A friend and I were talking about where we like to shop. When I said I have a slight J. Crew addiction she said, "I don't like J. Crew. They are too preppy." She loves vintage shopping, has a very unique,cool style and comes up on vintage Chanel, Dior and YSL for obscenely cheap prices. I dont have that kind of patience.
Fair enough. We all have our own style. But, I have to disagree. Sure, the styling of their catalog is often reminiscent of well-to-do Ivy leaguers hailing from Connecticut, but piece by piece, they are the best quality basics for my money.
I wouldn't consider myself "preppy". I love more utilitarian, harder looks with a slight feminine touch. Vanessa Bruno, Rick Owens, Kris Van Assche, and Helmut Lang are always on my wish list. However, my bank account harshly disagrees.
This is why, when I swear I've bought my last piece from J. Crew, they reel me back in with another piece that is the perfect blank slate to create what ever look I want. Whether it's their great sales or their new arrivals, I always open the email.
You don't always have to take what is given to you as a whole, like the catalog picture of "starfish" printed navy blue shorts that was paired with the funky black jacket (pictured below). But, a closer look reveals that that jacket can be cool on its own, with a white ribbed tank, tee, or button down and some messed up jeans.
Though, their shoes have always made me roll my eyes with the lack of creativity and sheer old lady boringness, but I give them accessories points for teaming up with the hip rock-chic jewelry line Fenton-Fallon.
Even Net a Porter, the web's most forward luxury fashion site has bought up a few J. Crew pieces. Is that validation enough?
Also check out J. Crew's runway collection on style.com
FENTON/FALLON™ for J.Crew lariat tassel necklace
Then here, of course is where J. Crew cant help you....shoes. But save where you can, eh?
$730.00 by Kris Van Assche at Ssense
