Prabal Gurung for J.Crew
May 24, 2011
Long time readers of this blog know, that I, like most Hill staffers, am a J.CREW devotee. I love their easy pieces: the boatneck striped tee, the denim pencil skirt, the Super 120s wool trousers. I love their sequins, their bows and their lace details. But I haven’t always loved their collaborations with other companies and designers.
After all, why do I need to buy Essie nail polishes or a $1,600 Globe Trotter suitcase at J.CREW?
But this week, J.CREW announced a designer collaboration with the uber-talented Prabal Gurung and my heart skipped a beat. Mixing J.CREW’s classic styling and Prabal’s love of ruffles, bows, and structure is the perfect pairing. I mean just look at this collection, and tell me that you don’t fall hopelessly in love.
From left: Exploding Bow Blouse, Exploding Bow Dress, Bow Dacious Denim Jacket.
No, it’s okay. Feel free to take a moment just to stare. Done? Now wipe the drool off of your keyboard and let’s get back to business.
Of the all the pieces in the collection, the dress and the blazer are my favorites. The dress has the signature Prabal Gurung halter neckline with racerback in a classic color that will look perfect belted. Yes, at $395, the dress isn’t cheap. But since a Prabal Gurung sans J.CREW is well over $1,500, it’s a bargain by comparison.
As for the jacket, the thing that I love about it most is that even though there is a bow it’s not fussy. The flat, architectural design keeps it structured, and the wide lapel compliments it perfectly. My only complaint is that it’s made of denim, but I’d have to feel the actual fabric to know whether that was a deal breaker or not.
As you might imagine, these pieces are selling out quickly. The ivory and black piped bow blouse is already sold out, and the azalea will be soon. The dress seems well stocked in both the navy and the kelly green. And the jacket has a few sizes left.
I love designer collaborations when they’re done well, and this one is done perfectly. I hope the J.CREW will abandon some of there lackluster confabs and build on the success of this capsule collection. Perhaps my hero Chris Benz would be willing to pair up? Oh, be still my beating heart…
LOVE the pink bow blouse. wow.
I loved the pink bow blouse until I saw it on the model. Being very petite, I think that bow would eat me alive =(
I have been daydreaming about that jacket, but it is already sold out in my size. Sadly, I do not think I could diet enough to fit into a 00 or 0. I did email my personal shopper to see if she can help me out!
this collection is so beautiful and so out of my price range right now. luckily for me it's selling fast so i don't have the time to talk myself into it. but i continue to pine for it. i want it all!