Lust With Us Over Lulu Frost's Latest Line For J.Crew
By Willow Lindley
April 18, 2013
Is there anything better than two of your favorite fashion brands teaming up? We think not. We can't help but get awfully excited every time J.Crew and Lulu Frost release their collaborative collection every season, and their latest line for summer '13 is really a knockout.
These bright metal baubles range from $98 to $278 and are available at J.Crew on May 20. Peep the pieces that will bring out your inner Jenna, sans the specs, below.
"Thanks!" to Cousy (in this post) who pointed out an interesting addition to J.Crew's Jewelry Collection: the Lulu Frost for J.Crew tangerine resin petal necklace (item 25490; $278.00).You know how there are J Crew items that aren’t your style but you can see how other people might like them? I call that Not My Thing, or NMT for short. ...LOL! Oh yes, this necklace is hideous. The definition says "showstopping" and that it does. That it does.
But every once and again there’s an extraordinary item that defies taste, reason and the laws of nature. Judgments about these items aren’t subjective, but objective: their hideousness is fact, not opinion. These items join the Pantheon of Ultimate Ugliness (PUU, pronounced “pee-you”). To qualify for PUU status, it has to be universally unfathomable that the item was designed, approved, manufactured, wholesaled, priced and offered to the masses. Indeed, it must boggle the mind that dozens of experienced people signed off on it.
It is our sad obligation to acknowledge another entry into the PUU: the Lulu Frost for J Crew Tangerine Resin Petal necklace. Please – before you click on the link, make sure your children are in bed and your pets are secured.
...I am a deep believer in the Almighty, but one look at this necklace caused me to fall to my knees and plead WHY??? WHY???
And then it dawned on me. This $278 “pitch perfect mash-up” can unite the world. This necklace is so dreadful ... JCA’s, together we can draw the line, take a stand and right a wrong. J Crew, for the good of all mankind, please don’t sell this necklace! Do I hear an AMEN?
This looks like a craft project, where someone took the tin can full of remnants (from necklaces of yore,) and pieced them together. (How did J.Crew come up with "marigold" as its color?!) The individual pieces are quite lovely, but all together it looks ...complicated.
Congratulations J.Crew, you did it! You broke me and now I am obsessed with your Bubble Necklace (item 92687; $150.00). {sigh} Well played.
Next thing I know, I am getting all the colors being offered including my all-time favorite: white. (As an aside: I have worn the white version every other day and it is worth every penny of full retail price! I receive a compliment on the necklace each time I wear it.) Who knew the red Bubble Necklace would have been my gateway necklace?!?
The first image features the Bubble necklace (item 92687; $150.00) in Grass Green. {swoon} This shade is not yet available online.
The second image features a flower and pearl statement necklace. {Simply gorgeous!} Could not find this one online either.
A big "thanks!" to ajr (in this post), who spotted the following great offer...
"Thanks!" to many of you, including Marietta, who let us know about Madewell's latest email.
A big "thanks!" to Sandra, who not only let us know about a J.Crew item being spotted in the August 9-15 issue issue of Bloomberg Businessweek, but also scanned the images for us to view! (Click on the image to see it larger.)Classic pearls, reimagined in a spectacular statement piece. Hand-assembled acrylic pearls and hand-set Czech glass stones on a hand-assembled, hematite-plated brass chain-mail bib with hematite-plated steel chains. Signature spring clasp closure. Import. Length: 21 1/2".
There is something absolutely stunning about that necklace! Especially in the image of the article. It definitely would make any outfit shine! :)
What are your thoughts on the necklace featured? Do you like the style with all its shimmering stones? If so, please share! :)
"Thanks!" to many of you, including GigiOfCa (in this post), who let us know about J.Crew's most recent promotion.*Prices as marked. Offer excludes FENTON/FALLON™ and Miriam Haskell®. Offer cannot be redeemed for cash or applied to previous purchases. Offer valid on jcrew.com only through Monday, July 5, 2010, 11:59pm ET on Internet orders shipped via regular shipping (4 to 7 business days). Free shipping applies only to online orders of women's jewelry. Free ground shipping on women's jewelry is applied automatically at checkout. Offer not valid on phone orders.Love, love, love that they are offering free shipping too. Great bonus! Also, "thanks!" to Chrissy (in this post), who let us know that her local brick & mortar store is offering 20% off jewelry too. This probably means that other B&M stores are carrying the promotion as well. {yey!}
In the recent roll-out of new arrivals, one item stuck out as familiar: the Crystal Tides Necklace (Item 27989; $98.00). J.Crew describes it as: "Rather than the expected progression of small-to-large stones, this sparkly strand—a perfect pile-it-on piece—features a fresh arrangement of crystals in various sizes, randomly mixed for interest and texture."
"Thanks!" to many of you, including Rosa, Desert Flower, & Marietta, who shared the following email.
For my personal style, they are both over the top. Unfortunately, I do not think I could get enough wear out of them to justify their prices. Instead, the necklace I absolutely adore from the new roll-out is the Troca Shell Strand (Item 29072; $50.00). Clearly I am not the only one, because this necklace is already wait-listed! :)
"Thanks!" to many of you, including Marietta, Desert Flower, & xoxo, who shared the following email from J.Crew this morning.
"Thanks!" to many of you, including Rosa In DC & Marietta, who shared with us the latest email from J.Crew to its card members.Dark silver ox-plated brass with Swarovski crystals. Signature spring clasp closure. Part of the J.Crew Collection.This necklace is actually very similar to the necklace Jenna Lyons had on the Martha Stewart show last Winter (refer to the November 25th "J.Crew's Jenna Lyons to Appear with Martha Stewart {yes, that Martha Stewart!}" post). The necklace she wore on the segment was still in pre-production. Maybe they named it after Ms. Martha Stewart herself! :)
On a related note, I purchased both the Crystal Colletto Necklace (Item 25976; $118.00, in stores for $59.99) and the Small Crystal Colletto Bracelet (Item 26089; $70.00, in stores for $39.99) in Black recently. This necklace is very similar to the one featured in this email. I have to say I love love love them! This set looks so chic and can work with any outfit. I definitely would recommend it.
A big "thanks!" to Marietta, as well as Silver_Lining (in this post), who let us know about another offer from J.Crew: free shipping (no minimum!) on all jewelry items (no code needed). To shop their jewelry online, click here. I should also add, that this promotion automatically applies to both full-priced *and* sale priced jewelry. {wahoo!} This offer expires 2/28/10.Wow! I have to agree with the author that the two necklaces share a striking resemblance. However, I won't be getting either version. ;) I witness the ginormous size of the necklace in-person at my local store recently. Too much, way too much. (For a real life image, refer to HeidiG's "The DC JCAs Go Legal" post where the necklace is actually beautifully worn by DinaGideon. However, the necklace is still too big for my liking. )Adventures in Copyright: J.Crew Loves Flutter, Too Much
By Britt Aboutaleb
February 25, 2010
In the spring of 2009, Jill Golden wrapped crystals in mesh chains to make necklaces for her new line, Flutter. She used clear stones in pink, purple, and turquoise, and chains in gunmetal, silver, rose gold and gold. They cost about $350.
Considering how far in advance J.Crew plans their collections, it was probably just a few months later that their jewelry team whipped up this identical piece, with its matching bracelet.
We know New York based indie-designers are on J.Crew’s radar. They’ve just collaborated with Fenton-Fallon and have other partnerships planned for the future–so if they’re fans of Golden’s work, the least they could’ve done is invite in her in for a chat. Instead, they’ve just re-made her design for spring and charged about half the price.
Lastly, the email also reminds us that J.Crew is partnering with the "Fashion for Haiti" campaign to support the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Customers can now buy online the Fashion for Haiti Tee (Item 30123; $25.00). According to the website:A little tee with a big conscience: 100 percent of the profits from the sale of this limited-edition T-shirt will be donated by the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, which is raising funds for immediate, high-impact relief and long-term recovery efforts to help those in Haiti who are most in need of assistance. For more information, visit cfda.com.Will you be taking advantage of this latest promotion? Are there any pieces of jewelry that interest you? If so, please share! :) Do you think the J.Crew necklace shares any resemblance to the Flutter version?
"Thanks!" to many of you, including HeidiG, Rosa In DC, Marietta, Twiga, Cass, & Alisa, who shared with us the latest email from J.Crew to its card members.A bold statement piece, assembled completely by hand with oversize stones (we love the contrast of their heft with the beautiful luminosity of the faceted glass). Equally at home peeking from beneath a button-down shirt or grazing the neckline of a favorite dress, it's the one you'll wear again and again—and again. Round glass stones on a hematite-plated (gunmetal) or copper-and-gold-plated (copper) brass-and-steel chain. Signature spring clasp closure with connector ring.
Frankly, I am not sure if I like this necklace or not. The round glass stones (in both shades) are lovely. However, I am not sure what to make of the stones surrounded by cheap-looking chain. And the size factor... dayum! Is it just me, or does it look huge on the mannequin?
"Thanks!" to Marietta who shared the latest email Madewell (click here) sent yesterday. |  |
As usual, the necklaces are presented in such a way that they look absolutely stunning. However, I am curious about how they will actually appear in-person (in particular, on me). ;) Would they lay as nicely? Would the bows get in the way? Are the chains too much? Is it too big?A Girl's Dream: J.Crew + Fenton / Fallon
By Mrs. O
December 22, 2009
When the first lady appeared on the December cover of Glamour magazine, wearing a red Jason Wu dress and a statement necklace adorned with jewels and bows, we were all intrigued by the same question: who made that gorgeous necklace? The answer proved to be designer Dana Lorenz for her line Fenton. The designer was as delighted to see her necklace on the first lady as we were, unaware that it had made its way into Mrs. O's jewelry collection.
Behind the scenes, Jenna Lyons of J.Crew and Dana Lorenz had met at a dinner party a few months before. A great fan of the Fenton and Fallon lines, Jenna Lyons made plans to meet at Dana Lorenz's new store in downtown Manhattan’s Freeman Alley to discuss a possible collaboration. As they looked through the Fenton and Fallon look books, there was a necklace that caught Jenna Lyon's eye. J.Crew made plans to produce the necklace with slight modifications. It was a fortuitous, though unexpected, twist, when just three days after plans for the collaboration were set, the first lady wore the same Fenton necklace on the cover of Glamour. Though on track to release the necklace for Spring 2010, J.Crew decided to push production forward after seeing the response that the necklace received (in part, by comments from many of you!).
The Carrington crystal bow necklace, designed by J.Crew in collaboration with Fenton / Fallon, features crystals and glass stones, silk ribbons dyed by hand (available in ivory or grey/green), and unplated chains. "There is a certain handwriting that J.Crew has, and Dana's pieces have a bit more edge," Jenna Lyons said. "Mixed with J.Crew clothes, there is a nice contrast." I asked Jenna how she might style the piece. "This is a statement necklace - no question," she replied. She recommends pairing the necklace with a classic jewel neck t-shirt, black blazer and jeans, or even a chambray shirt buttoned up to the top.
These pieces are the first look at what will be a continuing collaboration between J.Crew and Fenton / Fallon. The next pieces, set to debut in April, May and June, will feature the chains, studs and rock crystals that Dana Lorenz's work has become known for. Jenna Lyons said the gals at J.Crew are "madly obsessed" with the pieces. If these first necklaces are any indication, we will be too.
The Carrington crystal bow necklaces are available at J.Crew stores for $295. They'll be available online at JCrew.com beginning December 30. We'll follow up with a post when they are!
There is an article over at Market Watch (click here to read the article in its entirety) that mentions J.Crew and its success with their Jewelry Collection.Upscale jewelry shows surprising signs of lifeWhat are your thoughts on the article? Do you agree or disagree with any of the points made?
By Andria Cheng
December 18, 2009
It's considered among the most non-essential items that shoppers can do without, and yet it may turn out to be a winner this holiday season. As retailers across the board are still struggling to get consumers to spend beyond what they need, affluent consumers are giving a troubled sector -- jewelry -- a ray of hope.
Average jewelry spending by shoppers with minimum household incomes of $100,000 jumped 31%, to $4,813, in the third quarter from a year earlier, compared against declines of more than 30% each for clothing and for fashion accessories including shoes and handbags, according to Pam Danziger, president of Unity Marketing. The consultancy surveyed 1,000 luxury shoppers.
...On the one hand, jewelry shops that are more upscale are seeing fewer customers, he said. But those shoppers are spending more as they wanted fewer gifts they are buying to be "special."
...Customers "are looking to be charmed," said Judy Collinson, an executive vice president and women's general manager at Barneys. "They want fine quality. They want things that are beautiful and have meaning and humor."
..."Luxury fine jewelry purchases that weren't made earlier this year were made again," said Saks Chief Executive Steve Sadove in an interview. "Luxury consumers are starting to feel a little better."
Retailers operating in non-traditional channels have also seen strength in jewelry.
Hautelook, an online retailer of designer labels through limited-time sales events, said growth in its jewelry and watch category compared to earlier this year is outpacing the company average.
HSN Inc., formerly known as Home Shopping Network, said third-quarter jewelry unit growth is up 13%, including a 30% increase each in silver pieces and fashion jewelry."To get a great ring or necklace that updates your outfit is something that our customer is treating herself," said HSN CEO Mindy Grossman in an interview, adding the television and online shopping network has added more exclusive designer collections. "We are encouraged in the momentum of jewelry."
Upscale specialty retailer J.Crew Group Inc. said jewelry has also been a "growing category" as it has expanded its jewelry collection from necklaces and chunky bracelets to semi-precious stones and cocktail rings.
J.Crew earlier this year opened an accessories room in its SoHo store in New York, which the company said has become a destination of its own.
"It's a great conversation piece," said spokeswoman Margot Fooshee. "It's a really nice way to add something to your outfit." ...
"Thanks!" to many of you who shared the email Madewell sent yesterday.
