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J Brand and Intermix celebrated the launch of the debut Ready-To-Wear collection in New York City with three amazing fashion bloggers: The Man Repeller, Style Bubble, and Style by Kling. Here is a photo recap of what had happened and an exclusive video!
Style Bubble in the Moyet Sweater in Mink, Baez Tee in Mink. Susie was the first to try on her look and she went right for the Moyet sweater, which we thought would be perfect for her, and it was! We love her style and attention to details that make a piece really special.
Elin Kling in the Arie Tee in Black styled with a pair of J Brand Jeans. Elin’s style is minimalistic with just a subtle twist to give it an edge, just like our Spring collection.
To shop the Spring 2012 Ready-To-Wear collection, click HERE
Wednesday we had the pleasure of attending the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference (IFB) in New York City. We were excited to see some of our favorite bloggers there, and meet new friends too!
We shared our Spring 2012 Ready-To-Wear collection with the bloggers and gave them the opportunity to try on pieces from our debut collection to change up their look or style a complete J Brand outfit from head to toe! The line is chic and sophisticated with specific point of view but can also be versatile depending on an individual’s style. It was fun and inspirational for us to see how each blogger interpreted the pieces and created a look all their own.
Now it’s your turn to decide which blogger’s Ready-To-Wear look you like best in our Facebook Style Showdown. We’ve selected our top nine looks from IFB – the blogger with the most votes will win a $1,000 gift certificate to jbrandjeans.com, and will have the chance to gift one of her readers a $300 gift certificate to jbrandjeans.com as well!
Meeting up to interview Rozzi Crane, we found The Daily Dose located on 7th and Industrial Street in Downtown LA. Very urban while being cozy, this hidden cafe provides an all organic and artisan menu along with coffee by Intelligentsia. While the cafe itself is indoors, the seating area is outdoors that resembles a quaint European garden. In the winter time it’s perfect too because the cafe has heat lamps for each table as well as a fire pit.
When we arrived, we immediately noticed and could appreciate the scenery and its peaceful environment. We tried ‘The Scramble’ – the eggs were so fluffy and fresh as well as the rest of the dish. Our guest, Rozzi Crane, had the ‘Par Me’ which was the house granola with organic berries, honey, and palm syrup. Even our lattes were finished with foam art, and Rozzi had a hot pot of green tea made with red leaf that produced a gorgeous crimson red.
Although it was a chilly day, we were very satisfied with warm and delicious foods at this somewhat hidden gem. It was a great way to add a “dose” of happiness to our day!
The Daily Dose
1820 Industrial Street #260,
Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 281-9300
This week, we had the pleasure of meeting one of our favorite up and coming artists Rozzi Crane. At 20-years-old she has already been on tour with The Eagles legend Don Henley, and she spent her last summer traveling through Europe while touring with Sergio Mendes. Her soulful voice also caught the attention of celebrities such as Zooey Deschanel and more recently, Adam Levine, who signed her as the first artist to represent his new record label, 222 Records.
J Brand: When did you first decide that you had a talent for singing and music?
Rozzi: It’s funny because I’m pretty sure I decided to be a singer way before I could actually sing. So I was six, and I was like this is what I’m going to be, but I don’t think anybody else really took me seriously at all until I was 12 or 13, and I don’t blame them. I’ve heard some recordings of myself when I was younger, and I wasn’t one of those child prodigies, I wasn’t a good singer, I mean I could carry a tune but I wasn’t… I think I thought I was a lot better than I was! (laughs) But I think there is kind of something real about deciding to be something and then figuring out how to be it later. And I didn’t realize I was doing that, but at six I was like, ‘Yea I’ll be a singer!’
J Brand: When did you realize that it could actually be possible for you to turn it into a career?
Rozzi: The thing is, I really was so serious, that I believed it before it even made sense. That really is just the case, for some reason I was just so young and I didn’t think that I had a choice. I do have a really specific memory—my mom took me to a Madonna concert when I was nine.
J Brand: Your mom sounds awesome!
Rozzi: (laughs) Yea she’s so into music, I mean my mom introduced me to so much music, and we both love Madonna. Madonna’s charisma on stage is just so insane, and I just remember watching her and having this overwhelming feeling…I think it was the first time I really saw what a career in singing could be on that level. That Madonna concert was just mind-blowing.
J Brand: Can you tell us the story of how you started working with Adam Levine?
Rozzi: That has been insane. I was writing songs with these musicians in Los Angeles, Jacques Brautbar and Sam Farrar. We’d write these songs, and I’d record the demos, and Adam heard one of the songs. And I think Adam did some YouTube stalking and saw some of my videos or something before he reached out to me and offered me this record deal, which is ridiculous (laughs). Of course I was so flattered and shocked.
J Brand: Were you just completely floored?
Rozzi: I was just so humbled by it, it was just insane, and we spoke and we got along really well, really fast. We found out we had a lot of the same taste in music and I really liked his ideas. Yea, and it was easy, really.
J Brand: And he’s starting his own label?
Rozzi: Yea, 222 Records.
J Brand: And you’re the first to be signed?
Rozzi: Yea, I’m the first.
J Brand: Wow, that’s so cool to be his first person!
Rozzi: Yea it’s awesome, and I’m really just so excited to work with him specifically, because he really is just such a good person, really smart…but we’re still in the very beginning stages of everything. We’re in the writing process. Hopefully we’ll release something this summer.
J Brand: You have amazing style, how do you choose what you wear during your performances? What are your inspirations?
Rozzi: I usually want to look as much like myself as possible when I’m on stage, whatever that means that day. So I want to feel good and feel comfortable on stage, but that also usually means some kind of a risk. I really like to do something that makes me even a little bit uncomfortable, just because it’s more exciting. I love the way Rihanna dresses, I just think she is one of the most fashionable ladies in the world right now, but she takes some risks that I could never pull off.
After a great breakfast and talk for over two hours, it’s clear that Rozzi Crane has a great future ahead of her. We’re very excited for her and we can’t wait to go to her next performance and cheer her on!
To get a similar J Brand style to Rozzi’s, click HERE
When I first stepped into the J Brand office it was exactly as I pictured a design space and the headquarters of a fashion label. High ceilings, brick walls, inspiration boards covering every square inch of bulletin space, bookshelves stacked with Vogue and Elle, and of course racks and racks of clothing. I’ve always been interested in design, fashion and marketing, and when I learned of the internship opening, I jumped at the opportunity.
When I started working at J Brand I expected to perform the standard internship tasks: coffee runs, copies, sending packages and of course staring at Excel spreadsheets. While these tasks do come up in my daily routine, they do not dominate it. Even in my first few days as an intern, I was invited to sit in on sales calls, conference calls with our social media team in New York, and meetings led by the VP of Marketing. Getting the privilege to sit in on these meetings allowed me to learn more about the company and really made me feel like I was a part of the team.
Since starting the internship six months ago, I’ve been able to grow and develop as an employee, forge relationships with many types of people in the fashion and marketing industries, learn about digital media, and attend photo shoots. These experiences have been invaluable.
One of my favorite experiences at J Brand was working at the photo shoot for our Spring 2012 Ready to Wear Line. I was able to meet and work with one of my favorite stylists, and I was introduced to some amazing photographers and videographers. It was so rewarding to see all of our hard work come together to produce some amazing photos.
J Brand is such a wonderful work environment for an intern, because everyone is open-minded, easy-going and willing to answer questions. I’ve always been encouraged to bring ideas to the table, (even when they are nuts!) because even when an idea seems crazy, someone on the J Brand team can pull something great out of it. It’s been awesome to see some of these ideas come to fruition.
I’ve now been working at J Brand for six months and I couldn’t be happier. There’s nothing better than being part of a company that you believe in 100%. The people that I’ve met at J Brand have been nothing but kind and helpful. I know that the experience I’ve had at J Brand would be hard to match anywhere else, and I just want to say thank you to everyone on the J Brand team that has helped me in this process. Thank you!
We sat down with our Product Development Assistant, Brent Hannapel, about his experience at J Brand with our men’s line. He’s such a positive personality and a great friend to everyone in the office. We hope you love him as much as we do!
Brent, tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a daddy, I have an amazing wife, I’m a virgo, and I enjoy mexican food, metal music, and nerdy video games.
How did you find out about J Brand?
When I was a senior in college back at Iowa State University we were required to do an internship. I decided to work in denim so I started sending my resume to all the premium denim companies in LA, I heard back from J Brand very quickly and I loved the whole aesthetic of the brand, so I decided to pursue the opportunity.
What was it about this company that made you leave your hometown in Iowa for a whole summer and then move your family out to California?
As I mentioned earlier, the aesthetic of J Brand had been an early call out to me, I have always been a fan of dark, simple, and sophisticated. Once I got to meet and work with the design team during my internship it was almost instant the bond that we made. Over the 3 months I was an intern we became a family of sorts. I would come in early, stay late, and just absorb as much of the company as humanly possible. And the design manager at the time saw my willingness and eagerness to learn, grow and create. That bond, that family, is why I was able to come back for a full time position.
How is life as an intern compare to life as a full-time member of the design team?
It was definitely different. While I take on projects 100% whether it’s making dupe tags or designing new fits and making technical sketches, being an intern and managing all the tracking was nothing compared to the responsibility and hustle I had to take on as a new employee.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
I think my biggest accomplishment was becoming the first assistant for the men’s division, being able to help it grow through two launches and two directors and watch the business multiply.
What is the best thing about denim for you?
I am totally in love with raw indigo denim and the way it reacts and morphs as you wear it in. It almost becomes an impression of the way you live. I have a great appreciation for domestic selvage denim as well as Japanese selvage denim. I have recently begun to delve into experimenting with denim in the wash aspect, creating authentic wear patterns, and developing finishes.
What is the best thing about the men’s Spring line?
Ohhhh sooo much, lets see, beautiful new washes, a few new silhouettes, we are more and more becoming a fashion company, even on the men’s side. It’s become not only about jeans, but more about bottoms in general, it’s cool to see fashion translated through a denim company.
What do guys usually not understand about premium denim?
I think guys have a lot of trouble seeing through the price. And I totally get it, it’s a lot of money for something you can buy at target, but the quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail we put into every style we make really makes up for it.
Color trend is hot, what is your thoughts on this?
Color trend is apparent in almost everything we do, going from different shades of indigo, to specialty yarn dye denims, to garment dyes, and even thread colors. We’ve really had to start thinking outside the box to find out how all the colors are relevant to the styles we are making. I feel we have a really strong color assortment for the coming seasons.
What is the biggest difference between the men’s and women’s line here at J Brand to you?
One of very few differences is our special details, men care about the detail and craftsmanship that goes into their jeans. Other than that, we strive to keep our aesthetic modern, clean, and relevant, just like our women’s line.
What is the biggest similarity?
Our clean classic basics, we both started with clean dark sophisticated styles, and those will always be the base of our brand, and it shows in our hardware and branding.
There may be no snow for LA – but why not enter Winter Wonderland by getting cozy with chunky knit scarves and slipping into cute mittens to go ICE SKATING!
We’ve done the research for you and found some ice skating locations in Los Angeles. Join us and let’s celebrate the new year!
Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square
532 South Olive Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90013 Celebrating its 14th season. LA’s biggest outdoor rink with the smallest admission price ($6 admission $2 skate rent).
ICE at Santa Monica
1324 5th Street,
Santa Monica, CA 90401 Celebrating their 5th Anniversary by the beach. They have a second rink for kids 8 and under and also special activities held throughout the season. $10 fee with skate rentals
LA Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. Live
800 West Olympic Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90015 This rink accommodates up to 200 skaters at once and it’s unlimited skating including skate rental for $13.
CHILL at the W Los Angeles
930 Hilgard Avenue,
Los Angeles, CA 90024 W Hotel coverts their swimming pool deck into an eco-friendly synthetic hybrid skating rink. They also converts their full restaurant and bar into The Ice Bar. $10 an hour that includes skate rentals.
With the holidays upon us we wanted to give thanks and give back. At J Brand, we have been working with City Year to raise money to keep kids in school, but we also wanted to devote a little time to helping others in need.
Last week, a few of us visited the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and donated our time to sorting food for distribution. Child hunger is a bigger problem then most of us may be aware of and it is happening right here in the United States too, so we encourage you to give what you can to your local food drive or pantry.
We were working so hard to get through all the food we almost forgot to take any pictures at all! Knowing that our efforts would help a family in need that same day made us want to work at a very fast pace for hours.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area, here are a few opportunities that don’t require a lot of money but are a great help to those in need.
“Did you know that every single pair of jeans that J Brand makes is shipped from its factory in downtown LA?
That’s right, even the ones Kate Middleton sports all the way in London. J Brand is internationally recognized, but its roots are still very much LA. And to prove it, J Brand CEO Jeff Rudes was recently inspired to create a collection of City Year jeans to help students in the factory’s neighboring areas stay in school; 100 percent of the net proceeds from City Year jeans go to the organization City Year.
Courtney wears the 811 in Vine exclusive for City Year
Courtney wears the 811 in Apache exclusive for City Year
Get in on the fashion philanthropy by buying a pair now. But first, step inside to get an exclusive peek inside the entire J Brand world, from the factory to the sewing machines to the archives and more!”
Unfortunately, we cannot take pictures inside this exhibit, but that just gives you even more of an excuse to go see it for yourself.
If you are not aware of his work, Diego Rivera is one of the most recognized Mexican artists and was the second to have a retrospective in MOMA in it’s earlier years, following Matisse. Rivera was known for his large murals that blended art with political points of view in a public forum. He created a few mobile portraits which are not bound to the walls they are painted on and those are some of the works exhibited in this space.
Rivera was an important member of the Communist party from the beginning and one of the most vocal advocates. Many of his works blended his political thoughts with the struggle and triumphs of Mexico as well as some of New York City.
One of his most remembered works is one that we will never see. It was commissioned for the Rockafeller Center. The history of what happened to this work is shared in this exhibit. Including why after it’s completetion the Rockafeller’s decided this mural could not be displayed and so was destroyed.
Make sure to pick up the audio, it is free, just leave behind your ID. Don’t worry, they take good care of it.
If you have time to spare, we strongly suggest spending some time on the 5th floor. The curation is fanastic and the pieces are even more incredible. On this floor photos are allowed. So we thought we would share a few paintings you may recognize…
Fun Fact: Frida Kahlo was an established artist all her own, but she was also married to Diego Rivera, twice.
The Diego Rivera: Murals for the Museum of Modern Art exhibit is open through May 14th. This was such an amazing day, we hope you will try to make it out to this exhibit.
If this is too far from you, we hope you will visit any exhibit at a museum in your area soon!
