Had a quick preview of the new J.Crew store on Regent Street yesterday, and it's fantastic. Obviously. Both the visual merchandising and the product are great, it's just the prices that are a little on the steep side. This is high end, high street, on a par with Jaeger. The blazer above, which I like, a lot, is £268 and the essential pink coat below, £350. Be interesting to see how that pans out. It's a lovely, big, spacious shop and everything is carefully styled and curated. British labels like Drakes (scarves) and Penelope Chilvers (boots) sit nicely alongside the American brand, and there are books dotted around and groups of framed pictures on the walls a la Kate Spade.
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| Gorgeous metallic loafers £298 |
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| Potential new scarf |
But at £98 for a denim shirt, I think I'll be sticking with Gap for basics. And even though I spend most of the time when I'm visiting Manhattan Brother either on the High Line or in J.Crew, I don't have a lot to show for it. The trousers/jeans don't really work for me, which is odd as I am Jenna Lyons-shaped, but I do like the t-shirts and shirts, and the jewellery is top-notch:
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Didn't bump into Jenna Lyons this time round, but you can read her 10 style commandments here. My favourite is, 'Freshening your look isn't always about buying something new... We're all about suggesting new ways to wear the clothes you have.' Good. I'll just carry on wearing my old clothes then. Though I might buy a pair of chandelier earrings next time I'm in New York.
In American stores there are always plenty of discounts and BOGOF type offers. I hope that happens with the London store too so things might be a bit more affordable.
ReplyDeleteYeahhhh... I love J Crew (just like I love Jaegar) but I can't afford those prices. The high end high street is too expensive, the low end stuff is too depressingly sourced to buy... The Gap it is for me, too!
ReplyDeleteMust say those shirts are hung lovely in the background, very appealing
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately definitely above my budget...
ReplyDeleteToday I read "The brand has confirmed that UK shoppers will be paying around 60% more than their US counterpart, once currency differences are taken into account."
That's a bit much, isn't it?
Annette | Lady of Style
I really like the look of J Crew...but it has always been above my budget and they really do not have styles for us curvy ladies! I often look at what they have for inspiration styles done within my budget and sizes!!
ReplyDeleteHow much???!
ReplyDeleteOh it's not for the likes of me - I'm charity shop chic through and through, and am flabbergasted at the prices on the high street. And now I sound like a complete dinosaur... Hey ho. xxx
J. Crew seems to have simply added a pound sign to their prices in dollars! The next time you're in NY, go to the store and pick up the same things for almost half the price. These prices are RIDICULOUS. It's a mid-priced brand in the US.
ReplyDeleteWOW, those prices are high. One good thing about J.Crew here is that they so frequently offer x% off promotions, and stuff goes on sale pretty regularly. I will say that the J.Crew pieces that have worked for me (like the Schoolboy jackets and some of the shoes) stay in my wardrobe for YEARS. And their necklaces are just downright FUN. Quality can be inconsistent, so it's good to examine in person if you can.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you will get a J Crew Factory store in the UK...similar items but way more affordable. Even when they have their 2x/year sample sales in NYC, it's still pricey!
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in the price comparison too - I buy J Crew (well, I used to) online, but they increase the prices by 40% for Australia. And that's before adding shipping. It really makes me annoyed, so I've stopped buying, although I absolutely LOVE some of their clothes. I did email them about it a couple of times and they replied, but with dismissive rubbish - basically they'll charge what the market will bear, so I will be keen to see whether they maintain that steep differential in the UK.
ReplyDeleteThose same loafers are $350 US. . . .which is far, far lower than 298 British pounds!!
ReplyDeleteBut I have to echo what Sue (Une Femme) says -- I've bought quite a few JCrew pieces now that we have a Vancouver store, but I don't think I've ever paid full price. There's almost always a 30% off sale, and that's often compounded by being on top of previous markdown. . . .
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ReplyDeleteI love J Crew and went there yesterday too - but was gobsmacked by the prices.
ReplyDeleteI think they will need to lower the prices considerably, whether by massive sales or a sheepish repricing exercise. 25 percent off wouldn't get me interested - I'd only show up if they were giving 40 percent off.
Not sure who in the J Crew corporate machine decided on the UK pricing strategy but I think they got it wrong.
J'adore !
ReplyDeleteFine.
They tried the same nonsense when they opened in Toronto. Prices are about 30% higher than the US and Our dollar is about par. They thought the Canadians would overlook the price difference. I love some of there merch. but refuse to buy unless it is at least 50% off which is really only 20% off US retail. I really resent being taken advantage of, and pissing off a new retail market right from the start doesn't seem to be a very effective retail strategy to me.
ReplyDeleteLady of Style, kplondon, Gracie's Mom - yep, over here and overpriced. Let's hope Meg's right and there'll be a factory shop coming soon.
ReplyDeleteUne Femme - that's good to know about the schoolboy blazers but I think I'll examine in person next time I'm in NYC.
ReplyDeleteNope, can't be doing with J Crew... far too expensive (even in US prices) and I just don't get that preppy/quirky style. Not really me.
ReplyDeleteSome great looks, but a little expensive in this new age of the very money conscious, (of which I am one).
ReplyDeleteWarm regards
I visited J Crew today and felt like was in my favourite J Crew in NYC (Rockefeller Plaza). Yes the prices are a little on the high side, but I still have the pieces that I brought whilst living in NYC and they are my favourite wardrobe look. Yeah for J Crew in London!
ReplyDeleteI shall take a visit for inspiration and wait until their New Year sales to see if anything to purchase. I am conscious though that as mentioned already, many of the styles might not suit us me and other curvaceous goddesses.
ReplyDeleteThey sure know how to merchandise and display, don't they? In the US, J. Crew is much more affordable, as you know. I think of my clothing strategy as 1 UNIQLO 2 J Crew 3 High end designer clobber, as Faux Fuchsia would say:).
ReplyDeleteHello, I agree. Combination of large, high-street setting with boutique prices is a problem and will be interesting to see how the enterprise works out. It doesn't dovetail with British retail model. Like you, a fan of jackets tops and jewellery though. Trousers are a strange shape.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry but I thinik all of those outfits and shoes are hideous. Yes, the worst possible looks. Diestressed jeans? C'mon. The outfits look to me like they are trying too hard to be hep with a cross between matronly and teen which just comes across trying too hard to be cool? Whatever J. Crew prices are not the only thing wrong here!!!
ReplyDeletewhen I was living in the UK back in the 90s I noticed the same thing with the price of Levis - the same price number as on the US price tags, but with a pound sign instead of a dollar sign!
ReplyDeleteMost US chains swap the dollar sign for a pound one and that is bad enough but JCrew charges MORE in pounds than in dollars for many items. I have emailed them but was given a load of corporate drivel in reply. It is insulting that they obviously think we are a bunch of yokels who don't know when we are being ripped off. A great shame as their clothes are fab, but they will not succeed in the UK by treating potential customers like this.
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