An exclusive J.Crew Bridal Boutique event (plus, 20% off)

"Thanks!" to Robin, who shared the following email from the Knot, this morning. The email announces an event to get a sneak peek at J.Crew's Fall/ Holiday 2011 Wedding collection.

The following are the details of this event:

When: Thursday, April 14th, 10AM - 7PM
Friday, April 15th, 10AM - 7PM
Saturday, April 16th, 10AM - 6PM
Sunday, April 17th, 12PM - 5PM

Where: J.Crew at 769 Madison
New York City, NY

For more info: (212) 824 - 2500

**Icing on the cake? While browsing for your dream gown, SHOP for your bridal shower, engagement party and everything else WITH 20% OFF (exclusions may apply)*

*Discount is on full price merchandise only and cannot be combined with any other sales or promotions. Discount may not be applied to the purchase of gift cards, bridal gowns and third party branded merchandise. Previous purchases are not eligible for this discount. Discount is applied at checkout and is valid at the 769 Madison store through 4/17/11 only.

Will you be attending this event? If so, please share with us the details of this wedding sneak peek. :)

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NYC, You're Invited to the Crewcuts Summer Trunk Show...

"Thanks!" to WillieW, who shared the following email from Crewcuts this morning. J.Crew is hosting a Crewcuts Trunk Show... in New York City, New York!

The details for the event are the following:

Summer's never looked so cool... You're invited to join us for a very special trunk show celebrating our best and brightest styles for summer 2011. Be the first in town to shop the collection.

Hosted by: Aline Shapiro

When: Tuesday, April 12th, 10AM - 3PM
Wednesday, April 13th, 10AM - 1PM

Where: 119 E. 81st Street

RSVP: alineshop@gmail.com
feel free to bring friends

**Receive an exclusive 10% off as well as free shipping on all purchases made at our Summer trunk show (exclusions may apply)*

*Offer does not apply to previous purchases, alterations or the purchase of gift cards. Offer not valid online. Valid from Tuesday, April 12, 2011, through Wednesday, April 13, 2011, 11:59pm ET at the crewcuts NYC trunk show. Free shipping offer is valid for a limited time via regular shipping 3 to 6 business days). Free shipping applies to all purchases made during the trunk show. Expires Thursday, April 14, 2011.

Will you be attending this event? If so, please share with us the details of this trunk show. :)

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JCA "Help Style Me!" Weekly Post

This is the weekly "Help Style Me!" post, where we can share items we are having trouble putting outfits together with. Elaine (in this post) says it best, "You know, that thing you bought because you love it and you keep pulling it out and then putting it away without wearing it?"

Please share your J.Crew item (either that you own or are thinking about getting) that you would love help creating an outfit with.

Also, please help out by offering your styling advice. Feel free to include links to your blog (where you incorporated that piece) or to Polyvore (where you showcased an outfit with that piece). Thanks in advance! :)

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"Looking to LOVE" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a positive situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including stellar experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

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Attention J.Crew Credit Card Holders!

"Thanks!" to Instant Fleeting who shared some very important news about an email received that affects J.Crew credit card holders:

This email was sent to you by World Financial Network National Bank (WFNNB). WFNNB issues your J. Crew Credit Card account.

Dear Valued Customer,

Our email service provider, Epsilon, has notified us that their email files have been accessed without authorization. We regret to inform you that your email address and/or your name may have been included in this compromised email file. Please be assured that no financial information or other personal information of yours was accessed or affected in any way.

As a result of this incident, you could receive some spam email messages. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause you. For your protection, it is important that you always be cautious when opening email links or attachments from unknown email senders. Remember, we would never ask you to supply or verify sensitive personal or financial information via email; only provide this type of information through a secure website.

Again, we apologize for any concern; your security and privacy are very important to us. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call the credit card Customer Service center at the phone number listed on the back of your credit card.

Sincerely,
Sallie Komitor
Head of Customer Service

I got a similar email about this, but from a different online retailer. This is actually a pretty big news story that affects customers from an array of companies (2,500+) they work with. Epsilon, the largest marketing services firm, experienced a massive email breech. There are tons of stories, including this one from CNN.

The only real solution is to make sure you monitor your email account and take note of suspicious looking emails. Do not ever open or click through links from emails you are unsure of.

Did you get this email? If so, please share! :)

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Sneak Peek: Madewell's Fall 2011 Collection

"Thanks!" to NYC Recessionista who shared in her "Sneak peek of Madewell's fall goods" post, that Madewell's Fall 2011 Collection is available to preview over at Racked (click HERE for article & images).
There are some cute things like the rugby striped knit dress. This is more like it Madewell! I will pretend that yesterday's emails ("Madewell Email: Not just jeans (+ free shipping)") never existed. ;)

P.S. What is up with the two mannequins with bandannas over their face like they are criminals?!? Awkward.

Mini Update: "Thanks!" to teeny84 (in this post) who let us know that the two mannequins are actually performance artists the Bumbys (facebook & tumblr).

What are your thoughts on Madewell's upcoming Fall Collection? Do you like how they styled the pieces at their presentation?

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More SUNNY Days Ahead (Extended: 20% off your order of $150+)

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Closet Crisis (in this post), as well as Ketan, who shared the following news from J.Crew this morning.

They are extending their offer for 20% off (on regular and sale items) on orders of $150+ with promo code SUNNY. This offer is applicable to both online and in-store purchases (just print out the email) at J.Crew, as well as J.Crew Factory online (click here to shop online). This offer now ends Monday, April 11, 2011.

As JCAs mentioned this before, this is a nice promo for JCAs who visit brick & mortar (B&M) stores. This is an okay offer for those ordering online (just depends on how much you order so you can see if free shipping or the percent off is the better deal).

Will you be checking out J.Crew & J.Crew Factory? Are there any items you are interested in getting? If so, please share. :)

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J.Crew's (Un)Official Blog Likes Us {gasp!} We Made It

Short story: I requested the JCA blog be added to J.Crew's 770 blog's Cool Clicks. (If you have not been following the story, there is the March 29th "J.Crew's (Un)Official Blog {will they like us?}" post, and the March 25th "J.Crew's (Un)Official Blog Is Here" post, for history.)

"Thanks!" to Lisa, as well as Gem Twin (in this post), who noticed and shared that J.Crew did add the J.Crew Aficionada blog link on J.Crew's blog. The following screen shot is proof that we made it ladies and gentlemen. (And the link works, I checked!) :)

Wahoo! Honestly, I did not think we would get added. (I even voted "Never" in the "Do you think the JCA blog link will appear on J.Crew's 770 blog?" poll.) I am happy to be proven wrong!

I want to thank J.Crew for showing some love to this little ol' blog. I also want to thank this amazing community of Aficionadas & Aficionados (who truly love the brand through the good times and the not-so-good times).

Congrats JCAs!

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"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

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Weekly Share: Other JCrew-like Retailers

This is the weekly "Other JCrew-like Retailers" post (similar to the "Off On A Tangent" posts), where we can share our finds from other retailers that have offerings similar to J.Crew (like LE Canvas, Gap, BR, Talbots, Ann Taylor, and the like.)

If you have recently encountered items that are similar to J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including experiences with certain merchandise pieces, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

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J.Crew & Women's Japan Love tee

"Thanks!" to Megan who let us know that J.Crew was selling a few products to help the victims of the earthquake/tsunami in Japan. They are also offering free shipping on these items.

Customers could buy the Love Save Japan tote (Item 52558; $25.00), or the Women's Japan Love tee (Item 52460; $25.00), described as:

This tee is available for pre-order. Wear your heart on your sleeve: 100 percent of the profits from the sale of this limited-edition tee will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society, which provides much-needed medical care and emergency supplies to victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami. The custom map design, created by our in-house graphic guru, is featured on soft cotton. Boasting a slouchier boy fit, this tee not only looks good, it's for an extremely good cause.Enjoy free shipping on this tee. Cotton. Crewneck. Short sleeves. Import. Machine wash.

But what makes this a bit more interesting is what Red (in this post) shared about the tee:

I'm a huge fan of J.crew, but 've got disappointed in Jcrew's current Japan relief campaign tee. ...The "Women's Japan Love tee," ... incorrectly labels the East Sea as the "Sea of Japan." This name originates from the period of Japanese imperialism and the brutal Japanese occupation of Korea from 1905-1945. It is part and parcel of the legacy of this time, which includes genocide, atrocities, slave labor, and the exploitation of tens of thousands of Korean and Chinese women as sex-slaves - the "comfort women" - by the Japanese. The United Nations has recognized that this body of water should be referred to as the "East Sea/Sea of Japan." Please change the name on this tee shirt to a less offensive and inaccurate name. ...

Well, apparently J.Crew took notice of this situation. On their Facebook page (click here), they share the following message with their fans today:

We received a number of emails voicing concern over our T-shirt design that we created to offer Japan support in their time of need. We are updating the T-shirt and have temporarily removed it from our site. Thank you to all who voiced concern—and most important, we hope you all share in our support of relief efforts in Japan.

I applaud J.Crew's move to help the victims of Japan. I am also happy J.Crew listened to all the concerns over the tee by updating to a more appropriate design. I look forward to purchasing the upcoming version. :)

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Madewell Email: Not just jeans (+ free shipping)

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Ketan & Irina, who shared the following email from Madewell today.

The email features the Heritage Premium Worksuit in Bighorn Wash (Item 39802; $200.00), which is lovingly described as:

Our latest and greatest invention: workwear gone irresistibly cool in small-batch, high-quality denim—simply roll, add sandals and try not to let all the compliments go to your head. Cotton. Slouchy fit. Long sleeves. Button placket. Belt loops. Chest patch pocket, slash pockets, back patch pockets. Import. Machine wash.

O.M.G. This is just the worst... the worst. Premium? Worksuit? Bighorn? $200? Ugh. And to say it's their greatest invention? No Madewell, you have done better (much, much better than this). I especially found the "try not to let all the compliments go to your head" line peculiar. I doubt that scenario would happen.

I have to say that I have been giving a lot of props to Madewell lately for its recent collection. But this is a huge step back. I mean, the denim jumpsuit looks dirty. Check out the item page, it shows what looks like dirt and paint splatters on the pant legs. Questionable item of the week? You betcha!

What are your thoughts on the Worksuit? Am I being too harsh in describing this one of kind piece? Have you tried this on or own it? If so, please share! :)

Mini Update: So J.Crew sent another email with Jenna Lyon's pick from Madewell, the Share with... Le Minor® Dip-Dyed Tee (Item 48155; $95.00). This sailor striped tee is apparently "custom-dip-dyed just for us by hip Montauk boutique Share With".

Meh. The tee looks like it got accidentally bleached. This reminds me when I accidentally washed a red scarf with my Vintage Bateau Tee from J.Crew. To reverse the effect of bleeding on the tee, I tried boiling water + bleach and ended up with a similar effect. I decided the tee was no longer good enough to wear outside and demoted it to a house-lounge tee. Had I only known I was creating the next fashion trend— at a fraction of the price! ;)

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J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs!}

This is the weekly "J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs}" post, to help each other share our reviews.

So if you have recently purchased, or stopped by a J.Crew store to try on an item (or two) from J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Also, this request is not just limited to clothes. Please feel free to discuss bags, shoes, jewelry, accessories, etc.

In particular, if you could mention a few of the noteworthy details like fit, size, fabric, and the like— that would be fantastic! Thanks in advance! :)

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J.Crew's Fall Arm Candy & More!

J.Crew's 770 blog posted some close-up shots of their Fall 2011 accessories collection. (Click on the above image to view larger.) They also share:

We snapped a few of our favorite accessories from our fall ’11 press presentation—from polished purses in unexpected patterns to bold bracelets and bangles in the season’s best hues. If only Bonnie could have nabbed one of these…

So many pretty things! I really love the classic shapes and candy shades of the newest handbags. I am going to need to save up, starting now! ;)

J.Crew also shares some of their make-up secrets for their Fall 2011 Presentation:

“We wanted the girls to look fresh, clean and dewy…The skin was left almost bare with just a slick of polish on the cheekbones, the bow of the lip and the eyelids. For a soft flush of color; the lips were matted out with foundation first and then with a pop of pink or melon just at the center parting of the lips. The brow’s were filled in and brushed up for a totally natural look with the eyelids left almost totally clean…a warm shadow for definition and just a curl of the eyelashes with one coat of mascara.”

Give hair a fluffy dry texture with a slight bump at the crown, then gather hair into a ponytail keeping hair loose over ears for a pretty profile. The finishing touch on each girl’s ponytail was a J.Crew tortoise barrette!

Face: Laura Mercier Primer & MAC Strobe Cream.
Cheeks: Stila Convertible Color in Gerbera & Petunia for cheeks.
Eyes: Laura Mercier Rose Gold Metallic Creme and a slick of Vaseline with Mabelline Great Lash Mascara.
Lips: MAC Lip Erase, MAC PRO OJ & Genuine Orange lip pencil or Make-up Forever 18C lip pencil.

What are your thoughts on J.Crew's upcoming accessories & handbags? Do you like how they styled the models at their presentation?

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The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to sell}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who want to swap/sell/share among yourselves. This post is where you can mention your items and outside listing/ auction site (like eBay and eCrater & the corresponding user ID).

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Please note: this posting is not for resellers. If you are a reseller, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)

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Please note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Do you have any items you would like to swap/sell/share among yourselves through your outside listing/auction site?

Sidenote: What's up with JCAs writing "sub" or "subscribing" as their comment? It just means they are subscribing to all the comments (which are then automatically sent to their email) in that particular thread. This way they can stay aware of all the comments posted. :)

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The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to find}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who are looking for and interested in buying certain items. Please feel free to share a J.Crew store location and/or your outside listing/ auction site if it matches the requests made in this post.

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Please note: this posting is not for resellers. If you are a reseller, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)

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Also note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share/finding to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Is there an item (or items) that you are looking for and interested in purchasing?

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Sought & Found: Did you visit J.Crew this {past} Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopped by a J.Crew store this past weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SPRING sale, or to see some new SPRING arrivals {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store was/ is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

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SPRING FEVER: take 20% OFF your order of $150+, in stores and online

"Thanks!" to many of you, including MeganCrew (in this post), GigiOfCA (in this post), as well as Marietta ,Kathryn,Elseejay, & Louise, who shared the following offer from J.Crew this morning.

They are offering 20% off (on regular and sale items) on orders of $150+ with promo code SUNNY. Another amazing thing is this offer is applicable to both online and in-store purchases (just print out the email) at J.Crew, as well as J.Crew Factory online (click here to shop online). This offer ends Tuesday, April 5, 2011. The fine print includes:

*Offer valid in J.Crew retail stores and at jcrew.com only. Please print out email to redeem offer in J.Crew retail stores. Offer is not valid at J.Crew Factory stores. Offer does not apply to previous purchases, alterations or the purchase of gift cards. Offer not applicable to third-party branded merchandise. 20% discount applies to purchases of $150 or more before shipping, handling and taxes are added. Offer valid through Tuesday, April 5, 2011, 11:59pm ET. Savings are applied at checkout with code SUNNY. Offer not valid on phone orders. Cannot be combined with any other promotion or redeemed for cash. Limit one promotional code per order. Terms of offer subject to change.

This may be one of the better promotions I have seen from J.Crew! Again, bravo J.Crew! Whoops! I thought this promotion included free shipping on $150, but as many JCAs correctly pointed out, it does not. So this offer is okay, not great. It's nice to have a promo on regular priced items. And it is still nice for those JCAs who did not get the Mickey Green card to get a discount in a store. But paying for shipping on $150+ kind of washes out the discount of 20%. It's almost better to use the free shipping offer instead- this way if a customer returns any items, they are not out any money.

Will you be checking out J.Crew & J.Crew Factory? Are there any items you are interested in getting? If so, please share. :)

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Seek & Find: Will you visit J.Crew this Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopping by a J.Crew store this weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SPRING sale, or to see some new SPRING arrivals {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

P.S. I noticed that many of you have already been reporting sale items (and in which stores) in other posts which by the way "thank you!" :) I really appreciate how helpful we are for each other!

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Madewell Email: Shop well: extra 25% off sale items (+ free shipping)

"Thanks!" to many of you, including IRL, who shared the following offer from Madewell this morning.

They are offering 25% off (on sale items) and free shipping (on $100+) with promo code WHYNOT. This offer ends Sunday, April 3, 2011. The fine print includes:

*Offer valid in Madewell stores and at madewell.com only. Offer does not apply to previous purchases or the purchase of gift cards.25% off discount applies to sale items only. Free shipping offer applies to orders shipped via ground shipping totaling $100+after 25% discount and before shipping, handling and taxes are added. Offer valid through Sunday, 4/3/11, 11:59pm ET.Savings are applied at checkout with code WHYNOT. Offer not valid on phone orders.Cannot be combined with any other promotion.

What another great promotion!

Will you be checking out Madewell? Are there any items you are interested in getting? If so, please share. :)

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J.Crew's Latest the Thread Edition

"Thanks!" to many of you, including StaciStaci, as well as MillJCrew (in this post), who let us know that the latest issue of the Thread is being sent to customers. A big "thanks!" to StaciStaci, who shared these scans with us. (Just click on the image to view larger.)

The following is mentioned in the newsletter:

Marissa Webb— our Women's design mastermind— indulged her inner movie buff to build her vision for Fall. The result is a collision of two opposing but equally alluring sensibilities: the ladylike structure, pulled back styling and saturated colors embodied by the film Bonnie and Clyde {1967} and the fluid romanticism and the ethereal whimsy imagined in The Great Gatsby {1974}. Most notable? An exciting shift toward bold color— spicy bright oranges and reds with grey, camel and emerald greens sprinkled throughout— skirts that get longer and waists that get higher and flared '50s silhouettes in trenches, skirts and dresses.

I have not been super-excited about an upcoming collection from J.Crew in awhile. Until now. :) I am just thrilled with what I have been seeing so far from the Fall 2011 line. They finally went back to what they do best: classics with a twist. Welcome home J.Crew, welcome home.

Did you get a copy of the Thread? What are your thoughts on the issue? Are you excited about J.Crew's upcoming Fall Collection?

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JCA "Help Style Me!" Weekly Post

This is the weekly "Help Style Me!" post, where we can share items we are having trouble putting outfits together with. Elaine (in this post) says it best, "You know, that thing you bought because you love it and you keep pulling it out and then putting it away without wearing it?"

Please share your J.Crew item (either that you own or are thinking about getting) that you would love help creating an outfit with.

Also, please help out by offering your styling advice. Feel free to include links to your blog (where you incorporated that piece) or to Polyvore (where you showcased an outfit with that piece). Thanks in advance! :)

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"Looking to LOVE" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to LOVE with J.Crew" post, a place to share our favorite experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a positive situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including stellar experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

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J.Crew's Fall 2011 Lookbook {part II}

"Thanks!" to so many of you, including Faith & Marietta, as well as Fidele (in this post), who shared the following links.

Yesterday, we got some glimpses of the Fall 2011 line in the "J.Crew's Shooting the Fall '11 Lookbook" post. Well, the images are now out! The following are some links:

• Examiner: "J. Crew Mens Fall 2011 Collection"
• FabSugar: "First Look! J.Crew's Great Gatsby-Inspired Fall 2011 Collection"
• FashionEtc: "J.Crew’s Fall 2011 Preview: Two Great Dames"
  
• Fashionista: "J.Crew Women’s Fall 2011: Glamorous Prep"
• Fashionista: "J.Crew Men’s Fall 2011: Masculine, But Also Sophisticated"
  
• Hypebeast: "J.Crew 2011 Fall Presentation"
• NY Mag's The Cut: "First Look: J.Crew’s Neon Fall Collection"
• Pursuit Aesthetic: "J.Crew Fall 2011 Collection"
• Racked: "Sneak Peek: Here's What's Coming to J. Crew Stores This August"
• Refinery29: "J.Crew's Fall Collection Is Full Of Color Inspiration"
• Selectism: "J.Crew Men’s Fall 2011 Presentation"
• Style.com: "J.Crew Fall 2011 Menswear Collection"
• Style.com: "J.Crew Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear Collection"
  
• Stylecaster: "J.Crew Fall 2011: Color Blocking and Ali MacGraw"
  
• Vogue.com: "Daisy and Bonnie: J.Crew’s Fall Muses"

Trench coats, maxi skirts, trouser legs, capes! And the colors! I am in l.o.v.e. Hats off to you J.Crew! Although, don't think I didn't notice some questionable-crotch-fitting pants (here & here). ;)

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Fall items? Are you excited for what's to come? Do you dislike or like any of them? Which items were you hoping to see? :)

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Dear J.Crew,

Could not help but notice most of the sites mentioned above were directly furnished with the images by you. I would love to be on that marketing & press list. Perhaps my previous attempts through direct requests were not received. I know J.Crew Corporate reads this blog multiple times on a daily basis (hi guys!), so I thought I might try asking (okay, begging) through this post. In case you don't have my email, it is: jcrewaficionada at yahoo dot com. Feel free to reach out to me anytime.

Love you always,
Alexis! :)

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Ends Tomorrow! 30% Off & Free Shipping

Tomorrow is the last day J.Crew is offering customers 30% off all final sale items (no min) and free shipping on $150+ with promo code LOVEIT.

The Final Sale section (click here to shop online) has had some sporadic & minimal updates during the sale. There have been some new items gone to sale too. I hope some of you have been able to buy some great items at great prices.

Also, many JCAs have mentioned their local brick & mortar stores are offering an additional percent off final sale (anywhere from 20-30%, while other stores offer none).

Will you be checking out the Sale section? Are there any items you are hoping to see or to get? Does your local B&M have "final sale" as well?

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"Looking to VENT" with J.Crew

This is the weekly "Looking to VENT with J.Crew" post, a place to share our not-so-stellar experiences with J.Crew.

If you have recently experienced a frustrating situation with J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including poor experiences with purchases & orders, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

Read More

Weekly Share: Other JCrew-like Retailers

This is the weekly "Other JCrew-like Retailers" post (similar to the "Off On A Tangent" posts), where we can share our finds from other retailers that have offerings similar to J.Crew (like LE Canvas, Gap, BR, Talbots, Ann Taylor, and the like.)

If you have recently encountered items that are similar to J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Please feel free to share your story on almost any topic— including experiences with certain merchandise pieces, promotions/ offers, in-store visits, transactions with store associates, etc.

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A Surprise Inside J.Crew's April Catalog...

"Thanks!" to Emily & Po, who shared the following news.

The latest April J.Crew catalog sent to customers may have a unique promotional code (for something like 20% off on any order, free shipping with no minimum, or $20 off a certain amount). The offer expires either April 10th or 17th (depending on which one you get).

Emily also shared some specifics on the code she received:

...there was a 20% off coupon with NO limitations!! It's in store and online, 20% off TOTAL purchase (sale items included)!!...

Usually the codes are for one location (online or in-stores). To see the code be good for both online and in-store purchases is fantastic.


Po also shared an image (shown above) of what she found in her catalog, as well as some specifics on her card:

...the offer is only valid on regular price & in-store items. The good news is no minimum spending required...

This card kind of reminds me of the Mickey Green card (in terms of applicability and use). Although this one has no spending minimum, which is nice.

So double-check your catalog to see if you got a unique promo code too! :)

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J.Crew's Shooting the Fall '11 Lookbook

J.Crew is currently working on their Fall 2011 Lookbook. They are sharing some behind-the-scenes looks with us. For pictures click HERE. For video, click here (or watch the video below).

I can't believe Fall styles are in the works! (I know that is how the fashion world works. While we are thinking about Spring and Summer, they are onto Fall and Winter. But I am just starting to adjust to Spring!)


It looks like they are updating the photos every so often. From the limited views of merchandise, could it be that J.Crew is over their crazy layering phase? I hope so! :) And so far, me likey!

Mini Update: For more pictures (with higher resolution), check out the "J.Crew Fall 2011 Collection" post over at the Pursuit Aesthetic blog. There are great shots of both the Men's and Women's line.

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J.Crew's (Un)Official Blog {will they like us?}

As mentioned in Friday's "J.Crew's (Un)Official Blog Is Here" post, J.Crew's blog is now up and running (click HERE to check it out). They have been doing a good job posting regularly, and the "Who Wears What" features are fantastic.

In the JCA post's comments, I mentioned that I emailed the blog admin about including this little ol' blog in their Cool Clicks section. Some of you wondered about the outcome. Well, I recently heard back in an email that thanked me for reaching out and that they will share my email with their team as they move forward adding content. The email was polite and professional in its tone.

I appreciated the nice & quick response. Although I kind of got the feeling the JCA wouldn't make it on the list anytime soon. ;) Honestly, I don't think this blog will ever be listed. Oh well, at least I tried. :) In the spirit of good blog will, I look forward to reading the 770 blog and hope that one day the JCA blog will be included.

I also thought we could have a little fun with this. Time to place your bets...

Do you think the JCA blog link will appear on J.Crew's 770 blog?


P.S. Please, do not feel bad about voting "Never!" In fact, that is what I picked when I voted. ;)

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Madewell Email: The first sign of spring (+ free shipping)

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Irina, who shared the following email from Madewell today.

Madewell is reminding us that Spring is here with white shorts and three-quarter sleeve tees. Oh how I want to believe Spring is here! But where I am living, it still feels like Winter. I can't wait to pull out my striped boatneck tees from the closet!

Madewell is also reminding us of their offer for free shipping on orders of $100 with promo code GOFORIT. This offer is for a limited (yet unknown) time.

Will you be checking out the latest Spring collection from Madewell? Are there any items you are interested in getting? If so, please share. :)

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J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs!}

This is the weekly "J.Crew Reviews {straight from the JCAs}" post, to help each other share our reviews.

So if you have recently purchased, or stopped by a J.Crew store to try on an item (or two) from J.Crew, maybe you might be willing to share that information with us in this post.

Also, this request is not just limited to clothes. Please feel free to discuss bags, shoes, jewelry, accessories, etc.

In particular, if you could mention a few of the noteworthy details like fit, size, fabric, and the like— that would be fantastic! Thanks in advance! :)

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J. Crew's Drexler Inks New Deal

Another "thanks!" to Jessica who kindly shared the following article from WWD with us (click here to read in its entirety):

J. Crew's CEO Inks New Deal
By Arnold J. Karr
March 24, 2011

Millard “Mickey” Drexler, chairman and chief executive officer of J.Crew Group Inc., has a new contract that will keep him on the job until after his 70th birthday.

As part of the acquisition of J.Crew by TPG Capital and Leonard Green & Partners that closed on March 7, Drexler, 66, signed a new employment agreement that runs through the fourth anniversary of the acquisition in 2015. After that date, it is automatically renewed for one-year extensions without limit unless Drexler or the company provides notice of nonrenewal at least three months before its anniversary.

Drexler, who retains an equity interest in the firm he joined as ceo in 2003, will continue to receive a base salary of $200,000 and will remain eligible for a cash bonus with a target amount of $1.2 million, as well as time- and performance-based equity awards.

Details were disclosed in J.Crew’s annual report, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this week. There were no modifications in the contracts of Jenna Lyons, president and executive creative director, or James Scully, chief administrative officer and chief financial officer, both of whom continue to work on the basis of automatic one-year extensions unless notice of nonrenewal is furnished at least four months prior to their anniversary dates. Their base salaries are $675,000 and $600,000, respectively, although their 2010 salaries were $885,000 and $661,000.

Excluding a cash bonus still to be calculated, Drexler last year earned $4.9 million. His $5.8 million in 2009 total earnings included a discretionary cash bonus of $2 million granted “in recognition of both individual and company performance.”

For 2010, the J.Crew ceo is eligible for cash bonuses ranging from $267,000 to up to $2 million if the company achieved earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization — EBITDA — of at least $280.3 million. Its income from operations — equivalent to earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT — was $214 million last year. J. Crew expects to disclose Drexler’s bonus no later than April 15.

Also, big "thanks!" to Heidi who shared another article relating to the salaries & buyout over at the Daily Front Row (click here to read in its entirety).

Well, things look pretty good for Mickey. It's pretty darn good to be Jenna Lyons too! :)

What are your thoughts on this latest news? Do you think Mickey Drexler is over-paid or worth-every-penny?

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LOVEIT! Take 30% Off & Free Shipping on J.Crew's Final Sale

"Thanks!" to many of you, including J.CrewJD & Naomi (in this post), GigiOfCA (in this post), as well as Ketan, who shared the following update from J.Crew this morning.

J.Crew is offering customers 30% off all final sale items (no min) and free shipping on $150+ with promo code LOVEIT. This offer expires Thursday, March 31, 2011.

The Final Sale section (click here to shop online) also had a pretty good update yesterday morning. Hopefully some of you JCAs are able to get some fabulous finds!

It's also nice to see that after last week's "Final Sale Back at Stores {plus 30% off}" post, online is now offering the additional percent off. Yey! :)

Will you be checking out the Sale section? Are there any items you are hoping to see or to get? Does your local B&M have "final sale" as well?

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The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to sell}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who want to swap/sell/share among yourselves. This post is where you can mention your items and outside listing/ auction site (like eBay and eCrater & the corresponding user ID).

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Please note: this posting is not for resellers. If you are a reseller, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)

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Please note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Do you have any items you would like to swap/sell/share among yourselves through your outside listing/auction site?

Sidenote: What's up with JCAs writing "sub" or "subscribing" as their comment? It just means they are subscribing to all the comments (which are then automatically sent to their email) in that particular thread. This way they can stay aware of all the comments posted. :)

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The Great (Weekly) Exchange {looking to find}

This post (of weekly posts) is for individual members who are looking for and interested in buying certain items. Please feel free to share a J.Crew store location and/or your outside listing/ auction site if it matches the requests made in this post.

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Please note: this posting is not for resellers. If you are a reseller, your comment gets automatically deleted & you will get publicly called out on it. :( So instead of this, simply do not post in the Weekly Exchanges. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! :)

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Also note that any transactions are independent of this blog. (Especially since you will be using an outside listing/ auction site like eBay or eCrater.) I have no dealings or interactions with any of the potential communication, listings, or transactions. :) Moreover, please limit comments about items to swap/sell/share/finding to the "Great (Weekly) Exchange" posts. (Refer to "A Quick Note to J.Crew Aficionadas" post.)

Is there an item (or items) that you are looking for and interested in purchasing?

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Sought & Found: Did you visit J.Crew this {past} Weekend?

This is the weekly "sale watch" post, to help each other find sale items at our various local J.Crew stores. ;)

If you are stopped by a J.Crew store this past weekend to see what's available (if anything!) in the SPRING sale, or to see some new SPRING arrivals {sigh!} in person, maybe you might be willing to share that with us in this post. In particular, if you could share with us a few of the noteworthy items that are available, at what prices, and potential sizes the store is carrying (as well as the store location)- that would be fantastic!

Also, please let us know if your local store was/ is carrying an additional percent off sale. Thanks in advance!!! :)

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J.Crew's (Un)Official Blog Is Here

"Thanks!" to Drewablank (in her "J.Crew's Official Blog" post) who let us know that J.Crew's blog is up and running (click HERE to check it out).

According to the about, the blog is "a glimpse behind the design: inspiration, style & musings here at 770 (aka the home base for J.Crew)."

This news was mentioned in the "J.Crew To Launch Its Own Blog {welcome aboard!}" post back in February. I wonder why there wasn't a bit more promotion about the site going live.

My initial thoughts:

• Overall, it's nice. Especially the "Who's Wearing What" feature. It's always fun seeing how J.Crew pieces are being styled.
  
• I like the "Cool Clicks" side bar, and hope they will consider adding the JCA blog's link.
• I am curious about the title: "the (un)official J.Crew blog". It initially made me wonder whether they were run by J.Crew. (The only way I could verify it, was the email had a J.Crew extension: lauren.festine@jcrew.com.) I like to think it is because the JCA blog is the blog for J.Crew. But I know better, I know that is not {sadly} true.
  

What are your thoughts on this latest move from J.Crew? Do you think a J.Crew blog will help J.Crew understand its customers better? Will you check it out?

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