I have to confess a tinge of sadness that J.Crew changed its name from the original super-catchy incarnation of Popular Merchandise Inc.
That aside, the evolution of J.Crew into a mainstay of discerning gents on both sides of the Atlantic is a cause for celebration, and their A/W 16 collection is a perfect example.
Collabs, outerwear, accessories, formal and more create a coherent collection, with individual pieces slotting effortlessly into becoming firm favourites, and including gems from the likes of Vans, Norse Projects, Reigning Champ and New Balance.
Whether you call it Americana, prep or classic, for timeless, well designed and crafted menswear J.Crew is the perfect destination; what follows here are a few gems from a brand which can see you from bed to black tie and everywhere in between like a boss.
Granted I’ll not look as much of a legend as the champion rocking it in the pics, but the combination of three yarns in this Irish wool sweater is properly lovely. Shawl collar and kangaroo pocket to keep nothing in ever, but your hands toasty means low level, on point niceness. I am 99% sure that this is the greatest item of clothing ever made, and am considering getting a number of them to rock 24/7 like a less creepy rugged Hugh Hefner. Cotton, with the fireman flap at the back you’d only ever use for moments of comedic gold, this is comfort meets zero fucks given to the power of ten. Outstanding. J Crew are the masters of the khaki and smart-casual trouser business as a whole. My bias in recent years has been for the sport-luxe (which may or may not be a thing) smarter incarnation of the sweatpants for day-to-day scenarios. In part because I go to yoga a lot, and in part because I like to be smartly understated or hideously overdressed at all times. These are perfect, and the angled zip pockets mean you won’t drop your phone and wallet on the reg. The Wallace & Barnes line sees J.Crew going heritage and limited edition, taking inspiration from workwear, military uniforms and outdoor gear while keeping the attention to detail and quality at the heart of all they do to the fore, as witnessed in the likes of this thermal crewneck T-shirt or this banging sweatshirt. The coach jacket has seen huge popularity in recent years, and rightly so, even if you don’t want to go full Woody Hayes stylings. Made from dense, boiled merino wool this has an effortless American vibe all about it while keeping you toasty, whether you’ll be anywhere near a sideline between now and Summer. I’ve taken longer trying to choose one shirt from J.Crew than most people take naming their firstborn, and I’ll maintain that reflects better on me than them. From plaids, clubs, leather patches and much more there’s gold at every turn (if by gold, of course, you mean lots of shirts). Save for the genuinely timeless design there may be a hint of the dark arts in the ‘multistep wash process’ which results in cotton shirts that are so soft when you first get them, but it’s a risk I’m prepared to take. Few things in life (honour, decency and the like) are more indicative of a man’s character than a great sweatshirt. Relaxed cotton, garment-dyed with side-panels and perfect attention to detail in a range of colours, this is perfect daily wear for years to come, unless you have a colossal mid-life crisis and start cutting about in boot-cut jeans and woollen-wear branded for supercars or motorbikes, in which case a killer sweat is the least of your worries…
SHAWL-COLLAR SWEATER IN DONEGAL WOOL
JERSEY UNION SUIT
CLASSIC ZIP-POCKET SWEATPANTS
WALLACE & BARNES COACH’S JACKET
SECRET WASH SHIRT IN END-ON-END COTTON
GARMENT DYED CREW-NECK SWEATSHIRT
For all of J.Crew’s accents for men, women and children head to www.jcrew.com, and look out for seasonal discounts afoot.