J.Crew has done it again. After a summer collaboration with NYC-loved brand Maryam Nassir Zadeh, and the re-introduction of its cherished catalog, the brand is now partnering with Christopher John Rogers for a joyful fall collection. Opening the lookbook to view the pieces felt like stepping into a world we’d always wanted to be a part of. Sitting underneath fluorescent office lighting, we instantly wanted to be strolling the NYC streets in a sea of bright colors and prints along with the models. While the MNZ collaboration brought on sheer skirts, lace scrunchies, and sequin boleros, the CJR collab brings a bolder look for fall with feathery knits, metallic jackets, vinyl coats, and striped skirts in all the colors of the rainbow. The capsule consists of more than 30 pieces (including an adorable selection of pieces for Crewcuts.)
Since its inception in 2016, the Christopher John Rogers look has always consisted of juxtaposing prints, dramatic volume, and punchy, saturated colors. Even those on the fashion set who are reluctant to wear color can agree that if there’s a designer that makes you want to wear a bright and bold shade, it’s Rogers. His artful skills don’t go without recognition, as he won the CFDA Emerging Designer Award in 2020 and the American Womenswear Designer of the Year Award in 2021.
Despite creating a refreshing and imaginative collection every season, there are signature styles Rogers always comes back to, and they’re all present in this collection, mixed in with J.Crew’s tried-and-true silhouettes. Bold it may be, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s extremely wearable. J.Crew’s beloved feathery cashmere comes in CJR’s go-to multi-colored stripes. Suit sets are transformed from workwear to partywear with sequin lining. The classic Barn Jacket is reimagined in a gorgeous gold lamé that practically deserves a display case. What more could you want? And of course, being a collaboration, these pieces come at a more affordable price point than the runway collections, with most pieces ranging under $300.
While the lookbook was enough to have us hit “purchase” on every item, we knew we had to take the collection out for a spin ourselves and do it quickly, because we knew the best pieces would be gone if we didn’t act fast. Below, find our honest reviews of the items we picked, including what we loved, what we’re passing on, and so much more.
“Barn coats are probably the biggest outerwear trend of the season, a situation that I don’t expect to end when 2025 arrives, meaning that this metallic version with brown corduroy accents arrived at the perfect time. I fell in love with it when I slipped it on, and adored it even more when I saw someone else wearing it a day after I tried it on at a brand appointment. They had it styled in a much more casual manner than me with trousers, but it works just as well with a dress like this navy one covered in sequins. This dress hugs the body in such a lovely way. It’s definitely meant for going out and dancing in as it moves really beautifully. If I wasn’t wearing these heels, it’d be fun to style with boots, maybe even Western ones, to fully embrace the clashing (in a good way) look.”— Eliza Grace Huber, senior fashion editor
Christopher John Rogers X J.Crew Barn Jacket
Barn Jacket™ in Gold Lamé
