5 Looks Our NYC Fashion Editors Styled From Lee x J.Crew Leave a comment

East Coast meets Midwest—J.Crew has collaborated with the iconic denim brand Lee on a capsule collection that merges J.Crew‘s prep heritage with Lee’s timeless Americana.

Our editor’s got a close-up look at the collection. Melding our latest style fixations (ahem, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy) and our inner cowgirl, we styled five incredibly chic spring outfits. Pulling from both the men’s and women’s racks, we left the fitting room, reminded of how underrated J.Crew Men’s is. Think oversize Oxford shirts, sturdy denim jackets, and just-right baggy jeans. And that’s exactly what we found in the Lee X J.Crew collection.

Of course, denim was a theme throughout. The Vintage Straight Leg was a standout. The Denim Skirt has me longing for warmer weather, and the Men’s Storm Rider Denim Jacket has locked in J.Crew Men’s as a shop-again.

Joined by Who What Wear’s associate editorial director, Eliza Huber, we put together five looks that channel the sensibility and ease of the Lee X J.Crew collection. Scroll on to see the outfits.

Pulled from the Men’s rack, I’m wearing the Western shirt in Daffodil Oxford and the Storm Rider denim jacket. (There is also a women’s version priced for less.) Lately, I’ve been loving a double-collar look, so I decided to pop the Oxford shirt collar over the jacket’s corduroy accent. Once I did that, I really leaned into the Western look. Wearing the vintage straight jeans (heads up, you’ll want to size up), I tucked the oversized button-down in, and cinched them with a woven leather belt. Continuing the cowgirl-inspired ‘fit, I finished it off with a pair of cowprint ballet flats. This isn’t a look I would normally gravitate towards, but when I stepped out of the fitting room, I was greeted with compliments.

“Tip: never only look at the women’s section, especially when it comes to collabs (and anything denim-related!). I actually think I prefer the men’s pieces in this particular collaboration, and these white jeans and the matching trucker jacket quickly became my favorite pieces. They can be worn together, but also paired with just about anything, from a simple tee or tank with the jeans to a white poplin skirt with the jacket.” — Eliza Huber, associate editorial director

“I’ve been searching for a denim pencil skirt for well over six months by now, inspired by versions from Tom Ford’s Gucci era and one I spotted at Khaite’s S/S 26 show, so I was excited to find this classic option in J.Crew’s Lee collab. I love the timeless wash and the way it matches with the collection’s denim jacket. I tried on the men’s jacket, and I think the combo of a more feminine skirt and an oversized topper, especially with its plaid interior, created a cool balance.” — Huber

“When I was trying this look on, my friend who works with J.Crew said he got Carolyn Bessette Kennedy vibes from the look, so that should tell you everything you need to know. A great black button-down shirt and timeless jeans will always be a good idea. For this denim style, my only suggestion would be to size up at least one size. This is my normal size, but I wish I would have tried on one or even two sizes bigger just to have a more relaxed fit.” — Huber

This blue-and-white striped Oxford shirt is another stellar find from J.Crew Men’s. I’m no stranger to browsing the men’s racks. That’s where I’ve found some of my coziest sweaters, perfectly oversized button-downs, and best baggy jeans. They make great layering pieces and closet basics.