Liv, one of our women’s accessories designers:
“I have so many belts, scarves, pins and accessories at home that I’m always on the lookout for ways to display them all. I love how the dresser and dress form are used to display the goods!”
Inspiration found here.

Catherine, one of our web designers:
“I love the idea of looking at a very basic object, like the contact sheets above, in new ways. Photographer Parsley Steinweiss’s ‘Stack’ series is so simple, linear and satisfying.”
Inspiration found here.

Tracy, our women’s In Good Company guru:
“As winter hits, I immediately start dreaming about beach vacations. Ever since spending the holidays in the cold Midwest, I’ve been looking at Mark Borthwick’s photos of Seville, Spain, and reminiscing about long sun-filled summer days.”
Inspiration found here.

Katie, one of our men’s designers:
“The color and architecture is amazing; this mustard color is popping up everywhere now.”
Inspiration found here.

1. Vintage chandelier: “This snowflake chandelier was made in Finland by Paavo Tynell circa 1950. It’s arguably the coolest chandelier ever and available at Wyeth, the best store to daydream in.”

2. Passport to Trespass Vols. 8 & 9 by Mikael Kennedy: “The only gift we’d like better than this would be an actual Polaroid of his!”

3. f444 lounge chair by Pierre Paulin: “David Bowie owns one of these. Enough said.”

4. Oscar sofa by Matthew Hilton: “One for our dream living room—it’s the perfect mix of traditional and modern.”

5. Jielde signal desk lamp: “The best desk lamp for visual nerds. It’s sleek, stylish and comes in tons of cool colors!”

6. Patterns and colors Washi tape: “We got these as props but had so much fun with them, we’re giving them to everyone on our list this year!”

7. Princess Sovereign bike: “Classic and timeless transportation.”

8. Area Wear alarm dock: “Madman meets necessity.”

9. Hermès sneakers: “Understated decadence at its very best.”

10. J.Crew vintage solid oxford shirt: “The everyday shirt. I hate to brag, but when it comes to perfect classics, we do it best.”

11. Terrarium: “With miniature tableaus added to the tiny landscapes, these terrariums by Twig are downright adorable.”

12. Interiors by Martyn Thompson: “The ideal addition to any design book collection. Martyn Thompson’s photographs are gorgeous and the featured homes are so inspiring.” Bonus: Signed copies are available at John Derian, 6 East 2nd Street, New York, NY 10003.

13. Teepee incense burner: “We picked these up on our annual trip to the Southwest region. They smell delicious, look cute and even send smoke signals!”

1. Izola maritime soap dish: “He wouldn’t buy it for himself, but he’ll be so glad you did.”

2. DODOcase™ for J.Crew for iPad 2: “The gift of the season, in our humble opinion (we love the forest green one).”

3. Hooker’s Sweet Treats: “Dark chocolate-covered caramel with sprinkles of sea salt (aka mind-blowing yumminess).”

4. Signed Rolex®: “The ultimate—it’s the James Bond Submariner model and every man’s dream watch.”

5. Swans Island® merino wool throw: “We have wanted this forever; hopefully this will be the year…”

6. Walnut Wenger utility pocketknife: “Totally timeless—a true old faithful.”

7. Oliver Jeffers painting: “He’s a talented children’s book author and an awesome painter!”

8. Maple syrup from Best Made: “Delicious syrup and the bottle is cool enough to keep out on your counter. Everything from this company is great, though; we recently bought their old-school enamel camping mugs but they also have a fantastic blanket and AXES!”

9. MIMI’lou wall decals: “Amazing decorations for kids from a very imaginative French brand.”

10. Matite d’Epoca pencil set: “Beautiful pencils in a cool envelope holder. We love simple, functional design like this.”

11. Danner® for J.Crew Mountain Light II boots: “The perfect winter boots—you can go hiking in them or wear them to a downtown brunch.”

12. Handcrafted Modern by Leslie Williamson: “A beautiful design book.”

13. Artist prints: “These prints of icons are a dream present for music lovers and much more affordable than at other galleries.”

14. Whiskey stones gift set: “A great way to keep your drink cool without diluting it (and it makes any holiday drink look a tad more masculine).

1. Monogramming: “An easy way to brand yourself…Sorry, we couldn’t resist.”

2. Sophie giraffe: “Every baby is obsessed with this; give it to all the new moms on your list.”

3. Monocle radio: “This can sync up with your iPhone and looks so old-school cool—who says radio is dead?”

4. Ladurée recipe book: “Packaging is key—this book is almost as good as receiving a box of the famed macaroons themselves.”

5. Fouta Zina throw: “Practical, gorgeous and it gives back—it’s a gift trifecta!”

6. Unionmade campfire-scented candle: “There are now a lot of these wood fire-scented candles on the market, but none have a chic grey wax color like this.”

7. Tasting Room wine samplers: “Bring the vineyard to your backyard.”

8. Mini emergency kit: “The perfect stocking stuffer—it has everything you need. They also sell college-theme ones for your younger siblings home on break.”

9. Hugo Guinness print: “We particularly like the pigeon as a nod to living in NYC.”

10. Oribe après beach hair spray: “A product that actually gives you the ever-elusive beach-tousled look.”

11. Alden® for J.Crew 405 Indy boots: “If you need to impress the man in your life, these will do the trick.”

12. French press coffee pot: “Perfect for lovers of good design and coffee. It’s also sleek enough to leave out on the counter, like a piece of art.”

13. Unseen NYC guide: “For the New Yorker that’s seen it all and for the tourist who wants to go against the grain.”

14. Lizzie Fortunato black eagle earrings: “All she needs to dress up a simple black sweater. These are part arty and part fashionista without being too trendy.”

15. Applecrest Farm gift pack: “Fresh apples and jam delivered directly to your door? Failproof.”

1. Teepee pet playhouse: “Don’t forget, your pets need a little lovin’ too around the holidays!”

2. I’d Rather Be Copy-Editing tote bag: “The name says it all.”

3. Virginia Johnson shawls: “Beautiful and warm with some of the most unique prints we’ve seen. You’ll have it forever.”

4. Little Printer: “Perfect for the techie who has everything”

5. Coffee subscription from Blue Bottle Coffee: “Our department runs on the stuff and this coffee from San Francisco is some of the best we’ve tried.”

6. J.Crew solid poplin pajama set: “You may just be watching Home Alone with your dog, but you’ll feel like Cary Grant.”

7. J.Crew Viv flats: “These are perfect for holiday parties and comfy enough to stand under the mistletoe for extended periods of time (wink, wink).”

8. iHome boom box: “For those of us who still miss the ’80s.”

9. Bon voyage banner: “So much cooler than your average party store banner (and there are many more messages to choose from).”

10. Letterpress necklace: “As copy buffs, we obviously love that they’re using an ampersand as jewelry.”

11. Calendar: “Perfect for brightening up your desk at work. Plus, it will inspire you to eat more fruit every day!”

12. Apple Magic Trackpad: “Hello, 21st century.”

(blue bottle coffee image via here)

Liv, accessories designer:
“I love the color contrast of this tiny neon belt and this red dress! We’re loving superskinny belts again, and what a great way to introduce a second color into the mix!”
Inspiration found here.

Lauren R. K., graphic designer:
“I love the contrasting textures in this photo by duo Aurélien Arbet and Jérémie Egry—it makes me want to pair my MacAlister boots with a sequin top for a perfect winter outfit.”
Inspiration found here.

Willy, men’s designer:
“There’s something about this photo that has always been inspiring to me—the juxtaposition of new and old to create a perfect image, the contrast between the stark lines and angles of the house and the organic flow and curves of the statue.”
Inspiration found here.

Nikelle, web designer:
“The holidays are coming and I have an overwhelming urge to cover everything in the shiniest, most sparkly material I can find. I’m completely obsessed with anything metallic, especially when it comes to decorating for a festive get-together.”
Inspiration found here and here.

Liv, women’s accessories designer:
“Because I design hair accessories, I love to look at how girls are styling their hair—even if it means covering it up with a chic hat. Everything about her outfit is perfect…if only I was brave enough to wear that hat!”
Inspiration found here.

Travis, window designer:
“We are getting ready to start planning our spring window displays! I love the neon canary yellow against the natural colors of the wood; the contrast of the two elements creates a wonderful tension. This color combo could be reinterpreted in so many ways!”
Inspiration found here.

Sheilini, Catalog Art Director:
March 2008
“This is the front cover image of the catalog—we shot at Richard Neutra’s iconic 1946 Kaufmann House in Palm Springs. The house in the background was the perfect backdrop for the model sitting at the edge of the pool—it set the tone for things to come. And it was shot at night! How cool is that?”

Jack, Men’s Stylist:
June 2008
“This was shot in Morocco with British model and amateur boxer Will Chalker. We had a tight color palette of khaki, olive, white and orange, which worked perfectly in the desert. It was also one of our last catalogs shot with film, so the photos have a very ’60s cinematic feel.”

Gayle, Women’s Stylist:
Fall 2003
“My all-time favorite was the Ireland catalog. It truly marked J.Crew’s new beginning with Mickey and Jenna at the helm!”

Frank, Head of Men’s Design:
October 2010
“To me, this represents the whole fall 2010 PR presentation, which was a turning point for our men’s design team. From the props to the looks to the lighting, this catalog perfectly captured the way everything came together in the presentation.”

Go hiking in the Catskills.

Learn to build a fire (sit, stoke, sit some more…).

Listen to Stranger Ballet by the Poison Control Center.

Make pumpkin pie (with this recipe).

Get spooked at a haunted house (local favorite: the ghost tours at The Merchant’s House Museum).

Mull wine (boil 1 c. sugar, ½ grated lemon rind, 18 cloves, 5 cinnamon sticks, 2 qt. Burgundy and 1 c. boiling water. Strain and serve hot).

Peep (leaf peeping, that is)—head north for fall foliage (we’re partial to Manchester, Vermont).

Pick your own apples at Applecrest Farms in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire.

Get lost in the corn maze at Queens County Farm Museum (and try to spot the farmer who moonlighted as a one-time J.Crew model).

Drive up the Hudson with the windows (and top) down on a cold, sunny day.

Sip a good Irish single malt (the peatier, the better).

Eat apple scones at Tivoli Bakery.

(image credits: LIFE, Martha Stewart, pachd)

1. Astor Place Hairstylist—the old-school barber both Jack, our men’s stylist, and Aaron, our muse of the month, swear by. Jack says, “Try Valentino—he’s great with old movie references. I usually ask to look like James Stewart as George Bailey.”
2. Hammond’s marshmallow caramels—according to one unnamed sugar fiend, “They’re life changing.”
3. Blue Bottle Coffee—the Brooklynites among us, including Frank, our head of men’s design, are die-hard fans of this local coffee spot.
4. Dia:Beacon and the Gerhard Richter show at London’s Tate Modern tie for most-talked-about art excursion.
5. Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm in Blushed—it does double duty on cheeks and lips, according to Courtney in casting (among others).


(image credits: coffee, blue bottle brooklyn)

“When I’m not spending too much money on artisanal, brewed-by-the-gods tea at Dean & Deluca, PG Tips tea is my standby. Whenever I find it, I buy a box or two. You know, in case the Queen comes over.”
—Alexandra, copywriter and tea snob

“My Silvine memo book, a Harriet the Spy–worthy notebook that’s sturdy enough for drawing on daily subway commutes.”
—Catherine, web designer and underground artist (literally)

“Ilse Crawford is one of my favorite decorators of all time. I’m obsessed.”
—Alison, copy director and former Domino editor

“Daniel Craig as James Bond. The accent gets me every time.”
—Laura, marketing gal and 007 fan

“ Tea & Sympathy in the West Village is the ultimate NYC restaurant for Anglophiles. I get my Marmite fix there, of course.”
—Tracy, brand buyer and brave, brave eater

“Brian Eno, 28 Days Later (best zombie movie evah!) and, of course, Pimms.”
—Jack, men’s stylist and horror flick aficionado

“Danger Mouse.”
—Jim, designer and rodent superhero enthusiast

“Beggars Group, the BEST independent label group in the world—somewhat responsible for Adele, Arcade Fire, The xx, Sonic Youth, Deerhunter and countless others…every single release demands attention.”
—Nichole, Jenna’s right-hand woman and music lover

“Brompton folding bikes, vintage series Land Rovers and Brooks saddles.”
—Will, art director and man on the move

“Ben Jonson’s play, The Alchemist. It’s serving as an antidote for a summer’s worth of trashy beach reads (Star magazine, I’m looking at you).”
—Halsey, copywriter and shameful tabloid addict

“Eve Lom cleanser and rescue mask from well-curated beauty boutique Space NK, on Greene Street.”
—Courtney, caster and lotions and potions fiend

“Sticky toffee from English Pudding Company. Otto’s market in Germantown, NY (about five miles north of where I live), stocks it. I always have a box on hand.”
—Jamie, brand buyer and candy connoisseur