Comments on: Preview The May J.Crew Mens Catalog

By: Kyle Reddell

Kyle Reddell — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:26:55 +0000

Who is this model? He looks so familiar, I could swear I’ve seen him before.

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:23:36 +0000

*Drexler

And I just noticed that post didn’t have the full article. The full article goes into a slight more detail about men’s clothing, in particular questioning J. Crew’s offering of $135 Thoman Mason shirts in an economic cownturn. So here is the original:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/18/lifestyle/king_cool_brodie.fortune/index.htm

(Sorry for the redirect)

By: Adam

Adam — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:02:48 +0000

I have to agree with Michael. Some newness would be nice but at the same time there is risk in that.

I’ve been screaming about wanting to see newness in J. Crew’s men designs for a while (mostly to my self). However, after I read an article on Mickey Drexel in Fortune magazine last summer I am better able to understand his mindset and the method to his madness.

And after being to the two sample sales (which included men’s clothing), I can’t say they aren’t pushing boundaries with some of the samples I saw. Granted, some of the samples from yesteryears.

Lastly, I totally agree with Michael, stop sending catalogs with the same pages! I’d rather J.Crew save some money and be green! (For the record: They are printed on recycled paper)

If anyone is interested here is the link to the article:
http://jcrewaholics.com/in-the-news/mickey-drexler-plans-for-jcrew/

(Granted I saw this in Fortune magazine before I discovered J.CrewAholics but I wouldn’t want to redirect anyone away from this fabulous website!)

By: ian

ian — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:08:39 +0000

I am all for reinvention, but a big company like Jcrew who’ve cultivated their brand so carefully, and positioned themselves so firmly, doesn’t do that on a dime. That would simply undermine all that equity they’ve built up. They seem to be doing just fine with what their doing, so why change it?

Of course I am speaking from outside their primary market, up in Canada. We don’t have anything like J Crew up here. we barely have H&M!

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:46:30 +0000

Ian, i completely understand that. I’m actually in the fashion industry myself. My point is, in a bad economy, the quickest knee-jerk reaction is for retailers to be safe and only give us classics. However, I have all that they’re selling, and unless they give me some reason to spend my money there (with something new), it isn’t happening. You have to re-invent during a tough economy, not be safe. I totally get classics & workwear are the main trends right now, and I love that…but even within that realm, you can give us some new options. More collaborations perhaps? Some less expensive sport coats? I could list a dozen men’s items that are trend-right, still within their target aesthetic, and would encourage me to buy.

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:10:50 +0000

Michael until you’ve bought oodles of this stuff, don’t expect to see any change.

I think more than women’s, menswear can reflect the state of the economy more, we’re in tight times, and we fall back to the classics. Anything that reminds us of the good old days.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:41:19 +0000

J. Crew, PLEASE give us guys some newness. This catalog is just as boring as the last couple of months. I know you’re about classics most of the time, but in this economy, not offering any new product for us is the choice of death. You could really save some money and just send out the same catalog all spring and summer long since the pages never, ever change. By now, I think we all know like the back of our hand the offered choices (pique polo, chinos, desert boots, linen shirts, the “club short).

So, so disappointing!