The summer after my sophomore year of college, I needed a job more consistent than babysitting. J, Crew was my favorite store, so I drove myself over to the nearest mall and applied to work as a J. Crew sales associate. After the most fun interview I’d had up to that point (I got to spend it talking about how I’d describe my personal style), I landed the job.
I ending up working at J. Crew during three different periods over the next several years. It was honestly one of my favorite jobs, and if I had to work retail again, I’d go straight there.
J. Crew has always been one of my favorite retailers, and I learned so much while working there as a sales associate. To get style inspiration, I studied the style guide every season. I also picked up a lot of tips based on the J. Crew employee dress code.
Below I’m sharing J. Crew styling tips from a former sales associate that will elevate your style immediately.
Xx, Kelsey
Add a Blazer to Your Denim
This styling tip was part of our J. Crew dress code as sales associates. And it’s still one of the easiest and chicest ways to elevate your denim look. If we wanted to wear jeans to work, we always had to add a blazer. In the Texas summer heat, this rule always drove me nuts. But several years later, I have to admit it’s a really good tip.
Try the French Tuck
The French Tuck recently became popular due to Tan France, but it’s been one of my favorite J. Crew styling tips for years. There are two main tucks that are a staple in J. Crew outfits. One is to tuck one side of your button down loosely into your pants and leave the other side hanging. The other is to tuck the center of your t-shirt or sweater in like I did above. Both of these tucks will instantly make your outfit cooler. Just try it with a basic t-shirt and jeans and see how your whole look transforms.
Add a Third Piece
This is one that I always forget to incorporate on a daily basis, but it will surely make your outfit more interesting. Start with two basic layers, say a sweater and trousers. While it might be tempting to leave the house then and there, see if you can add one more piece. As a J. Crew sales associate, this was often a statement necklace or earrings. Other third pieces could be a chic hat like this photo, a scarf, a cardigan, a vest, etc.
Properly Roll Your Sleeves
I’ll never forget my wonder the day I learned how to roll a J. Crew sleeve. We used to get in trouble at the store if we rolled the shirt sleeves end-over-end so they looked like a donut. The J. Crew way to roll a sleeve is to put your thumbs in the sleeve, gathering the fabric in your hands until you get to the height you want and then giving it one single roll. This tutorial here is super helpful for getting a much chicer sleeve roll.
The Power of a Red Lip
Jenna Lyons popularized the coral red lip while she was the creative director of J. Crew. While working as a sales associate, one of the easiest J. Crew styling tips I learned was the power of the red lip. One swipe and it’ll make your outfit so much more chic. In particular, one with an orange undertone, like this one, will add just the right kind of pop.
