J.Crew’s been churning out quality menswear at approachable prices for decades now, a spinning plates act most brands struggle mightily to approximate—an oasis of dependable style nestled within your local mall. And with Brendon Babenzien at the helm on the men’s side, the Crew has been thriving.
It’s not just the new styles making a splash, either. The brand has been digging into the archives, pulling out some of their most well-loved styles from the past and executing them to a staggering degree of similarity. And when it comes to classic fall staples, it’s hard to find a better selection under one roof (digital or otherwise). So whether you’re looking for a new suit, some classic outerwear, vintage-coded knits, time-tested basics or the like, J.Crew’s got you covered.
The J.Crew Shopping Guide, by Category
Platonic-Ideal Pants
J.Crew’s chinos have gotten quite a bit of (deserved) attention recently—and it’s not just the giant-fit chinos earning those headlines either. The brand’s classic fit chino is a killer straight-leg pair of pants with a Goldilocks width, their classic creased trouser is as easy to wear as any chino in the collection and the standbys are as reliable as ever.
Borken-In Button-Ups
If you’re in need of a shirt that can handle a tie and blazer, a pair of jeans or something in between, J.Crew’s inimitable slate of button-down options has you covered. From luxe-leaning poplins to burly oxford cloths to breezy Irish linens to their broken-in Secret Washed cottons, their shirts offer a can’t-beat bang for your buck, no matter where you’re headed (or who you’re trying to impress).
Fire(side) Flannels
J.Crew might not be synonymous with “flannel shirts,” but they could be without much confusion, because you’ll find some of the softest, warmest, most classically-styled flannels, brushed twills and other flannel-adjacent shirts available anywhere. And despite their preppy reputation, these are built to last—and get exponentially better when they do.
Hard-Hitting Hard-Bottoms
J.Crew has long been a reliable purveyor of the kinds of foundational, well-made, classically-styled wardrobe pieces that you wear over and over again, and that includes footwear. They make an all-star roster of classic, goodyear-welted leather footwear in-house—from oxfords to loafers to derby’s and more—and also keep a regular rotation of shoes from vaunted cobblers like Alden, big-name sneaker brands like Vans, and rugged American icons like Red Wing.
Knit Nirvana
Knitwear can be tricky business, but J.Crew mastered it years ago, and they’ve got the back catalog to prove it. Whether you’re hunting for a crew, a cardigan, a v-neck or really any other style, your hunt could start and end with J.Crew. Oh, and great news for all of us: they’ve opened up that aforementioned back catalog and are re-producing a ton of their all-time bangers under their Heritage label, so now you’ve really got some options.
Cash-Conscious Cashmere
You might’ve noticed that mentions of cashmere were conspicuously absent in the sweater section, but that has nothing to do with availability, quality or cost. In fact, it’s because of those three factors that J.Crew’s cashmere program gets its own section in our roundup. And it’s not just the sweaters that are brilliant (and they are): the accessories feel like they should be twice the price and they’ve even snuck it into some suiting.
Champion-Worthy Sweats
Yes, every brand and their parent company makes a hoodie. But J.Crew’s French terry sweats are a far cry from the shrink-wrapped stuff you’ll find at other mall brand mainstays. They’re cut from fantastic mid-weight fabrics with a substantial feel that won’t disappear (or fall apart altogether after a few wears), no matter how many times you put them through the wringer.
Oustanding Outerwear
You want outerwear? Let’s talk outerwear. J.Crew does the refined variety incredibly well, but don’t sleep on the rest of their catalog. They’ve got overcoats, car coats, barn jackets, toggle plackets, truckers, puffers, double-breasted, field-tested, classic cruisers and workwear bruisers and basically every other classic style you could be interested in, nearly every one of them made to withstand the rigors of daily wear in the burliest of seasons.
Class-Leading Corduroy
There’s really no such thing as a “perfect” fall fabric, and there doesn’t have to be—variety is the spice of life, as the saying goes—but it’s also hard to ignore the utility or comfort of corduroy in the colder months, and few brands are as dedicated to the cozy arts as J.Crew is. Their 10- and 11-wale pants are the kind that kids 20 years will be clamoring for, their pincord shirts are top-tier, the cord used for the suiting would make your favorite professor jealous and they’ve even loosed it on some killer jackets, too.
Stellar Suiting
The Ludlow Suit launched onto the scene well over a decade ago and immediately became the de facto first suit for an impossible number of guys. Well, in the intervening years, not only has the Ludlow been refined like it was mined underneath a treacherous body of water, but they’ve added a host of other, fuller cuts to the mix—most notably the Crosby and Kenmare—all of them made with their impeccable fabrics.
