photos by kristen kilpatrick
‘Tis the season for stacks of catalogs to arrive in the mail each day – and while most of them instantly hit my recycling bin, it’s become a tradition that the minute my J.Crew gift guide makes its appearance, I start earmarking pages to “casually” leave out in hopes that Adam will take a holiday shopping hint.
This year I was downright giddy to team up with J.Crew for the holidays, ’cause it meant I got a sneak peek of the items they curated for their gift guide – and spent an afternoon playing dress up and snapping photos of the ones that are making it onto my wishlist this year. Lucky for Adam, they sent their men’s assortment for my perusal, too. Keep scrolling to see my top 5 faves for me, and the 5 pieces I’ll be gifting to him. And hop on over to the gift guide to shop them all, since Black Friday’s coming and I have a feeling these beauties are going to sell out fast.
The cozy sweater.
A fisherman-style cable sweater is a must-have for any closet. I love the fringe detail and asymmetric hemline on this one that makes it classic on top and party on the bottom.
shown with v-neck sweater in supersoft yarn
The wear-with-anything scarf.
There are few things more luxurious than a soft cashmere scarf, and the classic pattern and shades of camel and persimmon in this one mean I’ll be wearing it around-the-clock.
shown with cashmere-lined leather tech gloves
The statement-making party shoes.
Looking at the sea of camel and black that makes up my current shoe collection… these electric red satin heels need to happen. Confession: I’m buying them for myself so I’m set for the upcoming party season, and I officially give you permission to do the same.
Just say yes, please to this animal print topper that instantly transforms even the most basic outfit into a chic, cool-girl uniform. If one piece could solve all your wardrobe woes, it would be this one.
shown with ribbon-wrapped hoop earrings
The graphic tee.
Tees like this are my secret to looking pulled together on crazy mornings when I don’t have time to think about my outfit. Do like the french girls and add jeans, a blazer, and a red lip.Très chic!
I almost always buy Adam clothes for Christmas, since (like many guys) he rarely actually shops for clothes but still wants to look cool. My strategy for choosing clothes for him is to buy pieces that generally look like his style, but with slightly more fashion-forward details or silhouettes than he’d typically buy for himself. You know, trying to keep him from getting into a rut, and J.Crew’s gift guide is brimming with tons of options that check all the boxes. Keep reading to see what I’ve settled on, and Adam: if you’re reading… stop now!
The cashmere hoodie. I’ve got to admit that my buying this gift is kinda like when guys buy their girlfriends/wives lingerie — I just think it’ll look so good on Adam that I’m taking matters into my own hands.
shown with cotton fleece bomber jacket
The grown-up beanie. A major step up from the winter hat from his college days, this one’s made of cashmere and is so stylish he may never take it off this winter.
The slim-fit pant that’s actually comfortable. These are the perfect gateway drug for the guy who’s afraid of skinny jeans.
The new retro-inspired sneaker. Adam’s definitely a classic sneaker kinda guy, and there’s honestly nothing he’d rather unwrap under the Christmas tree than a sparkling new pair. I love the minimalist design of these sleek, updated New Balances made exclusively for J.Crew.
