J.Crew says that they have improved their cashmere sweaters for this Fall. I went to the store this week to see for myself.
Last year, I bought 3 of J.crew’s cashmere sweaters. 2 long sleeve tees and one argyle. I was pleased with them.. at first. Looking back I think I was too generous with my opinion of them. I didn’t really mind when I found a few small pills on the underarms of the sweaters. However, after a season of wearing them, there is now much more than small pills. On my most loved dark peony sweater there are now large pills over the entire sweater, it’s very fuzzy, and honestly pretty scraggly looking. The sweater is covered in white wiry shaped threads. As I said, my sweater is not white, it is peony….So what are these white threads? They have the texture of polyester but maybe they are the coarse hairs that are suppose to be removed in quality cashmere. Whatever they are, I am not pleased.
Besides the pilling, all of my sweaters are stretched out and baggy. My argyle sweater looks 2 sizes too big and I paid $140 for that sucker. I think I am going to give them all a soak in warm water. Has anyone tried this or have any other tips for shrinking up cashmere?
Well after last year’s disappointment I am not willing to risk my money on J.Crew’s cashmere. I will say though, this year’s material is different than the sweaters I have. I can’t say how it compares to lasts year’s solid colored v-neck. But the texture is different than the tees and argyle v-neck I have. This season’s have a tighter, matter weave. They are definitely not as fuzzy as last year’s sweaters. But they are a little less soft as well. I tried on the cashmere V-neck in what I think was sweet guava. I am very happy that they have raised the neckline on the V-neck! Last year’s were so low, you could practically see my belly button. I tried on the XS and the fit in the arms is quite snug. However, the chest and upper waist fit was boxy on me. It didn’t look uber baggy and unflattering. But it gave me a rectangular figure which I don’t have. The sweater fit long, just above the widest point of the hip on me.
The material on the new cashmere is thin but the weave is tight. The guava color, which is quite light, is not see through but just. The material is thin enough to show every pocket, zipper and button on my jeans. But, I had it pulled snugly down instead of left to gather around the hips.
Another thing I liked about the new sweaters, is that they have a finished hem. I know some people like the rolled hem, they think it is more casual and modern. But I really dislike how the hem keeps rolling higher and higher the longer you have the sweater. And honestly I don’t need anymore rolls around my waist, thank you very much.
So, I found J.crew’s new cashmere promising but I am not convinced. After spending 100s of dollars and being fooled before I cannot take the risk. In my opinion, if J.crew want to convince it’s loyal customers that it has heard the concerns and disappointment and taken steps to improve quality, they are going to have to be the one to take on a little risk and cost this time. I’d like to see J.Crew make an effort to win us back by sending out a couple of samples to their huge blogger fan base. No, not necessarily to me lol. I trust the quality opinions and reviews of any of the JC bloggers and until I hear good things from them about how J.Crew cashmere wears, I won’t be buying.
Have you seen the new J.Crew cashmere? What are your thoughts?
PS-Pardon my irl pic quality. My little camera over exposed the pic and left it looking shadowy and grainy around the chest. I wanted to share anyway so you can see the fit.
I too would love a review of this season's J.Crew cashmere. I've been more disapointed with my 2006-2008 J.Crew cashmere purchases than with any other purchase I've ever made! (Harsh, but true.)
I love the styles of this season's J.Crew's sweaters, but refuse to buy something that will only look good for two wearings.
Shannon, ITA that J.Crew needs to take some steps to deal with its cashmere problem. I would love to hear back from the JCA who was road-testing the new sweater. (She sends a complaint e-mail and gets a free sweater . . . I send a note about the flaking on the metallic leather and don't even get a return e-mail acknowledging my concern. Hmm.)
J.Crew has better colors and styles in its cashmere than other retailers but I will need some very good assurances about quality before I lay down the JC CC again, especially after that joke "Collection" Fleur cardi.
My heirloom henley has held up quite well but my argyle, like yours, is so stretched out and slightly fraying. I really like some of their cashmere colors this year but am loathe to chance it. Maybe next year when we hear how this year's stuff held up.
thanks for the cashmere input! for me, the cashmere is always really expensive so i'll just wait around for some markdowns. it does look promising but i'd be incredibly mad if it pilled especially if i paid full price!
I have had terrible, terrible problems with JCrew quality this year. Items that have been worn, items with holes, items that have developed holes after one wearing . . . I could go on and on. I have contacted CS a number of times and they have always "fixed" the problem, but it has always been disappointing and frustrating nonetheless. Here's the thing: they continually maintain that the majority of customers are thrilled with the quality of their clothes. So what gives? The blogosphere is filled with comments/critiques like yours. If they actually addressed them, that would be admitting a problem they consistently deny. Repeating "we're obsessed about quality" a million times does not make it true. I'm so sorry to hear about your cashmere; as someone who doesn't have a lot of money to spend on clothes and who thinks hard about her purchases, I personally would feel sick to my stomach. I do know I am spending less and less at JCrew.
I would love to know how to shrink cashmere. Last year I bought a short sleeve cashmere tee – they had changed the style and it fit bigger than my other two. I machine washed and dried the sweater – and it never shrunk!! I must say though, it didn't seem to affect the finish of the sweater, which surprised me.
Thank-you Shannon for this post, I am on the fence about ordering this very sweater. I have also been burned by their cashmere with the exception of last years hat. I also agree with the comment about J Crew's quality overall, I have stopped buying their tees because of the hole problem, and I don't want to purchase anything that is named Dream for the same reasons.
I like the v-neck, J Crew should put it on sale to get people to try it.
I hand washed my cashmere from last year with the Cashmere wash that is on-line. It did shrink a little.
I too am in a twist about JC cashmere and would love to see a road test. Most people are trying to keep their cashmere from shrinking. But for SE Mom and anyone else in blogosphere: I got this tip from friend of mine's mom who owns a trendy yarn, knitting class and button/bead type store. Tried it on a 2007 JCrew cashmere argyle jumper (sorry that's my Brit for v-neck pullover) with stretched sleeves and bottom (even though it had always been carefully folded not hung) and it worked. Attempt at your own risk tho – and be patient! Sink full of very warm water with a cap of baby shampoo dissolved into suds. Immerse the sweater for 10 minutes max (you need to let it soak for a bit so fibres are completely soaked, but before fading/ dye loss occurs.) Remove sweater from water then very gently squish dry and roll in a towel to remove more water. Do not twist or wring as this may distort the sweater more. Put the sweater in the dryer with a clean hand towel (no fabric softener sheet) and set on a low permanent press setting. Keep an eye on the sweater every 10minutes or so until it is almost dry, just slightly damp. Shape the towel carefully on a bath towel to the desired size (fiddle with the sleeve and adjust the bottom, make sure no wrinkles, worth it.) Allow to finish air drying. Note, if the sweater shrinks some, but not enough, you may need to repeat the process once more. Do not get tempted to use steaming hot water or crank the dryer temp, you will just ruin the cashmere weave and destroy its softness. And only really works with minor stretching like from a small to a medium, can't shrink an XL to an M.
Sorry about long directions, and should have noted you need to repeat very warm water step with water only, briefly, to remove the shampoo residue. Or if sweater is clean, new you can just do step one soak with warm water only. Focussed on shrinkin, not thinkin.
I tried on a cashmere cardi a month ago…one of the new ones. I'm not a cashmere expert, but I wasn't impressed. I am with the other bloggers & visitors who say they have purchased far better cashmere elsewhere.
Just as an aside, I personally have always heard wonderful things about the cashmere from White and Warren – that is the brand my sister wears. I am allergic, so none for me but she seems to do really well with their cardigans!
oh! I thought of something else – for Paris, you should totally look for some Cole Haan shoes with the Nike Air technology. I tried some on recently, and they are heavenly!!!
Sorry to hear about three ruined sweaters from last year. The complaints about jcrew sweater quality has kept me away for a year and a half, and I was waiting for any updates on the quality. I have heard that the cashmere quality was down, but didn't know that the Dream sweaters had been suffering too. Any thoughts on the quality of this year's mohair sweaters?
Anon 12:19-Same here. Most of my JC items have held up well. The cashmere has been the most disappointing and the most expensive!
The only other items I've started to really worry about, is my plum merino rose cardi. I LOVE that sweater but it is starting to look worn and I am afraid it will not last through the spring.
Breaks my heart that these sweaters are getting ratty because we have not seen great colors like plum and peony since then.
Hex- I hadn't heard about that! I hate how some customers get treated like gold and others ignored
Anon 1:06- You are probably right.. They may allow SAs to tout the cashmere as improved but it's another thing for Crop to own up.
SEMom-Interesting, I may try it. I hate handwashing
Casual-crew-It's so hard. Even as I type about how disappointed I am with JC sweaters I am being wooed by one in the new catalog lol
Anne-Thanks for the washing tips! I am going to try it. I can't wear my argyle sweater in public, so it can't get any worse lol
Biana-I will checkout white and warren, ty! I've heard great things about CH nike air but I haven't tried them yet. I'll have to give them a whirl next time I am at nordies.
Cyclone- I saw the mohair sweaters at the store and honestly, I have a heard time believing they will not snag or pill. The weave is soooo loose and they are extremely fuzzy BUT maybe that's how they are suppose to be and I am just not hip to mohair?
Thanks Shannon I have decided not to pull the trigger, you have saved me lots of money. I am going to wait until BR rolls out their cashmere next month, that is good quality.
Shannon, thanks so much for the great review of the new cashmere v-neck. I had hoped to see the new cashmere line in the B&M I visited a couple of weeks ago, but alas, they didn't have a single cashmere sweater in sight! I wonder why some stores don't stock cashmere? It's a staple of J. Crew, after all! I have spent a lot of $$$ on J. Crew cashmere over the years, mainly b/c the color choices are simply the best out there. But, this past year's quality was truly dismal. Many of my cardis and pullovers are looking baggy only after a few wearings, and I am one of those types who is extra careful with her cashmere! Anyway, I love the Sweet Guava color on you, but you're right that the sweater gives you a rectangular shape. I am glad that the v-neck isn't so low anymore. That drove me nuts. I might give Anne's washing technique a try. Thanks, Anne!
I have heard so many negative comments about J Crew's cashmere so, no, I will not be purchasing it any time soon!! I am waiting for the new customer reviews to come in as well.
I agree, JCrew doesn't last!! I bought a sweater last year and within a few months, the seam had already started to come undone under the armpit…I like my clothes to not fall apart while I am wearing them, thank you…not worth the money.
I have this year's cashmere turtleneck (#99166) and got it at 20% off. It runs TTS (although they say its fitted) and the quality of the cashmere is medium in softness, compared to my other brands and the construction seems sound with a tighter weave and well-sewn seams. And it is not transparent at all in black. I do not know whether it will pill badly or not. Compared to last years V neck cardigan #18886) is not as soft, but I suspect this will cause LESS pilling. For me, a black turtleneck will be worn at least 50 times in the season and will probably be retired by next Fall- and 126$ is not all that bad if it holds up for the whole season.