Tuesday, July 16, 2013

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! :)

35 comments:

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  2. There were new cuts online yesterday, 7/15. Check them out at the top of the Irl Pic Guide.

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  3. Review of the roller girl shorts here.

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  4. Can anyone tell me if the Linen Eyelet Blouse in white is sheer? Does it need a cami underneath? I'm contemplating it, but not if I have to put a cami underneath. Also, does anyone know if it's cheaper in store? TIA!!

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    1. Cami not needed underneath. Its lovely. I have the top in all three colors! 32D with large upper arms and I have size 6. My regular size is an 8. I purchased online with a 30% off.

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    2. Also washes well. Not too much shrinkage, even with putting in the dryer on low/damp dry. You could wear without ironing but looks more polished with ironing.

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    3. Thanks! I've tried it on in store and really liked it. I thought I remembered it wasn't sheer but wanted to double check before I dove in on FS b/c I tried it on in one of the other colors.

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  5. Reposting this here, I had it in the wrong place...

    Not sale items, but received the Geometric Eyelet top in Heather Pewter (#03334) and the Silk Blouse in Parisian Blue (#02879). After I ordered the Geometric Eyelet top, I realized it was a mistake. The cutwork is beautiful and I love the color, but it really is cut right out. You have to wear something under it, and I don't like to layer. Too bad, but maybe I will try the printed navy version. The hem is slightly shirt-tail. Back button at the neckline. It fit me a bit too tight in my regular size. There is no stretch or give in the fabric. Really cute if you can layer it.

    The Silk Blouse is beautiful in the Parisian Blue color. It has a sheen to it, but I kind of liked that. Covered front placket. I think it is more fitted than the Blythe silk blouse, like someone said. I may return it because I don't like to pay full price, but if I do, I will re-buy it again as soon as I find a sale or promo on it. Really pretty color.

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    1. Thanks for the review, Cate. That was one of the items that really peeked my interest. I'm glad to hear that it is more fitted and I already knew I liked those pockets better.

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    2. Let me know if you try it. I'm interested in whether the alabaster color is sheer or not, if anyone tries that color. I am pretty sure my store won't get these.

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  6. I haven't purchased much from J. Crew lately. The only two things I purchased are the skinny utility chino in rustic olive (now backordered in several sizes until mid-Nov!). I love these pants. They fit TTS to slightly big (I took my smaller of two sizes, but they are a slim fit and I wanted them to be a slim fit.) I know I'll get a lot of use out of these. The pockets are placed well and they are flattering. Surprisingly, the length was perfect on me and I'm 5'2". No bunching at the ankles. The only gripe is the back pockets are flap pockets with a button. I don't love the way flap pockets look.

    Another purchase was the banana botanical tank. This was an accident! I ran into the store to do a quick look around and it caught my eye (nothing else did!). The print is adorable and fun and I like that its a tank, not a tee. Its not sheer, either. No need for a tank underneath (unlike the also adorable golden pineapple tee that definitely needs a cami or a tank). It was $31.50 with the 30% off tee promo that is currently running in stores.

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    1. I love the Skinny Utility Chino -- maybe I got an odd pair. I usually wear 4 or 6 in JCrew pants and the 8 was what I took in these. I could get the 4 on. The 6 looked painted on. The 8 was nice and skinny but not too tight like the 6.

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  7. Lots of love for the Midrise Toothpick Jean in white. If you have no hips, no waist, and no butt like me, these are your jeans. I took a 28 and the waistband is loose, but the hip/butt area is tight enough that they don't sag. I've found that the regular toothpick jeans stretch and bag like crazy after an hour, but I wore the midrise all day and didn't have that problem. Planning to pick up another pair for fall...I really hope that the Dolphin Grey color is re-stocked in my size soon.

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  8. The featherweight cotton vneck sweater is very sheer in black-as in, can fully see a nude bra through it-sheer. So disappointed- needed a basic black sweater. It's also short and fitted, but cut in a flattering way.

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  9. What are everyone's thoughts on the Nolita denim jacket in indigo? I've been waiting for it to go on sale and it just hasn't...I'm considering paying full price which I rarely do. Is it worth it? And how is the fit? I'm a little worried about it being too cropped.

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    1. Erika - Review of the Nolita in indigo in this post. I like the Nolita a lot. I bought & returned it twice, actually. In the end decided on a jacket from ON. My ON jacket has a little stretch. The Nolita has none. Also, the allover dark denim of my ON jacket lookes better with what I want to wear it with.

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    2. ps. I also tried it on here with a skirt. I'm not wearing a sweatshirt in these pics, so you get a better idea of fit.

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    3. Erika: I really like the Nolita denim jacket. I don't really like cropped jackets, but my amazing VPS paired it with a longer short-sleeve popover, and I love it!

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    4. I'm not sure what color mine is, but I love mine!! Highly recommend, but only b/c I got it at about half off -caught it on promo + 40 off a few months back.

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  10. Wanted to review the Skinny Utility Chino that I received last week. While I liked the color, construction and material, the overall fit on me was not good. I knew the length would be long on me since it's regular size and not petite. It just didn't hug my legs the way I expected 'Skinny' pants would do.
    These pants ran big-on me at least...and I'm no Olive Oyl... :-P

    It's definitely not made for petite girls (I'm 4'11- and I usually wear Cafe Capris in size 0 regular or 2P.)

    I had high hopes for these pants ...Oh well, back it goes.

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    1. That's so interesting because I really loved these pants and one of the things I loved was the slim fit. As I noted above, I went with the smaller of my two sizes, but I love the way they hug my legs. In fact, I have another pair of the same style in another brand and I like these so much better because they are a true slim fit. As far as the length, I'm slightly taller (although far from tall) than you are, but the length was perfect on me. I'd imagine that at 4'11", you have to tailor most of your pants.

      I would definitely size down if you can to achieve that true slim fit. I loved the thick material and the color.

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    2. Blakemdjohns - I don't think they offer it in 00? Even if they did, the proportions of these pants on me in a size 00, still wouldn't hug my legs.
      I think they just ran big. You even noted that you had to size down yourself from your original pant size.

      I totally envisioned all these fabulous casual outfits I wanted to wear with these pants. :) Can't have it all..hehe..

      Yea, that's why I am a Cafe Capri lover. I don't have to pay to get it hemmed since the length is always perfect on me. :D

      Let's hope fall has some cool pant options...Cannot wait...

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  11. Thumbs up on both the stripe silk popover in navy & the compilation bracelet ($89.99 online v $79.99 in-store). Reviewed in this post.

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  12. In case it was missed, I posted an outfit pic with the Lillian Suede wedges on my blog here. They are great sandals, so comfortable and I love the wide black ankle strap with gold buckle. As others have commented, they run slightly large: I got a size 7, which is a half size smaller than my usual size. I also have the Panama hat in white - I got this during the 30% off promo last month, making it a really good value. Really fantastic hat, especially in the super hot, humid weather we have been getting in Toronto.

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  13. Just received the scalloped linen jacket and the linen skirt in the mail. Love them both! I'm not typically a suit person at all, but found myself in need of one for work. I haven't seen any reviews of them online, but if you're in need of a young, fun, summer suit, this definitely fits the bill. Both items (81918 and 81850) are currently on sale, bringing the total to around $175 for the pair.

    One thing to note is that the piping is navy, not black. It doesn't say in the description, and I had just assumed black. The linen is a nice weight and the flax color will transition well into fall. The length on the skirt in the photo is pretty accurate, perhaps a little shorter in real life. It definitely falls above the knee, but it's not a mini-skirt.

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  14. Collection Shadow Floral dress (item #88125). I bought this from sale section plus 40% off. Still pricey, but thought I'd try it since at that time it wasn't final sale. Got my normal dress size. It's a beautiful fabric, a wool/silk blend. I wish they'd do more like this. Lining is viscose/polyester. And the colors are pretty true to what's shown on the web site. The sleeves are very much a cap sleeve, which you can mostly tell from the picture. I returned it because of the length. It is waaaay too short. It doesn't just look short on the model because she's really tall, it is that short on 5'4" me.

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  15. Just posted reviews of the Cashmere Anchor Sweater (stripe with red anchor) and the silver Tabbie T-Straps here -- I really like them both! Fit was TTS on both of them for me.

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  16. Lightweight Washed Chambray pants (Item #88467). These are darker than they appear on the web site, which I think is a good thing. They're 100% tencel, and the tag says machine wash, tumble dry low. I haven't washed them yet so can't comment, but if you have them, how did they wash up and could you really tumble dry? These pants are incredibly soft and comfortable and I didn't want to take them off after trying them on. I gambled with final sale on them in my expected size (bought Medium and I'm a 6 in cafe capris and an 8 in most other J. Crew pants). They are roomy on me but I like them that way. I love the length, which is about the same length as cafe capris, but I rolled them a couple of times like the model has done in the picture online and they roll up nicely too. There are patch pockets in back and side pockets on the seam. Elastic and drawstring at the waist. A happy final sale surprise.

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  17. Ran in to my local B&M, after checking out the Nordstrom anniversary early access, and to my surprise, did pick up a few things (nothing new) at fabulous prices:

    * ratti electric kiwi print tunic was $40, less 40% -- $24! This was the steal of the day. As someone mentioned, this fits like the Jules, short, somewhat boxy, but cute and easy to move in, in breathable cotton.

    * Hawaiian sunset carrie dress was $80, less 40%. Same price as online, except 40% off instead of 30%. This runs large. I am generally a 2 in tanks (4 in dresses with sleeves) and since there were no 2s in the store, I tried a 0 and a 4. 4 was very loose all over. 0 fit perfectly. If there had been a 2, I would have taken it, as I am not a perfectly-fitted type, but I got the 0 anyway, to match my daughter's

    * Hawaiian sunset shift dress, $35 less 40%. Friday is her 8th birthday party, and as long as she wants to, I will happily match with her...

    * cropped matchstick white denim was marked down to $40, less 40%! Another steal. I always size up in white denim -- I am a dependable 26, and the 27 fit perfectly.

    * scout chino in midnight (I would say this is a charcoal, not a navy), $20 less 40%. I love the scout fit, which so far has been pretty consistent in all its iterations.

    All in all, if you aren't sick of the sale selection, it's definitely worth a trip to a B&M...

    (As an aside -- the reason I went to Nordstrom was to get some strapless bras -- as it turned out, there were none on sale, but I found this one, which is so much comfortable than the standard underwire, push-up, padded bras:

    http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/wacoal-halo-65449-strapless-convertible-underwire-bra/2812733?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=Toast&resultback=2972&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-searchresults-_-1_9_A

    And, a surprise happy find were the Spanx bras, a few of which on sale during the anniversary sale. These are without a doubt, the most comfortable bras I have EVER tried!)

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  18. Review of the maritime blazer in placed stripe & 4" chino shorts in this post.

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  19. Brompton Straw Hobo (item # 70998). I love it and the price was excellent, however it's kind of a heavy bag and the turn-clasp closure keeps opening up at times. Anyone else have this happen or did I get one with a problem? I still love it but I'm getting used to carrying something bigger than my usual small cross-body bag.

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    1. Hi Cate. I have the Brompton bag from last season in the safari print. I think it has the same clasp as the straw hobo this year and mine keeps opening up too. definitely irritating as it is otherwise a great bag. I think it is a design flaws as the clasp does not seem to have any "tension" to hold it in place if that makes any sense.

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  20. Check out the updated Irl Pic Guide - Sale. The in-store prices are noted if they're different.

    If you want a shorter comparison list, check out the In-Store Price Guide.

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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! :)