The J. Crew men’s collection was showcased this week at Lincoln Center. Frank Muytjens says the collection was “inspired by a portrait of Edward James looking polished and precise and by photographs of Antarctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton.” With a color palette of “water on an oil slick” that pulls out the blues, purples, and greens in the collection, J. Crew caters to the user that expects garments to be wearable under any conditions.

More looks in our gallery…

Looking an awful lot like Converse’s beloved Jack Purcell, this collaboration between PF Flyers and J. Crew isn’t the freshest blast of air, but it’s still exciting because a big rubber toe cap and a double-walled outsole are pretty much always the right temperature. Formulated using an archival style sold exclusively in Japan, these Flyers, called The All Court, hope to fly off warehouse shelves starting February 15.

More looks in our gallery…

If you’re in the vicinity of TriBeCa next month, get ready to have fun saying: “Honey, I’m off to the haberdashery.”

That is when J. Crew plans to open The Ludlow Shop, a 2,100-square-foot space boasting an assortment of their Ludlow suits along with Thomas Mason shirts, Italian leather shoes, and ties. Tailors and suit wizards will be at the ready to fit the suit to the man, and then monogram the suit with the man’s initials, should it come to that. The eminently wearable—and adaptable (survey the ad campaign after the jump)—collection tops out at $1,500 for a Ludlow made from Italian cashmere.

As for the slim-fitting two-piece at the center of all the excitement, it debuted three years ago at The Liquor Store, also in the neighborhood, but demand has grown to the point that it now needs its own mailing address. -jt

Image: wwd

A look at J. Crew’s newest label, Wallace and Barnes. The story goes that the design teams ever growing archive of vintage clothing and various bits of dusty ephemera, used as inspiration for the main line, had become the obvious starting point for a separate collection with a more obvious connection to the past. Cue peacoats, totes, hunting jackets, denim and v-stitch sweatshirts all inspired by early to mid nineteenth century American designs. We’re not entirely convinced there’s a huge difference between Wallace & Barnes and J Crews general stock,they’ve been doing the repro thing for a while now throughout their collections. However there’s enough stand out items to make us take a second glance.

More look after the click.

Oh, fancy nosing around a well known dutch designers house do you? Well, look no further than Brooklyn Magazine, who have found themselves in the home of J Crew’s Frank Muytjens in North Brooklyn. As you’d guess it’s a shrine to mid-century goodness and general fine taste. The accompanying interview reveals his interior preferences. Frank likes piles of magazines, wooden stools and old rugs for his ginger dog to sit on. More at Brooklyn Mag.

More look after the click.

J. Crew presented their Spring 2012 looks during New York Fashion Week. Frank Muytjens, head of mens design J.Crew says the following on the collection: ”Every season we’re trying to push newness in our own way by looking at classic shapes, looking at historical military garments to update them, and pairing different elements from different time periods in one look for distortion and something unexpected.  It is this creative process of mixing colors, fabrics and shapes which keeps it refreshing.”

Photography: Jacob Breinholt/Selectism.com

More looks after the click.

Check out that country list on the new jcrewinternational.com domain. Looks like they’re close than ever at setting off on international territories. We wish them the best. Sign up now for an update when you locale gets the launch-go.

More shoe news from J. Crew.

With Alden, they’ve created three exclusive longwing bluchers. There is a black alpine version, with pebbled leather, to go with a waxed brown model. The third is a chocolate suede.

Check them all after the jump.

J. Crew’s calling these Quoddy Chukka boots a collectors item. The mix of Horween Chromexel and deerskin leathers is certainly intoxicating. J. Crew has placed the boot on a rubber camp-style sole. Exclusive to the retailer’s catalog and online store.

Continuing their collaboration with Timex, J. Crew has created a dive-style watch inspired by one of the most breathtaking and extraordinary barrier reefs in the world, Andros. Featuring quartz analog movement with a functioning bezel, the watch is fitted with a simple nylon strap.

Available from today at Jcrew.com.