Kathy Ireland is out and about promoting her new book, “Real Solutions for Busy Moms.” She appeared yesterday on the Today Show and this morning on Fox News. In both interviews, she is wearing J.Crew!
Thanks so much to Shaina and Pinsuda on Twitter for letting me know!
On the Today show, Kathy Ireland is wearing a J.Crew necklace, the silk solid tunic and a skirt that is currently store only.
On Fox News, she is wearing the Medallion lattice top.
Silk solid tunic, was $88.00, select colors $49.99, Item 12342
Medallion lattice top, $88.00, Item 13309
See the videos below to see the J.Crew clothes on Kathy Ireland.
The Racked posted a short blurb yesterday highlighting an interview with Jenna Lyons & Frank Muytjens, J.Crew’s creative director and head of men’s design respectively, discuss the spring trends.
The full interview can be found at Time Out New York. I have posted it below for your reading pleasure!
Ripped-up jeans that cost a fortune Lyons: I love them, and I hate them. I love the look and understand that not everyone has the time or the creativity to make them look that way. But I hate that the store-bought ones cost a fortune. Muytjens: I like the idea of them. I wear unwashed jeans and break them in myself. When you buy jeans, they’re so rigid, but you wear them throughout the years, and they become yours; they mold to your body, and they fade on their own. When you earn it, it’s real and it’s genuine.
Bow ties for men Muytjens: The bow tie has a bad rap. It all depends on the guy. If you remove the bow tie from its East Coast, preppy context and put it on a guy wearing an oxford shirt with rolled-up sleeves and skinny jeans, it definitely has a place. Lyons: If you’re Barack Obama you can sport a bow tie anytime you want. Aside from that, I love bow ties on younger guys. I think there’s something really playful and tongue-in-cheek about a younger guy wearing jeans and a bow tie.
Teeny, tiny “It” bags Lyons: Tiny little bags, tiny little cell phones and tiny little charms for your phone all go in the same category for me: What? I have no appreciation for them whatsoever. I have total appreciation for an evening bag, in which a girl can keep her keys, her credit card, her safety cash and her lipgloss. But I just don’t get small bags. Small bags have no reason for being. Muytjens: I completely agree with Jenna. I don’t look at women’s bags every day, but I do notice a woman with a classic bag that can last for years and years. It’s like a woman’s signature. You don’t have to change it every month or follow the latest trends.
Animal prints Lyons: Oh God. They’re hard because they just don’t die. It’s not like I don’t like them, I just wish they would come in and then just go away for a while. But they seem to stay forever. Muytjens: But they sell well…
Super-duper high heels Lyons: I love heels, so I think it’s unfortunate that a taller woman—five foot seven and above—looks proportionally better in a pair of heels than really small girls. Small girls in high heels look like they’re on stilts, and it can look ridiculous, not elegant. Muytjens: It’s about how you put it together. For instance, Jenna will wear high heels and combine it with cargo pants to make it more interesting and not so cookie-cutter.
Sweatpants in public Muytjens: No. They’re made to work out in. Lyons: For men, I totally agree. Girls can pretty much do anything they want if it’s done right. A pair of gray sweatpants by Phillip Lim with a little cuff at the bottom and paired with little heels, an oversize men’s blazer and a little sequin top, then yeah, totally there. But sweatpants tucked into Uggs? No.
Tight pants on men Muytjens: On the right guy, it looks really cool. With Converse sneakers and all that. At the same time, you have to be careful not to make it too trashy. Jenna: If you can see his package, there’s a problem. Trends are scary because when something becomes a trend, people decide to wear them whether they look good in them or not, and that’s where people fall off the cliff. Skinny jeans are for guys who have the body to wear skinny jeans. If you don’t have the body, then it’s not for you and don’t do it. It becomes grotesque when you’re spilling out of it.
Leggings as pants Lyons: I love it! As long as they’re not cheap, poorly made ones—or too tight. Muytjens: I agree. Of course, we don’t ever talk about leggings on guys. I like it on girls, though, absolutely.
Speedos Lyons: No! Unless you’re Michael Phelps you cannot wear a Speedo. And if you’re Michael Phelps you’d better always wear a Speedo. Muytjens: No, absolutely not.
J. Crew Group, Inc. today announced financial results for the three months (fourth quarter) and fiscal year ended January 31, 2009 (fiscal 2008).
See below for the press release they sent out.
Fourth Quarter highlights:
– Revenues decreased 3% to $388.0 million. Store sales (Retail andFactory) decreased 3% to $252.0 million, with comparable store sales decreasing 13%. Comparable store sales increased 4% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. Direct sales (Internet and Phone) decreased 2% to $123.0 million. Direct sales increased 11% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.
– Gross margin decreased to 27.6% of revenues from 41.3% of revenues in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. The decrease in gross margin is primarily due to increased markdowns and promotional selling activities.
– Operating income (loss) decreased to ($20.4 million), or (5.3%) of revenues, compared with $43.3 million, or 10.8% of revenues, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. Operating loss in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 includes non-cash asset impairment charges of approximately $2.1 million related to under performing stores.
– Net income (loss) in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was ($13.5 million), or ($0.22) per share, and includes the impact of non-cash asset impairment charges of approximately $0.02 per share related to under performing stores. Net income was $25.0 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.
Millard Drexler, J. Crew’s Chairman and CEO stated: “We are disappointed with our fourth quarter operating results. Our mission, day after day, is to adjust to this new, not fun, retail reality, while not compromising our long term strategy and integrity. We believe the actions we are taking, our focus on quality products and customer service, along with our strong balance sheet, will position us well for when the environment eventually improves.” Read more…
Tomorrow at 4:30 pm, J.Crew will release their 4th Quarter financial results. The broadcast will be available by clicking on the ‘Investor Relations‘ section of the Company’s website at www.jcrew.com.
I am very curious as to what they have to say. J.Crew was very hopeful about the company’s outlook at the end of the 3rd Quarter. See the post, “Results from J.Crew Q3 Conference Call” to learn more.
Today, an analyst predicted that J.Crew inventory levels would not reach a more manageable level until the end of the 2nd Quarter this year. See the article, “Ahead of the Bell: Analyst eyes J. Crew inventory.”
I wonder what J.Crew will do to reduce their inventory levels. I suggest:
Syncing up the Retail & Direct channels so that prices are consistent
Free shipping at any price like Neiman Marcus and Saks occasionally do
Stepping up customer service so that all complaints are taken care of
Over at The Consumerist, there is a story posted about a J.Crew customer who recently received 30 pairs of free shoes from the retailer after catching them in a web of lies. Please read his story below.
It started off with me shopping in a store in NJ. I really liked the sneaker there but the store was closing and I had to head back to Brooklyn. The sales associate told me to just go online and id be able to get the shoes for same price via website. They were 50% off in store, plus I had 15 % student discount. I call J.Crew online, and the sales person is super nice. She places me on hold to confirm with store the price.
She tells me that she spoke to the manager and that the shoes were never 50% off. I asked who she spoke to. Hang up and call store myself. Turns out there’s no manager in there by the name I was given
I call back J.Crew. I am told salesperson who i was working with left for the day, only to then find out she’s actually still in. Basically lied to non-stop.
I call CEO (Mickey Drexler). His assistant takes care of me. I have 30 new pairs of sneakers now.
This is a classic example of the policy and price inconsistencies at J.Crew. Some stores charge shipping of full price items, while others do not. Some stores match online prices while others do not.
This leads to an extremely negative shopping experience at J.Crew. Perhaps, it’s time for J.Crew to issue another apology. (See “J.Crew Admits Their Woes.”)
Personally, I would love to see the retailer post the policies on the website in black and white. It would be nice and clear for everyone: managers, sales associates and customers. I would love to be able to print it out and carry it into the stores with me.
Yesterday, I read a tweet where someone wrote about J.Crew cutting jobs. I wasn’t sure if it was at the corporate or store level. The news has been confirmed as J.Crew just sent out a press release today.
In the press release, J.Crew is making many changes to cut corners and costs. The changes are expected to generate the company $40 million dollars in pre-tax savings. Looks like J.Crew is not faring too well in this economy.
So what is the company doing to ride out 2009? J.Crew will be:
Reducing workforce by approximately 95 positions (including positions that are currently unfilled) primarily in the New York offices and support functions in the field and distribution centers. This represented an approximate 10% reduction in staffing for the departments included. The affected associates have been offered severance and related transition assistance.
Suspending the 401(k) Plan Company matching contributions through the balance of 2009.
Eliminating 2009 merit based wage increases for the entire workforce.
Initiating other company-wide cost reduction programs to produce efficiencies in areas such as supply chain, store operations, real estate, catalog circulation, and other general savings in the New York offices.
And what did CEO, Mickey Drexler have to say about this?
“As we are all aware, we are operating in a very tough economic environment. This has required us to make some difficult decisions, which we do not take lightly, but feel are necessary to ensure we remain competitively positioned over the long term. However, we believe our financial flexibility, our team, and our focus on quality products and the customer will enable us to navigate these turbulent times.”
Tomorrow at 4:30 pm, J.Crew will release their 4th Quarter financial results. The broadcast will be available by clicking on the ‘
