J.Crew SS14 Collection
J.Crew has been a pioneer of modern high quality menswear for quite some time, managing to find the sweet spot between designer labels and the high street. With their latest offerings for spring/summer 2014, the brand is looking towards traditional American influences, but not in the way one would imagine – next year’s collection is inspired by America’s national parks, reveals men’s Design Director Frank Muyjens. Going by the old American adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, J.Crew sticks to what it does best – combining their signature preppy aesthetic with classic nautical elements. Included within the range are a wealth of traditional spring/summer staples, such as nautical stripe crew neck jumpers, slim-fit shorts and seersucker suits, which are given a contemporary twist via modern fits, colours or print trends. The theme behind the collection, America’s national parks, peeks through in the use of colour, with the brand opting for a palette inspired by muted, safari-like hues with the occasional pop of vivid blue, evoking a sense of the clear sky. Denim plays a huge part within the construction of the range, coming in the form selvedge jeans, jackets and even a neck tie. However, the highlight of next year’s offering has to be the on trend premium suede bomber jackets in earthy tones of tan and brown – perhaps the perfect transitional jacket for spring. Year after year, J.Crew never disappoints on what has become one of its most promising fronts: shoes. The playful casual looks showcased within the accompanying lookbook (below) are anchored by slick black/brown leather Derbies and brogues that work perfectly for any occasion due to incorporation of a chunkier sole, which gives them a formidable silhouette. Thanks to the weight of these shoes, they nicely complement the tailored shorts, which finish around an inch above knee level – helping to give the overall silhouette a sense of proportion. Other stand out styles include preppy white bucks, perfect for wearing sockless in the summer, and a new breed of shiny metallic-like slip-ons that would take you from office to bar effortlessly. After so many years in the business, it’s very easy to become complacent and let standards slip. However, as always, J.Crew manages to avoid these pitfalls and once again presents an extremely strong menswear offering that is simultaneously modern and classic. You can shop the latest range at JCrew.com.
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J.Crew SS14 Collection
