Hi, there. :)
I have a suspicion that many of you know this already, being the very savvy J. Crew fans that you all are, but...just in case you don't know this...J. Crew will order, up to a year in advance, a sample of the piece of clothing they are thinking of selling in the future. Every single item, whether it is a bathing suit, a cardigan, a pair of pants, or a pair of shoes will have this happen to them before they ever debut on-line or in the stores. These samples are made with very specific guidelines, so J. Crew gets a chance to see how a color works in real life, how the shape works, etc. Sometimes samples are good to go from the beginning, and then further sized samples are made (so you know ALL clothing samples start off in a size 6, shoes are a size 7.5, I believe). Sometimes samples are so terrible, and laughable (trust me, I have seen some doozies pop up on ebay), they are left in that stage to forever be the only one that exists just like it. Other times samples are okay, but the color or shape left something to be desired, and another similar type made it into real production.
Here is something I do to grab pieces from J. Crew that I will not see in real life (because it is one of a kind) or will be so out of my price range that I only can buy it if I either save my pennies OR if I get the sample off ebay (and often unknowing of how expensive it will one day be)...I go and spend a lot of time with the ebay search "j crew sample." (Remember to click the "include description" box, a lot of sellers only mention it in the text of the description.)
Case in point...the
Confetti Sequin Sweater. I inadvertently bought it in January 2011 without knowing it would be a $425 Collection sweater. Umm, okay. It was on ebay for sale for about $65 and I thought it was cute. It came in three colors, the white version I own (with greenish sequins), an olive version, and another color which I am having a hard time imagining now (it's been six months, lol).
At the time, I thought I was buying a version of the
Sequin Boy Tee because it sort of looked like it (and one of the sweaters was olive). Turns out that I was so very wrong...
Confetti Sequin Sweater. Its description is how I knew I had bought this one instead of the Sequin Boy Tee: Tiny cupped, hand-applied sequins—in a mix of matte and glossy—create a stunning starburst effect. A shirred neckline adds even more dimension to this unique, statement-making piece. A shimmering work of art you'll have for years and years to come. Linen/cotton. Loose fit. V-neck. Short sleeves. Hits below hip. Part of J.Crew Collection. Import.
And here is my $65, even more sequined version. I actually prefer my version, which when I saw the Confetti Sequin Sweater debut...made me actually pump my fists all excited like--I happened upon an item that is amazingly special, in a better color, and for so much cheaper. It was a wonderful day. I felt like the smartest shopper that day.
(However, as many of you know, my bubble was insanely burst with the whole Floral Swing Skirt debacle. Le sigh.)
I loved the way they styled this top on jcrew.com, so I "borrowed" the look and paired the sweater with the Boardwalk shorts. So you all know, the confetti sweater is a size small (which is the "sample" size for non-numeric items) and the shorts are a size 10 (I have the 8, and while they fit are very fitted, lol, anyone want to buy them from me for $27 shipped?).
It was my stepmom's birthday dinner. We were going out for Mexican. As lame as it sounds, the white, red, and green getup was intentional, but I do like the ballet flats with the outfit, definitely lends the look a more casual vibe.
This is a very loose fit. It feels good on, and although you can see the stitching of the beading when you turn the top inside out, the stitching you can't even feel.
I love the wide shoulder line, helps make my shoulders appear more wide than they actually are. If you need help boosting your upper body, this may be a top to consider (on super-sale, however, that $425, wowza!).
Last Minute Thoughts: This sweater is a nice cotton/linen knit, and those beads are well-applied and secure. They are cupped looking and multi-tonal. I know I will be able to pair this top with a jacket and jeans or pencil skirt for winter, so it is multi-seasonal. Do I think it is $425 worth of pretty sequined sweater? No. Maybe $200, but only if you would wear it a lot. Definitely $100. For sure at $65. :)
Have any of you all ever scored a sample that later turned out to be more special than you realized (from J. Crew, of course, but any other companies)? Have you gone sample shopping from J. Crew (either on ebay or at one of their sample sales)?
This is my best score, by far...but I have also gotten samples of a lomellina one-shouldered swimsuit (it said photo on the special sample tag and was a size 4, so I am thinking it was for the catalog or web pictures?), many one of a kind dresses, cardigans, and skirts, a cashmere jacket (from fall 2007), and the Suzannah printed shirts (also from 2007). All of them have been crazily inexpensive compared to their original prices. Only the cashmere jacket was sort of pricey, but it was still far less expensive than the $795 they had originally charged when it debuted.
I look forward to seeing what other scores you all have made. :)
According to The (Un) Official J. Crew Blog, 770/Behind The Line, "Our favorite go-to beauty tip is adding a bold lip color. We are partial to a quirky coral but could never find one that was just right, so we called in an expert to help us make our own! This season we have collaborated with Poppy King to make our dream lip color:a bit of red with a hint of coral. It's the perfect shade of Poppy. Worn here by a few of our women's designers-you can see it's a color that everyone can agree on!"
I love a bold lip also. Like nail polish, lipstick is an easy way to transition to a new season without spending a lot of money. I've always liked the lipstick choices that were used in the catalog/online so I was psyched when I found out the name of one of the shade that I kept admiring, a super bright pink by Nars called Funny Face. I wear it almost daily. So you can imagine that I'm thrilled that J. Crew has partnered with Poppy King (aka the Lipstick Queen) to produce a shade of their own. Since I'm trying to spend less on clothes, I'll be buying this to add to my lipstick collection. My non-J. Crew collection includes many shades that my favorite bloggers wear and thankfully post. If you're a fan of bold color but want to spend less than the $18 price tag for this new creation, I suggest Revlon's Orange Flip, Hot Melon, Persian Melon, and Lilac Champagne or Maybelline's Coral Crush or Covergirl's Spellbound Envoutee. 
