# Help me understand J Crew (for women) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 11, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932 "2013-02-11T02:22:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932/21 "2013-02-12T21:31:59Z")
Very interesting. I’m a guy and I used to buy a good part of my wardrobe from J.Crew. Now I tend to walk in, do a quick look around and walk right back out. It has been a few years since I have purchased anything from J.Crew. The bright plaid trend was particularly vexing. I guess I’m too old for J.Crew now. I do love my J.Crew coat though. ---
**Author:** ![DeweyDecibel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DeweyDecibel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeweyDecibel)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932/22 "2013-02-12T21:51:18Z")
Pretty much exactly what DiosaBellissima said - a lot of those pieces would look quite nice if paired with something a bit more down-to-earth. And honestly, the “here’s” link is actually an outfit I would wear as-is. The pink in the top kind of picks up on the almost-pink on the bottom of the skirt. Put a white top with the skirt, or the shirt with jeans or solid color skirt/pants and both would look completely normal. Of course, right now I’m wearing black leggings and boots, a long mint-and-white striped cardigan, a white t-shirt, and a mint, blue, and grey flowered scarf so perhaps I’m not the person to ask about this. But I do think JCrew goes way overboard, probably to make their pieces stand out. I almost never buy things in “outfits”. I’ll buy a printed, unusual piece from somewhere like Anthropologie or JCrew, then put it with plain stuff from LOFT or Gap or Old Navy. The former stores are too weird for me to get everything from, the latter too boring. So mix them together. Target is surprisingly good, too. Forever 21 in very, very small doses for anyone over 21 (which includes me at 33!) ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932/23 "2013-02-12T23:28:42Z")
Mrs. P gets the catalogs in the mail. Every time I see the logo I read it as **_Screw_.** (must be 1960s flashbacks) ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932/24 "2013-02-13T00:20:34Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Do you guys walk into a store, grab the exact outfit that is on the mannequin and that’s that? If that’s the case, then yeah, you’re going to be unhappy with a lot of stores lately. Another non snarky question: how old are the respondents here? > > Of the previously posted links: > > [This?](http://www.jcrew.com/womens_feature/NewArrivals/shorts/PRDOVR~83012/83012.jsp) I see girls 17-25 dressed like this all the time (outside of work, that is). That said, the shorts are a bit young for most, but that top would be great with jeans or even a more standard skirt for the office. In fact, that top with some capris or shorts and wedges? Cute summer look. > > [This top is a bit silly put together like this,](http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/sleeveless/PRDOVR~63588/63588.jsp) but throw it with some skinny jeans and a fierce pump? Maybe a leather jacket? Excellent going out outfit for someone in their 20s or a trendy 30 or 40 something. > > [This skirt](http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/skirts/pencil/PRDOVR~74041/74041.jsp) belted with a white button up and nude pumps would be great for the office. Denim shirts are a thing now (one I’m not particularly into) and while I’d never wear one like this, I’ve seen people pair them with shorts in cute looks. > > [The blazer](http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/blazers/noveltyblazers/PRDOVR~54046/54046.jsp) isn’t my style, but I don’t even have to explain how styled differently, it’s fine. Same with the shirt. The pants are also not my thing, but I’ve seen girls wear those types of pants with flowey, tunic tops and it look fine. Actually, not even just girls-- that’s a look I see frequently on middle aged women down in So Cal. > > [Same thing with these pants.](http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/pants/cafecapri/PRDOVR~33180/33180.jsp) > > [And in this one](http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/blouses/PRDOVR~96631/96631.jsp), I like the pieces separate from one another. I wear tops like that all the time, though I just wear mine with jeans and more flowy and open. Mint is super, super in right now (I just bought a mint stretchy mini skirt), so those shorts would be super cute with a chunky white sweater and some fun accessories. > > Don’t get me wrong, I have never in my entire life purchased a single thing from J Crew and don’t plan to, but I think that most stores style their looks in ways that are more editorial than practical. It’s just to give you a sense of what can be done-- then you take the pieces and make them work for your life. Those women look great in those outfits, and I would be totally cool with a chick who wears close like that. Style is all about the attitude and personality. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932/25 "2013-02-13T00:42:44Z")
My mystery isn’t really with the clothes, which are often fairly basic with, apparently, the occasional WTF shiny brocade shorts. They seem pretty pricy for such basic items, but I’m not one to talk given my clothing budget. But someone put those catalogs together, and something must have been going through their head at the time, and as much as I puzzle over it, I don’t get it. I just can’t figure out the fantasy they are selling. It’s not like I hate the clothes, I just want to understand what I am supposed to think when i see these pictures (and I think it is coming together). I’m 32, in a relatively fashionable young professional milieu (DC nonprofits). I do “get” mixing it up. I do a lot of that Anthropology somewhat-clashy solid tights stuff, especially in fall. But that tends to fall into the same color family, and doesn’t usually involve random sequins. ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932/26 "2013-02-13T03:10:42Z")
It’s a pretty classic high-low look, except that the low is faux because you bought it at jcrew instead of trolling vintage stores for it. I’m not a pattern mixer, but other than that the shapes and pieces are pretty universally flattering right now. Nothing wrong with a pencil skirt or a floaty blouse or a cute pair of shorts, and isn’t everyone rolling their jeans just a bit these days? This is a young urban girl with a good body and a great job. She wears jeans to work but likes to dress them up, and can wear heels because she spends her day in meetings or at her desk. If you’re the kind of woman who only has one purse at a time you’re probably not their target customer. Definitely not much crossover with the Jjill/Coldwater Creek/Lands End crowd. ---
**Author:** ![InsomniaMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@InsomniaMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InsomniaMama)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932/27 "2013-02-13T03:33:34Z")
Oh, sure, but $170 for these very [versatile pants](http://http://www.jcrew.com/womens_feature/NewArrivals/pants/PRDOVR~88164/88164.jsp)? I’m so not in. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932/28 "2013-02-13T20:22:46Z")
I like J Crew’s vibe, but their stuff is so pricey I can’t afford most of it. Once in a while I’ll spring for a staple piece like a blazer or white button-down shirt, but that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932/29 "2013-02-27T04:00:28Z")
Historically, I like many of their individual pieces, in particular their patterns and use of color. I always look through the stores when I pass and see a lot of things that I would buy if a]I had $150 to drop on a sweater and b]their smallest size wasn’t enormous on me. But I have to agree, looking through the link to the current website, my overall reaction is ‘WTF is this?’. I get that reaction from a lot of clothing retailers, though. It doesn’t mean they don’t have plenty I will wear (Urban Outfitters is a good example of this - I have a ton of things from that place, but I always loathe the ‘looks’ they put together and most of the stuff in the store. The good stuff is good, the rest is horrid). I do feel like I’ve seen that sort of style (and almost anything from every trendy catalog) at least approximated in real life. But I love people watching and I live in downtown Philadelphia - many people here, as in any urban setting, dress all kinds of ways just because it’s in style at the moment, sometimes even in silly brocade shorts. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932/30 "2013-03-01T03:15:56Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Easy there Carrie Bradshaw. Being an I-bankers arm candy is so pre-2008. The modern J Crew woman should be a career-minded junior editor at Conde Nast living in Williamsburg and dating an up and coming hipster blogger. Word. > [@msmith537](#): > > I miss the 90s where J Crew for men meant dressing like a Gloucester swordboat captain. You and me both. > [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Of course, if I’m looking for ill-fitting pieces in obnoxious colors and mind-boggling patterns, with fabrics chosen from the bargain bin and the upholstery section, sporting unfinished hems and seams and covered in random sequins, then I’m all set! I never say this but…I LMAO. I’m grumpy. I walked in there two days ago and for the first time ever, didn’t touch a single thing. I slowly walked all the way around the store and not a thing caught my eye. I have cords and 4 of the Tippi sweaters; those two things stuck out as “normal” and “quality”. But I didn’t stop, browse, and I left in 90 seconds. 5 years ago it could take HOURS to get me out of there. Argh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-understand-j-crew-for-women/649932.md?page=1)