Wednesday, September 8, 2021

"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

 

    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.

54 comments:

  1. Not finding much too get excited about in the new launch. Colors are too muted for my taste. Drapey, relaxed, cinched waist, tie waist, gathered, pull on, oversized, unstructured, sweats materials… not my style. I can’t believe I’m saying this but i miss the seasonal big-cat print silk easy pants of yore. If i’m wearing pull on pants like a toddler, at least give me colors, silk and a great print.

    saving grace are the blazers and top coats.

    what the eff to the tie waist cashmere jumpsuit. more like a knit onesie!

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    1. I just looked and really nothing I’m interested in either. I kind of like the tall boots with the low heel but literally have no reason to buy. I don’t wear dresses, rarely wear skirts or anything else I’d wear with tall boots and have sold or gotten rid of all my old ones except for a beautiful pair of riding boots.

      The shawl collar puffer looks interesting but more as an end of season sale purchase. I have to really think hard about adding another coat to my already large collection. I like the blazer coat as an in between BUT neither color is really appealing. Last years blazer coat didn’t have the tie belt and the fit was not great.
      Sometimes I want a shorter coat but the fit can be such a challenge because I need to size up for my shoulders and then the cut feels too wide and boxy.

      Looked at two sweaters, the cashmere mockneck which seems ok and the half zip which lists acrylic as the first fiber…no thanks.

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    2. That cashmere jumpsuit:
      🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

      Well... I don't think there's anything I'm buying this round.... Which is good because it forces me to look at my closet and clean that out.

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    3. I checked out the look book and thought, "Normcore for tall people." Any decent photographer can make basic silhouettes look good on tall, long-limbed people but when I scrolled through the actual garments, they looked a bit too basic and blah. I would like to think the lady jackets would have the proper interfacings, linings and structure to look nice, but I fear all of that has been left out. Also, so many gym clothes. I don't go to J. Crew for gym clothes.

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    4. I like the Tracee Ellis Ross video on Instagram though. It’s fun.

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    5. Hi JCA’s, I agree with all of you which is why I waited later to post here and will add a little. BA480 English Herringbone Tweed comes from Abraham Moon. This looks atrocious on the model@MaryG, as for the other blazers the buttons on them are cheap and basic and no, I don’t want an Italian Blanket Wool anything. Pants look too short and the casual saga continues with awful looking fits. I have never seen models look so awful modeling their items. Disappointing is an understatement.

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    6. They need an Italian designer and it doesn’t have to be a famous one it could be anyone as well as a fitter to overhaul all this stuff. Sizing is of the essence. Bottom line, if the shoe fits wear it. If not, don’t. Do we all have any to look as if we’re wearing a sack of some type and an ill fitting blazer? I love a good oversized blazer but it has to have perfect lines, sleeves that are perfect in width as well as length and again with beautiful buttons. That puffer shawl is ugly. Might look good on a toothpick mannequin.

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    7. Agree with Lynn. I am appalled that suiting includes a pant with white drawstrings!! The blazers photograph well but are cheap looking IRL. Not sure how to spend my rewards.

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    8. Yes, Eeps, the colors are tres ghastly! I think this is a very sad array of garments, for the most part. I agree that the blazers and topcoat are the only redeeming part of this collection. The pants are the worst. Enough of pull-on, drapey, relaxed, over sized, etc. I keep seeing that cat food color (Fancy Feast Savory Salmon at my house) that they give different names to, such as "clay" and "soft taupe." That is NOT the taupe I have known.

      In truth, I have no need for another coat, but the one thing I would purchase is the Dalton Top Coat (BA521) in "glen plaid English wool." Also, it says "slim fit." Since they do not list any other filler fibers, I hope that means that it is 100% wool. Then I wonder if "slim" still means "slim."

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    9. sharing in the horror of the white string at the waist of a "dress" pant. Shocking roll out, everything "pull on" this and "tie waist" that. Agree that they couldn't even make the models look good in most of that stuff. One or two things caught my eye but my first thought was "I already own a much better quality version of that item". They're clearly chasing hard after the younger demographic, further alienating long time customers like myself. (And you certainly don't have to be over 30/40/50/60 to appreciate timeless style and quality clothes.).

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    10. @MmeJ Cat food color! Spot on.

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    11. This designer, Olympia Gayot, has a "mood board" that I checked out, and the predominant color was indeed Fancy Feast Savory Salmon.

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    12. @Mme-Jacqueline and some of those "reimagined" fabrics have a distinctly odd smell. Maybe not cat food, but not real pleasant either. @lynn I had high hopes for new jackets when I saw the double-breasted herringbone blazer, even though I'm too narrow shouldered to carry that one off. I thought those buttons might be OK, but couldn't tell. Yes, the rest, though? Sad, sad, sad. I have my school boys and an old blue velvet ecole, which spell check is trying to call "exile."

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    13. @Mary G, fabrics and shoes should not smell! I got something once that had an odor which reminded me of Raid insect spray. I put it back in the bag and washed my hands.

      It's a good time to shop one's closet.

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  2. I’m not excited about the new arrivals, but there are a few things I may consider at some point. The 90s jeans appeal to me if the price is right. I like the lug sole boots and fisherman sandals, but I already own several pairs of Frye and Dr. Martens that are very similar. I like the length of the long sweater coat but not the fiber content. I’m also interested to hear whether the new cashmere is actually nicer.

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    1. @Jeanne, I purchased BA 042 in the cashmere featherweight mock neck. It’s soft and unlike the original cashmere featherweight from years ago. I never wear turtlenecks, I don’t have a swanlike necklace ala Audrey Hepburn but and took a chance on this. It’s flat around the neck and runs long but I’m taller and it’s fine. I love the sleeve length. My only concern is with the weave as it might stretch out towards the bottom. I found it runs a little on the larger side even though it’s advertised as a slim fit. I think I could have sized down from my regular size. The gray is a nice gray and the navy is navy and not dull. I had rewards which I used. Hope this helps at least for this style

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    2. @Lynn - do you think there’s a noticeable quality improvement in the cashmere? Pilling?

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    3. @Jeanne, I’m sorry I haven’t worn it yet however I believe there is no significant change in quality other than it’s a slightly different weave.

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    4. @Lynn, please do report back on the cashmere quality after wear! They really are offering a lot of it in this rollout and it would be disappointing if the quality is not at least somewhat better than the last few seasons.

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  3. @Lynn - Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback on the new cashmere. Please let us know what do you think after you’ve had a chance to wear it.

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    1. Thanks Lynn
      Even me a cashmere fanatic does not want the jumpsuit! I am looking at legging and the tank top which is already sold out in Xs.
      But I have few things on the way…. And have plenty of fall things ! Plus I am not ready for cold weather,,,,, lol

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  5. Honestly liking the BR new arrivals today more than J.Crew's...too bad, wanted to see some fun colors and prints!

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    1. I just checked banana. What stood out most to me besides the colorful wide leg wool pants and matching blazer was the styling. I don’t love the filter/lighting, but the layering of pieces, the use of belts etc makes the outfits look much more put together and in a way reminds me of jcrew of ten or so years ago. Now I don’t see myself wearing stiletto heeled boots anytime soon, nor do I think I need a bright red pant suit, but I appreciate the style.

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    2. BR has gone with Indiana Jones?

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    3. I was thinking that too… 😆 they ran with that. Maybe they think after the past year and a half everyone wants to go on an adventure.

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    4. I also noticed and appreciated the styling! Even if some of that stuff was not my taste, they made an effort and I'm all for that!

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    5. @rachel thanks for the tip on Banana Republic. Like a mirage, I actually think I saw some full length wool trousers with a lining, in something other than black, gray or navy. I better order a pair before they disappear.

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    6. Mary G I think they are all wool, red, aqua and yellow!

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    7. Actually the color I thought was aqua earlier looks more teal and is called spruce. If anyone buys these pants report back.
      The last thing I need in my life is a red pantsuit but it’s classic and my color. If it is nice quality might be worth purchasing for events that we will surely have at some point.

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    8. I had to look at BR after reading your comments. Yes, that wool pantsuit is very appealing. The description on the blazer says "princess seams," which gave me a surge of excitement after looking at all of J.Crew's "relaxed" ("drapey," over-sized," etc.) items. I don't have a red blazer...uh oh....

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    9. I think it’s backordered until November but if I go to the mall I will check.

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  6. I have identified the anonymous designer Their career began at the Sears Roebuck catalog long, long ago, where they specialized in snapfront housedresses and backlesses, for the overworked women of subsistence farmers and moonshiners.

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    1. HAHAHA, yes! those shapeless dresses were also sold at Kmart.

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    2. Ooopps, that was backless slippers

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  7. Dissenting voice here 😉 This roll-out is better than the previous roll-outs. I even found a few things I like. Though of course it’s not the J.Crew from a couple of years ago….

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    1. Hi @pbanos, I have the half-zip sweater in my wishlist (Sezane has a half-zip sweater as well, so might order both and see which I like best), the double breasted blazer in corduroy) and the coat in a check pattern. Anything in your wishlist?

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    2. The cashmere version? The shawl collar is different, but how far can you zip it? What color do you like in the blazer and would you wear it as a coat?

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    3. @pbanos Half-zip sweater BB639 is the one I’m looking at. Waiting for some reviews as I’m looking for a medium weight sweater, don’t want it to be too heavy. In the blazer I love the ivory color and I would definitely wear it as a coat, in fall and spring.

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    4. Ivory would be a great choice, I bet you could add a warm shawl/scarf and extend the season a little more.

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  8. FYI regarding cashmere: Lands’ End has some basic cashmere cardigans on clearance for $49 and other cashmere sweaters as low as $25. Their cashmere is decent quality, too, especially for that price. I bought a couple of the cardigans last Christmas and I’m happy with them.

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    1. Thanks Jeanne, the prices are quite good. I've forbidden myself to buy even one more sweater, but I looked anyway!

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  9. Remember when I had a sneak peak at Jcrew holiday this summer my friends? Jewel colors and rich tones are on the way!

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  10. I won’t repeat all the wise points about the new arrivals but agree with you all on all accounts!

    What is a complete mystery is why the colors are so awful. Yes re: “cat food.” I mean, if J Crew has ANY competitive advantage remaining, it would be beautiful colors and prints. And isn’t fall a complete no-brainer in terms of rich, lovely, autumnal colors? Maybe next rollout.

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    1. Most of the colors would make me look ill. That putrid pink? 🤢

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  11. I finally had a chance to look at the new arrivals and I like the heather blue color of the cashmere jumpsuit. Wouldn't wear the jumpsuit, but I would like to see that color in a blazer and/or pants. I also like the collared merino wool dress; I saw the grey in store and will try the begonia. I also like the cashmere ribbed leggings and Thomas Mason tunic dress. Dress can be worn alone or layered with leather leggings. I'm going to order the cashmere leggings to see how they pair with a Fil de Vie cashmere leather trim caftan that I ordered for fall. I also could see wearing the cashmere leggings with a leather tunic or long cashmere cardigan. I saw the blazers in store and agree the fabric looks cheap. I also like the Dalton Top Coat; I don't wear coats enough, so not a likely purchase. But I like it a lot.

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  12. @Mygoddy, thanks Tara for posting. Always appreciate your details. If here’s anyone that can pull off the caftan look it’s you! I posted earlier about a suit outfit Maggy Gyllenhaal wore at the Venice Film Festival in Navy. I saw full images and I’m not fond of the look on her especially with the sandals. I really love the quirkiness of the blazer, being a little taller I believe it would have worked well. He pink interior is so pretty. Wish Jcrew would do something quirky. I considered purchasing it until I discovered the price which is a little too high. Schiaparelli. It’s all but sold out as well. Hope you’re having a great time.

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    1. Thanks Lynn! I'm hoping the look will work. I had a very good trip (home now). It was first time and I will plan to visit again. Hope that you're doing well.

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  13. Sorry for the typos. Will add I don’t like the pants at all.

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    1. I went and googled when you posted. Something about the proportions was off to me, though it could have been the angle and the flat sandals didn’t help. I thought maybe without the oversized jacket, with just a fitted vest with the wide leg pants it would be better.

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    2. @Suz, you’re right. I think it was a bad shot and didn’t flatter her especially with the sandals. Perhaps someone over here who’s bored purchased one in my size and will return it or word will get around and she’ll sell it for nearly nothing. Bored people here have a habit of doing things like this. Those buttons really got to me🤣 agree too about the pants with something fitted as you stated. I hate the pants though, I don’t need a parachute 🪂

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    3. Thanks for sharing the Gyllenhaal look. I actually like the monochromatic look; I'm a fan of an oversized wide leg for "dress up," and I think the overall feel is simple but still stylish. I would've preferred a pointy toe heel to help with the proportions, but can also understand why she chose a sandal. The details on the jacket are lovely.

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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! :)