In 2008, when slim rocker chic was all the rage, J.Crew debuted the Ludlow, a narrow, downtown-savvy suit priced in the neighborhood of $500. Lately, though, “guys have been asking us for a roomier fit,” says Frank Muytjens, J.Crew’s menswear director. “When I get a chance, I go to events in the stores and help some guys find a suit. Most of the guys I helped fit the Ludlow really well, but some who were a little bigger had trouble, especially in the shoulder and the upper arm.” With them in mind, J.Crew introduces the Crosby, a roomier, more athletic style shown off here by members of the New York Knights, the city’s combatants in the American National Rugby League.
Available next week, the Crosby borrows most design elements, like its jacket structure, from the classic Ludlow. But designers have added breathing room in the chest and shoulders, broadened the lapel and added details like a hand-sewn collar. The pants have been widened, too. The idea to enlist the Knights as models came from within J.Crew’s offices: One employee, Michael Bird, was on the team. That said, the Crosby isn’t just for rough-and-tumble ruggers. “It’s for the guy who goes to the gym,” Mr. Muytjens says.
via: NY Times
