Hello-Hello, and happy Monday.
As many readers know, Fashion Week wrapped up last Thursday. The dog and pony show is now off to London before heading to Milan and Paris. While it is a struggle to contemplate spring styles when we haven’t even officially hit fall, I thought a look at what J. Crew has planned for next year might to be fun.
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Women’s Wear Daily on what inspired the collection.
Choosing the beach as the theme of your spring collection is a no-brainer. J. Crew’s head of women’s design Tom Mora made it interesting by clashing two very different seaside cultures — laid-back California surf and turn-of-the-century times on the Venetian lido, where beachgoers “were very buttoned-up,” said Mora. “They would wear lace and eyelet, tailored linen blazers and nautical stripes.”
Crew does not do a runway show, rather a presentation. This year the company styled its presentation on a boardwalk; they used wood reclaimed from the Atlantic City, Coney Island and Rockaway Beach boardwalks destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
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The wood will then be recycled once again for other uses.
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As the Los Angeles Times noted, the look was “dressed up beach”. The Style.com review offered similar sentiments:
….the signature J.Crew punchy aesthetic a soigné twist, with pieces like a trim floral neoprene skirt with a ruffle and articulating seams, or a ruffled white minidress of varied eyelets. The clothes weren’t fussy—that would be a breach of Crew protocol—but they did express some formality.
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Back to the WWD.com review:
Using both sides of that story gave him plenty to work with: the neon and Neoprene of the West Coast, as seen in pops of bright color and refined yet casual sport touches, such as a flippy scuba skirt, splatter-paint cargos and slim silk pants with multicolored stripes meant to look like the grain of a surfboard.
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The sequined or beaded sweatpants (?!) above left, with their elastic waistline are ghastly.
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As for the pair in the middle, add my whining voice to the chorus asking the obvious: “I would pay for paint-splattered pants because….?” Those two items are the poster children for why I rarely frequent the retailer.
Our pals across the pond will be getting their first J. Crew store in November, when the brand opens its first London shop. It is interesting to see a UK perspective via The Guardian.
For spring/summer 2014, shoppers can look forward to watercolour floral-printed neoprene skirts, paint-splattered camo trousers and sweet eyelet dresses.
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The capris upper left and dress on the right hold some appeal. (Although my immediate reaction upon seeing the frock was to think of the Target bullseye logo.)
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More from the Guardian‘s review:
J Crew’s USP is fashion nous mixed with accessibility – a relatively basic flowered T-shirt with high-waisted denim shorts, or a single-breasted navy blue blazer worn cape-style. It’s not the way the average shopper will do it, but chances are strong that said shopper, like the most label-conscious members of the fashion crowd, will find something to love.
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The jackets seen above are attractive. A bit more from the Guardian piece (it quotes Tom Mora, mentioned up top in the WWD article):
Mora has spent plenty of time thinking about the differences between the UK and US customer. “The UK customer wants the sophisticated pieces from the collection,” he said. “It’s a good match because these are all things we’re already doing on a day-to-day basis.” In November, we’ll find out just how compatible it really is.
One of the highlights of the show for fashionistas was getting an early glimpse at the J. Crew’s collaboration with British footwear designer Sophia Webster. Below, Ms. Webster at the presentation.
J. Crew Blog
A look at some of her exquisitely designed shoes.
J. Crew
The styles are unlikely to be seen on the feet of your faithful scribe, but I admire the design and craftsmanship involved in creating them. Below, some of the other accessories.
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Two more bags.
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This pattern is classic, shown off nicely on the bag.
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There were a very few pieces with promise hidden among the trendier, hipper styles J. Crew now offers.
With that, g’bye until next time, may your Monday be splendid!