topic Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~ in Community Chat

🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

sidsmom — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 20:12:51 GMT

Does anyone remember J.Jill, circa 1985?

Their mid-80s line had flowy, conservative designs made of natural cotton material w/ a thicker hand. And their catalog was illustration only.

Their contemporary line today is, at times, hard to describe. Talbots meets J. Crew meets Chico’s meets...you get the drift. J. Jill is mentioned on these boards from time to time...and I always think “J.Jill Circa 1985” which is a total ‘180’ from the J.Jill currently mentioned.

I had several dresses & suits from J.Jill in late 80’s. Their ‘lady-like’ design was still riding the Lady/Princess Diana wave, especially with Liberty of London prints...so pretty. Of course, I had to have Crabtree & Evelyn bath items, as well, but that’s another thread.

I really had to look long & hard to find these pictures of their old catalog/designs. I fell down the ‘rabbit hole’ looking for this illustrated catalog! Just like I remembered.

So when someone says, ‘I like J.Jill’....I immediately think 1985 J.Jill.

Funny. Good memories.

Do you remember the 1985 illustrated J. Jill catalog?

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

bikerbabe — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 20:16:33 GMT

No. I don’t remember. Looking at the photos you posted not my style at all.

I liked J Jill about 15 years ago. Mainly sweaters.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

tansy — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 23:50:48 GMT

Wow. I don’t remember the company back then at all. What a change from their scaled down offerings now.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

GSPgirl — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 20:24:07 GMT

I do not remember the catalog! I like JJill, but their Wearever material is not seatbelt friendly. I get these little pills the first time I wear these garments. They take them back. They are fully aware of the lack of quality. The store told me. I miss the 80’s dresses and suits.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

handygal2 — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 21:06:13 GMT

I don't remember this. The drawings are very quaint, and remind me of the J. Peterman catalog's style.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

gidgetgh — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 21:22:35 GMT

@GSPgirl wrote:
I do not remember the catalog! I like JJill, but their Wearever material is not seatbelt friendly. I get these little pills the first time I wear these garments. They take them back. They are fully aware of the lack of quality. The store told me. I miss the 80’s dresses and suits.

@GSPgirl- I have several of the Wearever tops. I haven’t had any trouble with pilling at all. I drive every day.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

tansy — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 21:44:45 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
@GSPgirl wrote:
I do not remember the catalog! I like JJill, but their Wearever material is not seatbelt friendly. I get these little pills the first time I wear these garments. They take them back. They are fully aware of the lack of quality. The store told me. I miss the 80’s dresses and suits.

@GSPgirl- I have several of the Wearever tops. I haven’t had any trouble with pilling at all. I drive every day.

I don’t get pilling with my tops either.l

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

faeriemoon — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 21:59:52 GMT

@bikerbabe wrote:
No. I don’t remember. Looking at the photos you posted not my style at all.

I liked J Jill about 15 years ago. Mainly sweaters.

Same here.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

SahmIam — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 22:00:29 GMT

Wow. Laura Ashley meets Little House on the Prairie.

I had a highschool teacher that ONLY wore Laura Ashley/the Laura Ashley look. She was in her 40s wearing garments like that including the Mary Jane shoes, the sheep sweaters, everything. The look suited her too, which is funny when I think back about that. On another teacher, it would have been a costume.

Wonder if Ms. Hunt shopped at J. Jill back then?

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

faeriemoon — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 22:01:10 GMT

@handygal2 wrote:
I don't remember this. The drawings are very quaint, and remind me of the J. Peterman catalog's style.

And the Vermont Country Store.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

sidsmom — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 22:20:11 GMT

@SahmIam wrote:
Wow. Laura Ashley meets Little House on the Prairie.

I had a highschool teacher that ONLY wore Laura Ashley/the Laura Ashley look. She was in her 40s wearing garments like that including the Mary Jane shoes, the sheep sweaters, everything. The look suited her too, which is funny when I think back about that. On another teacher, it would have been a costume.

Wonder if Ms. Hunt shopped at J. Jill back then?

Giggle.

Yeah, it was very conservative, but then again, I was in Dallas at the time. I believe everyone fancied themselves as a mix of Pamela Ewing, Suzanne Sugarbaker & Lady Diana. 😄

Everyone wore this style....Harold’s store near SMU was filled w/ this type of clothing. No one wore slacks or pants to work. Everyone wore long skirts, Majorica pearls, Ferragamo shoes & Coach purses....it was the work uniform!

Gad...I still have that same Coach purse!

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

goldensrbest — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 22:58:21 GMT

The styles look very english, a few of them i can see someone wearing now,bet they were made well.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

puttypiesmom — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 23:08:09 GMT

@sidsmomI too don't remember that catalog but would not have worn ankle length dresses or skirts but thanks for the blast from the past. I think I'll take a look at jjill site and see what they're selling these days. Haven't been lately.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

sidsmom — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 23:32:05 GMT

@puttypiesmom wrote:
@sidsmomI too don't remember that catalog but would not have worn ankle length dresses or skirts but thanks for the blast from the past. I think I'll take a look at jjill site and see what they're selling these days. Haven't been lately.

Unfortunately, their wares of today are very generic.

I can’t help but think, pre Internet, every region had their ‘style.’

The brand Units was a big deal in the Dallas area, as well.

And yes, I rocked those crazy outfits...as well! Ha

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 23:35:10 GMT

Are they still in business?

I recall their catalogs ... and would go into the store and tried on a few things ...... I always looked like I was wearing someone else's clothing!

Now J Peterman ..... great catalog and great descriptions ..... I still have a couple of their things.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

sidsmom — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 00:16:42 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
Are they still in business?

I recall their catalogs ... and would go into the store and tried on a few things ...... I always looked like I was wearing someone else's clothing!

Now J Peterman ..... great catalog and great descriptions ..... I still have a couple of their things.

My findings show Karl & Marianne Lipsky, who started J.Jill

(named after their daughters, Jennifer & Jill) back in 1959 (original store

in the Berkshires) sold their company in 1988 to DM Management...

which eventually became the J.Jill we know today.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

Equuleus — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 00:19:33 GMT

Didn't know JJill existed in 1985. Their store came to our mall in about 2002. I purchased many of their corduroy toppers. I still have them.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

shoekitty — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 00:33:35 GMT

I bought jjill clothes in late 1990's. I used to covet the artists jackets, and the skirts. Their tees were beyond quality. I still have one I wear every year. I loved jjill. Also she had great shoes. I noticed after 2005 the tees they were so well known for were ******. Different weave, thickness and fit. I quit buying anything from them around 2008.

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

Tori3569 — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 00:38:48 GMT

Wow...as someone who spends a small fortune there (including today), I had no idea they used too look like that. I remember my first purchase from there catalog very clearly (a silk shirt I bought around the holidays) and I’m guessing that was around 1998 ish.

Thanks for posting those pictures

Re: 🤔Do you remember? J.Jill 1985~

Tori3569 — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 00:43:14 GMT

Units were a big deal in NY / NJ then too. The stores were in every mall . I had many pieces.