Friday, May 4, 2012

J.crew Fitting Room Reviews - part 3

Today's post is a continuation of my fitting room reviews from my visit to the mall last weekend.

Vintage cotton cap-sleeve tee in stripe

Size Medium
I don't see this striped t-shirt on the website but it is vintage cotton type, slightly sheer, slouchy fit and short bat sleeves that are just continuation of body with no seam.  It is very basic and nothing special but I kind of liked its slouchy fit .


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 Perfect shirt in stripe linen
J.Crew has it styled with orange pants

This linen perfect shirt fits TTS. I usually take a 6, but they did not have it in the store, so I tried an 8. It was slightly loose on me, but still have enough shape to keep it from being sloppy. I liked to have some extra room in the chest, but if you want something more fitted, go with your regular size.
Size 8
TTS
The linen/cotton blend would be perfect for the summer. Since it is definitely menswear inspired, I think it will work better on those of us who have some curves up top, or if you are just going for that tomboyish vibe.

long enough to stay tucked in


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Nolita jacket in Great Lakes wash
I have heard many JCAs raving about the Nolita jacket but I never had a chance to try it. When I took it to the fitting room I realized why it is well liked. The denim is very soft and it feels great. The shape is feminine and would work with pants skirts and dresses alike. The wash is a nice medium dark.

Size Small
 

The jacket is nicely shaped but oversized, I think it would be size down for most people. My regular size Medium was too roomy on me and it did not look right. However, size Small was pulling a bit across the chest. I liked the slanted chest pockets, fitted waist and cropped design.

pulling a little across the chest in size Small  (I am 34D)

I am generally not a fan of J.Crew denim and I consider it very mediocre quality and seriously overpriced for what it is. But is think this little jacket is worth the money. Unfortunately, I am in between sizes.

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Olympia suede 
wedges
Olympia suede wedges

These sandals were in sale section, priced at $59 and with additional 30% off. It seemed like a great deal and I need a pair of comfortable black sandals, so I thought I would give them a try



Size 8.5, TTS
I did not like all these straps. And that additional ankle strap added to Union Jack effect.


They were quite comfortable with a wedge that is not too high. The suede looks like nothing special in black, but it was soft and would mold to your feet. The lining is man made but it did not seem too slippery.

They looked sligthly better with jeans, maybe because you don;t see the ankle strap (see above in last picture with Nolita jacket) But what I really didn't like was how they looked from the back.


Nevertheless, I was tempted to buy them just because they were on deep sale, but I decided to leave them behind, especially since they would be final sale.  I decided that the price seems great only in J.Crew world, because in reality, other stores are filled with shoes that are also 'not quite there' , priced about the same. 

If I wouldn't buy them at Macy's or Lord & Taylor, why should I buy them at J.Crew? 

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 Do you own or like any of the items I reviewed today?

Do you wear denim jackets?
Do you buy stuff just because it seems a great deal?

Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!


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23 comments:

  1. ajc good for you leaving those sandals behind! I don't wear denim jackets any more because I look like I'm trying to look like someone else when I wear them. If you kwim!
    Did you check out Tabitha's blog post yet? We are featured and it's totally hilarious!

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    1. Dani, after I looked at the pictures, I am even more glad that I didn't buy them.
      Yes, I saw Tabitha's post, I laughed out loud and got weird looks from people on the train.

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  2. I like both shirts but have similar so I do not plan to buy. I was also tempted by the black suede Olympia wedges because the price was so good, but I didn't like how they looked on me and I think my arch is too high for them because they weren't very comfortable. So I also left them behind and don't regret it.

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    1. yes cate, we are seeing a lot of recycling, which is good in a way as you can count on classics but not so exciting, that's for sure. Those Olympia wedges are a fail, I think. Maybe in different color they are more interesting?

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  3. Oh I loathe denim jackets, I think they're for 14 year olds, even as teenager they just weren't for me.
    When I saw the mannequins in the window at Brora, I thought of you two immediately and stood giggling on my own like a nutcase.

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    1. I never wear denim jackets, or leather jackets, but somehow I think I should, they are considered a wardrobe staple, aren't they?
      This one is pretty good I think, if it fits you right.

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  4. i just got my nolita denim jacket in the xxs and yes you are right,they are seriously oversized.the xs was huge on me.
    is there a age where you cant wear denim jackets anymore?
    i love the striped shirt,but itis sold out online.

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    1. Oh, I am sure you would swim in bigger size Ina, how is the xxs? I can't believe the striped shirt is sold out already, but i am sure it will pop back.

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    2. hi ajc,the xxs fits and i am keeping it.
      i am so glad i ordered fast,because it is sold out now too.
      it shouldnt be so much "work" to keep track of sell-outs and pop-backs to get what i want:).

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  5. You're so right about those sandals - too much strap! Makes them look kind of clunky. I think I like J.Crew's Vintage Tees the best out of all of their tee shirt offerings...something about the fit is very appealing to me. I guess the main question there is whether the Vintage Tees develop *more* or *less* holes than other J.Crew tees ;)

    Shame about the straight cut on that Nolita jacket because the wash is great. The last time I bought a denim jacket was in 1998. It's by Todd Oldham, and I paid $4.99 for it at Gabriel Brothers. I wore it out to dinner last weekend over my black/white polka-dot Blouson dress, and I wore it over my pajamas this morning when I took the dog out. I'll never tire of that jacket. My mom has a denim jacket that she wears often, and my 82-year-old grandmother likes to wear hers occasionally with lightweight cotton dresses and chunky necklaces, so I think that they're not so much of an age thing as they are a style thing. Like DaniBP mentions above, you know when something is "you" and when it isn't.

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  6. I love my Nolita jackets! (Waiting for the Great Lakes Wash one to go on sale...). And I'm 39 and will wear these 'til I die. My Nolitas are a few years old now, so I found them to be TTS, but now I'm a little worried about buying a new one online. Hmm.

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  7. I thought I was the only person who doesn't own a denim jacket. I've tried them but I always feel like I look like I'm back in hs wearing my 'gritty' boyfriends jacket (minus the 'Metallica' patch on the back & pot paraphernalia in the pocket-not for me haha). :( I love it on others though!

    Were the olympia's only on sale in black?

    The answer to your question should be 'no' but there is some invisible influence there from JC. For me, most of the time the other stores items are a little more 'off'. Maybe it's just the 'crewlade' ha ha.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. haha about the gritty boyfriends jackets, I do feel like that too, even in denim shirts but I keep on trying...

      Yes, Olympias were only in black and only one box, I think it was a return.

      And I seriously think it IS crewlade, I wonder if we would pick J.Crew in blind test of new style items with no label?

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  8. The very best denim jacket I've bought - and actually used! - is an AG one. It is stretch and soft and so comfy and you actually want to put it on. (Like a pair of my kid's PJs) The rest are too stiff I reckon...

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    1. This jacket is very soft and feels good on, I did like it just wish it had a little more room in the chest.

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  9. I had high hopes for the striped linen shirt but when I saw them in store all the plackets did not line up the pattern properly, resulting in wider blue stripes on one side and that would annoy me. Also, I would prefer 100% linen, over a linen/cotton blend. I did order the pink perfect shirt in linen so I hope that works out.

    Good for you for leaving the sandals behind. They are not flattering with a skirt/dress and just so-so with jeans IMO.

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    1. I didn't notice the stripes, the way it looks in the pictures does not bother me, but ikwym. The linen shirts are great and I have a few, but this one will wrinkle less.
      ITA about the sandals.

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    2. Hmm, I find linen/cotton blends to look more wrinkled than pure linen. I think it's that the cotton actually makes the wrinkles more defined whereas with linen the wrinkles are there but softer, if that makes any sense. I had two pairs of linen/cotton pants and gave them to goodwill because the harsh wrinkles drove me crazy. I have 100% linen pants that don't look near as wrinkled at the end of the day.

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  10. i am trying v hard to resist buying just b/c it is on sale. i'm not fond of final sales items at all. i don't have enough experience with j. crew to do that. i wound up with that orange coat that i thought was red! i'm glad you resisted the sandals - too much strap i think. i do love that slouchy t though.

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    1. That is so true about buying on sale, anything I bought that I had doubts and only bought because of great price I regretted, so I rarely do it now. And in J.Crew world it often turns out the the great price was not so great after all.
      Did you try to sell that orange coat? I am sure that even if you were disappointed, it was on somebody's wishlist.

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