J.Crew Mini-Blooper: Cashmere Open Cardigan {sample that!}

"Thanks!" to Caroline (in this post) who found a special message in the Cashmere Open Cardigan (item 32987; $198.00).

On the inside of both the Heather Tide and Henna versions, one can find the words "SAMPLE" in magic marker.

This is pretty funny. Too bad it is not the first time J.Crew has been caught using sample items for its website. Oh J.Crew!

Did you notice that the cardigan had the sample marking on the inside? Did you get this cardigan? If so, notice any markings? ;)

J.Crew Promotes New Trend {hairy legs... ha!}

"Thanks!" to so many of you, including JCrewSS, Azra, as well as Mia & ajc (in this post), who shared the following {hysterical} news from Gawker (click here for original article).

J.Crew and the Case of the Hairy Legs
By Maureen O'Connor
October 15, 2010

Preppy clothing enthusiasts recoiled today when J.Crew put a model with hippie-hairy legs on its website. Has J.Crew found its "inner feminist"? Is a disgruntled web designer playing pranks? We reveal the startling truth, after the jump.

None of the above: Turns out these tights replicate the exact texture and appearance of super-hairy legs. These will either become J.Crew's poorest-selling item, or best-selling— Halloween is coming, after all. Maybe they could market it as a sexy Chewbacca accessory?

So it turns out that the new "look" featured on the image found on the Women's Shoes page (click here) was from wearing J.Crew's Lace Tights (Item 31350; $22.50) in Fawn. (The image is found on the top of this post.) This story has definitely traveled the web, including a spot on Perez Hilton's Coco Perez (click here) & the Huffington Post (click here).

Well J.Crew must have figured it out because they changed the photo for Women's Shoes (where this all started) to showcase the tights in Black. Smart move J.Crew, smart move. But alas, it's too late. ;)

What are your thoughts on the tights? Did you think the hosiery made the model look like she had not shaved in a year? ;)

J.Crew Mini-Blooper: Sunshine Peony Pencil Skirt {paper doll edition}

Once in awhile, J.Crew will have a minor glitch with the images used in their website, catalog, or promotions that makes us smile. The following is one of those instances...

Honestly, who doesn't love the Sunshine Peony print? I love all its versions— from the Sunshine Peony Cardigan (Item 24938; $98.00), to the Sunshine Peony Coccinelle Dress (Item 24947; $138.00), to the Sunshine Peony Perfect Shirt (Item 22768; $98.00), and even the Sunshine Peony Skirt (Item 22591; $98.00). Now, about that skirt...

A big "thanks!" to Danielle, Linnette, as well as Leader Girl, PinkLuxe, Sheil, Silver_Lining, Christy, DaniBP, StuffIWear, Heidi, AppGal, & Kendra (in this post), who pointed out the mini-blooper with the Sunshine Peony Pencil Skirt photo. From the catalog image (shown above), it is clear that J.Crew "cut out" a pencil skirt-shape from the lovely Sunshine Peony print and pasted it onto the model.

"Kudos!" to Silver_Lining (in this post) who figured out that the original skirt in the photo was most-likely the Neapolitan Pencil Skirt (Item 22982; $98.00). As she pointed out, the outfit is exactly the same (minus the skirt of course). ;)

Heidi (in this post) provided the most reasonable explanation of what might have occurred: "they may have photoshopped it in because they didn't have the sample finished in time for the shoot with the model".

Lastly, "thanks!" to GigiOfCa who provided a review & real-life images of this skirt over at her {amazing} Gigi's Gone Shopping blog (check out her "JCrew - sunshine peony pencil skirt" post). This print on the skirt looks beautiful in real life. (And GigiOfCa looks great in it!) Also, "thanks!" to FFM who has a few images of this print over at her Fabulous Floria Mommy blog that should be checked out too (refer to her "J.Crew New Arrivals: IRL Pics", "J.Crew New Arrivals: IRL Pics *Part Two*", & "J.Crew New Arrivals: IRL Pics *Part Three*" posts).

Did you notice the mistake with the Sunshine Peony Pencil Skirt image? Did you try on or purchase this skirt? If so, please share! ;)

What's Up w/ the Vintage Zebra-Stripe Trench?

Vintage Zebra-Stripe Trench
Click here for product page
Item 22365
Regular: $188.00

J.Crew describes this trench as the following:

All the true-to-tradition details of a classic trench, updated in a brushstroked zebra stripe (what can we say, we're animal lovers). The best part? The playfully tiered ruffles in back. Yup, this is the piece that will make you pray for rain. Cotton/poly/metallic threads. Long sleeves. On-seam pockets. Functional tabs at cuffs. Fully lined. Hits at hip.

The Vintage Zebra-Stripe Trench is no Snow-leopard Simone Peacoat (which I absolutely adore!) Instead, this trench makes me wonder if J.Crew is straying from the classic but chic appeal of their line by going to ruffle-overdrive. Apparently, I am not the only one...

A big "thanks!" to Tiffany Rose for suggesting this item for a "Questionable Item of the Week" post. At first glance, this jacket from the front view does not seem so bad. In many regards, it has a cute zebra print with a classic trench shape. However, from the back... there are a lot of ruffles goin' on. The tiers of ruffles on the back side are way too much. I love ruffles and I think J.Crew does a great job of incorporating ruffles in the past few seasons, but maybe they shouldn't stick ruffles onto every new arrival. ;)

Also, a big "thanks!" to Mack who took notice of this jacket for a different reason. She found a mini-blooper with the stock photos of this jacket. In particular, the image of the jacket on the model shows cuffs around the sleeves while the image on the mannequin does not. To emphasize this blooper, the cuffs disappear/ reappear when you zoom in and out from the image of the jacket (shown on the model).

What are your thoughts on this jacket? Do you like or dislike the style (e.g. ruffles) or print? Do you own this jacket? If so, please share your review (& let us know if it came with cuffs or not). :)

J.Crew Mini-Blooper: Sperry Boat Shoes

Every once in awhile, J.Crew's "people" (whoever they are) will miss something in the images used for their catalog and online images. Of course, our super sleuth JCAs don't miss a thing! :)

"Thanks!" to an anonymous JCA who found a special message inside the Sperry Top-Sider® Authentic Original Broken-In Boat Shoes (Item 13508; $98.00).

On the inside of the Vintage Navy shoes, one can find the words "Sample Not For Resale" in big white letters. Even the Dark Wood version has an "S" on the inside ...could it be for "Sample" too? ;)

Although this is minor ...and pretty funny, I find it a bit annoying when samples are used for stock photos on the website. Sometimes you order an item thinking it will look exactly like the image only to find something gone missing or wrong (refer to the "Floral Astrid Jacket: Not Exactly "As Shown"" post as an example). Oh J.Crew!

Did you notice that the shoes had the sample marking on the inside? Did you get these shoes? If so, notice any markings? ;)

J.Crew's Gunmetal Matelassé Skirt {don't like at my butt!}

Once in awhile, J.Crew's "people" (whoever they are) will miss something in the images used for their catalog and online images– from a safety pin (refer to the "J.Crew's Pinning Habit {c'mon now!}" post), to ironing out wrinkles, to moving around pockets (refer to the "J.Crew Mini-Bloopers: Tuileries & Frenchie Jacket" post), to much more.

"Thanks!" to Nina who found a tear in the backside of the Gunmetal Matelassé Skirt (Item 20034; $148.00). That is right, that tear is smack-dab in the middle of her ... {ahem} derrière.

I thought it was pretty funny to see where that tear was too. As a woman with a pear-shape, I am always trying to draw attention away from my bottom half (specifically my fanny). Well not with this skirt! This skirts screams, "I see London, I see France! ..." and "girl, that skirt is too small for you!"

Did you notice that the skirt had a tear on the back side? Did you get this skirt? If so, notice any tears? ;)

J.Crew's Pinning Habit {c'mon now!}

We all know that retail stores, catalogs, fashion magazines, and the like pin the crap out of clothes. Why? To get that ever elusive look that the item fits and drapes perfectly on the model, mannequin, whatever.

J.Crew is no stranger to pinning. Just step into any brick & mortar (B&M) store and find a mannequin. If you look at the backside, there will be at least a few pins holding back the waist of a jacket or two.

A big "thanks!" to Jen who spotted one odd place to find J.Crew pinning clothes! She noticed in one of the images of the Donegal Shawl Cardigan (Item 19247; $148.00) that J.Crew used a big old safety-pin to pin the cuff.

That's right, J.Crew actually pinned the end of the cardigan's sleeve! I don't know about you, but I am constantly worried about sweaters making my wrists look fat. It's one of my biggest issues with clothes. ;) (I heard of cankles, but what is the fat wrist version... wankles?) But seriously pinning the cuff is going a bit too far, I mean really now.

As far as pinning goes... I get the reasons why it's done. In some cases, I think it's fine to do (like for those high end fashion pictures where no one is meant to really buy the clothes). However, I hate it when it comes to retailers using those doctored clothes in their catalogs and e-commerce sites. I find that it's difficult to truly ascertain the items true drape and fit from the manipulated image. I remember purchasing an item from J.Crew several years ago thinking it was a fitted jacket from the image online. When I saw it in person it was actually a boxy shape (or should I write, shapeless). I kept thinking, "this is like false advertising ...jerks!"

I guess this is why I like having a 360 degree view of items– to better determine an item's shape and fit. For awhile, the Gap had videos of models walking and twirling around to showcase the fit of their pants. I loved it! It was so great to see how it "really" looked on a person. (I put "really" in quotes since models, as oppose to every day people, were used. But I will take it!.) :)

What are your thoughts on pinning? Is this something consumers should expect, no matter what the situation? Are there certain situations when pinning is not acceptable? :)

J.Crew Mini-Bloopers: Tuileries & Frenchie Jacket

Once in awhile, J.Crew will have a minor glitch with the images used in their website, catalog, or promotions that makes me smile (refer to this post).

"Thanks!" to Jeff who let us know about another "Photoshop snafu" over at J.Crew's website. The Cashmere Tuileries Jacket (Item 90849; $1,100.00, now $769.99) has two identical images in the "additional views" of the item page. What is interesting is that one image shows the jacket with a wrinkle on the left hand side, while the other shows the jacket sans-wrinkle.

P.S. Besides the wrinkle on the jacket, I totally missed noticing the price tag on that jacket... "Wowzer!" That is a super-expensive jacket. :)

"Thanks!" also to Anon at 7:29 PM (in this post) who let us know about the Photoshop snafu with the Frenchie slicker (Item 11293; $165.00). She states it best: "Check out the enlarged pics of the Frenchie trench. Zoom in on the view of the right side (second pic). Focus on the apparent besom pocket just below the belt. As you zoom in it is photoshopped out and then on-seam pockets appear. Zoom out and the besom pockets appear again. Same happens with the last pic but if you look at the first pic, the besom pockets are not photoshopped out when you zoom in." I didn't even notice that pocket switch up! (Good catch Anon at 7:29 PM!)

Did you notice these mistakes with the Tuileries Jacket & Frenchie Trench? Did you notice any other image bloopers recently? If so, please share! ;)

J.Crew Mini-Blooper: Chalk-Stripe University Pant

Every once in awhile, J.Crew will have a minor glitch with the images used in their promotions or on the website that makes me smile. It might be the missing hand (click here), the trimming of extra pant fabric (click here), or the words Yawah superimposed (click here). (We all make mistakes, it's no big deal- but it is a bit funny!) ;)
"Thanks!" to Claudia who shared with us that J.Crew has an upside-down image of the Favorite-fit chalk-stripe university pant (Item 97014; $148.00) on their website. I thought it was pretty funny to see the model upside-down. What is even funnier is that I did not even notice this until Claudia pointed it out! :)

Did you notice that the image was upside down on the website (prior to the post)? Did you notice any of the other image bloopers (e.g. the missing hand)? :)

J.Crew Website Images: What Is Yawah?!? :)

Many of you Aficionadas and Aficionados have pointed out that J.Crew's website has some images with words ("YAWAH.COM") scrawled on top of them and wondering what it is.

As Covert5 (in the post "J.Crew Aficionadas: Please Re-Read :)") mentioned, the Yawah.com logo is tied to Adobe software. Audrey (in the same post) clarified that Yawah is an imaging software and the "yawah.com" appearing on J.Crew's images is most likely a website glitch. Audrey also shared with us about Yawah (from itpro.co.uk): "Adobe said companies such as Amazon, Harrods, Littlewoods and Levis Strauss use the platform to manage their digital graphic assets and dynamically zoom, update or reformat them for the web, catalogue or marketing content more cost-effectively."

I thought for sure the super-imposed images would have been removed by now. Hopefully J.Crew will recognize this minor error and fix it soon. :)