I can honestly say that I’m in love with J. Crew. It’s been my favorite store ever since I visited the one on the Kansas City Plaza in 10th grade. Ever since then, I’ve been hooked.
If I had to guess, I’d say about 75% of the clothes in my closet are from J. Crew. However, I rarely buy anything at full price. Instead, I’ve learned tricks of the trade on how to snag a bargain at the pricey store.
You may ask, why put effort into searching for J. Crew bargains when other stores sell similar items at half the price? Although that may sound like a better idea, J. Crew items are high quality. Out of the dozens of pieces I own, I’ve never had anything rip, shrink, or fade, so it’s worth the hunt.
These tips may not work at all J. Crew stores or accommodate every style, but for me, they’ve been successful.
1. Splurge On Classic Items Only
Like I mentioned, the majority of my clothes are from J. Crew. However, I can only think of a few items that I actually bought at full price. If you’re willing to do this, make sure the item is both classic and versatile. For example, two of my splurges are a blue pinstripe button down blouse and navy cardigan. I’ve worn both of them dozens of times and have created a variety of outfits for all seasons. That way, I’ve gotten my money’s worth. If you’re more interested in trendy items, keep reading the tips below to save some pennies.
2. Compare Both Options Online And In Store
Based on my experience, J. Crew the same clearance item has been less expensive online than in stores. I’m not sure why this is, but I’m guessing it has to do with the individual store and the quantity of items. If you find something online that you love, check the store before purchasing it. With $8.95 shipping on top of that, you’re more likely to buy it for less (and get some awesome customer service) in the store.
3. 15% off Student Discount
A huge J. Crew secret that’s rarely shared is that college students with a school issued ID get 15% off all purchases. People I’ve shared this deal with are shocked that they never knew this. You can also combine it with sales, meaning you’ll get an additional 15% off a sale item that already has an additional 30% of the price knocked off (that means it’s 45% off the already reduced price!!) However, this only works in stores, so don’t try it online.
4. Wait For Additional Sales
As stated above, J. Crew often has an additional 20-30 (and sometimes even 40!!) percent off their clearance section. That means if you see something you don’t absolutely need (trust me, I know this can be difficult to do at J. Crew), then wait a little bit for the promotion to begin. Once it does, stock up on the trendier J. Crew pieces (such as colored denim and bubble necklaces) so you can still get them for good quality.
5. Check The Factory Store
The J. Crew Factory Store may have been one of the best gifts J. Crew has given my wallet. As one of the more high quality outlet stores, they offer pieces extremely similar to the original store. For example, while a pink “Jackie” cardigan is $65, the “factory classic crewneck” version is only $34.50. If you don’t have an outlet near where you live, check out the revamped website.
Photo Credits: jcrew.com