The crew from Monocle, one of OTC’s favorite global culture magazines, has joined forces with J. Crew, one of OTC’s favorite menswear labels.
In the latest issue of J. Crew’s catalog, Monocle’s editor-in-chief Tyler Brûlé and several of his editors and staff are seen in Monocle’s London offices, styled through the eyes of J. Crew.
It seems that Brûlé and J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler have know each other for years, so the collaboration – and Monocle is the master of pitch-perfect collaborations – is, well perfect. The outfits chosen by J.Crew’s sylists seem to fit each man just so, highlighting, or least alluding to, some defining aspect of their personality.
Though J. Crew has done several of these “real people” mash-ups, this one is particularly inspired because Monocle represents two key elements that fit well in J. Crew’s world – and visa versa. Monocle endorses the benefits of creative societal impact, something J.Crew has pioneered with its increasing emphasis on the “craft” aspects of it’s Men’s offerings. And the magazine also champions the importance of unique, independent brands, again, something that J.Crew has successfully married to it’s own giant corporate brand.
Monocle’s Tyler Brûlé
Check out the Monocle/J.Crew collaboration HERE. And always make sure to visit Monocle’s exceptional website and its daily Monocolumn. If you are an iPhone devotee like me (or Blackberry, one of Monocle’s collaborators), I also heartily endorse the Monocle weekly podcast.