Make J. Crew Great Again
On May 4th J. Crew filed for bankruptcy. We all knew the brand was in trouble long before the pandemic hit. Jenna Lyons and Mickey Drexler were gone, Uniqlo made its way into more markets with a modern silhouette, and goblin-like private equity had long ago planted the seeds of its demise. Plenty of more intelligent writers have laid out the company's debt problem. You can read this Financial Times piece if you’re the type of nerd who cares about that. What I am here to talk about today is an uprising, a mission, a manifest destiny. I’m here today to show how J. Crew may very well already be on its way to reclaiming its country.
Yesterday J Crew released its fall season and It’s some of the best work I’ve seen from them in years. So if you’re like me and have prep reality anxiety, join me, brother, in making J Crew great again.
Much like Aimé Leon Dore, J. Crew is at its best when it’s giving you Ralph Lauren in new colors. Legend has it that the original “Fun Shirt” was created by a Brooks Brothers exec in the 70’s. He walked in on trainee sewers stitching together fabric scraps and exclaimed “This is a fun shirt!” But fuck Brooks Brothers, they’re broke too. Ralph made the fun shirt a staple of American prep. This J. Crew corduroy version is an incredible evolution of the form. I can’t currently think of a fall shirt I'm more excited to wear.
While I’m already deep into buying coats and boots, you my friend are likely not even ready for early fall. As we begin the journey of layering your closet is likely short on shirt jackets. This is a brilliant one that you can work with until the temps truly drop. It also comes in Camo!
J. crew single-handedly made the rugby shirt cool in the ‘80s. Nowadays you can buy one from Noah, ALD, Supreme, or Rowing Blazers, but this guy shows who did it best back when your favorite streetwear brand was selling graphic tees.
DO I REALLY FUCKING HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS IS SICK AS SHIT
Sure man you can whip out that fucking bomber jacket again or you can look like you dressed yourself.
I can’t lay it out for you, you’ll have to go do some digging yourself but FOLKS… I’m thinking J. Crew might be back. The chinos are still ball crushingly thin and those hideous henleys may never go away, but I can see a new day on the horizon. I can see true patriots making J. Crew Great Again.