Congratulations J. Crew.
Well constructed blazers and suit jackets. Sales & codes that can be a big advantage if you’re willing to play the game. Well curated 3rd Party Merchandise that also can go on sale from time to time. A trimmer fit option in their knits and tees. And an overall aesthetic philosophy that sticks with classics yet takes calculated risks (A velvet shawl collar jacket for the winter? Sure.)
Some find it easy to lob criticism towards the top of the heap, but J. Crew is there for a reason. Yes, they’ve got their drawbacks, but when it comes to what they do extremely well, the gap between them & their competition sure seems to be big. Real big.
J. Crew… maybe taking themselves not as seriously anymore?
But what about next year? Is three-in-a-row possible? Or will their apparent MSRP-creep scuttle that attempt, opening the door for their budget line J. Crew Factory? Could a brand NOT named J. Crew (gasp) take the thing next year? Who do you think is the odds on favorite to win in 2015?
And what about the format for Store Wars? 2014 saw some changes to the format. Similar brands/stores faced off against each other in regions. Yet J. Crew and J. Crew factory met in the final once again. What about this idea to have regions based on categories of dress (suiting, business casual, the basics, etc…)? And where would you put the champ?
Leave it all below. Many thanks to all of you who voted/left comments. Once again, congratulations to J. Crew, back to back champ of Store Wars.
You can see the complete, final bracket here. See the final (it was close) between J. Crew and Factory here. The full Store Wars 2014 archive is here.
I had all my money on SuitSupply, only to watch them fall in the first round. Oh well, maybe next year…
I thought they’d go much farther this year myself.
Next year can we have some sort of bracket competition? Maybe release the bracket a week or so in advance, and those who complete an accurate bracket get access to some sort of promo code or entry into an exclusive giveaway or something like that.
I just don’t really like basketball, but love the idea of filling out a bracket.
Next year’s champion is going to be uniqlo. Dig this post up 365 days from now.
I think they have a very, very strong chance next year. LENGTHEN THEM JACKET TAILS. (I mean, I don’t mind a shorter tail, but some of their stuff looks just straight chopped.)
if they develop their LA presence by next year, then maybe i’ll finally get to see what all the hubbub is about
Joe what do you think about a World Cup format tournament in June? You’d be able to get a few more brands in (32) and the group stage battles could give a second chance to stores like SuitSupply or H&M.
I genuinely don’t get the fascination with JCrew. Their suits don’t work on me, so admittedly biased there but I don’t think I purchased a single item there in 2013. JCF I actually use. Jcrew just isn’t worth the price to me. I don’t mind paying up – but I want to feel like I’m getting something for my extra $.
They would have if they drew a different store in the first round. They just had a bad matchup.
Second this. As a 6’2″ fit man, I just placed about $500 worth of Uniqlo orders after my first “test” order. This is legit stuff that fits well at a great value proposition. The MB collaboration takes them to the next level IMO.
I never used to shop at J.Crew until I realized that their in-store prices usually are way better than online price (at least at the store I go to). For example, I just purchased one of their ludlow spread-collar shirts in gingham ($88 original price) for $30 in store. This shirt blows the JCF shirts out of the water in terms of quality, and is about the same price that you would pay for a JCF dress shirt on sale with coupons. Def. need to be patient, but I’m lucky enough to have a JCrew store on the way home from work so if I have time I usually stop in and browse the sale rack. I was able to buy an italian wool ludlow around the holidays for about $150 (total for jacket and pants), and a grey worsted wool jacket for $100 in store off the sale rack. I might pick up a few accessories or non-essentials from JCF in the future, but I haven’t purchased anything from them at all in the last year.
It comes down to 2 things.
1) Suiting. J. Crew suits hit the sweet spot for most people
2) Quality (or for some of us ‘perception of quality). J Crew believe that the stuff that they are buying of much better quality and, thus, worth the higher price.
If you aren’t into J. Crew’s suits or you don’t feel that their stuff is any better than anyone else’s, there is not a single reason to shop there.
Yeah, I mean, they make good suits and all, but they need a better ad campaign; the softcore porn just isn’t a good call. Maybe next year they’ll stop being little bitches and go hardcore.
Are there 32 brands even worthy of competing? I mean you have to consider that this site’s objective and the readers kinda set lower and upper limits on price an quality. I kinda doubt Joe would be able to find 32 brands that would even be worthwhile to put into a bracket. Even if he could, but it would be a whole bunch of blowouts eventually leaving us with the same matchups (or very similar ones) as this competition.
Couldn’t agree more. With more stores coming this year (the SoCal stores have got me stoked) it’ll better their chances due to the exposure!
What you did there…I see it.
Suitsupply should have beaten Uniqlo handily, IMO. But I’ve been giving more weight to the “quality” side of the quality-per-price ratio recently.
Yawn. You need a group of death, similar to the South Bracket in this year’s basketball tournament, because these two cannot be in the championship round again. I go into JCrew and JCF at least once a month and there is not a single item I would remotely consider buying. It just doesn’t appeal to me the way a Banana Republic, Nordstrom, or SuitSupply does. To each his own I guess.
I thought Target might pull an upset but I’m proud of how they represented. Still don’t get JCrew but it’s mostly because I’m cheap and have no use for suits. So is this a ’91/92 Duke repeat or a ’10/11 Florida one?
How about a NIT type bracket next year as well, for the niche/ 2nd option brands? You could limit the “real” bracket to brands that have a fighting chance to win (not goodwill, say) and add in the tie bar, sierra trading post, AMZN, AE factory seconds, boutique accessory brands, etc.
They have the goods, but they need a bit more time to serve all. I ordered two or three Napoli navy suits that I had to send back because they don’t have a size that fits me – and at a hair over 5’8′ 180, and fairly wide-shouldered, I’m hardly an oddball size. A J Crew 40R fits me nails.
It’s a shame – the suit(s) was beautiful, styled for the long-haul, and looked like a million bucks.
I am also 6’2″ what is your typical sizes (jacket, shirt, etc) and what size did you order from them. I always figured that they would be too short for me. Interested….
I would also add in sweaters to the appeal of J Crew. If you’re into things like wool shawl-neck cardigans and/or fair isle prints (and I am), their sweaters hit a good sweet spot for fit and quality when compared to price–especially if you’re patient and play the code game.
I hit up JCF for casual button down shirts, and find the quality comparable enough between J Crew and JCF as to shirts to be too similar to justify the J Crew mark up.
I think that’s a good way of explaining it. For me, I can get plenty of stuff at Banana Republic which I think works just as well as J. Crew and is nowhere near as expensive. But the J. Crew suits are amazing. You just have to be patient and go to the store. The store often has better selection of sale items which are discounted more heavily than the online storefront.
That said, I still think JCF is a better all-around contender. Even if their suits aren’t canvassed, they fit great and are excellent quality, and the rest of their lineup is much, much more affordable than J. Crew. I could buy everything there if I had to and still be able to afford it.
That’s one of the big disadvantages of this year’s format. The web bracket was brutal, precisely because those stores have a lot of the same advantages – but those advantages make them generally much stronger competitors than anyone from the other categories. That means halfway through the game, the competition goes from being about “which of these stores plays the [online shopping/mall/big-box] game best?” to “what kind of shopping do people want to do?”
In a somewhat contradictory point, I’d like to see JCrew vs. JCF as a first-round matchup next year. They both deserve entry to the tournament, but they’re so aesthetically similar that having them on opposite sides of the bracket seems redundant. Might support doing the same for Gap/BR.
Hi Zach,
I think I’m fortunate that I’m mostly legs. That said, I ordered the Medium size in (2) blazers (the linen one recommended on here, and the “Dry” jacket) and they look like they were made for me off the rack. I like the short tails and the long arms work for me (I’m about a 36 in sleeve length) Got 2 OCBDs in Medium that fit me very snuggly but would not fit if I had giant shoulders – I’m working out 5-6 times a week but more for toning then more mass. I bought the ‘riskier’ men’s legging jeans in a 32/33 and they also look like they were made for me. The polos are similar to the OCBD, the medium fits me perfect but if I gained any more weight I’d switch to the large. Stick to the Michael Bastian ones. Lastly, I got a pair of the linen pants (32) and they fit extremely well. OH and for the more adventurous, I do think the linen stoles on the site are a great buy for this transitional period and seemingly cool spring I’ve been having here in Maryland.
I’m 6’1 3/4 really, and I am a fit 178 lbs. Hope this helps.
Congrats, J. Crew, Stay Gold!
Yeah – the fit for me has just never been there. 5’11/195 most of it in my chest…. the thinner lapels just don’t work for me. JCF is close enough in quality – sweaters etc that the jump in price to JC isn’t justified. Then again I don’t have much brand loyalty in general and jump around as opportunity presents. Also 95% of my shopping is done online. If i have to go to a store- that’s a strike right there.
and winning free stuff
I preferred the previous format myself, but… had enough feedback that decided to give this new format a spin.
5’9″ – 5’10” 175-180ish. 38R Napoli fits me perfectly. What sizes did you order?
That appears to be part of the equation for Zachary, yes.
You could definitely put together 32 brands together that are featured on this site. But you’d get into labels that people may only have one item from if at all. (Zara, Massimo Dutti, American Eagle, Charles Tyrwhitt etc..)
I’d like to repeat my suggestion for an accessories bracket as well. Shoes, leather goods, ties, etc… Could include DSW, Allen Edmonds, The Tie Bar, Orient, and so on.
Instead of pointing the bracket toward one store, why not one specific product or type of store? Examples could be: best value for the money sportcoat, best one-stop-shop for casual wear, best in-store experience, etc. It’s like doing regions, except as the entire competition, and it would keep it fresh each year.
I took the SS plunge during the outlet sale – ordered a 38S Roma, and while a bit short in the functional *eye-roll* sleeves, otherwise fit well if a bit snug.
Started with a 38S in Napoli, and was *much* tighter than the Roma. Like I shrunk the suit in the dryer too small. Last try was a 40R, and it could have worked, *slightly* loose across the shoulders, but everything else could have been tailored down. Decided I would wait for better sizing options, or possibly travel down the seaboard and try out in person sometime.
I really wanted this to work – I even hand wrote out a matrix with size measurements across the lines – Nappy, London, etc. And they seem to be a bit too cute when it comes to changing things between styles.
Upper waist measurements for Roma, Napoli, and London:
38.6″, 37.4″, and 39.8″.
This might be fine for in-store, but for buying online it’s a bit crazy if you may be between sizes.
On a personal note, Joe, your work here has been *the biggest* help over the last few years. It wasn’t that long ago my girlfriend had to push me into a BR to buy a button-up.
Interesting. Dang, sorry to hear those didn’t work out for you. We’re all built a bit differently, and Suitsupply does seem to work for many, but obviously not for all.
Thanks for the kind words!
J.Crew’s marketing is successful….
To me, SuitSupply’s appeal is too limited to make a serious run. Their suits seem to be a great value for the price. Their shirts seem overpriced (most are >$100), as do their shoes. The wide range of items, coupled with their value, at Uniqlo, Nordstrom, J Crew, and J Crew Factory got them into the semis.
How is the length of their OCBDs? I am 6,2 as well and I work on a college campus as a photographer. I’m constantly bending over and squatting. Some shirts tend to come untucked too easily due to their lack of length. Only two brands of dress shirts that I have found work as well as I would like. Nordstrom Calibrate, and Charles Tyrwhitt. But I am looking at finding a good OCBD supplier now as well…..
SuitSupply doesn’t have enough availability. Only 10 locations in the US. And lots of people (like myself) aren’t into buying suits, blazers, or sports coats without being able to try them on first.
Of course they just opened a store in Las Vegas now that I moved away a couple months ago.
SoCal stores finally happening? awesome
J. Crew:Store Wars::Duke:NCAA Basketball (except for the last couple years). Hats off to the winner. Look forward to rooting against you again next year! Unless those prices drop of course.
Don’t necessarily care that much about winning free stuff, just spitballing. I honestly just think it would be fun. A key to blogging is to get people to invest in your blog, right? Even if that investment is something as simple as a comment at the bottom. Isn’t that why you encourage people to comment? Isn’t that the point of Threads? Doesn’t filling out a bracket require people to invest even more into Dappered? I don’t come here to win free stuff, hell, I don’t even enter most of the giveaways. I’m just trying to suggest ways to have fun here. But hell, what do I know anyways.
I was just kidding Zachary. No hard feelings man.
Yeah, I believe that there’s going to be one at the Beverly Center and one at South Coast Plaza in the OC. Opening in the Fall they say
Funny, I’m also 6’2. I’m a larger guy. Uniqlo just doesn’t seem to work for me. J. Crew factory is entirely too small on the inseams for my taste. J Crew is a winner though. Its rare that I’m not at least pleased with a J. Crew purchase.
Ebay is and should always be the dark horse here. Looking at the rest of the bracket, all of their best items can be found on ebay if you know what you’re doing. Suitsupply would be the exception. I’m satisfied with J. Crew reigning as king once again, however, my best J. Crew purchases have come via ebay. Many of these purchases occurred in season. What do you think Joe?