This love letter is a dedicated to all things trench coats, cable knits and blue denim. Known for their durability and beautifully simplistic designs, J-crew is the definition of ‘money talks, wealth whispers’. There’s a reason why we are not berated with flashy logos or constant flooding of ‘in your face marketing’, and that’s because J-crew has been selling their consumers a lifestyle, not a brandname.

Many are quick to correlate wealth and status with the brands people buy. Designers like Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Prada have been plaguing their monogram over their designs to which it becomes more of an advertisement than style. J-crew on the other hand, look to the consumers themselves to create their garments. They know their demographic and they create clothes that fit the lifestyle, rather than expecting the consumer to fit their lifestyle around a brand. Collections of knit sweaters for quaint family get-togethers or a beautifully tailored wool suit for working on set. Their advertising goes beyond the lengths of simply showcasing the clothes, but it looks to display the types of activities their consumers might endeavour.

Above all, J-crew is not swayed by trends. They create garments that hold true to premium quality and they sell with intention. Intention to last, with intentional consumption. These pieces are versatile and they’re ones that can be passed down through generations. Honing in on J-crew circa 1990, the rein of their influence is in every corner of our modern day. Following the visual inspiration board, I’ve compiled some of my favourite photographs from lookbooks and advertising spanning the late 1980s to late 1990s. The pairing of a basic trouser with a monochrome t-shirt or cardigan, loose blue jeans and a pair of brown loafers, a chunky sweater and a flowy silk skirt are all capsules of outfits built to last. Not only has J-crew built a brand teeming with quality and versatile pieces, they shift the focus of the brand to the consumer, allowing them to make the clothes their own, defining their own stories and personal style.

Thank you so much for reading!!!
love, linds