J.Crew's Jenna Lyons Hearts Sequins

The following article and photos are from the Guardian (click here to read in its entirety): 

J.Crew's Jenna Lyons: 'Sequins are the new black'
Label’s creative director fights against ‘fashion gone quiet’ with sparkles, bright yellows and deep purples as she shows collection at New York fashion weekBy Jess Cartner-Morley
February 17, 2015

Backstage at the Lincoln Center, moments before the J Crew show at New York fashion week, the models asked Jenna Lyons, the label’s creative director: “Are we allowed to smile?”

Lyons – dressed for the occasion in floor-length black culottes with a simple striped cotton shirt, signature black-rimmed spectacles and slicked back hair – burst out laughing. “Oh my god, yes! Please smile.”

The models’ question was not stupid. Smiling is a rare occurrence on the catwalk, where aloof unobtainability is still considered the ideal. But J Crew is different from most names on the New York fashion week schedule, being an upscale mainstream store whose price tags, while not cheap, are closer to affordable than astronomical. What’s more, the tone of approachability saturates everything about J Crew. The store models often wear glasses, and unlikely colours and fabrics are mixed with a screwball comedy wit.

Under the stewardship of Lyons and the chief executive, Mickey Drexler, J Crew has become a major player in global fashion. Michelle Obama is a fan, and ...has enabled J Crew to lay claim, in the American imagination, to the notion of dressing with a pop of colour. ...

But recently J Crew has run into trouble. A loss of $607m in 2014 led to reports that Lyons was in trouble with Drexler for the unlikely fashion crime of being too fabulous. Lyons’ personal fame – guest appearances in Girls and a turn at Solange Knowles’s wedding – was said to be shading her J Crew role. Drexler dismissed the reports as silly, publicly backing Lyons as being “as good as it gets at being a voice for J Crew”. But the recent departure of both the chief operating officer and chief financial officer have fuelled rumours that all is not well at JCrew.

The New York fashion week presentation, therefore, comes at a crunch moment for the label. Lyons came out, all guns blazing – or, given the J Crew obsession with sequins, sparkling. “I think we were missing the sparkle a little,” said Lyons, pointing out a multicoloured sequin minidress, worn over a button down skirt and under a double-breasted tweed coat. “We’d gotten a little bit quiet. It’s not just us – fashion generally has gone a bit quiet, I think. So this season I was like: ‘Damn, give me sequins!’”

As Lyons posed for photos with starstruck fashion groupies, the head of women’s design, Tom Mora, expanded on how the team found inspiration in Peter Schlesinger’s photographic portraits of a flamboyant 1970s London set which included David Hockney, Tina Chow, Paloma Picasso and Cecil Beaton. “What I loved was how much elegance and energy and freedom there was in the way they dressed, not just for evening but day-to-day.” The 70s silhouettes – which are already making a strong showing among New York fashion week goers wearing flared trousers, long A-line skirts and polo necks – were abundant in the new collection.

J Crew has recently opened stores in London, and the British influence was evident in the menswear, where designer Frank Muytjens had hit upon his colours of the season at a specialist fair selling vintage army and navy clothing in Folkestone, Kent. While the womenswear was a magpie’s feast of sunshine yellow, rose pink and rich purple, menswear blended in muted tones of olive, grey, camel and tobacco.

Muytjens, wearing a tobacco silk scarf with ivory polka dots tucked neatly beneath the lapel of his knitted navy blazer, shrugged. “That’s the difference between a guy and a girl. Our man doesn’t want to be visible from 10 blocks away because of the colour of his shirt.”

The J Crew woman, by contrast, is a peacock, albeit a practically dressed one. Editors and stylists arrived, shivering and shaking snow from their hair, to stand sighing in front of a tan parka fully lined with yolk-yellow fake fur, and sumptuous roll-neck sweaters layered under gold-buttoned blazers. Sequins sparkled under parkas, and sprouted in tufts from cosy sweaters. “Sequins are the new black,” proclaimed Lyons. She was smiling.

Oh to have Frank Muytjens design a capsule collection for the Women's line...

I will say I love the sequins in the upcoming Fall/Winter collection. They are completely unpractical for my lifestyle, but oh so pretty! I am also thrilled to see a nice combination of neutrals (with the grey tones) mixed in with the colors (rich purples and yellows). Color me impressed!

What are your thoughts on the article? Any point that you agreed or disagreed with? If so, please share! :)

Behind the Scenes at New York Fashion Week & J.Crew

"Thanks!" to  many of you, including Unknown (in this post), who let us know that J.Crew is posting some behind the scenes photos throughout their social media sites:

• J.Crew {facebook}
• J.Crew {770 blog}
• J.Crew {instagram}
• J.Crew {pinterest}

Here are just a few of the images that they posted so far:

Is it weird that I am looking forward to this year's Fall/Winter already? Can't wait to see more photos of their event.

J.Crew's Fall/Winter 2015 presentation is scheduled for this Tuesday during New York Fashion Week. You can also search #jcrewnyfw for of-the-moment updates on the show.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming collection? Are you excited about any piece in particular?

J.Crew Suiting for Men: the Reinvention

"Thanks!" to J.Crew Guy In Canada who shared the following article from the Wall Street Journal (click here to read in its entirety) with us:

The Reinvention of the Entry-Level Suit
Affordable no longer equals regrettable. Thanks to a suiting revolution led by J. Crew, men without thousands to spend can step out in fashion-forward styles that look like a million
By John Ortved
September 19, 2014

TWO YEARS AGO, Collins Ward, 34, a principal at a Manhattan-based private-equity firm, was looking for a new charcoal-grey suit. Though his closet was stocked with $2,000-plus ensembles from Armani and Ermenegildo Zegna, Mr. Ward headed downtown to J.Crew, where he purchased a jacket ($425) and trousers ($225) from the brand's Ludlow line.

"I've worn a suit every day to work for 10 years, and I tried a lot of the nicer, more expensive Italian brands," said Mr. Ward. "Frankly, [the Ludlow] is a good price point, and has the slimmer fit of the Italian brands."

The starter suit is not what it used to be. A generation ago, a man without a great deal of means—whether he was embarking on his first job or attending his first wedding—had to settle for boxy cuts in rayon and wool-blends from departments stores. But beginning a decade ago and ramping up over the past five years, there has been a veritable revolution in men's suiting priced under $1,000. Brands like J.Crew, Club Monaco and Suitsupply have invested in fine Italian wools, slimmer cuts and refined construction to produce moderately priced suits that offer men something similar to, and occasionally indistinguishable from, their upscale counterparts.

"It's something that we've not only noticed but also celebrated—the democratization of fashion," said Jim Moore, creative director of GQ. "You don't just get kind of a dumb-dumb business suit. It's got all the trappings of a suit that could cost three or four times its price."

Producing the suits "overseas," usually in Asia, keeps those prices moderate. However, these brands teach their factories how to better construct the jackets and trousers. High-end fabrics help. While mills like Loro Piana and those in the Biella region of Northern Italy make textiles for the planet's most expensive brands, they're not above accepting business from a company like J.Crew, which can leverage economies of scale to satisfy a new class of educated consumers.

Those buyers know what a great suit is meant to look like, thanks, in large part, to the Internet. In the past few years, the Web has supplied young men with an ocean of information—from blogs showing the right way to wear a pocket square to street-style shots to slideshows rounding up the dapper Mad Men of Sterling Cooper & Partners. "I cannot stress the importance of what the street-style bloggers have done," said Eric Jennings, director of menswear at Saks Fifth Avenue. "Having these images at your fingertips 24/7, you can see how it's put together. I think it's inspired a lot of Americans guys."

If there's a Lenin of this revolution, it's J.Crew, which introduced its Ludlow in 2008. Four years later, the brand dedicated an entire store to the suit in downtown New York. The Ludlow range has expanded from three initial offerings to a line of tuxedos, cotton summer suits, and offshoots, like the Traveler, made with three-ply wool meant to better hold its shape, and the Crosby, made for more athletic builds. "It took about two years to get the shape and details right. It has all the inner facings of a bespoke suit," said head of J.Crew menswear Frank Muytjens of the Ludlow development process. The suit also features a high armhole, narrow lapel, slim waist, a soft shoulder and a slightly shorter body length. These attributes are common across the new under-$1,000 suiting landscape, as is the selling of pants and jackets as separates.

For fabrics, Mr. Muytjens looked to storied mills around the world, from Abraham Moon & Sons in England to Larusmiani in Italy. As the line became more popular, he added corduroys, Irish linens and English tweeds. "[J.Crew] hit that sweet spot that men crave—a go-to suit that fits them, but also changes a bit every season in its fabrication," said Mr. Moore.

While J.Crew may have struck while the iron was hot, there was a key precursor. Mr. Moore cited Calvin Klein's introduction of its White Label line a decade ago as a pivotal factor... "Over the last 10 years, that mainstream guy has not only moved with fashion, he's also moved with elevation of fabrics."

...In 2012, he noticed guys without $2,500 to spend wanting a similar type of suiting, and began developing the Freeman, a hand-tailored, fully canvased suit—made in America starting at $1,100. "The Ludlow Suit is imported," said Mr. Kilroe. "Generally, when a brand doesn't specify where a suit is made, it's because they don't want the customer to know.

..."Guys don't trade down," he said. "Even during the recession, if they were buying Armani, they didn't trade down. They just waited. When they're at a certain level, they like to stay there. It's their pride."

J.Crew's suits for Men are amazing. One of my local J.Crew stores carries them, and one can tell the quality and fit are there.

The comment that stood out for me: "[J. Crew] hit that sweet spot that men crave—a go-to suit that fits them, but also changes a bit every season in its fabrication". This is why I think the men's side of J.Crew keeps knocking it out of the park, season after season.

Honestly, I would love Frank Muytjens to guest design a capsule collection for the women's side of J.Crew. Who is with me! ;)

What are your thoughts on J.Crew's suits for men? Any points of the article resonate with you? If so, please share!

J.Crew's Fashion Week Sneak Peeks

J.Crew is already getting ready for Fashion Week. There are a few posts about this event over at J.Crew's own 770 blog (" The Dos and Donts of Women’s Casting" and "Men’s Casting Call"). All the photos in this post come from J.Crew's blog.

There is also an article over at USA Today (click here to read in its entirety) about it with matching video too:

Sneak peek: J.Crew's spring collection
By Carly Mallenbaum
September 8, 2014

Didn't nab an invite to the J. Crew show at New York Fashion Week? Not to worry. USA TODAY has a sneak peek at the J. Crew spring looks that will launch Tuesday in New York and hit stores across the country next year.

Men's
"We looked at a French Mediterranean fishing village" while designing the spring line, says Frank Muytjens, head of J.Crew men's design. He observed the way fishermen "mend their nets, how they sit on the dock in their gear, what they wear (and how) it gets old and tattered." For the collection, that translated into "dusty pastels" and "lots of navies, blues and washed-out denims" reminiscent of the ocean.

One particular look pairs a fresh Japanese indigo chambray pant with a classic shawl-collared cardigan. The tapered pants could also be worn with a full suit, or just with a T-shirt and white sneakers, Muytjens says. The cardigan, which is made of dry hand cotton, is meant for everything from a day at the office to a night on the beach.

The collection offers "the high and low, the mix of something something weathered with something clean and new-looking.

Women's
Tom Mora, head of J. Crew women's design, tried to bring the same "happy energy" that he felt while visiting Peru and Mexico, to his collection. "You eat late and you wear the same thing that you wore to the beach, to dinner," he says. The looks combine khakis, indigo, mossy greens, whites and pops of yellow; with linen, "couture mesh" and menswear-inspired blazers and pants. "It's casual and it also has a little bit of glamour."

The quirky sequined shorts seem to fit that the laidback vibe. "You can't feel uptight when you're wearing them," Mora says. The shorts, which have a drawstring, are made for slouching. Mora pairs them with a"new version of a jean jacket" that has a high-low hem. "It's the most beautiful vivid blue that reminds me of the ocean," he says of the jacket.

Mora says his clothes should feel "like taking a deep breath and letting it out."

When it comes to the Men's Collection... perfection. Even Frank's quote about the high low feels spot on. Is it weird that I am pulling ideas from their side to style myself? ;)

Now for the Women's side... I like the color scheme for the upcoming collection, with the khaki, greens and pops of yellow. Also, I love that table full of jewelry pieces. I just wanted to help myself to some!

I do have to address the sequined shorts... really? The sequined pattern is beautiful, lovely for a special event. However, the shorts aspect brings it down to casual. So I am not sure where it would be appropriate to wear. Too bad it was not a skirt.

J.Crew's Spring/Summer 2015 presentation is scheduled for September 9th during New York Fashion Week. You can also search #jcrewnyfw for of-the-moment updates on the show.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming collection? Are you excited about any piece in particular?

J.Crew's Jenna Lyons Spotted!

The following is from the Daily Mail (click here to read in its entirety):

Who's the model here? J.Crew's Jenna Lyons holds her own beside super-sleek Karlie Kloss at fashion launch
By Danielle Gusmaroli
March 27, 2014

She's the creative director for popular clothing brand J.Crew and on Wednesday Jenna Lyons encapsulated everything the brand stands for when she paraded her own unique style.

The 44-year-old president of the American retailer took centrestage in her signature thick-rimmed glasses and mix-and-match preppy attire that has helped skyrocket the brand to international fashion success.

She held her own beside towering Victoria Secrets beauty Karlie Kloss at a New York bash celebrating the brand's new travel suit on Wednesday.

Jenna rocked a simple white T-Shirt and loose ankle swingers which she teamed with a pair of scarlet suede heels and paraded a customary parted hairstyle. ...

The glittering party saw filmmaker Casey Neistat's short commercial showcasing the new travel suit for J.Crew's Ludlow collection. The award-winning filmmaker created a first person piece called 'Travel With Style,' an original video that highlights how the Ludlow Traveler breaks the mould of the typical buttoned-up look.

Inspired by his adventures, Casey is seen boarding nine flights to eight cities and portrays what travelling in style means to him whilst showcasing the crease-resistant suit. From Ixtapa to Big Bear, snowboarding to surfing, Casey wears the specially woven, three-ply Italian wool suit throughout his journeys covering 11,000 miles. The commercial's manly chunky knit and plaid outfits leave viewers with a warm and fuzzy holiday feeling.

J Crew, which is worn often by Michelle Obama and her daughters, has about 450 stores throughout the U.S. and is run by industry executive Mickey Drexler. Jenna has been creative director since 2008 and is often credited with revamping the retailer, which reported about $2.4billion in annual sales last year.

First and foremost, I always forget that Jenna Lyons is 44 years old. I never associate an age with her, so I was surprised to read it in the article. ;) She looks amazing and can hold her own with any model in the room!

With that said, I am kind over her signature "Jenna" look with the glasses and pulled back hair. But if she loves it, than good for her!

What are your thoughts on Jenna's outfit? Do you like her style? Do you think Jenna should keep or update her look?

Don't Just Look Like J.Crew {smell like it too!}

There is an article over at GQ about J.Crew's latest partnership (click here to read in its entirety):

Exclusive: J.Crew Gets Into the Scent Game with D.S. & Durga
By Matthew Sebra
March 26, 2013

After getting into the closets of, seemingly, every man in America, Frank Muytjens and his team of menswear folks over at J.Crew are now looking to claim real estate on guys' bathroom countertops as well. Working with Brooklyn-based cologne maker D.S. & Durga, Muytjens and Durga's perfumer David Seth Moltz collaborated on the exclusive, original scent that pulls inspiration from a cool, foggy day Muytjens spent at Big Sur.

According to the 'Crew's head of men's design: "The California coast is a sacred place for me, and it's been an inspiration for us in several men's collections at J.Crew. It's undisturbed, understated... it's raw in a way, and you have to search for the beauty in it. The air is rich out there and it's stays with you. I can smell it now." That intensity is translated through notes of wild herbs, predominantly sage and eucalyptus, that blend with coastal woods and kelp, producing a cologne that deftly walks the line between fresh and masculine. The scent's depth is also due to D.S. & Durga's small-batch production and premium raw ingredients, factors that are evident from first spray. We'd go on talking about the crisp cologne and quality for the price, but c'mon, it's J.Crew -- did you expect anything less?

J.Crew is currently selling 1.7 oz (50 ml) of the D.S. & Durga for J.Crew Homesteader's cologne (item 01868) for $98. Clearly this is on the pricier side for men's cologne (even for women's perfume).

The description for the cologne is pretty funny too. I can just picture "the hardy men who settled Big Sur among the wild herbs", and I am not sure if they are wearing cologne. Let alone dress preppy in J.Crew's button-down shirts, khakis, and Sperry Top-Siders. (I think it would be more like Patagonia fleeces and LL Bean boots.)

Don't get me wrong, I am definitely curious about the scent in real life. Especially one that "walks the line between fresh and masculine" (...what does that even mean?!?) I just don't know if I will be purchasing it for the men in my life anytime soon.

What are your thoughts on this latest partnership with J.Crew? Have you smelled the scent? If so, please share with us your review! :)

Break Down of J.Crew Men’s Collection

The following is an interview with Frank Muytjens and Jenna Lyons, over at the Star (click here to read article in its entirety):

J.Crew men’s fashion goes for bold new looks
By Jeanne Beker
October 3, 2012

There’s something mixed up going on in men’s fashion. If you think you can handle it, has J.Crew got a collection for you.

Those enamoured with offbeat colours, rugged and clean pieces teamed together, and unexpected graphic print combos will delight in the news that the two new J.Crew stores opening in December — Eaton Centre on Oct. 3, and Fairview Mall at the end of October — will feature menswear for the first time in Toronto.

The popular men’s line includes classics like the famous Ludlow suit and shirt, Italian cashmere, and Japanese denim. But these days, even the most conservative men are pushing their personal style envelopes and having fun with fashion. It’s all about a play on irreverence which, next season, will result in an appetite for lavender and acid green jeans, mixing stripes and checks, and popping tuxedo jackets with denim work shirts.

I took in the J.Crew men’s collection for spring at New York Fashion Week recently, and was wowed by its upbeat feel. The colour blocking inspired by American artist Ellsworth Kelly was especially striking. I spoke with J.Crew president and executive creative director Jenna Lyons, and menswear designer Frank Muytjens about the philosophy behind the optimistic collection.

Q: How eager do you think most men will be to embrace the label’s new mix or will it take a little coaxing?
A: Jenna: I think what I do appreciate about J.Crew is that there are a lot of avenues to find that look. We’re not expecting you to wear a print and a stripe. We would love it if you do, but if that feels too much for you, you can do a tonal look.

Frank: I think that guys want to be educated and all the social media makes it easy for them. They want to know about quality, they know about colour. They want to know where things are from and how they are made. It’s pretty interesting.

Q: I still remember the days when men were afraid to wear a pink shirt. Is that still an issue today?
A: Frank: Menswear is on a roll. Look at men now, they are ready for anything. It’s great.

Q: Are men and women on the same wavelength when it comes to self expression?
A: Jenna: I do think that a lot of what you see out there on blogs like The Sartorialist is saying that people are really interested in having personal style. It’s become cool. When I was growing up it was all about looking like everyone else. Now it’s about having your own personal style and being an individual and I think the men are getting just as much attention as the women, which I love.

Q: You’re encouraging the mixing of sensibilities, fabrications, even attitudes, all in the same look. Can you explain why?
A: Frank: I think that’s one of our signature things. We do it to try to explain to a guy how he can mix things from different areas within one look. And it might be something he has in his closet already, like a jean jacket he can wear under a sport coat — something he didn’t think of before.

Q: What do you say to people afraid of taking chances, of stepping outside their comfort zones?
A: Jenna: I think sometimes it’s about listening to when someone pays you a compliment. Maybe try that again and push it a little further. I think you just have to dive in.

Frank: We have a feature on our website called ‘Ask Jack’. And Jack is a guy who really exists and he gives great advice to guys who are a bit insecure. I would say just go for it and follow your instincts. It’s great to develop a personal style.

Q: But there’s always the danger of being victimized by trends. How does one guard against that?
A: Jenna: I think that’s the mistake that so many people make. They feel that, “Oh, I have to look like that person,” and do that trend. There are a lot of trends where you have to stand aside and say, “No, I cannot wear a bell-bottom jean.” It just doesn’t work for me. And that’s OK.

Frank: I think menswear is more about shifting little things here and there each season. It’s not about being trendy. We are in it for the long haul. We are in it for longevity and I think our guy appreciates that.

The interview is enjoyable- both Jenna and Frank share some great pieces of advice. With that said, a few things stuck out for me:

• Jenna mentions that people should not have to feel like they should look like someone else. Great point! She definitely has her own style that is recognizable (pair of black framed glasses anyone?) Yet, I could not help find the humor in that statement as J.Crew keeps trying to recreate her signature style. (Of course, referring to the Jenna drones that appear on J.Crew's runway and catalogs.)
• I think Frank's last sentence about it not being trendy but about longevity is something I both admire and am jealous of, when it comes to the Men's collection. J.Crew seem to "get that" when it comes to Men's, but not so much with the Women's Collection.
• As for the advice to wear a jean jacket under a sport coat... no. Has he actually tried this? Because I imagine it would be pretty difficult to get your arms into a sport coat while already wearing a jean jacket, let alone getting your arms down by one's side.

What are your thoughts on the interview? Do you like the direction that Frank is taking the Men's Collection at J.Crew?

At Home WIth J.Crew's Frank Muytjens

"Thanks!" to J.Crew Guy in Canada who let us know about the following post over at Elle Decor (click here to read article in its entirety plus see all the amazing pics):

Vintage Variety: Frank Muytjens of J. Crew at Home
At his country retreat in upstate New York, J. Crew menswear director Frank Muytjens keeps the past ever present
By Tim McKeough

J. Crew's Frank Muytjens at Home
After making the two-and-a-half-hour drive north from Manhattan, visitors to Frank Muytjens’s weekend house in Hillsdale, New York, are often surprised at just how unplugged his rural getaway is. “Friends always panic when they find out I have no high-speed Internet connection and barely any cell phone service,” says Muytjens, the head of men’s design at J. Crew. “But I like the idea of it.”

Muytjens frequently entertains guests who work in the worlds of fashion and advertising, and it’s understandable that some might be distraught upon leaving the city’s always-on energy and arriving in a lush, rolling landscape where birdsong replaces honking horns and sirens. His strategy is to distract their attention from inactive smartphones. “We make plans for dinner,” he says. “We cook and go antiquing. Or we hike—there are great nature trails around here.” ...

The interior shots of Frank's home look beautiful. There is something so cozy and inviting about his space.

What are your thoughts on the Frank's style? Do you like how he designed his living space?

J.Crew Debuts on Lane Crawford

The following is from Jing Daily about J.Crew's expansion into the Hong Kong market (click here to read in its entirety):

J.Crew’s China Adventure Set To Kick Off In Hong Kong
By Jing Daily
September 25, 2012

After months of planning and anticipation, American retailer J. Crew’s long-awaited Autumn/Winter 2012 expansion in partnership with Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford is finally set to launch. Appearing first at Lane Crawford Canton Road and online at lanecrawford.com on September 26, followed by Lane Crawford ifc mall on September 28, J.Crew will offer customers in Asia special access to curated women’s and men’s ready-to-wear collections, including shoes and accessories. This two-pronged on- and offline approach will give customers throughout Hong Kong and mainland China the ability to shop in-person at J.Crew outside of North America for the first time.

J.Crew’s partnership with Lane Crawford is unfolding in real-time this week as an instructive — and likely promising — case study of how some Western brands are entering, or perhaps should enter, the Chinese market. By starting with an online-heavy strategy and partnering with a department store, J.Crew is able to bypass many of the headaches that accompany the construction of a full-blown store. As Divia Harilela recently wrote for Jing Daily, “tread[ing] lightly by creating an online presence first” instead of diving head-first by establishing a physical presence is the wiser road to take, particularly for a brand that’s well-established at home but untested in Asia.

J.Crew began its Greater China expansion late last year, starting by offering flat-rate shipping to Hong Kong (HK$150) and mainland China (US$30). Within six months, Hong Kong quickly became one of J.Crew’s top five biggest markets. The company seems confident that finding and partnering with a credible retailer (or e-tailer) before going solo is an effective way to tackle the very different animal that is the Chinese market now that it’s set for a physical appearance. Only after a strong online presence is established under the wing of Lane Crawford will J.Crew likely find the idea of opening an independent brick-and-mortar store in Hong Kong less daunting and more economically viable.

But what’s a grand opening without a party? To celebrate the collaboration, a cocktail event will be held on October 11, 2012 at Lane Crawford ifc mall, attended by leading members of the J. Crew team, among them creative director Jenna Lyons, womenswear head designer Tom Mora and menswear head designer Frank Muytjens.

Some JCAs may have already noticed over at lanecrawford.com, that it already features J.Crew's merchandise. (Make sure you change which country you are in.) I also love that I have another source to see how the clothes actually look on a model. Very cool!

Also, the party that J.Crew will be throwing next week sounds amazing. If any JCAs are attending, please share about the details!!!

What are your thoughts on J.Crew's entrance to the Hong Kong market? Do you think Lane Crawford is a good match for the retailer?

Meet The Mastermind Behind J.Crew

"Thanks!" to Ruth of CNBC who shared with us a sneak peek of the CNBC story about Mickey Drexler. Refer to yesterday's "CNBC Story about Mickey Drexler {coming soon!}" post for more info.

Can I just say how much I love looking at the mannequins of their upcoming collections with Mickey!?! I also found his lines of "hello?" and "...can we change the name of sweatshirts and sweatpants?" pretty funny. Bottom line: this story on J.Crew looks awesome.

Will you be checking out Mickey Drexler's story on CNBC? Are you excited to see the inner-workings of J.Crew? Will you be recording the show, like I will?

J.Crew Video: Jenna + J.Crew + Fall 2012

"Thanks!" to J.Crew Guy In Canada who shared a great video over at Television Fashion that features J.Crew's Jenna Lyons. To watch it, click HERE.

There are some nice shots of the models wearing the Fall 2012 collection. Mickey Drexler makes a quick appearance too!

Although, the part I was really interested in they barely feature: when she was in the textile section and chit-chatting with Frank Muytjens. All that behind-the-scenes stuff looked fascinating- I want to sit in! ;)

What are your thoughts on the video? Do you like the outfits Jenna was wearing in the video? Do you agree with the comments she made?

New Men's Store Opening

Thanks!" to JCrew Guy In Canada, who shared the following GQ article (click here to read in its entirety) with us:

Store Spotlight: J.Crew Opens Inaugural Ludlow Shop
By Matthew Sebra
March 1, 2012

J.Crew's quest to dress men everywhere, and for every occasion, continues with the opening the their new Ludlow Shop. Nestled on a catalog-shoot worthy street in Tribeca, just south of the brand's wildly successful Liquor Store location, this new outpost is dedicated to showing off their best-selling Ludlow suit in every form imaginable. Nineteen versions of the tailored two-piece are available for purchase, from the original notch lapel model to a double-breasted option and even an evening tux if your datebook calls for such sartorial goods. And while the store's name may indicate its singular focus, the stock is anything but one-dimensional. Joining the Ludlow suits is an array of complimentary gear, from J.Crew's Thomas Mason shirting and Italian cashmere to shoes from Alden and Crockett & Jones that sit alongside the brand's made-in-NYC ties, Drake's pocket squares, and Corgi socks. Sharp style extends beyond the clothes and after you've had a look at some lapels you'll find the space stocked with midcentury modern furniture and antiques, including a vintage desk covered in archival Alden shoe catalogs and ledgers (more on that later).

We spoke with the man behind the beloved suit style, J.Crew's head of menswear design Frank Muytjens, about why now is the right time for the tailoring-targeted store.

GQ Eye: Why did you want to dedicate a whole store to the Ludlow suit and why do it now in Tribeca?
Frank Muytjens: We launched the Ludlow suit when we opened the Liquor Store in 2008 and the response has been incredible! Guys come in to all of our shops and ask for it by name. And since the launch, the Ludlow has outgrown the Liquor Store so we decided to relocate that shop down the street to showcase the Ludlow in a bigger way. We are also super excited to offer monogramming, complimentary courier service, and on-site suit specialists.

GQ Eye: What type of customer do you envision shopping at the Ludlow store?
Frank Muytjens: To us it's always about being modern, but not too trendy. He's a guy who loves quality and is interested in being more understated than overstated. He invests in classic pieces he knows and will have forever and always can go back to.

So many Menswear store openings- exciting news indeed! Also, who knew that the demand for the Ludlow suit would bring on its very own dedicated store in NYC?!?

What are your thoughts on this latest store concept from J.Crew? Do you think the location is a good fit with J.Crew? Will you be stopping by?

J.Crew Men's Empire Expands

The following article is from the Wall Street Journal (click here to read in its entirety):

J.'s Crew: As its men's empire expands, the co-branding pioneer rolls with a growing gang of specialty outfitters
November 26, 2011

"Men's fashion has moved more quickly in the last 10 years than it has over the last 40," said Millard "Mickey" Drexler, J. Crew's dynamic CEO.

One of the key moments in that acceleration may have been the company's 2008 opening of the Liquor Store, its first men's-only shop built in an old spirits seller in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood. It introduced a formula that has served as a clever template for the six J. Crew men's shops that followed (including a newly opened space in Manhattan's Columbus Circle) and planned outposts in Los Angeles, Toronto and London.

Feeling more like individual boutiques than J. Crew's integrated stores, the spaces are stylized, site-specific environments. They are filled with not only the brand's merchandise but antique furniture, inspiration books plucked from the designer's offices and exclusive collaborations with little-known labels.

"We collaborate with people that are doing what we can't do," said Mr. Drexler, who, with the help of president and creative director Jenna Lyons and head of men's design Frank Muytjens, has brokered more than 100 partnerships with brands such as Timex, Thomas Mason and Red Wing. "Now we're sharing customers with every high-end designer in the world. We want to offer something a little more scarce, a little more hard to find," he added.

The result: Obscure Japanese labels and so-traditional-no-one's-bought-it-for-decades brands become famous in a season. Here, Mr. Muytjens tells us about a few of those brands you probably haven't heard of...yet.

J.Crew Men's Shop colloborates with several designers:

• Gloverall | This brand has been producing the duffle coat since 1954 in Northampton, England. It's slim and short and the quality is beautiful.
• Drakes London | Such a great English brand. They've been around a long time, so the scarves have a very traditional look. I love the snowflake pattern.
• Ricker Handmade | This is an exclusive bag design we have from Ricker. It's made out of old postal bags with patches of vintage Japanese indigo sewn over it. No two bags are the same.
• Scott-Nichol | We love the chunky knit and the tweed yarn—they're the iconic English Hunting Sock. The Fair Isle print is my favorite.
• Fratelli Rossetti | We're always looking for the ultimate loafer. Fratelli Rossetti's are pretty amazing. The toe is not too round nor too square.
• Kato | We discovered Kato, this obscure Japanese brand, during a trip to Tokyo. It's a fresh perspective on a work shirt. We're the only ones outside of Asia to carry it.
• Mougin & Piquard | This was a defunct French watch brand that Tourneau relaunched with us. We went back into their archives and designed the Grande Seconde. We're the only ones to carry the brand in the world.
• Wallace & Barnes | These jeans in our salt fade wash are from our new vintage-inspired capsule collection, which you can only get at our men's stores. They're made in the USA from beautiful Japanese denim, and the fit is not too slim and not too straight. I've been wearing them for a month!

First, I had no idea that J.Crew had so many partnerships. They have been involved in more collaborations during the past few years, just didn't realize how many!

Second, I think their store concept for Men is great. Although I am curious if they plan to expand that across the country (not just in major cities).

What are your thoughts on the article? Any part you found particularly interesting? If so, please share! :)

J.Crew Fall/ Holiday 2011 Fashion Event in NYC

It is that time of year again... the Crew's Holiday Party Time! {Although in my head, I am singing it to the tune of "Peanut Butter Jelly Time".}

"Thanks!" to Dara (in this & this post) who let us know the following:

On a semi-related topic, just received my invitation to the NYC holiday party. First off, it's at the Fifth Avenue store this year instead of Madison Avenue Collection, presumably because the Fifth Avenue store was just renovated. Excited about this since the Fifth Avenue store is much closer to where I live and a bigger store means way more merchandise to choose from. Second, it seems Jenna won't be in attendance this year which I find strange (and frustrating because I left just before she arrived the last 3 years in a row!) Tom Mora and Frank Muytjens are hosting.

This event will take place this evening (although I am not sure what time it starts).

For those who attend, please share the details of this event with us! Who was there, who wore what, and all the other good stuff! :)

J. Crew Fall Fashion Video

View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.

The following is a video from NBC New York (click here for original link) on J.Crew's Fall Fashion.

It starts with some behind-the-scene-looks at their Fall Presentation, with Frank Muytjens and Jenna Lyons. It ends with a more recent look at J.Crew stores, with some fashion advice on how to wear those Fall pieces.

What are your thoughts on the video? Did you like the tips they shared for Fall?

Where J.Crew Shops for Ideas {oh my!}

"Thanks!" to Julia who shared the following article from Business Week (click here to read in its entirety):

Where J.Crew Shops for Ideas
American men no longer dress like slobs. Thanks, J.Crew. But don’t your stylists have a few people to thank as well?
By Roger Bennett
October 13, 2011

In the dead time between lunch and dinner, the second floor of Freemans Restaurant, downtown Manhattan’s culinary shrine to neo-Americana, is deserted. ...

The heavy, tome-loaded bookshelf is a secret door swinging open to reveal two cavernous rooms that contain a bespoke tailoring production line. There is a shabbily stylish fitting area furnished with a well-worn Afghan carpet and a large mirror, providing ample space for the four elaborate fittings necessary to hand-cut a superlative suit (starting price of $3,950). In an adjacent open workshop, merengue crackles out of a clock radio as four focused craftsmen operate under the supervision of a Dominican-born master tailor.

The shop is the latest extension to the Freemans fashion mini-empire, which offers American heritage style with a twist. Even if you are not among its dapper, in-the-know clientele, which includes such style icons as David Beckham, you may have a good sense of what it’s like to shop there—if you’ve ever been to J.Crew (JCG). Indeed, unmistakable elements of Freemans’s aesthetic, as well as that of other boutique brands, have cropped up in J.Crew outlets across the country—nowhere more prominently than at the menswear giant’s New York concept space, Liquor Store. According to Taavo Somer, Freemans’s intense, thickly maned founder, this is no accident.

... Every product is artfully presented, laid out on vintage worktables or nestled between scattered tchotchkes reminiscent of a lost, rustic masculinity: steamer trunks, antique binoculars, and shaving potions.

Somer not only designed the clothes but also painstakingly constructed the fixtures by hand, even custom-mixing an original gray paint shade to ensure the walls reflected the particular 1930s vibe he had in mind. His meticulous care paid immediate dividends. The clothing came to influence—perhaps even spawn—several hipster subspecies: the barman-hunter, the barista-trapper, the line cook–lumberjack. The brand soon added two stores, including one in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Popularity presented new challenges. “When we started, there were not many people doing what we do,” says Kent Kilroe, the store’s co-owner. “Soon everyone was offering clothes like ours and presenting them in the same way.” The ultimate example was the 2008 opening of J.Crew’s Liquor Store. Stylistically, the men’s specialty shop looked almost as if the 450 square feet of Freemans Sporting Club had been reconstructed in Tribeca, brick by brick.

Freemans displayed their product on work-tables and antique cases surrounded by stuffed pheasants, vintage bicycle seats, and classic novels by Saul Bellow and Raymond Carver, among other manly volumes. Liquor Store, meanwhile, piled shirts on banquet tables surrounded by similarly idiosyncratic ephemera: old-time bowling balls, oil paintings of toy dogs, and a complete set of Harvard Classics by P.F. Collier & Son. “They copied us down to the shade of the paint colors,” remembers Freemans’s director of sales, Alex Young. “Every exhibition case was lined with the exact custom-gray shade Taavo had created by hand.”

J.Crew’s head menswear designer, Frank Muytjens, dismisses such similarities as coincidence. “You have to look deeper,” he explains. “We are surrounding ourselves with classic brands—presenting our brand in an interesting way we could not otherwise do.” The Liquor Store opening was nevertheless a lesson for the Freemans team. In the cutthroat growth area of menswear, a $50 billion market in 2010, originality cannot be protected. Mass retailers are able to replicate successful strategies ...

Steven Alan, a Tribeca-based outfitter whose charmingly boyish boutiques could each pass for Wes Anderson’s bedroom, is another merchant who has learned this lesson firsthand. ...

Alan experimented with cuts, fabrics, and weathering to satisfy his vision of “an understated logo-less look with a classic American sensibility.” On top of perfecting his line, he set about identifying classic brands: jackets from Barbour, handmade shoes by Alden, Levi’s denim, Russell Moccasins, vintage Rolex watches, and Filson bags. The upshot? A singular, multibrand men’s boutique anchored by veteran rugged brands. The effect, when Alan opened in 1999, was groundbreaking. In the words of menswear consultant and stylist Michael Macko, “Beau Brummel took us out of smock coats and put us into suits. Steven Alan gave us permission to be rumpled.”

That permission, it seems, extended to J.Crew. When legendary mass merchandiser Mickey Drexler took over the national purveyor of classic preppy style in 2003, he redirected the brand toward an aspirationally stylish yet affordable modern male wardrobe. The washed-out shirt quickly became J.Crew’s basic staple. Alan recalls the time when rival stylists—not necessarily from J.Crew—began to come in his store and snap up his inventory with corporate cards. “It really bothered me at the outset,” he admitted, “but it’s impossible to police.”

J.Crew’s subsequent expansion to more than 300 stores has been explosive. Among the core strategies propelling this success was the decision to make J.Crew a logoless label and the incorporation of classic American “cult brands,” in Drexler’s words, including … Russell Moccasins, Filson bags, Alden brogues, and even vintage Rolexes.

Alan is reluctant to discuss the overlap between the companies, but admits that “buying samples from other stores is standard operating behavior. You expect competitors to take details, but not to replicate a style in its entirety.” Muytjens acknowledges the existence of influential independent retailers in the men’s space but credits his design team with the identification of the particular brands his store distributes or collaborates with. “We are naturally attracted to brands with a heritage that tell a story,” he explains. “They are brands we grew up with. Our fathers and grandfathers wore them.”

Either way, tastemaking independent concerns such as Freemans and Steven Alan are caught in a quandary. Do the creative risks they take further their own brands or merely act as research and development for mass-market chains? Their predicament receives little sympathy from within the fashion world. “We don’t get challenged by knocking off anymore,” explains fashion brand analyst Tom Julian. “Ten years ago we would get offended, but now, when Missoni have a line at Target (TGT), blatant knockoffs are considered to be homages, or products that are ‘inspired by’ another designer.” ...

What makes this article particularly interesting is that it not only takes into account the replication of certain fashion styles, but the display as well.

In all fairness, when it comes to fashion, there is always an influence of some kind on the collections. It's a given. (Remember that amazing scene in the Devil's Wear Prada, where Miranda Priestly takes Andy to class over a belt. No? Then check it out here.)

Now here is the point that kind of irks me... Mickey Drexler gets really upset when other mass retailers "copy" J.Crew's style. (In this post, it talks about J.Crew knock offs and Mickey's reaction: "Earlier this year, he said, he called the heads of three competitors selling similar products and suggested they cut the salaries of their creative staffs.") Yet, here is a case where it seems like they are copying someone else. It makes me wonder how Mickey feels about this? ;)

What are your thoughts on this article? Are there any points that you found compelling or interesting?

J. Crew Men + Wallace & Barnes

A big "thanks!" to Jessica who kindly shared the following article from WWD with us (click here to read in its entirety) that gives us a more in-depth explanation:

J. Crew Unveils Wallace & Barnes
WWD Issue 09/14/2011
September 14, 2011

UNVEILING: J. Crew, in its first men’s wear presentation at Lincoln Center, took the high-profile opportunity to provide a preview of its new, upper-end Wallace & Barnes offering. The tight collection of limited edition iconic utility jackets, denim jeans and jackets, as well as accessories, are all vintage inspired.

“We’re always hunting for beautiful vintage pieces,” saidFrank Muytjens, men’s design director. “Then we replicated them using the best materials and details. It’s the highest level we’ve done.” Muytjens said the new line will be sold in the company’s men’s stores and online. In the stores, the collection will be housed separately with its own distinct signage. A spokesman said prices vary depending upon the piece.

It is intriguing that J.Crew is branching out with a sub-division of menswear. To purchase the Wallace & Barnes collection from J.Crew (or to just check them out), click here. J.Crew describes it as: "A new collection of old favorites, built using the foundations of traditional workwear, vintage military uniforms and classic outdoor gear as our guide. We've taken the pieces we love, from the obscure to the truly iconic, and evolved them into a limited-edition range of essentials we feel no guy should go without. "

Have you checked out the Wallace & Barnes collection? If so, please share your thoughts on it!

The Looks from J.Crew {Spring 2012}

A big "thanks!" to Lauren who shared her article over at Lucky (click here to read in its entirety) with us:

NYFW Spring 2012: J.Crew's Stunning Lincoln Center Debut
By Lauren Sherman
September 15 2011

The Venue: The Studio at Lincoln Center ...the catwalk was transformed into a presentation stage for onlookers to view J.Crew's men's and women's collections.

The Scene: Lots of important stylists (Susan Joy), bloggers (Susie Bubble) and pretty much every editor in existence came out to support Jenna Lyons and her designers, Marissa Webb and Frank Mujtens. Oh, and Beyonce and Solange Knowles, too! Beyonce arrived at the morning presentation in a dress covered in gold sequins.

The Look: The J.Crew girl goes to Europe for spring. She's wearing her favorite preppy basics like colorful slacks and stripey tops, but she's mixing them in with silk pajama blouses, mint green leather bags and 1950s-style day dresses.

What We Want to Buy: I will undoubtedly be purchasing the matchy-matchy blue floral peplum top and trousers. And maybe the navy and red striped house coat. But who am I kidding? I want everything!

I love that image of the "J.Crew girl goes to Europe for Spring". Ooh la la! And now for the best part... the photos! Just click on any of the images for a larger view.








What is your favorite look from the photos? Any pieces you found interesting? Are you excited about J.Crew's upcoming collection?