J.Crew | Blog

Monica, our superstar wordsmith, got to spend time with
the real stars this weekend at the Academy Awards.
read about her Oscars adventures below—including a very
avatar-esque dessert experience.

How did you score a ticket to the Oscars?
My husband, Dave Jesteadt, is the distributor of two of the best animated feature nominees, A Cat in Paris and Chico & Rita. Because it was the first time an independent distributor had two nominees in the category, he and his partner, Eric Beckman, were able to get tickets for us.

Best moment?
Learning that we were able to go to the Governors Ball after the awards ceremony. We weren’t expecting to get tickets, and it was an incredible treat. Wolfgang Puck really outdid himself with some amazing food—one of the desserts even required 3-D glasses!

Most exciting celeb sighting?
Bret McKenzie and Rooney Mara—they are both so talented and gorgeous!

Tell us about your red carpet look.
I wore the beautiful Faye gown from the J.Crew weddings & parties collection. I love the stripes and how they’re in alternating fabrics. My necklace is by GS Lillian, and the makeup is MAC, including their lipstick in Russian Red. I give myself a big pat on the back for doing my own makeup—liquid liner isn’t so easy to apply when you have pre-Oscars jitters!

Lee for J.Crew

Denim diehards, this one’s for you. The Lee 101—first created in the 1920s as a cowboy jean when Lee was a work-wear manufacturer— deserves place in the jean hall of fame. Ours comes from the Lee archives. And is crafted from Japanese selvedge denim (side note: Selvedge is special because it’s woven the way fabric used to be, in smaller batches and on hand-operated single looms that create a one-of-a-kind fabric with a grainy surface). The authentic details include thread X bar-tacks at the pockets and the laurel leaf motif first used by Lee at its founding in 1889 as a dry-goods brand. As Frank, our head of men’s design, succinctly puts it, “it’s like wearing a piece of American culture.”

We plucked A Visual History of Jeanswear off the bookshelf of our men’s head designer, Frank, to get the inspiration behind the collaboration.

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(image credit: Cult: A Visual History of Jeanswear by William Gilchrist; Roberto Manzotti)

the Malta sandal

After a south-of-the-border sojourn for some style inspiration (what happens in Tulum, stays in Tulum) our accessories design team couldn’t resist imagining their own handwoven leather huarache. The traditional Mexican sandal made its way stateside in the ’60s as a boho-cool summertime staple (we’re conjuring up visions of Ali MacGraw rocking a pair with a suntan). Our designer’s take: “They’ve got that undeniable picked-up-at-some-far-flung-marketplace vibe.” Ours were handwoven in Italy in three earthy and very rich leathers, “so they get softer with each and every wear.” The only question remains—which nail polish color?

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(image credit: Ali MacGraw, top right, lower right)

we talked to our in-house color connoisseur, Cherie,
about the covetable hues behind our new fall collection.
below is just a small smattering of some of the
eye-popping shades they used (sunglasses optional).

“This year, we stayed within a theme of warm autumnal colors. After looking through hundreds of swatches, spools and yarns, our head designer, Tom, narrows down his top picks—around 95 total from a library of over 2,000—for the entire collection.”

our fall 2012 collection sound track

We just got our hands on the playlist that our men’s stylist, Jack, and our resident music buff, Nichole, assembled to set the tone for our fall presentation. (These cool collaborators also happen to select the tunes you find yourself humming along to in all our retail stores.) From artists like Carla Bruni to bands like Vacationer, there’s a toe-tapping ditty in the below compilation for everyone. Enjoy the beat…

1. Aphex Twin, “Avril 14th”
2. Chilly Gonzales, “Dot”
3. Carla Bruni, “Those Little Things (Ces Petits Riens)”
4. Gotye feat. Kimbra, “Somebody that I Used to Know”
5. M83, “Midnight City”
6. Chad Valley, “Fast Challenges”
7. The Antlers, “French Exit” (studio version)
8. Atlas Sound, “Mona Lisa”
9. Chilly Gonzales, “Knight Moves”
10. The 2 Bears, “The Birds & the Bees”
11. Vacationer, “Gone”

the Abingdon duffle

Ah, the thrill of the hunt. Our men’s accessories designer, Addi, searched for years to find the perfect travel duffle for weekend trips until finally doing what any industrious designer would do: He created it himself. Inspired by vintage safari gear—we like to conjure up images of Hemingway in Green Hills of Africa or Peter Beard in an open-top Land Rover—our Abingdon collection uses timeless materials like durable waxed cotton canvas, burnished South American leather and Old English brass-finish hardware. In other words, they’re built to withstand baggage claims, beer spills and bumpy road trips (not to mention the occasional rhino run-in).

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(image credit: peter beard, 2, book)

the Nili Lotan stripe sweater

“I grew up in Israel in the ’70s reading French Elle, worshiping YSL but also being a bit of a tomboy,” says NYC-based designer Nili Lotan. She brings her global point of view (including time spent in the Israeli Air Force) to her line of sophisticated, utility-chic creations, all made in her atelier in Tribeca. Not surprisingly, the inspiration for this striped sweater was influenced by Parisian street style: “The marinière, as it’s called, has always been a signature in my collections.” A French favorite from a woman who can fly a fighter plane? Yes, please.

Inspiration from Nili Lotan’s Tribeca studio.

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with a 5:30am call time, our models had plenty of
downtime to amuse themselves backstage at our
presentation. here’s what they got up to…

(clockwise from top left)

Strike a pose: Even off duty, our models know how to give good face.

Coral cuties: The girls pass the time chatting (in Russian!) and tweeting their friends.

Music man: This dapper Danish model chilled out to the Drive soundtrack. (We’re definitely getting a Ryan Gosling vibe…)

Book smarts: A male model gets existential while reading Albert Camus’s The Fall (we also spotted an Audrey Hepburn biography and The Food Revolution by John Robbins).

behind-the-scenes pics taken moments before
presenting our women’s fall collection

(photo credit: left image in fifth row, KSW)

behind-the-scenes pics taken moments before
presenting our men’s fall collection

(photo credit: top right & fourth row, KSW)

our behind-the-scenes coverage is just getting started.
in the meantime, check out what our friends over at
Style.com and T Magazine have to say…

(photo credit: KSW)

we spoke to our superstylist, Gayle
(who got up at 3am to prep for the show!), about her
beautiful beauty inspiration for fall 2012…

“This season we wanted to let the models be the canvas for our colorful fall collection, so we kept their faces clean and polished. We started with dewy skin and bare eyes and finished with a lip color by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics that’s almost like berries on steroids—an ever-so-slight dab gives off a wonderfully intense pigment.”

A few tools of the trade:
–Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Queen
–NARS Shadow Pencils in Goddess and Skorpios
–RMS Beauty Living Luminizer

“Hair was kept sleek and smooth, with a deep side part and a low ponytail. It’s something that anyone can pull off and do themselves.”

“The bottom line? Don’t overthink it this season—or better yet, don’t let them think you did.”

in honor of Valentine’s Day, we asked some familiar
faces at our presentation to tell us what they’re
crushing on this week. check out their adorable answers
(and the old-school Polaroids we snapped of them) below…

Glenda Bailey, Editor in Chief, Harper’s Bazaar:
“William Boyd’s latest novel, Waiting for Sunrise, pinstripes and oversize clutches, as they always make you look like you mean business.”

Pamela Love, Jewelry Designer:
“My fiancé.”

Anna Dello Russo, Editor in Chief, Vogue Japan:
“Lana Del Rey—I just met her and she’s so beautiful. She reminds me of Brigitte Bardot.”

Kate Davidson Hudson, Accessories Director, Elle:
“This collection!”

Phillip Bloch, Stylist:
“Whitney Houston. Especially the fact that she’s in the upcoming movie Sparkle, and everyone knows I love some sparkle.”

Lisa Salzer, Accessories Designer, Lulu Frost:
“My leopard print Madewell pumps!”

David Thielebeule, Accessories Director, Allure:
“Azealia Banks.”

Coco Rocha, Model:
“How relaxed and happy the models seem.”

Joanna Coles, Editor in Chief, Marie Claire:
“I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I have a serious crush on Ryan Gosling.”

Matthew Schneier, News Editor, Style.com:
“Berocca—it’s the European version of Emergen-C, and I’m completely addicted.”

Garance Doré, Fashion Illustrator/Blogger:
“Pink lip gloss!”

Mr. Mickey, Paper Magazine:
“I’m crushing on teenagers and senior citizens. They’re the only people I can stand these days.”

Zanna Roberts Rassi, Fashion Editor, Marie Claire:
“Absolutely everything from this collection, especially the chunky pullovers.”

Nancy Gibson, Half of the design duo behind Edith A. Miller™:
“Romantic love. And, of course, I’m crushing on my heart clutch too.”

Kelly Bensimon, Model/Author/Editor:
“My green sequin J.Crew skirt. I was photographed by Bill Cunningham in it this morning.”

Richard Haines, Illustrator:
“My china markers for drawing. They’re really cheap and I love how you have to unravel them to sharpen them.”

Danielle Bufalini, Editor, Daily Candy:
“The movie Perfect Sense with Ewan McGregor and Eva Green.”

just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’re introducing you to
three very cool, very stylish members of our design team
and what they’ve been known to sport around the office
(and beyond). feel free to swoon…

Frank, head of men’s design:

I’m wearing…a real McCoy Western shirt, a Margiela sweater, the Ludlow sportcoat, J.Crew urban slim-fit pants, vintage Red Wing® boots and a Mougin & Piquard™ watch.

If I could wear this outfit anywhere, I would go…on safari in Africa.

You’ll always find me wearing…something navy.

The best part of getting dressed is…taking it all off in the evening.

Jordan, women’s design:

I’m wearing…a J.Crew washed shirt, Tim Hamilton jeans and SeaVees® sneakers. Also, a vintage chain necklace that I found at a flea market in Santa Barbara.

If I could define my outfit’s style in a name, I would call it…Cali classic.

You’ll always find me wearing…leather gladiator sandals. Even in the winter—I’ll change into them inside.

The best part of getting dressed is…deciding what color I want to wear.

Dan, men’s design:

I’m wearing…a Homespun Knitwear henley, a vintage Lee® chore coat, a Kapital scarf from Japan, RRL jeans and a pair of Vans®.

If I could define my outfit’s style in a name, I would call it…window cleaner chic.

The comfiest part of my outfit is…my broken-in Vans (the most uncomfortable is my slightly itchy sweater).

The best part of getting dressed is…tying my own shoelaces.

We’re currently backstage at Lincoln center for today’s fall 2012 presentation,
and we can’t wait for our to-die-for designs to take center stage—here’s
a sneak peek at all the excitement.

Alden® for J.Crew chukka boots

Our men’s shoe designer, Addi, spotted his first pair of Aldens years ago in the bustling streets of style mecca Tokyo and instantly recognized an American classic. He sought out their factory in Massachusetts, where these New England cobblers have been handcrafting leather footwear since 1884, and we’ve been collaborating with them ever since. Because of the high level of hands-on attention each pair calls for, there’s a limited number of these classic khaki chukkas (90 to be exact), and they’re certain to live up to the meaning of their Alden name—which in Old English means “old friend.” In fact, Addi loves the company and what it stands for so much, he named his first son Alden. (Now how’s that for brand loyalty?)

An excerpt from a vintage Alden catalog showcasing their design process.

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the jardin skirt in heart throb

Regardless of what the calendar says, we’re always in the mood for love. Cue the jardin skirt, featuring a unique interpretation of our favorite symbol, the heart, given such pop culture play over the years by NYC tourism campaigns, Keith Haring and chocolate-box-giving boyfriends. How was this print developed? Our designer was shopping the stalls at Les Puces de Saint-Ouen, the Paris flea market, and picked up a deck of unusual 19th-century playing cards. Back in the states, our in-house print illustrator used the Queen of Hearts as his muse and sketched out his own iterations—manipulating the scale to make sure they fit just right. This is one creation sure to win hearts.

Some more amorous inspiration…

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Images via: Top left, Keith Haring (lower left), Playing with Pictures (right).

a roundup of the swoon-worthy sightings that are
melting our hearts this week…

Virtual candy hearts:
“Download the free app or make them on your computer and start bombarding your friends with heartfelt messages.”
Inspiration found here and here.

Geronimo balloons:
“Strewn with ribbons, tinsel and paper cutouts, these oversize balloons are candy for the eyes. If you’re in L.A., we definitely recommend sending these to a loved one.”
Inspiration found here.

D.I.Y. heart elbow patch:
“The sweetest way to jazz up your J.Crew sweater that we’ve ever seen.”
Inspiration found here.

His & hers coffee wrappers:
“These free downloadable labels can be used to make any cup of coffee feel more special.”
Inspiration found here.

Valentine’s Day project:
“Marian Bantjes, a graphic designer, hand drew over 100 individual valentines—time to rethink those preboxed drugstore cards.”
Inspiration found here.

a firsthand look at how our beloved belts are made,
courtesy of our accessories guru, Liv

Buckle up: Circa is the name of the factory where most of our belts are made—it’s located in San Francisco and has been around since 1967. It operates like a family-owned business, and most of the workers have been there for years. They’re all very hands-on, which is quite lovely to see—I was lucky enough to go out there in September to witness all of the inner workings.

1. Whirl around: This is a tumbling drum, used to give the belts an aged or vintage look. Belts can go around and around on these machines for up to 120 minutes, depending on how worn we want them to appear. The drum pictured here is actually about 60 years old; Circa purchased it a decade or so ago at an auction in Italy.

2. To die for: The die shop is where all of the belt designs start to take shape—literally! “Die” refers to the metal stencil cutters, which are used to create the patterns and shapes for each of our belts (especially a perforated or cutout design), and every die that Circa uses is made out of recycled metals. The two guys in charge of this process at Circa, Porforio and Julien, have been at the factory for over a quarter of a century.

3. Leather library: This is just a small snapshot of some of the fun, bright leathers that I discovered while at Circa.

4. Sew perfect: Keow Tan has been sewing Circa’s samples by hand for over 35 years! Watching her work in person made me really appreciate the detail that goes into making one little belt.

Check out all of our belts at jcrew.com.

Selima Sun® for J.Crew sunglasses

What’s the next best thing to a vacation in the French Riviera? Our new spring collaboration with Selima Salaun, the French sunglasses designer-opticienne. We love her worldly sense of style—she was raised in Tunisia and honed her craft in Paris—and have been shopping the eclectic offerings at her local NYC Bond Street boutique for years. Our exclusive collection offers brightly hued showstoppers for the first time—like these cherry red ones—as well as classic neutrals. Selima’s take on these glam frames? “Wear them with Godard films and midcentury Côte d’Azur in mind.” Indeed.

Swatches from the J.Crew color library, used to create our custom Selima Sun® shades.

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(French Riviera image credit: Assouline and la baie de nice by Matisse)