Wednesday, July 27, 2011

J.Crew Email: Fall's finest: shop the latest in stores & online (plus, FREE SHIPPING)

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Irina, who shared the following email J.Crew sent this morning.

The email features the Schoolboy Blazer in Wool Flannel (Item 48682; $188.00), described as
A style icon: one of our all-time favorites (and best sellers)—the schoolboy blazer—updated for fall in classic wool flannel. Featuring a posh, slightly shrunken fit and finished with authentic haberdashery-inspired design details like a lapel buttonhole, a ticket pocket and crested gold buttons for a touch of legacy luxe. Lapel collar. Long sleeves. Chest welt pocket, welt flap pockets. Functional buttons at cuffs. Fully lined. Hits at hip. Import. Dry clean.
I positively love this jacket! And I want one in each delicious shade: Pearl Gray, Decadent Red, & Heather Caramel. And clearly J.Crew was listening about complaints that their previous jackets lack luxe buttons. This jacket comes with beautiful crested gold buttons that are sure to shine all season long. Can't wait for my local J.Crew to start carrying them! :)

What are your thoughts on the Schoolboy Blazer in Wool Flannel? Have you tried on or own it? Does your local brick & mortar store carry this jacket? If so, please share.

49 comments:

  1. I like it a lot. I have't purchased a new JC blazer in a long time, but I'll probably buy this one.

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  2. can anyone tell which of the turtlenecks are underneath - the merino or the cashmere? is it too much to wear them like that in real life :-) And then I am also craving the decadent red pencil skirt!

    Has anyone seen the difference in real life between the vibrant flame and the decadent red? They look the same to my-less-than-discerning eye!

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  3. Ditto on the Luxe Buttons, Alexis!

    Now the cynic in me wonders what exactly "gold crested buttons" are. I wish they told us about the metal and finish material.

    I look forward to the days when J. Crew returns to full quality, impeccable details and fabulous silk-print linings!

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  4. I mentioned in the reviews yesterday that I saw this jacket in B&M and the fabric quality appeared to be noticeably cheaper than years past. :(

    WMM, I don't think the monochrome look is too much IRL!

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  5. I really want to like this jacket, especially in red, but when I saw it in the store (the caramel color), I was very disappointed. The material felt so cheap it was almost laughable.I won't even consider trying it on unless it is $50

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  6. WMM, I think thats the merino turtle neck if I remembered right....
    I usually wear a tee or a button down shirt under any blazer (cotton or wool),for me a sweater feel too bulky and it will add 20 pounds.

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  7. I'm very disappointed to hear that the quality is sub-par. It looks so nice in the pictures. :(

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  8. I too am bummed that this is yet another traditionally must buy item from J Crew that they have cheapened. Sigh.

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  9. I'm not buying this blazer or any J.Crew shoes this fall but I sure like the look of those heels - very bare and sexy! I will be looking for similar at other retailers. Any of the more experienced JCAs care to comment on whether the shoe design is a throwback to the 80's or 90's? I'm guessing 90's.

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  10. Love the red jacket, and hope to try it on soon.

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  11. xoxo, talbots has a snow tiger d'orsay pump which is lovely - they have a snow leopard which is nice, too. I find Talbots heels much more comfortable than Jcrews, though I prefer Jcrew flats..

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  12. As someone who doesn't have a JC wool blazer nor do I normally try them on, I thought it fit and felt nice. I was disappointed in the caramel color as it seemed a little "off" to me, but I liked it over the floral perfect shirt. My b&m only had the gray and the caramel - would have loved to have seen the red irl.

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  13. WMM, thanks for the recommendation, I will check out Talbot's shoes the next time I am in the mall. I'm pretty sure we will see that style everywhere, Louboutin had some similar heels in spring already.

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  14. I tried on the wool flannel school boy in navy yesterday in store. The wool isn't substantial--a far cry from the double serge maggies, for instance--but I chock that up to this jacket being a 'wear inside' item. That said, I wasn't impressed. First, the blazer was displayed in store with the sleeves rolled up. If one can roll up the sleeves of a wool jacket, that says something about the thickness of the wool. Second, it bulged funny at the bust when I buttoned it. I tried a 2, which is my normal JC size, and I'm not even close to well-endowed. This issue seemed to be a matter of button placement: a bit lower down than I like.

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  15. This is one of the fall items I've been looking forward to seeing IRL. I already own several schoolboys from years past in various colors and was hoping to add the caramel and red to my collection. However, now that I hear about the quality of this year's version I'm not so sure that's going to happen. Will definitely need to see them in person before deciding though.

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  16. I tried on the camel in store, and unfortunately, I have to agree with the others that the quality of the wool just didn't seem to be there, at least not at a $188 price point. I did like the camel color and love the gold buttons, but just would not pay FP for it. I thought about it compared to my beloved Lexington blazer, and there was just no comparison. I will see what the flame one is like, just b/c the color seems TDF, and will review/take pics. I love the monochrome look of this pic (and just did a polyvore inspiration of it using the cerise merino t-neck from last year and the modern red elsa jacket).

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  17. I was just looking at the catalog while I ate my lunch today and the red schoolboy is pretty much the only thing I like in the whole catalog. No way will I pay full price, though. Of course I have enough wool jackets to last 5 lifetimes anyway -- my trusty old Bellas, etc.

    I was very sad to see that the leopard-print pencil skirt is cotton, not wool. If it was wool I'd buy it in a heartbeat! The print seemed sort of faded out to me.

    There was some JC item I looked at online the other day that was 100% polyester and I almost fell off my chair. I think it was a dress. I was horrified, esp. for the price!

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  18. OT, but I got a good laugh out of this eBay auction: Talitha dress for $799!

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  19. Forgot to add that I see they're keeping the laceover tank around for fall but have added a 'Poppy' color, which I would love to get my hands on. I'll be looking for it...

    People are just shameless, JCrewJD!

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  20. I tried the Caramel on in-store and the fabric on this jacket is definitely inferior to my Schoolboys from years past, not to mention my lovelies from the "Bella" era. The wool wrinkles, and the buttons LOOK nicer but they are of a very light, plastic-y weight, again not like the buttons of old. I went with the Hacking and am happier with that style, though it is a much longer length.

    On a positive note, I *finally* received my rewards card today, and also two different LOVEIT orders delivered simultaneously. Phew, a reason for optimism among the JCAs waiting for their orders ... everything in my boxes was brand new, in the original sealed packaging. Even the Indio Hobo, which I returned for $325 but took a chance on for $108, is in perfect condition.

    A good J. Crew day for me, hopefully for others as well!

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  21. J Crew- Thank you for bringing back the classic style, great colors and happy looking models. Maybe next year you can bring back the quality that
    J Crew used to be famous for. I'd love to see some of the "English wool from the Old World tweed weavers at Abraham Moon" with gorgeous silk linings on a few select blazers next year. That said, I do love new catalog. Everything is sooo wearable. Love the new direction in styling!

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  22. While the red Schoolboy is tempting, I think I'll be more inclined to get the Hacking jacket in the flame color instead. I already own so many iterations of the Schoolboy that I think it's good for me to get something different! Has anyone seen the Hacking IRL? how's the quality compared to the Schoolboy?

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  23. OT: Does anyone know if the extra-% off applies to promo items? TIA

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  24. Wolfy: The promo items do receive the extra % off online. I'm not sure about in-store because it's been a long time since I've purchased anything there, but I would hope they would honor the discount on promo items, as well. It probably all depends on the SA who is helping you as to whether they'll apply it or not.

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  25. Thanks Florida Mom. The SA today told me she called and told her that it doesn't apply to promo items. I'm going to call and see what is up.

    The SA-Susan from Walnut Creek, is not very nice person, so I usually take whatever she says with a grain of salt.

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  26. Wolfy, I've never been able to get the extra % on in-store promo items. My ps seemed surprised when I mentioned it to him (been a while since this). Good luck. I am interested in their response.

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  27. It does look like it wrinkles. Would love a higher quality wool jacket with satin lining...

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  28. Okay my vent turned into praise. I called catalog CS, and they told me that the extra % should apply, regardless of it being FS or promo.

    I called the store I bought the shorts today, and they said it doesn't apply to promo items. Now I'm scratching my head.

    The good new is I ended up speaking to Melissa, the Walnut Creek Manager (Not Sue!) and she was super sweet and applied 40% off to the items I bought on promo in her store today, even though they are only doing 30% currently.

    She said she gave me the discount b/c of the misunderstanding. Wonderful, go the extra off and didn't have to go back to the store to get this fixed.

    Still unsure about the promo-sale stuff, but at least they tried to satisfy the customer.

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  29. Now my gripe is the inconsistencies between the store and catalog. No wonder I was confused and thought it applied in the store. They could save themselves a bit of heartache if they standardized how they do business.

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  30. I ordered the Hacking Jacket in blue, so I'll review it when I get it Appgal!

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  31. Received one of my LOVEIT orders today and got a little something unexpected in my Gala Short ...$22 was in the pocket. So I guess I got them for final sale - 40% - $22.

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  32. JK-seriously, do the shorts appear to be worn? That's the only way I can imagine cash getting in the pocket.

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  33. That's an awesome surprise, which has never happened to me. I guess you now know that was return item.

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  34. JK-seriously, that happened to me once, I posted on this blog about receiving an item with cash in the pocket. It didn't seem to be worn though, no wrinkles or odors. I thought perhaps someone put it on and planned to wear it but then changed their mind and returned it - with the cash still in the pocket. I even check with J.Crew in case someone reported it missing but no one ever contacted them.

    I'm too OCD to ever even put a jacket in the closet without checking the pockets, never mind returning it. :^P

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  35. I received the grass Hacking jacket this week, very quickly after ordering. The herringbone is smooth-faced, not plush, but I think wearable. The back neck length is 27 1/4", about 2 " longer than my 2009 schoolboys. It is much more close fitting, but I think merino or cashmere Tnecks would fit underneath without much bulk. The lining is grey poly and there is navy contrasting seam tape on the inside facing. Sleeve ling is a subtle stripe. The color is not a bright green, more subtle than the picture. Overall, I will keep this and wear with navy, charcoal, black.

    Also got the viridian pencil-- love that green! This is lined, has the grosgrain ribbon at the waist for stability, seems same length as last year's. Sizing--I took took the 8 as I did last year and most of my trousers are size 10. ( I am 5'8"). I threw in the viridian Tippi too -- I like the neckline, nice lightweight merino.

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  36. I don't like the fit on any school boy blazers - they are too cropped and boxy on me.

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  37. Lane: Thanks for the info on the Hacking jacket! It sounds beautiful...can't wait to see it.

    Re: the pencil skirt in Veridian green...is it closer to a teal or more of a grass green?

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  38. The viridian is not teal at all-- no blue in this green--but a clear cool green. No yellow tone to it. Does that help? Love it! I don't have anything this color at all and I am a green-lover,

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  39. Lane: Yes, that's very helpful! I was hoping it was more of a clear green, as you said, since my nightfall blue skirt from last year does have that blue/green tinge to it. Looks like the Veridian will be THE skirt I want this season! Thanks so much :)

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  40. Is the fit of this year's schoolboy the same as years past? As in, if one wanted to stalk a better quality one from years past, would the size be the same as this year?

    I also wonder this about the Bellas and Lexington. I can wear sizes 8-12 when I try on the more recent jackets in store. And I also see people post a difference in fit between wool and velvet.

    For example, in the Eden (which I bought and returned), I took an 8. In last fall's donnegal tweed (can't remember if it was schoolboy or professor) I took an 8. But I remember trying on the ecole (the one with the hook right at the chest) and it was tiny, the 10 was tight. I do have a big bust, but I gave up on buttoning jackets long ago.

    I'd appreciate any insight!

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  41. Saw the leopard print pencil skirt in the store and it looked faded and old. Would not pay any $ for that look. I did see the leopard print perfect shirt and it looked like it does in the pics. It has a nice rich pattern. Also, store carries a crew neck sweater version that is not on line. It is actually a nice looking pattern as well.

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  42. Ahhh! Was just in my store, and missed seeing Mickey by just a little bit. He was behind schedule and I would have stayed and stalked to talk to him, but I had my son, who was being a maniac. How fun would that have been?! On the topic of the fall line, I tried on the leopard pencil skirt, and it was definitely longer, and did have that washed out look, which I didn't like. Praying they come out with a double serge wool version! I tried on the leopard Tippi, which I didn't think I'd like, but I really did. So that's wishlisted too.

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  43. I just received my Viridian Green wool pencil skirt and it is gorgeous! LOVE. Double thumbs way up for sure. I'll be posting pics tomorrow of that skirt and other new arrivals! :)

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  44. shopwithm: Squeee! I cannot WAIT to see it on you!

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  45. Went to my B&M to try on the new Schoolboy, and I am SO disappointed. The fabric is course with a rough hand and holds onto wrinkles. I don't know if the sales assistants tried steaming, but these jackets scream cheap. Like F21 or H&M cheap! Don't get me wrong, F21 and H&M serve a purpose, but not for $188 blazers. Also, the cut is far more cropped than the old Schoolboys and my beloved Lexingtons. I'm 5'8", and the new Schoolboy in my usual size 4 felt like a bolero on me. I wouldn't buy this jacket even if it was marked down to $29.99.

    Is this the direction Marissa is going to take us?

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  46. I haven't tried it on but I love the look of it. In fact, I love the entire way the styled that ad! Love the animal print shoes and bag and the jeans paired with it! And I am not an animal-print fan but this is just classy!! I will definitely be checking out this blazer! Perfect to pair with jeans fall thru winter!

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