J. Crew Quality?

abc123 · Sep 28, 2006

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

J Crew is a totally different aesthetic than Zara, which is hyper trendy, while J Crew is more traditional (if not exactly Brooks Brothers)

Banana is a bit more trendy and has some more modern styling to its collections, quality is more or less the same IMO except some of the premium J Crew stuff like the LP collabarations are a bit better.

I agree, I was just comparing it quality wise to other stores at a similar price point. Honestly, I've found that the few Banana garments I own, and the ones I saw at Zara (when my girlfriend dragged me in), are of far sub par quality. They just feel cheap, whereas the J Crew clothes feel much more comprable to the likes of BB/RL at a lower price. Of course, this discludes their suits, which are dreadful.

StevenRocks · Sep 28, 2006

I like J.Crew. The quality is better than it used to be, though I buy less from there than I used to back in the day.

Arethusa · Sep 28, 2006

Originally Posted by abc123

I agree, I was just comparing it quality wise to other stores at a similar price point. Honestly, I've found that the few Banana garments I own, and the ones I saw at Zara (when my girlfriend dragged me in), are of far sub par quality. They just feel cheap, whereas the J Crew clothes feel much more comprable to the likes of BB/RL at a lower price. Of course, this discludes their suits, which are dreadful.
Honestly, J Crew suits may be nothing fantastic, but I'd take one any day over Banana Republic or Express. I generally agree with the rest.

DocHolliday · Sep 28, 2006

Originally Posted by Arethusa

Honestly, J Crew suits may be nothing fantastic, but I'd take one any day over Banana Republic or Express. I generally agree with the rest.

If I had to choose between them, I'd buy a suit at BR over J. Crew without a second thought. The cut seems much nicer, and the construction seems slightly better. The only bubbled lapel I've ever seen in a store was at J. Crew.

But I'm with you on Express. I'd certainly choose J. Crew's suits over those.

Soph · Sep 28, 2006

Great for trad college on a budget.
Beyond that it's time to move up and out.
J. Crew also has the high end Barn wear market to a T.

Express should be outlawed.

Arethusa · Sep 28, 2006

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

If I had to choose between them, I'd buy a suit at BR over J. Crew without a second thought. The cut seems much nicer, and the construction seems slightly better. The only bubbled lapel I've ever seen in a store was at J. Crew.

But I'm with you on Express. I'd certainly choose J. Crew's suits over those.
Admittedly, I may have just seen some bad BR suits and some unusually decent J Crew suits.

DocHolliday · Sep 28, 2006

Originally Posted by Arethusa

Admittedly, I may have just seen some bad BR suits and some unusually decent J Crew suits.

The opposite may apply for me as well.

But I've seen a few suits at BR I might recommend for someone on a budget who needed a suit for infrequent wear, or for banging about. But I don't think I've ever seen anything I found particularly interesting at J. Crew.

Artisan Fan · Sep 28, 2006

J Crew's cashmere sweaters are fairly good (LP yarn)

I have one and it is wonderful in fit and quality. I also like some of their T-shirts but their clothes are rather fitted for a younger generation.

Sator · Sep 28, 2006

When I went to a J Crew store in Boston recently I was hoping to see something genuinely American - everything that Brooks Brothers used to be but was no longer. I was horrified to find almost everything I could find (except the ties) was made in China/Mexico and ran out of the shop as quickly as I could.

Artisan Fan · Sep 28, 2006

I think that's typical of many American mall stores these days sadly but there are some good things at J. Crew...you just have to dig a little.

Arethusa · Sep 28, 2006

Originally Posted by Sator

When I went to a J Crew store in Boston recently I was hoping to see something genuinely American - everything that Brooks Brothers used to be but was no longer. I was horrified to find almost everything I could find (except the ties) was made in China/Mexico and ran out of the shop as quickly as I could.
That's basically how they're able to have such good sales and fantastic profit margins.

chorse123 · Sep 28, 2006

The only garments I've had a problem with from there are their lambswool sweaters. They are very nice, soft sweaters, but they pill terribly.

I do like that they are devoid of branding. As far as I know, they do not have a logo.

Sator · Sep 29, 2006

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

I think that's typical of many American mall stores these days sadly but there are some good things at J. Crew...you just have to dig a little.

So is there anything left that is still old fashioned and genuinely American as baseball and apple pie? Of course in shoes AE is a last small bastion of hope, but what of clothes?

DocHolliday · Sep 29, 2006

Originally Posted by Sator

So is there anything left that is still old fashioned and genuinely American as baseball and apple pie? Of course in shoes AE is a last small bastion of hope, but what of clothes?

Some of Brooks' offerings are still made in the U.S. Alden too.

Sator · Sep 29, 2006

Originally Posted by Arethusa

That's basically how they're able to have such good sales and fantastic profit margins.

Probably made by some children working under Dickensian conditions in a sweatshop on starvation wages. Under wretched conditions, for wretched pay, only wretched garments are ever made. For nobody ever has the chance to derive pride and joy from their work. Shame on you J Press.

J. Crew Quality?

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