"Thanks!" to many of you, including Janet, IRL, as well as xoxo (in this post), who let us know about the following news.J.Crew sent an email to select customers that reads:
Spring PreviewYou can watch the video at the end of this post. You can also click the link HERE. To check out the Spring 2011 Look Book, click here.
Meet Marissa, our head of women's design. She's giving you an exclusive sneak peek at warmer things to come and revealing the inspiration for our Spring collection presented this Winter in NYC. Plus, as one of our best customers, we wanted you to be the first to check out our never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes video.
What ideas kicked off this collection?
We were really influenced by modern art, specifically the work of abstract painter Hans Hofmann. I just love the intense vibrant color in his paintings and how that translates into the clothes.
The season's ultimate fresher-upper?
The classic button-down shirt in amazing new fabrics, textures and patterns. Every woman should have a few in her closet.
Ok, what's on your must-buy list?
Our studded Natalie sweater. It's so simple but so elevated at the same time.
I do love watching these videos (I see you Ms. Hutton!) I hope to see more of these "behind the scenes" at J.Crew.What are your thoughts on the video? Do you think you like the styles more now that you have seen the video?
It's like a police line up for all the fashion crimes committed.
ReplyDeleteOT, Has any one seen the blue Maxi-check perfect shirt? Is it paper thin or transparent? JC has become notorious for paper thin shirts and Spring does not mean "check out my bra".
ReplyDeleteMarissa seems to be confusing button-up/button-front shirts with button-down, which is a collar style.
ReplyDelete@ Christy, LOL!!
ReplyDeleteSome time in the past, someone at J.Crew overbought on sequins, methinks, and so in a never-ending effort to get rid of this tanker-sized shipment, every season j.crew elves, jcrelves, run through the work room, throwing sequins like fairy dust. Borne are sequin lattice sweater vests, sequin etoile dresses, sequin sweatshirts, sequin scarves and gloves and hats and sequin sweatpants. 95% of currency passing through the hands of j.crew tests positive for sequins.
ReplyDeleteWell... I'm loving the sequins and glitter... And that long skirt is magnificent! But really, $2,500? I did take that photo out of the booklet I got in the mail and set it on my desk... very inspiration.
ReplyDeleteWhen will the February catalogs be arriving? I never keep track...
LOL Barbabelle: jcrelves throwing sequins!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what I'm going to spend my rewards card on.
ReplyDeleteloved the music and the video in general but hard to see the clothes. really like what i see online though.
ReplyDeleteI second what Desert Flower said.
ReplyDeleteoh and the catalog looks great. you can see it on line. i love that its shot in hollywood and you can actually see the items again! the styling is so much better then where its been.
ReplyDeleteITA, Christy. The sandals and dressy heels with socks makes me cringe. :(
ReplyDeleteOf course they would push the must have as the Natalie sweater. Arent those the same studs they'd been studding the shoes, purses, shorts and jewelry with? I guess they had leftover studs. $400 is like 100 trips to starbucks, which would make me truly happier than wearing that mess.
ReplyDeleteChristy has hit it on the head. One rose tee was great; by the 30th -- yawn. One glittery embellishment was original; by the 30th -- yawn. Navy tee with diner sequin skirt -- cute. Then gray tee with burgundy sequin skirt and beige-y tee with black sequin skirt and so on -- ho hum. Beads and fabric flowers on one tee? Nice. On twenty? Not so much. Another low-necked wooly dress? Run screaming. I'm even starting to want a break from stripes. Yes, it's tough to keep coming up with new ideas. Yes, novelty for it's own sake doesn't always work. But isn't that why you get paid the big money? and can't the left-over ladies' hat trimmings be donated to some deserving crafts program?
ReplyDeleteWFF...i think they dontate their leftover embellishments to their Innercompany, underfunded projects for the new but recycled looks. Its how Dear Leader goes green....lol
ReplyDeleteOh, and the Copywriter from Space is back with a vengeance. See item 36887, leather pocket pants, and guess what fabric the pants are made of. Hint: it's special. Gaahh. Enough. I'm going out to dinner.
ReplyDeleteAlexis, can you make a new post? It should be called, hmmm, Which piece by piece made this piece? It could be funny to show how tossing a past season's item in the shredder, washer, dryer, microwave, then cut, paste, sew, glue, string can be something supposedly new?
ReplyDeleteWFF, you'll have to be more specific.
ReplyDeleteEvery description is "it's special. Only a handful made. We're in love. It looks great with everything. Wear with everything. So special, only a handful exist."
I love the color palette :> Can't wait to see the robin-bird blue chino shorts, and saturated blue sweatshirt in stores. And those denim oxfords are darling!
ReplyDelete**there are some pieces to keep me going. No, I don't like sequins and don't buy it either, and I don't wear sweatpants or crew socks with heels. but still, this is pretty. wish they carried sunglasses that were NOT $400 ;/
I was honestly so excited when the rewards card got here, but then I remembered this post I did. I only liked about 4 things and not all of them are available at the moment. Thank goodness I have until march, we'll see if they have the few things I would like by then...
ReplyDeleteDesertFlower and JCrewJD,
ReplyDeleteWhat rewards cards? I didn't spend enough for the first time in many years to even get one! he he
Ladies hope you don't mind if I crash your J. Crew's spring 2011 party.
ReplyDeleteFor men, my must-own spring outfit this year is the Irish Linen Ludlow two-button suit. Man, I am just channeling Burn Notice and Miami Vice at the same time. I think I will go for British khaki.....no wait, the gray would look great with a pink shirt and cordovan/burgundy shoes. But then again blue is my favorite color. Can't decide now but my absolute winter revenge is to wear this linen suit on St. Patrick's Day no matter what the weather is.
rtfit_jcrew: I totally love menswear and will live 'vicariously' through you in being able to get an Irish Linen suit -- that is, until my husband's fashion sense and need reaches that level of refinement. :D I know at least the possibility is in him, as he got two pairs of Irish linen drawstring lounge pants last year in anticipation of our tropical honeymoon which look fantastic on him!
ReplyDeleteActually the more I think about it, I think I'm going to add a linen coloured suit to MY wardrobe bucket list -- why not? Although it will probably come AFTER black and/or white, Le Smoking.
I'm heartset on getting him the Cotton plaited stripe V-neck sweater - love the inverse inside the neckline - and a Jaspe V-neck tee in Marled Charcoal after seeing it in the catalog.
For me, only one main target, well two -- the crinkley looking (rayon/poly/metallic it says) Schoolboy blazer, and the trenchlet-bolero from the lookbook!
I'm disappointed (but not surprised) that JC has added so many overly trendy "deal breakers" to otherwise nice looking pieces. Like the horizon-stripe pencil skirt, maritime dress and retro shell with their exposed industrial-strength zippers. I have a feeling these are gonna be the new ruffles, and JC is going to beat them to death over the course of 2011. All three of these pieces would look better without them, IMO.
ReplyDeleteAnd the matinee trench - they're boasting an "oversized hood". Why? Is it going to look ridiculous just hanging there when most people don't use it anyway? What would've been wrong with a regular-sized hood?
If they had just held back from adding the exposed zippers (and oh yeah, the quality wasn't abysmal) I would've found more to like. I also think that most of those shoes will end up in FS - just look at what's in there now!
Agree w Desert Flower and JCrewJD, my Rewards Card is not burning a hole in my pocket this time, normally I have it spent ten times over!
ReplyDeleteAnd after the winter we have had, I am unbelievably ready for a little Spring!
Maybe they are using studs and sequins to cover up the pills and holes on the defective sweater someone returned....
ReplyDeleteThe appliques are starting to look like a DIY craft project.
silver_lining I was just examining the retro shell. I was drawn to the popsicle pink color but I refuse to buy into the exposed zipper trend. I think it looks tacky. I passed on the Lisette shell for the same reason, even at the low price and 40% off.
ReplyDeleteZooming in on the back of the retro shell it looks like the metal zipper is too heavy for the silk garment and is causing it to sag. There is similar puckering on the back of the Lisette. How long before the garment tears at the zipper seams?
It's really a shame that they are pushing this zipper trend. It's works like repellent on me.
woodley park-zoo, I think all-season wool suits are always a safe bet for men compared to linen which is only good for the summer. I also like JCrew's cotton suit (item 16899) which will get more wear than linen. The linen suit in blue looks nice though, see GQ spring preview link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gq.com/style/wear-it-now/201101/spring-style-preview-2011#slide=1
If east coast 2011 summer is like 2010, I'll be needing one of the aforementioned suits.
BTW, I love Jcrew suits for women----they look very classy and sexy at the same time-----like the Ludlow suits for men :-)
Hi xoxo! I also think the exposed zippers look tacky and must be a nightmare for layering with other clothing. If I put a cardigan over the retro shell, I'd worry about it getting ripped by the zipper's teeth. There's a reason items with heavy zippers (jeans) have a flap of fabric covering them!
ReplyDeleteI think that that they're trying to pass cheap design shortcuts as on trend and 'of-the-moment', and it's a real turnoff. Would it cost that much more to cover a zipper, or finish a ruffled edge? Poor quality is never in style.
I am also wondering why they would ruin such cute items as the maritime dress and retro shell with exposed zippers. So unnecessary! Complete deal breaker for me... I will look at the versions offered by other retailers that do not have the zippers. Although, I do enjoy the look of the exposed zipper on the pixie pants although my undies have definitely gotten stuck in it more than once which is... really bad... because they don't come out... without ripping...
ReplyDeleteI am really liking this year's Spring look book, compared to last year's. I'm loving this year's pops of color and clean/simple styling. Many of the items may not work for me but I am seeing a few items I am looking forward to try and purchase. I hated last year's camouflage/muddy colors and the tattered/frayed edges of many items. I am happy there is less sequins and ruffles and things are looking more polished under Marissa's direction. Much as I love Anthro, I've been disappointed with their offerings these past few months. I can see some of the funds being redirected to Jcrew this year. The aesthetic of other alternatives within the price points I can afford don't work for me (Talbots, Canvas, ATaylor/Loft, BRepublic, etc). so it's really Jcrew, Anthro and sometimes GAP for me. I wish I get promoted so I can afford APC, Steven Alan, and Rag and Bone.
ReplyDeleteI am also not a fan of too much hardware in clothes and accessories. I have so far avoided items with zippers but was pleasantly surprised with the Striped Painter's tee which is a keeper. Lesson here is to keep an open mind. It may not be a disaster when done right.
Totally agree Marie! Very nice video. Am ready for spring already! enough mud and snow here! Finally some simplicity and colors!! Love it!
ReplyDeleteOh My! I love behind the scenes videos. It looks like J. Crew is moving the the right direction. Ms. Webb brings ambrosia to the masses!
ReplyDeleteAs someone who's tried on the retro shell (and dare I admit bought it :D), the zipper does not sag. While I wish it wasn't exposed, it is not heavy.
ReplyDeleteI haven't noticed many exposed zippers at other retailers yet this season, but admittedly JC gets the majority of my cash and my attention. Is this a "trend" and am I just out of the loop?
ReplyDeleteWell, I just got the catalog yesterday, and absolutely love it! Yes, there's some of the same old ruffles and sequins and unfinished edges, but there's a lot of pretty color, simple styling, and pretty things to love, at least IMO. That image of the girl jumping in the new stripy tee and white Belmarin pants seems very "old jcrew" to me. Granted I haven't seen anything IRL yet, but I for one am really happy with the new catalog.
ReplyDeleteI mostly agree about the zipper thing though. I really don't get the zippers on the Maritime dress - just doesn't make sense. But, I ordered the toothpick zipper jeans on one of the 40% promos just to see them since I really liked the wash, and I actually kind of like them. Perhaps I'm just the right age that I have some positive associations from the last time zipper ankle jeans were in. And I have seen zippers at other retailers, though more for last fall/winter than spring. Zippers just don't really say spring to me. :)
Heyyy Everyone! For anyone interested in the music from the video its my first single "Hiding In Plain Sight" (comes out Feb.7th) from my debut album. For more info check out
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Hiding-In-Plain-Sight/dp/B004LHL7H8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1296514724&sr=8-1