J.Crew | Blog

we sent photographers Garance Doré and Scott Schuman on an
eight-city tour around the world to document how five tastemakers
are wearing J.Crew their own way. Next up: founder of
online interview magazine The Talks and vintage denim
diehard, Sven Schumann, in our Italian cashmere.

If my city had a soundtrack, the first song would be:
“Sympathy for the Devil”.

J.Crew is my go-to for:
Basics.

My idea of the perfect finishing touch is:
Cashmere.

If I could wear only one color, it would be:
Dark blue.

My style icon is:
Jarvis Cocker.

My favorite articles of clothing are:
Old jeans.

If I could live in any decade, it would be:
Right now.

My city has the best:
Quality of life.

to create the props for the crewcuts pages of our July Style Guide, our set
designers turned to their inspiration library—and came across a book of
drawings from Swedish artist Olle Eksell. the finished product? a
larger-than-life cityscape that’s the perfect backdrop for our colorful collection.

visit crewcutkids.com to check out the rest of the shoot >

whether you opt for an itsy-bitsy (teeny-weeny polka-dot) bikini or a
high-waisted retro number with screen siren appeal, this summer’s
swim styles were designed to make a splash

FIND WHAT SUITS YOU >

the café capri in kaleidoscope dot

“No one cares about prints and colors quite like the Italians do,” says Creative Director Jenna Lyons. On a trip last year to Ratti, the nearly 70-year-old print house in Lake Como, Italy, she discovered this artful polka-dot print inside the Ratti collection books. The story behind what caught her eye? This geometric motif was hand painted by Ratti’s skilled in-house artisans, who were inspired by a mix of mosaic tiles and ’60s Pop Art. And it rounds out our summer wardrobe with a punch.

Some photos from our design team’s visit to Ratti last year.

SHOP ALL WOMEN’S PANTS >

the 484 jean

What do the men who built the Transcontinental Railroad, the Empire State Building and Fenway Park have in common? They all wore selvedge denim workwear on the job. With a nod to the past, we used 100-year-old shuttle looms to create our own small-batch, durable selvedge denim, dyed in a deep indigo that breaks in and fades differently for each person. The 484 jean was named after our first-ever men’s store in downtown NYC, marking the beginning of a new standard in denim—our slimmest fit that’s narrow through the hip, thigh and leg. According to our designers, it’s the best jean in the world to roll up and it’s tough as nails, to boot. Proving that style and substance matter, whether it’s building a country…or a wardrobe.

Broadway, New York, 1894; photographer Charles Clyde Ebbetts documenting
the workers who helped create Rockefeller Center and various skyscrapers in 1932.

SHOP OUR DENIM COLLECTION >

(photo credits: top, bottom)

we sent photographers Garance Doré and Scott Schuman on an
eight-city tour around the world to document how five tastemakers are
wearing J.Crew their own way. first up: a muy stylish Spanish blogger,
Berta Bernad, with a love of our famously comfortable ballets.

If my city had a soundtrack, the first song would be:
From the movie Amélie

J.Crew is my go-to for:
Ballet flats and cashmere sweaters

My idea of the perfect finishing touch is:
A nice hat

If I could wear only one color, it would be:
White

My style icon is:
Erin Wasson

My favorite articles of clothing are:
My coats

If I could live in any decade, it would be:
London in the ’60s

My city has the best:
Mood

we dug through our archives to bring you some
of our favorite photos from over the years
(feel free to be inspired, humored or a little bit of both…)

the Wallace & Barnes fishtail short

New from our line of limited-edition workwear-inspired pieces: the Wallace & Barnes fishtail short. On a visit to a turn-of-the-century sawmill museum in New Hampshire, one of our men’s designers was struck by how well a 120-year-old pair of work pants on display had held up. Though battered and caked in wood dust, the workwear detailing remained intact. Even more impressive, he noted, was the ingenious fishtail constructed at the back of the waistband for comfort when wearing suspenders. Inspired, we constructed our own version in a heavy cotton-linen blend using this unique design element and giving it interior suspender buttons (hidden, in case you want to wear a belt instead) and drop-face reinforcing at the front and back. And to those who dare to rock the shorts and suspenders look, we salute you.

SHOP THE ENTIRE WALLACE & BARNES COLLECTION >

our fashion director and superstylist, Gayle, loves spending
her summer weekends on the beach. here are the four easy-breezy
products that top her beauty regimen by the sea.

1. Kiehl’s tinted lip balm
“This balm leaves the slightest hint of a crushed berry color on my lips, so it feels
natural enough to wear to the beach. Plus, it has SPF, so it protects them too.”

2. Mustela sunscreen
“It’s the best sunscreen…The brand started in France, but now you can find it
at almost any American drugstore. All of Mustela’s products are actually
made for babies, so they’re really light and fragrance free.”

3. Rodin by Recine hair oil
“The models I work with tipped me off to this—it’s a blend of essential oils that
restores moisture to hair. I apply it at the beginning and end of every summer.”

4. An eyelash curler
“I love getting my lashes tinted during the summer so I don’t have to wear
mascara when I’m at the ocean. I just give them a quick curl instead.”

Illustrations by Catherine Orchard

the newest, most special jewelry designs to hit our site
(for the magpie in you…)

VISIT THE JEWELRY SHOP >

the Edie wallet

Metro cards. Your gym pass. A stash of stamps. Starbucks gold card. How ever to organize it
all—and in style, no less? Meet the most recent—and most adorable—addition to our ladylike
Edie handbag collection. A polished rectangular shape in sleek leather or calf hair, plus a slew
of interior pockets, a zipper for coins (foreign or domestic) and our signature turnlock. Exceptionally functional and exceptionally good-looking—we’ll take it.

visit the handbag shop >

the Indigo Polo

A little style yarn to help pass the time between the French Open and Wimbledon. Meet Argentinean tennis pro Guellermo Vilas, famous in the ’70s for his left-handed topspin and signature style, comprised mostly of old-school polos. Inspired by the star, our men’s designer, Eric decided to borrow from his on-court look for our men’s collection. He started with the silhouette of our classic cotton polo, then added an extra-long placket and tennis tail hem
(meaning it’s slightly longer in the back). To finish it off, he gave the design a modern touch—razor-sharp stripes that were achieved using authentic indigo dye. Historically, the real stuff
comes from the Indigofera tinctoria, or “true indigo,” plant native to India—and is rarely used
in today’s garments. Game on.

Vilas at the U.S. Open, 1982

SHOP OUR MEN’S TEES, POLOS & FLEECES >

(image credit)

inspired by the classic colors and Americana undertones
in Pamela Love’s J.Crew capsule collection, we created
a mood board full of images that remind us of home

take it from Gayle—denim never goes out of style.
here, she gives some fresh ideas for how to wear the closet staple.

SHOP OUR SUMMER DENIM COLLECTION >

inspired by the work of artist Fred Sandback, our set-design team created
sensational string sculptures for the crewcuts pages of our June Style Guide.
we went behind the scenes with Brian and Ashley, our star stylists, to learn more.

A minimalist sculptor, artist and printmaker, Fred Sandback is best known for his work with acrylic yarn, which he stretched between walls, ceilings and floors to create abstract forms. “He was able to break up space in a really cool way,” says Ashley.

“Sandback’s affinity for bright colors is so appropriate for crewcuts,” says Brian. “I love how the blue, green and yellow yarns look with our bright, summery pieces. It’s so vibrant and playful!”

“We started by sketching a bunch of different shapes,” the design duo explains. “We wanted to keep everything really simple while giving the kids something to interact with. We love to think of the kids as the people who create our sets.”

Visit crewcutkids.com to check out the rest of the shoot >

the Panama hat

We’re bringing a little south-of-the-equator style to our summer wardrobe, all in the name of showing support for fair-trade fashion. First made famous by Teddy Roosevelt on a visit to the Panama Canal in 1906, the black-banded classic has since become the go-to topper for stylish personalities from Lauren Hutton to Kate Moss. Woven entirely by hand in Ecuador from toquilla palm fronds (so no two are ever exactly alike), it’s a surprisingly sexy borrowed-from-the-boys extra that’s the perfect add-on for sultry summer nights. Not to mention, your dermatologist will
be thrilled by its sun-shielding capabilities.

SHOP OUR ENTIRE ACCESSORIES COLLECTION >

Ebbets Field Flannels® ball cap

Seven years ago, our in-house brand expert, Jamie, was looking to replace his vintage 1950s
ball cap. After months of digging in obscure shops (and searching every corner of the Internet)
and not finding anything that lived up to his standards of authenticity, he finally stumbled on the perfect replica. Since 1987, Ebbets Field Flannels, named for the old Brooklyn Dodgers’ stadium in Flatbush, has been creating American-made caps inspired by the non–major league teams of
the 1900s to the 1950s. We’ve teamed up with them to bring you these exclusive styles in soft brushed twill and custom colors, featuring the legendary logos of the Homestead Grays, the Brooklyn Bushwicks and the Chicago American Giants. The really good news? Jamie’s hat is
still holding up nicely.

Brooklyn Dodgers players pose on opening day, April 1947.

A sketch of Ebbets Field, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ stadium that was once located in Flatbush.

SHOP OUR ENTIRE MEN’S ACCESSORIES COLLECTION >

(image credits: top, bottom)

we dug through our archives to bring you
some of our favorite photos from over the years
(feel free to be inspired, humored or a little bit of both…)

we partnered with the New York–based brand famous for its luxury eyewear
to create a line of seriously swoon-worthy specs. opt for the French-girl cat eye—
or channel your inner ’60s sweetheart with a pair of retro rounds—and turn
heads from the beach to the city streets.

Shop our entire Selima collection for women, boys & girls >