These are my confessions…………………
I have been thinking about this post for a very long time, so I decided to finally get it out. And, the time seems really apropos given the recent stories and claims that the loyal J. Crew female shopper is losing interest in the brand (here is a link to the Washington Post story). So, I will preface my confessions with the reminder that I have been an anomaly ALL my life.
These are my confessions…….(I have Usher’s song in my head…..sans the references to adultery…..)
Confession #1: I am still that into J. Crew! I am NOT losing interest in the brand. I still eagerly anticipate looking through the new catalog and browsing the new arrivals when they debut online. And, I have as many, or more, favorites as I did when I started shopping J. Crew when I was a graduate student in 1998. To be sure, there are pieces that make me go, “hmmmmm, what were they thinking,” but not many. Most often, people tend to like the very item that I find questionable. For example, the Fringe Tank from several rollouts ago was a major hit in the JCA community, but I am not a fan. Quite frankly, I think that the top is hashtag hideous. And, that is one of the reasons why I refrain from reviewing things that I absolutely dislike. I do not want to sway other people. Just because I do not like it does not mean that someone else will not. Or, just because it does not work well on my body type does not mean that it will not work for someone else.
Confession #2: J. Crew is hands down my favorite store. 99.9 percent of my wardrobe is J. Crew, but that does not mean that I do not have issues with the brand, I do. I have written about this before, but J. Crew absolutely refuses to offer size 14 skirts and pants in their retail stores, which is flat out maddening. I think about whether they want me to shop the brand. I am a LOYAL customer, and I wonder how hard it is to stock one extra size (an average size for women today, I might add) in retail stores. I have written letter after letter; and, I have provided feedback via my online and retail VPSs more times than I care to admit. In the end, I have decided to stick with the brand because their products fit well, they are well-made, and they fit my style.
Confession #3: I am really happy with several new items including the Regent Blazer, which is reminiscent (to a certain degree) of the Bella Jackets from circa 2007.
The collar of the Regent adds a great pop (pun intended) to the classic blazer.
Stay tuned for Crewlade Confessions, Part II!
Thanks for stopping by!
I enjoyed reading your post!
Ina: Thanks SO much for reading! It looks like you're having a blast working at the crew!
While I do find that there are less items I MUST HAVE, I still love this company and what they put out. This spring has seen a nice turn of product offerings, I feel. That being said, they should have a more strict criteria for what they produce. I know that there's little way to know what is going to fly off the shelves and what isnt, but there has to be some sort of way to get a little idea of what the public will wear vs. what runway models walk around in.
Meghan: You make a great point about how hard it is to determine what will fly off the shelves vs what will not. I think that J. Crew should take a sustained look at the items that sell out quickly, not just because they ordered them in limited quantities in the first place.
Much like you, I love JC. The thing is.. it seems that JC stopped loving us and it shows. Their latest offerings, or at least the vast majority of it, have turned us into non-shoppers (boxy fits, poly everything and so on).
Nan: Thanks for commenting! See, I am not quite sure that the love is unrequited. I think that J. Crew has to figure out how to recapture the customers they've lost while keeping those who are not frustrated with the brand, like myself. I loved the "bella jacket" J. Crew, and I love the "Regent Blazer" J. Crew.
I am so glad you wrote this post. I was feeling a bit like a lone, positive voice over at the JCA blog. I, too, look forward to each new roll-out and catalogue with eager anticipation, often finding more that I love than I can afford. I'm currently patiently waiting for a promo that includes the Regent linen blazer. I really want to try this piece.I feel the same about sharing my dislike for how an item looks. It's just my opinion and I certainly don't want to take the chance of insulting someone's taste or discouraging them from trying it. I enjoy seeing people style items that I would never think to try. It makes this whole fashion-blog thing that much more interesting.I'm looking forward to reading Part II!
maryeb: My pleasure! I intended to respond to your post, but I knew that my response would become a book, so I decided to create a series of blog posts. Like you, I still love J. Crew, and I am hoping that the company does not alienate people like you and me as they respond to widespread criticism. I hope that the Regent Blazer goes on promotion. I think that you would LOVE it!
love your blog and this post! I still love j crew and can wear just about everything. I think it really comes down to knowing how to style and you are great at this! you always look adorable and make every item unique to your own personal style. I'm so happy there are a few of us out there that still love j crew:) And i LOVE the regent blazer too. It's a great updated basic and looks fabulous on you.
,@katie and @ maryebGlad to hear some positiv voices too!
Totally in agreement with Ina. I actually felt relieved reading this, there are times when I find reading the blogs is depressing, so much negativity. Thanks so much Rynetta for this post!!
katie, Ina, and fleur de lys: thank you ladies SO much! Like all of you, I really love J. Crew. As I said above, that doesn't mean that there are not problems with the brand. But, I think the good far outweighs the bad.Thanks for reading and commenting, ladies!!!
I love reading posts like this, thanks! I'm not quite in the total love camp, but there is something I like in every rollout. I'm in a place now of having enough, and that has affected my ordering from J.Crew (and from anywhere else). I have to love something a LOT to buy it at this point. But it's because of J. Crew that I have what I need, so I'm not complaining. I've just gotten picky because I don't want to add more to an already full closet. I should be getting rid of things (and I am), not adding (but I still sometimes am! lol).
cate: I totally get what you're saying! I love your point that it's "because of J. Crew that [you] have what [you] need." That is exactly how I feel. Great point!!!
I Still heart Jcrew! Not every piece is for everyone but over all it is my go to Store! I enjoy Mdewell also for more casual cloths but most of my everyday work cloths are Jcrew. I also allways love seeing how you have styled so many pieces together Rynetta
Mary G: You're super duper sweet. I really appreciate the compliment!!! J. Crew is definitely my go-to store, no questions about it. I like Madewell, but for basic pieces. Have a great weekend!
I am a recent fan of J Crew (maybe the last 3 years) and have really enjoyed their offerings. I am glad that I don't love everything they offer (or I would be broke) but then again, I don't love everything in all the other stores I shop at either. From what I have from them, I have really like the quality for the price. The one article I read was took an example of their pants offering. I think I own 2 pair of J Crew pants because none of the cut fits me well. So when they only offer minnie & cafe? I could not buy any. I laughed that you thought the fringe tank was hideous. I wanted to buy it but it's so impractical for real life that I passed on it.Alicewww.happinessatmidlife.comHope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
Alice: You make a great point about not loving everything that other stores offer, too. And, I am so glad that you brought up the point about J. Crew pants. What's interesting is that I did not go near their pants until recently. In the past 4 or 5 months, I have found *several* J. Crew pants styles that I absolutely LOVE. About the fringe tank: LOL! I just knew that it would be a disaster on me!
Hi Rynetta! Thanks for sharing. I agree–I also don't think they "owe" us anything or feel betrayed if the line goes in a different direction. If they didn't try new things, they'd just be Talbots or something hashtag boring. Are you "confessing" because of some of the negativity on the mothership blog? -Lauren (lep33shops)
Hi Lauren! I have actually been thinking about this post for a few months, but the recent articles about female shoppers falling out of love with J. Crew pushed me to finish the posts (I have two more scheduled). I am actually glad that the brand is trying new things because it's forcing me to try new things, like pants. Thanks for being here, I really appreciate it! I LOVE seeing your fabulous outfits on IG!
I love your 'loving it' blogging style. I also agree unless a negative opinion is for a for review of something you expected to like, not much will be served by blogging about what you don't like. Can't to wait to read the saucy confessions in Part II. On a side note, although I haven't being commenting on blogs lately, I have noticed how your style has changed with new short and edgy hair. Loving it. I flit between pixie to shoulder length and everything in between and my hairstyle definitely dictates my wardrobe choices.
jude musings: I genuinely appreciate the compliments. Like you, I often wonder who wants to read negative reviews about things that did not work. Don't get me wrong, I think that it's productive to point out design flaws and fit issues. That is different than just saying I don't like this crap in my opinion. About my hair and changing style: thank you SO much! I LOVE short hair. I tried the longer bob-ish style for a bit, and while i like it, the pixie cut is SO me. And, as you point out, that cut has pushed me out of my pencil skirt comfort zone. I am really loving the new direction my style/wardrobe is taking! Thanks for noticing and commenting about it!
I'm a bit half and half…I like about half of what's being put out, but loathe the other half. That's not bad odds, considering there's rarely a store where I love everything! My frustrations are mostly with the silhouettes and sheerness of many items. As a size 12/14, I also agree with you on the frustration of not having the size stocked in store.
Ashley: I totally agree with you!!! OMG, how hard is it to stock size 14s in retail stores, seriously?!?! Happy weekend!
Rynetta: I am so glad you wrote this post. I was beginning to feel that I was the last standing lover of the Crew. I love JCrew and have been shopping there since my Junior year in college (1999). I purchased my wedding dress from Jcrew and over 97% of my clothes are from the store. No I don't like everything but each season I find something (pants/ skirts/ tops/ dresses) that I love. If I don't like a style I just don't buy it. And I feel your plan, I wear tall in pants, dresses and skirt and they never offer them in stores. But I deal, because I know my size and can easily order and return what doesn't fit. Is it a hassle, yeah but one I make willing. Just wanted to say that It's so refreshing to hear someone who feels the same about the jcrew as I do and isn't harping on the poor quality and ill fit. The mother board can get a bit negative but I think it's because when one person complains it just easier to join in than to say well hey I actually love a lot of what they are doing. Great to know that I'm not a lone reed ( excuse the you've got mail reference, I love the movie!)