Imagine if Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and a Parisian It-girl went on holiday together and shared a suitcase. That’s basically the vibe of J.Crew and Rouje’s new collab - a tight little drop of 18 pieces pulling from both sides of the Atlantic, with just the right amount of '90s nostalgia and quiet luxury energy.
The whole thing feels like it’s been lifted from someone’s impossibly chic archive. There’s a polka-dotwrap dress you’ll probably end up living in, the kind of red mules that turn heads but still look like they’ve been in your wardrobe for years, and a matching knit tank and skirt set that feels so south of France it should come with a glass of wine.
It’s got that romantic, vintage-leaning Rouje feel - Jeanne Damas’ fingerprints are all over it - but J.Crew’s New York polish stops it from going full whimsical. It’s flirty, but grounded. French, but not cliché. Minimal, but not boring.
Even the jeans are good - wide-leg with a slight ‘70s kick and big patch pockets. Tick. Nothing in the lineup is trying too hard. There’s a simplicity to it that feels refreshing, like you could throw any of it on and go. Which, to be honest, is the dream.
The only catch? The collection doesn’t ship internationally. Bit of a heartbreak, but not a total dealbreaker, not when the pieces are this good. If you’re outside the U.S., it might be time to text that one friend with a New York address or finally cave and set up a forwarding account. Honestly, for that polka-dot dress alone, it’s kind of worth the faff.
Renee Washington, Grazia's digital fashion and beauty writer, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie..