Tuesday, October 7, 2014

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! :)

22 comments:

  1. I have a few boots reviews:
    First the Laine boots in suede.Online it says to size down one half size and i expected my size not to fit. It did,even though it is a little roomy,but i dont think i could size down.
    Laine boots in leather: the cognac shade is beautiful and mostly sold out online.It is TTS.
    I also tried the MacAllister boots and found them TTS. I still returned them.as i wasnt in love with the nut color.It was too light for me. I like the color of the Laine suede boots much,much better.
    Also i received the double-side cardigan last week and i love it. It fits similiar like the cocoon cardi last year. Size down def and then it looks great!

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  2. I've shared a couple more Madewell reviews: The Coated Roadtrip Jacket is reviewed here, and the Flannel Ex-Boyfriend Shirt in Buffalo Check is reviewed here.

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  3. A few Madewell reviews: The Baxter jumpsuit is amazing. I would never have ordered this, but saw it on JCA instagram pic and fell in love. It didn't disappoint. I am consistently a JC 0 dress, 2 pants, 0-00 blouse, and XXS-XS. I ordered the 0, and it fits great. I am 5'4" and the pants hit me mid-ankle, so they'll look okay with either ballet flats or heels. So happy that I'm paying full price for these, which I never ever do. I also love the Barrow trousers. This style might not be something everyone likes with it's cross-over front panel, but with my slim hips-waist and athletic thighs, these are very flattering and super comfortable. Something about the fit reminded me of a jodphur pant (in a good way), with the slim calf and extra fabric at low hip. Again, I can dress up or down. I got a size 2, though size 0 might be even better (not near a store, so these'll be fine). Next, the Skinny Tuxedo Trousers were a great deal at $40, but they fit terribly. Not made for my legs. If you have slim legs, go for it. On JCA advice, I also got the non-returnable All-Weather Outbound jacket. I know most sized up in this, but they only had a XS in stock so I went for it at $30. Definitely NOT an oversized fit on this, and I can see why most sized up. But it does fit me nicely, like it was tailored for me to wear over a blouse or light sweater. Could not wear a heavier sweater underneath, but I can comfortably move my arms around. Think of it more as a blazer fit than a coat fit at this size. Very nicely made. Finally, I also tried the wide-legged Varick Trousers. They are HUGE!! I ordered a 0 because of the legs. I think I could pull these on without unbuttoning!! The 00 (if they make it) wouldn't even fit me properly. Beware of fit on these.

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    1. Thanks for all the Madewell reviews, Bridgetabcs! How was the length on the Barrow trousers? Do you think they fit tts? You mentioned a 0 might have been better and I'm curious in what way.
      thanks again.

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    2. maryeb: Length of Barrow trousers was great. They hit me at low ankle---not cropped but I don't need to hem either.They are tts in waist/upper hip. Calf is tts. I don't need extended calf boots from JC but sometimes straight legs can stay up on my calfs after sitting. Don't think that'll happen with these. The loose area, which is the style of the pant, is at the lower hip, upper thigh. The thigh is what I size to fit on pants. Very possible that the smaller size won't drape as nicely, but there was definitely room to try them if I'd been in a store. But again, very very happy with them. I was wrong stating that my size was a 2. These are 26 pants, which is what I usually order in straight-leg jeans. For reference in JC, I am 0 dress, 00 sleeveless, 0 blouse, 00 skirt, XS-XXS, and 2 in pants and some slim cut blazers. Hope this helps. The Barrows are really cool.

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    3. This is very helpful. Thanks for all the detailed info!!

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  4. Boiled wool zip sweater in lavender silver: Ordered both XS and S to compare. Customer reviews online said the sleeves are tight, which is true,so I kept size S. Boxy fit and short-not ideal for ladies with long torso. Thick sweater what you would expect for 'boiled wool'. Picked this color because I like how it is styled online with the drapey wool pant and the cotton painter t

    Boiled wool puffer bomber in heather slate olive: Tried the XS. It runs a tad snug but you can get away with layering a cotton t under. I'm 4'11, 36B for reference. The sleeves are tight and long, you might want to size up if you want extra room. It's a thick sweater, what you would expect for 'boiled wool'. Be careful though, I noticed when zipping the sweater, the puffer fabric might get caught when zipping.
    I didn't keep the sweater because of the price. I will consider buying it when it goes on sale. It's a nice sweater, and I like how it was styled online with the tissue stripe turtle neck, and pixie pants...

    Perforated monk strap loafers in black: Ordered these in 5.5. These shoes are very comfortable. I own the Biellas and it hurts my feet after wearing it once. The leather on these loafers seem softer. Fits TTS. It has mixed reviews online with sizing, if you are unsure, order two different sizes to try. I have wide feet, and it fits fine on me. I plan to wear these with leggings, pencil skirt...

    Petite wool melton boyfriend coat in heather graphite: Ordered size 2P, and 00P. Okay, I wanted to love this coat bad. First I ordered size 2P. It was a little big on me, and wanted it to fit just right even though its a boyfriend cut. So I exchanged it for a 00P. The cut of the body is perfect, but the sleeves did not drape well. It didn't fall straight, it wasn't streamlined. I thought at first it was a sizing and sewing defect with the sleeves, that is why i exchanged it for a 00P. But it was so weird how both coats I ordered had the same sleeve problem. It just didn't look right. And its not like I needed to have buff arms to fill it in, it was the way the sleeves were cut and sewn. If you look at the model wearing the navy color, click on the photo where the coat is photographed from behind, and zoom in on the draping of the sleeve...FUNKY...huh? It bunches....
    Sad. The graphite color looks cool, too. I wouldn't buy this even on deep discount. And its final sale, its not like I can gamble on buying and returning it, if it didn't work.

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    1. Hi JSR - thanks for your review of the boyfriend coat. It's one of the only things I liked from the fall rollouts but I just can't roll the FS dice on this one. Did you try to fold down the collar at all? I'm wondering if that's impossible like JCA's have reported with the Regent blazer.

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    2. Hi Silver lining, for me it was sleeves that was a problem. It wasn't the length of the sleeve, but the cut of it when it was sewn onto the body.
      The collar was fine.
      Maybe that is why the coat went on sale already...I even compared other coats from their site. All the sleeves draped fine when photos were taken from the back. But the Melton Boyfriend..I don't know what the design team was thinking when the cut the garment for production.

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    3. **Meant to say, .....I don't know what the design team was thinking when they approved the garment for production.

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    4. thanks for this review, i was very curious about this coat in petite sizing, but far too scared to go for it at FS

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  5. Madewell review; but first a shout out to Melissa for letting us all know about the All-Weather Outbound jacket for $29.99 last week. I got mine today and LOVE it. I had purchased the regular Outbound jacket which I had gotten in a small but exchanged for an XS. But I love the All-Weather much more, I like that it is thicker, the color is a darker green and not so faded looking. I even feel that the All-Weather is a little bit bigger in the same size. I agree with Bridgetabcs about it not being something I could wear a heavier sweater underneath but that is not what I wanted the jacket for. So the regular Outbound is going back and I am saving myself some money.

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    1. Thanks for the shout out JRSConifer! I'm glad you and the other JCAs were able to get one, especially at that fantastic price. It really is such a great jacket. :)

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  6. A review of the drapey wool sweatpant and BR's shine drapey pant here:

    http://onecantgetoverthehabit.blogspot.ca/2014/10/not-your-mothers-stretchy-pants.html

    I loved both of these pants, though I would say the shine drapey pants are a somewhat dressier look.

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  7. Another Madewell review, this time for the Tomboy Workshirt: See the review here.

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  8. Here is a review for the Super 120s flare skirt that I ordered in my normal size (0P) in oxidized purple and navy. It is item A5116. This skirt is a disaster - I don't know who would wear it. It's got a teenage silhouette but suiting fabric. It doesn't even look all that good on the model - which should have tipped me off.

    On me, it hangs straight through the top-third of the the thigh and then becomes super-flippy and ends well above the knee on me (and I'm 5-2 ). It's knee length on the model (maybe she is wearing a tall)?. The gorgeuus, silky-wool fabric hides nothing - I don't know if it's the cut or the fabric but it is extremelyt unforgiving.
    I thought it would look nice with a jacket or long sweater but no. No jacket would be long enough to cover or look normal with the straight upper-third of the skirt. Weird weird skirt.

    If I were handing out stars, I'd hand out one star for the navy skirt (solely for the lovely fabric). The purple skirt ould get two stars (one for the fabric, one for the color). Thank God J/Crew agreed to waive final sale on this (I asked before I ordered because I suspected the fit may be off on me).

    Im also got a double serge wool pencil skirt 40% off - and it's nice! My normal size fits like the others I have in my closet, and the fabric seems good (there was one year - 200? - during which the wool had less heft). This wool has a nice heft. Possibly a keeper - or a return and rebuy with the rewards card that's on the way.

    Another note - last month I got the navy short-sleeved vintage pajama set and I love it! Comfy waistband, soft soft cotton. That's a keeper for sure :)

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  9. A very unfavorable review of the Midnight Tweed Pencil Skirt here Just think kangaroo................

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  10. Love the Sterling Jacket (B0116). It may be on sale today in store. It's kind of perfect if you spend time outdoors. It's oversized, but I like that, can fit layers under it which I will be doing. It's not lined, but it's a heavyweight cotton with a dull, waxy finish. Reminds me of the Downtown Field Jacket, only much more functional.

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  11. Two-tone loafer: I tried a half size down from my usual size and my regular size. The loafer runs TTS: I fit in a regular size 6, without socks. If pushed, I could even wear 6H ( half size up) without trouble. I was really excited to see this knockoff of the designer loafer that leandra medine's been wearing all over. But it's a disappointment. My first thought after putting them on was: I am wearing the Penguin's shoes. Yes, Batman's enemy Penguin. The nose of the shoe is cut in a sharp point, there is a definite reference to a tuxedo/bow tie on top of the shoe (at the strap), and the white is actually a muddy vanilla leather. They're decent leather, the finish is definitely not premium. More like "made in India" competing with made in Italy.

    On another note, that's why madewell has some well priced leather goods. Lots of them are made of non-premium finished leather in India. The finish is a chalky matte look, rather than a soft leather, polished in natural oils, iykwim. Speaking of which, u tried their bucket duffle bag. I thought I might be able to satisfy my admiration of mansur gavriel's pieces with the madewell duffle. But it's a similar story to the two-tone shoes. The madewell product is nice, but far from perfect. A no-go for me.

    HTH

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  12. I've shared a review of the Madewell Plaid Cinch Vest in this post.

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