J.Crew Spring/Summer 2014: Mix of Wearable and Shapeless Looks

Like many brands, J.Crew always creates very interesting, slightly edgier looks for their Collection line, and the upcoming Spring/Summer 2014 collection is no different.  According to a briefing, the collection was inspired by two stories, one of surfing at a California beach and another influenced by the “lido lifestyle of the Venetian coast” – think […]

Canadian Price, but in USD? Weird J.Crew Prices…Again

I noticed this late Saturday night on the Canadian J.Crew website: USD?  I thought the Canadian website always listed things in Canadian dollars.  Upon checking the US site to make sure we aren’t being charged for duty, I found this: So the prices are different from the US..  However, shouldn’t the Canadian site be using […]

Small Feet and The Shoe Addiction

I have to admit that I have a pretty decent-sized shoe collection as well.  Not like Jenna Lyons (see video below where she discusses nearly 300 pair shoe collection) or Carrie Bradshaw, but probably fairly substantial for someone with a hard-to-find size.  I have walked out of stores disappointed and sometimes, have had sales people […]

Should Brands Like J.Crew Sell Bags for over 1K?

Recently, Refinery29 posted an article featuring J.Crew’s latest Edie bag with a price tag of $1,500 US, asking if it’s really worth it.  This bag, only available at their Madison Avenue store – there is a python version that is around $800 (around $900 in Canada) is, with the exception of material, no different from […]

On Stores, Shopping, Social Media and Customer Content

Over the past few years, bloggers have been very influential for many shoppers, especially if said blogger is a similar size.  Many stores have embraced online comments (Anthropologie, the US Gap Inc. sites (now when will the Canadian sites add this feature?), etc…) and others are getting in on photo sharing.  Canadian footwear chain, Town […]

‘Mass Market’ Brands and Fashion Week

Joe Fresh has done it for many seasons and Express closed out the week this time, but is there a place for brands like that at Fashion Week?  To some, having mass markets show at Fashion Week defeats the purpose – it isn’t really “fashion,” while to others would say both lines are “accessible” by […]

Marketing and Pricing: J.Crew Sells Leggings for $650 US

Some of you may have seen my tweet yesterday questioning a pair of leggings from J.Crew’s latest update, selling for $650 (and over $760 in Canada).  I realize that this is from their “collection” line, which is always much higher-priced, considering the material and such, but did it have to be that much higher? And […]

Marissa Webb Debuts at New York Fashion Week

Presented as an installation on Saturday, this debut collection by former J.Crew designer, Marissa Webb, is definitely influenced by her experience with the company.  Artsy, yet preppy (but not really “bohreppy” (Boho Prep)), the spring/summer 2013 looks include brightly coloured pieces, basic blacks and whites (including a white fit and flare dress that could be […]

Bloor-Yorkville: What Stores Do You Want To See?

A while back, we posted a piece about Yorkdale’s renovations and asked what stores you’d like see open there (followed up last week by a piece updating on speculated stores).  So now we turn to another major shopping district in Toronto, the Bloor-Yorkville area.  This area has one of the highest rents for a shopping […]

In My Easter Bonnet, With All the Frills Upon It….

OK, so no Easter Bonnet.  I don’t even wear hats very much (other than wool ones you wear in the winter), but for Easter, my husband and I decided to head over to a local hotel for a delicious buffet brunch.  It wasn’t a fancy place – just a regular, run-of-the-mill hotel chain about a […]