I can’t tell if these J. Crew hashtag shorts (now on sale!) are a sign that #menswear is dead or that #menswear is so self-absorbed that anytime it sees a hashtag it thinks of itself and its relationship with the type of people who openly admit to shopping at J. Crew. I've already seen the grumblings and groanings on Twitter. We all think these hashtag shorts are lame. SMFH TBH ETC.
I hate to say it, and no disrespect to all my peoples eating off J.Crew, but the minute J. Crew appropriates a trend in #menswear, that is most definitely the moment the obituary for that particular garment-related maneuver gets published. J. Crew is one of, if not the biggest retailers that attempt to delve into #menswear and make their inspirations transparent. I mean, at one point I feel like you could buy Mister Freedom gear right alongside J. Crew's roughly 1 billion percent cheaper version of the same shit. Imagine if on Canal Street you could buy a real Louis purse in the same spot as a bootleg. Given that prism, it's hard not to see this as at least an early death knell for the #menswear we all know and love.
First, the Grey Lady mentions a Four Pins post entitled "Hood Rich is the new Americana." Second, Public School releases a collection at J. Crew...of exclusively women's clothing. Then, Baewear. Then, a NYT article about Baewear. Then, a T-shirt about the author (all praise to Jon Caramanicgawd) of the article about Baewear. Now, #shorts. Next thing we know, Men's Wearhouse is going to be guaranteeing how much "bae will love the way you look in your new prom alphet tho." That'll be the day.
But why all these sour grapes about a pair of shorts that, like, three people will buy? Now we all feel weird about wearing a tiny cloisonné hashtag or praying hands emoji pin? Are we the Dr. Frankenstein that regrets his horrible creation? IS THIS THE INEVITABLE OUTCOME OF ALLOWING PEOPLE LIKE ME TO ATTEND FASHION WEEK? WHAT HATH WE WROUGHT?
Listen, I don't know and I don’t really care. All I do know is that every time my girl walks into J. Crew, I gotta traipse through the spot and inevitably someone is like, "Hey great sneakers." And I'm like, "Thanks, Chase. I'm gonna make fun of you on Twitter for still wearing boat shoes."
And, J. Crew, I still love you. Let me roll through the presentation or whatever in a month or so. I'll snap some blurry grams, but I'll redeem it with an artful use of contrast and warmth #nofilter. Now that's a hashtag we can all get behind.
