Friday, July 29, 2011

J.Crew's Schoolboy Blazer in Wool Flannel

This jacket has been getting a love of love in the blog-o-sphere. I think it is on everyone's list of must-have-now!

How many of us JCAs were excited to see the Schoolboy Blazer in Wool Flannel (Item 48682; $188.00) in J.Crew's Fall Collection? I know I was. Was? Yes, the word "was"!

The jacket featured in the "J.Crew Email: Fall's finest: shop the latest in st..." post got a lot of reviews from JCAs who saw this jacket firsthand. The overall sentiment: this jacket does not live up to the quality standards of the Lexington, Bellas, Wool Oxford, Celtic Herringbone, and Juliette of yore. From being too thin, the material not being quite right, and prone to wrinkles...

I have not yet tried on this jacket in a J.Crew store, so I cannot speak about it firsthand. (My local J.Crew was unpacking its new arrivals when I was last there.) I love jackets and this was "the" item that I was looking forward the most to buy. So I am truly disappointed to hear that the jackets are not as lovely as they could have been. (Doesn't J.Crew's CEO, Mickey Drexler, repeatedly mention in interviews that quality in products is of the utmost importance to bringing customers back to J.Crew in this economy?!?)

Lastly, for a review with real life images, check out shopwithm's great "j.crew review: viridian green double serge, red schoolboy blazer & quincy tartan!" post.

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.

48 comments:

  1. xoxo: Thanks for noticing! :) Although I chopped off the feet on the model in the lower right image. I am too lazy to fix it. ;)

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  2. Ah it's so cute in the photo. I'd go try it on but I still feel too hot to even be thinking about wool!

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  3. I tried it on in the gray heather on Wednesday... ehhhh. I was pretty thin but the part that I just couldn't get down with was the hollow buttons. They feel cheep and strange. Sure they look nice from the front but most of the experience is from the user and feeling these buttons every time you put on your $188 blazer just makes me feel sad. Pretty blazer but not up to the Jcrew standards I have come to expect.

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  4. Soanthro: It really is too hot to be thinking about Fall! ;)

    Rochelle: I did not know about the buttons!!! That is terrible. I hate it when you can feel how cheap they are too. :(

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  5. The new banner is great, Alexis!

    I tried on the blazer in the caramel color. Nice color, but as others have reported, the wool is rather thin. I don't think it's worth FP. May have to see what colors make it to sale before biting on this one.

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  6. The only blazer on my radar for this fall is the Hacking blazer in the vibrant flame color. I have too many versions of the Schoolboy to warrant getting another! Would love to hear about the comparison in quality between the Schoolboy and Hacking, if anyone has seen it.

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  7. Thanks for the link love Alexis! :) And love the new banner!! Rochelle is right that the buttons aren't the nice weight they should be. Hoping the Hacking Jacket quality is more up to snuff!

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  8. I featured this jacket in one of my posts as well! I am absolutely obsessed with it and it is on my must have list for fall! =]

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  9. OT but ebates is offering 8% cashback on jcrew.com today :)

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  10. I love the new banner as well, Alexis!

    I haven't been to the store yet and thanks everyone for the reviews as I mostly shop online.
    I'm disappointed to hear the wool quality is not there considering the price tag. For me to pay full price on something, it has to be worth for me to last several seasons and I don't think this will meet my standards.
    Also, it's won't be until late October I can start wearing wool blazers. ;-)

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  11. Agree -- I almost fell off my chair when I saw it in the catalog ... then the wind went right out of my sails when I started hearing comments about the subpar quality. :( I just don't understand it. Charge the same price but skimp on material / craftsmanship? That's just crappy.

    The green skirt is TDF and I will no doubt buy it to add to my double-serge stable. :)

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  12. I agree with the other JCAs...quality is just not there when you get your hands on the blazer. It's thin, flat, and almost (yes just almost) itchy to the skin when I feel it with my hands. The caramel color looks beautiful though. Would consider buying it when it gets marked down to $69.99!!! LOL!!!
    So glad I have my schoolboys from the previous seasons!

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  13. I actually like this jacket. The material is definitely different than the previous years. But, I like that. I rather not have 5 similar style jackets in the same material but different color. The fit is good too and sits really well on the chest. I used to be solid 0, then their 0 got too big. But, this one is TTS. I bought the caramel color and did not find it to be cheap looking.

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  14. Dang! Back to scouting eBay for oldies. Has anyone tried the school of wales blazer. Irl pics would be helpful if there's a link. It's still not on sale so I don't know if it's worth full price. I'm also looking for any feedback on the Edie leather quality. I like the tote, but have concerns about quality. So glad I didn't get rid of my Borge bags. Thx!

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  15. If I'm not mistaken, these are the same buttons as on the POW jacket last year--I saw it in store today and they felt the same (and I agree, I think they could be of better quality).

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  16. LOVE the new banner Alexis, but don't love the new schoolboy blazer's look, feel, buttons, or price. I saw it in grey and it was the typical looking grey.

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  17. i got a schoolboy blazer from the factory store. it looks gorgeous, its navy with the brass buttons, striped lining. i'm not sure what to pair with it though since i wear a lot of dark denim so i might return it :\

    http://rivercitychic.blogspot.com/

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  18. You would think J. Crew would try to work on quality after so many complaints. It makes it so difficult to buy online, even if it's not final sale. This isn't completely related, but could anyone review the degrade swing skirt (43650)? TIA. :]

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  19. I took a trip to one of the stores last night and tried this one in the caramel color. Not near FP for me. It is thin and the buttons do feel cheap like others have mentioned. So sad.

    Thankfully it was lined! But that was the only plus for me..oh...I did like the color too..good neutral :)

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  20. I just got back from my store visit. Ditto on the school boy jackets, also very disappointed in the cafe capris. The capris were hung very wrinkled (as were some of the silk blouses-!), and it's obvious they were thin, scratchier than normal (which could have been solved if they'd been lined), and that they wrinkle easily. I passed on both, though I had high hopes from the photos. Unfortunately yet another couple of items not up to the old J Crew standards... I am happy to report the double serge skirts seem to be much better quality. If quality control is out there, please, please, listen to us! Bring back the quality of the old J Crew!!!!

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  21. Well...I went a bit overboard with those pretty schoolboys - caramel flannel and dark blossom velvet - eek! But...the fabric is stiff, and doesn't seem to be draping right on me. Has anyone had any success at having these jackets tailored? I love the colors, but can't see myself wearing what, on me, looks like a shipping box with lapels.

    Could JCrew maybe make their lovely hacking jackets in these fabrics/colors? Just sayin'....

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  22. everyone: Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Blazer. This jacket looks like it will probably be a sale (instead of full) purchase for me now. ;)

    patmosjd, jcrewphd, Shekster, FFM : Thanks for the nice words on the new banner! Getting ready for the new arrivals!!! :)

    shopwithm: Thank you for your great review & pics! :)

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  23. This is OT but can anyone tell me if J.crew sandals run TTS? specifically the wedges? Thanks!

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  24. Just went to the factory store and having seen the jacket in the regular store, I actually think the factory version is nicer. It seems thicker/heaver. The buttons aren't very special though. They have it in camel and navy for $168 and today it was an extra 20% off. With the teacher discount it came to $114.
    The fabric breakdown is: 53% wool; 31% poly; 16% viscose. What's the fabric on the one at the regular store?

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  25. Ugh, what a bummer about that jacket. It looks so cute! I now live in a state that doesn't have a J. Crew (gasp!), so I really rely on reviews to make sure I get great stuff when I order online. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  26. After all the comments I won't even consider this jacket--even on super sale. I have such beautiful J.Crew jackets from seasons past that I know I would never wear this one! I like high quality buttons on my jackets to boot!

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  27. Went to the JCA event down South here and tried the jacket. Have to agree that the quality is not the same as my older schoolboys.... BUT .... the jacket wasn't horrible. Agree, wouldn't pay full price, but I like the lighter wool for my climate. I can see how you northern gals wouldn't want this. I actually took my smaller Crew size jacket also... seems the fit is a little bigger than my others.

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  28. Have noticed that the quality of wool can vary at JCrew even within the same item. Certain colors might be nicer than other colors for example....I bet there are some of this blazer that are nice out there or drape better, etc.

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  29. Update: My PS just called me ... I had ordered the red jacket from her. She said they are sold out and will not get anymore in. So.... if you want the jacket in the red.. you might just have to bite now :(

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  30. Schoolboy blazer pics in grey here.

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  31. Not sure anyone will see this (I'll ask again tomorrow morning) but what is this about a J Crew lipstick made by Poppy King? I can't find much info anywhere but it showed up randomly in my site search results and I was surprised to see it. I just ordered it -- curiosity killed this cat! -- but it won't ship until 8/11. I figured I might as well get it since I was ordering the poppy-colored lace-over tank, which won't ship until mid-August.

    Does anyone have it (yet)? A smart thing to do would have been for the company to send it to Alexis or Gigi or FFM to review. But I guess that would make too much sense, lol.

    I threw in the FACE Stockholm nail polish in Hot Pepper and will be curious to see it IRL. Like the lipstick, can't get that color anywhere else.

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  32. Elaine,

    When you do get the lipstick I will be interested to hear about the wear, texture etc. but esp. about the taste. I only wear unscented lip glosses but the color looks very nice!

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  33. Red schoolboy is sold out online now.

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  34. I take that back! Red schoolboy is sold out online in all sizes except 00 and 14!

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  35. Genny, I will definitely give a full report when it arrives -- honestly I just pray that it doesn't melt before I can get to it! Might have to have my neighbor come over and grab the box off the porch when it's dropped off, lol. It would be my luck that it'd sit in the sun all day and be a puddle by the time I got home, urgh.

    Has anyone seen the lace-over tank IRL? Wondering at this point if the color is like Modern Red. ...

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  36. love this blazer!

    http://kimchicsisters.blogspot.com/2011/07/english-roses.html

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  37. Ahh, it is ALREADY sold out in the brick red color online!!! It doesn't even come up as an option! Do you think it will be offered again?

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  38. Also posted in "Looking to Sell":

    For those who are thinking twice about the current schoolboy blazer in "decadent red," I am willing to part with a very similar item - the wool herringbone blazer in "bright papaya." Link to a picture of it here:

    http://corporette.com/2008/11/19/suit-of-the-week-jcrew-classic-
    herringbone/

    Mine is more orange than red. I have a size 8, new with tags. Looking to get $100 for it but will consider reasonable offers.

    heatherannebriggs@gmail.com

    Thanks!

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  39. Hi ladies, I posted a detailed review, with lots of pics, of the schoolboy blazer on my blog
    HERE
    If my link doesn't work, you can find the blog through my post name

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  40. I received the red schoolboy blazer today and love it! I compared it to my navy schoolboy from FAll09 purchased at the Collection store in NYC: The buttons are identical! No change in quality in those since they are the same. The wool is slightly thinner and the under-collar is gray felt instead of wool as the 09 blazer is. The new one is top-stitched and has added the second front pocket on one side. Those are the differences I can find.
    I take a size 10 in the summer schoolboys and ordered a 10 tall, thinking it would make up for being short and boxy, and a 12 so I could wear sweaters under it. The 10 Tall is small and the sleeves are about 5" too long. It's going back! The 12 fits perfect with room for a sweater underneath.
    It's a keeper for me!

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Dear J.Crew Aficionadas & Aficionados: Please feel free (and encouraged) to share your thoughts and opinions. :) However, please note that this is still a personal blog. So comments that are considered inappropriate (e.g. obscene, racist, homophobic, personal attacks, rude, and just plain mean) will be removed.

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