A look at the J. Crew Fall 2011 collection

J. Crew has long since shed its prepster image and has become a shopping mainstay for truly classic clothes. According to Women’s Wear Daily, for Fall 2011, J. Crew’s head of women’s design, Marissa Webb, incorporated elements of ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ in designing the collection. This led to a ‘tomboy’ feel, with slouchy and tailored silhouettes – a great pairing for the corporate-meets-hipster look.

There was something for everyone – maxi skirts, leggings, trousers, trench coats, sweaters, blouses and even cocktail dresses. The trend of the moment – colorblock – was utilized, but in a more pared down way. Vibrant oranges and royal purples were paired with more muted tones, like gray and tan. And there were some unexpected color pairings that worked as well – lemon yellow and mustard with peachy nudes. Collegiate-style striped sweaters took a grown up turn when paired with straight tweed skirts and tailored slacks. Trench coats with full bottoms looked flirty and feminine. Accessories ranged from structured handbags and rounded satchels to flap messengers in an array of fall colors.

Phots: John Aquino