Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Questionable Item of the Week: Cashmere Tank {you want how much?}

Cashmere Tank
Click here for product page
Item 30380
Regular $298.00

"Thanks!" to Dina who suggested this tee for a "Questionable Item of the Week" post because of the price.

J.Crew describes this top as the following:
With raw-edged trim at the neck and a shirttail hem, our superluxe Italian cashmere jersey tank looks equally brilliant over jeans or tucked into a statement skirt. Part of the J.Crew Collection. Import. Dry clean..
When I glanced over the Collection section of J.Crew's online site, I did not even notice this top. It looks like your every day tank top. But now, upon closer look...

This "cashmere jersey tank" is a little too see-through for my liking. I mean, you would definitely have to wear something (like a $10 tank top) underneath it. It is also a bit odd looking (in terms of fit) from the catalog images. It looks tight on top but loose around the stomach. Meh.

As for the price... yikes! I understand that cashmere costs a lot because it is cashmere. However, that price for that top (extremely thin & just a tank— no sleeves!) seems really outrageous to me. I mean, it costs more than J.Crew's Cashmere Popover Hoodie (Item 29627; $198.00) and that sweater uses additional cashmere for the hood & kangaroo pockets!

Do you think I am being overly-critical? What are your thoughts on this Cashmere Tank? Would you buy this or leave it at the store? Have you see this first hand, and if so, what are your impressions?

15 comments:

  1. dude, they didn't even bother to SEW it all the way! raw edges for nearly $300? you're not being too critical.
    also, it seems counterproductive to make a cuddly-soft garment that requires another one beneath it, thus keeping the cuddly softness from even touching you.

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  2. :) Thanks for the shout-out, Alexis.

    Summerilla also questioned it in an earlier post (maybe over the weekend), so I want her to get some credit, too...LOL. Great minds and all.

    I think the only reason I even realized it was outrageously priced is because I have read and looked at each and every page and item in the last catalog. I love so much of what is in there that I wanted to see what the individual pieces were. I almost fell over when I saw the $298 price tag. Scary!

    If you have bought it, can I ask if it is super-soft and special? I am dying here! If it is super-special and unique, then more power, J. Crew, but I have to say, it was hard seeing why it is more "special" than their regular cashmere.

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  4. I think that might be a 'typo'...like its supposed to be $98 and the '2' kind of snuck in accidentally (surely)

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  5. Yeah, this is a big WTF for me.

    I haven't seen this top, but based on my previous experience, "Collection" cashmere is pure hype. Before I quit buying JC cashmere altogether, I ordered a Collection sweater, and other than some cheesy embellishment the quality was exactly, and I do mean exactly, the same as the regular cashmere--same yarn, same gauge knit, same finish on the seams. Oh, and same pills.

    JC always has the best cashmere colors and I'm so sad that the quality is no longer acceptable :-(

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  6. even I (the eternal JC cheerleader) thought this was odd. I have seen cashmere camisoles for more but JC sweaters with sleeves are so much less? I really don't understand. Once I saw the price I didn't read further, did I miss something in the small print? hand knit in Scotland?

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  7. DAYUM. Almost $300? I'm with Ibi...must be a typo but even at $98 it's questionable.

    I just noticed that one of my jc cashmere cardis is developing a hole under one of the arms. I just got it in January!!!! Only wore it for one season so less than a dozen times!!! expletive, expletive!!

    I thought I'd get lucky and be an exception to the JC-cashmere curse. *Sniff*

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  8. A libation to Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, who would be a JCA if she were still worshipped -- I actually have a cashmere tank, from a Ralph Lauren outlet a few years ago. It was marked down to $89, all the tags in it, and was lurking on a 70% off rounder, so I took it to the register, and yes! there was an additional 70% off, so home it came. Now that is some soft and durable cashmere, the real reason why Scotland was famous for cashmere. It has limited usefulness, obviously not workwear and too warm for crowded parties, but when it works it works. So I was interested to see the JC tank on the website, but when something looks skimpy and flimsy in a picture, will it look better IRL? Nuh-uh. And the price? Not when you could buy a quarter of a Snuffleupagus for the same money.

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  9. I have navy cashmere tank style top with cute ties on the shoulders from many years ago. When the cashmere was soft and good quality. I know I did not pay more than $40 for it either on sale. This item is ridiculous. Just for people who have extra $$ to blow or for the super wealthy celebrity clients IMO>

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  10. Looks like they chopped off the sleeves of holey, pilling sweaters from the defective merchandise pile, then try to re-marketing them for $298 apiece. Ingenious!

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  11. $298? As IF! I don't know if a cashmere tank is something I'd actually ever need in my wardrobe, but I know for damn sure I wouldn't pay that much for it!

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  12. I would never consider a summer top made of ANY kind of wool. How can you possible care for such an item is beyond me.

    I don't think you ar ebeing overly critical

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  13. Cashmere tank works in deep winter under velvet jacket… but not this one, not at this price (gaah!) and not at what I suspect to be the case about the quality.

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  14. C'mon J. Crew. You sell entire cashmere sweaters for half that price.

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  15. This tank is definitely a nod to the younger hipsters out there: i.e. those buying Alexander Wang, Opening Ceremony, etc.

    Cashmere tanks are easily $300 for brands like that. And no, you aren't supposed to wear anything under it: either it's boobs out or one of those sticky, cups-only bras.

    The tank is definitely an anomaly for J.Crew, but in the larger realm of hipster fashion it does not surprise me at all. Just one more way Jenna seems to be sticking her toe out there to see what will and won't sell to the average J.Crew customer.

    I saw the tank today at Prince Street in NYC and thought it seemed nice, but I think it would have been more appropriate hanging on the racks of Intermix across the street.

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