J.Crew Spotted in Marie Claire

"Thanks!" to Penny (check out her lovely Penny. LA blog), who not only let us know about a few J.Crew items being spotted in the latest issue of Vogue, but also scanned the images for us to view! (Click on the image to see it larger.)

The image on the left shows a laced tank top that will retail for $228.00. It is most likely an upcoming item from J.Crew's Collection line.

The image on the right shows Katie Holmes wearing a Fenton for J.Crew necklace as a bracelet. What I can't get over is the trend the magazine article is trying to push: a tank/tee under a party dress. Hmmm. Looks cute on Mrs. Cruise but I am not sure it would work in reality.

What are your thoughts on J.Crew's Collection line? Do you like the tank/tee under dress trend? If so, please share! :)

"Looking to LOVE" with J.Crew

Preface: A big "thanks!" to Ibi who suggested weekly 'Looking to LOVE' and 'Looking to HATE' posts where we could all "deposit" our best & worst current experiences. I think it is a brilliant idea and will try it out for a few weeks. Hopefully this will help out our fellow JCAs! :)

This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a positive situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including stellar experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

J.Crew Spotted at Real Simple

"Thanks!" to Tracey who let us know about a J.Crew spotting over at Real Simple (click here).

The yet-t0-be-released coat ($298.00) is a wool-and-cashmere combination. Real Simple shares the following too:

Chic 1950s Style
Get the look of a vintage find (minus that musty smell) with this retro-inspired coat in rich hunter green. It has a surprisingly flattering silhouette, thanks to a draped neckline and a body-grazing, columnlike cut.

I like the color of the coat, but I am not liking the shape or style. In particular, that flap seems like it would bother me when the weather is windy or super cold.

What are your thoughts on the coat? Do you like the shape & style? Will you get it? :)

J.Crew Email: EXTRA 20% OFF final sale, exclusively online

"Thanks!" to many of you who shared an email sent by J.Crew this morning.

As mentioned in Monday's "Darlings, is it time for a coupon code? {20% off f..." post, the email let's us know that J.Crew is offering 20% off Final Sale and free shipping on:

• $100+ with code SHOPCREW
  
• $125+ with code TREAT
  
• $150+ with code OURTREAT
  
• $175+ with code LOVECREW

All of these offers expire 9/30/10.

What is interesting about this email is that they still don't let you know about the actual code (and what the minimum is) until you visit their JCrew.com site.

Another thing that I find odd is that they are sending this email now. This promotion has been going on since Monday. They are just letting customers know about it?!? Even on Monday, only a few customers got to see the promotional code on their screen. (I was not one of them. In fact, I couldn't see one until Tuesday.) Is it because so many blogs like this one, have already published them publicly? (Side note: I love how helpful the JCAs are to share with each other these codes!)

In any case, I am happy about the promotion itself. (And it's clearly working as inventory levels are low.) Now the sale section needs a proper update and I am all set. :)

What are your thoughts on this latest promotion? Do you think its sneaky or perfectly fair? Did you take advantage of the extra 20% off? If so, what did you get? :)

J.Crew's Best Perk Story

A big "thanks!" to Peggy who shared the following delightful J.Crew/Mickey story found in Tim Gunn's new book "Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work":

Once I was having lunch at Michael's with Grace Mirabella when a man came up and introduced himself as Mickey Drexler. Mickey was the CEO of the Gap for many years and had just moved over to J.Crew. He said he was a big fan of the show. 'Well, I'm a big fan of what you did with the Gap,' I said, 'and I can't wait to see what you do at J.Crew.' (As we know now, he did an amazing job repositioning that brand.) The next day, I received a handwritten card from Mickey Drexler with a 30 percent off J.Crew Friends and Family discount card for life.

A-m-a-z-i-n-g story. That really is one great perk! Could you imagine having a 30% off discount card at J.Crew... for life!?!

"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

Preface: A big "thanks!" to Ibi who suggested weekly 'Looking to LOVE' and 'Looking to HATE' posts where we could all "deposit" our best & worst current experiences. I think it is a brilliant idea and will try it out for a few weeks. Hopefully this will help out our fellow JCAs! :)

This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs!}

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! :)

J.Crew's Red Card {it's white!}

As mentioned in last Monday's "J.Crew's Red Card {it's back!?!}" post, J.Crew is sending customers a card for 25% off any in-store purchase.

"Thanks!" to so many of you, including IRL, theWoolAcorn, & SanFranciscoCA, who sent in images of the card. The card came in a doubled-over-almost-postcard-size flyer. (Not in an envelope!)

Although the discount cards are being referred to as the "red card", they are white. (It's reference is due to the original 25% off card being sent a few years ago that was red.)

Some notes about the card:

• It can be used multiple times until it expires on October 11, 2010. Don't let the store associate keep it (like one tried to do with mine on Saturday!)
• It can also be used on regular and sale priced items
  
• The card has a bar code on the back (seems like it could be unique to user)
  
• The recipient has to sign the card on the back (so no one else can use it)
• J.Crew will honor the discount when using the red phone in-stores

I did get a red card on Friday of last week. I thought for sure I would not get it. So I was thrilled when I saw it in the mailbox. Customers are still receiving the card in the mail, so don't lose hope! :)

Are you thrilled to hear that the Red Card program is back at J.Crew? Did you get the Red Card from J.Crew recently? If so, please share! :)

J.Crew's 10th Sample Sale {going on now!}

"Thanks!" to Michelle (in this post) who let us know that ClothingLine (click here) is hosting another sample sale for J.Crew in NYC. I think it is their 10th, but honestly I am starting to lose track.

This sale starts this week! For the event's days/hours:

Tuesday, September 29th (10 am - 7 pm)
Wednesday, September 30th (10 am - 7 pm)
Thursday, September 31st (10 am - 7 pm)
Friday, October 1st (10 am - 7 pm)

What to expect at J.Crew's latest sample sale:

• footwear Women & Men
• current and previous collections
• shoes, boots, heels, flats, loafers and more
• women's sizes 5 - 12, men's sizes 7 - 13
• jewelry - bracelets, earrings, necklaces for Women
• accessories - ltd selection of hats, scarves and gloves for Women

As with all their sample sales, all sales are final. The location for the event is:

Clothingline | SSS Sample Sales
261 W 36th Street
(between 7th & 8th Ave)
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10018

Will you be attending this latest sample sale? If you are, please let us know! If you could also share any information (e.g. merchandise selection, quantity, prices), it would be greatly appreciated. :)

Darlings, is it time for a coupon code? {20% off final sale AND free shipping!}

A big "thanks!" to Rose (of the lovely "1 More Shopping Blog"), who is super nice to share with us that J.Crew is offering free shipping on orders of $150+ with promo code VC97BT. This offer expires 10/4/10.

Another big "thanks!" to Fabulous Florida Mommy (of the fantastic "Fabulous Florida Mommy" blog), as well as jcrewphd, BLB, Drewablank, & Closet Crisis (in this post), who let us know the following promotion: J.Crew is offering 20% off Final Sale and free shipping on:

• $100+ with code SHOPCREW
  
• $125+ with code TREAT
  
• $150+ with code OURTREAT
  
• $175+ with code LOVECREW

All of these offers expire 9/30/10. The fine code of the promo includes:

All sales final. No exchanges, no returns. Offer valid online only. Offer not valid on J. Crew Factory items. Offer does not apply to previous purchases or gift cards. 20% off discount applies to sale items only. Offer valid through Thursday, September 30, 2010, 11:59pm ET. Free shipping offer applies to orders shipped via ground shipping totaling $100+ after 20% discount on sale items and before shipping, handling and taxes are added. Savings are applied at checkout with code SHOPCREW. Offer not valid on phone orders. Cannot be combined with any other promotion. Limit one promotional code per order.

These codes appear at the top of the screen at JCrew.com. However, the minimum is different for different users. I am not sure how they determine which computer-user gets which minimum either. Thank goodness for our amazing community of JCAs who share. :)

P.S. I have noticed that other blogs & websites post J.Crew codes & coupons *after* this blog does. If you happen to get codes & coupons from the JCA blog & post them at your site, could you please give give a "shout out" to the JCA blog? This way more JCAs are inclined to share. TIA! :)

J.Crew Email: A message from our commander-in-chic...

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Marietta & Ketan, who let us know about J.Crew's latest email.

The email features the Drapey Bateau Tee (Item 32642; $69.50), which J.Crew describes as

The ever-classic flattering bateau—dressed with a sprinkling of sequins at the shoulder. Crafted of a very special linen blend distinguished by its incredible drape and supremely soft feel. Cotton/Modal®/linen. Boatneck. Three-quarter sleeves. Import. Machine wash.

I saw the top in-person and I do think it is absolutely lovely. But in all fairness, I am a sucker for boatneck, striped, three-quarter sleeves tees. I will definitely buy it (when it goes on sale). :)

What are your thoughts on the Drapey Bateau Tee? Do you own or have tried it on? If so, please share. :)

Madewell Email: This just in...(+ free shipping)

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Marietta, who let us know about Madewell's latest email.

Madewell is promoting their line of jewelry (click here to shop online). I do own one piece from Madewell's necklace collection, the Sparkle Pop Necklace (Item 29886; $$49.50, now $19.99). It is very cute, however I would put the construction/ durability of the piece on the same level as J.Crew Factory (or even a step below that). The brass chain feels cheap and the prongs holding the faceted rhinestones get caught on any piece of clothing you wear (so be careful with your knit scarves!)

Madewell is also reminding us about their offer for free shipping on orders of $100+ with promo code SCORE. This offer will last for a limited time. (It's unclear when it expires.)

Will you be checking out Madewell's jewelry? What pieces are you interested in getting? Please share! :)

The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to sell}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who want to swap/sell/share among yourselves. This post is where you can mention your items and outside listing/ auction site (like eBay and eCrater & the corresponding user ID).

---

Please note: this posting is not for resellers. If you are a reseller, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)

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Please note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Do you have any items you would like to swap/sell/share among yourselves through your outside listing/auction site?

Sidenote: What's up with JCAs writing "sub" or "subscribing" as their comment? It just means they are subscribing to all the comments (which are then automatically sent to their email) in that particular thread. This way they can stay aware of all the comments posted. :)

The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to find}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who are looking for and interested in buying certain items. Please feel free to share a J.Crew store location and/or your outside listing/ auction site if it matches the requests made in this post.

---

Please note: this posting is not for resellers. If you are a reseller, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)

---

Also note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share/finding to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Is there an item (or items) that you are looking for and interested in purchasing?

Sought & Found: Did you visit J.Crew this {past} Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopped by a J.Crew store this past weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SUMMER & FALL sale, or to see some new FALL arrivals {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store was/ is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

J.Crew Email: WE'RE BACK: FACTORY ONLINE IS OPEN AGAIN (BUT JUST FOR THE WEEKEND)

"Thanks!" to many of you who shared the latest email from J.Crew this morning.

The email announces that J.Crew Factory (click here to shop online) is once again open for business. As the email and online site mentions, it will only be available on the weekends.

I did end up getting an item last weekend, the Factory Enamel Critter Charm Necklace (Item 98853; $24.50, now $17.00). The elephant was just too cute to pass up. I am also loving the Factory Cotton Taffeta Belle Skirt (Item 17627; $69.50, now $59.50) in both Amethyst Stone & White Sand Black. However, my overall impression is that it is better (in terms of both quality and pricing) to wait for the originals (from regular J.Crew) to go on sale.

What are your thoughts on J.Crew's Factory move to online? Do you like some of the current offerings?

Seek & Find: Will you visit J.Crew this Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopping by a J.Crew store this weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SUMMER & FALL sale, or to see some new FALL arrivals {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

P.S. I noticed that many of you have already been reporting sale items (and in which stores) in other posts which by the way "thank you!" :) I really appreciate how helpful we are for each other!

Darlings, is it time for a coupon code?

Yes, it is that wonderful time!

A big "thanks!" to Fabulous Florida Mommy (in this post) & Get Fresh, who are super nice to share with us that J.Crew is offering free shipping on orders of $150+ with promo code YCP8B2. This offer expires 9/27/10.

P.S. I have noticed that other blogs & websites post J.Crew codes & coupons *after* this blog does. If you happen to get codes & coupons from the JCA blog & post them at your site, could you please give give a "shout out" to the JCA blog? This way more JCAs are inclined to share. TIA! :)

J.Crew's Jenna Style on View

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Whitney, Ashley, as well as Heidi (in this post), who let us know about a post with video over at the New York Magazine's Fashion page (click here).

The Stylish J.Crew President and Showgoing Fashion Consultant
By Bifen Xu and R.J. Bone
September 15, 2010

Our Video Look Book crew has been skulking around the tents the last few days and — lo! — ran into J.Crew president Jenna Lyons and Amanda Brooks of the William Morris Agency. Each stylin' lady walked our cameras through their head-to-toe looks (which included pieces by Phillip Lim, Philip Crangi, Chanel, Eddie Borgo, and J.Crew, of course), told us what shows they're most looking forward to, and where their preferred people-watching spots are when Fashion Week isn't in session. See all that and more in the video after the jump.

I do think Jenna's personality is cute. And I give her credit for wearing that much denim with confidence. Alas, I could not pull that look off.

What are your thoughts on the video? Do you like Jenna's outfit that she is sporting? Will you rock the denim on denim look?

"Looking to LOVE" with J.Crew

Preface: A big "thanks!" to Ibi who suggested weekly 'Looking to LOVE' and 'Looking to HATE' posts where we could all "deposit" our best & worst current experiences. I think it is a brilliant idea and will try it out for a few weeks. Hopefully this will help out our fellow JCAs! :)

This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a positive situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including stellar experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

J.Crew Email: New, new, new. Come see our new styles in final sale (plus, FREE SHIPPING).

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Marietta, who let us know about J.Crew's latest email.

J.Crew is announcing that even more new styles have been added to their Final Sale (click here to shop online)! Moreover, some of the items have been reduced in price! {Yey!} This offer also extends to brick & mortar stores. (Incidentally, doesn't if feel like another percent off sale will be happening soon?)

They are also reminding us about their offer for 20% off on select full-priced Women's pants & denim (click here & here to shop online). Lastly, J.Crew is providing free shipping (on $100+) with promo code SHIP100. Both of these offers are good until the end of today.

Will you be checking out the Final Sale? Any new styles interest you? If so, please share! :)

News About J.Crew's Return Policy {follow up}

As mentioned in the September 8th "News About J.Crew's Return Policy" post (which displays the original return policy), J.Crew recently changed their return policy.

"Thanks!" to many of you, including mimi.magnolia (in this post), who let us know that J.Crew's website explains the new parameters for returns (also found here):

Quality is our highest priority. Always has been, always will be.

our guarantee
We guarantee our merchandise to be free of manufacturing defects and will accept any defective item for refund or exchange.

All in-store returns/exchanges in accordance with this policy for purchases paid for by cash or check require a government-issued photo ID.

retail store purchases
J.Crew gladly accepts returns of unworn, unwashed, undamaged or defective merchandise purchased in our retail stores for full refund or exchange within 30 days of original purchase. Requests for refund or exchange of merchandise purchased by cash or check must be accompanied by the original receipt. Refunds will be made in the form of the original payment.

telephone and internet purchases
J.Crew gladly accepts returns of unworn, unwashed, undamaged or defective merchandise purchased by phone or online for full refund or exchange within 60 days of original purchase. Requests for refund or exchange of merchandise purchased by check must be accompanied by the original receipt. Refunds will be made in the form of the original payment.

I am curious if J.Crew's store associates have been alerting customers to the new change. Hopefully they are. :)

What are your thoughts on this latest change? Did you know about this change? Will this have an impact on your future orders?

J.Crew's October Catalog {double check it!}

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Emily & Julie, who let us know that the latest catalog sent may have a unique promotional code (for something like 20% off on any order, free shipping with no minimum, or $20 off a certain amount).

So double-check your catalog to see if you got a unique promo code too! :)

"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

Preface: A big "thanks!" to Ibi who suggested weekly 'Looking to LOVE' and 'Looking to HATE' posts where we could all "deposit" our best & worst current experiences. I think it is a brilliant idea and will try it out for a few weeks. Hopefully this will help out our fellow JCAs! :)

This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

J.Crew Kicks It Up a Notch with Ads & New Balance

The following is from an article at WWD (click here to read in its entirety) that discusses J.Crew's upcoming directions:

Memo Pad: The Anna Wintour Show... J. Crew's Friendly Ads...
Jean E. Palmieri
September 2, 2010

HIGHLIGHTING SOME FRIENDS: J.Crew has found a unique way to drive traffic to its Web site: promote other online businesses. The company’s fall ads, which begin running in The New York Times Sunday Styles section this weekend, will shine a spotlight on some under-the-radar Web sites that offer what it deems cool, noncompeting products. “We like to edit and find things that are not big and famous,” said Millard “Mickey” Drexler, chief executive officer. “So we put together a list of our favorite Web sites that did other things and that we thought were creative. They’re small companies and they’re not out there as much as they deserve to be.”

The men’s ad, for example, gives shout-outs to the car company Silver Tears Campers, La Quercia meats and Kings County Distillery. “This is like editorial in a magazine,” Drexler said. “We wanted to share with our customers the things we love.” He added that now that Web browsing has become ubiquitous, this will set J.Crew apart. “Dot-com is a commodity today,” he said. “So we asked how we could become a bit more intelligent.”

The campaign was conceived in association with Andy Spade of Partners and Spade. “It’s like notes in a blog,” Spade said of the campaign. “It’s a print campaign that moves you toward the Web but you’re looking at it in a magazine.” On the J.Crew site, the ads will be more interactive. The campaign will be used first for Crew Cuts this Sunday and will follow with a men’s ad on Sept. 12 in T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Details, GQ, Monocle and other niche publications. There will also be a holiday ad.

In other J.Crew news, the retailer in November will introduce an exclusive selection of New Balance crossover sneakers into its mix. Frank Muytjens, men’s design director, said he had been searching the world to find the “perfect sneaker,” and found one in a retail store in Tokyo, ironically an American-made model from New Balance, the 1400. J.Crew will offer it in dark bottle green, navy and black. The shoes will retail for $130 and will hit 24 stores, the catalogue and online in November. It will be rolled out to 42 stores in February.

Their latest ad campaign is definitely an interesting move. I am curious to see if it really brings traffic to their site. As for the sneakers from New Balance... At first I wasn't sure about it, but thought that their partnership with Sperry was pretty good. So who knows, this may work out pretty well for them too. :)

Have you seen J.Crew's ads in the The New York Times Sunday Styles? If so, what are your thoughts on them? Do you think it is a good move to partner up with New Balance to offer an exclusive J.Crew sneaker?

J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs!}

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! :)

J.Crew's Mickey Drexler as "The Merchant"

"Thanks!" to so many of you, including SA, Shannon, Monica, as well as wellfedfred (in this post), Tom (in this post), ajc (in this post), & Frudoc (in this post), who shared the following article from the New Yorker (click here to read in its entirety).

The Merchant. It’s all about the eye—and the numbers.
By Nick Paumgarten
September 20, 2010

PROFILE of J. Crew chairman Millard (“Mickey”) Drexler. “Can I have your attention, please?” A dozen or so times a day at J. Crew headquarters in Manhattan, a voice comes over the intercom with a low-fidelity reverb that brings to mind a muezzin’s call to prayer. The voice belongs to Millard Drexler, the chairman and C.E.O. of J.Crew, who is known to everyone as Mickey.

Wherever Drexler is, he can disseminate his voice via cell phone; an assistant patches him in. In the nineties, Drexler, who is now sixty-six, became known as Merchant Prince, for his transformation of the Gap from a shaggy little jeans chain to a gigantic but fairly nimble purveyor of the stuff everyone wears. He helped transform the way Americans dress. In 2002, however, amid a decline in the Gap’s fortunes, Drexler was fired. He wound up, less than a year later, at the helm of J.Crew, a much smaller company. Its subsequent revival, as a business and a brand, has given him some measure of vindication and extra eminence, as well as wealth of another magnitude.

Drexler grew up in the Bronx and he attended Boston University business school, then worked at Abraham & Straus and Bloomingdale’s. Describes his relationship with his father. J.Crew’s investment meetings, known as “finalization,” for the 2010 holiday line took place over two days in May. Drexler peppers the merchants with questions, in a kind of commercial catechism designed both to refine the decisions being made and to instruct his charges in the rigors of merchandising.

J.Crew was founded as a mail-order business in 1983 by Arthur Cinader. In the late nineties, the company foundered, and Cinader sold a majority stake to the Texas Pacific Group, which went through several C.E.O.s before hiring Drexler, who has gradually tried to elevate the brand. Mentions Donald Fisher, the Gap’s founder.

Drexler has a unique blend of supreme self-confidence, which enables him to acknowledge flaws or fears, and deep insecurity, which causes him to obsess over them. Describes the men’s finalization meeting. Drexler is gregarious but not highly social. He believes that a lot of people have piled up disgusting sums of money for producing or building nothing—for merely investing. In the stock market’s heady days, his own net worth exceeded a billion dollars.

Recently, J.Crew has been complementing its wares with selections from other, more time-tested names, such as Timex, Red Wing, Ray-Ban, and Belstaff. The goal is for J.Crew to festoon its own brand, assert a kind of kindred spirit, and accentuate its claim to classic Americana. Mentions Minnetonka and Quoddy. Drexler sweeps into J.Crew stores with regularity. Describes his visit to a store on Grand Avenue, in St. Paul, Minnesota, in May. ...

Although some of the points made were repeats of previous interviews (like from the June 12th "WSJ Declares Drexler as "The Retail Therapist"" post), it is still an interesting read.

What are your thoughts on the article? Do you like Mickey Drexler more or less after reading this article? Any points you found particularly interesting or note-worthy? If so, please share! :)

Paris Trip Recap (thanks everyone!)

First and foremost, I want to thank everyone for their well-wishes on my trip to Paris. It means a lot to me to know I have such a supportive JCA-base. :) The trip itself was amazing (the weather was great, the sites were lovely, the food was fantastic!) Unfortunately, this time around I am having a hard time re-adjusting back home (in terms of jet-lag, which I am still oddly recovering from).

As for regular street trends in Paris, I think the U.S. has finally caught up! I did not see anything that we are currently not embracing. (I hope what I wrote just now makes sense.)

So what is popular (from my viewpoint): Skinny jeans, blazers, and scarves were the norm. And how they wrap the scarves... like performance art! Every once in awhile I would notice a Parisian sporting a pair of high heels (and work them so well it made me jealous!). But black ballet flats or sneakers (like Bensimons or Converse) would be more commonly seen among the younger ladies. (This could also be because I was in the more touristy spots that involved walking). The other thing I would mention is dresses, well what was worn with them. Black tights with dresses were common. But so was wearing a jacket (like a denim jacket) over a dress. All the young ladies rocked that look.

The only disappointing "trend" I saw (and I would not necessarily call it a "trend" since it was seen on just 2 women, who I knew were not from Paris), was the Snookie poof hair-style. It was bizarre seeing that hair-style on anyone who is not Snookie (from MTV's Jersey Shore).

Lastly, I did not notice any J.Crew. Last year I spotted it on travelers a few times, but not this time around. But don't worry, I wore my J.Crew and wore it proudly!

Again, thank you everyone for the nice comments on my safe travels & trip! :)

About One of Last Week's Post... (commentary & possible resolution)

I just want to briefly talk about one of the posts last week that got off-topic (to say the least). :(

First and foremost, let's avoid personal attacks. If you feel compelled to discuss with another JCA about an issue (and we have all been there), the place to address that issue is not publicly on this blog. It's better to reach out to him/her (i.e. personal email) to calmly work out the differences. (In most cases, the issue is rooted in misunderstanding not meanness.) It's hurtful to see someone (anyone) openly singled out.

Second, let's all be open to the diversity of comments. We should be free to express our love (or disappointment) with the brand without fear of backlash. If we disagree, then we should do so without being disagreeable. Hearing different opinions & takes on the various aspects of J.Crew is one of the benefits of this blog (or at least I hope it is). :)

Third, let's remember that it's hard to decipher tone & intent from comments. One person's disparaging comment is another person's humorous take. Therefore, let's give the benefit of the doubt when we come across a comment that strikes us (or even skip over it). Especially since our community is usually so kind and generous with each other. Similarly, sometimes we write not realizing it can be interpreted in different (possibly hurtful) ways and so we should be mindful of it. :)

Fourth, I love that we are all passionate about this brand! I mean, that is what it really all comes down to. Why else would we frequent a blog about J.Crew? I like the Gap, but I don't actively seek out Gap-fan blogs. If I don't get a coupon from Ann Taylor, I don't mind it at all. But J.Crew... oh J.Crew! J.Crew has casted a spell on us and I honestly believe our comments (good and bad) reflect our love for J.Crew!

Fifth, I actually understand and sympathize with both sides of the argument. Some of you are tired of the negative comments that offer no insight or value, while others of you want to express your legitimate concerns. So I am going to take up the suggestion from Ibi to create a weekly "Looking to LOVE", as well as a "Looking to HATE" posts. We can then share our current best & worst experiences with the brand we love to love!

Lastly, I really like the suggestion from Desert Flower (in this post) about creating a daily "catch-all" post (similar to the daily posts while I was gone on vacation). This way, any news worthy topics of the day that don't fit perfectly with the current posts have a home. What are your thoughts on it? Do you think I should try it for awhile?

Sorry for the long post (& not addressing this sooner). And now back to J.Crew!

J.Crew's Red Card {it's back!?!}

Remember the "Red Card" that J.Crew sent out to customers back in the day (like the one shown in the image above)? For those who are unaware, it was a card that allowed customers to take 25% off any in-store J.Crew purchase for a limited time.

There have been some comments on the blog recently that J.Crew is offering the Red Card program again. We all wondered whether J.Crew would bring back the famous Red Card (aka Mickey Card)...

A big "thanks!" to JC who shared the following {exciting} news with us.

Just got a fantastic surprise in my mail this afternoon! a red card for 25% off all purchases in store between now and October 11.

So freakin' excited to hear about this!!! I think this is a great incentive for some of us to not only visit the brick & mortar stores again, but to also get us to spend. I can't wait to check the mail now. :)

Are you thrilled to hear that the Red Card program is back at J.Crew? Did you get the Red Card from J.Crew recently? If so, please share! :)

J.Crew Email: 20% OFF all women's pants & denim (plus, FREE SHIPPING). 3 days only.

"Thanks!" to many of you, including xoxo, Irina & Marietta, as well as Elizabeth (in this post), who let us know the following promotion.

J.Crew is offering 20% off on select full-priced Women's pants & denim (click here & here to shop online). This offer expires 9/22/10. The fine print of the offer includes:

*Prices as marked. Offer excludes MiH Jeans. Offer valid in J.Crew retail stores and on jcrew.com only through Wednesday, September 22, 2010 11:59pm ET. Offer not valid on J.Crew Factory items online or in J.Crew Factory stores.

J.Crew is also providing free shipping (on $100+) with promo code SHIP100. This offer is good through 9/22/10.

Will you be taking advantage of this promotion? If so, what items are you planning to get. Please share! :)

The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to sell}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who want to swap/sell/share among yourselves. This post is where you can mention your items and outside listing/ auction site (like eBay and eCrater & the corresponding user ID).

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Please note: this posting is not for resellers. If you are a reseller, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)

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Please note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Do you have any items you would like to swap/sell/share among yourselves through your outside listing/auction site?

Sidenote: What's up with JCAs writing "sub" or "subscribing" as their comment? It just means they are subscribing to all the comments (which are then automatically sent to their email) in that particular thread. This way they can stay aware of all the comments posted. :)

The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to find}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who are looking for and interested in buying certain items. Please feel free to share a J.Crew store location and/or your outside listing/ auction site if it matches the requests made in this post.

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Please note: this posting is not for resellers. If you are a reseller, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)

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Also note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share/finding to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Is there an item (or items) that you are looking for and interested in purchasing?

Sought & Found: Did you visit J.Crew this {past} Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopped by a J.Crew store this past weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SUMMER & FALL sale, or to see some new FALL arrivals {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store was/ is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

J.Crew Email: INTRODUCING FACTORY ONLINE...(OPEN WEEKENDS ONLY)

"Thanks!" to many of you who shared the latest email from J.Crew this morning.

The email announces that J.Crew Factory (click here to shop online) is now open for business. However, it will only be available on the weekends.

I have to say, I am a bit confused as to why it is only open some days of the week. It kind of defeats the purpose of shopping online (which is 24/7). Perhaps, it is to make it seem more exclusive? In any case, I am happy to see Factory is up online (even for a few days a week!) I am also thrilled that you can combine shipping costs with regular J.Crew. {Yey!}

What are your thoughts on J.Crew's Factory move to online? Do you like some of the current offerings?

Good day JCAs!

Good morning JCAs! Thanks again for all the well-wishes on my trip. It was an exciting time to say the least! Unfortunately, I am still jet-lagged from my trip. By the weekend, I plan to catch-up on all the J.Crew news and resume with proper posting. Until then, my apologies for not staying up-to-date.

Have a great weekend! :)

Seek & Find: Will you visit J.Crew this Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopping by a J.Crew store this weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SUMMER & FALL sale, or to see some new FALL arrivals {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

P.S. I noticed that many of you have already been reporting sale items (and in which stores) in other posts which by the way "thank you!" :) I really appreciate how helpful we are for each other!

You Know That Guy From the September Catalog...

"Thanks!" to Cathy, who let us know about a pretty good article about that guy (you know the one!) from the latest J.Crew catalog over at the Slate (click here to read in its entirety):

Who Is the Bearded Hippie in the September J.Crew Catalog?
By Julia Felsenthal
September 01, 2010

Still from J.Crew’s September 2010 catalog.Turn the corner in any major American city of late, and you're bound to bump into a man sporting a curiously un-summery combo of greasy, shoulder-length hair and a full, bushy beard. No, this hirsute fellow is not destitute, and he is not going to rob you or abduct your child; if you look closely, he's actually meticulously dressed and is probably on his way to his job as a professional mixologist, molecular gastronomist, or furniture designer. ... But recently I was shocked to find him in the one place I thought he'd never show up: the J.Crew catalog.

It's no secret that J.Crew has been working to change its image. J.Crew President and Creative Director Jenna Lyons has breathed new life and daring into a company that made its name marketing boring basics as preppy classics. That marketing was largely done through the J.Crew catalog, which, season after season, created a sunny and comforting world of fresh-faced American beauties frolicking in iconic New England settings, often aboard boats.

The current catalog is set in an empty, industrial loft, but most of the models are generally still of the typical J.Crew mold: relatively clean-cut and boyishly good-looking. They wear warm, quirky expressions, smiling shyly into the camera or looking adorably befuddled. ... The message is new, but not that new. The models seem to be saying: I know the clothes are suddenly more expensive and I'm a little scruffier than I used to be, but this is still J.Crew: Check out my bluchers! Indeed, these might be the very same models, from catalogs of yore, who once proudly stood at the helms of sailboats wearing ribbon belts, salmon colored polos, and cargo shorts.

But in their midst is an interloper, a long-haired, long-bearded, sallow-skinned hipster who looks like he'd kill himself before putting on a pair of lobster- festooned khakis. ...Is his hair thinning, or is that just the lank way it falls against his scalp? Is it the light, or does he seem a bit sickly around the eyes? Is he not getting paid enough to look as if he wants to be there? J.Crew is certainly getting cooler, but what is this unkempt downer doing in its still peppy, optimistic, and well-groomed world?

A bit of digging reveals the identity of this sullen tramp: He's Will Lewis, who recently walked the runway in Paris for John Paul Gaultier ... Lewis reinforces the notion that long hair and a big beard do not necessarily a dirty slacker make. "I'm big on hygiene," he says. "I do modeling most of the time but ... I also do computer and internet technology consulting and set up." A computer nerd who's also a model? It sounds a bit like a hippie who likes to wear J.Crew.

Pretty interesting read! :)

What are your takes on the article? Do you think J.Crew's purposeful direction (to change its image) is on track? Do you like the model, Will Lewis, for J.Crew's menswear collection?

J.Crew News: What's Happening Today? {Wednesday edition}

As mentioned in an earlier post, I am on vacation! Unfortunately, I won't be able to keep up with all the latest J.Crew news, promos, and the like.

So this post is the "catch all" for J.Crew Aficionadas and Aficionados to share with one another the "current happenings" for today. Feel free to post your comments here- from current J.Crew promotions, sales, emails, and even questions on products (regarding fit & size), and the like. :)

What comments do you want to share or ask of other Aficionadas and Aficionados? What is currently happening (in terms of promos, sales, emails, products, and the like)?

J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs!}

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! :)

J.Crew News: What's Happening Today? {Tuesday edition}

As mentioned in an earlier post, I am on vacation! Unfortunately, I won't be able to keep up with all the latest J.Crew news, promos, and the like.

So this post is the "catch all" for J.Crew Aficionadas and Aficionados to share with one another the "current happenings" for today. Feel free to post your comments here- from current J.Crew promotions, sales, emails, and even questions on products (regarding fit & size), and the like. :)

What comments do you want to share or ask of other Aficionadas and Aficionados? What is currently happening (in terms of promos, sales, emails, products, and the like)?

J.Crew News: What's Happening Today? {Monday Edition}

As mentioned in an earlier post, I am on vacation! Unfortunately, I won't be able to keep up with all the latest J.Crew news, promos, and the like.

So this post is the "catch all" for J.Crew Aficionadas and Aficionados to share with one another the "current happenings" for today. Feel free to post your comments here- from current J.Crew promotions, sales, emails, and even questions on products (regarding fit & size), and the like. :)

What comments do you want to share or ask of other Aficionadas and Aficionados? What is currently happening (in terms of promos, sales, emails, products, and the like)?