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05/15
Nick Brown, the mastermind behind Soludos®, gives us a peek at some of
his design inspirations (we’re dreaming of colorful cars, warm-weather
destinations and Mediterranean markets)
“I love this picture of Copacabana Beach in the ’70s—few do summer better than the Cariocas (natives of Rio de Janeiro). The classic colors of the Volkswagen Bugs here really impacted my collection for J.Crew—I don’t think anyone should ever shy away from a pop of color in the summertime.”
“I took the above snap with a few friends in Montauk a couple of summers ago. It always takes me back to long, spontaneous beach weekends…There’s an understated but cool style to this place in particular.”
“Here are some old photos of espadrilles being made by artisans in Barcelona—these authentic styles are the ones that inspired me to start Soludos. We’ve updated them slightly by using more contemporary cuts and fabrics.” -
05/14
the Ludlow tuxedo
The great tuxedo wearers through the years: Cary Grant, James Bond, Jack Donaghy…One thing they have in common? They didn’t rent. Follow suit and finally bid farewell to the days of cheap tuxedo-rental shops stuffed with ill-fitting cuts and shiny-pattern cummerbunds. Instead, heed our stylist Jack’s advice: “Spend on a quality tux. Even if you only trot it out once a year, it’s the wisest wardrobe investment a man can make.” Our modern yet timeless Ludlow tuxedo fits the bill in fine Italian wool from Italy’s Lanificio di Tollegno mill with bespoke details (a satin stripe down the leg and pickstitching inside the jacket), all for under a cool grand. It’s your perfect excuse to make sure “black tie optional” is never an option.
Our tuxedo all-stars: Cary Grant in the 1946 movie Notorious; Roger Moore as James Bond;
Alec Baldwin as 30 Rock’s Jack Donaghy.
SHOP THE SUIT COLLECTION >
(image credits: top, right, bottom) -
05/14
the Madewell Storyteller Scarf
You might have heard how in love we are with Madewell here at J.Crew. Quick style backstory: Madewell started in 1937 as a denim brand, and now, besides being jeans makers, they’re our go-to for easy dresses, indigo tees and cool scarves. Here’s something new that’s making a cameo in our closets this summer. On a weekend trip to Los Angeles, Joyce, one of Madewell’s accessories designers, snapped an iPhone picture of a few palm trees against the azure California sky. She brought the image back to her fellow designer, Nichole, who hand collaged a turn-of-the-century map of LA over it. “We found this vintage atlas with all these amazing maps,” says Nichole. “The simple typography adds a nice graphic element over the vibrant blues of the snapshot.” The final product is a truly unique scarf worth building an entire outfit around.
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05/13
in honor of Mother’s Day, we took a closer look at Karen Altuzarra,
Joseph’s loving mom and the CEO of his company…
Joseph getting some motherly advice at his studio; Karen as a teenager reading Lolita.
LEARN MORE ABOUT JOSEPH ALTUZARRA -
05/11
in honor of Mother’s Day, we’re taking a look back at a few of
our own loving (and surprisingly stylish) mothers…
From the top:
“This picture of my parents was taken in Rumont, France, in 1977 when my mom was pregnant with my older sister (she always says that she never felt happier or more beautiful than when she was pregnant with me and my sister).” —Julie, web creative connoisseur
“This picture is from a vacation in Big Sur, California—I love it not only for the poncho but also because it’s a rare photo of my mom with curly hair.” —Catherine, web design darling
“My mum reading to me, my sister and our neighbor (all with our fingers stuck thoughtfully in our mouths, of course).” —Coco, copy maestro
“My mom on vacation at Round Hill in Jamaica, 1970-something. Love the bright headscarf.” —Halsey, writing wizard
“This photo was taken in 1979, about four years after my parents were married. My mom had just attended my dad’s graduation from Rutgers’ banking school, and they were catching a train into NYC to celebrate.” —Elinor, copy savant
“I’m around 1 in this photo; my mom told me that I’m digging into the frosting at my cousin’s birthday party because my grandmother wouldn’t let me have any frosting at my own birthday party that year!” —Matt, catalog connoisseur
“This was taken in Thailand when my mom and I were traveling around Asia. I like that we’re both wearing matching tourist tees and athletic socks—so ’90s!” —Jenny, web design whiz
“My mom in the sixth grade—I think she looks so cute, especially with the little bow and jumper she has on.” —Melissa, email organizer extraordinaire
“I’m pretty sure this was taken on my parents’ honeymoon—I love the idea of my mom putting on makeup for my dad! I only wish she had saved that dress.” —Alison, web design wonder -
05/10
our stores are filled with sparkling surprises—just ask our visual guru,
Glenn, who sources quartz crystals for the jewelry displays. we sat down with the
interiors expert to learn more about these gorgeous gems.
“Most of the quartz we use comes from Brazil—I think this part of the world produces the nicest specimens.* They form over thousands and thousands of years and come in a variety of colors like pink, purple and yellow. The color of the crystal depends on the environments to which it is exposed.”
*Hint: You can buy them at ABC Home!
“We wanted to use a mix of clear and smoky quartz for our jewelry cases. They provide a neutral background for our colorful pieces and allow us to really stage each item. Also, they’re totally beautiful!” -
05/09
spring is in the air, along with some seriously
feel-good tunes. here’s our roundup of the sunny-day
songs we just can’t get out of our heads…
Carrie, shoe expert: Snow Patrol, “Called Out in the Dark”
Jessica, top-notch techie: Florence and the Machine’s newish album, Ceremonials
Hanah, web whiz: Drake, “Over My Dead Body”
Joan, top-notch techie: Taylor Swift (ft. The Civil Wars), “Safe and Sound”
Dulci, catalog connoisseur: Little Dragon, “Ritual Union” and Adele’s 21
Kyle, HR honcho: Jose Gonzales’s Veneer
Christine, web whiz: Grimes, “Oblivion”
Frances, handbag virtuoso: Whitley, “More Than Life”
Jenny, web whiz: Mark Ronson & The Business Intl., “Bang Bang Bang”
John, store specialist: Santigold, “L.E.S. Artistes”
Addi, accessories authority: Jamie xx’s Essential Mix and Frankie Rose, “Interstellar”
Dana, brand creative connoisseur: Los Amigos Invisibles (Venezuelan disco funk) -
05/08
our May crewcuts catalog has finally hit mailboxes—and it’s
earning major props.* we sat down with our star set stylist, Tracy,
to talk blueprints, building blocks and the artist behind the design.
*yes, that pun was intended.
“Throughout his career, Italian artist Enzo Mari published these blueprints so that people could create their own pieces based on his framework. He suggested using two-by-two lumber because it’s really affordable and accessible.”
Getting started:
“Mari was all about rational design—he wasn’t interested in creating anything flashy or over-the-top. He was really intrigued by self-assembly and simple shapes. Nothing too fancy.”
The finished product:
“It was such a fun shoot! We followed his instructions while adding our own twists—I was inspired by the kind of furniture you’d find in a French primary school. The entire set was an homage to Mari: the walls, the floorboards and the chairs. I think we really let our imaginations guide us.”Visit crewcutkids.com to check out the rest of the shoot > -
05/07
the Billykirk® bag
Not all bags are created equal. Founded in 1999 by brothers Chris and Kirk Bray, each of Billykirk’s rugged, minimal pieces is constructed by hand in Pennsylvania—in the heart of Amish country—using master-craftsman techniques. As our men’s accessories designer Addi puts it: “The integrity and artistry is incredible—a throwback to the days when things were made with so much care and attention.” Crafted in vegetable-tanned leather from one of America’s oldest and most renowned tanneries, this satchel’s a choice work bag—large enough to hold a 15” computer and tough enough to withstand coffee spills and subway doors. In with the old, we say…
Chris and Kirk (aka the Brothers Bray) show their wares.
(image credit)
Shop this week’s discovery > -
05/07
the tuxedo shirt in Thomas Mason® fabric
Forget “borrowed from the boys.” This is one style we’re never giving back. The third piece from the gentleman’s trifecta of black-tie dressing—the tuxedo shirt—is arguably the sexiest thing in a woman’s wardrobe. Immaculately tailored in pure Italian cotton from Thomas Mason, the English mill that’s been outfitting gentlemen since 1796, it strikes just the right balance of timeless elegance and come-hither allure. But we can’t take all the credit—we took a cue from tuxedo-donning ladies throughout the ages, from 1930s silver-screen icon Marlene Dietrich to Helmut Newton’s sleekly suited models of the 1970s. Our stylist, Gayle, tells us how to give it an of-the-moment spin: “Pair it with skinny white pants and our citrus-hued Viv flats—and push up the sleeves for a sultry, rumpled summer look.” Like we said, we’re never giving it back.
Shop this week’s discovery >
- Madewell
- Garance Dore
- The Sartorialist
- Prabal Gurung
- Comme des Garcons
- Refinery29
- The Cut
- A Continuous Lean
- WhoWhatWear Daily
- The Selby
- Hanneli
- Stylebeat
- The Coveteur
- Selectism
- StreetPeeper
- The Daily
- Into The Gloss
- Fashionista
- The Business of Fashion
- The Impossible Cool
- Jak and Jil
- Rifle Made Press
- T Magazine Blog
- Fantastic Man
- All Things Stylish
- MoodBoard
- Oscar PR Girl
- Interview Mag Blog
- Backyard Bill
- Sea of Shoes
- TextBook
- J.Crew Aficionada
- SecretForts
- MisterMort
- HabituallyChic
- Valet
- Turned Out
- A Piece of Toast
- Miss Moss
