My, how you have grown, J.Crew.
We all know the thorough influence Jenna Lyons has had on J.Crew, a brand formerly known for pleated khakis, A-line dresses, repp ties and other preppy Americana standbys. But to truly comprehend the shift from the J.Crew of yore to today, all one must do is examine the looks from today's J.Crew presentation, shown at New York Fashion Week. The brand has really spiffed up their iconic American prep look with intricate patterns and bright orange dresses.
We compared a J.Crew spring 1988 catalog cover to one of the more striking looks presented today in the spring 2014 collection. What a difference! Gone are the days of the simple and safe J.Crew lady wearing tucked-in button-downs and a large sweatshirt perfectly draped over her shoulders. Today, the J.Crew girl is bold and colorful, with a vibrant floral jumpsuit and on-trend pointed-toed sandals. But of course the brand stayed true to its reputation and included a classy blazer to the new look. 1988 Catalog (left) and Spring 2014 runway(right)
Here's more of J.Crew's spring/summer '14 collection:
