Tuesday, May 19, 2020

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! :)

21 comments:

  1. Hello all, has anyone purchased AK181 Embellished Cardigan in Raw Indigo? If so thoughts would be appreciated. Crazy sale prices again and I like others have to send back a couple of items where there is price differential of at least $10.00 plus and these items were purchased within the last week or so including the secret sale. Not happy but with free return shipping I will do it. This is getting so complex with my JC CC I’m going to ask my accountant to reconcile my account:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Lynn: I ordered that cardigan in two sizes (as always these days), but they haven't shipped yet. Same here with the price drop, but I think I'm going to raise my "differential" from $10 to $20 because I'm getting reorder fatigue. I have the navy merino cardigan with black sequins, and it's pretty nice. I'm not sure this one in cotton will please me as much as that one, but we shall see. I need to set some purchasing rules for myself.

      A friend of mine is very disciplined about what she allows into her closet, and I think I would like to be more like her. She has said things like "Good enough is not good enough." "It needs to be 100% love and 100% wow." "Constant promos and sales result in closet creep."

      Delete
    2. MmeJacqueline I’m trying to be like that. Sale goggles make it hard. I try everything on multiple times and put outfits together, even for my super casual wear. I relocated many of my clothes and makeup during quarantine just to make life simpler. No one “here” is judging me for being an outfit repeater. 😆

      Delete
    3. @Suz Has: Sale goggles can certainly bloat one's closet. It has mine--especially when I find myself buying multiple colors of the same thing. A case can be made for that, but I've done it too many times, and it's wasteful. Oh how I wish I could be more like my friend. It seems to be so easy for her. She has set her standards, and that's it. She abides by what she says.

      If I could turn back time, I would revert to the olden days when sales were only in January and July. I believe that I was a better shopper then.

      Delete
    4. If you lived in Canada you would save a small fortune, I used to shop frequently but since we rarely get promos anymore, my bank account is very happy!

      Delete
    5. MmeJacqueline, I really only buy black, some red, and denim...I actual buy multiples in black. I have to stop that.

      Delete
    6. @MmeJacqueline, thank you, well said. I ordered it with the we’ll see approach and a hopeful love. Simply too difficult to judge from the photo. I’m going to slow down with my shopping. There aren’t enough days in a year to wear everything and admittedly I have been wasteful at times buying duplicates. There is an upside however, I clean out my closets twice a year and give clothes and shoes away or donate them to charity. Many items are unworn and I make sure they’re going to women that will be able to wear them and it helps them out.

      Delete
    7. @MmeJaqueline: The drop in quality & style @ JC/Madewell have really enforced sale-shopping discipline. I didn't shop much elsewhere (lab environment = casual dress code). But I'm glad I bought back at the heights because those pieces are still heavily worn & looking good.

      Delete
    8. Thanks for your nice and interesting responses here, everyone. Sometimes I'm actually grateful when there is NO sale or promo because I'm not tempted. With the quality and fit issues, I return more than I keep, but I still keep more than I will probably ever wear in my lifetime. I don't have the life to match my wardrobe.

      I have always loved clothes, shoes, and all of the accessories that go into making an outfit. I'm sure most of us here enjoy clothing as a means of self-expression and creativity, and if that actually changed for me, it would probably be a sign of some type of decline.

      That said, when I take a good hard look at what I have and how it was acquired, there are some truths that I need to examine. I sometimes play this game where I say, "The house is on fire (critters and people are safe, of course). I can only grab one pair of shoes, one handbag, and one item of clothing. What do I take?" For years, my answer has been the same. Those things have this in common: They were purchased for all of the right reasons, and they were not on sale. Those are things that always serve me well, and I bought them at the same time in 1999. The initial outlay was significant to me at the time, but amortized over all these years, they were bargains--especially when compared with things I have purchased while enveloped in the lavender haze of sale/promo fever.

      Delete
    9. @MMeJacqueline, I'd take my running shoes, workout clothing and my backpack which always has clean underwear and basic toiletries. 'Cos I'd rather be able to work out than dress well!

      That said, I also love clothes and outfits and agree totally it is a means of communication. My outfits tell part of my story. Even in lockdown I do some mini fashion shows for the hubs. Today I am wearing a sleeveless dark wash wide leg denim jumpsuit (a sale item, but a look that I'd have paid far more for!) with a silk blouse and mid heel suede mules. I'm lucky to be working from home, and feel best when I'm dressed for it.

      Delete
    10. @pbanos: Oh yes, I definitely feel best when I am dressed for whatever it is I'm doing--even if it is a WFH situation like yours.

      Delete
  2. finally got my Striped boyfriend sweatshirt in magic rinse cotton
    (Item AN209) which was backordered for a while. cute. lightweight. but it's HUGE. again. i'm normally a small/4 and i guess i should have assumed that with "boyfriend" in the description, it would be big. may reorder it in an XS. i should have some rewards coming. hopefully it will coincide with a good discount.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Reporting back on my recent Everlane order which shipped the day after I placed it.

    Day gloves in bright red and rose (reordered when this color went on sale). Love. I should get rid of all my other casual flats.

    ReNew Sweatshirt. At 50 percent off its a fair price for a staple. I like the fit. The waist is fitted which works better for me than a boxy cut.

    Tread trainer in black with the off white sole. These are sturdier than my usual sneaker but for walking and light hiking they will work. They’re flattering on the foot. A bit hard to get on but they will break in. I stayed true to size and the fit is perfect. Got a matching pair for my husband and he loves them too.

    Easy straight leg chino. Looking at the size chart I went up one from my usual. I just saw another person say they went from a 00 to a 4. The waist is elastic which is why the size chart seems much smaller. If I went up much more they’d look sloppy, plus this material does give a little. They're not super fashionable, basically like scrubs with a wide elastic waist, but they’re MORE flattering than a typical jogger or lounge pant and I like the lightweight chino fabric more than a knit. At $58 they’re not cheap, but if I look at athleta or lululemon they’re a fair price and I’ll have ONE pair.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What I didn’t like: lightweight straight leg crop. They do nothing for me, the wide leg is better for my shape.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for the reviews Suz! The day gloves look cute & are on my radar.

      Delete
    3. I hope it helps, I’m always scouring IG and lately it seems a lot of ppl i follow are obviously sponsored in some way by the brand. It’s really hard to get an honest opinion. I only post because I enjoy it.
      FWIW the tread sneakers in black with the off white sole got further reduced to $49. They are by far the best fitting sneakers I own. I wore them all day today working around the house. No heel slippage which is a big problem for me.

      Delete
  4. I should add here that even though all of the promos can make me crazy, I will no longer pay full price at J.Crew (and many others) because I know that is simply their "starter price," and the intention is to do a promo immediately and then repeatedly. Like many of you here, there was a time when I did pay full price at J.Crew because the quality was worth it, and I knew that I really wanted it.

    I seem to always pay full price at Net-a-Porter and other places that are not on the promo merry-go-round all the time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have you purchased the Ratti Regatta pants? I haven’t seen anyone comment on them. I did they’re very pretty even though they’re poly. Jcrew lists them as a best seller and I wonder how they determine this without reviews on their website. Orders perhaps?

      Delete
    2. @Lynn: No, I haven't purchased the Regatta pants. That is one of those items that I know I wouldn't have the occasion for wearing. Of course, I certainly do have some of those "in-the-event-the-occasion-arises" type things hanging around. I need to purchase for the life I actually have. What a concept!

      Delete
  5. Myself as well. When quality is excellent and a love, I will willingly pay full price however I’m fairly worn out from going and back checking prices for many items that are sub par.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

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! :)