J.Crew's Jenna Lyons Hearts Sequins

The following article and photos are from the Guardian (click here to read in its entirety): 

J.Crew's Jenna Lyons: 'Sequins are the new black'
Label’s creative director fights against ‘fashion gone quiet’ with sparkles, bright yellows and deep purples as she shows collection at New York fashion weekBy Jess Cartner-Morley
February 17, 2015

Backstage at the Lincoln Center, moments before the J Crew show at New York fashion week, the models asked Jenna Lyons, the label’s creative director: “Are we allowed to smile?”

Lyons – dressed for the occasion in floor-length black culottes with a simple striped cotton shirt, signature black-rimmed spectacles and slicked back hair – burst out laughing. “Oh my god, yes! Please smile.”

The models’ question was not stupid. Smiling is a rare occurrence on the catwalk, where aloof unobtainability is still considered the ideal. But J Crew is different from most names on the New York fashion week schedule, being an upscale mainstream store whose price tags, while not cheap, are closer to affordable than astronomical. What’s more, the tone of approachability saturates everything about J Crew. The store models often wear glasses, and unlikely colours and fabrics are mixed with a screwball comedy wit.

Under the stewardship of Lyons and the chief executive, Mickey Drexler, J Crew has become a major player in global fashion. Michelle Obama is a fan, and ...has enabled J Crew to lay claim, in the American imagination, to the notion of dressing with a pop of colour. ...

But recently J Crew has run into trouble. A loss of $607m in 2014 led to reports that Lyons was in trouble with Drexler for the unlikely fashion crime of being too fabulous. Lyons’ personal fame – guest appearances in Girls and a turn at Solange Knowles’s wedding – was said to be shading her J Crew role. Drexler dismissed the reports as silly, publicly backing Lyons as being “as good as it gets at being a voice for J Crew”. But the recent departure of both the chief operating officer and chief financial officer have fuelled rumours that all is not well at JCrew.

The New York fashion week presentation, therefore, comes at a crunch moment for the label. Lyons came out, all guns blazing – or, given the J Crew obsession with sequins, sparkling. “I think we were missing the sparkle a little,” said Lyons, pointing out a multicoloured sequin minidress, worn over a button down skirt and under a double-breasted tweed coat. “We’d gotten a little bit quiet. It’s not just us – fashion generally has gone a bit quiet, I think. So this season I was like: ‘Damn, give me sequins!’”

As Lyons posed for photos with starstruck fashion groupies, the head of women’s design, Tom Mora, expanded on how the team found inspiration in Peter Schlesinger’s photographic portraits of a flamboyant 1970s London set which included David Hockney, Tina Chow, Paloma Picasso and Cecil Beaton. “What I loved was how much elegance and energy and freedom there was in the way they dressed, not just for evening but day-to-day.” The 70s silhouettes – which are already making a strong showing among New York fashion week goers wearing flared trousers, long A-line skirts and polo necks – were abundant in the new collection.

J Crew has recently opened stores in London, and the British influence was evident in the menswear, where designer Frank Muytjens had hit upon his colours of the season at a specialist fair selling vintage army and navy clothing in Folkestone, Kent. While the womenswear was a magpie’s feast of sunshine yellow, rose pink and rich purple, menswear blended in muted tones of olive, grey, camel and tobacco.

Muytjens, wearing a tobacco silk scarf with ivory polka dots tucked neatly beneath the lapel of his knitted navy blazer, shrugged. “That’s the difference between a guy and a girl. Our man doesn’t want to be visible from 10 blocks away because of the colour of his shirt.”

The J Crew woman, by contrast, is a peacock, albeit a practically dressed one. Editors and stylists arrived, shivering and shaking snow from their hair, to stand sighing in front of a tan parka fully lined with yolk-yellow fake fur, and sumptuous roll-neck sweaters layered under gold-buttoned blazers. Sequins sparkled under parkas, and sprouted in tufts from cosy sweaters. “Sequins are the new black,” proclaimed Lyons. She was smiling.

Oh to have Frank Muytjens design a capsule collection for the Women's line...

I will say I love the sequins in the upcoming Fall/Winter collection. They are completely unpractical for my lifestyle, but oh so pretty! I am also thrilled to see a nice combination of neutrals (with the grey tones) mixed in with the colors (rich purples and yellows). Color me impressed!

What are your thoughts on the article? Any point that you agreed or disagreed with? If so, please share! :)

Behind the Scenes at New York Fashion Week & J.Crew

"Thanks!" to  many of you, including Unknown (in this post), who let us know that J.Crew is posting some behind the scenes photos throughout their social media sites:

• J.Crew {facebook}
• J.Crew {770 blog}
• J.Crew {instagram}
• J.Crew {pinterest}

Here are just a few of the images that they posted so far:

Is it weird that I am looking forward to this year's Fall/Winter already? Can't wait to see more photos of their event.

J.Crew's Fall/Winter 2015 presentation is scheduled for this Tuesday during New York Fashion Week. You can also search #jcrewnyfw for of-the-moment updates on the show.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming collection? Are you excited about any piece in particular?

How J.Crew Names the Colors {delicious!}

J.Crew is known for their delightfully rich hues. The following article is from the Huffington Post (click here to read in its entirety) shares some light on the process:

How J.Crew Colors Get Their Wild Names
By Katy Hall
November 13, 2014

Looking through the J.Crew website this season may give you ideas for a holiday party menu. There's a cashmere sweater in harvest grape, moccasins in dark nutmeg and chinos in melted caramel and fresh sage.

"People really respond to food," said Tom Mora, head of women's design at the company. "I've never heard a person not feel happy about eating. It's that emotion or smile on your face. These colors all have distinct smells or tastes to them."

Food is just one of many things that inspire the names of the more than 100 colors J.Crew invents every season. Seasonal smells, flowers and destinations can all work to shift a red to dark poppy, or a neutral beige to sandy shore. The continual supply of bold new colors, painstakingly curated and named, is one reason the catalog resembles a lifestyle magazine and the brand has earned cult status.

But before the colors are named, the colors themselves have to be selected. Mora and other color creators, including color librarian Cherie Zavitz (who has "the coolest job EVER," she said), start with a "mood board" in the company's color library in downtown Manhattan. They post items that set the collection's mood: vintage clothing, leather wallets, scraps of paper or silk. This season's neon electric flame, seen here in the stadium-cloth cocoon coat, started off as a "really intense shoelace," Mora said.

Once the seasonal palette is set, each color is dyed onto a fabric swatch and given a name that reflects the feel of the collection. "Whether we're going on a trip to Spain or the 1920s in Berlin or the California coast, you start thinking of what that does in your head," said Mora. "That's where you start getting the words you can kind of associate with the colors as well."

Summer collections may have a tropical or warm feel: neon flamingo, reef blue and even pebble can evoke a sunny day at the beach. Fall takes on a more weathered, outdoorsy tone with rich colors that are burnished or icy or crisp or rusty. Color names can go in a lot of directions -- and they have, considering J.Crew has coined thousands of them -- but there are a couple of things the company tries to avoid. One is being creative to the point of obscurity.

"We don't want to start naming names in terms of a town or get too specific," Mora said. "That confuses people. They need to get it immediately from the sound of the name. Sometimes when you have a name that doesn't include the color, like dusty cobblestone, it kind of does feel like a cobblestone. They still know what that is."

He added that sometimes colors just sound like they would smell bad: "Sometimes the two words together, like burnt something or ripe something, are like, ew!"

Simplicity can work just as well as the most imaginative names. Bright colors pair well with J.Crew's signature neutrals. Jenna Lyons, the company's creative director, lists adding a pop of color as one of her 10 style rules. "Color isn't easy for anyone," she told The Guardian. "It's not easy for me! It's a challenge. It feels good to embrace a challenge."

Standby colors like black, white and khaki aren't going anywhere. Those swatches are labeled and pinned on the wall in the color library -- along with the thousands of past colors that might make a comeback, if the designers and customers love them enough.

"There are always the favorites," Mora said. "You know it's a great color when the customer comes in asking for it by name." Two old favorites that have resurfaced this season are golden sun and brilliant flame.

There is also a video about J.Crew selecting their colors that is totally worth a viewing:


I found it really interesting how J.Crew gets inspired to create the shades and names. It got me thinking what my favorite color from J.Crew is... It might just be their Poppy Red.

I also did not realize they have over 100 different colors each season! And who knew Luigi was an important part of the process!?! ;)

What are your thoughts on the article and video? Any points that you found very interesting? What is your favorite shade at J.Crew? Please share! :)

J.Crew's Fashion Week Sneak Peeks

J.Crew is already getting ready for Fashion Week. There are a few posts about this event over at J.Crew's own 770 blog (" The Dos and Donts of Women’s Casting" and "Men’s Casting Call"). All the photos in this post come from J.Crew's blog.

There is also an article over at USA Today (click here to read in its entirety) about it with matching video too:

Sneak peek: J.Crew's spring collection
By Carly Mallenbaum
September 8, 2014

Didn't nab an invite to the J. Crew show at New York Fashion Week? Not to worry. USA TODAY has a sneak peek at the J. Crew spring looks that will launch Tuesday in New York and hit stores across the country next year.

Men's
"We looked at a French Mediterranean fishing village" while designing the spring line, says Frank Muytjens, head of J.Crew men's design. He observed the way fishermen "mend their nets, how they sit on the dock in their gear, what they wear (and how) it gets old and tattered." For the collection, that translated into "dusty pastels" and "lots of navies, blues and washed-out denims" reminiscent of the ocean.

One particular look pairs a fresh Japanese indigo chambray pant with a classic shawl-collared cardigan. The tapered pants could also be worn with a full suit, or just with a T-shirt and white sneakers, Muytjens says. The cardigan, which is made of dry hand cotton, is meant for everything from a day at the office to a night on the beach.

The collection offers "the high and low, the mix of something something weathered with something clean and new-looking.

Women's
Tom Mora, head of J. Crew women's design, tried to bring the same "happy energy" that he felt while visiting Peru and Mexico, to his collection. "You eat late and you wear the same thing that you wore to the beach, to dinner," he says. The looks combine khakis, indigo, mossy greens, whites and pops of yellow; with linen, "couture mesh" and menswear-inspired blazers and pants. "It's casual and it also has a little bit of glamour."

The quirky sequined shorts seem to fit that the laidback vibe. "You can't feel uptight when you're wearing them," Mora says. The shorts, which have a drawstring, are made for slouching. Mora pairs them with a"new version of a jean jacket" that has a high-low hem. "It's the most beautiful vivid blue that reminds me of the ocean," he says of the jacket.

Mora says his clothes should feel "like taking a deep breath and letting it out."

When it comes to the Men's Collection... perfection. Even Frank's quote about the high low feels spot on. Is it weird that I am pulling ideas from their side to style myself? ;)

Now for the Women's side... I like the color scheme for the upcoming collection, with the khaki, greens and pops of yellow. Also, I love that table full of jewelry pieces. I just wanted to help myself to some!

I do have to address the sequined shorts... really? The sequined pattern is beautiful, lovely for a special event. However, the shorts aspect brings it down to casual. So I am not sure where it would be appropriate to wear. Too bad it was not a skirt.

J.Crew's Spring/Summer 2015 presentation is scheduled for September 9th during New York Fashion Week. You can also search #jcrewnyfw for of-the-moment updates on the show.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming collection? Are you excited about any piece in particular?

Dress Like J.Crew, But Can You Smell Like J.Crew {answer: yup!}

Some exciting new additions are making their way over to J.Crew... J.Crew is set to launch two new fragrances!!! The following is from Elle (click here to read in its entirey):

J.Crew Launches Fragrances With a 1940s Feminist Twist
By Megan Cahn
August 15, 2014

We know we're not the only ones who feel this way: Open a J.Crew catalogue and you want to live in its pages—to go on the idyllic Indian/Balinese/English countryside vacation in the perfect not-trying-too-hard outfit with the most ruggedly handsome dude. The world of J.Crew has always been Instagram-perfect before there was Instagram. It's completely alluring, so today's announcement that J.Crew will be adding fragrance to its world just seems right.

Jenna Lyons and Co. worked with fragrance developer Carlos Huber, who creates scents that "restore the olfactive experience of a particular time and place" at his small-batch perfumery Arquiste, to create J.Crew's first two fragrances, No. 31 and No. 57. “Fragrance is not something we know a lot about, so when the opportunity to work with [Huber] arose, we knew it was time to do this,” Lyons told WWD.

The scents, out on August 18, are meant to evoke a very specific moment in time: January 5, 1943. This date marked the opening of the “Exhibition by 31 Women,” the first all-female modern art show in the U.S. Curated by Peggy Guggenheim and displayed at her Art of This Century Gallery on East 57th Street in New York, the show featured works by Lee Krasner, Dorothea Tanning, and Frida Kahlo. Of course, there was also a fabulous opening night party to celebrate the show, heralded as the "party of the decade." Huber describes the scene to WWD: “Guggenheim had oak chairs so patrons could sit down and admire art. The walls, floor and ceiling were all done in wood....There were Manhattans, negronis, and gin-and-tonics—all these cocktails that were popular during that era.”

J.Crew's new scents are meant to conjur up the excitement of that night. No. 57 evokes the warmth of the wood and glow of the party (aged whiskey, cinnamon bark, labdanum and vanilla), while No. 31 reflects the crowd and the cocktails (red vermouth, eau-de-vie accord, Bulgarian rose, and damson plum). "Each scent has a unique feeling and will attract many different women," Tom Mora, head of J. Crew women’s design, says in a release. "The scents are strong in their own ways, and after experiencing them, our customers might find that they love both; it’s a very personal thing."

J.Crew has dabbled in beauty before, but this foray into fragrance certainly seems like it will be a lot more memorable.

The Arquiste for J.Crew fragrances are available in 1.7 fl.oz ($78/£78) and 0.34 fl.oz ($25/£25) bottles. I read elsewhere that they will be available starting August 20th at J.Crew stores / online (and September 23rd at the J.Crew store in London).

J.Crew has dabbled in the scent game before. They came out last year with the Men's D.S. & Durga for J.Crew Homesteader's Cologne (refer to the "Don't Just Look Like J.Crew {smell like it too!}" post). For Women, as D*ska (in this post) mentions, J.Crew had a self titled perfume a super long time ago. A quick search on eBay found several bottles of "Sea Glass" by J.Crew (or should I say, So J.Crew!)

This new product seems like a good extension of J.Crew current offerings. They already offer makeup and hair accessories, so why not perfume? Plus, a lot of other retailers like Banana Republic and Zara, offer their own signature scents. So it's a pretty common move too.

I am curious what it will smell like in person. I already feel like I own too many bottles of perfume, but I can always make room for one more if it smells right!

What are your thoughts on this new product extension? Are you excited about smelling like J.Crew now too? ;)

Photos of J.Crew's Newest Vancouver Store Opening

"Thanks!" to Rose (in this post) who let us know that J.Crew has already opened their latest store in Vancouver. This is J.Crew's second location in the city.

Rose also shared a post from Straight (click here to check it out in its entirety) that has several images of the store. (All images in this post come from that post/ link.) According to the article, this location only carries Women's merchandise (sorry guys!) In particular, "clothing, accessories, costume jewellery, and shoes" for the aficionadas of the brand.

To stop by, the store is located at:

Pacific Centre

701 W Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V7Y 1G5, Canada

I love seeing pictures of J.Crew's stores. There is something about the way merchandise is laid out- such eye-candy!

Are you excited about J.Crew's newest store in Canada? Have you already visited this location?

J.Crew + Vogue at the Grove

There is a post over at Racked L.A. (click here to read post in its entirety), that shares an upcoming event at J.Crew:

J.Crew, along with Vogue magazine, is celebrating the holiday season with a shopping party this Thursday night. From 6 to 8pm, join J.Crew head women's designer Tom Mora, Lucky west coast editor Marlien Rentmeester and stylist Mary Alice Haney for cocktails and a discount of 20% off purchases of $150 or more. A portion of the night's proceeds will benefit the LA Food Bank; call (323) 939-1070 to get on the guest list.

The location for this event is:

J.Crew at the Grove
189 Grove Dr.
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 939-1070

Congrats to all those in the area!!! :)

J.Crew Debuts on Lane Crawford

The following is from Jing Daily about J.Crew's expansion into the Hong Kong market (click here to read in its entirety):

J.Crew’s China Adventure Set To Kick Off In Hong Kong
By Jing Daily
September 25, 2012

After months of planning and anticipation, American retailer J. Crew’s long-awaited Autumn/Winter 2012 expansion in partnership with Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford is finally set to launch. Appearing first at Lane Crawford Canton Road and online at lanecrawford.com on September 26, followed by Lane Crawford ifc mall on September 28, J.Crew will offer customers in Asia special access to curated women’s and men’s ready-to-wear collections, including shoes and accessories. This two-pronged on- and offline approach will give customers throughout Hong Kong and mainland China the ability to shop in-person at J.Crew outside of North America for the first time.

J.Crew’s partnership with Lane Crawford is unfolding in real-time this week as an instructive — and likely promising — case study of how some Western brands are entering, or perhaps should enter, the Chinese market. By starting with an online-heavy strategy and partnering with a department store, J.Crew is able to bypass many of the headaches that accompany the construction of a full-blown store. As Divia Harilela recently wrote for Jing Daily, “tread[ing] lightly by creating an online presence first” instead of diving head-first by establishing a physical presence is the wiser road to take, particularly for a brand that’s well-established at home but untested in Asia.

J.Crew began its Greater China expansion late last year, starting by offering flat-rate shipping to Hong Kong (HK$150) and mainland China (US$30). Within six months, Hong Kong quickly became one of J.Crew’s top five biggest markets. The company seems confident that finding and partnering with a credible retailer (or e-tailer) before going solo is an effective way to tackle the very different animal that is the Chinese market now that it’s set for a physical appearance. Only after a strong online presence is established under the wing of Lane Crawford will J.Crew likely find the idea of opening an independent brick-and-mortar store in Hong Kong less daunting and more economically viable.

But what’s a grand opening without a party? To celebrate the collaboration, a cocktail event will be held on October 11, 2012 at Lane Crawford ifc mall, attended by leading members of the J. Crew team, among them creative director Jenna Lyons, womenswear head designer Tom Mora and menswear head designer Frank Muytjens.

Some JCAs may have already noticed over at lanecrawford.com, that it already features J.Crew's merchandise. (Make sure you change which country you are in.) I also love that I have another source to see how the clothes actually look on a model. Very cool!

Also, the party that J.Crew will be throwing next week sounds amazing. If any JCAs are attending, please share about the details!!!

What are your thoughts on J.Crew's entrance to the Hong Kong market? Do you think Lane Crawford is a good match for the retailer?

Jenna Lyons at the Met

Every once in awhile, J.Crew's 770 blog offers really interesting insight into their inner workings. Their "The Making of a Met Ball Outfit" post is one of them:

Jenna and head women’s designer Tom Mora walk the red carpet

Pink Lady: “I felt I had to do something in shocking pink because that’s what Schiaparelli is known for. I sketched the design for this skirt on the back of a piece of paper during a meeting one day about two weeks before the ball. Honda, our patternmaker, draped and stitched the satin right here in the office.”

Shock Factor: “There’s a peplum underneath because I wanted that articulated silhouette I had seen on the pages of Schiaparelli’s Shocking Life. The bow at the waist has wire in it to hold its shape and keep it nice and stiff.”

Denim Diehard: “I didn’t want to wear duchesse silk satin with something sparkly or pearls. I am who I am—so I took it down a notch with denim. We pulled a J.Crew jean jacket and then had it fit and re-tailored to raise the waistband. I’m also not really wearing a shirt underneath—the collar and cuffs were custom-made by my custom shirtmaker and were stitched into the jacket.”

What are your thoughts on Jenna Lyons outfit? Do you like the pairing of satin with denim?

J.Crew's Tom Mora talks about J.Crew's Appeal

There is an article over at the Province (click here to read in its entirety) that interviews J.Crew's Tom Mora about J.Crew's timeless appeal:

Creative combos, timeless appeal: J.Crew's Tom Mora
The Province
May 19, 2012

Here’s one way to avoid being a slave to trends: ignore them.

Tom Mora, vice-president of women’s design at J.Crew, lives by that philosophy. Fashion, for him, is about creating something he loves.

“We try to live in our own fashion bubble and just create great things that we love,” he says.

It’s a liberating approach that anyone can emulate: By only buying the things that you love, you’ll more than likely wear it again regardless of whether a fashion magazine says it’s “in” or “out.”

So those skinny, neon pink jeans on the mannequin at Vancouver’s newly opened J.Crew store? No, not for everyone, but Mora didn’t hesitate when questioned if a gal really could wear them beyond this spring’s colour-obsessed season.

“Absolutely, absolutely, we love neon colours,” he says with conviction.

As a designer, Mora says he aims for timelessness. The trick to ensuring it feels anything but vanilla is all in the styling, for which J.Crew has garnered plenty of industry cred. The preppy company is known for creating surprising but still wearable looks, many of them based on its executive creative director Jenna Lyons’ personal style.

Think sparkly skirts with a casual striped T, or a cotton summer dress kicked up a notch with heels and dramatic costume jewelry pretty enough for a summer party. Taken apart, each individual piece is pretty straightforward. Put together, it feels fresh.

“The pieces are really classic, but that’s what’s great about it. Once you take it apart and it’s not styled like that, you can still take it and incorporate that into your wardrobe so easily. We really try not to do things that don’t feel like they’re going to transcend a season or a trend. I think [when it feels trendy], it just happens organically when you’re in a creative field. There’s a lot of polkadots and we do polkadots and it’s a happy coincidence,” says the New York-based Mora.

If you’re new to this idea mixing pattern, colour and layering and feeling unsure, Mora’s best tip is to go with your gut. If it doesn’t feel good, don’t wear it. “It has to put a smile on your face,” he says.

Tom Mora’s top 3 buys for spring

1. Coloured jeans: “One of our great coloured skinny jeans is a great update to the wardrobe. They’re really comfortable. They feel really right again. You can make them really casual, make them feel dressy.”
2. Dress: “Dresses are always a great way to update a wardrobe. You just put it on and have a great little cardigan over it . . . or with the right heel, all of a sudden you’re ready for a summer party.”
3. Blazer: “It never goes out of style. We love it.”

The overall theme of buying things you love (over trends) is a great piece of advice. Although it is sometimes hard to remember that when actually shopping! ;)

As for the top 3 picks for Spring, I could not agree more with number 2 and 3. A nice dress and sharp blazer can take anyone from work to play easily. As for color jeans... this is tricky. It really depends on the color and fit of the jeans to pull off. Finding the right pair definitely requires some time and effort.

What are your thoughts on the article? Disagree or agree with the advice shared by Mr. Mora? What would your list include?

J.Crew Teams Up with Kotur Handbags

Back in November of 2011, J.Crew held a launch party in New York for their latest collaboration: KOTUR for J.Crew Collection. (To view images of this event, click here.) Fiona Kotur designed a capsule collection of handbags, ranging from $350 to $615.

"Thanks!" to Aline of Kotur, who shared the following fun interview of Jenna Lyons with us (click here for original link):

Muse not only to me, but to many - those who blog, buy and behold her covetable, preppy-chic style. As a follower of jcrew.com’s monthly “Jenna’s Picks”, I am one of the many, inspired by her styling and her creative spirit.

Jenna’s own trademark insouciant style takes a little from the boys, a dab from Grandma and is finessed with a good pinch of chic. Often combining sequins, feathers, cashmere and camouflage in a way only the sartorially blessed can.

Truly statuesque at 6’ in her stockinged feet - not that you would ever know as she is ALWAYS in her heels, elevating even the most downbeat of 10-year-old denims to fashionable new heights.

I met Jenna when, as Creative Director for J.Crew, she asked me to create a range of bags for their Holiday collection. Naturally, I jumped at the chance, and I'm so excited to be launching the collection alongside Jenna at the J.Crew New York flagship store event next week…

KOTUR: What’s in your make-up bag?
Jenna: Red Square – Nars; Blistex; Crème Blush – always; Black Eyeliner

KOTUR: Do you have a favorite purse or bag?
Jenna: Vintage Chanel – Mint Green

KOTUR: Name your desert island essentials?
Jenna: Sunscreen, Beckett, a J.Crew string bikini, and a good book

KOTUR: Do you have a beauty secret?
Jenna: Don’t look too closely into the mirror and be happy

KOTUR: What do you wear on a fat day?
Jenna: Men’s trousers and a white shirt, the highest heels I can find and red lips – smoke & mirrors

KOTUR: How would your female friends describe your style?
Jenna: Boyfriend/granny

KOTUR: What’s the most treasured item in your wardrobe?
Jenna: My ten-year-old Okura jeans.

KOTUR: Is there anything in your wardrobe you should get rid of but can’t?
Jenna: That list is embarrassingly long

KOTUR: What do you never leave home without?
Jenna: My 1969 Gold Rolex

KOTUR: When home alone, what do you wear?
Jenna: My day of the week undies and an oversized t-shirt

KOTUR: You’re the fashion police for a day, what do you ban?
Jenna: French Manicures

KOTUR: How old is too old for a mini?
Jenna: 29 years, 11 months and 20 days

KOTUR: Have you ever worn anything you are now embarrassed by?
Jenna: Have done, will probably do again, am sure I will, forever. Asymmetrical haircut was the worst.

KOTUR: Have you ever worn anything you now regret?
Jenna: I have cried many fashion tears.

KOTUR: How high is too high a heel?
Jenna: When you can’t walk

KOTUR: What is your most recent purchase?
Jenna: Celine plaid pants & coat

KOTUR: What quality do you most admire in a person?
Jenna: Smile, vulnerability and generosity

KOTUR: Can you judge a book by its cover?
Jenna: Terribly

KOTUR: What are your guilty pleasures?
Jenna: Full cartons of ice cream with a tequila chaser

KOTUR: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Jenna: Never let people see your stress

KOTUR: What’s your favorite smell?
Jenna: Clean skin

KOTUR: What’s your idea of a great holiday?
Jenna: No phone

KOTUR: What are you most proud of?
Jenna: My beautiful boy

KOTUR: What are you least proud of?
Jenna: My ass

KOTUR: What’s your pure bliss?
Jenna: My son’s belly laugh

KOTUR: If you could meet someone from history who would it be?
Jenna: Betsy Ross

KOTUR: Yes or no to a nip and a tuck?
Jenna: Ask me in 20 years

KOTUR: What would you like to achieve before you die?
Jenna: Balance

KOTUR: Which of the various Kotur bags you have is your favorite?
Jenna: The JB Renna Shagreen clutch makes my heart stop

KOTUR: On a scale of one-to-ten, how good looking are you?
Jenna: Ha. That’s a trap.

I have to say, Jenna Lyons always comes off so personable in interviews!

What are your thoughts on the Q&A with Jenna Lyons? Did you find any tidbits interesting? Are you a fan of the KOTUR for J.Crew collection? Please share! :)

J.Crew Fall/ Holiday 2011 Fashion Event in NYC

It is that time of year again... the Crew's Holiday Party Time! {Although in my head, I am singing it to the tune of "Peanut Butter Jelly Time".}

"Thanks!" to Dara (in this & this post) who let us know the following:

On a semi-related topic, just received my invitation to the NYC holiday party. First off, it's at the Fifth Avenue store this year instead of Madison Avenue Collection, presumably because the Fifth Avenue store was just renovated. Excited about this since the Fifth Avenue store is much closer to where I live and a bigger store means way more merchandise to choose from. Second, it seems Jenna won't be in attendance this year which I find strange (and frustrating because I left just before she arrived the last 3 years in a row!) Tom Mora and Frank Muytjens are hosting.

This event will take place this evening (although I am not sure what time it starts).

For those who attend, please share the details of this event with us! Who was there, who wore what, and all the other good stuff! :)

Wonder How to Dress for the Holidays {Tom Mora's got your back}

"Thanks!" to Kelly who shared the following article from Boston.com's Stylephile (click here to read in its entirety) and "thanks!" to Margot who let us know about the event at Copley Place:

Tips for holiday dressing from J.Crew's Tom Mora
By Rachel Raczka
November 8, 2011

We rang up Tom Mora, J.Crew's new head of women's design, before he arrives in Boston tomorrow for an appearance at the Copley Place store to celebrate the brand's holiday collection. Mora grew up in New York ("Queens, but you don't have to say that," he joked. "Just kidding! I love Queens! It was so nice having a suburban upbringing") and went on to attend Parsons school of design and work for Ralph Lauren before joining J.Crew. He brings a stylish sensibility and everyday glamour to the brand, where he previously designed special occasion collections.

Being the dapper gentleman that he is, Mora offered up his top 5 tips for working color and sparkle into a season often dominated by the little black dress.

Put on the glitz: "I think there's a whole new feeling of getting dressed up and what that actually means now," said Mora, who promised lots of sequins and glitter in J.Crew's holiday looks. "You can wear a really slim turtleneck with a metallic jacquard or plaid pant, a great heel, and red lip and look fantastic."

Pair bold hues with an unexpected neutral this season: "An amazing orange or red mixed with a heather grey or a taupe can introduce that pop while still neutralizing a look."

Go for the extreme: "I always think it's fantastic when someone is wearing a shocking pink top or a red bottom," said Mora. "It takes a lot more confidence but you can make a fantastic statement."

...Or play it safe: "If you feel like it's too much for you, try wearing a red pendant necklace or a clutch in a bright color," he added. But even baby steps are appreciated when trying a new trend. "Women are so much more sophisticated and experimental now. Rules, one by one, are getting chipped away."

Try the glittery ballet flats, but don't forget what mama said: "If a woman looks tailored and amazing and stands up straight, no one is even going to think twice about what she's wearing on her feet. Half the battle is the confidence a woman brings to an outfit."

Biggest faux pas of holiday dressing: "You know when you see actresses [at the Academy Awards] and you say, 'That doesn't look like her, she over-did it. I know you have 5 billion dollars of jewelry but you didn't have to wear it all.' Pull back a little bit and still be you," Mora advised.

"Don't go to the hair salon and have your hair done in a way that's not really you. Be who you are."

Want more of Mora? Meet him in person at Copley Place tomorrow evening where you can enjoy cocktails, chit chat, and 15 percent off your purchase at J.Crew.

It is so nice to hear from Tom Mora! I am also looking forward to seeing what he does for the Women's line.

What are your thoughts on the advice shared? Any part you agreed or disagreed with?

You're Invited to Meet Tom Mora {& check out the Fall collection}

A big "thanks!" to Jan who let us know about an upcoming event at J.Crew.

J.Crew in Los Angeles, CA will be hosting a "Fall Collection" shopping event on Thursday, October 6th (10am-9PM) with TOM MORA!!! They will be offering customers 15% off all purchases and a free gift on purchases of $150+ as well. Please RSVP beforehand (323-939-1070).

The location for this event is:

J.Crew at the Grove
189 Grove Dr.
Los Angeles, CA
(323) 939-1070

Congrats to all those in the area!!! :)

J.Crew Replaces Marissa Webb with Tom Mora

In the "Marissa Webb Leaves J.Crew {say it ain't so!}" post, we wondered who would replace Marissa Webb over at J.Crew.

"Thanks!" to MissJ & Linda (in this post), as well as Connor (in this post), who not only answered that question but also shared the following links & news:

J.Crew's Wedding Designer, Tom Mora will also be
the new Vice President of Women’s Design.

From WWD (click here to read in its entirety):

J.CREW PROMOTES MORA: J.Crew has promoted Tom Mora to vice president of women’s design, succeeding Marissa Webb, who will be leaving “to pursue other opportunities,” the company said Friday. Mora will also continue to oversee wedding and special occasion design; he has been the vice president over those categories since 2009. Previously, he was head of wovens and accessories, and has been working at J.Crew for 10 years.

From NBC New York's the Thread (click here to read in its entirety):

Shortly after the brand's well-received, first-ever Fashion Week presentation, J.Crew's womenswear designer has stepped down "to pursue other opportunities." According to WWD, Tom Mora will step up to the task of overseeing women's design in addition to his current duties tackling the wedding and "special occasion" categories for J.Crew.

In recent seasons, Webb had become the increasingly visible face of J.Crew's womenswear division -- has has Frank Muytjens for menswear -- as J.Crew's creative director, Jenna Lyons, had highlighted her talents and positioned her in more of a public role, particularly around J.Crew's seasonal presentations.

The brand's most recent presentation -- its first as part of the official New York Fashion Week lineup -- was a huge success, drawing an impressive crowd of both retail heavyweights and international fashion insiders. The fashion at the presentation may have been somewhat overshadowed, however, by the paparazzi maelstrom that resulted once Beyonce arrived to tour the collection with Jenna Lyons.

Well, it's interesting that J.Crew replaced Marissa with an insider. I wish Tom Mora all the best on his new role. And of course, I am wondering what Marissa Webb will do next!?

Are you surprised to hear that Tom Mora will replace Marissa Webb at J.Crew? Are you looking forward to seeing his work for the Women's line?

J.Crew Video: Martha Stewart Weddings Fall Fashion Shoot

"Thanks!" to all of you who shared the following video from J.Crew.

The video features Tom Mora at the "Martha Stewart Weddings Fall Fashion Shoot". How exciting!

What are your thoughts on the video? Do you enjoy the behind the scenes look?

Chat with J.Crew's Wedding Designer, Tom Mora

J.Crew announced a live Facebook chat with their Wedding Designer, Tom Mora. The details for this event are as follows:

• Time: Wednesday, July 27 · 2:30PM - 4:00PM
• Location: Facebook
• Created By: J.Crew
• Save the date: Our wedding designer, Tom, will host a live chat all about aisle style tomorrow, right here on Facebook, from 2:30 to 4pm ET.

To check out their Facebook page, click HERE.

J.Crew News: The Romantics Cast Hearts J.Crew! {part four}

As mentioned in in the "J.Crew News: The Romantics Cast Hearts J.Crew!", "J.Crew News: The Romantics Cast Hearts J.Crew! {part two}", & "J.Crew News: The Romantics Cast Hearts J.Crew! {part three}" posts, the cast of The Romantics film are loving J.Crew.

"Thanks!" to many of you, including JenLynn, Judith, & Minah, who let us know about the following news from StyeList (click here to read in its entirety):

J.Crew's 'The Romantics' Photo Shoot - Starring Katie Holmes and Josh Duhamel
By Jennifer Paull
August 18, 2010

In a StyleList exclusive, J.Crew gives us a sneak peek at images of Katie Holmes, Josh Duhamel, and their costars in the upcoming film "The Romantics," all decked out in J.Crew party attire.

The looks, drawn from the limited-edition Collection line for Fall 2010, are part of J.Crew's wardrobe contribution to the movie. For the photos, Holmes and Duhamel dance around with Malin Åkerman, Adam Brody, Jeremy Strong, and Rebecca Lawrence.

In the film, the actors play a group of college friends who reunite at a wedding on Long Island, NY, where a romantic triangle ignites. (The missing pieces are "True Blood"'s Anna Paquin, who plays the bride, and Elijah Wood.) As if the cast couldn't get any sweeter, the photos show them goofing around with cupcakes, feeding each other with the requisite dab of frosting on their faces.

The women gleam in a variety of shimmering styles. Åkerman wears a dark bronze sequined miniskirt; Lawrence swings her hips in a short, sunset-colored brocade sheath.

Holmes, meanwhile, wears a pale peach dress dripping with beaded fringe -- a look that practically begs to go dancing after the rehearsal dinner. (Something tells us that the film's bridesmaids dresses won't be the standard-issue taffeta horrors.)

In typical J.Crew fashion, the dressy duds are juxtaposed by boyish pieces. Åkerman layers on a sweatshirt vest, Lawrence tops her dress with a denim jacket, and Holmes toughens her wispy dress with a dark belt.

J.Crew polled the models-for-a-day about their romantic preferences and shared the surprising answers with StyleList.

Åkerman cracked that her most romantic word is "doofpot." Brody planted his tongue firmly in cheek, naming "The Shining" as the movie he finds most romantic and the score to "Gremlins" as his swoon-worthy song. Unsurprisingly, Mrs. Tom Cruise named Paris' Eiffel Tower (where she got engaged) as her most romantic place. She also divulged that "Songbird," by Fleetwood Mac, is her favorite lovestruck song and her favorite romantic words are "good morning." As for Duhamel? J.Crew tells us, "Josh was off being romantic and couldn't answer our Q&A."

"The Romantics," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, will open in limited release on September 10. Meanwhile, get a look at J.Crew's new bridal boutique in New York City.

There is also a very good article over at 680 News (click here):

J.Crew serves as thread between art, commerce, Holmes in film 'The Romantics'
By Samantha Critchell
August 18, 2010

This photo provided by J.Crew shows actors Josh Duhamel, left, and Katie Holmes from the J.Crew Fall Collection photo shoot with the cast of the upcoming film "The Romantics." Holmes and friends were in and out of several outfits— this time not costumes but clothes that will be available for sale this fall— over the course of several hours for an insert that will be bundled with the retailer’s fall catalog and on the brand’s website.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Clothes are a key part of weddings— and, it turns out, the marriage of art and commerce.

Katie Holmes, Josh Duhamel and Malin Akerman are among the well-dressed stars of upcoming film "The Romantics," which is all about friends reuniting for a wedding with a few wounds still not healed. Here, fashion isn't just playing a supporting role— it's a key marketing partner for the film.

The cast, which also includes Adam Brody, Rebecca Lawrence and Jeremy Strong, reunited recently for a photo shoot for J.Crew and changed in and out of several outfits over the course of several hours for the retailer's fall catalogue and the brand's website.

Holmes was turned out in black-sequin harem pants paired with a chambray button-down shirt, a combination she likes because it's "a little more tomboy, a little Diane Keaton," as well as a brown cocktail frock and a champagne-coloured, flapper-inspired beaded number. That one was her favourite, Holmes says: "It's flirty but grown-up, too."

The vast studio in Chelsea marked a new sort of crossroads for fashion and film. "The Romantics" and J.Crew don't just dabble in product placement — although some of the costumes were indeed J.Crew. The retailer is serving as a bona fide marketing partner, including covering the costs associated with the shoot.

In the film, the characters largely are introduced through their wardrobe: the flirty girl in a studded mini; the pensive but pretty one wearing things dark and demure; the bride obviously in white, even for the rehearsal dinner as if to say, "Remember, I'm the bride here." The guys are in untucked shirts with suits and ties, not truly ready to part with their youthful ways.

"Because the story is about a group of 20-something-year-olds and before they've really become 'adults,' clothes are a huge part of defining their identity," says director Galt Niederhoffer. "Clothes are a personal statement. They can break people visually into introverts, extroverts, romantics, geeks."

The looks were a mash-up of J.Crew's classic pieces, bridal styles and the new upscale 769 Collection.

Niederhoffer, on this day in head-to-toe Madewell, another J.Crew brand, doesn't shy away from the art and commerce connection. She says it might be what keeps small filmmakers going.

"This partnership was a strategic, innovative way to promote our movie with the audience we wanted to reach. This seemed graceful, and having come from the indy film world, this seemed really natural and obvious," she says. "Necessity is the mother of innovation."

Holmes was on board from the start, recognizing that this was a way to get the movie for which she serves as an executive producer in front of audiences. She's the one who rallied the others to reunite— including getting Brody on a red-eye from Los Angeles and a return flight not even 12 hours later— and she's the one who stayed until the bitter end taking personal snapshots with the makeup artists, stylists and lighting folks.

"The movie takes place on the East Coast during the fall. The look of the movie goes well with the feel of J.Crew," says Holmes, who also posed for the brand when she was a starlet on "Dawson's Creek."

"I feel like when we met with Katie the day before and she tried on the clothes, she was excited. And we were excited because she knew how to take the clothes and make them fun," says Tom Mora, J.Crew's head of design for wedding and cocktail. "Anyone can throw on a dress but it's the slightly quirky attitude that lets you experience something different with your clothes."

Duhamel came away from both the movie and photo shoot a fan of sand-coloured ties with tonal tan suits. "Clothes have to do with character. Your clothes don't have to be cool, they just have to say something about your character," he says, adding that applies to real life, too.

Holmes, meanwhile, says she likes using clothes to convey mood. She then takes off her heels and walks out of the studio in a plain white tank top and jeans.

This looks like just the kind of movie I will rent via NetFlix. I will be pausing at each scene to check out the outfits! ;) I also can't wait to see the catalog with the cast as the main models. How exciting! :)

What are your thoughts on the "models"? Do you like how the outfits, featuring J.Crew, are styled? Are you excited to see J.Crew in the new movie?