J.Crew Spring 2012 - Page 4

jacket looks good but it also looks to be clipped in the back, and j crew has never released outerwear w/ such slim sleeves so i'm assuming the sleeves are clipped as well

hopefully i am wrong

Didn't you read? It's a collector's item!

This brand is quickly going down the shitter, and it's been hovering over the toilet for a while now.

The construction for one thing, has really been terrible the last few seasons considering what you pay. They basically take whatever was popular from last season's brand and remake it for dirt cheap. But they charge over half what the original pieces were going for. Quality wise, I can find better stuff at Urban Outfitters.

The selvedge is what's really insulting. They claim that the 484 jeans are made in Japan, and they probably are. But my friend has a pair, and the quality isn't even as good as APC. It's also really low weight denim. Like 11 oz.

The only good products are the collabs, which are usually overpriced even for what they are.

I remember reading an issue of the New Yorker where they interviewed Mickey. During a meeting with his team they brought up the mens shirts and the price they were sold at last season and the sell through. they decided to increase the price by 5-10$ because it was worth it.

this is the main reason why i don't like j crew, as a company (aside from them blatantly copying from other brands and claiming it was their designers' idea)

everything they do seems disingenuous - like they'll position the brand in any way possible to swindle the customer out of his money.

obviously, all companies are for-profit, and that's the ultimate goal of a store selling clothes. but i don't think all companies are willing to alienate their customers in the way that j crew does. so j crew seems to be for-profit, alone. that is, j crew has no creative ambition or greater purpose other than peddling its wares. perhaps that's why its creative team has (clearly) been given the order to take from other brands.

brands like zara & h&m also 'take' from other brands, but j crew does it w/ a smirk on their face. when zara or h&m copies from another designer, its done under the auspices of providing 'budget fast fashion'.

j crew is a budget fast fashion brand, but w/out prices or marketing that align w/ it

So what, specifically, has j crew done?

• Wallace & Barnes line - deceivingly positioned as a collaborative line
• Deceptive item photos - metal clips to make garment seem more 'tailored' than it really is
• Blatantly raising item prices once they get popular (Chippewa boots)
• Product copy w/ airs/pretenses of luxury (eg, "We source our leather from... bla bla bla)
• Bad-faith marketing - "Hurry! 20% Off One More Day Only" - Then, the next day, it's 25% off
• Tasteless pandering to clueless middle American men - "10 Tips to Dress Up Casual Fridays"
• STEALS designs from other brands (off the top of my head, eg, Gitman Bros; Wings + Horns; CDW)

if there is a redeeming factor to j crew, it is that they often pull fantastic, unique collaborative items. i can't help but feel that it's a brand-positioning agenda (ie, to place their cheapy, Made-In-China wares alongside paradigms in mens clothing like Alden, Saint James, Red Wing, etc), but i almost don't care since its done so well
Edited by aaaeeeiiiooouuu - 2/24/12 at 2:48pm

If you dont like it, dont buy it.

Who said I bought anything?

There's nothing wrong with discussing a brand's flaws. I've learned a lot from J Crew threads over the years about what items are worth buying and which ones are junk.

Full disclosure: I own 2 J Crew shirts. Both were bought at a deep discount and I would never pay full price for anything J Crew when I can get a Gitman or BOO shirt in B&S for the same price.

Ultimately, my main problem with J Crew is how far they have fallen from the decent brand they used to be. I attribute this to the fact that they are now catering most of their line to the American "mall market". As a result, their fits are terrible (tailored for a frat guy with a slight beer gut) and the quality has dropped significantly.

i own a ton of j crew shit and will prob keep buying

almost all my socks are from j crew and all my plain white v-necks are j crew

but i'm not happy w/ the brand

1.) Real men don't wear shorts.

 

2.) Fuck socks (says JCrew...again)

 

3.) That green jacket is secks.

Actually J crew camp socks are probably the best thing in the store. American made and very nice surprisingly. On sale they are a steal.

I love the camp socks.  If it's cold, I'm wearing camp socks.

I'm having a bad experience with them. I bought one on sale for $3 (sale + extra 50% + discount) and a rip formed in front of the toes the first day I wore it with my Red Wings... And I don't have big feet (I wear a size 8.5).

I would ask to exchange. I have 8 pairs and they have all been worn probably 20-25 times with no problems on any of them.

European View on J.Crew - Hi, since there are no J.Crew stores in Europe - yet - I have ordered from their website, with the obvious shortcomings of doing so regarding fit. I have ordered two shirts (both from their slim fit shop size S, one lightweight wash, one chambray utility) and a 484 stanton pant (29/32).

 

The pants fit ok, I have strong thighs, so usually I don't go for too skinny. The shirts (both size S) are a joke though, huge arms and armholes and way too big in chest and waist. These shirts dont look tailored at all on me and what is worse, the lightweight shirt has a mini pleat in the back so I do not yet know if it can be taken in.

 

If you have ordered from Europe (with European sizes in mind) - do you think J.Crew measures are the same as these European sizes or bigger?

 

 

I don't understand how people can get their panties all in a twist over a brand that has risen in popularity over the past 3 or 4 years.


[*] Wallace & Barnes line - deceivingly positioned as a collaborative line

Deceiving us? They have always said it's their brand?

[*] Deceptive item photos - metal clips to make garment seem more 'tailored' than it really is

I bet there is not a single company that is as big as J.Crew or bigger that doesn't doctor their clothes to make them look good.

[*] Blatantly raising item prices once they get popular (Chippewa boots)

It's called supply and demand. It's annoying sometimes but you have to realize that they are a company, they have investors, and if it's no longer worth it to buy that product, someone else will.

[*] Product copy w/ airs/pretenses of luxury (eg, "We source our leather from... bla bla bla)

So it's a bad thing for a company to highlight the fact that they are using fabrics from family owned companies? Why would they pay more to use something that their buyers would appreciate and then completely sweep it under the rug?

[*] Bad-faith marketing - "Hurry! 20% Off One More Day Only" - Then, the next day, it's 25% off

Again, show me another company that doesn't have more than one sale. What do you think they do with the stuff they don't sell in the first round of sales? Burn it?

[*] Tasteless pandering to clueless middle American men - "10 Tips to Dress Up Casual Fridays"

You answered your own question, they are trying to help america's clueless men into dressing better. I guess you need to explain to me why this is bad again.

[*] STEALS designs from other brands (off the top of my head, eg, Gitman Bros; Wings + Horns; CDW)
[/LIST]

haha, when J.Crew comes out with a design, it has probably been on the design table for around 2 years or so. So when they come out with something the same season as another brand it's just a fluke of all the designers. Plus all of J.Crew designers probably worked at smaller design houses like Gitman so they are all thinking the same thing.



I think you are just looking for things to be upset with about J.Crew. They are a huge company so they can't possible operate the same way that smaller companies that I am sure you like better. I think you are forgetting that they are a mall brand, and for that they are worlds better than anything else out there.