J. Crew Schoolboy query: ETA decision made - not ordering now

I had wanted the Smythe houndstooth jacket at NAS. It wasn't (then) available in my size. It has since come back into stock in my size but at full price. Which I'm hesitant to lay out, especially with addition of taxes, duties, etc. 

I'm hoping to find a patterned jacket this autumn, and houndstooth is a huge favourite and deep love of mine. 

Would this jacket worth a try? I know the fit is pretty good on me, or at least it was in the older version; admittedly, I have not tried on this year's model. 

Free shipping today and 30% off are tempting. Plus, no more Austerity August....

OTOH, I could also wait to see if Zara comes up with something fun a little later on. I always know I can get a decent fit there and the price is right for fast fashion. 

This is more of a mid-ranged piece that I would hope to have more closet durability than a Zara piece. 

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26 Comments

  • replied 9 years ago

    Suz - a couple of things:

    1. I love this jacket - especially the orange under-collar. It would look great on you and I can see it working with a lot of what you already have. Bonus points for 30% today. Why not order it anyways at this sale price and see what you think?  Gosh - the more I look at this jacket, the more I LOVE it.

    2.  you can order Smythe from other places than Nordstrom - like Holts or Luxe Label - and then you'd save on all the crazy duties and shipping etc.  Might be worth looking into? And with Holt's, you can return to the store too if necessary.  I know it's not that close to you, but at least it's Toronto :)  

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Great thought, Lisa. I hadn't thought of Holt's. I will take a look!! 

    Actually, one of my slight worries about the J. Crew is the orange collar. Orange and yellow are total death to me. I mean, serious death. I'm one of those super-cool complected people who just can't do any kind of yellow. In fact, there is supposed to be a light butter yellow that people of my complexion can wear --- and my mother (who is similar colouring) used to wear it beautifully. But on me? Uh...no. 

    If I wear it down it won't matter, of course. And I could always wear it up if I had on a chambray shirt or something -- blue will counteract the death-by-orange effect to some extent! 

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    The Schoboy doesn't fit me so I don't follow them closely, but my impression of them is that they read casual, and I have not liked the feel of some of the wool flannes fabrics, and the stance has been rather high. OTOH if it " gets you" and goals are casual, then it could be quite good with jeans , sweaters , and chambray as you noted. So it depends on how painful is return; o/w would be fun to try.

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Suz, that was I was thinking  - orange may be too warm for you because it is not just the collar, it also has orange in the pattern, no?
    If only JCrew returns were not so ridiculously expensive I would say - go for it! When do you plan to be in Toronto next time - maybe they have it in stock and you can try it on?

  • Karie replied 9 years ago

    Well, you probably already know I'm going to say "I love that blazer!" But what I absolutely love about it is the orange collar with the houndstooth, and that's what gives me pause to say "Go for it" since you don't do orange. Hmmm....would the fact that you'd want to hide the orange keep you from reaching for it? I like the quality of (last year's) J. Crew blazers, and J. Crew is another company that "gets me" so I might have to look into this lovely item myself...

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Thanks for all these thoughts! And keep 'em coming!

    The orange is only on the underside of the collar. The jacket is actually what they call "saddle/ maple/ carbon" which to me looks like a charcoal and burgundy plaid with a slight taupey undertone. I am pretty sure the plaid itself would work on me unless it is a lot warmer toned in person.

    It's only the orange underside of the collar that could be tricky. It wouldn't be at ALL a problem peeking from the underside with the collar worn flat. It's only if I "popped" the collar that it might be difficult. But....OTOH, it might be that wildcard option that could strangely work, you know? 

    Karie, I definitely think you should give it a look! It would be fab on you. You look great in plaid. 

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Suz, I'm off the forum today to rest my arms and wrists, but wanted to quickly suggest that you also try this style from Boden. As for the schoolboy from J.Crew, I find them very short on clients. Great on petites or short waisted ladies though. I have not found the fit fab on my own body. 

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Ooh, I like the Boden blazer for you Suz! My only concern would be that the fabric looks pretty thick (almost like coat-like) so it may be too hot top wear indoors especially if you run on the warm side. 

    Angie, your poor wrists and arms! Please get all rest you need for them - sending healing vibes your way!

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Thank you so much for chiming in, Angie -- good points to ponder. Hard to know if they are negatives or positives, for me -- being on the short side, and also slightly short waisted. 

    And thank you also for the Boden recommendation. I saw that one, too. I am not sure if they deliver to Canada but can look into it. 

    Off to think a bit more.  :)

    Too bad we can't return stuff in store here easily. It would be great to be able to order it and then simply return to the store if I decided it did not work. Alas, I have to pay return shipping. 

    ETA: Sveta, that is what I wondered about the Boden fabrication....a bit too warm and "outdoor" jacket like, I suspect. But I'll bet the quality is fantastic! 

    Angie, rest up! :)

  • Jules replied 9 years ago

    I think Simons.ca also carries Smythe - although I have noticed in the past that I can't find the same items as Nordies has at Canadian retailers. I didn't look that hard though.
    Don't get me started on Boden jacket lust!

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Thank, Jules. I always forget about Simon's! I checked them and Holts and no Smythe online (or at least not that jacket). Truth is, I really don't want to spend that kind of money anyway...hmmm.

    Of course I could always forget about pattern and go for a fun colour instead...as Angie hinted at.....

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    ETA: Schoolboy is excluded from the promo anyway! 

    So I am waiting on that. Might order a few other things, however..... ;)

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Last year I tried on the schoolboy jackets at JCrew. They looked so cute on the hanger. They were very shrunken, thick and the wool was so scratchy that I couldn't wait to get them off. Of course this years version may be completely different.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Thank you, Joy -- it sounds as if you, Angie, and Unfrumped had similar experiences! 

    NEXT!!!   :)

  • replied 9 years ago

    Suz - I know you're off the idea for now, but Holt's doesn't have a great website for ordering and only shows about 1/100th of what they stock. If you were really serious, I'd call the store .  Anyways - maybe the fact that the jacket is excluded from the promo is a sign.......:)

    I'm sort of thankful J Crew is a pain to order and return to - otherwise I'd be broke.

  • replied 9 years ago

    Ancaster, ONHanley'sIndependent StoreOakville, ONCanopy BlueIndependent StoreOakville, ONCanopy BlueIndependent StoreOttawa, ONHolt RenfrewDepartment StoreOttawa, ONSchadIndependent StoreSt. Catharines, ONBy GeorgeIndependent StoreToronto, ONAndrews (Bayview Village)Department StoreToronto, ONCarriage TradeIndependent StoreToronto, ONHolt Renfrew (Bloor)Department StoreToronto, ONHolt Renfrew (Sherway Gardens)Department StoreToronto, ONHolt Renfrew (Yorkdale)Department StoreToronto, ONNylaIndependent StoreToronto, ONTNT WomenIndependent StoreWaterloo, ONSassIndependent StoreWoodbridge, ONGrafic WomanIndependent

    sorry for the weird formatting - but did you see this list of Ontario stores stocking Smythe?  

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 9 years ago

    I have a camel schoolboy that I got last winter. It was one of my every woman should have a classic "X" purchases. I have not worn it very often. Camel is not my best color. I thought I'd wear my better colors under it. And then I got a rally nice tan/taupe leather blazer that I prefer. There is nothing actively wrong with the fit, and I think the wool is nice. If anyone is interested in the 'how it looks on a short person' view I can cook up a picture.

    I could see the orchid or hot pink being a glowing color on you, Suz, more than the houndstooth.

  • annagybe replied 9 years ago

    Wow I just about to order this one. Am not short, nor short waisted.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Anna, seriously? I guess we have both had plaid blazers on the brain. Hmmm. 

    Have you tried it on IRL? 

  • annagybe replied 9 years ago

    Well, I'm still looking for this, for at least a month.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Yeah, no kidding. That one is "the" one, for sure. 

    Well, I will look forward to hearing your review if you get either one to try! 

  • Parsley replied 9 years ago

    Suz, the J Crew schoolboy blazer doesn't work for me at all, either. It seems that those for whom it works are in the minority.

    That Zara magenta blazer could be fun for you!

  • Adelfa replied 9 years ago

    The SB Looks terrible on me but divine on DD. Go figure.

  • Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

    I love it but my hesitation is the orange - it would be great to be able to wear the collar up like the pic :) Love the B of O one too.

    ETA: Oops - see you are sorted :)

  • trix replied 9 years ago

    Chiming in a bit late here, but thought I *had* to add something because I a) own several J. Crew schoolboy blazers, b) own last winter's version of the Boden British Tweed blazer, c) tried on the Smythe houndstooth blazer but couldn't make it work on my petite hourglass shape, and d) wound up with the Smythe double-breasted blazer in black. Happy to answer any Qs about fits, measurements, fabrics, etc. -- in the meantime, a couple of thoughts, in no particular order:

    * Re your q about coloring...I haven't seen that blazer in person, but in general I feel like J. Crew makes clothing for people who have Jenna Lyons's coloring. I think even their grays run warm; this may be one reason I haven't worn the schoolboy in English tweed that I got last year :-( (the dreaded final sale shopping mistake). I think the tweedy Boden one that Angie pointed out may have better coloring for you.

    * Re fit: Probably the reason that I don't have an issue with the schoolboy cut is that I do indeed have the petite, short-waisted frame that Angie mentioned. I ended up not keeping the ones I tried to order last winter because they felt a bit too boxy around the waist, though -- probably what unfrumped is referring to in describing them as casual.

    * Re fabrics: Some of the J. Crew schoolboys I've tried had nice soft fabric; others, not so much. I tried their glen plaid one last year but just felt it wasn't as nice a fabric/print as the Boden one in a similar pattern. Note that the Boden one is still a bit scratchy for me, but it seemed higher quality than the J. Crew glen plaid schoolboy overall. It does feel heavy, but in my winter climate, it doesn't look odd to wear it indoors.

    * The Smythe blazers: I loved the idea of the houndstooth blazer, but a) elbow patches do not look right when they hit *below* the elbow, and b) a short-waisted, somewhat large-busted hourglass shouldn't even think about trying on that jacket. It would look better on you, I think. As the reviews show, the double-breasted black one works better on petites (because of the cropped length and shorter sleeves) and hourglasses, even though the fabric is much scratchier than the other one.

    Clearly I share your penchant for patterns and blazers! (Though I'm not so good at the PPP part. That said, if any interesting ones from last winter or this spring (read: the navy geometric print) show up at the Boden sample sale this weekend, I can't promise one of them won't follow me home...)

  • sarah replied 9 years ago

    Suz, this is totally late, but just in case you're still considering. This blazer fit me really well EXCEPT that the sleeves were overall too wide (how strange is that?!). I am returning it, which is too bad, as I liked the colors/fabrication (I don't turn up my collar, so I wasn't worried about the orange).

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