/ Reviews

J.Crew Factory now has 50% off gift list items for women, men, boys and girls, online, prices as marked. But, if you go in to the actual B&M Factory or Mercantile store, everything is 50% off, not just select items. There are no exclusions. AND…if you are signed up for JCF emails you should have received a coupon for 20% off your purchase of $100 or more. All offers are good through Sunday, though I do think the 50% off all items will be extended through Black Friday, like it was last year.

A quick little update on the cute little Embroidered Sweater. A commenter was correct in stating they were Snow Otters and I found the sweater online, with all sizes in stock, style #F8776.

~ Perfect Fit Plaid Classic Button-Down Shirt, Small ~
~ Lace Pencil Skirt, size 8 ~
~ Esme Jeweled Kitten Heels, size 7 ~

I really liked the Christmas plaid of this shirt. There were only two XXS, a Small and an XL left in the store I was in. I did have a chance to stop by the Factory store and found a few more sizes in stock, though not a Medium, which I would prefer. I can fit into the Small and will just have to wear a non-padded or lined bra to combat the gaping below that center button. I can fit into a Small in button-down shirts from the Factory but feel more comfortable in a Medium.

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~ Lace Pencil Skirt, size 8 ~

I really loved the fit of this lace pencil skirt. I have plenty of skirts I don’t wear but I also liked the look of it with the Plaid shirt. I have a Holiday event or party every weekend in December, some are with the same people, so I do need a few different options of my casual style for them.

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~ Short-Sleeve Printed Dress, size 8 ~
~ Esme Jeweled Kitten Heels, size 7 ~

This dress is on Crew Clearance/Final Sale and would be a great work dress. The material is Poly and this does have a little ponte feel to it. The size 8 fit me very well so this is TTS.

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~ Striped Jacquard Dress, size 10 ~
~ Esme Jeweled Kitten Heels, size 7 ~

I loved this dress. I am still considering it to have for an event in February but this is a great Holiday party, LBD-ish, or New Year’s Eve dress. The silhouette is the same as the Peacock Jacquard and the Metallic Dot dress. I am currently needing to size up in this fit-and-flare style so I feel more comfortable in the size 10. I do think it runs TTS though. And you can see it has pockets. Any one of the three dresses will be perfect for the Holidays, New Year’s and after.

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~ Slim Plaid Flannel Shirt, Black, Small ~
~ Sequin Herringbone Pencil Skirt, size 8 ~

I found this shirt in the Men’s section. I usually wear a Small in the button-downs. I loved the coziness of the flannel and the tartan plaid. The colors are a lot more saturated than the women’s Factory and Retail versions.

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~ Sequin Herringbone Pencil Skirt, size 8 ~

This wasn’t at the Mercantile store. I found this at the Factory store. It’s another option for the Holidays and fits TTS. Sizes in store were limited but online all sizes are stocked.

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~ Esme Jeweled Kitten Heels, size 7 ~

I wanted to try everything on with a pair of heels and these were the only ones I could find in my small Mercantile store. They are really nice considering they are Factory. The upper is suede and the sole is man-made. The heel is a manageable 2 1/4. The jewels at the front dress them up. There’s a little gap at the heel for me in the 7 but I still think they fit TTS.

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And here are a few things I’d get from the Whoa Gift List.


Are you shopping J.Crew Factory for you gifts? I have already bought a few things for me but really need to focus on my actual gift list.

Next week I’ll have reviews from J.Crew.

Happy Shopping!

/ Reviews

J.Crew Factory is having a Flash sale for today only. Prices are marked 50% off and you can also get Free Shipping with your order with code WHOAGIFTLIST.

~ Metallic Fair Isle Sweater, Medium ~
~ Flannel Skirt, Camel, size 8 ~
~ Esme Jeweled Kitten Heels, size 7 ~

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~ Metallic Fair Isle Sweater, Medium ~

I think the retail version of this sweater was red. I like the color of the Factory version a lot better and the metallic threading is a nice embellished touch. This sweater ran big on me in the medium, from the upper arms, to the length of the body and sleeves. There’s plenty of room to layer another shirt under without adding any visual bulk so I’m not sure I would size to a Small. But, I do think you’ll get a better fit overall by sizing down one.

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~ Flannel Skirt, Camel, size 8 ~

Another item I thought ran big. The waist is sitting on my hips and still pretty loose. And this is a true wrap skirt instead of a faux wrap. There are large snap buttons on the right and and left of the skirt waist along with the tie. The length is hitting just above the knee on me. I think because of my hips and butt I would stick with the size 8 but I feel you could size down in this skirt. This comes in a Dusty Port and a Charcoal Check as well.

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~ Embroidered Beaver Sweater, Small (Fox Sweater) ~
~ Animal Jacquard Mini Skirt, size 8 ~
~ Esme Jeweled Kitten Heels, size 7 ~

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~ Embroidered Sweater, Small (Fox Sweater) ~

I never saw this sweater online and can’t find it anywhere. It’s really cute and they look like beavers but could be seals. What do you think? The outline of the critters is embroidered and the little nose/mouth is a little puff. This is a Small and I could have really used a Medium but there were very few left. And unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture of the tag. I have no idea what the Style number is.

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~ Animal Jacquard Mini Skirt, size 8 ~

This skirt is last years Elephant Parade Skirt. I like the zebras and the black and silver color combo ensure multiple outfit choices. The size 8 ran TTS and the skirt is fully lined.

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~ Plaid Ruffle Shirt, Medium ~
~ Faux Leather Skirt, Black, size 8 ~
~ Esme Jeweled Kitten Heels, size 7 ~

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~ Plaid Ruffle Shirt, Medium ~

I really don’t recall this at the retail store last year but it could have sold so fast that I missed it. I love the ruffle at the neck and button placket. It will give some interest if you layer this under a sweater or blazer. The Medium fit fine though I think I might have been able to wear a Petite Medium. The Tartan Red is very festive. It also comes in solid white and black.

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~ Faux Leather Skirt, Black, size 8 ~

I prefer the retail Faux Leather Skirt over the Factory only because of the quality. The Factory skirt is a thinner material so the pleats spread out more and you don’t see the pleating definition at the top. This also runs a little smaller and I could have used a size 10 instead. Though it’s a mini skirt it doesn’t hit me too far above the knee.

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Prices are marked 50% off today so no code is needed for the purchase but you will need to use WHOAGIFTLIST for the free shipping.

What do you think of the Plaid Ruffle Shirt? I bought it and will make a few outfits with it to see if I’ll keep it or not.

/ Reviews

Plaid, plaid, plaid…it feels like that’s all I tried on. I did try to make outfits with everything I tried on so let’s get started.

~ Patterned Schoolboy Blazer, Navy/Red/Green, size 8 ~
~ Floral Lace Shirt, Belvedere Red, size 8 ~
~ Shadow Wash High-Rise Skinny Jeans, size 30 ~
~ Esme Jeweled Kitten Heels, size 7 ~

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~ Patterned Schoolboy Blazer, Navy/Red/Green, size 8 ~

I like the colors on this blazer but can you really get away with wearing it after Christmas? I know there’s navy in this pattern but the green and red and so pronounced I think it’s only a 45-60 day use time. It does come in Tan/Maroon/Black. It does not come in Petite so I would stick with the size 8. I don’t normally button my blazers and prefer to leave them open. There are matching Skimmer Pants.

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~ Floral Lace Shirt, Belvedere Red, size 8 ~

I can’t recall if there was a retail shirt like this. I know there was a dress and the ivory had contrasting lace at the shoulders. I liked this top as a great layer under a blazer or cardigan though you’ll be hiding the lace shoulders. The green is olive and this also comes in black. Red it great for the season. My normal size 8 fit best.

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~ Shadow Wash High-Rise Skinny Jeans, size 30 ~

These fit fine in the size 30. There’s a lot of stretch in them so I am pretty sure I could go with my normal size 29. They are really long and had a lot of bunching at the ankles.

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~ Printed Quilted Puffer Vest, Blackwatch, Small ~
~ Deer Lights Collector Tee, Medium ~
~ Skimmer Pant in Plaid, Blackwatch, size 8 ~
~ Esme Jeweled Kitten Heels, size 7 ~

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~ Printed Quilted Puffer Vest, Blackwatch, Small ~

This fits like all the other puffer vests. I always take a Small. I usually prefer the solid colors as well as the Factory version of the puffer vests. I don’t like the gold buttons on the pocket of the retail puffer vest. But if you’re wanting something other than the solid I like this as well as the Polka Dot vest.

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~ Deer Lights Collector Tee, Medium ~

Cute little tee that fits TTS though the deer does look a little angry to me, despite the festive lights on his rack and fair isle scarf around his neck. This was popular since my Mercantile store had just a few of these left in stock.

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~ Llama Parade Collector Tee, Medium ~

These llamas are so cute! I ended up getting this tee over the Deer Lights Tee. I just couldn’t pass up these festive llamas.

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~ Skimmer Pant in Plaid, Blackwatch, size 8 ~

These blackwatch plaid skimmer pants are around every year. I usually pass on them because they never fit right. I definitely need a size 10 this year but would love to see these in Petite sizing next year. Maybe then I’ll get them.

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My J.Crew Mercantile store is much smaller than the Factory store I am used to but is a lot closer. On this visit I reconnected with an old J.Crew retail SA who had been gone for a few years. It was nice to have a little attention at the store this time, especially when I was in the fitting room.

Happy Shopping!

/ Bella Picks

It’s always fun to look at all the retailers Holiday collections. J.Crew Factory had their roll-out recently and some you’ll recognize as similar to retail items while others look to be exclusive to the Factory/Mercantile stores. Currently, everything is 40-60% off, prices as marked online and in-store, through tomorrow. Use code SHOPSHOP to take an additional 40% off Clearance.

The Factory Faux Leather Skirt is a thinner quality than the retail skirt. It also runs a little smaller in the waist. I liked the Metallic Fair Isle Sweater though it ran a size big. You can always count on the Factory to bring blackwatch items for the Holiday, including pants, a puffer vest and even a blanket.

Two items I don’t recall being from previous retail roll-outs are the Wrap Skirt and Ruffle Shirt, which comes in solid or plaid. I like these flannel pajamas but if I wore this Union Suit I don’t think my husband would ever stop laughing at me. I loved the Lace Pencil Skirt and it fit really well in my normal size 8.

I finally went to the local J.Crew Mercantile store and tried on several pieces. The one thing that bugs me about my store, compared to the Factory B&M, is my size sells out quickly. They get a smaller stock than the Factory store so I need to remember to get to the store quickly if there’s something I really want to try on. I will share my reviews over the next few days.

Happy Shopping!

/ Bella Picks

Banana Republic has a Friendsgiving event, online only, ending tomorrow. You can take 40% off your purchase, with some exclusions (BR Pick, BR Monogram, cashmere, leather), using code FRIENDS. This code also applies to Gap and Old Navy.

~ Open Front Merino Wool Cardigan, Navy, Medium (long version)~

This merino cardigan looks to be sold out online but I found this in-store on the sale rack. I already have a merino cardigan from J.Crew but it’s v-neck and I wanted something a little more classic and cropped. The medium is a good fit though the sleeves are pretty long, as you can see by the bunching at my wrists. The neckline is also a little wider than the standard crewneck of J.Crew’s Jackie Cardigan.

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~ Puff-Sleeve Plaid Top, Preppy Navy, Medium ~

I was drawn to the puff-sleeves on this top, as well as the length of the sleeves. They are long enough to cover my arms but don’t quite hit the elbow; not too short or too long. When I saw this in-store it was styled with this purple blazer, which I thought was odd. I thought what is actually a bright pink color in this plaid top was red. But now that I know this is pink I can see wearing this top with my pink houndstooth heels. This is a poly blend that feels a little like wool while the pink version is 100% poly. This also comes in a tee.  It runs TTS.

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Here are a few more of my picks for this Friendsgiving sale.


Banana Republic has also launched their Holiday Collection so you’ll find some great options for upcoming parties like this sequin skirt, tuxedo dress or these heels. This FRIENDS sale ends tomorrow.