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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
informative
medium-paced
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
This was good! J. Crew is a brand with which I have a lot of memories, and was very informative in how I came to dress, and I think Bullock writes from a similar sentimental (though much more informed) position.
I wish there were more of a background for those less familiar with the business--I'm still not entirely sure what a merchant is, in this context. I thought the period from Jenna's ascendance to the collapse was a little flat, and I wish there were more about the business end, especially re: the Anchorage acquisition, though I suspect this is mostly an issue of timing.
In any case, would definitely recommend.
I wish there were more of a background for those less familiar with the business--I'm still not entirely sure what a merchant is, in this context. I thought the period from Jenna's ascendance to the collapse was a little flat, and I wish there were more about the business end, especially re: the Anchorage acquisition, though I suspect this is mostly an issue of timing.
In any case, would definitely recommend.
Who has two thumbs and once thought the coolest stuff ever came from J.Crew? This gal. A fascinating look at the story behind the brand.
P.S. Remember when the Dawson’s Creek cast was once featured in a catalog? That’s wild to me. #Pacey4Eever
This was everything | I didn’t know I wanted | All about J. Crew
Regardless of whether a fan of the brand or not, this is a fascinating & entertaining lesson in entrepreneurship, marketing & finance. The nostalgia was the cherry on the top.
medium-paced
This book made me think A LOT about how I look for clothes, how I shop for clothes, how I choose which clothes to buy and from which company, how I view my clothing consumption, and how I define my personal style. This book also made me think a lot about my awareness of J. Crew as a brand and where I think they fit in the clothing brand hierarchy. This book touches on more than just the history of J. Crew - it also discusses the history of prep as a style and the history and influence of other retailers that live in the J. Crew orbit.
I admired J. Crew from afar because when I was young it was not a brand that interested my parents (who were buying all my clothes) and by the time I was purchasing my own clothes, it was out of my price range. J. Crew mostly lived in the periphery, so I didn't understand what J. Crew fans meant when they said that J. Crew deviated too far from their roots. However, after listening to this book and learning about the company's founding and initial design philosophy, I understand better and can see in my mind's eye what fans meant. It makes me whistful for the old J. Crew of the Arthur and Emily era. If I were a little older, I probably would have bought a lot of J. Crew from that time period.
I did not know about Arthur and Emily Cinader AT ALL before reading this book. While I prefer Emily's aesthetic, I would much rather have worked under Jenna Lyons' friendlier bedside manner. The author does a good job showing how J. Crew flourished in their two golden eras - how each came to be defined by one woman's singular vision and personality.
Occasionally the author's writing style was confusing, like listening to run-on sentences. While I understand that the Cinader family is VERY private, I do wish the author had been able to get more of their thoughts and feelings as well as their perspective on the history and future of the brand. I also think the author could have done a better job drawing parallels between Emily's and Jenna's reigns at J. Crew. History really did repeat itself.
If you decide to listen to the audiobook, try to get your hands on the e-book or a paper copy to check out the photo section.
I admired J. Crew from afar because when I was young it was not a brand that interested my parents (who were buying all my clothes) and by the time I was purchasing my own clothes, it was out of my price range. J. Crew mostly lived in the periphery, so I didn't understand what J. Crew fans meant when they said that J. Crew deviated too far from their roots. However, after listening to this book and learning about the company's founding and initial design philosophy, I understand better and can see in my mind's eye what fans meant. It makes me whistful for the old J. Crew of the Arthur and Emily era. If I were a little older, I probably would have bought a lot of J. Crew from that time period.
I did not know about Arthur and Emily Cinader AT ALL before reading this book. While I prefer Emily's aesthetic, I would much rather have worked under Jenna Lyons' friendlier bedside manner. The author does a good job showing how J. Crew flourished in their two golden eras - how each came to be defined by one woman's singular vision and personality.
Occasionally the author's writing style was confusing, like listening to run-on sentences. While I understand that the Cinader family is VERY private, I do wish the author had been able to get more of their thoughts and feelings as well as their perspective on the history and future of the brand. I also think the author could have done a better job drawing parallels between Emily's and Jenna's reigns at J. Crew. History really did repeat itself.
If you decide to listen to the audiobook, try to get your hands on the e-book or a paper copy to check out the photo section.
informative
reflective
medium-paced