Monday, September 24, 2012

J.Crew Holiday Rollout Preview (and Long-sleeve tweed dress review)

New collection has arrived at the J.Crew concept store! I tried on several items and will have reviews coming up soon. For now, I 'd like to share some display pictures:

Lots of Green

Feeling Chanel-esque in blue and purple

And orange

More Cosby Sweaters

Cocoon coat and pretty blouse

More silk cropped pants

New double serge wool skirt in green

More 'crazy pants'

silk chiffon blouse
What I took to the fitting room...

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Long-sleeve tweed dress is not a new arrival but since it generated a lot of interest at some point I thought I would do a review.

Size 6, fits TTS
The fit of this dress is actually very good on me. It is long enough, NOT short waisted,  darts are in right place and the bodice accomodates my chest and the skirt does not puff out at the belly. The sleeves are full length on me. The neckline is not too high. 

Right above the knee cap on me, I am 5'6
I was not sure where I would wear it. For my lifestyle, it seems too formal for work and too 'ladies who lunch' for a dinner date. 

Waist in the right place and no belly pouch
The fabric however is rather stiff. It is not itchy but feels plastic like. I don;t like the blend and I think I would sweat in the dress. 
49% cotton, 28% Acrylic, 23% Polyester
I was not able to zip it up or unzip myself. It may be because the fabric is too stiff, my arms are too short or because I need some yoga (I do!). Or maybe it is due to an assumption that 'ladies who lunch' also live with 'help'?
 
Zipper does look a bit mangled :(
I loved the fit (sans the zipper) but I wish this dress would come in different fabric, how about wool or silk?

***

That's all folks!

What do you think about the upcoming Holiday rollout?

Are you interested in the tweed dress?

Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!

46 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for the sneak peek! Can't wait to see some reviews of the polka dot tee and the swiss blouse, was that a navy one you took to the fitting room?

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  2. I need those collarless tweed jackets, all of them!

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  3. Thank you for the preview! I love those collarless tweed jackets as well, especially in the purple and red, but alas, that shape does not work on me, so I will have to admire them on others.
    I spy a puppy in your dressing room - can't wait to read your take on the dog sweater!

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  4. Great post. I was thinking about heading over today, but I had a deadline. The dress looks wonderful on you. But, the fabric is a deal breaker, and as you say, it is a difficult shape to wear casually or to work. Love the green.

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  5. Oh- I almost forgot. Did you ever hear of this? I so rarely get past the one side of the mall, that I never noticed. I just read about it online.
    http://www.westfield.com/us/style/lounge

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  6. thanks for posting! love those green pants!

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  7. oh dearie me- those crazy green pants...I have avoided all the other print pants but...am...irresistibly...drawn to them...

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  8. I wish I could pull off those short jackets but I feel exposed having my bottom out for all the world to see and they always make me look a funny shape.

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  9. That tweed dress looked so good on you it was practically in my cart until I read the ingredients. You are right, it should be of wool and silk. I just blogged about rejecting a couple blouses because they were rayon and not silk. :(

    Like others, I can't wait to see what you have to say about what you took to the dressing room.

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  10. Thanks for the preview, I would love that green silk blouse if it came in another color.

    I thought someone commented that the tweed dress was wool and the lining was the blend. I have to say I didn't believe that but I don't have a lot of faith in what CS tells me over the phone lately so whatever. It fits you nicely but ya, the acrylic is a killer.

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    1. Xoxo, it was me actually! I was chatting with CS and asked about fabric content, they told me it was wool. I even asked, are you sure but he told me they have access to more detailed description. I also don't have much trust in them, so many mistakes:(

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    2. I thought it was you. ;^)

      I know that CS does have additional information, but like the copy we see I am sure that it is just as often incorrect. Usually my PS will go look at the item in the mock store and check tags to confirm things but I don't know if "regular CS" can or will do that.

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  11. You're funny, ajc. Lol at Cosby sweaters and live with help. Neither for me. Thanks for the tweed dress review. I knew it was not for me when I saw it online, but always nice to see irl pics. Looking forward to more :)

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  12. Hey AJC - I actually am oddly drawn to both sets of green pants! What does that say about me! Can't wait for the polka dot tshirt review - I am hopeful this one is a good one as I think it would be fun for the christmas season!

    The material in the tweed is also a deal-breaker for me. Too bad!and I am like Tabitha - the cut of the chanel jackets is too boxy for me - I wish they would come out with a slightly longer version....

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  13. I wonder what is going on at the neckline with the green watercolor-y blouse? The print is gorgeous but the neckline looks like a hot mess. I hope it isn't, I'd like to try it. The Chanel-eque jackets all look nice but don't know where I'd wear them. Same with the dress you tried on, and I agree I'd love to see that silhouette in a different fabric and color. I also like the sequin polka dot top, nowhere to wear that either but it looks so pretty.

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  14. Love your previews ajc!! Oh, how I wish this dress had been made in nicer fabrics and other colors. The silhouette looks wonderful and I'd have snapped it up. But the fabrics, sigh. I've lost some of my crewlade lately, so nothing is jumping at me here, but I do look forward to seeing the polka dot top on you!

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    1. ITA on the dress - I feel like maybe this was how the Teddie dress should have been. Remember when JCA's preordered it and then it came out all short with the exposed zipper and a lot of people cancelled their preorders? It's frustrating to see that JC is capable of designing a cute dress - but then ruining it with the fabric. Then they use decent fabric on a bad silhouette. Le sigh.

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    2. +1 to everything written here, shopwithm & silver_lining.

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    3. Me too I agree, they are ruining the very few nice things that aren't covered in crystals with these poor fabric blends.
      I have a sleeveless wool tweed dress from 2008 that has very subtle clear sequins sewn through the fabric, it's barely noticeable but it has a heavy luxe feel. The best part is the fabric is wool and silk and the lining is silk, just gorgeous to wear. The good old days.

      Thanks for the sneak peek though ajc, I still get excited about the roll-outs.

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  15. Love the orange jacket, those are a good style for my body, however not sure where I would wear them. I'd wait for a sale.
    The dress great style: fabric schvitzing just reading it. No excuse for that blend

    I might have to go down to check it out

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  16. I love the Chanel-esque jackets but I have a legion of them so unless I am blown away Iby the red one (only color that I don't have) I am going to pass.
    I actually love the tweed dress a lot. I was afraid that it would add bulk but it looks lime it doesn't. Since the fabric content is a dealbreaker for many here is hope that I can catch it on sale. Thanks for the reviews!

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  17. You're so funny. I am disappointed to see all of those old lady jackets (the cropped tweed ones, I guess they are Chanel-like? what do I know?), sigh. Those are just not cute. The pine green pencil skirt got me excited, until I remembered that I returned all three of the pencils I bought last month due to fit issues.

    Looking forward to your reviews! And the tweed dress looks fantastic on you, too bad the blend is awful. Not buyable at any price point.

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  18. Thanks for the sneak peek. I'm looking forward to seeing more of what's in the new rollout.

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  19. Coccoon coat and pretty blouse -is this actually 'styled' with a hanger across the chest?

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    1. Lol. They were going to style it on the next day. They were still setting up.

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  20. Thanks SO much for these great preview pictures!!!

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  21. Thanks for the fun sneak peak. Can't wait to see more :-)

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  22. Thanks for the previews, AJC! Looking forward to the next roll-out.

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  23. Love that orange jacket. Hope it isn't too boxy IRL.

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  24. Another ta for the previews and reviews. LOL at Cosby critique. And doesn't anyone at JC ever see those cotton "fabric of our lives" adverts?

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  25. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. Tara,
      I have no idea why your comment was removed. Unless I pressed delete by mistake on my phone... Sorry!
      Ajc

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  26. Thanks for the peeks! Loving the polka dot sequin tee in the fitting room.

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  27. Thanks for the peeks! I couldn't wait to get my hands on the tweed dress, and it immediately did a 180. sigh.

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  28. AJC, I was wondering how the polka dot tee fits? I might pre-order it during this promo! Thanks!

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    1. TTS to small. I tried on bigger of my sizes (M) and the fit was good. I will have a review on Friday.8

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    2. Thank you! Can you also let me know how the dog sweater is? I passed on the french hen, but think I might like this. Is it a dream fabric or merino wool? Thanks!

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    3. I think is the same as the hen sweater. 45% viscose, 25% nylon, 22% wool, 7% rabbit hair, 1% cashmere. It fits TTS to big (I took Small) and it is cute but itchy.

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  29. Do you happen to have item number/price for the silk chiffon blouse (swiss dot?) and how is it running? TIA!

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    1. Sweetsy, it is $128, style 24168, runs big and it is pretty but completely sheer. There is no way you can wear it without a cami.

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    2. Thanks! I wonder why so sheer for Winter/Holiday? Just more of their J Crazy ideas:)

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