Jenna Lyons Knows How to Find Quality Clothing. Here's Her Staple Wardrobe.

New York Times

3 days ago

'I wear the same goddamn thing every day,' Jenna Lyons recently told me over Zoom.
And whether you're familiar with her from her stint on The Real Housewives of New York City or as the former president and executive creative director of J.Crew, you know that she's not being hyperbolic. Lyons is known for her consistently polished — yet delightfully playful — personal style. But if you dissect many of her outfits, you'll see that her wardrobe is built on a foundation of well-fitting basics.
Her advice is to invest in the items you wear the most, rather than in outfits you'll wear only a handful of times. A helpful way to do this is to consider an item's cost per wear, she said. And this is how she reflects on the price of her most-worn pieces: 'If I went through the cost per wear of the things I wear all the time, you'd be shocked.'
Following that advice, her closet is full of elevated versions of everyday essentials, like a basic white T-shirt or a trusty pair of jeans. But Lyons is also anything but a gatekeeper, and she told us what she likes, why it works for her, and where to get it yourself.
Lyons knows exactly what she likes in a plain T-shirt, and the Everybody.World Boxier Trash Tee nails it. 'My entire drawer is stacked with them,' she said. And she has them in white, black, and cream (called 'scour' by the brand).
This T-shirt is heavier than most, with longer sleeves, a boxy shape, and a slightly shorter but not quite cropped length. Lyons said she also likes the close-fitting neckline, which allows her necklace to sit just outside of the shirt.
Falling somewhere between standard and cropped with a boxy cut, this tee is anything but trash (though it is made of 100% reclaimed-waste cotton, according to the website).
'I'm a bit religious about jeans,' Lyons told me, specifying that she doesn't like stretch jeans at all. And she said she 'really struggled during the skinny jean phase,' because she never liked the look or feel of that style. 'I really only wear rigid jeans,' she said.
Lyons likes the raw selvedge denim from A.P.C., specifically the Standard Jeans style, but she warns if you're getting them new, they take some effort to break in. She does have a trick, however: 'If you put them in warm water, like get into the bathtub with hot water, and then you can put a little bit of softener or salt in there, it does help. Then you let them dry, and that really does kickstart them from being so hard.'
These high-rise, straight-leg jeans are made with raw Japanese selvedge denim. They're chic and have a forever-in cut, but breaking them in requires some work. A.P.C. recommends going up one or two sizes for a more-comfortable fit.
Lyons also loves vintage, non-stretch jeans from Levi's. She found some of her favorites through an online shop called Jean Genie Vintage Company. Noble Panacea / Photographer: Mei Tao
From our conversation, I gathered that Lyons is no stranger to shopping in the men's section — or from menswear brands altogether. Another wear-anytime basic is a classic crewneck sweatshirt from Todd Snyder. It's made from a blend of 85% organic cotton with 15% mulberry silk, and it has a hint-of-interest small waffle pattern.
Crewneck sweaters can be a bit boring, but this one has an eye-catching, tiny waffle pattern, and it's blended with mulberry silk.
When it comes to sweaters, Lyons is also fond of cashmere, though she is particular about the yarn. In her opinion, Suzie Kondi makes 'the most amazing cashmere sweaters,' and she especially loves those made with open yarn (which means the sweater hasn't been twisted in the manufacturing process). This is a double-edged sword because open cashmere yarn gives the sweater a softer feel, but it also lends to more pilling, Lyons explained. 'I love them, I just have to de-pill them a lot,' she said, and she uses the Nori x La Ligne Fabric Shaver to do so. (Our experts, however, recommend that you go low and slow with a cashmere comb, like this one from Naadam, if you need to de-pill a sweater.)
Lyons loves the cashmere from Suzie Kondi, including this versatile vest. You can layer it over T-shirts and button-ups or under a blazer — the list goes on.
Another staple for Lyons is a blazer. Yet there's not just one single style she likes; instead she looks for details, including a proper shoulder, chest piece, and roping, to name a few.
She prefers to shop in the men's section, which is something she recommends to others, too, especially when they're looking for affordable options. 'If you want something that is under $300, I would go to the men's section because they put more build in the jackets in general, so a less expensive men's blazer is probably going to be better made than a women's blazer,' Lyons said, adding, 'I wish it wasn't that way, but it's true.'
Lyons said the boys' section of Brooks Brothers has nicely made, budget-conscious options, should they accommodate your desired fit and style. If you want something oversize, she recommends the blazers from The Frankie Shop.
Among her very favorite blazers are those from Husbands Paris, a French menswear label known for its expert tailoring. She also prefers natural to synthetic fabrics (with the exception of blazers from Khaite, she specified, since its synthetic fabrics have a good body that she appreciates).
This wool suit has classic Roman shoulders, a breathable, silk-like lining, and lovely gold shank buttons. It's expensive, but for something you plan to wear often, it may be worth it when you're considering the price per wear.
Another easy way to dress up an outfit is adding a good pair of shoes, and Lyons loves a loafer.
'If you're going to buy a pair of loafers, buy a pair of really good ones and break them in,' she suggested. She pointed to 'old-school' brands like G.H. Bass (established in 1876), specifically the Women's Whitney Weejuns Loafers. Or consider vintage loafers from brands like Gucci and Ferragamo (though her adoration for Ferragamo loafers excludes old styles with the loud Ferragamo logo on it, she said).
Both new and pre-loved designer loafers can be pricey, but Lyons considers a great pair worth it. Well-made loafers can be resoled, she said, which means they can have a long life in your wardrobe.
Finally, no matter the day, Lyons is always sporting a pair of glasses, though she doesn't stick to a single pair of frames. She gets her glasses from many places and likes to frequently check eBay for vintage frames from brands like Christian Dior and Dunhill. Her preferred rotation (one she recommends to others) is a delicate wire frame, a colorful frame, and a solid acrylic frame 'that has some guts to it.' Different days and outfits can call for different frames, so for her, variety is nearly essential when it comes to this accessory. Jenna Lyons
These are the wardrobe staples that work for Lyons, and she said she's built her collection over decades of trial and error. And that means not every item here will be exactly right for everyone. But as you look for your ideal white tee or pair of blue jeans, one thing to keep in mind is that you should always buy what you love, even if you have to wait for the right item to come along.
The times Lyons has settled for something she didn't quite love, she wound up buying more items as she hunted for something good enough — and often spent more than the cost of the original item. The result: regretting her almost-perfect purchase.
'If I just waited or saved up money, I could have gotten what I really wanted and worn it much more frequently,' she explained. Wise words.
This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder. Timeless and versatile, jeans are a key player in any wardrobe. We found ten pairs that fit a range of body types, tastes, and budgets.
We tested 25 cashmere sweaters—ranging in price from $50 to $500—and came away with six favorites that suit a range of styles and budgets.
After carefully scrutinizing fit, feel, quality, and style, we found four white tees that are the best suited for a variety of occasions and body types.