STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

bumblebee · Coach

j.crew?

Cortney1982 · Chanel

There have been some comments on this lately. They are just trying to cash in on a booming economy. It all started with desinger denim. Why not have outragous prices on everything else? I'm hoping that these super expensive items they have are specially made to justify the prices.

exsupahero · Kate Spade

maybe someone should call and see why the high prices? i just think that they still have the same stuff like they did before (maybe with some price inflation) but they're adding more expensive stuff.

Christine · Coach

I agree that the prices are insane. If I'm going to pay, oh, let's say $2500 for a coat, it's not going to be from JCrew, regardless of the quality...........

$2500 (!!)

bumblebee · Coach

yeah, christine--that's exactly what i mean. if i want to save up $1200 to buy a jacket, i want to buy it from max mara or something, not j. crew. it just seems weird to me that they have this very solid core business of people who want to buy suits and cashmere sweaters and corduroys, and now they are jumping way up to $2500 satin top-coats. it's just a weird dichotomy, to me, but maybe i'm missing something.

Christine · Coach

bumblebee wrote:

yeah, christine--that's exactly what i mean. if i want to save up $1200 to buy a jacket, i want to buy it from max mara or something, not j. crew. it just seems weird to me that they have this very solid core business of people who want to buy suits and cashmere sweaters and corduroys, and now they are jumping way up to $2500 satin top-coats. it's just a weird dichotomy, to me, but maybe i'm missing something.

I agree 100%. Nope, you're not missing anything - it's just crazy.

halleybird · Hermes

not only that, but their sales suck, too. Why would I pay $80 for J.Crew pants that are final sale? I can find (returnable) Theory pants for that price.

hotcocoa · Kate Spade

j.crew has been making me very sad lately. i used to rely on them for certain things and i used to buy a considerable amount from them but i don't think i've purchased anything from j.crew in about a year. some of their prices have gone up considerably (i'm sorry, but i'm not paying $130 for a pair of j.crew denim that isn't even cut well) and the styles are moving further and further away from what appeals to me — which is the bigger problem in my eyes. they used to sell some pretty cute things (i have pieces in my closet to prove it) but lately i haven't been crazy about the styles. for me, it's not so much the higher prices... i'd pay for a well made piece that i love regardless of who is selling it. i'm just not in love with anything they are selling. (well, except those cashmere sweaters!)

-- Edited by hotcocoa at 06:30, 2005-10-04

Maddie · Coach

I've read a bunch of articles about this. Basically, they weren't doing that well and so the guy from Gap came in and revamped it. He said that with stores you either have to go for quality or price and with J.Crew the obvious choice was to go for quality. Although most of their prices have risen a little bit, they only have a few really crazily priced items.

honey · Gucci

Maddie wrote:

I've read a bunch of articles about this. Basically, they weren't doing that well and so the guy from Gap came in and revamped it. He said that with stores you either have to go for quality or price and with J.Crew the obvious choice was to go for quality. Although most of their prices have risen a little bit, they only have a few really crazily priced items.

i'm with maddie on this. the guy was mickey drexler (who used to head up the gap) and overall i'm pleased with the results from the standpoint that i'm more inclined to buy from them than i was 2 years ago. even if it means i have to save up for it.

i think a lot of what they did had to do with the details -- like there was one jacket i saw that was a ridiculous price ($1200) but it had a real fur collar and i is made of cashmere. anyway even though it's pricey, considering what it is it kind of makes sense. it's interesting to me b/c a lot of times people are like but it's not designer which is weird, b/c i'd rather pay for quality (i've never had problems with j.crew stuff so i consider them quality) than for a label. and i can think of a ton of designers (la rok) comes to mind, that slap an outrageous price tag on something that's so not worth it.

exsupahero · Kate Spade

^^ agreed. People focus way too much on names than on quality. I understand that it's jcrew but if their stuff lasts a long time and in that many years someone commented on it, then it'd be like, WHAT?! Jcrew? Cool.

tara t · Marc Jacobs

so i pretty much agree with all the pints listed above. but i'm saying, i can buy a pair of 90.00 pants on sale of decent quality at BR for about 50.00. jcrew sales suck.

Dizzy · Marc Jacobs

I haven't bought anything from Jcrew in about two years, and I used to like them. But there's always something when I try something on - the cut's weird, the pants don't cover my butt, the fabric seems pilly, the cotton is awful, and so on. I dont' think their quality is very good right now. There have been complaints about things shrinking in other threads And just as an example, their lounge outfits just look icky. I'm not going to pay $120 for a lounging around outfit that's going to shrink, stretch, is cut to make my but look big, is a weird color, pills, fades and looks like something my mom has been wearing for six years. Ew. I do like their shoes, but they don't last, so I haven't bought any of those, either.

bumblebee · Coach

today i am wearing my j.crew corduroys that i bought about two weeks ago, and i have to say that they are pretty fantastic. they were a bit more than they used to be at j.crew (they were about $80, not on sale) but the quality and cut is great, and they have quite a bit of stretch in them, but they're not bulky. they fit just like how you always wish those cool vintage levi's ones from thrift stores would (and never do).

anyway, i've never had a problem with the quality of j.crew's stuff. and they do still carry a lot of work and casual clothes that are fairly reasonable (though more pricey than they used to be for the exact same products). the thing i don't understand is just the really high-end stuff that they are pushing all of a sudden. i kind of remember BR doing that a few years back, though, too--and sometimes they still do for holiday, i think.

i don't really know what my point is...

luckylily · Gucci

I've bought tons of basics (cords, button up shirts, and solid sweaters for work) at the J.Crew Outlet over the past couple years. The stuff is about 1/2 off (and they often have sales with another 50% off). I haven't found the quality to be all that much less than at the actual store.

I'm also a one woman promotional team for J.Crew shoes. I think they are so comfortable and the quality is great. They are well worth the price, IMO. Even my cobbler has commented on how nice the leather is for the price.

I totally get what y'all are saying tho. It is weird that 95% of their stuff is mid-range price, but they have a few things that are super expensive.

halleybird · Hermes

I agree with Dizzy. I have had a couple of items from jcrew over the years, and I always kick myself for it, because I think the fit and the fabric is awful. Maybe I'm just buying the wrong stuff?

Maddie · Coach

I'm surprised by people being unimpressed with J.Crew's quality. I've been a devoted J.Crew shopper since freshman year of highschool and while there are some things I no longer choose to wear, everything has held up great.