Monday, February 6, 2012

It's here. Pre-order your favorite styles from our Collection lookbook.

"Thanks!" to many of you, including Desert Flower, Catherine K, Miss JR & patsystone (in this post), as well as Irina, who shared with us the following news & email.

In last month's "J.Crew Email: Get private access to our most speci..." email, J.Crew announced a Spring/Summer new arrival event for today.

J.Crew is offering exclusive private access for 24 hours to pre-order styles from the Spring/Summer Collection LookBook.
  • To order from the Men's Lookbook, click HERE
  • To order from the Women's Lookbook, click HERE
Now as many of you have mentioned, this whole setup is pretty disappointing. (I am unimpressed.) Why? Because these are the same exact images we saw in the handouts just last month (refer to the "You Got Mail... Spring Rewards Cards are Here!" post where customers could pre-order too) and last year (refer to October 2011 "The Looks from J.Crew {Spring 2012}" post). At least they could have included the prices, right? But no, they did not.

Did you get this email? Did you check out the pre-ordering section of J.Crew? What did you think of this marketing campaign- failure or success?

41 comments:

  1. What a letdown! Failure, definitely. A ploy to get more people on the email list.

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  2. I wanted the aqua handbag from look 24. I've been waiting for weeks. I was told they didn't buy it. I can't believe they would continue to advertise something they don't have.

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  3. Yeah I am totally annoyed. It smacks of laziness on J.Crew's part. They don't even have detailed info on anything unless you call and get the sales schtick. No thanks :P

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  4. holly4crew: That bag is the only thing I liked, and they didn't buy it? Figures :P

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  5. holly4crew: I was SO mad when they said that bag wasn't going to be made. They also told me the red bag from look 11 wasn't being made either... my two favorite bags, I was shocked to still see them in the lookbook on the website today.

    At least they're making the red clutch from look 16. It's called the brompton straw clutch, it will be out in April and retails for $88 (so they claim).

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  6. Lame, lame, lame. I even saw the heart blouse at the Toronto/Yorkdale store the other day. They didn't have my size, but I bet I could order it online later on rather than feel pressured to buy within the 24 hour window.

    I am so sick of all this self-hype!

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  7. Well that was anticlimactic. No information about the items, not even item names, and no prices. If i like an item, how do i know which colors it comes in and what its made from? I don't know why I'd preorder absent all that information.

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  8. J Crew really bombs when it comes to their so-called "special perks." I've been nothing but disappointed with their special offers for cardmembers--basically, a chance here and there to pay the inflated full-price for a handbag that won't sell it anyway. The rewards are pretty meager, too.

    As far as this lookbook goes, I like the striped jacket and pencil skirt, but not enough to bother pre-ordering, especially since there's no incentive to do so.

    Lame all around.

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  9. Epic fail, J. Crew. Half the stuff is already on the website anyway (peplum outfit, cashmere colorblock, heart throb...) and the other half I would never order without hearing more about color/fit/fabric and PRICE, duh. And if you have to call/email to get such information, then what's the point of the website? The only thing I would consider emailing about is the lipstick, since that's totally cute :) Otherwise...dumb.

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  10. OT but I am livid!

    I just got a shipping confirmation for the backordered Ashbury floral perfect shirt. Great news, right? NO. They charged me another $8.95 to ship it! On top of the $8.95 I paid to have the non-backordered items shipped from the same order!

    OUTRAGEOUS. This might be what pushes me over the edge. What makes them think it's OK to do this?

    I have an inquiry in to customer service to see if I can get the duplicate ship charge knocked off. If they say no, I've asked to have a return authorized so I can get back ALL my money.

    I am so pissed off right now it's not even funny. Why does the customer have to eat the cost of their poorly-tracked inventory?

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  11. Adding my 0.2 on this matter, I e-mailed "Erica" regarding one of the items hours ago and have yet to receive a response. Yeah, that makes me feel super-duper special...

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  12. What a pain to have to email or call for prices and info. I'll pass.

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  13. Anybody know anything about the pink dress in look 13? TIA!


    There are a LOT of Celine knockoffs in this lookbook. Jenna's been watching the runway!

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  14. Caille - The dress in look 13 is the Zena Pleated Chiffon Dress (item 78512). It is scheduled to be released in April, and the price is $350—as the other items, this price has not been finalized.

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  15. I think they are trying to create hype around a collection that for me falls flat, for whatever reason. I love JC and have a closet full--maybe this is why nothing really excites me. I'm hoping for one dress, one jacket, and one skirt this season that I can't live without. The exaggerated silhouettes are very hard for me (a petite) to pull off.

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  16. Totally lame. No descriptions, no prices, no alternate colors, no temptation. Lame, lame, lame.

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  17. This is almost NO information on these products on the page - no price, no fabric, no detail on the items.

    Maddening.

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  18. They must have lost their minds with look 14! How many woman can wear shiny horizontal stripes on her lower half?

    I do love that straw clutch, but not the color. Too close to orange for my wardrobe. :-/

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  19. If anybody is interested in look 11, I have review, price and fabric contend for the top in pink on my blog here and for the skirt and top in green here

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  20. I looked it over twice and the only thing of interest was the heart throb shirt that just arrived today. For whatever reason I am not interested in a lot of the looks or individual pieces, especially the slouchy tops. New suiting is on my J.Crew wishlist and that may be all if this direction continues.

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  21. I am seriously boycotting JCREW. All the other stores (Banana, Ann Taylor) are offering discounts on their spring items (25-40% off)! You know where I am buying.
    -Ava

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  22. I got the e-mail as well.

    Holly4crew, that's hilarious.

    How does one pre-order something that's already available in stores and online? That's hilarious.

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  23. You are very welcome Caille. I was interested in ordering a few things from the collection for an upcoming trip, but given the fact that their release dates aren't even until mid April and May.....

    I complain but I will probably order them anyway.

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  24. Some of it looks too retro and demure (the long printed dress). Some of it scarily bright (pink + red). Some of it boring.

    Besides, I'm never willing to pay $200 - $300 to pre-order anything. Most of it will end up in sales.

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  25. I was not interested in any of the looks but was talking to an SA in my local B&M and she said she could pre-order items for me if I was interested. She had a much larger copy of the styles, mine was tiny came with my rewards card and I could barely see the pictures. But I agree with other JCA's many styles already available in stores or online so not sure what all the hype was about.

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  26. I'm sadly disappointed with this collection. Everything looks so dumpy and frumpy that I might as well wear my husbands clothes with a belt. My friend and I are going to the B&M this weekend to see some things in person but I'm not holding out any hope. Oh and the whole "pre order" thing, I agree with everyone here, is silly.

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  27. Nothing here that I have to have so badly I'd order without seeing the price... OT has anyone else not gotten their rewards card yet? I'd be looking at things much more seriously if I had that in my hand!

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  28. This is so incredibly lame and lazy. Showing items they aren't even selling, and items that look different in their final iterations. We have seen pics of that paisley skirt in look 11 on ajc and it is not that long. It is a totally different skirt. What kind of retailer just keeps recycling the same pics they have had since October, showing samples, half of which were never to be produced!?!?

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  29. I did not understand why the prices were not listed and there were no details given at all. I was overall confused and disappointed.

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  30. Update on my request for more info on item 01: The dress has not been "finalized", therefore they do not have the price for it and apparently will only be available in white. Shoes are currently available online. Seriously?! Why bother sending out the lookbook for items "available for pre-order" if they are not even in production?

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  31. Elaine, I am outraged about your shipping caharge too! That is beyond cheap, ridiculous and just plain wrong!

    I inquired about the white dress in look #1 and was told it was 275.00 and it looks like cotton! No other details.
    AND OMG...they are showing pics of items that aren't even available ??? WTH?
    Why didn't they just give us a link to the next release early so we don't need to get up at 3:00 am on the West Coast !

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  32. @Shekster I am amazed at how we got two completely different responses regarding the same dress! I was told no pricing info available because it's not "finalized" (whatever that means), no info on material, sizes 0-14, only Ivory. Also, you were told $275.00 for what seems to be a cotton dress? Ridiculous!

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  33. Well all this is just ridiculous.
    I'll just wait until they pop up on final sale. lol

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  34. I was disappointed as well when there was no information on the items. So I called to ask about the stripe coat in look #23. It is currently priced at $495 but the prices can change said the SA. She said it is made of crepe and comes in sizes 00-14. The coat will be out late February.

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  35. Underwhelmed.
    Focused instead on next week's Fashion Week appearance. Harper's bit and inspiration in NY Mag slide 48

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  36. Caille and Vida Blue:

    I liked that dress in image 13 and asked about it. I got this info back (some of which is a repeat of what Vida Blue already posted):

    Item: Zena Pleated Chiffon Dress (Item #78512)
    Colors: Wild Peony (Featured) and Blue Sea
    Price: $350.00
    Sizing: 00-16
    Material: 100% Polyester
    Debut: April 2012

    I was surprised they would charge $350 for a polyester dress.

    I still like the dress,but not for $350.

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  37. I wrote J.Crew on a few of the outfits that I liked. I asked for names of pieces and pricing, and I was sent the following response. Notice that nearly all of the outfits include one item that J.Crew will not carry.

    Look #4 includes:

    Whisper Gauze Limbo Top- comes in sizes XXS-XL, scheduled to debut May 2012, current price $59.50.

    High-Waisted Pant in Silk-Wool- comes in sizes 00-12, scheduled to debut this month, current price is $258.

    Rainbow Stripe Kisslock Clutch- scheduled to debut May 2012, and is currently priced at $68.

    The shoes that are shown with this look will not be in the J.Crew Spring/Summer 2012 Collections. However we do have a similar item available – the Lia midheel sandals (#64742) which are currently available online.

    Look #5 includes:
    The Mogador Linen Top- comes in sizes 00-14, in color Flax, scheduled to debut April 2012, and is currently priced at $88.

    The Neon Yellow Shorts- comes in sizes 00-12, in color Dazzling Sun, scheduled to debut April 2012, and is currently priced at $79.50.

    The Basis Leather Skinny Belt- comes in sizes XS-XL, in color Neon Orange, scheduled to debut May 2012, and is currently priced at $34.50.

    The Valentina Calf Hair Pumps- comes in sizes 51/2 - 10 and 11, in color Natural Leopard, and is currently available online for $325

    Look #6 includes:
    Selima Sun® for J.Crew Belle sunglasses- scheduled to debut this month, current price is $118.

    Cashmere Plaited Sweatshirt- comes in sizes XXS-XL, scheduled to debut this month, current price is $248.

    Mini in yellow sequins- comes in sizes 00-12, scheduled to debut March 2012, current price is $595.

    Darby Calf Hair Loafers- comes in sizes 5 ½ - 10, 11, this item is currently available online for $275.


    Look #10 includes:
    Straw Bucket Hat- this hat comes in one size, is scheduled to debut March 2012, and is currently priced at $39.50

    Hanna Sweater- comes in sizes XXS-XL, is scheduled to debut April 2012, and is currently priced at $350.

    Leopard Linen Shorts- comes in sizes 00-12, is scheduled to debut May 2012, and is currently priced at $79.50.

    Verona Calf Hair Driving Mocs- comes in sizes 5-10, 11, 12, and is currently available online for $275.

    Look #26 includes

    Panama Hat- comes in sizes S/M and L/XL, and is currently online for $58.

    Dot Tunic- comes in sizes 00-14, is scheduled to debut May 2012, and is currently priced at $88.

    Lousia Cardigan- comes in sizes 00-14, is schedule do debut April 2012, and is currently priced at $198.

    Dream Weaver Ballet Flats- comes in sizes 5 ½ - 9, 10, 11, 12, is scheduled to debut this month and are currently priced at $158.
    (The shorts that are shown in this look will not be a part of our J.Crew Spring/Summer 2012 Collection)

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  38. Agree with all of you. Was hoping there would prices and information available so we could actually PURCHASE. But, to have to email my "wish" list is ridiculous. No thanks. I will wait until they come in the main rollout, which will be soon. Besides, I have enough now to start my spring up and roaring. Most of the items are sweaters and who wears a sweater with shorts in the middle of summer? Seriously.

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  39. The only time I ever preordered from the Lookbook was way back in 2007 around when they first started with Collection pieces and it was a total waste - they either didn't produce the items I ordered at all, or they were totally not as pictured, instead made in a completely watered down version. I remember it was the time of the cherry blossom print and the dress in the Lookbook versus the dress they actually produced were nothing alike. It was a total disappointment. So I've never bothered since. I agree with everyone, it is completely silly.

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