Spring Fashion 2009: Trend or faux?By Lisa Freedman
Mar 19, 2009
Jenna Lyons and Frank Muytjens, J.Crew’s creative director and head of men’s design respectively, riff on the fads that have graced—or disgraced—our fashion world.
Ripped-up jeans that cost a fortune
Lyons: I love them, and I hate them. I love the look and understand that not everyone has the time or the creativity to make them look that way. But I hate that the store-bought ones cost a fortune.
Muytjens: I like the idea of them. I wear unwashed jeans and break them in myself. When you buy jeans, they’re so rigid, but you wear them throughout the years, and they become yours; they mold to your body, and they fade on their own. When you earn it, it’s real and it’s genuine.
Bow ties for men
Muytjens: The bow tie has a bad rap. It all depends on the guy. If you remove the bow tie from its East Coast, preppy context and put it on a guy wearing an oxford shirt with rolled-up sleeves and skinny jeans, it definitely has a place.
Lyons: If you’re Barack Obama you can sport a bow tie anytime you want. Aside from that, I love bow ties on younger guys. I think there’s something really playful and tongue-in-cheek about a younger guy wearing jeans and a bow tie.
Teeny, tiny “It” bags
Lyons: Tiny little bags, tiny little cell phones and tiny little charms for your phone all go in the same category for me: What? I have no appreciation for them whatsoever. I have total appreciation for an evening bag, in which a girl can keep her keys, her credit card, her safety cash and her lipgloss. But I just don’t get small bags. Small bags have no reason for being.
Muytjens: I completely agree with Jenna. I don’t look at women’s bags every day, but I do notice a woman with a classic bag that can last for years and years. It’s like a woman’s signature. You don’t have to change it every month or follow the latest trends.
Animal prints
Lyons: Oh God. They’re hard because they just don’t die. It’s not like I don’t like them, I just wish they would come in and then just go away for a while. But they seem to stay forever.
Muytjens: But they sell well…
Super-duper high heels
Lyons: I love heels, so I think it’s unfortunate that a taller woman—five foot seven and above—looks proportionally better in a pair of heels than really small girls. Small girls in high heels look like they’re on stilts, and it can look ridiculous, not elegant.
Muytjens: It’s about how you put it together. For instance, Jenna will wear high heels and combine it with cargo pants to make it more interesting and not so cookie-cutter.
Sweatpants in public
Muytjens: No. They’re made to work out in.
Lyons: For men, I totally agree. Girls can pretty much do anything they want if it’s done right. A pair of gray sweatpants by Phillip Lim with a little cuff at the bottom and paired with little heels, an oversize men’s blazer and a little sequin top, then yeah, totally there. But sweatpants tucked into Uggs? No.
Tight pants on menMuytjens: On the right guy, it looks really cool. With Converse sneakers and all that. At the same time, you have to be careful not to make it too trashy.
Jenna: If you can see his package, there’s a problem. Trends are scary because when something becomes a trend, people decide to wear them whether they look good in them or not, and that’s where people fall off the cliff. Skinny jeans are for guys who have the body to wear skinny jeans. If you don’t have the body, then it’s not for you and don’t do it. It becomes grotesque when you’re spilling out of it.
Leggings as pants
Lyons: I love it! As long as they’re not cheap, poorly made ones—or too tight.
Muytjens: I agree. Of course, we don’t ever talk about leggings on guys. I like it on girls, though, absolutely.
Speedos
Lyons: No! Unless you’re Michael Phelps you cannot wear a Speedo. And if you’re Michael Phelps you’d better always wear a Speedo.
Muytjens: No, absolutely not.
I really loved this article. It's great to hear different perspectives on these topics... I have to agree with both Jenna and Frank about small bags- I love them for an evening out, but they simply don't work for me when it comes to everyday use. I have to disagree with Jenna when it comes to heels on "small girls" (whatever that means). I think heels can work at any height. As for the animal prints, I thought it was great that Frank pointed out to Jenna that they are big sellers. I think every season, J.Crew has introduced an item with an animal print. Lastly, how funny is Jenna with the tight pants for men comment!?! ;)
What are your thoughts on this article? Disagree with any of the opinions shared? :)
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