In Search of Spearmint Wishes And Apricot Dreams

Searching for a "cherry waffle knit" to stave off the February chill? Dying for a "sky popover"? If you have a hearty appetite, you can devour pages of seemingly delectable delights--pages of the latest J. Crew catalog.

If you haven't checked your mailbox for a while, the J. Crew Spring Preview 1998 edition of pea-coats, v-necks and cardigans is full of inspiration and classic text, ("Purpose. Sharpen your edge.") ready for your casual, or itemized, perusal.

Of course, if you've already ordered your twill bush hat, you know all about J. Crewspeak.

When it's not thrown in mail center recycling bins, the J. Crew guide to undergraduate preppiedom can be found in student rooms--from the window sills of Winthrop to the futons of Pforzheimer. The Virginia-based clothier reports that about 10 percent of purchasers identify themselves as students.

With its alluring vacation section to brighten the spirits, who could blame students for coveting the glossy tome? Sanaz Hariri '99 calls the catalog "great procrastination."

"When [my roommates and I] get bored, we sit around looking," Hariri says.

The catalog is not only a diversion--it's a campus survival guide. Students say J. Crew is a good source of clothing essentials--from "scoopneck tees" and "broken-in chinos."

"I buy basic stuff," says Hariri, who buys an average of $150 worth of merchandise from J. Crew about every three weeks, often including staple "tank-tops and flip-flops."

While Hariri says only "about four percent" of her wardrobe comes from J. Crew, Caroline C. Costin '01 says the wool sweaters, cardigans and pants she purchases from J. Crew grace about 75 percent of her closet and drawer space. Costin also shops from the Patagonia and Victoria's Secret catalogs.

Justin G. Muzinich '00 is a more infrequent shopper, although he too makes the occasional catalog purchase.

"When I do catalog shop, it is usually for convenience--the company doesn't have a store nearby, so it's easier to pick up the phone," Muzinich says.

Others say they just love the simple thrill of getting mail.

"It's always fun to get packages," Hariri says. "The number of packages from home decrease exponentially as you get older."

Many students cite time constraints reason enough to regularly dial J. Crew's 800 number, (operators are always standing by). In addition, catalog styles are reliable.

"I like shopping in real stores a lot more than catalogs, but time is a problem, so I find I buy a lot by mail," says Christina S. Henry '00. "J. Crew is not too outdoorsy, and not too fancy like the Bloomingdale's catalog."

Yet A. Chandler Bass '00 readily notes drawbacks to the ease of catalog shopping.

"[One of the] reasons that I don't buy from catalogs is that I like to try stuff on, and if the clothes that I ordered don't fit, it's such a pain to return them," Bass says. "Plus, with the plethora of stores in the Square, who needs catalogs?"

Sizing can be problematic, and that "spearmint tee" may not exactly match your "copper jelly slide." The "J. Crew guarantee" means the company will accept an exchange or refund "at any time and for any reason."

"I have found that J. Crew clothing is highly variable in terms of quality," Henry says. "I have been happy with their sweaters, slacks, and bathing suits, but my winter coat has not held up well at all."

And sometimes, a J. Crew fix just isn't enough.

"If I had a wish, Diesel, Calvin Klein and Donna Karan would have mail-order catalogs," Hariri says. "If they do, somebody call me."