Congratulations J.Crew, you did it! You broke me and now I am obsessed with your Bubble Necklace (item 92687; $150.00). {sigh} Well played.Honestly, I did not care for the necklace when it first came out in Spring 2009. (I believe it was around then.) I initially thought "meh". It is too big and clunky, and the price tag... woah! Just beads people.
Then last holiday season, I got my hands on the red version for an incredible price (thanks to all those post-holiday-lets-liquadate-merch sales). I did not wear it much at first, but slowly it became my go-to necklace.
The red version is great, a classic, but it doesn't work with every outfit. And that is how my collection of Bubbles began...
Next thing I know, I am getting all the colors being offered including my all-time favorite: white. (As an aside: I have worn the white version every other day and it is worth every penny of full retail price! I receive a compliment on the necklace each time I wear it.) Who knew the red Bubble Necklace would have been my gateway necklace?!?J.Crew is selling these like hot cakes! Every time I stop into a J.Crew store, I notice a fellow shopper checking out with one of these necklaces in her shopping bag. It doesn't help that J.Crew keeps re-introducing them in additional amazing shades.
So now I am obsessed with these darn necklaces and can't seem to get enough of them. Am I the only one?
Are you a fan of the Bubble Necklaces from J.Crew? Do you own multiples of J.Crew's iconic statement necklace? If so, please share your obsession! :)
Quick Poll: Are you a fan of the Bubble Necklace?
I, too, am obsessed with the bubble necklaces. I started with turquoise, then pink, now I think I need white. I thought they were too big at first but people notice them and add a lot of fun to any look.
ReplyDeleteI’m obsessed with the Bubble Necklace too. I’m even contemplating buying it at the full price, but I haven’t bit the bullet yet. I don’t own any J.Crew jewelry right now, but if I’m lucky this might be the first one. The other necklace that I’m swooning over is the Flower Lattice Necklace…it’s gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteNatasha @ Moody Girl In Style
Natasha -Me too! I just bought the flower lattice necklace last week and I love it!! It was my first piece!
DeleteI just bought the flower lattice necklace, and really love it!
Deletewww.perfectlyperched.com has the cute flower lattice necklace! I love it. Bought it in coral from her!
DeleteI was slow to get on this trend, but last month I picked up a couple of fakes (presumably) on eBay for $14.98 each. The listing was careful to avoid specifying that the necklace actually came from J.Crew, so I assumed I was buying a replica, but the necklaces arrived with a little round "J.Crew" medallion attached, just like my other JC stuff, and they don't look particularly cheesy. If they are fake, it doesn't bother me--plastic is plastic.
ReplyDeleteAs for how they look, I've decided they're OK for adding pop to a couple of outfits, but on the whole they're not "me"--I'd rather wear pearls or a scarf.
Oh yes! Real jewelry like pearls and a silk scarf anyday!
DeleteI may be in the minority here but I would never wear the bubble necklace and the bubble earrings made me LOL to think that people would pay those prices for plastic earrings. It's a moot point anyway, my husband saw an SA wearing the bubble necklace earlier this summer and he couldn't diss it fast enough. I won't repeat his words here, let's just say that I'll pass.
ReplyDeleteI am with you. I think they are tacky. But I think all of their jewelry is tacky. I can't imagine wearing any of it. My local PS feels the same way. She just rolls her eyes when we walk by the jewelry displays.
DeleteFeel the same way too.
DeleteI've noticed similar bubble designs starting to pop up in a number of other jewelry stores...looks like it's becoming a trend in a big way! I'm actually hosting a giveaway for one on my blog right now in case you're interested in entering. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://shamelesslyoverdressed.blogspot.com
Looking forward to more posts from you!
Love, S
I love the bubble necklace. I'm excited to hear about your white one because I have a non-retail one on the way. I believe you on compliments, Alexis, because I get them when I wear mine -- whether it's the retail one or Ebay version. I refuse to call one real and the other fake. I have pics of the red retail
ReplyDeletein this post and links to 40 or so other blogger irl pics/reviews. Plastics, resin and other metals are perfectly fine for my lifestyle, social circle and for the area I'm in. If I had paid full retail for my grey one, I wouldn't feel bad at all. It's the one I wear most often and now has a very low cost/wear. The others (red, coral) I haven't worn so much, so Ebay & sale was a better value for me.
Thinking about getting a turquoise one!
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way when they first came out, but finally tried it again and I am in love! White's next on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone can complain about quality issues or customer service issues or price issues when you're willing to buy knock off J.Crew jewelry. Just my 2 cents.
ReplyDeleteThe retail and non-retail versions are both made in China. That's one of the reasons I don't consider the latter a knock-off.
DeleteOh please, it's a plastic necklace, made in China. If I'm going to buy one, I'm sure as hell going to pay 90% less than J.Crew is charging. It will all break the same way anyway. Way smarter to cut out the middle man!
ReplyDeleteHow is it not a knock off if its got a J.Crew label yet isn't distributed by J.Crew and J.Crew gets none of the profits?
ReplyDelete8ec89678-dba3-11e1-83cc-000bcdca4d7a, I invite you to check out a timely guest post on my blog. Hexicon wrote a Let's Talk topic on chic, but cheap fashion. I just put it up today.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really a jewelry person, and seeing all those possible breakage points on the bubble necklace makes me think that JC should include a pair of needle nosed pliers with purchase! They can bling them out with crystals like the Tweezerman. ;)
ReplyDeleteI admire the bubble necklace, but have not succumbed to its siren calls yet. I think it is the price point. But I see it on you all and think how good you all look!
ReplyDeleteOh, and a search of "jcrew bubble necklace" on eBay yields 1,157 results! Wow.
ReplyDeleteI bought a black one two years ago and have never worn it.
ReplyDeleteI think that's exactly what would happen if I bought one.
DeleteI have the grey bubble from a couple seasons back. I always get compliments on it, and think it is an adorable piece. However, I am starting to think they are over-doing the bubble necklace and it is getting too ubiquitous...
ReplyDeletexoxo - ITA about the bubble earrings. $45 for plastic earrings that probably cost $0.50 to manufacture? Laughable...
Slightly OT, but have you ladies heard about BaubleBar? They have adorable jewelry, some very JCrew-esque (think enamel cuffs, bib necklaces), at much more reasonable price points. Check it out here:
Deletehttp://baublebar.com/index.php/rewardsref/index/refer/id/120661/
I think it can look very attractive on some; my features are too small, though, for this kind of statement piece.
ReplyDeleteThe bubble necklaces are not a good fit for me, but I always admire them on every one else!
ReplyDeleteHa! HaPpY to hear I am not the only one who is obsessed with the lovely Bubble necklace! :) Much like you, I purchased the black bubble necklace when it was first introduced by J. Crew...never really wore it much, however, when the orange came out, I received it as a gift for my birthday...really enjoyed wearing it...since then, I have added the turquoise, the pink, the yellow, the green, and the white! I wear either pearls or a bubble necklace every day and truly love the statement they make with even a simple outfit! Bring on more colors, J.Crew! :)
ReplyDeleteAlexis, I want a white one so bad! I have two great-quality ebay "J. Crew" Bubbles, black and turquoise. I have no remorse over purchasing a knockoff if that's what they are; if J. Crew sold plastic beads from China at a fair price (I don't consider $150 fair), I'd buy them from JC.
ReplyDeleteI've gotten many compliments, and great joy, from wearing them. The Bubble is one of those items that transforms an outfit when you wear it, because it really draws the eye. I also think it's just plain fun to wear.
I am a big-time scarf girl, but the Bubble had been a fun addition to my accessories collection. When the Bubble fad is over, I will have definitely gotten my $14.49's worth!
I've never been a big fan of mass produced jewelry including J. Crew's, a lot of the stuff I've bought in the past from other retailers has tarnished or fell apart after a few seasons. I almost always buy hand made jewelry or vintage stuff off of eBay, Etsy or art shows. I think some of J. Crew's jewelry is pretty but I'll probably never purchase it for myself.
ReplyDeleteI love the J. Crew Bubble Necklace!! I think that it adds a fun pop of color to outfits!!
ReplyDeleteI actually feel the opposite way. I have one of the old versions from the early 2000s. I wore it frequently but now with the popularity of J.Crew's re-release they are everywhere; the knockoffs on eBay for $10 and on BaubleBar, Forever21, etc. Seeing them so much and not liking to look like everyone else has made me stop wearing one of my favorite pieces. I went from wearing it a few times a week to not having it worn it for a month.
ReplyDeleteAlexis, This is OT, but I didn't know where to write it. The other day I posted about some key J Crew pieces that I wear on a nearly daily basis , much like you and your bubble necklaces.
ReplyDeletehttp://ontrendorchids.blogspot.com/2012/07/aging-well.html
I began to wonder if there could be a thread about using and integrating the older pieces we value into new looks. Fittingly,
I read Gigi's of gigisgoneshopping excellent post this morning about consumerism , based on a book suggested by Hexicon. Part of the reason we look to retailers like J Crew is because they offer "timeless" styles. Clearly your threads about J Crew of "yore" shows that people still love the older designs.It is so easy to get caught up in a new roll out frenzy. But, I know I am not alone in that I wear my favorites from seasons past everyday.
KnitYarns, I love to mix old and new and different labels. I spend a good deal of money on my wardrobe and I try to choose pieces that will last from year to year. For me there is some comfort factor in wearing a piece I've had for years, especially when it still looks great.
DeleteKnitYarns,I like your idea. I don't buy very much, yet I still find myself feeling somewhat guilty about buying items that I want when I don't have a hole to fill in my wardrobe and an existing item(s) will fill that need just as well. I really admire European women for their restraint in buying just a few key but quality pieces rather than succumbing to the temptation of fast/cheap fashion.
Delete@XOXO,
Delete"For me there is some comfort factor in wearing a piece I've had for years, especially when it still looks great."
^^ Amen.
Alexis and apparently many others! have their bubble necklaces. For me, I have a faceted glass statement bracelet (I searched but can't find the name) from ~2 yrs ago that I have have worn literally hundreds of times. It seems to match and elevate everything.
DeleteNot really my style. Plus I think they look a little cheap for the price. But, I have seen a number of bloggers with the bubble necklaces and they do wear them really well.
ReplyDeleteI got the black one way back when, at a ridiculous sale price in my store, and I wear it constantly. It never fails to get compliments. I ended up with the turquoise and papaya, also from years ago, and don't wear those colors as much although I can't seem to part with them. I don't think I paid full retail price for all 3 combined. I'm in a warm climate and wear a lot of open necks, strapless and tanks on weekends during the summer months. The necklace fills that in and finishes off outfits nicely.
ReplyDeleteIt's not really my style, but I have neck pain issues and the bubble necklace is too large and heavy for me to wear comfortably even if I wanted to do so.
ReplyDeleteI like the bubble when I see it on others but whenever I try it on it's just too much "look" for me at 5'3". I haven't picked one up but I think the size of the factory bubble could work. I have a lot of other J Crew jewelry, most of it picked up on markdown.
ReplyDeleteYes, some j crew jewelry is a bit tacky, but they've done some great pieces too. I wear a lot of jewelry, both costume and fine. I, too, love vintage jewelry...just remember, at one point those vintage pieces were straight up "costume" jewelry too. It's all a matter of time and perspective.
Love the bubble necklace, but $150 was way too overpriced, so I did some homework and bought a pink and a black one from an Etsy seller. They are a little lower quality, and I know they are manufactured in China, but I think they are a great alternative. I always get compliments on the necklace and 3 other friends have now ordered from the same seller.
ReplyDeleteI bought the black bubble from JC from the first introduction of it. I wore it to death! Then I added the turquoise and the coral. I really like the faceted versions and wonder why JC doesn't do those anymore. Cost, maybe? Then I bought the red one last year on sale at the holidays, added the yellow and bright blue from ebay China sellers this spring (and they look just like the "real" ones and then last week bought the white. That makes 7. Someone stop me. Really like the new green one....oh, someone stop me.
ReplyDeletewww.perfectlyperched.com has the green one! I Just got it in the mail and it is sooo cute!
DeleteSomeone mentioned Bauble Bar. I was lured in by them after seeing them mentioned on many fashion blogs. My experience is that the jewelry is extremely cheaply made (imagine F21) and overpriced. I will never purchase from them again. JC has superior quality in costume jewelry, along the lines of Kenneth Jay Lane and Kate Spade. I collect old and new and JC is a favorite.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of the Factory version. The smaller scale is better on me. I usually don't like having multiples of the same thing, though, especially when the thing is distinctive. I am on the fence about the Bubble necklaces, though. I have the Factory yellow and turquoise versions. I am pining for the red and black versions, but I think it might be too much of a good thing. Or not! lol :)
ReplyDeleteI bought the turquoise one when they originally came out, then a coral colored one and a black one. I haven't bought any for this second release, but I do love them. The black one is especially nice for evening, I think it makes a simple little black dress into something really special.
ReplyDeleteI bought my first REAL J. Crew turquoise bubble two weeks ago. Believe me, it was not an impulse buy. I tried to settle for the cheaper versions but I always felt they looked like an imitation and ended up not wearing them or returning them.
ReplyDeleteI actually blogged in detail about this topic. Check it out:
http://what-i-bought-today-tc.blogspot.com/
They are cute on everyone other than myself. But I haven't worn a necklace in decades because even the most dainty necklace skeeves me out & I scratch & fiddle with them relentlessly.
ReplyDeleteI've loved and lusted after them from afar. I was truly excited to see their return but haven't been able to justify paying full price nor purchasing a replica. Also, I lack the time and patience to pursue them during sales/promotions.
ReplyDeleteGo to www.perfectlyperched.com and get one there! They are adorable and a great price.
DeleteI don't own a Bubble presently, but I've decided that I pretty much need the kelly green one in my life. My rewards card & educator discount will soften the financial blow a bit.
ReplyDeleteI'm just not sure I understand the justification for buying the knock offs. Yes the real thing is expensive. But most of you wouldn't buy fake designer handbags. If you want them to lower the cost and up the quality it seems kind of nonsensical to purchase something that is essentially costing the company money.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHexicon said...
DeleteFor me, anyway, there is a distinction between a replica/knock-off and a fake. For example, I hand-crafted a necklace that was inspired by and is very similar to the J.Crew pearl cluster necklace from a couple of years ago. Is that a "fake"? Does it cost the company money?
You are correct that I wouldn't buy a handbag with a label that said "Hermes" when it was actually a fake. But if someone wanted to create a no-label replica with a shape similar to the Kelly bag, I wouldn't consider that to be a fake. It's not pretending to be anything that it isn't. That's my personal distinction; others may disagree. With regard to these necklaces, I was expecting a replica and was surprised to see the tag.
And yes, I recognize there is some cognitive dissonance here between the desire for cheap and the pleas for quality.
The quality is actually the same. It's all made in China, so I'm pretty sure someone out there is just taking from the pile and selling it on their own. They probably sell it to Jcrew for $1/necklace, so if they can sell it via ebay for $15, well...do the math.
DeleteIMO, if you prefer walking into JCrew, and needing the whole "buying" experience of getting it in a shiny silver box for $150 plus tax, then go there.
I'm not so concerned with it "costing the company money". JCrew sells all of us plenty of overpriced, undervalued crap and sticks it to us as Final Sale, and yet the company is able to sleep at night.
I'm referring to the eBay versions that list as J.Crew and have J.Crew tags.
ReplyDeleteI have always liked them, but never wanted to bite the bullet of $150 for a necklace mass manufactured in China. I was reading a blog and the girl was wearing one in several colors (each day). Turns out she makes and sells them. I took a chance and ordered the turquoise for $50 and it is gorgeous. I went back for two more (coral and another turquoise as a gift). Her customer service was amazing and the necklace is made well and does not look cheap like many other versions. I was in Jcrew the other day and the SA commented on my necklace. I love that she was fooled, too :) I just like the style and don't care where it came from, but am picky and hate super cheap jewelry. There is a smell that some metals put off that I can't tolerate. Anyway...the girls shop is Lily Couture: http://www.ilycouture.com/category_s/1814.htm
ReplyDeleteShe makes the flower necklace, too.
PS-I am not affiliated with her site and do not know her personally. Just a great experience that I thought I would share.
I can't believe you had this post today, the first day I wore my new kelly green bubble necklace! I'd love for you to take a look! www.colorfulcorporate.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThe price was hard to take but I saved up and I'm so happy I took the plunge! I love it!
I wear a lot of costume jewelry, mostly pendant necklaces, but the Bubble never spoke to me for some reason, I never even considered it.
ReplyDeleteI have the yellow and hot pink. Both I bought off ebay and are knock offs. You can tell a difference from the real and the fakes only by the quality of the metal. The real necklace has is very shiny gold and the fake is duller. Who cares though! I would never pay retail price for the real one. Ebay is the way to go!
ReplyDeleteIt's not really my thing. While I do have a few costume jewelry pieces that are slightly similar (one from Club Monaco, one from Bloomingdale's) I bought them three or more years ago, on sale and now rarely wear them. I definitely would never spend $150 on this piece. Also, everyone and their sister is wearing them, at least in Chicago, and I don't like to conform to that degree!
ReplyDeleteI really like the look of the necklace and think it looks really cute the way I've seen it styled (mostly on SA's at JC!). I tried it on and it was horrible on me. I'm not that tall and I'm broad shouldered and the necklace just adds bulk where I don't need it. In a way I'm glad b/c now I know it's just not for me. So I can admire it on others w/o me spending the $!
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, today I logged onto Haute Couture and the sign-in page had a lady wearing the Bubble necklace.
I think the bubble looks lovely on the mannequins, but not really for me. If JCrew would lower the price to a reasonable level then there would be no need for anyone to buy one off of Ebay. My 2cents.
ReplyDeleteit got me too. i love my black and gold one.
ReplyDeletephiphisblog.com
I got mine from a shop on storenvy. http://deepaulette.storenvy.com
ReplyDeleteI got mine at www.mika77.com for only $35 with free shipping. I won't spend $150 on a plastic costume jewelry. I'd rather spend it on real stones.
ReplyDeleteI still get praises when I wear my inspired necklace so I'm very happy with it.
Hey everyone!! Just wanted to let you know about a website that I have bought them from that ships really quick and they are awesome quality... They also have less bulky styles if you aren't really into the long dangly bubble necklace!
ReplyDeletewww.perfectlyperched.com Also, if you use the code FREESHIPPING it ships for free! :)