Saturday, March 10, 2012

What is it worth?

  


Have you read the  most recent post on J.Crew Aficionada  about prices and luxe products? 

Alexis, who manages J.Crew Aficionada and facilitates the discussion was referencing an article from Daily about price increases at J.Crew,  Jenna's aspirations to be a luxury/designer label and her conviction that the quality or their products went up along with the prices. I was very happy that Alexis was interviewed and that our opinions can be heard. Alexis deserves some recognition for all her worth, but so far she has often been snubbed and ignored by J.Crew. 

The topic addressed in the article is something that I have been thinking of for some time. Is J.Crew and their offerings worth the money? Or, to put it more precisely, which of their offering are worth the price and which pieces are better sourced from somewhere else?

Personally, if I was to order it by categories this would be my list:

Best Value

  • Pencil skirts - to me they are worth the full price although I always try to get at least the 20% off. This is because I am a bargain hunter by nature, but I would say the fit the colors and the quality are incomparable. Nothing fits me better, they are still using mostly natural fabrics, the construction is adequate. I love their double serge wool skirt but also the printed cotton ones as well as 120's and superfine cotton suiting skirts
  • Coats - I still like the cut and  quality of J.Crew coats. Last year a bought two coats, Majesty peeacoat and Element coat and I am happy with both. The year before I bought the stadium  cloth Boulevard coat that is one of my favorites. However, I didn't buy any at the full price.  Each of them I paid below $200 and that to me was definitely worth the money. If I have to shell out between $250 to $350 (which was full price) I am not sure if I would still think they were such a good value.

  • Blazers - here I also think J.Crew offers a good construction and and quality and they are totally worth the sale price. $250 they try to charge for a Hacking jacket this year was not worth is to me. But the same jacket on sale for about $150 and maybe with additional discount? Totally worth it.

Worst Value

  • Shoes - In my opinion J.Crew shoes are totally overpriced - Most of the time they are uncomfortable don't have adequate cushioning, their lining and soles are man made and craftsmanship is comparable to brands that sell for half the price. That applies to ballet flats, heels and boots. Step into any department store and there is so many shoes on display that are just as cute, have leather lining, better padding and lower prices.

  • Jeans - J.Crew denim is, in my opinion, very mediocre quality. I am not vowed by fit and I think they are much more comparable to say Gap jeans than to designer jeans but the prices would make you think otherwise
  •  Bags - I know there are many fans of J.Crew handbags but to me personally, they are absolutely not worth the full price. I do appreciate the lack of logos but they are heavy, oversized, they either have to many or to few compartments and the design is nothing special. I have not been vowed by a J.Crew bag for a long time.    

Everything else falls somewhere in between.

  • Cashmere - worth the sale price if you like the particular color
  • Perfect fit t-shirts - they fit me very well and have reasonable prices, I wear them constantly so they would probably be number 4 in my 'best' list.
  • Button downs  and blouses -  if you like the fit and style they are probably worth the money. 
  •  Trousers - most likely overpriced, I think you can do better elsewhere, especially that there is nothing special about the J.Crew in this area. 
  • Chinos and cords - good on sale
  •  Jewelry - here I think J.Crew has some very nice designs and I think it really vary by individual piece.
  • Accessories like scarfs and belts - similar to jewelry (I actually have quite a collection)
  • Dresses - Mostly grossly overpriced at full price but many times worth it at the sale price and here we have seen a very deep discounts
  • Non-pencil skirts - same as dresses
  • Non cashmere sweaters  - same as dresses, except for variation of dream yarn which is totally worthless imo.

And how about all those aspirational pieces? $700 sequined skirts, $500 heels, $400 camis etc?
To me they are not worth the money. I don't have the lifestyle for them and have no aspirations to be the 'in' the high fashion circle.  I don't lust after Chanel bags or try to figure out how to save up for $1000 pair of shoes. And somehow I think that if was in the market for luxury goods I wouldn't look for them in J.Crew store.

All of this is just my personal preferences and some of it is very influenced by my lifestyle and body type. For example, I don't buy chinos or cords so they are not high on my list. J.Crew's pencil skirts fit me very well with no alterations, but most dresses are too high waisted and most trousers fit me poorly. Also, there are exceptions to everything. You may know that I am a big fan of Valentina pumps and I have 5 pairs, including the snakeskin ones. I also own few smaller purses that I bought on sale and thought they were good value.
And there were some tweed pencil skirt made with high acrylic content that I despised. But overall, I would say that I do have that list somewhere in the back of my head when I am shopping. 


* * *
 What is your take on it?
What J.Crew items you think are worth the money and which ones are grossly overpriced?
What do you think of Jenna's opinions?




34 comments:

  1. About the only items I buy from JCrew are the Perfect Fit tee's & tanks, Number 2 Pencil Skirts, scarves & weekend leggings. I can pretty much count on any of those to get me thru whatever I need to do. Dresses I get from Lilly Pulitzer. Things I've never bought from JCrew (nor intend to) are coats, handbags, shoes, jewelry, jeans, pants, shorts, blazers & anything with a collar.
    I dont have a terribly diverse wardrobe - lots of the same things in different colors. But thats super fine by me. It appeals to my minimalism tendencies.
    I stick to select few "core" items from JCrew (what I had listed above) & have found all those particular items to be of good quality & can withstand the test of time, laundering & trends/fads. Since I dont wander off the path into other areas of JCrew - I don't know much about the other items other than what I see JCrew bloggers reviewing. I am surprised at how many crummy items folks buy from JCrew knowing there is a defect or chronic history of fabric piling or blatant poor craftsmanship. Sale or no sale - I just don't get why some folks would buy something so obviously inferior.
    Also, the $750 sequin skirt thing - while I appreciate the character & concept - it's truly not aimed at my demographics. I live a regular suburban life & sequined skirts would get me laughed out of the local Publix.

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    1. Hi Jane, I never bought leggings from J.Crew, which ones do you recommend? I think it is smart to stick to limited amount of items that work for your lifestyle and with your body type. Many very stylish women have limited wardrobe that just work for them. After all we want our clothes to work for us, not the other way around.
      I think some of us definitely succumb to the calling of the crewlade, myself included. And yes, some of the J.Crew 'aspirational' pieces are laughable in terms of price and practicality, but so are many top designer's creations, I think about it whenever I wander into Last Call, Saks off 5th or Century 21.

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  2. Very well said. I agree on every point you made. I can justify paying close to FP for their double serge skirts and button down shirt but I wait for a supersale on their cashmere, coats and everything else.

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    1. Thanks Sunny, I guess in the J.Crew world there are prices Jenna wants to believe they can sell for and then there are prices most people want to pay for this stuff and there is a big gap in between wide open for the games they (and we too) play...

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  3. I'm the idiot who pays double to get things over to the UK.

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    1. Tabitha, how come you never fail to crack me up? But seriously, I think you have different base to compare to since prices in UK seem to be much higher. Also, J.Crew is more of a novelty so it may be more attractive to you. I know I was paying a lot for many items that I have shipped from overseas and I was willing to pay for it also because nobody would have it here.
      I have to say J.Crew definitely spoiled some the appeal of my Barbour jacket by making all those 'field jackets', however inferior they are.

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  4. I totally agree with you about buying J. Crew pencil skirts at full-price. The teacher discount always makes me feel better about my purchases at J. Crew. I will, however, purchase J. Crew shoes at full-price using my teacher discount too. Again, this is a great post!!!

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    1. Thanks Rynetta, nobody makes pencil skirts like J.Crew, I seriously hope they will not try to tweak with the design, construction or prices..

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  5. I couldn't have said it better! I agree with you 110% about what is worth full price and what is worth waiting for a good sale. There is never anything I NEED to have, but I would buy an item that is worth it at FP...everything else can wait until it goes on super sale. Like you, if I have the money to buy a 'luxury' item from J. Crew, I would go else where. My lifestyle does not warrant any inspirational pieces, even if I had the money I would use it for my sons.

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    1. Wendy this is right, at this point there is nothing in the world that I NEED, so they better give me a good value for my money or I will definitely question it. Sometimes I fall for some of their marketing and would order something questionable, but once I have some time to think it over, back it goes with no mercy :)

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  6. AJC I agree with you too! Top of my list are JC coats (on sale) and their "novelty" jackets though I did see the Terrazo Jacket in store last week and it looked cheap to me not worth FP at $278!. It just doesn't compare to the dauphine and collier jackets of the past.

    JC shoes are hit or miss for me I only buy them if I can try them on in store. I am wondering about the Manolos for fall not my style and at $595 definitely out of my price range (even on sale) it will be interesting to see how well they sell.

    There are only a few things I buy FP at JC these days...jewelry (bracelets) and scarves. As we all know if you wait a few weeks most of the items I want (there hasn't been anything new I have had to have) go on sale eventually. ; )

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    1. Terrazo jacket looked horrible in Dani's pictures I was appalled that would ask so much money for such an inferior product.

      Like you, I am curious about Manolos but I don't think I would purchase any, they all seem to high and painful.

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  7. Excellent post ajc. I read Alexis' post earlier today and I've been thinking about it. I really didn't like Jenna's tone in the interview as the quality has declined on basics while the $500 sequin skirts have taken front stage. Most of us loyal customers are not interested in $500 sequin skirts.
    It is also still hit and miss. I bought the carriage coat dress at less than half price and it is worth it, most definitely and I would have paid even more if I had seen it in store, a very well made piece. Of course I had to risk final sale to get it.
    I have a real preference for JCrew handbags in the last year, I've paid full price on couple, for me it's worth it as I just haven't found anything else comparable, for whatever reason they please my eye (rigby hobo and the tillary tote).
    Cashmere not worth full price! But I have Brora to compare it to.
    Perfect-fit tees and pencil skirts: agree, worth it, they are better than anything else I've found.
    Coats? Only on sale.
    Shoes: sale price only.
    How did you think Jenna sounded in the interview? The whole cameras/cars thing was weird. It's great to "not be predictable" but they are business people and they need to have good stuff to sell that people actually want!

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    1. Thanks Dani, I did not like Jenna's tone. I thought she sounded defensive and that she was putting us down as some homely, unfashionable, spendthrifts. She reminded me of this desperate nerdy girl that suddenly becomes popular and ditches all her real friends. Usually this does not take you very far but good luck.
      I know you like the bags this year and the Tillary is very pretty, I might have looked at it differently if I didn't already have both blue and camel bags that I like very much (they are from Coach and Kate Spade).
      And of course Brora cashmere spoiled us, but I have to say I don't have terrible experience with J.Crew cashmere that others have, some of mine has held up pretty well and I wear it a lot, but of course, all was bought on sale, I never pay more than around $100 for JC cashmere sweater.

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  8. I am presently 90% sale shopper, in a beginiing I dropped tons of $$$ on FP merchandise, but it happened moore than 6 years ago. Now, I can wait out for pretty much any item I want- it will end up on sale and pop-back. Quality has declned, no argument here, prices have climbed higher , customers left neglected and it's not clear where JCrew is heading with all these "asprations" . I am afraid Jenna will carry forward: tall andproud only to discover one day , there is no one behind to follow.

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    1. Salstena, thanks for stopping by! I used to buy more FP merchandise and I believed them when they were saying that those items were unique and woul sell out fast. Not any more, I know I can wait for almost anything, and even if I like few things from each rollout, if I don't get them I don usually pine after them, I just move on and forget about them. I guess they are not as memorable anymore...
      And I totally agree with you about Jenna.

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  9. Great post! I strongly agree with your categories of what's best and worst values in Jcrew, with some minor modifications. I think they have really cut corners with blazers in the past three years (even Collection items). These do not compare quality- and design-wise compared to what was on offer pre-2007. In its place, I would pay full price for their 100% wool or silk scarves. (By full-price I mean using my 15% grad school student discount.)Cashmere I never pay FP no matter how gorgeous the colors. I don't have JC jeans, have two pairs of JC shoes bought on sale(Kerrington and shearling Macalister) and the only bags I still have left from Jcrew are those reusable canvas totes I bought for $10. Once in a while, a unique item with great fit comes along and I pay FP . However, this needs to be really different from what I already have and something I will get a lot of wear from given my casual lifestyle. I have no desire for aspirational pieces from JCrew but I can see how that may resonate with a particular part of the consuming public.

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    1. Hi Marie, I was hesitating about the scarfs, I do like them but I thought it is just me. But I see that a lot of use like them! I actually cannot wear those Hermes like designs, they make me feel older, but J.Crew has some lovely prints that are easy to wear. I also like their cotton jersey scarfs, they feel so soft.
      As far as blazers you are probably right, I do love the details on my Lexington and Bella but actually the hacking jacket was fitting me better. But the blazers that I have been wearing the longest and more often are from Theory, they just fit me so well. Of course they don't have the fun colors and this is where J.Crew is the best. I sold my black & white Lexington but the azalea one stays.

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  10. I would add their thicker wool sweaters to your Worst Value list. I have returned several Cambridge Cable Turtleneck sweaters, the Chainlink Cable sweater, and a few others this year, all for very bad pilling and shedding. I wore a Factory cardigan today and the seam at the cuff was split wide open (1-2") and both arms were pilling.. this is only the second time I've worn the sweater. The stores have been great about taking back the pilling sweaters, but J Crew should be concerned about putting out products like these. The quality of their thicker wool sweaters is very poor.

    I would put their chino shorts into the "Best Value" category. Their 5" chino shorts have been amazing. I've worn them and washed them so many times and they still look great and nothing is coming apart.

    Really like your blog!

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    1. Agree 100%. I don't even look at J.Crew sweaters except for cashmere (on sale), 100% merino and cotton ones. I hate pilling!!! And yes, so many J.Crew items have those unraveling seams on holes developing, sweaters, t-shirts, blouses, WTH?
      Shorts! Another category I forgot. I don't buy my shorts anywhere else, and they did hold up very well and I live in shorts in the summer. Well, of course I don't wear them to work but I change into them the minute I get home. I don't know what I will do when my knees get saggy and I know it is coming :(

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  11. This has made me look at what I really wear everyday. I've been buying J.Crew for 20 years, since my college days. But when I look at what I'm really willing to pay $$$ for at J.Crew (and what actually gets worn), it comes down to linen, cashmere cardigans (on sale), jewelry and accessories, and the occasional casual dress, stripe tee, or colorful sandal.

    Every Spring I look forward to the new linen offerings. My favorites are the linen perfect shirts and every year I love their casual linen jackets. I don't buy J.Crew blazers (schoolboy, hacking, etc.) because the fit is just off on me -- but that doesn't dissuade me from trying because J.Crew blazers are still cheaper than Theory.

    I definitely don't buy denim (I prefer J Brand). I love the accessories and jewelry but try to wait for a sale or percent off. I do love seeing the new J.Crew Fashion Week presentations...I may not be able to afford the $400-700+ pieces, but really if I could, I would love to get a couple of the great statement pieces to mix in with jeans/tees. (e.g. Wearing the Moonbeam blazer with jeans, or I'd love a sequin skirt to wear with a tee.)

    I buy a lot of Crewcuts for my daughters, but even there, prices are getting a bit hard to swallow...kids dresses starting in the $70-80 range (and that's not even for occasion dresses). So I buy pieces that may sell out in the sizes I need or wait for sale.

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    1. Hi Decaf, I forgot about linen, I do love the linen perfect shirts, I have quite a few and on my last visit to the store I saw that they have some new lovely colors and I was excited about them.
      The Crewcuts and childrenswear in general, I am planning a post on it next week, we have tons of Crewcuts here as well.

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  12. Great post AJC! It's funny, I was moving some of my woolens out this week and bringing in some spring-ish clothing, and the only things I have from Jcrew that seems to keep going year-over-year are indeed the pencil skirts, some lovely trousers and suits, and a few of the sweaters - while I love the shoes (the colours and variety!) i find the prices absolutely not consistent with the quality - I have certainly paid those prices for lines like pliner or weitzman and still have them in my closet, looking great.

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    1. You are right WMM, my Stuart Weitzman black pumps are going strong after 8 years. I don't think any of J.Crew shoes would survive that long, although they were about the same price.

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  13. what another great post! i'm so new to j. crew that i don't feel i can offer anything really. of the few j. crew items i have most have been purchased second hand, and i like them a lot. the other things i paid full price for or got on sale, i've not been thrilled with. the jeans and that red coat that is really orange that i will sell on ebay. the thing that i like about j. crew the most is their fabric pairings. i get fresh ideas from the way they style traditional things and i like that. the few times i've been in the store i've been underwhelmed by the quality of workmanship. but again, i'm not picking on them, i just don't have a whole lot of experience with them. my son and i used to joke and call the store j. crap and walk right past it. i can't believe i did that! omg, don't hold it against me!

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    1. Thanks Janet, of course I will not hold it against you, maybe that was just a healthy reaction ;) J.Crew definitely has some good offerings, otherwise we wouldn't be here discussing it but they also have their fair share of 'crap', no question about it. They styling is definitely big part of their appeal, and here they were doing very well without Anna Wintour imput so I am not sure this is the direction they should go, and Jenna's name dropping is slightly embarrasing for me to read.

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  14. i am another idiot who pays double to get things to germany.

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    1. Ina, see my response to Tabitha, I think it is a little different when you are abroad.

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  15. Great post (as is the last one), so well-thought out. I stick to my "list" like you do. I shop JC for the Perfect Fit tees (cos I love the rainbow of colours), the Jackie Twin sets (love the fit and 3/4 sleeves), the Perfect Stretch Shirts (again, the fit, the colours), and the occasional piece of jewelry and blazer.

    I have a lot of basics from other retailers that I mix with, so I can't bemoan the loss of the "one stop shop" experience that some of the other JCAs have written about.

    Those of us shopping in Canada have been used to seeing inflated prices from US retailers opening shops north of the border, but JC's prices really stand out (and not in a good way). If you don't have the option of shipping to a "near border" mail depot like some of us do, I don't see how ANY Canadians would shop at JC. The price points and the quality/execution of the goods are completely misaligned. YOu can definitely find comparable (or better) goods elsewhere at JC's price points.

    Again, thanks for the post and great discussion!

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    1. Thank you Closet crisis! I love the perfect fit tees, v-necks, boat necks, henleys, long sleeves, short sleeves, 3/4 and elbow sleeves, you name it, I have it.
      I don;t want to shop at one retailer, I do shop at J.Crew more than anywhere else but this is not because want to, many times I feel like I am not creative enough and too predictable by wearing so much JC stuff. But they still have enough of good items to lure me in, I guess, hopefully they will not leave me completely in the dust for the fashion crowd...

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  16. This is a great post!!! I completely agree that there are categories of merchandise that I am willing to pay more for because the quality/price ration is there.

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  17. Also, thanks for all the JCA love. You are super sweet!!! :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Alexis, you and your blog deserve all the love you can get!!!

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  18. I agree with you completely. If I wanted luxury items, it would not be from J. Crew, and not at those prices. Their materials are not very natural either these days, and the quality has deteriorated.

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