthroholic.blogspot.com/2009/07/eeeek-my-jcrew-wool-ruffle-coat-is-in.html
Hi, Kim.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you posted. You were the other person I referred to in my post above. I really loved the coat on you and thought yours looked great.
Your blog really has made me start looking at anthropologie - like I needed another obsession ;) .
hi kitsmommy,
ReplyDeletethanks for mentioning me in your post and for the compliments. I'm so sorry it didn't work out for you :-(
thanks for reading my blog, and be careful, anthro will lure you in!!
Kitsmommy, thanks for the review, and sorry about the defective coat! It's a bummer to get something small and having it turn out wrong, but a big ticket item like that, which was so totally desirable, really stinks. That coat just looks so pretty! Hope you find something even better to replace it.
ReplyDeleteI received this coat today, and while I LOVE the style and am quite pleased with the quality, I am unsure about the fit. It's great with a regular sweater (like the Jackie) or turtleneck (merino) underneath, but when I put on my Soiree jacket (the double-breasted sweater from last winter with the crystal buttons - thickest sweater I have) I looked and felt kind of overstuffed. I think sizing up, while it would be great when I wear a thick sweater, might make the coat too loose.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with the others about the snap. I think the vertical placement is alright, but I am curvy and the snap makes the coat pull ever so slightly over my hips. I will move the snap, and that problem will be solved easily enough.
I think the coat will be warm; it is a nice felted wool that will be warmer than my pique Felicia coat, but I would say not as warm as my stadium cloth Shipley coat. I think the stadium cloth is the warmest you can get though. I don't have any double-cloth coats, but I have tried them on and I think this coat would be warmer than the double-cloth.
HTH! I will post pics on my blog soon.
Great review on the new pencil skirt. Thank you, kitsmommy.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this years double-serge pencil skirt and it is a little cheaper compared to last year. I currently own the beautiful ochre and black colors from last year. The copper rust color and fuschia colors are gorgeous---they are on my wish list! I wonder when this will be online? I am also dying to see the gold quilted skirt we saw in the fall previews from Glamour etc. I hope its affordable! So excited for fall new arrivals.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely head over heels over this coat so it's been great reading all these reviews. I was talking to a SA today and he said they will most likely have it in stores too (!!!). His opinion was there's a good chance since it didn't specify online or in the catalog description that it was a web only item. He though it might come in the next roll out, when people might think about buying a coat more.
ReplyDeleteI also sent an email to J. Crew customer service and they said some stores already have the coat in stock and that the coat comes in also offered in heather carbon and antique stone. Hope this info helps!
I just got the coat today. It was just okay. I fell in love with the coat immediately when I saw it in the fall catalog, and then when I saw it on Anthroholic, I ordered it (in a size 6). I am almost 5'4" and have a 34D chest but still felt the coat was a little roomy. Just not enough shape. Blah. Love the color. Love the ruffles. The snap on the placket doesn't bother me so much. But the fit was just off. I have NEVER been to a B&M (I know, sad), but if it's in stock, I may make the 45 minute drive to try on the coat in a 4. That will seal the deal.
ReplyDeleteMichelle: thanks for the info about the other colors of the coat! I would love to see them before I commit to the camel. I love the camel color, but the others are intriguing :)
ReplyDeleteTHIS is a really cute coat. I was saddened to hear originally that it only comes in camel (a color which makes me look sickly) and black (just can NOT justify *another* black coat lol). Hopefully, your SA is right, Michelle, about the other colors! I truly hope that the "messed up" ruffle (on kitsmommy's coat) was an anomaly and that the rest of you have much better luck with your coats.
ReplyDeleteTTYL,
Carole
sasy.com
Definite pass. Thanks for the review. I
ReplyDeleteam tired of JCrew's inconsistent quality.
Don't want to risk it. Not worth my time and effort. I am almost to the point if I cannot try it on why order online? I just really dislike returns.
Aww Jenny K - I'm so sorry the coat didn't work out for you. I would call CS to see if any stores near you have it before you drive all the way out there - I have yet to see the coat in stores, but like Michelle, my SA did tell me that it would hit stores probably in the next rollout.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't say anything about other colors though - I thought the colors Michelle mentioned were for that other ruffle coat in the special jcrew book sent to only certain jcrew cardholders?