J.CrewAholics

Jacquelyn, over at Fashionable Yet Frugal, sent me this great review of the of the recent purchases she made at J.Crew. They were all online purchases so she does also vent her frustration with having to deal with so many issues related to J.Crew’s website upgrade.

If you’ve got some items you are interested in reviewing for this blog, send me a an email here.

First and foremost, I want to express some frustration with an order I received today. I had ordered the cord skirt and the denim pencil skirt. The cord skirt was in the package but the denim skirt was not, though I checked my credit card and I had been charged for it, and it was on the invoice. I called CS and found out I had been short shipped. The item would be sent tomorrow and could not be overnighted because it was in the warehouse to ship. It seems J.Crew could have notified me instead of me doing this detective work myself. I also noticed that there is a temporary authorization on my credit card for this item–hopefully I won’t be charged twice!

Onward and forward to the items and reviews:

Dream tie cardigan, $98.00, Item 96220

I ordered the Dream tie cardigan in eggplant back in early August and they “lost” the order; I was not aware of this until I called to find out what was going on. Well, when I called they placed a back-up order. Imagine my surprise when the lost order showed up last week! And because the back-up order is in an “open” status it cannot be canceled…looks like I will get two—it also looks like there is a pending charge for it on my credit card. Only one will go back, though. I like it a lot; my husband gives it an 8.5 out of 10. It seems to run a bit large but the size smaller (large) would not look right. I need the XL so the tie is under my bustline. I worry it will pill as previous Dream sweaters have. The eggplant is not as itchy as the heather silver version I tried on in store.

Jacinda jacket, $148.00, Item 98594

The Jacinda jacket is now sold out in the color/size combo I ordered (black, XL). It is a heavier weight and more like a jacket than a sweater. I did not like it; it just did not seem to be tailored right. It fit fine in the arms and shoulders but seemed too straight, even though it was supposed to come in at the waist. It just seemed “off” to me. I also have a larger bust so it did not seem to lay right in the front—this might work better for smaller busted women. My husband gave it a big thumbs down. Guess what he is returning to the store for me tomorrow?

Stretch vintage cord skirt, $68.00, Item 96175

I ordered the stretch vintage cord skirt in a size 16 as it is a pencil skirt. It did fit fine in the hips and rear, but it is large in the waist. It kind of bunches up underneath the zipper. I think a size 14 would fit better in the waist but be too tight across the rear. The color is beautiful and the skirt is very nicely made. I did pay $68 for it online but then I saw it in the store for $49.50 so I was able to get an adjustment. I am going to keep it as the husband really liked it. It will need to be worn with a more fitted top to maintain the slim look. It really is a nice skirt and will look great with tall boots.

Cotton taffeta Belle skirt, $78.00, Item 97636

Expected to come soon: a Belle skirt in rhubarb (ordered a 14 since it is a fuller skirt). I did also order the Belle skirt in the dark fog but that order was inexplicably canceled. When I called to investigate as the skirt was still saying available on the website the CS placed another order and put me on the waitlist. I placed this second order at the same time as I placed the back-up order for the dream cardi. It appears to be in “open” status and my card has an authorization for it. So, maybe it will come soon. Who knows?!?

In any case, I hope I get it because it is so pretty and the cut seems very slimming. I did try it on in the 12 in store and it was too small in the waist but fine everywhere else, so this seems like it will fit fine in a 14.

Interesting note: the rhubarb version was in the sale section but was not a final sale (or so the CS told me when I called to get the 40% off that was going on in stores). Even the confirmation e-mail and the shipment e-mail list the other items I purchased as final sale but not the skirt. So I guess if it does not work I will return it, e-mail in hand as proof that it is not final sale!

I know I am watching my credit card like a hawk to make sure price adjustments and other charges are accurate and correct. My advice is for everyone else to do the same until the website issues are cleared up.