3 min readJ.Crew loves a fashion collaboration. From reimagined staples—like the Rollneck sweater, recently reinterpreted by five New York-based designers—to launching exclusive collections with buzzy labels such as Rouge and Maryam Nassir Zadeh, the American retailer consistently has something exciting in the works. As spring officially kicks off, J.Crew has teamed up with heritage brand Lee on a capsule collection, inspired by a few of their classic silhouettes, with denim naturally as the focus.
“Lee represents an essential part of American denim heritage,” said Olympia Gayot, creative director of J.Crew women’s and kids. “My goal was to honor that legacy while refining it through our lens—polished but relaxed, thoughtful but unfussy. We focused on pieces that feel authentic and enduring, the kind of wardrobe staples you reach for instinctively and keep for years.”
Now that the days are getting longer and the temperatures are (hopefully) on the rise, I’m ready to shed winter layers and start building a seasonal wardrobe from the ground up—which personally, often starts with fresh denim buys. I was thrilled to see these two timeless brands join together—I’ve admired both for years and have a hefty collection of vintage finds from each. Harper’s Bazaar commerce editor Michella Oré and I put in the hard work of testing out the new collection.
At first glance, both of us immediately reached for the Vintage Straight Jean. The wash is truly phenomenal in person—it’s that perfect shade of blue that exists only in vintage stores. “The Vintage Straight jeans are slimmer than the traditional straight-leg cut, hugging the body a bit more to show off curves yet still giving a relaxed, laidback effect,” says Oré. “I like it with a white tank top or oversized striped T-shirt tucked in.” Made from one hundred-percent cotton, these hit right at the ankle with just a touch of give.
Next on Oré’s list was the denim skirt, available in both a vintage white wash and classic blue. “The white skirt proves that denim pencil skirts are coming back this spring in a major way,” Oré says. “Hitting just above the knee, it feels a little prim but not stuffy, and looks cool when worn underneath an oversized knit.” She paired it with a colorful striped motif sweater, lending an East Coast touch that felt very on-brand, something I immediately wanted to recreate.
I grabbed the Western shirt as a simple styling piece from the men’s offerings, which turned into a pleasant surprise. I often grab from the men’s department (especially with J.Crew), since the pieces tend to have a roomier fit and nothing is overly cropped. This pinstriped button-down felt so easy-breezy, styled open over a T-shirt and jeans—plus, it’s lightweight enough to wear over a bikini in the summer.
Finally, we both couldn’t leave without trying the denim Rider jacket, one of the most notable shapes from the Lee archive. “The jacket, which features a navy corduroy collar that pops nicely against the white denim, is a great transitional layer for spring and looks cool tied around the waist or over one of the brand’s legendary Rollneck sweaters,” says Oré. We went for the men’s sample here, too, with a roomier fit, and honestly, I couldn’t decide between the blue or the white wash, they were both that good.
Available to shop now, scoop up our favorite pieces from the Lee x J.Crew collection. This limited capsule is already flying, so don’t hesitate.
Shop the Lee x J.Crew Collection
Women’s Lee x J.Crew Storm Rider® Denim Jacket
Women’s Lee x J.Crew Jules Western Shirt
Women’s Lee x J.Crew Vintage Straight Jean
Women’s Lee x J.Crew Perfect Rib Tank Top
Women’s Lee x J.Crew Denim Skirt
Men’s Lee x J.Crew Oxford Western Shirt
Women’s Lee x J.Crew Denim Skirt
Men’s Lee x J.Crew Storm Rider® denim jacket
Men’s Lee x J.Crew Straight Jean in Japanese Selvedge Denim
Men’s Lee x J.Crew Oxford Western Shirt
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