JCrew | 770 Behind The Line

Snapshots From Set: Bali

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:58:25 -0400

our stylists never put their iPhones down,
and we’ve got the pics to prove it…

Tune In: Pamela Love’s Playlist

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:09:59 -0400

the jewelry designer turned denim diehard gives us
a sneak peek at her music library—and the songs
that inspire her irresistibly cool collections

1. Wild Yaks, “Tomahawk”

2. Dead Moon, “Dead Moon Night”

3. Gogol Bordello, “I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again”

4. Pierced Arrows, “Let It Rain”

5. Royal Trux, “Liar”

6. White Magic, “Shine on Heaven”

7. Black Lips, “Best Napkin I Ever Had”

8. Nu Sensae, “Skull Mecca”

9. The Hunches, “Not Invented”

10. Black Angels, “Better Off Alone”

Learn more about the runner-up here >

Jack Knows Best: Fair and Square

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:46:23 -0400

we asked Jack, our in-house men’s stylist and go-to answer guy,
to weigh in on the pocket square

HOW DO I FOLD A POCKET SQUARE? MINE ALWAYS ENDS
UP LOOKING LIKE A WADDED-UP PAPER TOWEL.

Just keep folding it 90 degrees until it’s the right size to fit in the pocket and doesn’t have irregular corners, and when you’re finished, press down hard (or lightly iron it if there’s one handy). Then tuck it into the jacket pocket, making sure not too much is showing so it doesn’t look exaggerated. And it’s OK if it looks perfectly imperfect, like you didn’t try too hard.

WHAT COLOR POCKET SQUARE SHOULD I WEAR?

It should jibe with but never match your tie—when in doubt, go with white. If you’re feeling brave, try one with subtle piping or even a pattern, like a check or a paisley. Also, I recently discovered a chambray one from the Brooklyn brand The Hill-side®, which is a cool kind of utilitarian take on this accessory. Oh, and don’t go for silk—it can look a little cartoonish.

SHOP OUR POCKET SQUARES

The Perfect Outfit—In Three Easy Pieces

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:02:00 -0400

we’re playing favorites with this look
(concocted by our superstylist, Gayle, of course)

1. Scatter-dot dress
2. Jeweled elephant pendant necklace
3. Audra patent sandals

Collection Inspiration: Pamela Love

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:05:00 -0400

road trips, cowboy hats and totally awesome jewelry—
we take a closer look at Love’s life…

SHOP THE PAMELA LOVE FOR J.CREW COLLECTION >

(photo credits: Skye Parrott, Jordan Sullivan, courtesy of Pamela Love)

This Week's Discovery

Mon, 21 May 2012 16:26:00 -0400

Soludos® for J.Crew espadrilles

When it comes to summer shoes, Soludos has proven there’s life beyond flip-flops—and the name, a combination of the Spanish words sol (sun) and salud (cheers), is the perfect qualifier. When founder and designer Nick Brown moved stateside, he set out to recreate the simple, laid-back espadrilles he wore growing up—the ones sold in the markets and along the beaches of the Mediterranean: “We use authentic weaving and dyeing techniques, so they’re just like their international counterparts.” The jute-soled, eco-friendly styles have a few special twists, like three exclusive-to-us colors and fabrics. And since they’re the price of just a few cervezas, we recommend stocking up on more than one pair. Salud!

Clockwise from top left:
Founder Nick Brown shows off his espadrilles; inspiration for the Soludos for J.Crew collaboration; A Perfect Summer Day shot in Montauk, New York.

Shop all Soludos for J.Crew >

(images courtesy of Soludos®)

This Week's Discovery

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:59:45 -0400

seersucker swimsuits

A few of our favorite things to come out of the South: jazz, mint juleps and the unofficial fabric of summer—seersucker. First gaining popularity in the U.S. for gentlemen to beat the heat below the Mason-Dixon Line, it’s made its welcome way up the coast into the closets of New England neo-prep sets and now, our beach totes. We just couldn’t resist splashing these stripes—in smoldering charcoal, sunny citron and classic baby blue—into our swim collection. To create the perfect poolside-pinup fit, we outfitted our one-piece with figure-flattering stretch fabric, a supportive underwire and tie-and-go halter straps. Bring on the sultry days of summer…

SHOP OUR SWIM COLLECTION >

Bright Ideas

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:40:14 -0400

the vibrant hues in this month’s Style Guide (shot in the island
paradise of Bali) inspired us to create a picturesque mood board
of our very own—proof positive that we’ve gone crazy for color

Destination Inspiration: Bali

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:57:00 -0400

we traveled to the island paradise of Bali—home to ancient temples,
tropical fruits and even a monkey forest—to shoot our June Style Guide.
here’s a sneak peek at what we found…

Five facts you might not know about Bali:

1. Sacred sites:
This photo was taken at the Hindu temple Pura Kehen, one of the most sacred temples in Bali.
It was founded in the 11th century, which makes it over 1,000 years old.

2. Lingo lowdown:
Though famous for painting, sculpture and dance, the Balinese have no word for “art”
in their vocabulary.

3. Local color:
Colorful umbrellas, like the yellow one pictured here, can be spotted all over Bali. They’re used
for decoration and are also considered a symbol of protection.

4. Baby talk:
Until they turn three months old, Balinese babies are not allowed to touch the ground
and are carried everywhere.

5. Weather wonders:
Bali’s tropical monsoon climate means that it only has two seasons: dry (from April to October) and rainy (November to March).

SEE OUR FULL BALI ADVENTURE >

D.I.Y. Design: Soludos Espadrilles

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:17:14 -0400

we enlisted some 770 staffers to decorate their own pair of Soludos®—
what started out as blank canvases ended up being very stylish works of art.
here’s how they chose to express themselves…

Clockwise from top left:

“A painterly sailor stripe is classic J.Crew. I swiped on this really great indigo fabric dye, then I added bleach to give it a faded look at the creases to mimic worn-in denim (of course!).”
—Aubrey, our denim designer

“Picasso always donned these shoes! With a Sharpie in hand, I thought of him as I drew these Spanish tile patterns. Then I decorated them with bright embroidery thread.”
—Tracy, our prop stylist

“I sewed a chain of rhinestones onto the soles of mine. My inspiration speaks for itself!”
—Allison, one of our women’s stylists

“I think the accents on gold-leaf teacups are beautiful, so I painted the toes and soles of my Soludos this rich metallic color. It offsets the red perfectly, for a fun reinterpretation.”
—Jenny, one of our web designers

“A doodled version, using a Sharpie, of the anchor print we used throughout our women’s summer collection.”
—Aaron, one of our women’s designers

“Alison and I love this peach color. We just brushed on watercolor paint to get the tie-dyed look.”
—Catherine (with Alison), two of our web designers

Behind the Designs: Soludos

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:19:14 -0400

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.”

Shop our Soludos for J.Crew collection >

This Week’s Discovery

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:03:05 -0400

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)

This Week's Discovery

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:24:27 -0400

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.

A snapshot of Nichole’s sketchbook—and a peek at how it all came together.

visit madewell.com >

Like Mother, Like Son: A CFDA Mother’s Day

Sun, 13 May 2012 11:02:03 -0400

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

Mom’s the Word

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:59:00 -0400

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

Behind the Scenes: Quartz Report

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:08:00 -0400

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!”

Spring ’12 Playlist (Part 2): Music to Our Ears

Wed, 09 May 2012 13:26:07 -0400

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)

Design Inspiration: Enzo Mari

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:55:02 -0400

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 >

This Week's Discovery

Mon, 07 May 2012 17:13:33 -0400

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 >

This Week’s Discovery

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:14:41 -0400

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 >