It’s official: J Crew have decided stripes are SO good they have created a #NationalStripesDay. And, of course, I’m all over it.
For me, pretty much every day is stripe day, but on 31st March, J Crew are declaring it a made-up holiday. It’s a bit of fun I can get on board with and the J Crew stores will have DIY stripes stations on the 31st, where you can customise your striped items with patches and other striped delights.
To celebrate, I teamed up with J Crew to shoot a few of my favourite stripey looks from their SS17 collections. This collection is actually the first J Crew presentation I saw in New York, so it has a special sentiment. And the collection was everything and more for me – pink ruffles, bright blue sequin stripes and paint splattered jeans. I loved it.
In vein of all things striped, we wanted to shoot these in London, on one of the Pedestrian crossings. And which crossing is more famous than Abbey Road..?!
7am
As a newly North Londoner I revelled in the chance to shoot near me for once, but knew we’d have to get there early if we were to miss the tourist route. All was going well until we arrived and there were roadworks with temporary traffic lights at the spot we needed to shoot…
So we walked up the road and found a quieter crossing with which to take our photos, right by the Abbey Road Street sign (to the sound of cabbies shouting “You’ve got the wrong crossing!”). Actually, it was better – no queues, less traffic and one woman came up to us to congratulate us for, in fact, getting the correct crossing. Which was the truth? I can’t actually tell but for photographic purposes, these photos were taken at a crossing on Abbey Road. We crossed off a shoot and a tourist attraction in one!
9:30am
The next stop was Primrose Hill, another North London gem which I had never been to before (it’s funny how you stick to your areas, as a South London girl, North London always seemed so distant). It was perfect – a less touristy Notting Hill with its candy striped buildings. We stopped for French toast and coffee in a gorgeous little breakfast bar before heading out into the sunshine for our next round of photographs.
The stripe tee has been something I’ve worn from J Crew for years – they last and last. And can be worn with everything from jeans and a blazer to a full tulle maxi skirt – it just works.
And of course stripes and leopard are a favourite of mine, and in my working wardrobe pretty much every day.
11:30am
Our final stop was Camden, an easy walk from Primrose Hill with coffees in hand. Amidst all the market stalls and hoards of tourists, we found a little street with pastel coloured buildings with just the right pop of pink for our photos.
Now I probably shouldn’t have left my favourite outfit until last. And the reason it’s my favourite is that I probably would never post this outfit on my blog as it’s not really real life. I’d wear this to a party or a special occasion, but that’s also why I felt rather fabulous walking around Camden – pretty much the the birthplace of gothic, head to toe black dressing (a symbol of my youth).
This post was in collaboration with J Crew, celebrating National Stripes Day, which is my new favourite holiday (obviously).
Such a beautiful post! I love the London background, everything you’re wearing and just how happy you look. Amazing work as always Alex x
http://fizzawritesstuff.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/on-rotation-what-ive-been-using.html
Hoorah an official day to celebrate all things stripey!! I’m currently packing for a mini break in Portugal and my obsession for stripes has become starkly apparent – a Ganni narrow stripe dress, a Marlene Birger light knit dress with broad stripes, a Matalon Breton top, a TU broad banded cotton jumper and a pair of Asos stripe canvas mules – all navy/white!! Out of desperation I’ve slipped an orange vest and orange Zara light knit into the case !! I ❤️ stripes!!
i neeeeeeeeeed this pom-pom bag!!!! when i click on the link it leads to all kind of other j crew bags but not this pom-pom beauty. help!!!!
have i forgotten to mention that i love the outfits and the location? i do, i am just a bit distracted by this pom-pom bag…
brigitte xx
Can I ask where you get your glasses, your actual reading glasses not sunglasses please. I love the shape and style and I’m looking for a change, thanks xxx
Thank you so much! xxx
But stripes go with everything!!! I’m constantly in stripes – and if Jenna says it’s okay – that’s fine with me! xxx
haha – no worries – it’s mainly about the bag 😉 !! So I borrowed all the J Crew bits for this post and a lot of it isn’t available yet – so the good news is you haven’t missed it yet – I’ll try and keep you informed xxx
They’re from Bailey nelson, but they’ve just changed their name to Ollie Quinn. £98 all handmade frames with prescription lenses – love them xx
Love the stripes – adds to otherwise simple outfits
Styling great- easy to add pieces to existing wardrobe for a quick update.
Pompon bag on my radar for the summer definitely will buy when it becomes available
thanks, alex! can’t wait! brigitte xx
I LOVE-LOVE everything about this; from the locations (and the stories behind them) to the looks themselves. And of course great minds think alike, because in addition to also living in J.Crew/stripes/leopard in my daily life, I ordered those red earrings last week. But now I’m going to need that ‘ahoy’ shirt too, thanks to you (never one to pass up a novelty tee….)
Briony xx
Oh I loved this post and the London locations ….. and your honesty that your favourite outfit (which is fabulous) would be saved for a special occasion and not a daily look – we love you Alex for keeping it real!!! Annmarie xx
Thanks Annmarie! It’s good to be real sometimes! xxx
Thanks love! I bought the earrings in NYC so we’re twinsies! And I might need the pink bag you bought last week!
Planning a five day break to Venice over Easter – thinking of the gondoliers in their stripey shirts! Have you ever done a City Guide to Venice or do you know of one you could recommend? TIA Alice
YES! Love Venice – if you click on my Frugal City Guides I did 2 last year xx
So this is the brand, and they’ve collaborated exclusively with J Crew -such a good ethos! https://www.gaiaforwomen.com/blogs/look-good-do-good/tagged/j-crew