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202 reviews for:
The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew
Maggie Bullock
4.0 AVERAGE
202 reviews for:
The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew
Maggie Bullock
4.0 AVERAGE
A fascinating tale of fashion history, not just for J.Crew but of fashion in America through the 80s and 90s. From catalogs to malls to online shopping, this book covers it all. That there are so many intriguing people at the heart of the story is just icing on the cake!
Between this and [b:The Great Beanie Baby Bubble: Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute|20821185|The Great Beanie Baby Bubble Mass Delusion and the Dark Side of Cute|Zac Bissonnette|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413745925l/20821185._SY75_.jpg|40167063], my new favorite subgenre is deep dives into the crazes of my youth. Do North Face next! Or Abercrombie (you know THAT one has so much dirt)!
Even if you are not a J. Crew fanatic, this book is a fascinating look at a variety of subjects. It examines prep - what it means to people, its evolution overtime - the fashion industry (from Gap's uniformity to today's fast fashion) - and the creation of a brand.
J. Crew is not an old brand that once outfitted rugby and lacrosse players like it pretended in its original catalogue. Its origin story is an absolute myth, and I have learned between this and The Great Beanie Baby Bubble (which explains that Ebay's public origin story is also a fabrication) that companies will out-and-out lie to create a better story. J. Crew was created out of whole cloth in the 1980s because businessman Arthur Cinader wanted to expand into a catalogue business. He swiftly handed over much of the reigns to his twenty-something daughter, Emily, who would probably be played by [a:Selma Blair|4494622|Selma Blair|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1683514523p2/4494622.jpg] if this had become a movie in the early 2000s. Emily's cold patrician precision is later replaced by Mickey Drexler's bombastic presence when he takes over running the company. The contrasts between the two - and what each brought to J. Crew during their eras- feels ripe for a miniseries.
The year is only half over, but I'm calling this as one of my top nonfiction reads of the year.
Also, private equity firms are parasites on society and work to the detriment of consumers.
Even if you are not a J. Crew fanatic, this book is a fascinating look at a variety of subjects. It examines prep - what it means to people, its evolution overtime - the fashion industry (from Gap's uniformity to today's fast fashion) - and the creation of a brand.
J. Crew is not an old brand that once outfitted rugby and lacrosse players like it pretended in its original catalogue. Its origin story is an absolute myth, and I have learned between this and The Great Beanie Baby Bubble (which explains that Ebay's public origin story is also a fabrication) that companies will out-and-out lie to create a better story. J. Crew was created out of whole cloth in the 1980s because businessman Arthur Cinader wanted to expand into a catalogue business. He swiftly handed over much of the reigns to his twenty-something daughter, Emily, who would probably be played by [a:Selma Blair|4494622|Selma Blair|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1683514523p2/4494622.jpg] if this had become a movie in the early 2000s. Emily's cold patrician precision is later replaced by Mickey Drexler's bombastic presence when he takes over running the company. The contrasts between the two - and what each brought to J. Crew during their eras- feels ripe for a miniseries.
The year is only half over, but I'm calling this as one of my top nonfiction reads of the year.
Also, private equity firms are parasites on society and work to the detriment of consumers.
Very niche and at times a bit of a slog to get through, but I did find some of this very interesting. For starters, I am one of many who always associated J.CREW with prep, never having realized that its origins were anything but. Reading about fashion trends I remember -- like the early 2010s statement necklaces that once had me in an absolute chokehold -- was also fun.
Very breezy history of J Crew. No bombshells or any mind blowing information, but a fun read nevertheless. I ended purchasing items from both J Crew and Madewell after reading this, so definitely worked as an advertisement.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A fun business memoir. Especially since my closet had its share of J Crew in the 90’s and early 2000’s. If you enjoy business, marketing, strategy, fashion, culture, economy and how these all play together you’ll enjoy this book. It was a bit slow at times but also fascinating.
informative
medium-paced
medium-paced
Engaging deep dive into a brand I have loved, lost, and still hope for.
funny
informative
medium-paced
If you like history, fashion, business, marketing, or all of the above? Must read. It was a bit slow at times, but it IS nonfiction and not everything in business is a mile a minute. As an Xennial, I found the history of prep and its influence really fascinating!
Found this to be such an interesting listen (audiobook) and with the new RHONY - love hearing about Jenna of J. Crew!