In the latest catalog (click here to view), J.Crew asks their designers to share some of their inspirations. The following is the text of each image above (from left to right):Behind the Design- We work with some of the best of the best. Our designers labor over quality, agonize over detail (and happen to have degrees from some of the top design schools in the world). See what inspires a few of our own- and find more at JCrew.com.
- I spend weekends in flea markets and furniture stores, looking at beautiful vintage castings, interesting glass, shapes and new ways of construction. -L.F.
- Creativity comes from the everyday in New York. I studied design at FIT, but I have to say, you learn more from life than school. I'm inspired daily by the city's culture, people, architecture and history, -M.W.
- Books are a constant source of inspiration, something I picked up early at Parsons School for Design. I read everything I can get my hands on. -T.M.
- My two boys inspire me daily. We see so many great things together that I use at work- bright flowers and special details that I know kids are crazy for (and parents adore). -J.G.
- I went to the Royal Academy of Art in Holland, but I find my muse in American workwear from the '40's and '50's, roadside American and the earth tones of Joshua Tree National Park. -F.M.
What are your thoughts on the designers' quotes? Did you find their inspirations interesting or bland? What are your thoughts of the following quote from the introduction: "Our designers labor over quality, agonize over detail"? :)
It's cool to hear from other designers, especially Muytjens since he is the relatively new head of men's design. I don't mind hearing from Jenna Lyons, she is the creative director and all, but she has been a bit overexposed lately.
ReplyDeleteI think the designs have been pretty repeated over the past several months. Sure, they are following the trends of raw-edge, ruffles, chiffon, belts everywhere except on pants, etc. but it's been way overdone IMO. And the colors are consistently the same with lots of boring neutrals. I got excited when I saw the silk georgette suit blouse, but the only colors are buff and pewter. Gee, don't I have 10 tops in those colors already?
ReplyDeleteFinding the inspiration behind a design idea is appealing. I am very interested in what gives the designers their ideas and what everyday things spark a thoght that one day ends up on the shelf at J.Crew and eventually my home.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of the scene from "The Devil Wore Prada" where she explains how design ideas filter down from high end to the bargin bin.
The "who is responsible for this season's yucky collection and who should be let go" list. Way to put a name and face on your bad work.
ReplyDeleteYou think Spring and Summer 2009 is bad wait until Fall, the preview looks terrible!
ReplyDeleteI've tried a lot of the new items this spring. So many of them seem to be sporting excessive embellishment that is there to detract from the poor fit and construction. Especially the knits and tees section. Who wants a jersey dress that is just cut off, not even hemmed? Not me. And the frumpy t's with details at the neckline or bust. I still notice the floppy fit around the waist. I don't see that as laboring over quality and detail.
ReplyDeleteanon 12:43: J Crew calls bagginess around the waist "slouchy fit"! Whatever they call it, it is still poor quality.
ReplyDeleteCrap. Roughed out leather belt for example. I would be rather ashamed to say I was a designer at JCrew after that belt. Please bring back some competent people like in past years ago.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anon 11:57--I was actually relieved to see the fall preview, having spent too much money on stuff this past fall/winter (desperately needed a wardrobe update and couldn't pass up the sale prices). The stuff for fall is totally uninspiring to me, save for two or three pieces. So I'm glad I overspent this past season, knowing I won't be buying very much in the future.
ReplyDeleteI always buy a lot more fall/winter clothing so I'm disappointed to hear the fall preview is not good. I live in Canada and we have two seasons - winter, and three months of bad skiing. Actually, there are a few short months of summer but I already have more pairs of shorts than I can wear in a season. I do wear skirts and tees a lot in the summer as well but get so much more wear out of the fall/winter clothes. yesterday we woke up to snow and -7C (19F). It was just a fluke and it will be warmer tomorrow but I'm still not ready for the summer clothes. Makes it that much easier to pass on the questionable spring/summer items. Great for my wallet. Until fall rolls around...
ReplyDeleteanon 7:06: I live in Canada and it is summer where I live (TO), it is shorts weather tomorrow.
ReplyDelete7:41 - I'm in Calgary and we just got a fresh dump of snow. It was 20C last weekend here too. Of course, hitting a high of 20C midday doesn't make it shorts weather IMHO. I lived in Atlanta for 8 years and I'm used to HOT.
ReplyDelete7:06
Hmmm, looks like T.O. is getting some thunder showers tomorrow. I'd be skeptical on the prediction for shorts weather.
ReplyDeleteI think item 15284 was inspired by looking at the paper shredder at Jcrew design office.
ReplyDeletePeople arguing about weather now? It is going to be 27% here today, sounds like summer to me time to break out the beer on the patio.
ReplyDeleteHow many of you actually work in the retail, fashion business etc.? It is always so interesting to see how negative people can be on a website that is dedicated to J. Crew. I think that this collection is very beautiful and the fall things that I have seen on the preview look amazing. I have never eard anything but oohs and aahs over J. Crew. I have never had a problem with quality either, and I have a closet full of J. Crew! I think the designers are doing a fabulous job!
ReplyDeleteanon 7:22: Everyone has their own opinion, and many have expressed disappointment with the new collection. There have been many posts regarding the lack of quality, so the problem does exist, it has nothing to do with being negative it is fact.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know of a poster on another blog who received that new linen/gold button/metallic thread jacket. She said it came with a hole in the sleeve where the fabric had all pulled away from each other. That is poor quality.
ReplyDeleteI received a sweater from the new line with a hole in it too recently.
I too have a whole closet of JCrew but have had a TON and I mean over 25 items returned in the past two years from online orders with items that were defective.
Last spring my red Katie sweater jacket came with blue threads running all through the back of it in about 7 rows 5 inches long!
Crazy!
PS
ReplyDeleteI think the designers are not up to par anymore. I think this spring collection and the fall preview are very disappointing. I have JCrew clothes in my closet from 10 years ago and the quality has been going down steadily in the past 2-3 years especially. It used to be just an occasional piece but now I am having problems with more and more pieces.
There are certainly quality issues and you are kidding yourself if you really do purchase a lot of J.Crew and can't admit it. I love me some J.Crew, but I purchase less and less each rollout. I'm fine with it, I don't need a ton of new clothes every season because what I have is already pretty good.
ReplyDeleteMy issue with J.Crew is that a lot of their stuff don't fit me anymore. Since when was a 0P supposed to be so big? I haven't tried their 00P chinos yet, but if they want to get me to purchase their stuff, they first have to make their stuff smaller.
ReplyDeleteTo the JCA in T.O. - I hope you grabbed your beer and got off the patio before the big storm hit. Nasty!
ReplyDeletehttp://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2009/04/25/9247121-cp.html
I did and enjoyed every minuite of it, it did not rain until night time. I even got a sunburn. Thank-you for asking, it was very kind of you.
ReplyDeleteJCA TO
Cynthia: I have complained to JCrew several times about this exact same issue. I was told they had not received any other complaints. If there are any other JCAs who are swimming in size 0, please let JCrew know! I, like others perhaps, am getting tired of spending $ on alterations.
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