Trends Fade. Dressing Like A J.Crew Catalog Is Forever.
Inspired by the brand's return to print, a curation of vintage + brand new pieces.
Last week, J.Crew announced the return of their beloved print catalog. Not since 2017 (feminist tshirts and all glitter everything) has the heirloom brand released a paper lookbook. Lucky us! Friends like
, , and were all quick to point out that I’ve been beating the proverbial dead horse of the 90s J.Crew catalog as way of dressing gospel, but accounts like @lostjcrew and my aunt in Minnesota have also been singing the praises of the iconic mailer long before me.
I love J.Crew. But like my first missive on the subject, that’s not really what we’ll be discussing today. I’ll be outlining five pieces that feel in line with J.Crew’s most recent catalog drop and how you can shop them mostly secondhand. This is deeply unauthorized. Think of it as fan fiction from someone with a lifelong reverence for the brand! But if J.Crew does want to settle if the letter I wrote in May or the concept for the catalog came first, I’m all ears.
P.S. The idea for this letter came from my dear friend Camille who writes
’s Substack. (Here was my interview!) And the fisherman sweater idea came from my pal Amanda. All this to say, please, please always feel free to write me with what you’d like to read.
V-neck sweaters
We’ve discussed fisherman sweaters and rollneck sweaters, both vital to the J.Crew catalog universe, (Demi Moore was in a fisherman sweater on the cover of the catalog), but it’s time to go back to the slouchy sleeves and deep V of your middle school self. I’m talking about V-neck sweaters, baby. You can buy them structured for a preppy layering moment or try something slouchy and a little more Diane Keaton-y. However you spin it, the silhouette was all over J.Crew’s latest catalog and very charming for fall. I’m more partial to a dramatic V versus what I’ll call a youth pastor in 2003 V, which seem to abound at thrift stores. I find sourcing these online secondhand tends to yield better results.
100% cotton. Great details. Under $100. Gotta give it up to J.Crew on this one.
Double V for under $40! I love vintage Gap so much.
Leave it to babaa! Note the cropped sleeves, which make it ideal for shorter people who might otherwise struggle with the one-size.
Check out this vintage Oarsman sweater from J.Crew for $65. If you love a vintage rollneck, this is for you!
Hard to see in this image, but this is a V for someone who will never ever wear a button up under it. In a good way! The slight hem lift makes a casual tuck a breeze. It’s around $400.
$20 for a vintage 100% cotton Gap sweater is pretty good.
I really like this Land’s End sweater vest that’s under $50.
The takeaway here: shop vintage Gap on eBay. This is $30! Lacoste is great, too. Ok, let me find one for proof.
This with jeans and loafers. I think YES. It’s $44.
Shiny or suede shoes
Recently,
had all of us wondering if Gucci loafers were our collective missed investment opportunity. By all means, go for Gucci if you have the budget, but here are some picks that are a little more affordable, but achieve just as much Holden Caulfield ennui. Bonus: trade your red socks from last season for a cobalt blue. I’ve been wearing this pair for years with black loafers and jeans.Texture is everything when it comes to footwear. It’s a polarizing season with suede and patent running both ends of the gambit. If you lean toward one, you might be delighted by how trying the other changes everything. And it’s good to keep in mind when acquiring new shoes, too. Bought three pairs of brown suede shoes last months? Let’s slow your roll.
This is also where I mention that my Jan 2024 Sperry boat shoe prediction feels very apt. They’re my personal favorite preppy shoe for a few reasons. The first: comfort. The second: Wearing them adds a twist to an otherwise basic outfit.
Listen, I’m as sick of myself talking about Jamie Haller loafers as you are, but they’re the best.
How about some heels? These are so sleek.
Chic and very 90s, these suede boots are $70 on Etsy.
Did someone order vintage Ferragamo boots for $75? They’re a size 9.
Cool shoe alert! These Carven beauties are $85.
These are my size! (That means act fast) and they’re Tory Burch for $200.
Margiela patent booties in THE perfect red for $200…
Suede loafers from Bass! This is a great example of taking a chance on a trend with a brand you might already love. These are under $200.
Rachel Comey loafers in size 7 under $200.
These beauties are from No. 6 and under $100 and a size 9!
Grey suede loafers from Brooks Brothers for $44!
Black/blue trench coat
A trench in tan is very French. It’s versatile. And it’s classic. But a trench in navy or black—it just feels like a step up. I didn’t know how often I’d wear mine (you know the one) this year, but it quickly became a closet MVP. Somehow, outfits feel more pulled together with the damn thing on top. I skip the belt, but it’s somewhere in the back of my closet. A little sheen? A satin blend? I can only imagine.
I like the way a black trench feels like a period at the end of an outfit sentence. Maybe this is a weird reason, but it’s also the kind of jacket I can wear fearlessly into the city: coffee spills, subway seats, dogs of strangers be damned.
This one from COS is more my speed—right down the middle and no belt. Plus it’s $200.
This color is so cool. This coat is $50.
Vintage J.Crew navy trench. Classic!
I’m REALLY into this Staud coat (on sale for less than $150) and it reminds me of a Shrimps one I have from Poshmark.
I’d have to test this out but for $100-ish it’s kind of chic IMO.
This vintage Burberry trench is such a dark navy it’s almost black.
Leather outerwear (not moto)
You say “leather jacket” to a 28 year old and instantly images of All Saints pop into their head. The leather outerwear in question here in decidedly less likely to be spotted in a music video for The Neighbourhood. Leather blazers are a great start. Oh—why not a leather trench? I think keeping these jackets a little oversized makes them feel super fresh. And vintage is really best for this category, but I’ll find a few new, too. Color can be FUN here, but pay attention to wear. Sometimes, opting for something a little worn in can be the permission slip you need to be practical with your piece.
Floor length shearling bliss. This coat is insane and an amazing piece for $300.
There are two brands I like for new, pretty affordable leather: Sandro and COS. This coat’s from COS and under $600. Would I buy that new? No, I’d spend $200 on something vintage, but I love that the silhouette doesn’t feel too of the moment.
This vintage blazer feels so 90s and it’s $30.
Here’s one from Sandro that’s very cute. It’s not timeless, per say, but the color and collar make it super interesting.
Insane buttons and no belt—big for me! Vintage leather and $150.
This is a fun vintage J.Crew jacket in leather for $50.
Fringe and suede and great pockets. How divine! And under $200.
And I do have no choice but to stan this suede bag from J.Crew that’s under $150.
$280 vintage Prada suede bag. You’re welcome?
Lace and silk at longer lengths
Silky slips have found a way to cling on for dear life for the past decade. I love them, in theory, but at this point, I’m a touch fatigued. I love the contrast lace on the ones J.Crew is putting out, which make things feel a little more vintage and less Anthro bridesmaid. Tip: search by material for these by selecting 100% silk.
Layering here is key. A blazer on top is nice. A tshirt underneath is great. But a sweater on top with boots has to be my favorite styling move. Especially a turtleneck sweater and tall boots—zero visible skin except maybe a slice of leg from the slit. Perfection.
And if you’re not a silky person, this dress from the collab between Maryam Nassir Zadeh and ba&sh that came out this week is a very fashionable alt.
Vintage Moschino for under $300!
This slip from J.Crew collection is satin, but at $200, that’s kind of par for the course. It also comes in ivory, which could be a really cool bridal move.
I think this length is really a sleeper hit. Try it if you’re sick of wearing pants but don’t want the fuss of a skirt.
Another really elegant shape. I love that the bottom goes a little a-line. It’s expensive but something you could wear 100 ways.
OR ignore all the rules and go for this 3.1 Phillip Lim leather skirt with lace trim that feels like a fever dream in the best way. It’s a 2 and $144.
I’d really go for it and wear the skirt with a top like this. Why not? ($260)
Honorable Mentions
Is it possible for popcorn to taste like home? This does.
I don’t think I’ve mentioned it here, but I keep a running list of podcasts I’ll want to re-listen to here. It’s updated every week. And here’s my latest guest appearance with my friend Nikki on Nice Talk.
I’m watching Sunny per the suggestion of my bff
. Spooky, great design, Rashida Jones—you get the appeal.And in case you missed it: I got an Into The Gloss Top Shelf! You can read it here and I organized all the products linked here so it’s easy to reference.
Thank you for reading Long Live. It means so much to me. You can shop my favs here, follow along on Instagram + Tiktok, shop my Notion template, and as always, respond to this dispatch for my direct line x
I can't get past the "youth pastor in 2003 V" description, so i'll be back as soon as the laugh-tears dry up...
Another search term for the deep V cabled sweater would be 'cricket sweater', especially in my UK context - and I am *here* for it.