These boat shoes are a nod to the classic preppy style, often associated with our beloved J.Crew. Apparently customers are responding to this new addition, because there is now a wait-listed date of April 16, 2010!A big "thanks!" to Danielle who found the same exact boat shoes at, of all places, Sperry Topsider.com. The Women's Authentic Original Metallic Boat Shoe (Item 9294455; $85.00) also has no wait-list as it is available to ship immediately.
But wait, there has to be a difference! Yes, there is one small difference between the two boat shoes, which J.Crew mentions: "exclusive details you won't find anywhere else (like grosgrain ribbon at the heel)". So basically, you are paying $13 for an inch of ribbon that no one can see while wearing the shoes. Brilliant.
You've got to find the humor in how J.Crew is offering these shoes with a fancier title & a bit of ribbon, for more money while making customers wait to get them. Well played J.Crew! ;)
THANKS! I have been coveting these and watching the available ship date move back on J.Crew's website . . . So, after reading this post, I ordered the shoes on the Sperry Top-Sider website. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe Platinum Sperrys are also available at Zappos with free shipping: http://www.zappos.com/product/7212450/color/2044
ReplyDeletealso nordstrom
ReplyDeleteI just ordered them from Zappos. Love the free shipping (and free return shipping), and for $13 less than the Crew. I am glad J.Crew carried them though, b/c otherwise they would have slipped below my radar.
ReplyDeleteNordstrom has the same shoe w/o the ribbon for $85, as Isabella, said, but they also a have slightly different Sperry Topsider moc, without the lacing around the sides, in metallic gold, originally $98 now 48.50! I just received mine and they are wonderful! Not too shiny and gorgeous leather. I think they might be a bit more versatile too, w/o the lacing. Check nordstrom.com.
ReplyDeleteOops I should clarify on the above ...the "Marina" Sperry Topsider moc at nordstrom.com has metallic gold lacing the same color as the shoe, so it "blends" in w the shoe vs. the white lacing.
ReplyDeleteHey all - I love these too. Anyone know how they run? I am an 8 1/2 or 9
ReplyDeletethanks
I saw metallic topsiders at Macy's like, 2 years ago. For probably $20 cheaper. Have also seen them at Nordstrom.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ruffles! I just checked out the Marina at Nordstroms and love them. I agree that the moc style (vs. lace up) is more versatile.
ReplyDeleteI never would've noticed these. Thanks for pointing them out. I hope they fit me, my foot's kind of wide, and I think Sperry's might run more narrow.
Thank you for this article!!! I love these shoes and was so disppointed when I saw that JCrew did not carry a size 11...but the Sperry website does, so I put my order in this morning!
ReplyDeleteNow i'm ready for Spring!
OT, but I found a Celosia cardi look-alike for a lower price and posted pics on my blog. I know a lot of people were looking for this cardi, so I thought I would let you know :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lilaccupcake.com/2010/01/21/nordstrom-celosia-look-alike/
I find it so funny that JC claims to have some kind of exclusive on this item when clearly it's available in several stores plus the Sperry website. It was the same thing with the Sorel boots they offered this winter...they're available in every other shoe store up here in Canada...hardly exclusive.
ReplyDeleteI bought metallic Sperrys at the Beall's outlet a year ago for $30. They look exactly like the J.Crew Sperrys, except they're more of a bronze metallic and they don't have the grosgrain ribbon.
ReplyDeleteGRR! I ordered these when they first came out and did a search to see if they were available at zappos, nordstroms, etc... and at the time they weren't! Oh well, lesson learned. Thanks for the $13 ribbon J.Crew!!
ReplyDeleteI am laughing...clearly I am not a preppy as many people reading this blog as I could never wear these:) I did at one time, though they were not metallic back then;)
ReplyDeleteSperry doesn't ship to Canada but Zappos does and here is the link to these shoes on the Zappos Canada site.
ReplyDeletehttp://canada.zappos.com/n/p/dp/58983872/c/2044.html
I'm not a fan of gold shoes, Jerry Seinfeld's TV mom wore similar shoes in one episode and I just can't get over it. Boca baby!
I do like the idea of a preppy comeback and shoes that are stylish and comfortable. Time to retire the ridiculous stripper-high platform heels that have been giving podiatrists and chiropractors an economic boost.
The only problem I have, is that I really like the sandalwood color that is apparently Jcrew only! I really would prefer not to pay more, but I love that color!
ReplyDeleteI wrote about JC's Sperrys, so I apologize if I repeat myself, but I ordered them in Sand color and absolutely love them. You are right, it's a unique color that Sperry Top Sider line proper does not carry (maybe not yet?) The fit is TTS, I am between 6.5 and 7, and ordered 6.5 which fits perfectly, and shouldn't slip off if they stretch - which they do, from what I hear. Hope this helps.
ReplyDeletelol @ xoxo.
ReplyDeleteThese shoes are too casual for me, but I am all for getting rid of the "stripper high platforms." I wish there were more dressy mid-heel options. So many shoes are either flat and super casual or high and really bad for your knees/feet/back over the long run (and impractical for city dwellers without cars). JC had a few mid-heel options this season; I wish they would do more and that other retailers would follow suit.
sweetsy,
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree. I wore them when I was around 13 or 14. Not going back there...
Pretty funny xoxo. I think I remember that Seinfeld episode. That show is on every night while I'm on the elliptical trainer. :D
ReplyDeleteThere was a feature on the news recently where women were getting Botox in the bottom of their toes to avoid hammer toes and collagen, I believe, injected into the ball of their feet to give extra padding, just so they could continue wearing those platforms with 5-6" heels. Not in my world, I say. Although I'm not inclined to "go for the gold", I ordered a pair of light blue Sperry mules that look to be really comfortable. Makes me long for summer.
I absolutely love Sperry Topsiders, but I don't plan to buy the gold ones. I already have several other pairs and the gold ones have white soles, which tend to get dirty and discolored very quickly.
ReplyDeleteI wore top-siders in grade and high school (Catholic school) and so I will forever associate these shoes (esp. in navy, lol) with restrictions on my fashion freedom. :)
ReplyDeleteBut they are cute, I will give it that, esp. the sandalwood color!
Here in the Dallas area all the high-school girls are wearing Top-Siders! They're not for me -- but I suppose some things never go out of style, at least not permanently!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, that is hilarious! (Alexis, your writeup made me laugh out loud!) You are so silly, JCrew.
ReplyDeleteI do love those shoes though. :)
hmmm.. is it possible to cancel an order for an item that's been waitlisted?
ReplyDeleteps. my word verification is dinero.. oh the irony.
allie: you can just call CS and ask them to cancel a waitlisted item. I have done that before and they have complied, no problem.
ReplyDeleteAllie: I cancel wait-listed items all the time. No problem at all for Jcrew to do.
ReplyDeleteRachel: These do stretch, I bought them for my daughter last year, and re-purchased the platinum and navy on Zappos yesterday one half size down. She wears an 8 normally, and the 7.5 fits perfectly. They will seem tight at first, but will soon mold to your foot.