Tuesday, December 7, 2010

J.Crew of Seasons Past: Holiday 2006!

As I mentioned previously, I search for images of J.Crew pieces from seasons past to collect in my virtual J.Crew LookBook. So far we have seen some images of 2007 (refer to 2007, August 2007, November 2007, & Fall 2005).

Today, I thought I would share the images found on the The Terrier and Lobster blog (click here) of J.Crew's Holiday 2006 catalog. There is a little something for both women and men! Just click on any of the images to view them larger.

Although these images are from several years ago, they are still stunning. And the outerwear! I should have stocked up.

What are your thoughts on these catalogs from the past? Do you enjoy looking through them for outfit inspirations? Do you find these looks classic (like I do) or do you think they are dated?

61 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting! Love all the colors. But that yellow jacket w/ the enamel buttons, isn't that the Lexington which came out in 2007? Or was there a predecessor to the Lexington in '06? I wasn't as close of a follower of J.Crew then because I was a poor college student.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I remember I had to have a red cashmere cardigan because of this catalog. And I have the plaid coat with the brown velvet trim shown in the eighth picture. It was a post-holiday popback for a deal. I don't wear it often but it has a vintage look that I love. This catalog seems so much more like Christmas compared to Holiday 2010, maybe it's the lack of snow?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks so much for posting those! I find the stylish so classic...definitely more what I wear compared to how J. Crew styles things nowadays.

    Love the stylish the skates and the tartan mini with the black sweater and green silk blouse. That is a look I would totally do for the holidays this year!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the happy, confident expressions and poses on the models! No vacant fly-catching expressions here; no pigeon toes or knock-kneed "gotta pee" poses. (Erm, except for those red pants.)

    ReplyDelete
  5. The colors!!!! Everything is so vibrant and happy looking. Sigh, the good old days...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would easily wear any of these pieces 4 years after the fact! Ah, the beauty of J. Crew. So timeless!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have that shawl collar fleece that is pictured in yellow. I love it. It has held up exceptionally well.

    Ah, the good 'ol days.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well, they had a Holiday Red version to the yellow shawl fleece last year. I ended up buying it and wore it for the first time Saturday. It was very comfortable and a pretty red for the holidays.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have the black watch plaid wool jacket in the picture near the bottom. Still love it to this day!

    ReplyDelete
  10. The catalogs used to be so much fun to look at. Like Hexicon said, the models used to look so happy and confident. They actually looked like they enjoyed wearing the clothes.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks so much for posting these! There are a couple of Holiday 2007 images sprinkled in there (the ones with Anouk). I really started purchasing from JC in HO 06 and it might be my favorite season/year that IMO, JC has never outdone. The wool Charlie coat, waffle tees, Stewart tartan skirt with inverted back pleat, and Hudson hoodie sweater are just a few of my favorites. And that azalea Juliette jacket! I would do anything to get my hands on one of those(size 2 or 4, anyone? ;)).

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love, love, love these images. Thankfully enough I own several of the pieces featured in the images and still wear them!! FYI Talbots is having a bit of a rebirth and taking on more classic J.Crew inspired styling. Check em out......

    ReplyDelete
  13. Em, yes I think it is 07 (but I could be wrong, I am no expert Vs Alexis :) but because it reminds me of what a dummy I was to sell my brand new azalea pink one on the exchange because I thought I didn't wear blazers, although I hope the recipient is enjoying it. The yellow skirt is the taffeta parlor skirt that came in sapphire, flame and black and also a plaid. I have the sapphire which I still love, both the color and style - it was really popular, showing up everywhere including Editor's page of Vogue. These catalog pics are so happy! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I mean sell my azalea pink Lexington blazer ie, it is the citron Lex blazer. Sorry!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!! Thank you so much Alexis. I have a number of these items...classics. The colors are great and the models REALLY do look happy and healthy.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Rachel,

    Yes, I was at Talbots last night and you are right. I bought 2 items with the buy one get one 1/2 off including sale items:)

    I also have the olive wool skirt from the third picture as well as the blouse the model is wearing (I don't wear a puffer with it! LOL).
    So pretty and classic to this day.

    ReplyDelete
  19. These catalog pics are great, I love looking at past year's fashion whether recent or vintage. I have the cropped plaid peacoat and the plaid mini. I've always been mad for plaid and still wear both these items, especially the mini. The cropped jacket will probably come back into the rotation more often once we get back into the higher-waisted pants, which J.Crew has started to offer.

    I have two pair of plaid wool pants from around that same time or maybe one was from earlier even, one black watch and one red tartan. I wore the red plaid ones out to casual cocktails last week and got lots of compliments. I love the long, lean silhouette they give me and the pattern is so great for the holidays. Wonder if the plaid tuxedo pants I bought with the GIFTS promo will be just as special.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow, everything is so classic, I miss the old J.Crew! I was so in love with the big bulb wreath that I made one. It came out awesome, but gets way too hot to leave on for more than 5 minutes.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/19834913@N00/5241203764/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh I just LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE these images!! LOVE the colors, LOVE the clothes (although below-the-knee straight skirts aren't the *most* flattering), LOVE the styling, LOVE the happy and healthy-looking models...I could go on and on. If Polyvore ever starts working again, I'm going to clip every single image for cheering up when I start to feel depressed with the currernt forlorn/waif/Edie Beale goes to summer camp/homeless morning after aethetic. I REALLY wish I had bought more 06-07!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. On a side note, I have two different holiday catalogs from 2007 and neither of them has these images. Weird - how many versions of the holiday catalog do they make?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi mommydearest! I think they make 2 or 3 Holiday ones. The only one I'm missing from Jan 07 to present is the "Holiday 07" one with Vanessa leaning against the giant snowball. I think it has a picture of her inside wearing the Fair Isle beret (black and white with a pom-pom) which is another one of my favorite pieces. That was back when JC used to send a catalog with every order! I must have one laying around somewhere but have not yet put my hands on it.

    ReplyDelete
  24. silver_lining, I remember when they used to send a catalog with every order and I complained about paying high shipping because of the added weight of the catalog. Little did I know that the shipping rates were high regardless of the weight.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I could cry - so beautiful!

    Why can't they offer these looks? Still offer the beat up look if you they choose to, but still accomodate those of us that want a more refined look? Sad. I miss the old JC so much.

    I got the holiday catalog last weekend and have already recycled it. I still love the classic pieces (lady day coats, pencil skirts, ballet flats) - but the rest of is unappealing to me. Gosh I miss pouring over the catalogs and tagging all the pages of things I loved!

    ReplyDelete
  26. It's so funny how similar to Land's End they looked at one point.

    ReplyDelete
  27. P.S. I used one of those 20% off coupons found inside the Holiday catalog on my J.Crew Factory purchase. And I got free shipping! I got a gray crewneck cardigan with jeweled buttons for $25! It was a great buy!

    ReplyDelete
  28. What beautiful colors and great styling! I love the yellow coat.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Beautiful shots -- thanks so much for sharing Alexis! I want that Tartan mini like now. Also note how the mini is still decent...not barely butt-covering like this year's line.

    ReplyDelete
  30. And once again, my heart breaks just a tiny bit... :)

    This is the JC at Christmas I remember and love. I miss how very "holiday" the Holiday catalogue used to look, full of charm and personality, coziness and colour.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I think the shawl collar fleece was one of my very first (and 1 of the best) Jcrew purchases.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love all of these items and the images are all festive, I definitely didn't get that kind of vibe from the catalog I received in the mail this weekend.

    Is is just me or is anyone able to pull off a skirt, cute shoes, but no stocking/tights look? The weather is so cold now that my legs would be ice blocks.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Merry Christmas to Alexis
    Who with this blog has been the nexus
    Of the gleeful and the grumpish
    Of the sylph-like and the plumpish
    And of me when I’m down in the dumpish.

    A sale, a code, a catalog find
    That barely covers my behind--
    Perhaps not quite what I had in mind?
    The breathless wait for new releases!
    The wonder of the perfect pieces!

    A season of forty shades of brown,
    Models hanging upside down,
    Dear Leader storming another town:
    We read about it all here first,
    JC addiction, JCA thirst!

    So as we close another year,
    Thank you, Alexis, for your good will and cheer!

    Awaiting final sale with dread,
    Merry Christmas again from wellfedfred.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wearing color never gets outdated! Smiling models are never outdated!
    Outfits that are timeless is never outdated!
    Quality clothing is never outdated!

    ReplyDelete
  35. There's an overall charm and vigor to the clothes, models and backdrops that jcrew simply does not possess anymore.

    ReplyDelete
  36. On another note, you know what keeps playing on the commercials that completely reminds me of old jcrew? Tommy Hilfiger!! Taken from the context of one of the old jcrew catlogs (was it in Scotland?), but here you go. If you can ignore the Tommy Hilfiger logos, you can almost pretend it's a vintage jcrew commercial from yesteryears...

    I don't own one Tommy Hilfiger item, but omg...I love the looks...enjoy. I love this!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B15j9Xs_CE&feature=related

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks WWF. You said it.

    Thanks Alexis for posting. While I didn't buy any pieces back in 06-07, I was "borrowing" the looks and finding colourful argyle socks and bright sweaters and shirts to fill up my closet. The JC catalogs had a huge influence on how I dressed.

    These looks are indeed timeless. How many of us will look at this year's catalogs and go, oh, would these trends please stick around so I can keep buying/wearing this?

    ReplyDelete
  38. Christy, I have a few TH items and they are really great quality and classic designs. I only stop in once every few months when I'm at the specific mall where the store is located but I always find some great pieces. I am headed to that mall this week and looking forward see what TH has for holiday '10.

    As far as Talbot's goes, I just can't jump on the bandwagon. I popped into the B&M last night but nothing was enticing enough to try on. Maybe it's the store design or the SAs but I'm pretty sure it's the clothes. I can't put my finger on it but there is just something missing.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Be still my heart! A feast for the eyes. Now I want a yellow coat -- smudges and dirt be damned. :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Also, I have that tartan mini and have just been waiting to break it out....yay!

    ReplyDelete
  41. What an excellent poem WWF!!

    Love the colors and the holiday decor! The plain back drops are just not interesting . .doesn't even seem holiday. And yes, love the models smiling faces!!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Yes classic indeed. Fun, well made, distinctly J.Crew, a bit preppy, but very versatile pieces, maybe not quite all of that color at once though (but it looks great in the catalog). The styling, models, and set decoration are vibrant, upbeat, full of holiday coziness and joie de vivre. The Holiday 2010 catalog has the saddest art direction that I’ve seen since I started buying J. Crew 25 plus years ago. The models have a vacant look, styled as if they just got out of bed and threw anything on in the dark without having their coffee yet. I do, however like quite a few pieces from the fall and winter roll out this year, but not the art direction and styling ideas for the catalogs. I think that J Crew was going for an edgier “downtown” art direction that they overworked. Thanks for the walk down J Crew catalog memory lane. What a fun post!

    ReplyDelete
  43. This is a fun look at the holiday cheer of J Crew past=)

    Just received my Holiday catalog. Um..this one? Not-so-much. I mean, even as recent as 2008 was a superb Holiday catalog! The color was cheery and fabulous. It enticed you to buy gifts and get excited! That is when they started to become a bit edgier in their styling with rolled denim, cute print heels and long poking out of interesting but still simple style jackets, lightly layered jewels etc. It was really fun to peruse.

    Their decision to begin going all NYC, runway fashion and the styles of Marissa and Jenna brought with it, make-up colors and some far-out styles & styling. This catalog is very drab and the backgrounds are often white?? There's some tartan thrown in for good measure but where is the excitement?? I agree with Awakening my Wardrobe--the art direction for this catalog was really non-existent. They've simplified their styling (AMEN)but where's the excitement that typically comes with a J Crew holiday catalog?

    ReplyDelete
  44. love those pictures! so much color! it's those pics that really get you into the holiday spirit! i love it!!!

    and wff nice poem! :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. Love Fred's poem but can't find a single thing in the images I would wear. I do like the smiles though. They never go out of style.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I have the toggle coat in those pictures (navy- though mine says Holiday 07 on the tag) and I have worn it twice in the last week. I got compliments on it both times, and it still looks new.

    Sigh....

    ReplyDelete
  47. Props to WFF - love the poem and the blog. Thank you so much, Alexis!!

    silverlining, I have the one you're missing!! Going to email you... :)

    ReplyDelete
  48. How could I forget to compliment WFF on that hilarity?! So creative. And I will second thanking you for the wonderful blog, Alexis!

    ReplyDelete
  49. so in love with these photos, and second everyone else's comments regarding the bright/happy/healthy/smiley attitude. this year's catalog doesn't seem inspiring or upbeat - the cover, to me, says it all. i was hoping for deep red coziness, and the green, instead, feels drab.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Sydneygirl, ah yes, the parlor skirt. I have the plaid one. I've yet to wear it but... it's in the closet just in case. LOVE it. 08/07 was the best J.Crew, hands down. I can barely find anything to buy anymore other than outerwear, suiting, and swimwear.

    ReplyDelete
  51. WFF, your oh-so-apt poem caused a gleeful giggle to well up from my ever so slightly stressed holiday soul. Thank you. And thank you too, Alexis. I may not be buying as much JCrew as in Christmases past, but I'm daily checking in on the JCA community. As for Xoxo's comments concerning Talbots, I completely agree. There's something about Talbots that's not quite right. I think my main beef is the sizing, they still seem to favor the matronly body type, the waist is still big in a size 2 for crying out loud, they too seem to like to cut corners on fabric quality in some of their better designs and finally, I'm convinced that they must pin everything on their models. Sorry, I know this blog is about JCrew, but in no way, IMHO, does Talbots come close to the JC style and quality showcased in those wonderful Holiday Catalog pictures. I received my current catalog today, and have only one thing to say about it: Yuck! I know this is not a charitable thought for me to be thinking right now during the wonderful Christmas season, but...if I could find the person primarily responsible for the rape and pillage of my beloved JC, be it Mickey, Jenna, or some money hungry stockholder, I would like to, as my grandma used to say, wring his neck! I miss the old JC so much and EVERY time I wear some of my classics from years past, someone always compliments me on them. Happy Runway, Mickey, and a less-in-the-red New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  52. That yellow coat is killlling me!

    ReplyDelete
  53. These bright colors cheered me up!
    I love the houndstooth coat and which one is the wool charlie coat?

    Love your poem, WFF. And yes, we dedicated JCAs really appreciate all you do for us Alexis!

    I love seeing these images and more stalking on eBay for me I guess...

    ReplyDelete
  54. Absolutely love the women's clothes in this catalog. Totally agree with Christy----vibrant colors and models with mega-watt smiles are always in fashion!

    As for the men's, those are classic clothes as well. And I bet (even though these were half-body shots), the model was wearing socks :-) Having said this, I prefer the JCrew pants of today (lower rise)and sweaters which are cut closer to the body.

    ReplyDelete
  55. I love seeing images from catalogs past! I used to keep all my old catalogs but I was approaching hoarder status with all of them stacking up ;)

    ReplyDelete
  56. Eloise how does the cropped black watch tartan trench fit? Is it really short? Does it fit TTS or smaller because of vanity sizing that J Crew does now? And is it a soft wool blend? TIA

    ReplyDelete
  57. I am a bit behind with the comments but I agree with many of you that the images are 2006 and 2007.

    wellfedfred: Your poem is the best. You are good. Really good! :)

    ReplyDelete
  58. I will go with styles from a few years back never die. The colors are happy and joyful. I would wear those clothes now and years to come. I too wish I had stocked up on a few of those items. J.Crew should do some revisiting of the past I say.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Kay, IMO JC does some revisiting every once in a while, like this season's Tartan boy shirt and Buffalo Check jacket. And both of those items promptly sold out. You'd think this may send a message to those in charge, but alas, every rollout contains more of the same. I'd say if we get lucky enough to get the occasional "classic JC" piece in a rollout, buy it right away.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Thank you for posting this. What's the name of the color for the wool military skirt the girl is wearing in the picture? I can't read it, it's blurry.

    ReplyDelete

Dear J.Crew Aficionadas & Aficionados: Please feel free (and encouraged) to share your thoughts and opinions. :) However, please note that this is still a personal blog. So comments that are considered inappropriate (e.g. obscene, racist, homophobic, personal attacks, rude, and just plain mean) will be removed.

And now back to J.Crew! :)