jcrew

With every crop of J.Crew looks, it's not just the pieces we're taking in, but the genius styling at work. The label's latest "looks we love" are likewise brimming with ample inspiration to love — from a sophisticated way to play print off print, or a new way to wear your pencil skirt to the office, though this take on the maxi skirt may just be our favorite. In any case, the outfits in store are a reminder to refresh for the transition to Fall. We've culled seven must-shop looks, along with the styling lessons to be garnered from each. Click on to inspire your own styling reboot.

Full disclosure: I've spent every Summer I can remember with my family along the Penobscot Coast in Maine. So, there might be some bias when I say this is vacationland. To make the most of your time there, I suggest picking up some poignant Summer reading, easy separates, and a great camera to capture everything from the views in Acadia to E.B. White's Brooklin home. Click through to shop our picks and start plotting your own Maine vacation.

Maybe it's that Carrie Bradshaw factor — how she appeared effortlessly comfy and cool all at once while folding laundry or organizing her closet. Slipping out of your daywear doesn't have to mean surrendering your style to your college sweats or your boyfriend's tee (though, admittedly, we have a soft spot for those pieces, too). Instead, we've combed the market for the most covetable loungewear, from a sweet, floral-printed romper to a pajama set that you may just want to wear outside the bedroom. Click through for 11 pieces that pull double duty as the comfiest, chicest gear to throw on at home or even style up for the street.

The Creatures of the Wind For J.Crew collection is now available to shop online, and it might just be one of our favorite CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund collections to date. Designers Shane Gabier and Chris Peters four-piece collection features a colorblocked striped top and cardigan, a whimsical floral and denim dress, and our favorite piece: a pair of metallic gold oxfords. Basically, everything you need for an instant Summer wardrobe refresher. Just click the slideshow to see and shop the exclusive Creatures of the Wind For J.Crew collection now.

Distressed boyfriend jeans and a faded denim jacket may not automatically spring to mind when one thinks of jewelry designer Pamela Love, but that's exactly what's on offer as part of the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund runner-up's highly-anticipated capsule for J.Crew.

"The collection was inspired by what my friends and I wear almost on a daily basis," Love explains. Sure enough, the three-piece limited-edition selection — which also includes a belt, another first for Love — captures exactly the kind of downtown irreverence that has made Love's tribal-influenced jewelry, and Love herself, such a favorite. "I'm a big fan of mixing bold statement pieces with more subdued vintage classics, and I think that blend is pretty well reflected in the collection," Love says of her aesthetic. "I definitely pull a lot of inspiration from the American Southwest and Mexico and South America — I try to travel as much as I can."

See the entire capsule — available now at Jcrew.com and priced from $135 to $295 — here, in the slideshow.

The Pamela Love for J.Crew exclusive capsule collection is now available to shop online! The three-piece collection designed by the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award runner-up showcases the designer's penchant for effortless, everyday style via a vintage-inspired jean jacket adorned with cool brass pins, the coolest pair of patched jeans, and a buttery soft Southwestern-inspired belt. "The collaboration was inspired by what my friend and I wear almost on a daily basis," said Pamela. Check out the slideshow to see and shop it now before it all sells out!

Following suit on Spring's ultra-ladylike brand of styling, we've found ourselves not only loving the ankle-strap silhouette, but the T-strap rendition as well. Its literal T-shaped bar provides a sleek finish, subtle peekaboo "cutout," and an ankle slimming silhouette. After spotting the likes of model Jessica Stam, Evan Rachel Wood, and Chloe Moretz donning their own versions of the strap-happy style, we were inspired to get in on the trend, too. Try a tribal-infused beaded wedge with white-cropped trousers, or opt for a more feminine feel with a pair of sexy patent leather heels and a delicate floral frock. We've got 30 T-strap styles — wedge, stiletto, chunky pumps, flats, and everything in between — perfect for this season's warm weather adventures. Click through to see all our editors' picks and shop your favorites.

Cool collaboration alert: espadrille brand Soludos and J.Crew have teamed up to deliver an ultrachic lineup of Summer-perfect shoes. Drawing from the classic espadrille flat style (jute soles and cloth uppers) and slick nautical-inspired colors, this exclusive collection presents a new version of slip-on savvy footwear. We love the sun-faded detail of the fabric, which gives it a totally vintage, worn-in feel from the start. But the best part of all? At $35 a pop, these warm-weather shoes are affordable, available now, and worth the wear. From the beach-ready spearmint-hued pair to the bold lemon-zest iteration just begging to be worn at Coachella next week, there's a style for every Spring-to-Summer whimsy. Click through to see the complete collection — and let us know which pair you'll be snagging in the comments.

J.Crew just released its March catalog, shot in the picturesque mountains of Uruguay, supplying us with cute color combo inspiration and covetable Spring separates. As expected, the looks are perfectly styled, showcasing green sequined skirts with purple cotton shirts, bright yellow shorts with cobalt-blue toppers, and our favorite look, silk printed trousers paired with an effortless denim button-up. Accessories featured an array of two-tone leather satchels and cute woven sandals, and if a warm vacation is set in your future, check out J.Crew's collection of sweet vintage-inspired swimwear. Read below for styling tips we culled from the collection, then peruse the slideshow to see the rest of the lookbook.

Spring styling tips:

• Do invest in a pair pf printed trousers. Dress it up with heels and a silk blouse for an evening out, or downplay the print with a white tee and oxfords for a more casual effect.
• Combine solid bright separates together, like a green skirt with an orange shirt, to create a simple yet standout Spring look.
• We love feminine pencil skirts. Style it up with a denim button-up shirt and platform sandals for a chic office-appropriate ensemble.

>> Fall 2012 marks J.Crew's second season on the New York calendar — but the buzz surrounding the brand's Fashion Week presentation is already on par with that of some of the city's highest-end designers. This morning's Lincoln Center presentation was not only elbows-in packed, it was also attended by some of the industry's most-loved tastemakers. In the space of just a few minutes, we spotted Anna Dello Russo, Giovanna Battaglia, Joe Zee, and Derek Blasberg all making the rounds.

The fashion cred is well-deserved, especially this season. Newly-appointed head of women's design Tom Mora has delved deep into the J.Crew archives and come back with some refreshing — and modern — takes on the classics. There were pencil skirts in high-gloss satin and python, crew necks in bold intarsia knits, and cropped trousers in patterned jacquard. A lovely botanical print added charm to silk pants and tops, while a tonal, colorblocked coat is sure to be a hit.

As if that weren't enough, the brand has also collaborated with Manolo Blahnik on a series of BB pumps. The shoes will be sold online in several J.Crew-exclusive colors and patterns this Fall.