It's a Good Time to Be a Vintage J.Crew Fan, Thanks to These 12 Chic Pieces
Over the last few years, J.Crew has found a die-hard audience of young people with a stylish, sartorially in-tune eye that, frankly, wouldn't even have shopped there three years ago. While much of the brand's buzzy comeback can be attributed to the appointment of womenswear designer Olympia Gayot and menswear designer Brendon Babenzien, there's an undeniable core tenet of the American heritage retailer that may be the key to its longevity and trendy resurgence among fashion's cool kids, which is that people love its vintage pieces.
Unlike the ultra-hyper fast-fashion trends or too-current aesthetic waves that have swept fashion circles over the last few years, it feels like there's been a turn in our approach to clothing. Like tons of other editors or friends of mine, I've found myself perusing through J.Crew's site more and more as the months have gone on, opting to align myself with the brand's iconic Americana vibe complete with oversize knits, workwear jackets, sharp tailoring, and other staples New England coastal cool.
Ask anyone stylish you know and they'll tell you that the whispers of J.Crew's cool-persona comeback have only gotten stronger over the last few months. Archival accounts tracking the brand's history like @lostjcrew have soared in popularity as stealth wealth, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy–core, and quiet luxury have become more and more synonymous with the It style of today.
In honor of the brand's 40th anniversary this year, Assouline's hefty vintage account of the brand is high up on my wish list, along with a few of the brand's key heritage styles just in time for the fall. Below, shop all of the vintage-inspired and heritage pieces from J.Crew that fashion people just can't seem to get enough of.
Shop the book:
Shop vintage-inspired J.Crew pieces:
This hefty coat is such a perfect addition to your fall and winter outerwear drawer.
Nothing more J.Crew than a crisp, white button-down shirt.
J.Crews iconic cashmere sweaters make a great gift (for yourself or for somebody else!) this holiday season.
This is such a retro, cool-girl take on high-waisted jeans.
As a proud owner of this jacket, yep, I can confirm it's just as iconic IRL as it looks online.
J.Crew's classic loafers come in a ton of easy colors, but the timeless black pair just speaks to my soul.
Although this cardigan is one of the brand's newest best sellers, J.Crew's domination of the Lady Jacket cinematic universe can't be understated.
This looks like it's pulled straight from one of the brand's '90s catalogs.
Shop more J.Crew pieces:
Use code SHOPNOW for an extra 50% off sale items.
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor whose work ranges from dissecting size inclusivity at fashion week to discussing how American Girl Doll meme accounts are the the answer to society's collective spiral. She's covered it all: Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, Roe v. Wade frontline protests, and the emergence of jorts (or jean shorts for the uninitiated). At Who What Wear, Ana is responsible for delivering smart, insightful, personality-driven shopping guides and trend features for a digital-first generation.Before joining Who What Wear, Ana was Glamour magazine's editorial assistant, where she focused on daily news and special packages, including leading the brand's 2022 Met Gala coverage. For more than half a decade, she has covered style, beauty, and digital culture for publications such as Paper magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Japan, and Allure, among others. Ana has been called a rising star in media by publications such as Nylon and Teen Vogue. (Her mother, meanwhile, calls her "the coolest person" she knows.)
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