J.CREW Looks for Less

You know the excitement when you receive the J.Crew email. New items blazing across the screen. You click on your favorite item, and realize you can’t afford it. What are you to do?

Here are some alternatives to the latest email. All of these shoes can be found for under $100.

I found these boots on Piperlime.com. They are very similar to the J.Crew chukka boot, but they are by Ben Sherman. I really like the blue stitching, and the price.

This is another version of the Chukka boot. It is more simple than the Ben Sherman version, and is also cheaper. These are for $89 at Zappos.com

Boat shoes are my favorite kind of shoe. They are classic, go with almost everything, and they come in a lot of different colors. These top siders are by Sperry, the same as the J.Crew shoes, but come at a much more affordable price. I found these almost identical shoes for $60 at Zappos.com

Does Jack Know Best? The Truth About Pleated Pants!

This last week I decided to send Jack O’Connor, J.Crew’s In-House Stylist, a question about pleated pants. I see pleats everywhere, and honestly, it isn’t a choice that I would make.

I wrote:

“Jack,
I am terrified of pleats on my pants! I have been told for years that pleats are out and cause “puffy crotch”. Yet I still see them popping up occaisionally in catalogs. When is it appropriate to wear them? Are there certain body types that should avoid them?”

I was surprised at how quickily Jack wrote me back!

Hey Kade,

No pleats! Even if you just bought a pair of new trousers yesterday, pleats will make them look ten years old. I would suggest a more modern, slim cut pant. My favorite style for spring is our bowery pant, which has a leaner fit than cuts we’ve offered in the past, and comes in wool and cotton twill. This narrower style also has the added bonus of making the leg seem longer.  

Best,

Jack

And there ya have it! No pleats! EVER! I trust Jack and his advice. You can read more of his advice on his monthly page HERE!

J.Crew’s Frank Muytjens Nominated for GQ’s Best New Menswear Designer

Congratulations to Frank Muytjens! He has been nominated for the Best New Menswear Designer award from GQ. They will be announcing the winner later this week.

Muytjens brought his experience to J. Crew from Calvin Klein. Check out the video “Behind the Design” with Frank and Jack O’Connor.

The winner receives a $50,000 cash prize and the opportunity to create a limited edition collection for Levi’s. Last years winner was Robert Geller.

Alexander McQueen Passes

British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was found dead at his home in London on Thursday morning. He was 40 years old.

McQueen was known for his over the top style and dressing celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Rhianna.

This is truly a sad day for the fashion world as we lose one of our greatest designers.

J.Crew Insiders Sale…Shhhh

The new J.Crew email came out with an insiders sale! This code is only available to customers on the mailing list. It gives you 20% off orders of $175 or more. Go ahead and do some Valentines shopping or shop for yourself. This offer is only good  through 2/13/10. Just type SHHH in the Promo Code area during checkout.

J.Crew in GQ

GQ recently ran an article giving the 10 best looks for 2010. Actor Matthew Goode, recently in Leap Year with Amy Adams, showcases these fresh takes on classic looks.

This outfit is probably my favorite. I like wearing a sweatshirt with a buttondown. The problem? Sometimes the sweatshirts aren’t fitted and can look a bit frumpy. Luckily, J.Crew has this sweatshirt. It works for hanging out on the college campus, or heading out for a night on the town.

This sweater isn’t available yet, but I will update this as soon as it is.

The denim shirt is back in.  The best part…it’s versatile! You can pair it with some chinos, or a suit. Either way you’ll be ready to impress. You can find this denim shirt at Jcrew.com (item 84018) for a reasonable $98 price tag.

What do you think about the denim shirt? Is it in or out?

J. Crew and “Fashion for Haiti”

J. Crew and Madewell has teamed up with “Fashion for Haiti” by designing a t-shirt that will be sold in stores for a limited time.

On the J.Crew facebook fan page they announced:

Check out Jenna modeling a limited-edition “Fashion for Haiti” tee during the taping of a PSA for the “Fashion for Haiti” campaign of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). We’re so happy to announce that we’ll be selling the tees in all J.Crew and Madewell stores in a few weeks, and the CFDA will be donating net proceeds to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. 

This could be the perfect gift for someone on a limited Valentines budget and help out a great cause!

The First Post. (Blog Overview)

I figured the first post should give an idea of what people can expect from this blog. There are several elements that go into being a J. Crew man. It isn’t just clothes…it’s the way you carry yourself.

The goal of this blog is to help men achieve the attitude along with the look of J. Crew. Stories will cover ways to class things up, new ways to wear your clothes, new items to look for, dating ideas, grooming, looks for less, and before and after stories.

 We will feature clothes from J. Crew, but will also pull from other retail stores such as Banana Republic, L.L. Bean, Ralph Lauren, and other brands that can achieve that J. Crew look.

If you have anything that you would like to see specifically send me an email at fashionmanblog@live.com

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