Soaring Price Points in J.Crew Collection

Posted by Siv on August 26th, 2008

10 comments

While I do adore the J.Crew Collection and absolutely love the pieces that I have been able to snag up (like the cashmere Bal D’Hiver dress from last winter), I do not see myself purchasing any of the following items in the near future. These prices are through the roof!

What are your thoughts? Do any of these items catch your eye enough to justify the price points? Will you wait in hopes that they go on sale?

That might take some time as the tortoise sequin jacket is from last winter. J.Crew must be keeping it at full price in hopes that someone will bite and pay that price tag.

Washed-leather Claudette jacket, $1,100, Item 94137

Printed calf-hair Astor jacket, $2,200, Item 96558

Tortoise sequin jacket, $3,000, Item 93285

Leopard-beaded cardigan, $2,800, Item 96123

Leopard-beaded dress, $3,500, Item 96082

Posted in J.Crew Collection

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139310 Responses2008-08-26+12%3A35%3A26Siv to “Soaring Price Points in J.Crew Collection”

Allison says:

August 26, 2008 at 11:43 am

Not much about these pieces say “classic” to me. Unlike your Bal D’Hiver dress which is very classic. I guess before shelling out $ on J.Crew Collection pieces I should ask myself “Would Grace Kelly wear this?” I think Grace Kelly WOULD wear the Bal D’Hiver dress!

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jacquelyn says:

August 26, 2008 at 12:13 pm

ITA. I love the cashmere Pavia cardigan. But it is $378!!!!!! That is so way out of my league…and I have disposable income and often pay FP for items I love. I would never pay that price. It would make me feel ill to do so.

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Leigh says:

August 26, 2008 at 5:37 pm

Allison: That’s a great way of looking at it! I like to purchase classic pieces, too. That way, I know that I can wear them year after year. The Collection pieces here are definitely very trendy and would likely be a one-time wear for me.

Jaquelyn: I love the Pavia cardigan, too. I was looking at the picture of it on the website last night and realized that it’s very similar to another cardigan I have from J.Crew, the Penny cardigan. I got in on sale last year.

Here is a photo: http://jcrewaholics.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/penny.jpg

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jacquelyn says:

August 26, 2008 at 5:49 pm

Hey! I remember that cardigan, Leigh. I wanted it when they had it last year…by the time it got to sale it was sold out in my size. It taught me to buy things I really, really like at FP. I wear a size XL or 14/16 in J.Crew items and those go fast for the “good” stuff.

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Leigh says:

August 26, 2008 at 10:48 pm

Jacquelyn: I really love this cardigan. It’s super soft and and I love that the weaving is large and not tight like most sweaters. Are you holding for the Paiva or will you be purchasing at full price?

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caroline says:

August 27, 2008 at 12:46 pm

I think the stuff too trendy and too expensive for the price. Don’t get me wrong, I love J. Crew but if I’m going to spend $1,000-2,000 on an article of clothing (which rarely happens, by the way), it’s not going to be at J. Crew, it’s going to be at Ferragamo or something. I think they are wasting their time – I wonder how the collection is selling.

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Leigh says:

August 27, 2008 at 9:09 pm

Caroline: I definitely agree with you, too. At that price point, it might be time to consider other designer items that fall into the same price range. I love J.Crew, too, but these price points are mind boggling.

I know they are trying to attract a higher-end customer, but I wonder if it’s really working. I don’t know if I would admit to my friends that I paid $3,500 for a dress from J.Crew.

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Lucy says:

August 28, 2008 at 2:47 am

well, I have quite a few designer pieces and I must say JCrew quality is pretty comparable on some of the items. But then again like all of you, I don’t buy trendy designer pieces- I have to be able to wear them year afater year if I am going to invest!

JCrew quality overall is by far superior than any of the high street stores in Europe, the fit is better, and the prices are lower than stuff in Europe. (ie- Massimo Dutti, Zara,Riess, etc.) They should expand abroad!

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Sean D. says:

September 2, 2008 at 10:19 am

As a long time fan of J.Crew, I have most recently found myself severely disappointed in all that it has been rolling out. Over the past year that I have been employed by J.Crew i have noticed the most dramatic changes to its collections. While the products are still made quite well, the materials from which they are created have become less reliable, and the prices have slowly been climbing… and, most of all, everything has changed. J.Crew was always reliable for preppy classics, with quirky, modern twists… Now it is a go-to for trendy items, with fewer and fewer classics to be found

Mickey said it himself in Fortune Magazine, that the answer to these “hard economic times” is to go upscale. While this is a wonderful solution, why does it entail changing the entire collection as well? Long gone are the fun colors from the mens collection, and the classic go-tos for women. I have had little to applaud the company of in terms of design lately, and have turned to other stores to purchase from… This price jump on “now” pieces reflects this upscale push, which can also be noticed in the marketing/catalogs… look at one from the recent months, then one from last year or the year before… do you like the changes?

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Leigh says:

September 2, 2008 at 11:39 pm

Hi Sean! So glad that you found the blog. As a J.Crew associate, you must be privy to all the changes that have been happening firsthand.

I, too, have noticed that the prices have been slowly creeping and higher. You used to be able to get a women’s winter coat for under $300. Now it is just over the $300 mark. I know that this is small difference, but it is a difference nonetheless. At this rate, J.Crew is reaching designer prices and I could splurge just a bit more for a Milly or Burberry coat.

I have noticed that J.Crew has lost of some its preppiness and has become more trendy in the womens collection. I have not noticed that in the mens collection. Would you say this is a fair assessment? I am not sure, but I do shop a lot for my boyfriend and I have not noticed a significant difference.

I still don’t understand why Mickey’s answer to the rough economy is to go upscale. i would think that it is the opposite. When some people have to decide between paying for gas/rent/food or that brand new coat or pairs of shoes, I am sure they choosing the former.

I am still deciding how I feel about the changes. What have you noticed your customers saying? What are their thoughts and concerns?

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