This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.
Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.
Minor vent... J. Crew keeps changing the details on things and saying they're the same thing. This is biggest on the jeans. If they're changing the rise, they're changing the style significantly enough that they should call the jeans something different. And they've muddied the water so much that I'd need to try them on to know what my size is. I knew my size in Toothpicks, but now there is a 9" High Rise Toothpick and an 8" Toothpick. Which was the original Toothpick? Or is neither? I don't remember what the rise was on the original Toothpicks. Then there is the high-rise Lookout with the same rise (9") as the high-rise Toothpicks... what's the difference?
ReplyDeleteAnd the Cocoon coat is back but they've changed up the pockets again. I guess this one would at least fit the same because it's only an embellishment they changed, but I'm not going to buy a new Cocoon coat just because the made double slash pockets on the new style.
Cate, I'm looking to replace my Cocoon Coat and I noticed the same thing about the pockets, plus ... the wool on this version is so much cheaper. It has a weird "spongy" texture and lighter weight that feels kind of like plastic. I think it will pill in two seconds. It's hard to find a really high quality wool coat these days but I'll keep looking.
Delete@ruffles This! I commented this exact thing last week! I have a nwt cocoon coat from 2012 that I never got to wear and I gained a bit of much needed weight so I bought it in a size up. It's night and day, the new one is cheap, spongy and even the lining is not as nice. The old one also has a weight, warmth and heft that the new one lacks. Holding them side by side, I began to wonder if they are actually the same coat.
DeleteHi cate (good to see you!) - I don't know why they keep doing this. I reviewed the 9" toothpicks (B0737) yesterday and the tag on them said "Lookout High Rise Skinny". My guess is that they're going to phase out the Lookout name and call them all toothpicks (either 8" or 9"). However, I'm not sure what the rise is on the originals - the Flint wash toothpicks (E0007) from last year has an 8 3/4" rise according to their page on the website. All this to say... I have no idea. ; )
DeleteRegarding the Cocoon coat, as the resident JCA who loves eBay I'd go there in search of an older model (as long as the seller can give you the style number and season/year from the inside tag). It's getting to be that time of year when people start purging their older coats to buy newer ones. Sad (but not surprising) to hear the fabric is not as good as it once was!
Ruffles & Anthro Blogger, that is disappointing. Their coats are one of the best things J. Crew does, and it sounds like they're messing them up. I haven't seen the new model in person yet. I am a bit embarrassed by how many Cocoon coats I own (4? lol), but now I'm glad I bought them when I did. I should really get rid of the navy one, but ya know...
Deletesilver_lining, hi! I think it was your review I was thinking of when I posted. The Toothpicks fit me well if I go a size up from the Matchsticks, but the Lookouts have never fit me right. So I guess it's a good thing I don't need any denim because I'd have to try them all on to figure out what's what now. I liked being able to know my size in a brand. Oh well!
Agreed cate! I love the Cocoon coat and hate to be stuck with the lesser quality "new" one, but on the other hand, someone will luck out once I sell the old one :) I may look for an old Cocoon coat myself as silver_lining suggests, I've always wanted a green one!
DeleteNot quite a vent, but more of a head-scratch...
ReplyDeleteLove the J Crew colors but sometimes a particular color (name) will look different on different items. For example, I am debating between the Lily cap toe ballet flats in vivid burgundy and the suede pumps with stamped croc heel in vintage cabernet. I can't get a good sense of what the differences in these two colors really are so I searched for those colors on the J Crew website. There is a signet bag in vivid burgundy, but the bag looks very different from the flats - more red. Does any one have any insights into the colors? I really don't want to have to buy them just to see what they look like but perhaps that's the only way.
On a different note - any thoughts on the fit of the suede pumps with stamped croc heel vs the suede pumps with the lucite heel (which are about an inch higher, I think). I just bought the lucite heel in fiery sunset and had to go up a half size for the lucite heel, but the reviews are saying that the suede pumps with stamped croc heel run big. I actually prefer a slightly lower heel so (sigh) I am now thinking of trying the new suede pumps and possibly returning the lucite heels if the new suede heels fit. (Although fiery sunset and vintage cabernet are totally different colors, of course, so maybe I "need" both?!) (As I type this, I realize once again how fortunate I am to be in a position to ponder these "issues".)
Adding one additional note - the lucite heels are made in Italy but the croc heels are not. In any one's experience does this make a different in comfort or longevity?
DeleteWhile Made in Italy stands for certain quality standards, it's not the case that shoes produced elsewhere are uniformly lower quality. Spain for instance produces some high quality shoes too. The croc heels look great, ordered them yesterday and I expect them to be of comparable quality as the Made in Italy heels that I own.
DeleteI agree, including China, amazing things can be made anywhere. It's just certain countries have a reputation for exploitative manufacturing that makes quality and ethics questionable, but China is capable of producing high quality goods like any other country. The minimum wage in Europe is far too high for American companies to manufacture their cheap products there.
DeleteWith that said, made in Italy only matters if they were truly constructed in Italy. With JCrew cutting corners on everything I wouldn't be surprised if the shoes were primarily made elsewhere and a finishing touch, or where they were assembled, was done in Italy. The "made in" system is easily exploited unfortunately. Every country has it's own regulations of what is required to say "made in". The regulations for the label in Italy aren't particularly strong and many countries struggle to actually enforce those regulations if they do have them.
JCrew knows their customers really care about that label, many may even care about the label more than they do the actual product to be honest.
No, Chinese products are invariably cheap and not well-made, especially shoes. Italy, Spain and to some extent, Brazil, make very good leather shoes for the most part.
DeleteI have some great silk blouses by J Crew, made in China. It all depends on the contractors you work with.
DeleteStill no sign of a Style Guide on Pinterest - not even an empty September 2017 board. I don't think this was a great move on their part.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I've missed being able to peruse the style guides.
DeleteThe SA in my store said no style guide. they are hoping to get one for the holidays but that is it. I know there are cost savings, but this is a bad move IMO.
DeleteI'm looking at this email about the new "perfect" Cameron pant and it looks just like the Martie to me.... why must they re-invent the wheel every year?
ReplyDeleteThe Cameron is mostly poly whereas the Martie is mostly cotton or the fall/winter version is mostly unlined wool. So the material is one difference.
DeleteI like the Marties and I hope they don't discontinue them even though they could add an inch or two. I was surprised to see the Cameron pant because I've been wondering when the short pants trend will end.
Marties are also side-zip, and Camerons have a thicker waistband that has a traditional center zip and presumably tab closures. (I'm actually super excited about these, hope they'll be like a thinner-weight Ryder with less bagging out in the legs)
DeleteI'm loving the ankle pants trend so very glad to still new styles. I think the Cameron looks like a hybrid between the Minnies and the Ryders. I so wish they would bring back Minnie ankle pants and Schoolboy blazers...
Delete@Luxette Yes, please bring back the schoolboys! I have 3 that are basically brand new and a smidge tight now but I am hesitant to let them go because I can't get them anymore *crying emoji* LOL
DeleteI'd love to replace them for the same, but in a size up. Maybe I should scour ebay but I hate the idea of supporting resellers.
Hi can someone comment on the all season stretch Cameron pant? Looking for a pant that's is as comfy as sweats but looks better than lululemon
ReplyDeleteAlso is there any promo for full priced merchandise ? Thanks. Want to buy some pants
ReplyDeleteIt ended last night 20% off some new arrivals. Just wait, I'm sure there will be something else soon.
DeleteYes!!! Can't wait for a decent promo, it's pants time!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the store promo on sale items?
ReplyDeleteThanks so much
Hi Kate! It was 30% off at my local store yesterday.
DeleteMine was 50% today, probably because it was so picked over.
DeleteI, like many others I'm sure, has a cart full of sale pop backs but won't buy until they're back to to 50% off they were...
ReplyDeleteYep, I refuse to touch anything until it's at least 40% off and not final sale.
DeleteI bought because I'm afraid I'll never catch my sizes. I had been trying to snag the chambray jumper for over a month...
DeleteCheritheberry, I bought one thing too because I hadn't seen it pop back yet. If it's something that you really want/need I think it's probably worth it (especially if you've already tried the item and are not worried about fit). It's probably still cheaper than you can find it on eBay. Maybe the percentage off will go up and we can get price adjustments ;)
DeleteMy Madewell Tailsa sandals broke on the third wear :(. Pretty shocking. This has never happened to me with any other shoes, even shoes I bought used. One of the crossing straps just came right out from where it was attached to the bottom of the shoe.
ReplyDeleteI am so bored right now. Not a single thing I need to buy even if the sale items went back to 50% and the new stuff does not appeal to me either. Here's hoping as we get deeper into fall and winter we see tops with both sleeves and shoulders and some interesting prints.
ReplyDeleteA continual vent: Why do many items from my wishlist disappear? My wishlist is often useless, as I have to keep adding items that disappear when they are back in stock the next day.
ReplyDelete