Tuesday, February 16, 2010

J.Crew's Jenna Lyons in Oprah Magazine

A big "thanks!" to Chris (blogger behind "A Little "Crew"zy") who let us know that J.Crew's Jenna Lyons was featured in the March 2010 issue of Oprah Magazine.

According to Chris' post (refer to "Jenna Lyons in Oprah Magazine - March 2010 "Five Sure Things for Spring""):
Jenna Lyons is featured in Oprah's March 2010 magazine under the article "Five Sure Things for Spring. Lyons and other designers including Isaac Mizrahi talk about those pieces that are Spring's wearable trends. Lyons says, "A rumpled jacket or a bit of messy hair makes you approachable. Too polished and perfect can be intimidating", she says.

I am personally jumping for joy on that one! Previewed are the "Utility Jacket" ...safari meets military in this classic that can anchor anything from jeans to a party dress. Jenna goes on to say "Borrowed from the boys" is the mantra for Spring. Pick up a copy - the spread is lovely (pages 168-169). I love the inspiration board in the office on the right hand page of the spread -- am thinking I may need to do one. I love her style and I love J. Crew...(sorry my image quality is not so great as my scanner bit the dust).
Is it just me, or do all the ladies working at J.Crew corporate look fabulous! :) I also like the quote that too polish can be intimidating, which can be true sometimes. However, I am not sure if messy hair is the way to go. ;)

What are your thoughts on the magazine spread? Do you like the outfit styled? Do you agree or disagree with Jenna Lyons' quotes?

26 comments:

  1. i definitely agree with looking too polished making you look unapproachable!

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  2. Ok, check out the shoes on the chick in the check shirt. TDF!

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  3. Gigi, I think those may be the Georgie tassel heels (12346) from last year sometime (or maybe 2008?).

    I am interested to see how 2010 plays out... while JC is out constantly tooting its own horn, other stores are giving it a run for its money.

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  4. A rumpled jacket and a bit of messy hair. I would be called into the boss's office and given a copy of the dress code. Absolutely riduculous. This is just BAD advice and IMO shows a decline in good taste. Even on stay at home mom days I like my polished hair; heck, I even iron my sweats. Looking good does not make someone unapproachable. It makes it look like you care about yourself and makes you look approachable!

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  5. The Military Jacket look is everywhere this Spring (GAP, ON, LE)it is not unique to J Crew.

    I am been tempted by some items this Spring, I do not like how Jenna has styled them.

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  6. I agree with Genny on this one - on 'What Not to Wear' they're always chiding people for looking so unkempt, and pointing out that being unpolished is more about pushing people away. I can maybe see how someone in a slick powersuit might be intimidating - but yeah, if I see someone who's all disheveled I might also wonder if that person has showered recently, or if they just came of out a mental institution. That's not particularly approachable in my book.

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  7. I have worked in creative but professional offices, and while there is leniency, it's not always advisable to look like you just rolled out of bed. If you're in the studio all day, that might be acceptable, but you need to pull it together a bit when clients are visiting. Some people do not know the difference between a messy bun and a rat's nest, lol.

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  8. I'd love to hear what Isaac Mizrahi had to say in the article.

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  9. Every time I try to rock the JC model/Jenna messy bun look I get a combination of drunken librarian and polygamist child bride.

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  10. I bought the boyfriend military jacket last year and wore it constantly, I love it. I had to SD but it is so soft and comfortable and although it's not pressed and I would never iron it, it's not so rumpled enough to look bad, just casual. Glad I can give it another run this season. As for the messy hair, to me that means that the chignon is not perfect but that there are a few pieces falling down nicely. IMO that is much prettier than a perfect, tight bun. It all depends on your look and your personality. No need to revive the bedhead look but perfection isn't necessary either.

    Life is too short to spend time slaving over clothes or your appearance trying to look perfect. Certainly it is important to take pride in your appearance and ensure you look decent, but there comes a point where it is good enough and you need to enjoy life just as you are. No one lies on their death bed and thinks, "I should have spent more time fixing my hair!"

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  11. There's a huge difference between regular people 'messy hair' and fashion industry's definition of the same, which is more 'artfully styled to look carefree'. In the same vein, their truly polished look is unachievable for most of us, with perfectly blended makeup, hair and outfits styled within an inch of their lives - unapproachable & intimidating!

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  12. Gigi --> LOL, those shoes were the first thing I zeroed in on...they're so fab!!! I want...!

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  13. Hex - Ahahahahahhahahaa! I almost spewed coffee all over my keyboard! ;)

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  14. Hexicon: LOL!! Thanks for a great laugh this morning!

    As for the boyfriend jacket...last year it was too big for me so hopefully this year's version is not disappointing. I do like the outfit styled but I would never wear it out somewhere like that.

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  15. OT: I think someone asked about this before; has anyone seen the Basket-weave Portico Shift Dress IRL? Thanks in advance!

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  16. ITA with Jen. They undoubtedly spend far more time and effort to achieve their "messy hair" look than I spend trying to look reasonably polished. I'm glad to hear them say you shouldn't look too perfect because there's no way I have the time or energy for perfection.

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  17. I agree that they are referring to an artfully styled/fashionable and probably time-consuming "messy" hairstyle:) I think they are really referring to achieving a look that actually takes a lot of forethought yet somehow gives the impression you just "threw-it-together" and ran out the door.

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  18. BTW--I know I have mentioned it before but Oprah has been drinking alotta' the crewlade, lately;) Def has something to do with Mrs. O.
    Not surprised to see this is in her mag. I would love to read/see the article.

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  19. The messy hair is one of the main things that has been driving me berserk about the styling in the catalogs!!! That, and the awful lipsticks on half the models lately. In the new catalog, they've even gone full tilt memaw-shaded eyebrows on a couple poor girls. A few years ago, I would look at the catalogs and want. Want the clothes, want the life- the locales used, the pretty smiles, the clean shiny hair. Now I want to comb the models' hair and wipe their faces' like when my toddler runs amok in my makeup.

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  21. Heidi,
    Glad I don't live in LA then. I highly hope that teachers and principals look put together in LA. What a different world...if they do not.....fashion messiness is one thing to actually live it is another. I wonder what Coco Chanel would say....

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  22. Does anyone know where Jenna's shoes are from?

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  23. Heidi,
    Thanks for the heads up. I only wear jeans about twice a month. I guess LA would not be for me;O

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  24. Does anyone know the ordering number of the shirt shown in the April issue of oprah magazine on page 172? It says it is from JCrew and costs $88 but is not on teh website.

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  25. We are all lovers of the brand and the character & quality it represents. However,somewhere, somehow and every once in awhile, the style message that J.Crew sends to us is misinterpreted and misconstrude, worse, taken out of context all together. I think we are forgetting that a true sense of style comes from authenticity... of knowing oneself. So if Jenna says, mix & match boyish charm with feminine details,wear OPI's pretty orange nail polish, AND not fix your hair - to a board meeting, and PTA conference, an interview, or a family reunion et al..WOULD YOU REALLY DO THAT? If so, you're fashion-obsessed, like everyone else. Yes, you'll stand out but the moment is fleeting. We put together a wardrobe that represents exactly who we are but must be age appropriate and must suit the occasion.... I love my hair and would not like to be left unkempt.. would you?

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