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J.Crew Reigns Supreme: What Could Make it Even Better?
By Lauren Sherman
The genius of J.Crew continues to manifest itself.
Yesterday, the company sent out its 2009 annual report, revealing a $40 million profit for 2009. Sales last year increased by 11% (over 2008 numbers) to $1.6 billion dollars.
The retailer’s secret to success is an old one: Give the customer what they want before they know that they want it.
When CEO Mickey Drexler (who also happens to serve on the board of directors at Apple, another can’t-touch-this American brand) headed to J.Crew in 2003 after being abruptly fired by Gap, he anointed creative director Jenna Lyons the face and aesthetic leader of the brand.
This bold move resulted in a cult of shoppers that wanted to wear her soft pastels, bow/pearl necklaces and brocade skirts. As Lyons’ style has progressed, so have her designs, and they are certainly a big reason the chain is so successful today.
But no company’s perfect.
If we could make one teeny, tiny suggestion to Drexler:
Mickey, We love your women’s wear–Jenna, you’re a legend!–but not every girl feels comfortable in ultra-girlie clothes. We may spend a half-hour perusing your women’s floor, but we always end up in the men’s department, feeling up the plaid flannels, Barbour jackets and unbelievably perfect broken-in chinos. Why not have menswear designer Frank Muytjens and Jenna collaborate on a guys-for-girls capsule collection? We’re sure we’re not the only ones who’d scoop it up in a second.
We’ve said our piece. Now it’s time to hop back on the J.Crew bandwagon.
Tags: J. Crew
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I've found myself loving a lot of what J.Crew has to offer. Yes, it's super girly, so it's the perfect addition to my wardrobe. But I'm having difficulty with the price point. It's J. Crew! It shouldn't cost me almost $300 for shoes or $500 for a purse…yes, they offer good quality, but I really think that price range belongs to a recognizable brand, and I don't think my J. Crew shoes could be picked out on the street as J. Crew. Am I being unreasonable by feeling this way?
Danye–it just depends on your budget/style! I personally think buying two things from a store with good quality items is better than buying ten from a store with cheap stuff. But it really depends on what you're looking for. J.Crew does amazing sales, and you should also check out Madewell, their little sister line, which is cheaper.
JCrew has targeted a certain market (lower bridge, I guess) with its prices, and as much as we all hate those prices and long for the old days, it's elevated them to a new level and partially led to their success. Their courting of Michelle Obama was brilliant. I find their price point of their jewelry somewhat ridiculous and as much as I love it, with the proper materials I can make all that stuff in an hour or two.That said, I find their skirt lengths matronly (and for the record, I'm 45). Pull things a bit more above the knee and I'd be back (I used to be their #1 client at one of their larger stores, got to meet Mickey which was pretty fun). And diversify the design a bit. Everything has ruffles now. Even the ruffles have ruffles. We get it, Jenna. Try some of the interesting tailoring ala McQueen (jacket backs, etc.). Now THAT would be amazing.
that comment is so funny, and so true. even the ruffles have ruffles at j.crew. it's too much.
EVERYTHING is boyfriend styled this season… They literally have a boyfriend chino, boyfriend t, boyfriend blazer, boyfriend shorts… I usually agree with all the suggestions made at fashionista, but really?J. Crew even started carrying men's extra smalls for ALL the women who do end up in the men's section
Have you noticed some J. Crew stores actually use their men's pieces here and there in looks on the women's displays? One time a salesperson took a men's flannel off the lady mannequin for me so I could try it on. It was the last in size XS and it was still absolutely huge on me…so no, commenter above, the men's XS shirts are not for ALL women. This is all to say I think they should really take your suggestion and do men's looks in women's fits.
I guess that due to Michelle Obama I'm the only person left standing who thinks of J. Crew as boring, bourgeois, Stepford crap. Yuck!
Yeah, but I don't want the “boyfriend-inspired” stuff in the womenswear department. It's still all pink and yellow and coral. Also, just because a piece of menswear “fits” it doesn't really fit, you know? I want the stuff that they sell–the exact same stuff–but cut for a woman.
Yes. Yes. Exactly.
Definitely not! I feel the same way! I find myself picking out numerous amazing clothes from j crew, but end up buying 1 or 2. If any suggestion should be made, It is to lower there prices. Especially for the little things like headbands & other small accessories. You gotta love J Crew, but maybe not that much. You know?
The J.Crew outlet has a significantly lower price point and same great product.
hmmm…they're all great…but you have to admite the price is irelevant:Pvisit http://www.iscariotteh.wordpress.com
Actually the J Crew outlet product IS different. They make a completely differnt line for the outlets with less expensive details. And the sewn-in tags have 2 tiny diamonds under the “J. Crew” so it is easy to tell if something came from an outlet. Yes, the product aesthetic is the same though.
The girls-for-guys concept is genius! They tend to mix gender-specific clothing in their catalogues, which is always great. But combining Jenna's girliness with Frank's uberchic, somewhat tough, preppy-ness would be FANTASTIC!! I'm considering emailing someone at J Crew to aid in your suggestion..xx
That's truet–most of it's made specifically for the outlet. However, sometimes the outlet will get extra stock from the stores. (Burberry, for example, gets so Prorsum stuff even though the trenches are outlet-only.) Most retailers do this so that they can use cheaper fabrics at the outlet stores, making more money in return.
Too Fashion; didn't ista. I feel very uncomfortable here…I guess I'll just drunkenly stumble back to B.Levin and DB. It's been fun.-”xoxo Gossip Girl”?
AGREE WITH FASHIONISTA AND LAUREN..SAW DREXLER ON CHARLIE ROSE..HE SAID WOMEN WERE BUYING MENS SUITS AND SHOES..I LIVE AT A HUGE DISTANCE FROM A STORE…IE. TURKEY…SO I WOULD LIKE THEM TO PUT A “IF YOU ARE A FEMALE” SIZE CHART WITH THE MENS CLOTHES…SO I CAN GET CLOSER TO THE RIGHT SIZE.HOW ABOUT THAT?
I work at J.Crew, and my style is no where near ultra girlie. I am the only employee at my store who doesn't wear pink,pastels,floral, or bows, (along with being the only one with a fair amount of tattoos and a lip piercing) however my whole wardrobe is practically J.Crew. I've also worked at an outlet, and none of my clothes have the double diamonds, but they do make different products but no less of quality. Between their outlet line, retail, and madewell one can come across a mass amount of non-preppy clothes. Mix in a few mens pieces here and there and you're good to go.
I agree- Gap actually did that recently, and I'm a tiny petite, so I was pretty upset when the shirt displayed in two different looks on female mannequins was actually a men's shirt pinned to seem form-fitting.
I never used to shop there–now I'm a groupie and have dropped a big part of my budget there. I am quite androgynous, love the men's department and buy about half my stuff there. They can keep the girly thing going, I feel more unique in a blend of both. I think the price point is spot on for the quality and they mark things down fairly often and reasonably so if there is something I am not 100% sure of I can “watch” it. The monthly catalogue is genius in creating desire. I am gushing–sorry.
I think the idea of a blend of both is right on.
I am a man but I think thats a BIG idea. Frank Muytjens work is amazing and it's nothing better than a girl in beautiful menswear!
Actually, the shoes are something I don't buy. $300 AND they aren't leather lined or soled?I'd rather pay extra somewhere else.
I think Ms. Lyons has done a wonderful job at making J. Crew product much chicer, but the price points are too high. They have been steadily increasing for the past few years. I saw a beautiful top with scallop detailing on the website, but was shocked when I saw the price of $695! Quite honestly, I don't care how lovely something is I will never spend almost $700 for something from a mass market retailer. I am quite confused by Ms. Sherman's comment that she thinks buying “two things from a store with good quality items is better than buying ten from a store with cheap stuff.” Isn't J. Crew supposed to be affordable? It's not Bergdorf's.
I would not be too happy about a guys-for-girls collection from J. Crew. So many stores have already taken women's fashion and molded it to resemble the men's section, and it is such a relief to find a store like J. Crew, which has preserved its committment to pastel-colored, dressy, beautiful women's clothing. These items are as inherently J. Crew as a Big Mac is inherently McDonalds. Thus, I think the company should expand on the concept it already has, and succeeds in promoting, rather than radically altering its product mix, and thus, its clientel.
If they did just start carrying extra smalls, they should've done it for the gays.
This may no longer be true, but several years ago I noticed that my men's extra-small dress shirts were sized exactly the same as women's extra-large shirts, as if women's sizes naturally would leave off where men's pick up or something. I was soundly disgusted. As a fairly slight male, I certainly couldn't imagine classifying a woman of equal size as “extra-large”.
If you are in school or college, J Crew does give student discount with ID.