What: Presentation of J.Crew fall collection.
Where: Spring Street Studios during New York Fashion Week.
The look for women: Designers often present drab dark-shaded looks for fall/winter that turn off the Texas customer who is used to lots of bright colors all year long. But new J.Crew womenswear designer Somsack Sikhounmuong is taking a different tack with a fun, colorful collection featuring 31 shades, from hot pink pantsuits and faux fur coats to chrysanthemum print skirts and handbags, along with leopard print coats and pink-and-green cat print trousers and matching tops.
The collection mixes the bright colors with more Old School tweeds and classically tailored maritime peacoats and suits for a look that combines a girly sensibility with a boyish attitude.
The look for men: The menswear collection, designed by Frank Muytjens, is a bit more traditional, with fall colors of beige, tan, rust, burgundy and brown. But the collection has a more relaxed silhouette, mixing formal and casual styles, like a poplin pajama pant worn with a tuxedo jacket or lambswool horse blanket jacket paired with a foulard silk scarf. And there are plenty of attractive brushed fuzzy crewneck sweaters to ward off the chill.
Muytjens said he was inspired a Lisette Model photograph taken of a man sitting on the Promenade des Anglais in an elegant topcoat worn with sneakers. Though it was taken in 1937, Muytjens found it incredibly modern and up-to-date.
The most refreshing thing we found about the collection if that a couple of male models with thinning hair and gray in their beards were featured at the presentation and in the J.Crew look book of fall styles. In a fashion world that dwells on youth, it's nice to see a brand believe that its clothes can look just as good on a more mature customer.
J Crew exploded plaid horse blanket overshirt, Wallace & Barnes Guernsey sweate, Ludlow corduroy suit pant, Alden for J.Crew Indy 405 boots.
Shoppers will line up at Katy Mills Mall as Primark opens its first Houston area store on November 20.Photo courtesy of Primark/Instagram