I’m not actually sure if I’ve ever been in one of their stores. LOL! I see them but I know they are far above my price range so I don’t even bother going in. I have a lot of J. Crew clothes but they are all from thrift stores so I guess all I know is the older stuff. (Well, not OLDER. Some of the stuff was in stores a year ago and people donated it already.) But I hope that they will go back to the quality you know and love, Angie! I do love their style, even now, from what I’ve seen of them.

I worked for J.Crew for nearly two years, and I would have to say their approach seems to be “make nice stuff, but make it approachable luxury.” So yes and no, Angie (but mostly yes). I didn’t shop there before because it was WAY too expensive, but the catalogs and the stores feel more approachable now, though that may be because I did work there. I do miss my discount now!

I didn’t start shopping at JCrew until the Fall of 2008, but I notice a big decrease in quality even since then.
Like you Angie, I love the catalogs and dog ear almost every page. I can’t wait to go to the store to try it on. The last few times I’ve gone in and tried things, I’ve walked away empty handed. Oddities here and there, and the over all fit of things has changed for me.
The knit wear stretches far too much, and the jackets and dresses are less crisp than I’d expect. I do love browsing the accessories still (but would only purchase on clearance as I find them overpriced still), but I’ve definitely gravitated in other directions lately. I will check out their winter line since I was able to find two great dresses and a wool coat last time. But I won’t keep my hopes up.

I love JCrew. I would say that half of my wardrobe is JCrew. There are days when I leave the house wearing JCrew from top to bottom. What I love about them is the nicely made basics and their preppy style angle. I think the quality is still far better than at the other stores in comparable range. But you are completely right Angie, they have lowered their prices and with that the quality of their merchandise. Your concern about where the company is heading is also valid. Gap did experience a huge boom with Drexler at its helm, only to slump into a high-end Old Navy. They are trying to get things started again at the Gap. I think JCrew is safe as long as it holds to its stylistic vision and keeps things interesting with its Collection items. Also Crewcuts is a nice addition, and the clothes, although on the pricey side, are very durable.

I agree with you Angie, great marketing and visuals but I have almost always been disappointed in the quality for the full price items. I only buy items on sale there. The fit is also really off for rectangles in my opinion. I wonder if anyone else has had that experience. They still have great styles and very innovative combinations.

I am fairly new to Jcrew-love, and only thanks to Ebay. I had just not been able to afford their stuff off the rack in the stores or from the catalog(which I now get and drool over almost every page). I started buying their blazers second-hand on Ebay so mostly what I have is 1-3 years old, but I absolutely LOVE them. The quality is fantastic, the colors and patterns amazing.When I go into the stores now to check out current merchandise, I do think the jackets are not as well made. I have 1 pair of Jcrew tweed trousers from five yars ago and they are my very favorite pairs of pants.They wear incredibly well and drape like perfection. So I am not sure Angie.I own mostly older Jcrew stuff but I adore it(and it doesn’t look dated at all to me, still classic with a bit of a twist, which is what I like). Meanwhile I have not found much in their stores recently that I feel as strongly about, but then again I rarely make the splurge to buy it and do the time-test.

I’m not sure I’m really qualified to answer this, as I’ve never had an item from J. Crew! As far as I know they don’t have stores in Canada (certainly not where I grew up), so didn’t set foot in one of their shops until I was older. We used to get the catalogues though, and I would spend hours pouring over them. They do a wonderful job creating a mood each season- the catalogues are very inspiring!

These days I’ll usually step inside a J. Crew whenever I’m in NYC, and I’ve never been that impressed in person. The quality looks acceptable but not that great, and most of the items don’t really have the “pull” that I need to spend that kind of money. Also, they have horrible lighting in the fitting rooms- I tried on a skirt which was a gorgeous mustard-gold in the fitting room, but by the window it turned a horrible lime green!

I will say that I like what they’re doing in certain areas of their business. The introduction of the J. Crew bridal range a few years ago was sheer genius: affordable, modern dresses that don’t cost an arm and a leg. I worked in bridal (design and retail) for many years and this was truly a gap in the market that needed to be filled.

I was sort of saving the idea of shopping at J.Crew until I got to goal weight. Thing is? I’ve already bought some things at Banana Republic, and …well, I can’t really tell much of a difference between J. Crew and Banana Repbulic, except the prices.

Two or three years ago, I used to think, “I can’t wait to get to goal …I’m going to go to J.Crew and get myself some nicer clothes”. I don’t feel that way anymore. I mean, I might go and look, but it just doesn’t seem as much of a treat as it used to.

Meanwhile, ever since someone on the forum posted that link to the new Talbot’s fall lookbook – I’m now thinking of going there to look around once I get to goal.

p.s–I am on the hunt for a suit and have not tried theirs yet, but I will.Any input on their recent suits, esp the super 120’s wool? I saw a prior forum discussion touch on them but anyone got recent opinions?

Agreed – the catalogs are inspiring and fun, but in person, things aren’t all they seem to be from the catalogue. When I was younger, I had never even stepped into a J. Crew – my family could never afford it when I was still growing! Once I graduated from college I got suit separates, but only online at clearance. They have come down in price in the past six years, though. After working there I also am disappointed in many items. I’ve found a few things that fit like a dream and have quality to boot, like a thick wool pencil skirt or coat, but denim, knits, some wovens and accessories are usually a miss for me. Even when I had an employee discount there I steered towards the pricier items so I knew they would last.

I love and hate jcrew all at the same time. What I like about jcrew:

1. Fairly consistent sizes that work well on my body (very tall hourglass with hips and small bust). Most everything is very comfortable.
2. Lots of good colors for me (pale neutrals, and some punchier brights).
3. Lots of tailored pieces with cute details that I can wear casually or dress up. I wore a cashmere cardigan into the ground.
4. Traditional/vintagey bent of styles, but young feeling.
5. Great stylists on the catalogs.

What I don’t like about jcrew:

1. Sometimes crazy high prices.
2. Inconsistent quality, especially with tees and pants. The quality does seem to have gone down. I have a five-year old black skirt that I have worn forever, and it still looks great. I can’t imagine getting that same quality today, and have given up on skirts and pants with them and just stick to tops and sweaters.
3. Oh, and their website, it is at times horrible. Goes downs during sales and can be impossible to sort items.

I think you’re SPOT ON, Angie. I had the same feelings about J.Crew in years past, and even though their style wasn’t completely aligned with my own and their prices generally out of my range, I knew I could hit their sale racks for basics and that those pieces would outlast my Gap basics by years. But that is no longer the case.

Also agree that the catalogs are impeccably styled and provide endless inspiration for outfits, color pairings, and accessorization. But the actual merch doesn’t live up to the catalog hype.

I agree Angie! I have only been shopping there for the past two years, but even during that period noticed a decline in quality. I am staying away from their denim and cord bottoms after having both stretch horribly on me. I have some of their cashmere, which is OK< but not as nice as I would have expected.

If I buy something there, I usually wait for sale, and tend to go for woven tops and some sweaters. I do looove their catalogs but most of the stuff is disappointing when I get into the store.

Angie, I think I’m mostly with you on this one. I always find the catalogs to be absolutely gorgeous and am then disappointed by the what’s in store, particularly the fit and the quality of about 60% of the choices. However, I have to give a lot of credit to our local personal shopper who does a great job finding things I might like, putting outfits together to tempt me, and wearing her own funky jcrew ensembles. On my own, I’d buy a couple of things a season, but I don’t mind that either as that is what I’ve come to expect in building a wardrobe– one or two winners from each of a multitude of stores.

The positives I’ve seen from jcrew include their pencil skirts, jackets/coats when they fit properly, and their jewelry. I have a really hard time buying costume jewelry and theirs seems to hold up a million times better than say BR. I also think that JCrew is still pretty unique in their styling of outfits and featuring things that no one else does.

On another note, I actually haven’t always thought of JCrew as so upscale. When I was pregnant with my daughter in 2003, I avoided all non maternity fashion completely. After she was born, I remember coming back to the jcrew catalog and website and thinking how upscale they had gone, particularly on price. But more recently I do agree that the prices have come down or at least not proportionally gone up.

It’s funny- before I read your last line about the ex-Gap CEO, my thought was that the last time I was in J Crew, it seemed like an upscale, overpriced GAP to me. Now I know why!

I totally agree! Thank you for writing a post about this! The quality has dropped at many stores compared to 7-8 years ago. It is completely depressing not to be able to walk into a large name brand store and purchase a 40 dollar sweater that will last 5 years (this used to be possible, I have a few 8 year old sweaters from the GAP of fantastic quality still going strong). Most of my older clothes are of far better quality than what is on the shelves today: now, the fabrication is horrible (FAR too thin to be comfortable or durable), way to much synthetic in the mix, stitching is terrible, fit is not right on anyone, etc.

I used to be a dedicated shopper of a few stores: Victoria Secret for unmentionables, GAP for casual clothes, J. Crew and Anne Taylor for work clothes. Last year I gave up on ALL OF THEM, because I refuse to pay for crap. Now I have no idea where to buy quality clothes at that price range, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I am at a total loss.

For example, where can one buy a simple quality pair of cotton underwear, with thick cotton, strong thick elastic bands that are double stitched and stay in place (like Victoria Secret used to make – now they are terrible: thin as pantyhose, almost no elastic, fall apart in days)? I am clueless and have practically given up shopping.

Maybe it’s the closure of a lot of the cotton mills, or lack of oversight at overseas factories, but we should not be paying those prices for great advertising and terrible products.

Please let me know if anyone has a list of great stores to try!
Thank you

I don´t live in the US, so I was really excited to shop JCrew during this summer´s vacation since I had learned so much about that brand on YLF.
And, boy, was I disappointed!!! All I saw was poor quality at high prices. I´m ready to pay more for higher quality, but not for items that look boring and feel bad.

The quality has gone down and I have up years ago trying to find a top or a dress that didn’t give me a horrible body complex. They really only design for one body type (slim top, somewhat room in the hips. Have had 2 weddings where the bridesmaid dress was picked from the catalog – both needed to be drastically altered and fabric added to bust (bought a size 14 to wittle down to the bust of a 10 with the waist of an and it still wasn’t enough to adequately cover girly bits.

if you have a chest over a C cup their clothes make you look like a bulldog in a tutu.

evidently a size 8 looks like 8″

8#

I love, love, love J Crew. Love the look, color combinations, catalogues, etc. I have only purchased stuff from second hand stores, so when I finially bought something this winter from the website, I was so excited. I got a braclet and when I wore it for the first time, the paint chipped in several places. I was disappointed, to say the least. So, I may not purchase any more jewellery.

J Crew looks great online and in catalogs, but going to their store is one big YAWN. Funny, I used to despise Banana Republic because the clothes were so boring (and I refuse to wear Gap), but lately they’ve been stepping up their game, I think they’ve surpassed J Crew!

R Marie,

For work clothes, I would recommend going to dept. stores, whichever ones are around you, for Calvin Klein and BCBG. If you’re looking for a couple of pieces with an edge, check out bebe. I wouldn’t dress like a bebe model, but their work clothes are fun and well-made, and can work if layered right.

The only JCrew items I’ve owned have been thrifted, and when I finally went into a store last year I was shocked at the high prices for the quality. Of course, I liked the styles and colors, but I still wouldn’t pay those prices (which I’ve just learned are lower) for the quality. Then again, my budget is limited and I’ve been spoiled by terrific thrifting.

Angie, my husband would totally agree with you. He is a total preppy and used to buy all his casual clothes at J. Crew. But he has been completely unable to find anything he likes at J. Crew for the past few years. Not only is the quality not up to snuff, but he feels that the designers focus completely on women and have neglected their men’s line.

I was first introduced to Jcrew 15 years ago, around the time my DD#2 was born. I have shopped there ever since, but I don’t own a whole lot of their clothes, primarily due to fit issues and also because about 50% of their clothes are in colors that just do not flatter me.

The oldest item I own is a pair of khaki shorts, purchased 15 years ago on my first visit to the store. I reserve them for boating only, but they are still going strong. I also have a fair amount of cable knit T-necks in an array of colors, and they have held up rather well. My DD also has a handful of these sweaters, which have held up to her abuse (including washing in the machine, which you’re not supposed to do!). And a cardigan or two that still look as good as new, about 5 years old. My winter coat I bought last year seems very well made. And a couple of headscarves I wear to the beach and to run, which have been washed a zillion times – no fading.

However, I was very disappointed in the matchstick jeans (stretched out too much) and the cashmere sweaters.

Well, I don’t have any opinion on this for two reasons. One is that I’ve only heard of this store since YLF and only walked in once. The second reasons is that I’m on the very low end of middle class and cannot afford anything in their store. “Mainstream” fashion is out of my price range. I’ve also never seen their catalogues, so I can’t speak to that either.

I love J.Crew! I just went there and bought up a storm yesterday! I love their embroidered T-shirts and their cardis are too cute! I also bought a deconstructed pair of khakis to break my denim rut. I would buy more if it weren’t that expensive. I am glad that they have moved away from their uber-preppy look to a more funky mix-n-match look. I love it!

So interesting to hear the perspective of more recent shoppers! My experiences with J Crew was 20+ years ago, when they were upscale but much more preppy and traditional (like Lands End and LL Bean). I didn’t notice them again until a year ago when I found YLF, and I was shocked at how expensive and non-preppy they were now. But I haven’t really liked any of their clothes in the stores and online; it’s so rumpled and casual looking. Maybe I should get the catalog to appreciate them…

I’ve only been shopping at JCrew for that past 2-3 years, but I definitely love the colors and style of their clothing. I even bought my wedding dress from their bridal line for my beach wedding and the customer service was excellent (considering it was all done over the phone). I can’t compare the quality to prior years, but I can agree that I still find some of their items (particularly their accessories: shoes, jewelry and handbag) to be very expensive. For some of those insanely high prices ($400 handbags), I’d rather spend the money on a designer brand.

I’ve never been a fan of J. Crew products. I’ve really been loving their catalog the past few seasons. I’ve even cut out a few of the photos and put them on my inspiration wall in my closet. I’ve only ever purchased one item from there though: a blue striped summer jacket about 3 years ago.

I always thought their products were overpriced, and that I could get items of similar style and quality from stores like Express and the Gap for significantly less money. Plus, I always found sizes at J. Crew to run a little large, which meant the smallest available size was often just a tad too big.

I have never bought a thing from J Crew. My daughter showed me a catalogue when she was a teenager and I was horrified at the prices so I never looked again.
Since YLF I have been reintroduced to J Crew merchandise and my feeling about it now is that the colors are for people other than myself.
Their advertizing doesn’t do much for me. The models look like they have been computer enhanced to stretch them longer, so I can’t relate to them as normal women.

I actually like J. Crew better than I used to 10+ years ago. Back then, the clothes seemed overly preppy and boyish and they came in dull colors almost exclusively. I like the moves they’ve made toward brighter and more daring colors, feminine detailing, and bolder accessories. Quality seems hit or miss. I’ve owned some lasting pieces and some that were poorly constructed. I’m not a fan of their sizing however. The tailored clothes are cut too small in the bustline for me while the less tailored clothes often hang with unflattering bulk. I’m mostly a fan of their cardigans, bought on sale, and appreciate the pretty details they’ve started to add, like vintage-looking buttons.

There’s an outlet store in my neighborhood that sells a lot of J Crew seconds and overstock. You really get a feel for the quality of things when they’re as stressed as these items that have been pawed through, crammed into crowded spaces, and tried on many times. I think their wool gabardine jackets and pants hold up well under this treatment, but the sweaters and shirts and casual clothing look pretty shopworn and pilly.

Their clothing has never been cut for a curvy woman so it’s no great loss for me.

I recall my first J Crew catalog purchase in 1997, when I was in college. My roommate and I ordered a bunch of items that looked gorgeous in the catalog. All but maybe one fell short in reality. The sweaters pilled so easily. I have always loved the catalogs but often felt the quality fell short. So, I haven’t paid too much attention since and haven’t purchased from there since!

This is the first time I have come across a post that I really can’t relate to at all. Even at this so called “low” price point, I can’t afford anything there, and the quality is stellar as far as I’m concerned! The few things I have owned from there have held up well. I never had that problem with the Matchstick jeans stretching too much as others have. In fact I wish I had that problem because I intentionally sized down in them and they never grew, and I ended up with a pair of jeans that didn’t fit. So I guess it depends on your perspective. If you’re used to luxury, can afford it, and had the experience of shopping there before, you’ll probably be disappointed. For someone like me who shops at H&M, and only experienced the “good” (yet incredibly boring) J Crew as a child and preteen, I’m just fine with it. There IS a market for this store and its garments. It just isn’t the same one as before.

I am on my way over there in half an hour for a little on the ground research:).

Angie, Very interesting question and topic! I would definitely agree with your assessment that they were always a cut above the rest and there was a level of exclusiveness about the store. They definitely feel more like a Gap to me now. Let’s put it this way: I never even bothered to shop the store b/c I always knew it would be out of my price range. Now, I shop it frequently (not always buying) b/c they have a lot of sales and promotions.

Recently, I purchased the slub ruffled top that you also blogged about and mine developed a very small hole after one wash in the gentle cycle. I called and they agreed to exchange it for a new one but I was disappointed in the quality. Frankly, after one wash not only did it have this tiny hole but it did not look that great to me!

I think they have cute stuff but one has to be selective and some of their prices are ridiculous! But their catalogs are gorgeous!

I have been under the impression that their style director is a lady named Jenna…?

I love J Crew but they do have a ton of issues with fit and quality. I have shopped there since junior high and I remember them as being much more accessible than they are now. Also, they are trying to postion themselves as affordable luxury and those of us who have been with the brand long term are not entirely happy with some of their marketing and policies (such as the lack of discounts to loyal customers that have been flowing freely in the last few years and their final sale on many sale items).

They are my favorite resource for coats, jackets, pencil skirts and woven tops. I find that their perfect shirts consistently fit my small narrow upper body when no other brand does.

However, I think they have terrible cashmere and the tees fit badly and come apart easily. I also agree with the poster above who said they only fit one body type. I think the brand caters to tall, narrow and small busted and the pants and jeans never fit my curvy bottom half.

The styling in the catalogs keep me going back to the store, but I find I only like about 1/3 of what I selected in the catalog in reality. But I do find that everything I actually purchase and keep lasts a very long time and looks wonderful.

Well I do still love Jcrew, but I do agree with you on some points.

I think what I love the most is that they do try to keep their fabrics first rate. The cashmere is from an exclusive mill in Italy and their shoes are also made in Italy, I don’t buy their shoes…but I LOVE them above all others because they are so creative with color,fabric and design:) I love to just browse the jcrew shoes online.

I’m not sure I agree that JCrew was ever a cut above those other retailers you mention, but then again, I do agree about the general drop in quality from all mass retailers in terms of clothing. But, you also need to remember that we have outsourced the manufacturing overseas, and the cost benefits have been huge. Clothing is one of the few consumer goods that has dropped in cost in the past 40 years. Clothes used to be expensive, so much so that people had to sew their own — many of our grandmothers, I’m sure, did this.

It’s easy to complain about quality, but we reap what we sow (or sew …).

Hmmm, well, I have been shopping at J Crew since late highschool/early college (around 1990 when you used to have to call up and order from the catalog) so I have seen this brand’s ups and downs. Personally, I think J Crew has come a LONG way in its styling. Like Kristen said, it used to have a very preppy Eddie Bauer/Lands End/LL Bean sort of feel in a GAP like setup – mostly good quality casual basics – lots of plain tees, chinos, and cotton and wool sweaters (anyone remember the roll necks???). Definitely not where you would go for something unique or special. In fact, I think it was much more like the GAP way back when than it is now. I think Micky Drexler (and Jenna Lyons) has really done wonders for the brand and elevated it way beyond what it used it be style wise.

However, I do agree that the quality is not really up to snuff with its current pricing scheme. I have some J Crew items that are nearly 20 years old at this point and still in amazing condition (for example, a moss green fisherman’s sweater as well as a leather bomber jacket). My more recent purchases have not been so durable. My Jackie sweaters are thin and pill easily. One of the graphic tees purchased from earlier this year developed a hole after the very first time I washed it. I think J Crew was well on its way to becoming more mainstream before Michelle Obama but it has become much more so in the last few seasons. Personally, I think the brand sort of peaked in 2006/2007 in terms of style AND quality. I still love it and shop there frequently although I don’t think J Crew clothes fit my more mature (skinny juniors) body that well anymore.

Love the catalogs!!!!

oops, I mean NOT skinny juniors body…hehe

This is an interesting post to read for someone that spends every dime of their fashion dollars at J Crew. I would say 90% of my closet is J Crew. I agree with certain points people made regarding quality and fit issues. I have had plenty of first-hand experience with each area (outerwear, cashmere, denim, tees, shirts, silks, jewelry, shoes etc.) and things are hit-or-miss esp. with the quality which has no doubt declined in the last few years.

I do find it funny that many people have made comments about never buying from there yet have something negative to say esp. calling it another GAP. I adamantly disagree with that. GAP is so far behind J Crew in the style department and has only gotten worse since they brought on their new designer.

I have to laugh at comments made by “taylor” about their cashmere (which pills worse than most) and their shoes being made in Italy (yet do not have leather soles, leather lining, often fit horribly and are ridiculously priced). That’s their marketing talking right there and they do a good job with it:) They have her believing this but I know better. They offer gorgeous colors and beautiful, drool-worthy shoes but the quality is poor esp. for the $. They are a marketing genius but often their execution is lacking. The creative aspect along with colors and styling are what keep me coming back for more and I buy almost exclusively on sale (at least 20% off). I will splurge for the occasional fantastic piece such as the tweed jacket pictured in this post (which is exceptional quality) but almost never have to pay full price for the other items I yearn for.
The best way to try J Crew out is to hit their sales which have always been remarkable in the past. But keep in mind their dreaded final sale policy which bites. It is best to buy in store where you can try it on;)

Since I’m in Canada I don’t have many J. Crew clothes, as we don’t have their stores here. I have had a few pieces, but I find, like Greenglove, that they are NOT cut for rectangles (particularly tall ones) and I can rarely find anything that fits.

I like the quality of the basic tees I’ve had from there, but there have only been few and over a year ago.

On the other hand, I buy whatever Banana Republic I can afford. I find they are getting more and more interesting and I’ve never had a complaint about their quality. Gap is hit-and-miss, but I do like many of their casual basics, which really fit my lifestyle.

I’ve been a J. Crew fan and customer since 2004 when Drexler joined. It was high end before he joined and when he joined he brought in some great style, great fabrics, herringbone, tweed, cashmere jackets, very cute, very preppy and I bought as much as I could afford. I still have the catalogs. But the last two to three years has seen a slow slow decline in quality. I know because I have the old denim compared to the new, the old t-shirts compared to the new, you name it, the fabrics were more substantial, the detailing including rep tie under the collar, piping on the inside of the jacket was all there. If I’d known the quality would decline, I think I would have tried to buy more because I missed some really beautiful items. It’s too bad because from fall 2004 to maybe fall of 2007, they were really amazing, especially 2004, 2005 and 2006. If you get the jackets on eBay, you will see the details. But the catalogs are still great style guides.

What — 46 comments on J Crew and not one from Ana?

I do not like Jcrew at all: (1) I have not been happy with the quality of past purchases as said by others (stretchy fabrics not holding shape for tops and sweaters); (2) It sure is tough to visualize how the same clothes that look fantastic on a flat chested and minimally curvy person could work on a busty person like me; (3) I do not like the typical JCrew colors.

It’s just like EVERYTHING else these days— now it’s being Made in China. We need to STOP giving them our money on so many levels.

This is interesting! Like a few other posters, J. Crew and I go waaay back: I remember getting their catalog in the late ’80s when I was a college student. They were very mid- to low-priced, preppy, and Gap-like. Pretty boring stuff. Within the last 5 years or so, they seemed to become more upscale and quirky. I haven’t noticed any decline in quality, frankly. Last year, I purchased my winter coat from J. Crew (a deep cranberry wool and cashmere blend, with nice wide lapels and slim arms, approximately knee length, in a Tall size!). After wearing it almost daily for many months, it still looks brand new: the fabric, lining, and shape have held up beautifully. I also bought a pair of their riding boots last winter. They look great, are really comfortable (the leather is supple and soft), and have worn really well. I love the vintage-y, eccentric feel of a lot of their stuff (e.g., the mohair sweater they currently have, the way colors and high/low styles are combined in the catalog), their murky, unusual colors, and the fact that many items come in tall sizes.

Hmmm. J Crew has always been hit or miss for me. I have a few items I love (talll matchstick cords are a staple), but do find that often the store is a disappointment after the fab styling of the catalog. It’s almost always a letdown, and most stores have a limited selection. There are also some fundamental problems I generally have, which include:
1. Most (not all) skirts and blouses do not have any stretch, and this has almost become a must for me.
2. Too much wool and cashmere, which I cannot wear, vs. cotton.
3. Tissue thin tees, which simply are not flattering to anyone with even an ounce of fat on them.
4. I also think their prices are much too high for the quality.
But, again, their catalogs are divine, and they suck me in every time.

I can’t think of a single JCrew item in my wardrobe except shoes. They just don’t cut for a very curvy bust or larger sized 14.
I do like their accessories but I will see them online or in catalog and fall in love – then head to a store and brick and morter never seems to have the same items.

There is a shop in Berkeley/SF called Jeremy’s that is pratically a JCrew outlet. They buy markdowns and overruns from retailers. That’s where I pick up JCrew ballet flats and sandals.

J Crew is way over my price range, so I have not bought anything there in many years. The only 2 items I own from there are more than 10 years old: a pair of black dress pants and a blue T shirt. Both were of excellent quality and have held up amazingly well (although I had to stop wearing them when I gained weight a few years ago). I bought these before they revamped their collection to be more fashion forward–they used to be a lot more preppy with duller colors. I always enjoy looking at their catalog, but when I actually visited a store about a month ago I was surprised that the quality was much lower than I remembered. It’s too bad because their designs and colors are a lot more interesting now than they were in the 90’s.

Hanna , the exact reason *I don’t* buy shoes from them…but beautiful they are:)

I own cashmere from Nordies, AT ,BR, and jcrew…it all pills, it is the nature of the beast.

Hmm. Most of the traits you mentioned as former pluses to J Crew are exactly why I’ve never bothered to so much as set foot in the store until this year. I realize my price point is much lower than many other women here, but their past prices seemed pretty ridiculous & unattainable considering they were hardly ever on sale.

I still don’t own a single J Crew piece because I haven’t made a habit of browsing the store, but given the drop in prices that I’ve been seeing, I’ve started to peek my head in every so often to check it out.

Ha, thanks April! I’ve been busy and also kind of mulling over my opinion, and have been enjoying what others have posted!

First of all, I can’t really comment on J. Crew before 2006, since I didn’t shop there before then. There was no J. Crew in my hometown growing up and it wasn’t until 2006 that I actually moved to a city that had a J. Crew. I agree with the posters above that Fall 2006 had a particularly great collection. I have several items from then, and they are still going strong and I get lots of compliments on them when I wear them.

I adamantly disagree with posters that say J. Crew looks like Gap. I have been to both recently, and Gap is entirely uninspiring and blah to me (sorry to Gap fans out there). I feel their clothing lacks any interesting details, which is what draws me to J. Crew in particular.

I will agree that quality at J. Crew is hit or miss. However, I’ve never shopped a store that doesn’t have this problem, including everything from Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Nordies, to chain stores such as Banana Republic, Ann Taylor and Club Monaco (to only name a few). As in all things, we need to be selective in what we choose, and we as consumers need to do the footwork, because we’re the ones that are ultimately paying the price (literally and figuratively, heh). Gone are the days that we can walk into any store anywhere and buy anything in it and know that item is going to last for the next 20 years. As Laura65 pointed out, clothing used to be much more expensive. It’s much more affordable now, but there’s a trade off, right? Quality is not as good overall, so we need to put more work into finding those pieces that are up to our personal standards, and they are probably going to be more expensive when we do find them.

I never buy shoes from companies that don’t specialize in making shoes, and I never buy denim from companies or stores that don’t specialize in making denim. I learned that after buying lots of jeans from lots of different chain stores and having them stretch, shrink or fade terribly (and I don’t even put my jeans in the dryer). So now I stick to premium denim lines. I bought one pair a year ago, and haven’t had to buy another pair since. So I can’t comment on J. Crew’s denim, really, since I’ve never owned any (other than their clamdiggers from last year, and I haven’t had a problem with those stretching out too much). J. Crew sweaters do pill eventually, but so does every other sweater I’ve ever owned. I’ve finally given in and bought a sweater shaver, and am much happier now. If anyone ever does find a sweater that doesn’t pill, please let me know! I will be the first in line to buy it.
I have owned a few cashmere pieces from J. Crew and have no complaints, but I can’t really compare their quality to anyone else’s, as I haven’t owned any other cashmere. The main reason for this is that everywhere else I look, all I see is black black black, white, black, camel, grey, black, mulberry, black black black black……I’ve looked at other lines because I’ve really wanted to compare and see what the quality of JC cashmere is really like. However, whenever I go searching, my color choice is very limited. J. Crew filled this gap in the market, and until someone else starts selling “Toasted Pumpkin” or “Heathered Pine” colored cashmere sweaters (or whatever they are calling their colors this season), I will probably still buy my cashmere at JC.

J. Crew knitwear (tees, knitted tops, etc.) is where I think they have the biggest issue with quality. The t-shirts are definitely overpriced, and for whatever reason, they decided to make many of them using material that is cut on the bias. Anyone who has done any sewing knows that fabric cut on the bias is the stretchiest. Couple that with tissue thin, already stretchy base material and you’re just asking for trouble. I have one t-shirt like this that I bought (on sale) because it had dogs on it, and I love dogs. I can only wear it once before it stretches and I need to wash it to get it back in shape. However, I had strong suspicions that stretching would be a problem when I bought it, so I wasn’t disappointed when it did what I thought it would.

The reason I like J. Crew is that their style overall matches my personal aesthetic. It’s basically modern classic, slightly preppy, but with an interesting twist. Their items are often filled with interested details and available in colors that I like and look flattering on me. I don’t have any issues with their fit, for the most part. Some posters’ complaints are that they are not cut for rectangles, and other complain that they are not cut for curvies. So….who are they cut for? I find Banana Republic to be cut far straighter overall than J. Crew. I would consider myself to be curvy (I’m an hourglass), and most of their things fit me just fine, and their sizing is consistent. I can order something in my size off the internet, having never tried it on, and be relatively sure that it will fit me, with few exceptions. Whether the item is flattering is another thing, but that boils down to a whole load of personal factors and one company can’t be expected to make everything that is completely flattering on every person. This is not something that I’ve encountered at other retailers where I’ve had to order anywhere from a 4 to a 10, within the same brand.

So, either you like J. Crew or you don’t, but I don’t think it’s I think Angie’s original blog post was about how J. Crew has changed over the past 10 years or so, and I wish I could comment on that further. I’ve enjoyed reading everyone else’s posts (I agree with Patience that Lauren is great and that my customer service experiences at JC have always been very good). I’m not sure a store becoming a little more “mainstream” is such a bad thing. J. Crew seems to be doing better now than ever. It’s true that a brand can lose some of itself in the process. Hopefully J. Crew won’t go too far. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.

I can’t speak to J. Crew specifically–I haven’t worn anything so small as a 16 since high school, so their clothes are certainly not made for me–but I can speak to places that used to sell nice, quality clothes going downhill. It’s a tradeoff: I used to shop almost exclusively at Lane Bryant. About 10 years ago, when I started going there, their prices were ok, and the quality of clothing and manufacture was good, but the style was too “old lady”/frumpy (not that I’ve seen OLD LADIES wear some of those stylistic horrors I saw in my early days!). Then, for a few years, they had some styles that were crisp and fun, and for a brief, shining moment, high quality as well. In the last few years, I’ve bought only jeans and undergarments there, and I’ve stopped buying the jeans, by and large, for a few reasons. One: their sense of style has really suffered. From time to time, they bring back classics, and then I’ll shop there–sometimes. Two: the clothes don’t fit as well as they should, and I don’t intend to pay good money for clothes that don’t fit me right. I’m not opposed to doing some hemming and altering (I mean, really, how many of us are an “off-the-rack” size?), but when I have to remake them, and when the stitching falls apart after 2 washes because the quality is so shoddy, I consider my money wasted.

Just a thought on the general milieu of “mall” clothing stores.

I used to get their catalogs back in the 80’s. Always a fun time, since most catalogs were either department store (I Magnins) or something goofy like Lands End.

Over the years things like Gap, AF, etc have gone low scale, things like Lands End have gone upscale.

I remember when I first walked into Old Navy, it was very upscale compared to the Gap. Somehow they rethought that whole thing.

For what they sell, it’s pretty competitive now.

J. Crew was selling not just clothing, but lifestyle. You felt the catalogs were ahead of their time, more like a real commercial for a brand than just items you wear. People still are brand loyal and wear some of the silliest looking clothes b/c they have a J. Crew label.

J. Crew brought the catalog market into the serious shopper’s purview and other companies learned from them. Cashmere and suits from Lands End, etc.
Times change.

It’s interesting how perceptions vary based on how long one has known the brand. My sister has been a J. Crew shopper since the early nineties and I really used to hate the offerings in their catalogue. Back then, they sold only neutrals, pastels, and a few dull primaries, and the cuts were very boyish and the styling uninspiring. The prices were still on the high end, around $30 for a tissue-thin t-shirt. There was much less focus on cashmere and dresses. It was rare to see a dress in their catalogue even, unless it was a beachy pullover or something very plain.

Now, I find much more imaginative looks on offer. There are delicious colors: fuchsias, ultramarines, bottle greens. There is an emphasis on classic ladylike looks rather than just boyish preppiness. There are accessories that are unmistakably feminine. I still find the brand overpriced and I still think that some of the looks are dull, but overall, the improvement has been vast. Maybe that makes me mainstream in my tastes, but dressing like a preppy boy has never appealed to me, and I’m glad to see J. Crew selling more vivid and feminine pieces.

“J. Crew was selling not just clothing, but lifestyle. You felt the catalogs were ahead of their time, more like a real commercial for a brand than just items you wear. ”
Wow, Johanna, I couldn’t have said it better myself! I feel exactly the same way. I started getting J Crew catalogs circa 1988, and immediately fell for the clothes (modeled by Ivy League grads) and “exotic locales” (like the Hamptons). I also loved the color names; pink was dubbed “Petal”, and gray was called “Storm”. For a few years, I bought into the “dream” and much of my wardrobe came from their mail order business (as they didn’t have any retail stores back then).

I think in the early 90’s there was a resurgence in the popularity of Gap, and along with Old Navy and Banana Republic, they stole some of J Crew’s fire. I stopped shopping at J Crew for awhile, but then started back again when a very fashionable (Austrailan) friend re-introduced me to the brand back when J Crew started opening up stores in California. From 1998-2001, I got some very pretty work skirts, blouses and jackets there. Alas, that was several years and 20 pounds ago, so those items are long gone from my closet!

My fashionable friend (now back in Australia) is still obsessed with the brand, as they don’t have any stores in OZ. She comes back every other year to shop and get her “J Crew fix”. But I have not been back. For me, the brand has lost its luster, and I really don’t see much difference between J Crew and many of the other mall stores.

I find many of the styles too boxy and short waisted for me. The catalogs are gorgeous and fun and well-styled but when I see the clothes on myself, or one other women (like Michelle Obama), they often seem… I dunno… to not fit particularly well.

I also think the quality varies a ton from item to item. Apparently, the same mill that makes Loro Piana cashmeres in Italy also supplies the Jcrew cashmeres and wool, so they are clearly able to tap into some wonderful sources. But, some of the things I’ve bought from them in the past year just don’t seem to stand up to much wear and I really don’t like buying clothing that looks so junky after a month or two that I no longer feel “smart” in it. Disposable fashion is not my style, and J Crew seems to verge on that sometimes.

(In case you’re interested, here’s the article from the WSJ: http://online.wsj.com/article/.....83020.html )

I don’t live in the US, so I have no idea what the quality of the clothes are like, but I have seen their website and they LOOK lovely.
The comments remind me very much of an Australian company called Country Road. They used to be very preppy and expensive, but the quality was excellent. I used to buy some shirts and tailored pants there (when they were on sale of course!) and I still have them (5-6 years later) and they are still fab. I can’t stand the store now, they are much cheaper but the quality is lousy; like JCrew the fabrics are very thin. If you buy a top or dress there you’d have to wear a cami or something underneath for modesty. According to the press, they have tried to appeal to a younger crowd, and so have “updated” their look, and lowered the price. The designs are more “modern” than “classic” now.
I think unfortunately due to economic reasons a lot of retail chains are sacrificing quality to price to attract shoppers, and also to attract younger shoppers who can’t afford the bigger price tags. This is a big problem in the fashion industry here, with young designers who can’t afford to run their own design houses opting to work for retail chains instead in order to survive. It’s a real shame.

I’ve heard many others echo your observations, Angie. J. Crew has always been a favorite with the Old Money crowd. It’s kinda sad to see the quality go down. Is this the end of an era…?

Wow. I never knew there were so many opinions to be had about J. Crew, though I appreciate reading/skimming all of them.

As a recent graduate trying to grow out of her college fashion (think American Eagle and Aeropostale) sense on a young professional budget (i.e. living from paycheck to paycheck), J. Crew’s sales and outlets have provided lots of great items to transition into my new look and lifestyle. Like most people have said, colors and styling have been the most attractive factors to get me to shop there (the fact that it fits my rectangular body consistently well is also an added plus).

I rely on their outerwear, khakis, wool pants, wool skirts and woven shirts for much of my office wardrobe. I have always been careful to buy knits because though their palette is gorgeous and refreshing, the quality is hit or miss when I see them in stores. I am now going to keep an eye out for vintage J. Crew, now that I’ve seen some of these posts.

Have to say that I’d heard so much good stuff about J.Crew, that when I was in LA in May I was keen to check them out – and was very disappointed – nothing particularly exciting or innovative, very mass market/mainstream. Could not figure out what the fuss was about.

Wow! What an amazing set of differing perceptions. Thank you, ladies.

I’d like to clear up one misconstrued point. I do NOT consider J.Crew inexpensive when you pay full price. But their prices are cheaper than what they used to be and as a result, the quality has suffered. This is inevitable. I have no doubt that the company is more profitable now than it was before because there is a larger market for their merchandise.

To Ele’s point, J.Crew’s wedding apparel is stunning. I have popped a few clients in their wedding dresses and they are beautiful.

Also, I don’t think J.Crew looks like the Gap today. My perception is that J. Crew looks more like what the Gap looked like five or six years ago.

As far as quality and sizing goes, there are fit inconsistencies and quality concerns with most retailers. But I’ll put my head on a block right now. It is with confidence that I say that the quality at Ann Taylor, Talbots and Banana Republic is generally better than the current quality at J.Crew, and the prices are very similar.

I agree with many other posters that JCrew’s catalogs are amazing, and always a great sources of style ideas. I cannot afford any of their clothing at full price, but occasionally buy things on sale and on Ebay. I think their knit tops and dresses run extremely large–I’m only 5′3 and wear a size 4 in almost all other brands, but in JCrew, for example, I got the extra small in the slub ruffled tank Angie posted about a while back, and the extra small was still way too big–the underarms really gap and show my bra, so I can only wear it under cardigans. I’ve had the same problems with other knit tanks and tops, so I would disagree that the clothing is made for small-busted women–I’m small-busted, and everything hangs way too big! I did, however, get my wedding dress from JCrew, via Ebay (I got the Sophia) and it was amazing fabric, beautifully cut, and the bridal sizing was much closer to “real life” (I got a 6P for my wedding gown.)

So, to sum up–I love JCrew’s look, but have trouble putting it into practice because of cost and fit issues. On the plus side, I am often able to approximate the looks from their catalogs using piece from Target, LOFT, and other more affordable stores!

“As far as quality and sizing goes, there are fit inconsistencies and quality concerns with most retailers. But I’ll put my head on a block right now. It is with confidence that I say that the quality at Ann Taylor, Talbots and Banana Republic is generally better than the current quality at J.Crew, and the prices are very similar.”

I don’t know how the ‘quote’ function works – but I wanted to say that I agree!

J Crew never fit me properly. My colleagues at work who are mostly size 4 or 6 and are pear shaped and tall 5′6″ have a lot of their clothing. I think the marketing in the catalogues is very inspirational. I think their prices are high. I find AnnTaylor Ann Taylor Loft, Gap, Banana Republic more ameniable to my sizing. I of corse always can find stuff at Macy’s JC Penny’s as well. I think I like the way the store is layed out it is more inviting. I cant stand stores that play music so loud you cant even have a conversation with your shopping friend.

Angie, you are absolutely right. I have felt the very same way. Love the catalog, but feel the store is…blah. Also, they display items in such a way that makes you feel like your in a swap meet (buckets of shoes???) and the quality seems less.

It’s been ages since I’ve bought something at J.Crew.

I can’t add much more than has already been said. I too have shopped at JCrew since the 80s. In fact, I still have two beautifully made fisherman’s sweaters that still look new. That said, the current JCrew exasperates me. I’ve found their wool coats to continue to be well-made, as are the several pairs of wool pants I own. And as everyone seems to agree, the catalogs are gorgeous. But the sizing varies wildly (I own JCrew clothing that ranges from size 2 to 10) and $300 shoes with a man-made sole and lining are not going to be on my shopping list (much as I love them. And oh, do I ever.). As for fit, the clothes seem to be made for the younger, ruler-shaped client.

As for being high-end, I’ve always thought of JCrew as a standard chain comparable to BR and Ann Taylor. And the prices seem to have skyrocketed over the past few years. In fact, if I recall correctly, JCrew made an effort to reposition itself, including prices, in the time before their stock went public in 2005.

I’m incredibly confused…are we talking about the same store? I’ve been shopping at J Crew for many years now, 10 plus, and while I agree about the quality of their clothing losing…well…some of it’s quality, their prices have most definitely gone up..wayyy up. I remember getting tees and tanks for 15 to 20 dollars where now they cost over 30. Their khakis and jeans…for about 40 to 50 dollars where now…60 to 110 dollars! I’m an impulsive shopper…I’m one of those weird people that buy things, hand them up, and hardly if ever wears them. So with that being said I have some old, reaaally old, J crew items that prove my point…so I’m not crazy.