Call It a Comeback: J.Crew Returns to Its Roots With the Heritage Collection

In college, my favorite item of clothing was a chocolate-brown wool J.Crew roll-neck sweater, an item Iโ€™d borrowed (but never returned) from my still-bestie, who had, in turn, nipped it from her then-boyfriend. The year was 1994, and it was a single item that looked and felt great on all of us, pre-Sisterhood of the…

In college, my favorite item of clothing was a chocolate-brown wool J.Crew roll-neck sweater, an item Iโ€™d borrowed (but never returned) from my still-bestie, who had, in turn, nipped it from her then-boyfriend. The year was 1994, and it was a single item that looked and felt great on all of us, pre-Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

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I have no idea what happened to that sweater (my bestie likely stole it back), but when I heard last summer that J.Crew was reissuing its classic 1988 roll-neck, my heart admittedly skipped a nostalgic beat. To be honest, I never understood why the brand stopped making the roll-neck. But as J.Crew skewed away from Gen X staples in favor of upscale, preppy chic under the guidance of then-CEO Mickey Drexler and creative director/muse Jenna Lyons, the classic roll-neckโ€”and many of its contemporariesโ€”fell into the fashion archives.

But now itโ€™s back, along with several other reissued J.Crew best-sellers from 1983 through 2011. Theyโ€™re all part of the Heritage Collection, which launched Wednesday. Think old-school rugby shirts, khakis and that fantastically simple scoop-neck swimsuit from โ€™89โ€”with a few contemporary updates. In short, itโ€™s the stuff buppie dreams are made of ... albeit at a more mature price point than our college years. That once $48 roll-neck (which seemed expensive in college) is now $75, because ... inflation.

But looking at the reissued version, I found myself not only swept up in a wave of โ€™90s nostalgia but even a little grateful the winter temps are currently lingering into spring. I think I know exactly what to wear ... hereโ€™s hoping it fits like an old friend.

Straight From The Root

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