Tuesday, August 28, 2012

J.Crew (Not Yet Online) New Arrivals reviews

I have to return something from my 30% off order, so I picked up some of the new arrivals to try on. I was very uninspired for some reason, and not many items really appealed to me, but here is what I took to the fitting room:

Size 8
I spotted this new colorblock knit blazer in camel and black. They did not have a size 6, so I tried on the 8. It was a little big too big overall, especially in the shoulders, so I would say it fits TTS. I felt like my regular size 6 would have been perfect. I loved the colorblocking, and in these colors, it did not seem too trendy.



The blazer is unlined and 51%wool, 49% cotton. It was comfortable and it felt more like a sweater but still looked polished, like a blazer. I always preferred lined blazers, but I never wear them, because they feel too formal for my lifestyle, too bulky to wear under coats, and either too warm or too hot to wear in our weather.

Maybe a knit, unlined blazer is not a bad idea?  But I don't know how it would hold up and keep its shape. Especially that it was not cheap, priced at $188.


From the back it looks like a black blazer.

$188, 51% wool, 49% cotton

Overall, I quite liked the blazer. I just wasn't sure if it was practical and I definitely thought the price was too high.

***
If you are sick with all the French Hen talk, you can scroll down. In case you are not, here is a new silk shirt in French Hen print:

Size 6
It fits a little looser than J.Crew perfect shirts. Size 6 was good fit, loose around the middle and no gaping in the chest. It reminded me of a fit of navy/red heart shirt from the spring. Maybe I could have sized down to a 4.  In my experience, this usually creates gaping in the chest area, but I didn't try.

The print is cute and much easier to wear because of the smaller scale.
$128, 100% silk
From the distance, you can hardly tell these are animals, but up close you get a small dose of whimsy. 100% silk drapes great and it is easy to tuck in.

Print close up


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Another top that I tried is this marled sweatshirt, that I previously featured in this post.


Here it is on yours truly in size Medium:



The scoopneck is low and, overall, this sweater (sweatshirt?) is big and slouchy. Or just plain too big and shapeless. The sleeves are flipped to show black lining and they almost have to be this way, because the hem is unfinished. Or rather, it has the zigzag stitching at the bottom.

$95(!), 49% acrylic, 34% wool, 15% cotton, 2% other
I tried size Small to compare:

Small
I would say this top is definitely oversized. It supposed to have a slouchy, loose fit, but you should be able to get it even in smaller size. It is a good deal shorter in Small, so it may be a problem, if you are on a taller side. I thought it was borderline on me.  Overall, a cool idea, but I am not sure about the execution. It is definitely overpriced.

Better fit in smaller size
I am also wearing bootcut cords (size 27) that fitted OK, but were just soooo meh in brown, it gave me bad flashbacks of my high school cords, from the 80s (brrr).

They did look better in other colors, but I like my pants neutral. I am still looking for slim bootcut in camel. Anyway, I would have never paid a full price for those.



***
That's all folks!

Do you like any of the new arrivals?
What's on your list and are you sticking to it?

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

37 comments:

  1. Hmmm interesting pieces. I have a nearly identical sweater to the marled one from Urban Outfitters and I adore it, but I also paid very little for it. Too bad this one runs large.

    Tasia

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    1. I agree Tasia, I think the price is outrageous.

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  2. I do like the F hen shirt because of the scale of the print +silk; I don't like the sweater. This looks nice on you.

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    1. I think the scale makes a big difference here.

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  3. To me, the color blocked blazer reminnds me of Captain Kangeroo....

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    Replies
    1. Hahaha--blast from the past!

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    2. haha Buffy, now I will never be able to see it any other way :)

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  4. love your little joke with the matching iphone cover!

    is the silk of the hen blouse like that of the Heartthrob shirt in texture?

    as always, I love and rely on your reviews, but especially this time of year when allergies keep me out of dressing rooms. You are more than a friend, you are a public service. Дякую!

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    1. Glad to be of service, fred! Not sure if I remember the texture on Hearthrob, this one was silky but also substantial, I liked it.

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  5. I like the hen blouse... but I am a huge sucker for whimsical prints. I must have that! Thanks so much for the reviews. You rock, ajc!

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    1. I think this is the way to do this print and if you don;t mind whimsy it is very nice. I like it too and I am glad it is 100% silk.

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  6. I actually like all of these pieces, but none of them feel like must haves to me. I tried on the French hen sweater and it just wasn't for me. I'd be inclined to get the hen shirt if I hadn't bought a similar top from Gap recently with elephants on it.
    I would be interested in trying on that marled sweater. I like oversize, throw on kind of pieces and that would certainly fit the bill.

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    1. I think the marled sweater has potential (I can totally see it on you) but I would wait for significant markdown.

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  7. Great reviews as always, although I agree, I think you covered all of the winners in previous posts. I know you were not a fan of the sweatshirt, but the photo makes you look like a print ad- very flattering in a picture. I can't decide how I feel about the blazer. I may have to go check it out!

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    1. Thanks KnitYarns! I thought the blazer was not bad, but I seriously had trouble picking anything, but maybe because I spent 3 hours trying on jeans before I stopped at J.Crew. Denim is exhausting to shop for...

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  8. You look very nice in that blazer, but I am OVER colorblocking. All of the giant September issues of the fashion rags are showing florals, colorblocking, and burgundy lips, and I'm sitting over here in the corner like, "If somebody whips out a chunky silver cross choker, I'm leaving. I already lived through 1992 once before."

    I like the tiny French Hen print blouse better than the sweater version. Still don't think it's really for me in the end, but I liked the fit and the fabric on the silk Heartthrob blouse so much that it makes this Hen blouse harder to resist.

    ***J.Crew, please bring back the silk crepe de chine Boyshirts in stripe, print, what have you, and I will buy them all at full price.***

    The fact that they are asking $95 for that marled sweater is laughable.

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    1. Made me laugh!

      1992 was the year I landed in US. Fashion was the last thing on my mind. I was so poor, it took me months to buy 'shorts and t-shirt set' at Bradleys (sp?). It was a store similar to K-mart in their fashion offerings. However, come to think of it, the colors of the set were burgundy and blue.

      I loved those chokers!

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  9. Wow - that sweater fits odd!

    I like the blazer, but not for me - those colours would make me look I'll! I think hen blouse is more manageable than hen sweater. However, neither will make it to my closet as I need to complete the list!

    Have a wonderful day!

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    Replies
    1. You are so good with The List WMM, I am proud of you! When are you coming back?

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    2. We fly into nova scotia Saturday night, then will be back home in new Brunswick Sunday by noon.

      Am having fabulous time, but always happy to go home!

      Plus there will be a pile of JC waiting for me that I ordered before I left and so many blogs to write!

      I do have a question - I am thinking of the berry wool pencil skirt - is it a garish pink like the summer pink? I trust you! I find the pictures do not tell the tale in terms of colour!

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  10. I like the silk shirt with hens on you and I really like that iphone cover!
    That color-blocked blazer will date fairly quickly methinks. Well I'm trying not to shop so it is nice to not be tempted I guess.
    Thanks for the reviews, shop or not I think they are always fun!

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    1. I could not resist the iPhone cover, super cute and this way I am done with the Hen.

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  11. I like the smaller hen on the blouse much better than the sweater. A lot of people love the hen sweater but I feel like it is just screaming for too much attention. Prefer the blouse version. Thanks for the review!

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    1. I do think the blouse print would be so much easier to wear, in fact, if you like whimsy, I think it is pretty timeless.

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  12. thank you for this review - i like the smaller hen print. the sweater is quite the conundrum isn't it! i'm not won over by the colourblock blazer either. these reviews are so helpful. xox P

    phiphisblog.com

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    1. I did not even expect so much discussion about the Sassy Hen, she proved a real conversation starter!

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  13. I'm kind of loving the iPhone cover! The shirt is cute too, but I have other critter print tips that I don't wear very often. But I think the iPhone cover is the perfect place to indulge in the cute whimsical print! I like the sweater, totally my style, but $95 is just insane. I almost never pay full price, but that means even the sale price is likely to be too high. Thanks for the reviews!

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    1. ITA about both the iphone cover anad the price of the marled sweater!

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  14. Agree with most others..I like the iphone cover:)

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  15. I like the shirt with hen print. Thanks for the reviews.

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  16. As always, thanks SO much for these reviews! I think that I need that hen shirt!!!

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  17. I'm going to sit here and wait to see who will be the first blogger to rock the hen sweater with the matching hen shirt layered underneath. ;o) Actually, though it seemed funny in my head, it may actually be a pretty fun outfit ... hm ...

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  18. I saw the iPhone case today. Very cute. Tried the hen silk top as well and it was surprisingly nice. pawk pawk!

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    ReplyDelete