TURF WARS: KOHLS VS JCP

Dressing for a long day of
seminar means cool, casual.
I opted for white on white with
fun tortise shell accessories.
It was 104 outside!!
When I begin fulltime tomorrow,
the flip flops will stay at home!!
Well, this is it!  May last day to be in control of my own schedule….for me, and many teachers it is BACK TO WORK time.  Summer break is over.   I always have mixed emotions…because I really love teaching.  I am especially inspired to work with my journalism students…we have so much fun producing a product that is more than a high school newspaper.
But during this week’s in-service seminar, I walked upon an interesting “water cooler” discussion between teachers who are a mix of 30- to- 60- somethings.   Their discussion, “WHICH STORE IS BETTER….KOHLS or JC PENNEYS??”  They were looking at cost and style.   There were about eight who entered into the discussion and all of them wanted to avoid frumpy…look professional…and save money.  The winner during this seminar break was…..KOHLS!  The girls liked the variety of styles…the designer offerings…and the many sales and coupon opportunities to save money.



Not alot to say to JCP here…they should
know this is not attractive!!



So, being the diligent little fashion reporter I now am …I decided to hit the field and see what I thought of the new fall line ups in both stores.  I have to agree with the girls…KOHLS wins!  (DISCLAIMER:  I AM GETTING NOTHING FROM KOHLS FOR THIS REVIEW…NOR HAVE I CONTACTED ANYONE FROM KOHLS ABOUT THIS REVIEW!!)
This Apt. 9 dress had great seaming for an
excellent fit..would look good with a fun
cardigan and was on sale for $24 at KOHLS.
All you have to do is first look at the advertising here from a recent JCP circular and you will immediately see there is still a “frumpy problem” though I realize they have worked hard to change their image.  Maybe the image has changed with the younger girls…but not us seasoned ladies.  I found very little to even try on or photograph in the store. 
Purses, jewelry, shoes, scarves, belts.
KOHLS beat JCP with accessories
But, at KOHLS, I tried on several looks…a lot of Dana Buchman and Simply Vera…and purchased one western-style, CHAPS, cardigan for fall at a whopping $18 sale price.  KOHLS, also, won with me in the accessory department. 
Dana Buchman prints are fun and
affordable at KOHLS.
My recommendation is that both stores should follow the Ann Taylor/LOFT example and offer teachers a discount!!  I think it would work well in both venues.
Would anyone here like to join this discussion and weigh in on which major retailer you like the best??
My tortise shell accessories came from CHICOS last summer!

17 Comments

  1. They opened a Kohl's not far from me a few months back. I haven't been yet but now you've inspired me to go check them out!

    (We do have very good luck at JCP with jeans and pants for my son, though. They're one of the few who carries affordable jeans in "slim" styles for my little string bean.)

  2. Kohl's is the winner for sure I agree they are much more up to date in the style of clothes for the older women. I want to suggest if you shop Kohl's get their credit card. I have one and every 4-6 weeks I receive and ad with a hidden discount of 15%, 20% or 30% that can be used in store or online on anything including clearance. You can also find the 30% code online along with free shipping codes if you do a search and use them to order online. I pay off my balance in full each month of course. I only shop at JCP because they carry a lot of tall size shirts for my husband and myself.

  3. I.Love.Kohl's!
    I was just there yesterday – I always stalk the clearance racks, especially for my three sons. They have great clothes and great sales.

  4. I live in London and though my brother lives in New York, I don't really know either store – but anything to take my mind off the start of term!
    PS I like your chunky jewellery.

  5. Kohls b a mile. JC Penney is way closer to my home, but I make the trek to Kohls, it seems as if I get coupons from them all the time, those kohls bucks come in handy, and my teenagers who are not teeny tiny find more at Kohls too. The best thing is is that at a size 12/14 I don't have to do plus size at Kohls, Lauren Conrad and Daisy Fuentes fit just fine. I have purchased some Vera Wang, but too formal for me. They have "my" Levi's AND I even bought a cardigan in the Jr. dept last week. ( Okay, I bought 3 one for me and each of my daughters!)

    I had a little shopping spree there and at DSW, if I stop being lazy I will put the pics on later today.

  6. I have to agree,it's Kohls…but mainly b/c we don't have JCP anymore. I was just at Kohl's today adn looked at that dress, if I were smaller I'd have tried it on. I did pick up a t-shirt with crocheted neckline, Apt 9 green tunic top, and multi color tank. They do have lots of nice stylish clothes and with my 20% I can't complain. I don't need to dress up so jeans/capris and t-shirt type tops are fine.

  7. JCP for tall trousers at reasonable prices.

    Kohl's–much more pleasant stores–the JCPs near me are all crammed with stuff. Chaps–not my style–gold buttons, crew necks, ruffles, crested blazers, yet several of my favorite pieces are Chaps–Dana Buchman–I like the style, but they never seem to fit or look as nice on. Vera Wang–I avoid the stupid pasted on "jewels" with bits of tulle and ribbon,and do well with her modern prints and interesting jackets and cardigans. Dresses and skirts are way too short, though. Apt. 9 and Daisy Fuentes–fun tops in modern prints….decent sweaters in Apt. 9.

  8. I like kohls for smaller sizes . I wear a 1x or 2x top and I must say I do not really care for the tops at Kohls in the larger sizes. i feel they tend to be frumpy and "old lady" looking . The smaller sizes I think are cute.
    Kristin

  9. Interesting to see what you wore to in-service; mine isn't for another 10 days or so. In my area, the Kohls' stores outnumber the JCPenney stores by 10 to 1. I have a Kohls credit card, which I confess I have only used to purchase gift certificates for my daughters. Frankly, I find their many coupons and deals slightly confusing.

  10. I really don't shop at either store. My biggest objection to Kohl's is that they have sales almost every day and when I have gone there, a lot of the merchandise advertised is not available. Their plus size mdse usually not very pretty. Even the Dana Buchman which is nice in the regular sizes is restyled in plus size and not as attractive. That said, JCP plus size is mostly unattractive and doesn't fit well.

  11. I had never really shopped at Kohl's until some bloggers started mentioning it last winter
    I was pleasantly surprised by the things that had.
    I will definitely go back there.
    Couldn't tell you the last time I was even in a JCP
    brett

  12. JCP is closer to me than Kohl's and benefits from being in a mall with a Target and the grocery store I shop at regularly, so I'm there frequently.

    I like JCP for basics – tanks, jeans, shorts, curtains. I also like their Liz Clairborne line. The cuts fit me. I think they both operate at about the same quality/price point but Kohl's seems much trendier, things are embellished and dolled-up beyond my taste.

    That said, I own several Dana Buchman dresses from Kohl's. I'm a fan of things in materials that can sit on a closet floor for weeks and then spring, un-ironed, into service without a visible wrinkle.

  13. As someone who has recently exited the junior's department (because almost nothing fits my foundational five, and for the most part is unappetizing), I have to say that I really love Kohl's "Misses" department. As much as I dislike "The Hills", Lauren Conrad's "LC" collection is adorable… and affordable.

  14. Teacher discounts? What about discounts for underpaid and underappreciated Public Defenders… who have to dress more formally than teachers… but can't afford good suits because all the money goes to the student loan servicer?

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