Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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! :)

55 comments:

  1. Apple shorts, Foulard print cafe capri Spindrift sweatshirt and Sydney sandals reviewed HERE

    Fabiola dress, cotton striped v-neck, apple scarf and some other new dress HERE

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  2. A few reviews of recent Spring rollout items HERE

    I also bought the Gardenshade Floral Pencil skirt and Polka-Dot Blouson dress on with that last 30% off final sale promo. Really liked the Gardenshade skirt and have already worn it to work. I didn't think that the Blouson dress would work on me but it was like $40 on FS and I said: what the heck. I get all the hype now - it is really flattering. The waist is still higher than I'd like, but it works with this dress for some reason.

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  3. jackie sweater,contrast stripe tee,bamboo bangle and poppy king for jcrew lipstick reviewed Here

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  4. could somebody please review the cotton cable sweater 71721?
    is it TTS,how is the quality?

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  5. Forgive me for being off topic, but I wasn't sure where to post this. J. Crew is doing 30 percent off of final sale items with the "OURTREAT" code. I just got some great deals, including the Edie pursette for $62!

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  6. i did a review of the valentina pumps and the valentina slingbacks, which i love!! i'll be putting up a review of the cashmere tee dress soon, too.

    Valentina Pumps & Slingbacks

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  7. Picked up the red Valentinas and absolutely love 'em. Quite comfortable surprisingly and TTS. Plotting which color to get next ... Ha! Also purchased the Merriweather jacket. Nice thick fabric and I'm very happy to have it as a new addition to my wardrobe but I'm well aware I paid too much for a cotton knit (and I got it on sale).

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  8. I received the drawstring mini yesterday, super cute and I love the nice thicker material it is made of. Also received my first pair a Valentina's in the animal print and I love them

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  9. I purchased a few items that I received yesterday. Hope to post pics on the blog this evening.
    The polka dot shorts are adorable, although really short. I can't wait to wear them this summer (after I do some serious leg exercises, lol).
    The sovereign paisley popover tunic has some beautiful pops of color running through it and I would keep it just for the colors, but that silk feels really thin and more cottony than silky. It is not worth $200!!
    I also got the lace raindrop top in the neon pink and apricot mist colors. I love this top! The texture and detailing is great. I hate paying full price for most items because they usually end up on sale at some point, but this one I'll take. Now I just need to figure out which color to keep. FYI, the apricot mist is more of a taupey shade. I didn't notice much peach in it.

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  10. OT - has anyone handwashed their wildcat Natasha? Tag says "dry clean only". Wondering if I should risk it? Trying to avoid dry cleaning chemicals if at all possible.

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  11. I am terribly disappointed with the perfect shirt in mini gingham (67123) that I ordered during the full price 20% off promo last week. The fabric is thin, flimsy broadcloth, and the collar has no substance. It is nowhere near close to my gingham perfect shirt from 2010 (which is made of crisp and substantial cotton poplin). Then, I ordered navy, but to my eye, it looks black. I am sending this one straight back.

    Also received the Factory skimmer pants, which I ordered during the 30% + 30% promo: surprisingly very good quality! They do run a little large - I have had to exchange them for a size 4, which is the smaller of my two usual dress sizes.

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  12. I should add: my perfect shirt from 2010 cost all of $50. I suppose for equivalent quality now, I must look at the Thomas Mason shirts are over $200 with the taxes and shipping. :-(

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  13. Linen v-neck sweaters and Talitha blouse reviews HERE.

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  14. I was wondering if anyone could review an old item: the water floral pastiche delphinia gown. I was wondering if it ran true to size or was a little bigger. Any help would be appreciated!

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  15. Outstanding reviews JCAs. Thank you all!

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  16. Pauline: I have the gown and normally wear a size 2 in their special occasions dresses (like the bridesmaid dresses) and size 0 in their regular dresses (like the Blythe shirtdress). (Another reference point, I am a 34B). I got the size 0 in the gown and it fits great. The dress is basically a big a-line tent and the belt cinches it all into place. I think you could easily fluctuate in size smaller or bigger than you normally are because the dresses isn't really fitted. The only thing you want to make sure is you don't stray away from your size too much- too small and you might not fit the neck or arm holes; too large and the neck and arm holes will be too big. Hope this helps a bit! :)

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  17. Hello! OT but I would love some help, pls! Who knows what purse this is with the marching mini?
    http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/skirts/mini/PRDOVR~47324/47324.jsp
    I asked the online chat and they said tillary tote -- which it donesn't look like it to me?

    thanks so much!

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  18. Conster, they probably just said that because it's blue! It's definitely not the Tillary, it's the Darlington Satchel. AudreyBella reviewed it in the blue on her blog HERE. HTH

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  19. I just received Evie stripe peep-toe pumps $258.00 item 64442.
    The craftmanship is shockingly bad. I've never seen shoes cost that much looked this cheap. The fabric is not completely glued to the underlayer of the upper so it has wrinkles and big air bubbles all over...and the smell of glue is too strong. The stitches on the bow that goes around the edges are not straight (not running parallel to the edge YKWIM?). I've seen better made shoes at Target or Payless. I wouldn't pay Target price for these shoes. They don't even look like $40 shoes...and it says "Made in Italy"
    Also I'm 6 or 6 1/2 J Crew shoes,
    and the 6 1/2 I received fit like very tight 6 (even smaller than my 6 1/2 patent serengeti Juliets).
    I'm very disappointed. I've noticed quality decline but this is way beyond that.

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  20. Aha! Thanks, XOXO.

    I am on the hunt! :)

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  21. I received the Super 120s pencil skirts in Royal Violet and Deep Lagoon. They are both gorgeous but run bigger than then one that I bought in 2010. Great additions to my work wardrobe.

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  22. Alexis, thanks so much! Your review is really helpful and I really appreciate it!

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  23. shopalot, I don't have the wildcat natasha but I do have the polka dot, and I successfully machine washed it last week. It came out virtually wrinkle free and in perfect shape. The edges didn't even fray any further than they were already frayed, which was my main concern. I have an HE toploader and placed the top in a net bag, for reference.

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  24. I recently received the Emmaleigh Super 120s dress in the Royal Violet. I love it - super flattering and the fit is TTS. The purple color is great - I think I could pull this off for three seasons. I also ordered it in black; however, it is on backorder. I know my local store has them so I think I'll scoop it up there so I can start to wear it. Great purchase!

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  25. I'm new at blogging but here's my review of the JCrew Tillary tote in camel.
    http://macarondream.wordpress.com/

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  26. Just posted a review of the Double Breasted Schoolboy Blazer on my Blog Megancrewreviews.blogspot.com

    I swear at one point it was called the Ivy Blazer....

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  27. I am with Ina - I am desperate to know how the cotton cable sweater fits! Also - I have seen some great reviews of the schoolboy in herringbone in neon azalea. One question - which I cannot tell from my computer monitor - is it the same colour as the wool skirt in the same colour or a bit more muted because of the pattern? I had to send back the wool skirt as it was too much candy for a nickel for me - the colour seemed almost pepto bismol and I chickened out, but am wondering about the blazer?

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  28. I just posted a review of the No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton in Royal Violet on my blog HERE

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  29. @ Shopalot, a good rule of thumb is if it says "dry clean" then you can hand wash it. But if it says "dry clean only" then you can't.

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  30. @ Ji, I am so sad to hear about the Evie pumps. I was really looking forward to added them to my shoe sanctuary. Oh well. I already have the striped Viv flats that I got at the sample sale (BTW, why are they leather lining and sole and the retail versions aren't?). I figured the Evie would be perfect because I love stripes and I love pumps. :-(

    Has anyone done or seen a review of the Martina calf hair wedges? I think I read on a blog somewhere that the calf hair flats developed bald patches afetr a few wears. I really want to use my rewards on these but would hate for them to be a dud.

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  31. I love the green Madelene dress. It fits me really well in a size 4 (34B/C) -- probably isn't for bustier girls. I like the knee length for work so it doesn't hike up when I sit down, and I like the not-revealing neckline. The color is bright and cheerful. It isn't too poofy -- I thought the skirt might be fuller and feel childish but it's not. I can probably squeeze a thin tshirt or buttondown under it. It feels a bit too heavy for a hot summer day, but that's good for air conditioned offices.

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  32. I have a few reviews from most current purchases – both in store and online ones.

    What Worked

    Pencil Skirt #2 in Abstract Leopard – Love. Seriously. I can’t wait to wear it. I am between the sizes, and took the smaller one, but could go down further yet (and I haven’t lost any weight). Because of the fabric, the skirt will stretch to fit the curves. The pattern is beautiful as well as very slimming. If you haven’t tried it on yet, I’d recommend giving it a try. I didn’t expect to like this skirt as much as I do.

    Minnies in Black – I finally “got it”. I bought them in my bigger size, and although the waistband is loose (and will stretch further with wear), I can belt them, no big. I can see what the “love camp” means by saying they are phenomenal. The pant itself is very slim, which will be great with longer sweaters and a couple of longer blazers I have. They can definitely be dubbed “LBP” (little black pant, ha)

    Factory Chambray Tunic – I am usually XS on top, but got this in Small to use as a cover-up or a very casual shirt in summer. Even with that sizing, it fits nicely. It has pockets, too. The fabric is light and airy, but not sheer. The color is nice and saturated. Overall, I am happy about both quality and fit.

    Ripplestitch Cardigan in Casablanca Blue / Chalk – This is a great spring/summer cardigan. I took my regular size, XS, and didn’t find it overwhelmingly big. I generally prefer casual sweaters to fit a bit loose, but not sloppy.

    What Didn’t Work

    Pale Rose Pencil Skirt #2 – I sized up, which helped to accommodate hips, but it was still too loose around the waist. I went to my store to return it, where I spied the Abstract Leopard one….. well, the rest is history.

    9” Chino Shorts in Neon Pink – I took 2 sizes up, for a very loose fit, and knew what to expect. Overall, nice shorts, substantial fabric, and very, very bright color which looks great with my St James striped top and chambray shirts. But, overall, I just wasn’t “feeling” it, and that was my sign to return them.

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  33. shopalot, I washed my Seine stripe one (supposedly the same fabric) in gentle cycle and it came out fine. Don't put it in the dryer though, let it dry on a hanger. At first you will freak out bc once it's wet the fabric becomes coarse, but then once it dries it gets its natural softness back. I wouldn't swear that the wildcat is going to react in the same way but since the fabric is the same it should!

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  34. More new arrivals pics, including a new beautiful true nude color in the Valentinas, in this post. Enjoy!

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  35. Hey all. I have one quickie review of the dreamweaver ballet flats in cobalt/tan.

    I love ballet flats and wear them constantly. I was drawn to these for the same reason I was drawn to the Quorras from last year--they are summery with the cut-out/weaved fabric, but are perfectly fine in less warm months too. (Can be worn with thin socks, if need be.) I chose to get my true size of 9.5 and they fit beautifully right out of the box. I have a feeling they will be a bit too narrow for some of you though...I anticipate you could stretch the shoes, though, fairly fast. These seem to be made from a softer leather. The footbed and sole are leather, as well, so more worth the price than other flats of the same price made from man made materials.

    I have a photo of them in this post (LAST PHOTO--lots of scrolling to get to that one, sorry).

    There are photos (about halfway down in the same post as above) of me wearing the lula bow ballet flats in red with the lumberjack/valentine's outfit. I do love the lulas, but haven't done a formal review of them. They were true to size for me, 9.5. I love the Lulas and am glad that J. Crew continues to make these. Very very foot friendly shoes. :)

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  36. I have a post on DVF dress but it includes pictures of the new J.Crew scarf, red with white polka dots, currently in stores only.
    Check it out HERE if you are interested.

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  37. Just received the Heart Throb string bikini, and I'm in love. Its much more red than it looks in photos (the hearts look more pink than red on the website), but I actually like that better. I got it during the 20% off sale last week, and would normally never pay that much for a bikini. However, I have never had a string bikini 1) fit me so well, and 2) actually look good on me. The rise on the bottoms is just perfect (I'm a 6/8 with a butt, and got the M). The top fits well in a S - I'm always in between the XS and S as a 32C or 32D, but with a suit I'll be using in the ocean, a little more coverage rather than less never hurts.

    I also ordered every style of the linen tees; baseball tee, dolman tee, v-neck and cowl-neck. The white in the cowl-neck is less see-through than the others, and I'm keeping the S. I'm also keeping the caribbean green in a S, and the black in a M (the black seemed to run slightly smaller in every style - maybe due to the dyeing process?). I'm also keeping the v-neck in a black M, but I'm not keeping any of the other colors or styles. They were either not flattering, or too see-through to be appropriate to wear to work alone, even with a nude bra.

    I also stopped in the B&M looking for really light weight pants - my PS gave me the Chambray Cinch Pants. They have an elastic waist and are pleated, so I was pretty skeptical. But once you put these babies on, you won't want to take them off - they're so light weight you barely notice them, and they can do double-duty as a beach cover-up with flip-flops, or add a pair of wedges for going out. Coming from a 6/8 with a butt and thighs, I was pleasantly surprised at how flattering they actually were - and I went with the S. The medium looked sloppy, while the small just looks slouchy.

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  38. Thanks for the handwashing advice! Appreciate very much.

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  39. I received the Polly popover in green/navy today. I like the fabric and the fit. That green is really green though. Wow. Very bright. The navy is very dark and it looks black.

    Also received the high waisted denim pencil skirt in farmstand wash, which has been reviewed here a number of times. I wear a size 2 pencil skirt and ordered a 27. It fits, I may have been able to size down though. Denim stretches with wear and I'm thinking this will look a bit too big in the hips and butt after I sit for a while. I love the skirt. Hits me a great point on the waist, and the length is perfect. The denim is not too heavy, has a nice soft sheen to it and the color is perfect. Highly recommend this one.

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  40. Hi Ladies,

    OT but according to CS the Retro Lemon shift dress that is in stores will be available online later in March. I was told the pink color will be neon rose which I hope is not the same as it appears IRL on the Blythe blouse because IMO I really didn't like it on the Blythe. HTH someone. :)

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  41. I posted pics and reviews of the yellow dress (Retro lemon shift) and the Dolores Paisley dress today here.

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  42. Okay, I'm going to have to change my mind on the Polly popover. I already had doubts because the green was so . . . green. Much brighter than I thought. I tried it on and my normal size 2 pulls across the shoulders and chest with even a little movement. There is plenty of room in the body so not sure sizing up would help. It's going back.

    I received the Fabiola dress in black and it fits me very well. Great length, I like the woven cotton pique, I'm thrilled with the pockets. As other reviewers have mentioned, it's booby. Too much for the office and I don't want an item I have to layer a cami under in order to be decent. Especially in Arizona in 100+ degrees, the dress alone would be plenty without another layer. Even though it's perfect in every other way, the deep V will prevent me from wearing it to work so back it goes.

    I ordered the featherknit keyhole tee in black as a ride along to get free ship and it's the only thing not going back. I love the light knit, the silk neck trim that finishes in a back tie, and the length. The sleeves are not inset, they are a slight dolman. I really love it and I'm glad I picked it up. It has enough pretty detail and refinement to wear to work with a pencil skirt, especially in the summer heat, and will also work well with jeans.

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  43. I am madly in love with my mint camp flannel.

    Here's a picture:
    http://i44.tinypic.com/2q33b40.png

    the colors are mad gorgeous and the fit is perfect.

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  44. Just posted a review of the Raindrop Lace Top on my blog megancrewreviews.blogspot.com

    Enjoy!

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  45. Hi,
    Could somebody do a review or comment on the Madewell Lace Up Booties? I just would like to know if these run true to size or not?
    Thanks!

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  46. I got around to posting those pictures on my blog of the Raindrop lace top, polka dot shorts, sovereign paisley tunic and Scout chinos in mint. See reviews here.

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  47. Hi ladies! So, I just received the Madewell Almanac booties. They are lovely, but I'm scared to try them on on my hardwood floors because they have leather soles! I'll take them to work with me to try them in, but I was just wondering, how do you care for leather soles? I've never had shoes with leather soles before, so I'm a t a bit of a loss! TIA! :)

    Sue, in my experience, made well boots are pretty tts.

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    Replies
    1. I haven't tried the lace up ones tho, but thought I'd comment just in case. :). Sorry for the typos and multiple comments, but my iPhone doesn't like to let me go back to edit.

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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.

And now back to J.Crew! :)