While we’re on the topic of dressing for the Met Costume Ball, I neglected to add Jenna Lyons to my worst dressed list yesterday, so I will now. I found her ensemble entirely too casual for a ball. It would have been far more elegant without the printed sweater. I’m also quite tired of seeing Jenna Lyons in a button down shirt, jeweled necklace, and those glasses.
Lyons, one of the main creative forces behind J. Crew, is lauded for her design turnaround of J. Crew, but I feel that not all of the changes have been positive. I remember shopping at J. Crew in the ’90s, when the store was primarily a mail order company. Growing up in an area without a wealth of shopping options, J. Crew was my entrée to a larger retail world. I derived inspiration from the preppy fashion scenes pictured in the catalog and I loved the basics that they sold, such as a black v-neck wool sweater that I would pay good money for today. Now I peruse J. Crew’s catalogs more for the shock factor of seeing eclectic combinations that mix prints and colors to the max than as a literal source of inspiration . And the quality of J. Crew’s clothing is not the same as it used to be. But I continue to shop at J. Crew; despite the brand’s outrageous combinations and diminished quality, I still find that J. Crew carries a number of pieces that I like to wear. I’ve found their basics to be particularly reliable.
So after this little disclaimer/critique of J. Crew, I want to share some printed pieces that have captured my attention. I’m typically not a print person, but I love the impact that these pieces create:
Embroidered Scarf
Tortoiseshell flower necklace.
Printed flats
What’s your take on J. Crew? Are you newer to the Crew or did you shop the store in the old school days? Do any of these printed pieces speak to you? Do you generally wear prints?
I agree that the quality of Jcrew has gone downhill the past few years. While in the past the odd piece might have worn out exceptionally quickly (like their incredibly thin tees), I find almost any of today’s purchases from the brand to be a risky proposition. The older Jcrew pieces I find in secondhand shops are much better quality, especially in regards to material. It’s quite unfortunate!
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