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If you live near a Factory Store, stop by soon. Mine is an hour away but is also in the same city as my company’s office so I stop by at least once a month. The Factory Store has started a new incentive to get more people to the B&M and shopping. They’ve introduced a “frequent shopper” program/card called The Factory Five. Each time you make a purchase at the B&M Factory Store you’ll receive a stamp. On your 5th purchase you’ll receive 15% off. The card expires 12 months after your first purchase.

This is only valid at J Crew Factory and crewcuts Factory Stores and not for any online purchases. The card also says the 15% off promo can’t be combined with other promos or discounts but I’m not sure how much of that will hold true. Each time I go to the Factory Store EVERYTHING has a promo. It is valid on sale items at the Factory.
AND…I also received this percent-off card stating new arrivals would be in next week. This discount is by amount spent so a $100 purchase gives you 10% off, $150=20% off and $200=25% off and is valid from 8/6 through 8/26, just in time for back-to-school shopping. 
Live the Factory Five card, this is not valid for any online or phone purchases from the Factory Store. You must visit a B&M to get the discount.

Just saying that maybe a Sunday drive is in order to pick up these two goodies.

What do you think of these two offers?
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I love being able to stop by the Factory Store right after new arrivals come in. There is plenty of stock in the store and everything is organized so well. Tuesday was no exception. And the bonus was I had great customer service from an SA, which rarely occurs in my Factory store. Everything had a percent or dollar off and I grabbed several things to try on.

Here’s the list of everything I could find that was on sale in the store. This was as of Tuesday, July 31.
Skirts 30% off
Schoolboy Blazers $10 off
Perfect Shirts 25% off
Long-Sleeve Novelty Ringspun Tees 30% off
Denim 30% off
Long-Sleeved Perfect Fit Tees 20% off
Colored Toothpick Jean 20% off
Ballet Flats 20% off
Scarves 30% off
Handbags 20% off
Hair Accessories 40% off
Jewelry 20% off
Gallery Tees 20% off
Cardigans: Solids 20% off, Patterned 30% off
Mini Skirts 30% off
Belts 30% off
Dresses 30% off
Thandie Sweater 50% off
Women’s Shoes 20% off
Summer Thandie Sweaters 50% off
Perfect Shirt in Printed Cotton, Dark Pewter, Sz M – Fit TTS, cute print
Pencil Skirt in Corduroy, Autumn Bluegrass, Sz 6 – This is a pretty color for fall but since I have the Viridian Green from last year I passed on this skirt. 
Lace Up Boot (MacAlister Bootie), Nut, #52868, Sz 7, $168 – Fits TTS. Cute but not my style.
Bicycle Tee, Bright Spearmint, #42836, Sz M, $34.50 – Again, a sucker for mint but I held strong and passed on this tee.
Classic Corduroy Mini, Autumn Blaze, Sz 8 – This was more of a Neon Papaya color and I was naturally attracted to it. Me/Bright Colors=Moth/Flame
Perfect Shirt in Printed Cotton, Golden Hickory, Sz M – Fits TTS, lightweight
Toothpick Cord, Bright Mineral, Sz 30 – A pretty mint colored cord…I love me some mint green.
Printed Pencil Skirt in Stretch Cotton, Rouge, Sz 6 – I love this print have already have it in the dress and Flair skirt. 
Quincy Tartan Shirt, #23225, EGR, Sz M, $59.50 – I have the retail version of this shirt and it’s one of my favorites.
Toothpick Jean in Garment Dye, Brilliant Cobalt, Sz 30 – This was a beautiful cobalt blue and fit well. I pass on colored jeans, especially skinny ones; too trendy for me.
Draped Novelty Top, Navy, Sz M – This was very big and boxy. I have the retail version. If I recall this one does not have an exposed zipper but it’s Poly (booo).
Colorblock Novelty Top, CBL, #91581, Sz M, $64.50 – Again, big, boxy, Poly.
Lace Tank, Black, #77475, Sz 6, $64.50 – I never tried the retail version of this tank but the Factory version in Ivory was almost sold out in the store. 
Schoolboy Blazer, Maraschino Cherry, #92480, Sz 8, $168 – This fit TTS in a beautiful cherry color. This has a seersucker print lining.
Classic Chambray Dress, Blissful Blue, Sz M – Way too big on me. The denim felt nice; not too stiff.
I had trouble deciding between these last two dresses. I really wanted both as they fit well. The Workday Dress in Pinstripe (Director Dress in Pinstripe Wool), Navy, Sz 6, was a surprise pick for me. I did not notice this dress online but, on a whim, decided to try it on in the store. It fit just like the retail version I tried on last Fall/Winter and makes me look long and lean. It’s a WOW dress.  
Paulina Suede Pumps (Mona Suede Pumps), Dark Cedar, #95994, Sz 7, $118 – These fit TTS and this is such a pretty shade for Fall. I left these in the store and regret it as they were selling quickly.
It’s fully lined and 99% Wool/1% Poly.

The Pleated Shift Dress was the other dress causing me grief. I missed out on the Sally Dress last Winter and after trying on the Jules Dress in Retro Jade I wanted that dress/a dress in this color. The 100% Polyester was not deterring me from really liking/loving this dress. I have on a size 6 and it fit TTS. 

In the end, I took home the Pleated Dress and am happy I did. The Workday Dress is currently online at a lower price than the actual Factory B&M and the SHOPNOW 30% works with this item. How do I know? Because I did order it this evening. So I will have both dresses! I’ll have to look in my closet and see what needs to go, since I want to keep both of these dresses. 

What do you think of these Factory offerings? 

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This dress. This print. I am not sure where to start. I loved this Gallerista print from J Crew since it came out last year in both the skirt and dress. But the price on both gave me some heartache. The were also both silk making it a little harder to wear casually so I passed on both.

So I was happy to see the same print come out this summer in both a scarf and dress in cotton, a much more wearable material for me an dour climate. On one of my work travel days in May, I stopped by the Factory store and picked up the scarf for my trip. I saw the dress but didn’t try it on.

I watched the price fluctuate up and down through the last few months, with and without an extra percent off. I still passed on the dress. This last 30% off I almost bought the dress but decided not to. I told myself if it was still in the store the next time at a good price I would try it on.
Well, I had an unexpected travel day on Tuesday and stopped by the Factory store on my way home. I am glad I waited. The dress was $59.97 in-store and was in the clearance section. All clearance items are currently an additional 50% off. I certainly wasn’t going to hold out any longer for a lower price as $30 was pretty good to me.
I tried on both the size 6 and 8. The 6 fit well but the 8 fit better. The cotton is soft and I’ll be able to wear it through the rest of the summer. 
Pockets!
What do you think of this dress? The Factory had lots of things on Clearance so I expect there will be new arrivals soon.
Have a Great Evening!
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I have a lot of love for the Casbah print in Jade from J Crew Spring 2011. I have the dress and scarf and pined over the Perfect Shirt and Silk Blouse. I regretfully missed the swimwear in this print that the lovely xoxo has and considered, for a brief moment, the Romper. A good print will do that to you. It will make you consider wearing it in something you know is going to look ridiculous on you. 
When Rynetta, from the blog jcrewismyfavstore, posted a pic of what looked like this lovely print in a skirt I immediately called my local Factory Store. I described it to the best of my ability, without the Style # (which is 37532) and luckily, this was the only green printed pencil skirt in the store. The SA confirmed it was a pencil skirt. I was hoping, just a little, that it would be the Belle Skirt. How cute would that have been?
As expected, it arrived today and I am loving it. It is cotton but un-lined which is fine by me. I ordered my normal size 6 and it is a perfect fit, per usual.
Such a pretty print. It is 98% Cotton and 2% Spandex and the color is Jade. Since this is in Factory stores now my guess is new arrivals will be on the website tomorrow. I wonder what other Spring goodies we’ll see! 
Thanks for reading! 
Two posts in one day…I’m loving my new app! Now, when I have a blog post in my head I can whip out Diva (I’ve named my iPad) and start typing away. She’ll be one hard-working iPad. 😉
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I had a salon appointment Thursday afternoon and since I was so close, I headed up to the outlets. I was very interested in seeing the new arrivals at the J Crew Factory Store, after hearing on Saturday they would be in Wednesday. There were lots of pretty new things, bright colors, new accessories and almost everything was on promo. Add the additional 20% off if you spend over $150 (see Alexis’s post here on the JCA blog) and you’ve got some good deals.

40% off Gallery Tees
30% off Fisherman Cable Sweaters, The Skimmer Pant, Footwear, Blazers, Jackets, Jackie Cardigan, Tunics/Cover-ups, Belts, and Jewelry
20% off Shorts, Skirts, Dresses and Suiting
Crewneck S/S Tee $16.99 promo
V-Neck S/S Tees $19.99 promo (The striped ones are very cute and I was tempted to get them in all colors.)

JEWELRY & ACCESSORIES 
There were lots of cute little critter necklaces along with some new types of pearls and other necklaces. Here were just a few I was able to snap pics of.

Crab Necklace (I meant to get this, being a Cancer and all, but I completely forgot.)

Ship’s Wheel Necklace

Jeweled Bee Necklace

Ladybug Necklace

Round Bauble Necklace in Blue, also comes in a Mustard-y Tan (at the bottom of the pic)

Jeweled Bee Earrings

Belts in a lot of colors
TOPS
Striped Jackie Cardigan – #65041, M, Navy – So I was eyeing this Loft sweater last week but it fit too cropped and tight in the arms, in a Medium, so I passed on it. This cardigan fits TTS and has bracelet sleeves and I don’t have a striped cardigan. And navy and white is so classic. – .$54.50 plus 30% off

Sailor Sweater – #65022, Sm, Sailor Blue – I sized down from my normal Medium. This fit well in the Small. I suppose it is meant to be loose and slouchy. Also comes in Black Linen. $69.50 plus 30% off

Floral Tunic – #12572, Sm, TAM – I believe this is meant to be worn as a cover-up, otherwise you’ll need a cami underneath to avoid exposing the girls. I have this pulled up some to avoid exposure. $59.50 plus 30% off

Factory Cap-Sleeve Blouse in Gingham – #66618, Sm, AGI Azalea Gingham? – Mary Ann or Ellie Mae? Cute but not for me. I don’t like elastic on my sleeves. See it here in Chambray. $44.50 plus 20% off

And look what’s made another come-back? I don’t/can’t see the style # but it is $59.50.

DRESSES
Cotton Shift Dress – #36740, 6, Navy – This is a very cute dress. It comes in Navy, Modern Red, and Natural. The Size 6 fit well through the bust and good through the waist seaming.

Modern Red, Sz 8 – You can see the pleating at the bust lays a little flatter than the 6. I preferred this size to the 6 but I would say get your normal size if you are interested in this dress. I would have bought this in both the Navy and Modern Red, if there had been an 8 in the Navy. $98 plus 20%

Cap-Sleeve Dress – #69414, 6, Popsicle Pink – This was a little tight in the bust an arms for me (elastic sleeve), and short. It zips up the back with an exposed zipper. And it a very PINK dress. I couldn’t not try it on, it was so bright. I would size up to an 8 but there weren’t any to try on. $89.50 plus 20%

Striped Dress – #68389, 8, Black – This is a very cute dress. It’s a pull-over style, with no zipper and only a button at the back of the neck. The waist is elastic in the back. As you can see it is a little blouse-y on top. I would have sized to a 6 but there were none left.

Dotted Strapless Dress – #23064, 8, Navy – This is a teeny tiny polka-dot dress, with pockets. I want to say this is the Lorelei style, in the retail version. Very cute.

Same Dress in a Size 6. This fit a little more snug in the top but I was able to zip this up all the way. I’d stay with an 8, which is what I’d normally get in a strapless dress.


SKIRTS
Seersucker Mini – #23294, 8, Classic Navy – Very cute mini skirt with some adorable buttons. $59.50 plus 20%

Textured Cotton Mini – #25807, 8, Wild Blackberry – I liked the texture of this mini. I have a pencil skirt in the same texture. It has a slightly exposed back zipper and comes in Natural and Rhubarb. I could have sized to a 6 as this was a little loose in the waist and hips. $56.50 plus 20%

Twill Bell Skirt – #61251, 8, Poppy – I prefer to wear an 8 in these elastic waist skirts so I can adjust how I wear it to give me more or less length. $58 plus 20% off

Agate, 6 – If there had been an 8 in this Viridian Green-ish color I would have brought it home with me. Love!

Vineyard Pencil Skirt – #65816, 6, DPE – A remade-for-factory retail skirt from last year. See it on me here. Fits TTs and just as cute as the retail version.

SHORTS
I did not try on any shorts but here are some in-store right now.
Pink Gingham

3-inch Critter Chino Short – Navy Ivory Anchors


 Bermuda in Modern Red and Pale Coral

And finally, here’s my OOTD and new ‘do.

Tippi Sweater – Heather Dark Grape
Anthro Havana Fresca Maxi Skirt
Cece Ballet Flats 

So what do you think of the New Factory Arrivals? Anything catch your eye?