Dressing Room Diaries: J. Crew Factory For Fall

Before we left on our trip, I stopped to see what was new at the J. Crew Factory. They make many items reminiscent of their sister brand, J. Crew, but at much lower prices. I find the quality pretty nice, and the styles are classic with a twist. So here’s what I found at J. Crew Factory for fall this season.

If you’re new here, welcome. Dressing room diaries are when I go into a local store for a try-on session so you can see what’s new and how it looks on a woman over 25. For reference, I am 5’4″ and weigh around 146 lbs. I have broad shoulders, straight hips, a long torso, and long arms. I often buy one size larger on top. You’ll see me try on clothes in colors and shapes that may or may not flatter me because I want you to see what’s in the stores and get some styling ideas. I tell you what sizes I’m wearing to help you understand how things run. Many of J. Crew Factory’s clothes come in sizes XXS-3X, with a fairly decent collection of petites. You will get the best selection online.

Here’s that green I’m seeing so much of for fall! This cardigan and shell are bestsellers at J Crew Factory and great staples in oodles of colors each season. They’re very lightweight and great little layering pieces. These chino’s are navy and fit beautifully. They come in six colors with a nice high rise and are 97% cotton with 3% elastane, so they have a nice amount of stretch for comfort.

Here’s the same navy chino dressed down with a plaid flannel shirt and a great cabled sweater. The shirt is 100% cotton and comes in ten colors. It runs small, so I would order up one size. The cable sweater is a classic beauty. It looks like my Irish fisherman sweater with a great mix of stitches and cables. The color is “natural,” so it isn’t overly warm or cool. I like this type of sweater on the looser side, so I might even go for the large, but it does run true to size.

I’m seeing a lot of these polo sweaters at retailers this year. I think they look nice on their own, but prefer them layered over a button-up shirt. This one is super soft and comes in three heathered shades. I tried several styles of jeans on this trip, and I have to say I am very impressed with them. The price is lower than Talbots jeans, and the fiber content is the same. These are the stovepipe style that is fitted through the hip and thighs with a straight leg. If I needed any more jeans ( and I don’t), these would have come home with me.

They had a few novelty tees that felt seasonal, especially this apple one for fall. I think they run snugly, so I’d size them up in case of shrinkage. These boyfriend jeans have a much looser fit, so I sized them down to a 28, and they were perfect. They have some slight distressing but a finished hem, so don’t look ragged. J, Crew Factory makes several styles of sweater blazers, and I tried on several. This knit blazer has no buttons and is on the longer side. It’s 100% cotton and comes in three colors. I think these run large because this medium is too large for me.

This great little classic denim jacket is a year-round staple at JCF. It’s nicely structured with a bit of stretch and is not too fitted or oversized. I like the medium/pale wash for fall. It’s selling out in some sizes, but they always restock. These slim crop pants fit like a dream. They have a nice stitched seam running down the front of the leg, which gives a slimming appearance. They’re obviously not cropped on me in this regular, but the petite has a 25″ inseam if you like your pants cropped.

These are the classic vintage-fit jeans, which I think are my favorite of the three styles I tried on. They’re a great wash with a bit more room in the thighs than the stove pipe and less than the boyfriend style. Stock is running low on some sizes, but they will restock. I topped the plaid shirt with this nice puffer vest with snap packets in a great navy. It also comes in black or glazed pecan. As much as I love black, navy is a great second. It has a stand-up collar and is lined with a gingham pattern, which the image on the website does not reflect.

I’m not a novelty tee person, but I love and bought this little “fall truck” one. It just feels fun and will help me get in the mood for fall. I topped it with this two-button sweater blazer that I bought in the heather mushroom color. It’s a better length on me than the open front one above, and I like the structure that the collar and front piping give the jacket. It also comes in two other colors. I am seriously considering the black because this really hangs nicely and will be so useful all fall.

Just as I was leaving, I spotted this cute little cropped French-inspired jacket. It’s so much more affordable than the J. Crew ones, and it’s a great way to try this style without breaking the bank. This has a boxy fit (they all do) in classic ivory and black. I think it runs a bit large, perhaps just because it’s boxy.

MORE AT J. CREW FACTORY FOR FALL

Have you checked out J. Crew Factory lately?