Jenna @ J.Crew

Anyone who knows me also knows that I am a big J.Crew fan. Ironic given that I work for a large specialty apparel retailer who is not the Crew. Makes getting dressed for work sometimes a challenge. I’m an east coast boy at heart living on the left coast, and J.Crew makes me feel a bit of home with its east coast sensibility. They have done an amazing job over the last several years evolving the brand, and they tell a fantastic story with their marketing and store visuals. My favorite days are those when I come home to find a new catalog in the mail (its the simple things). Behind every great man (Mickey Drexler) they say there is a great woman, and for J.Crew that is Jenna Lyons, Creative Director. Jenna sat down with Details to give her 10 Rules of Style. A few of my favorite Jenna tips:

4. A pressed shirt signals work mode. But a washed-cotton shirt automatically makes you feel more touchable, more approachable. It’s effortless. However, if everything is washed—that’s not interesting. When washed is paired with a blazer and a tie, it looks amazing.

6. Get dressed, then change one element. With a suit, wear a pair of Converse, or take off your dress shirt and put on a chambray button-down instead. You can also do the reverse. Try khakis rolled up with wingtips. Tweaking one thing is an easy way for guys to modernize an outfit, even if they don’t know what the hell they’re doing.

10. We don’t need you to be perfect. What we do need is for you to look a little bit more pulled-together. And no pleats, please, not ever, ever, in your life. Ever.