A big "thanks!" to Pakcola & Jaden who shared the latest email from J.Crew Factory.The email announces a sale where customers can "save 30-50% off Fall Favorites" including "outerwear, sweaters, pants and more" at all J.Crew Factory Stores. This offer is good from 10/7/09 through 10/14/09.
Completely random, but remember when J.Crew had a J.Crew Factory e-commerce site? I think it only lasted a few weeks during one holiday season (several years ago). It got me wondering if maybe J.Crew should reintroduce it. Probably not, considering Madewell's e-commerce site has yet to go live (and its been two years since it was suppose to.)
Will you check out your local J.Crew Factory store this week? Are there any items you are hoping to see or purchase? If so, please share! :)
I'll be checking this out on the weekend, hopefully will find some good deals!
ReplyDeleteim kinda crewed out. the 50 minute drive to Wrentham the closest factory outlet isnt worth the hit or miss nature of the factory store,although i must say u can be pleasantly surprised every now and then. wish i had bought 20 roll neck sweaters back when they used to always carry them...
ReplyDeleteI have had good luck lately with the outlet's cords, both bootcut and matchstick. They fit me really well and come in good basic colors, at an outlet price. I picked up 4 pairs.
ReplyDeletei am a big fan of the outlet. i live relatively close to two different ones.
ReplyDeletei am a big time basics buyer there. camis, t shirts, belts are always at the top of my list when at the outlet.
i did buy a beautiful winter coat there last year and will definitely be heading over there soon to see what the selection is like this year.
I've been hugely disappointed every time I've visited a J.Crewlet. Like pretty_boy the nearest outlet mall is 50 minutes away, and considering the prices there are almost as much as the real thing -- AND the quality is almost always noticeably "outlet" -- just not worth it. I know people have found good deals there - and for some reason buying basics at the BR outlet doesn't bother me. But their sales are often and DEEP -- so I feel like I'm really getting good value for my money. Not so at the Crewlet.
ReplyDeleteI was in an outlet this past weekend and was excited to see matchstick cords for 24.99 and bootcut cords for 29.99. I took my regular JC size and the next size up and neither fit! I was so disappointed that I didn't buy anything. Why does the fit have to be so different? And, the sa's aren't as great there as my regular b&m - no one was in the dressing room asking if anyone needed more sizes. I didn't want to get dressed, go get the next size up, and come back. Oh, well, they're not as soft as regular JC cords, so I'll just wait for them to get marked down and hope they still have my size in the colors I'm interested in.
ReplyDeleteI agree with RatsonParade that the prices are not worth a normal trip, but this email is making me want to go! I really want the Jackie in a python-y print. Reg price was $69.50!!! For an OUTLET COTTON Jackie!!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't recommend their cords - the quality is significantly lower than the regular store. You can find better ones at Target (not exaggerating).
i'll be there (wrentham). it's a drive, but we're hoping there will be great sales, including jcrew. the last time i was there, i was REALLY disappointed in the selection there. after losing some weight, i need pants big time. so, hopefully there are great pants there.
ReplyDeletedo the factory stores have crewcuts?
ReplyDeleteI was at a crewlet (Cabazon, CA)this past weekend. Not too exciting. Matchstick cords didn't fit right even if I sized up one. They had perfect fit long sleeves at okay price with more saturated colors. I bought a rose tee that looks similar to previous one at B&M (I missed out...) and some hair accessories. Other than that I find the clothes lesser quality but price is still high. No crewcuts or shoes there.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading some of these comments, I compared the cords I recently bought at the outlet to the three pairs I bought at the retail B&M last year and there is no difference! Now I'm wondering if maybe the ones I got recently from the outlet are actually some of last year's retail leftovers instead of "outlet versions".
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I hope it gets cold here soon so I can wear them!
I stopped in to my local outlet last Friday and just grabbed a graphic tee. They were well stocked with lots of cords and sweaters, I just don't need anything:)
ReplyDeleteBy the by, you can tell if the clothes are outlet-made or regular B&M quality by looking at the tags. If the tag has 3 dots below the Jcrew, that means it was created specially for the outlet. I usually go to the outlet and cherry pick the clothes that were originally made for regular jcrew. I did find the stretch wool grey suit at the outlet a few weeks ago and it was definitely made for regular B&M stores.
ReplyDeleteProbably a stupid question, but can someone please explain what "e-commerce" means?
Speaking about the retail Matchstick cords, I recommend sizing down at least 2 sizes if you can, they stretch out in the butt and the waist. I sized down 1size and they are still baggy on me.
ReplyDeleteLauren - ecommerce really a fancy way to say buying/selling things over the internet. At least that's how I interpret it, anyone else feel free to jump in.
ReplyDeleteAlexis - I do totally remember that short period of time the JC Factory had a site. Very random. I don't think I ever bought anything, but I remember checking it out from time to time.
I am headed there (hilton head outlets) today because my husband is coming down this weekend and I doubt he'll want to go ;) I would love to get some sweaters and I know it is hit or miss but I am moving to frickin' Alaska this December and want to stock up on cold weather stuff and anything cute that I will never find in the arctic tundra. I have found some great stuff there but also left with a frown. There isn't a regular non-outlet store nearby so 45 min drive isn't too bad just to check it out.
ReplyDeleteOK, I did go to the crewlet today, and while supposedly they had "holiday part 1" out, it didn't look like anything special. Part 2 is due next week. The Francis (or is it Victoria - I am starting to get all those silk ruffly camis mixed up) were restocked in lots more jewel tones. They had coats at 50% off, which made them a better deal than the ones in the sale section! Broke down and got some cords in interesting colors (ie, not going to keep them for life as the outlet cords I've bought in the past did not hold up well. Matchsticks were $25 and bootcut $30. They had several pairs of alpine green bootcuts (from last year - I love that color!)
ReplyDeleteWhat else? The Jackie I wanted was in the sale section for $50 - 20% but they only had xs. Oh - remember the post about the tortoise and haircalf belts, where the SA told one of us that they "had" to have the seam in the back? The crewlet has a skinny haircalf belt and lo and behold, no seam! It is sized to be a jeans belt, I think, and had tons of holes. Again, will have to search for my size as they only had M. $55 - not a steal, but that seam is ridiculous. Jewelry and hairthings were on promo and there was nothing good in the boys' section. The girls, on the other hand, had so many cute things I was tempted to snatch a few just in case....sad, but if that hot pink zebra knit dress gets over to the sale section, it may prove to be irresistable...
Mommydearest -- thanks so much for the update. I probably won't get to the crewlet until Sunday. Hope there are some decent goodies left by then. Did you notice any cashmere cardigans on special? I saw a pretty royal violet one last month but it was way too expensive.
ReplyDeletekaren,
ReplyDeletecan you let us know if the hilton head outlet has crewcuts? that would make my drive from savannah more tolerable. i have 2 boys, if that helps with your report!
shopalot-I am *mostly* sure the cashmere was on sale. You could always call and ask them to hold whatever you want. IME, some of the crewlet SAs are nicer than the store SAs. Case in point: the one I just got off the phone with didn't balk or sigh or act like I was putting her out to go look for my Jackie in the sale section (and she found it!) And as we were chatting about the cords, I said I hadn't been impressed with them. She volunteered I should definitely bring anything back that doesn't wash well or wear well.
ReplyDeleteHope you find what you want. If anyone else has questions about specific items, ask and I'll try to remember. Sweater dresses were 20%, including this really cute Audrey lookalike. And Ts were $5 off - not a deal, IMO.
marisa-the website tells you which outlets have crewcuts. The SA today happened to mention that there are only 7 of them so far that do.
I was at the outlet in Waterloo, NY a week and a half ago... prices are like, $10 less than retail prices for stuff that is poorer quality and has a higher synthetic fabric content. Yuck. Even with 50% off many of the prices are way too high for what you get!
ReplyDeleteLauren - I totally do that too! I pretty much only buy the "real", non outlet stuff when I go to the outlets. They did have the stretch wool suiting in navy pinstripe at the outlet I was at most recently, but it was the same price as online at JCrew.com.
ReplyDeleteI have gotten some collection stuff at 80-90% off at the outlets. That's always fun!
I went to the outlet in Vacaville, CA today. I put a lady day coat on hold, wold blend, $218 with 30% off, so around 150. *Probably* going back for it tomorrow. They did have a few other coats that were 50% off, but no other knee-length coats. There really wasn't much I wanted. I did really well at the Ann Taylor and Banana Republic factory stores though. The coat has 2 diamonds on the tag, not 3, does that mean anything?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know if there's typically an online Columbus Day sale? Hoping to get some extra off a pair of jeans I've been watching, and afraid to order today just in case...
ReplyDelete