What makes a piece most loved? The way we dress has to do with our daily rituals and practices, but what draws us closer to some pieces? For some it has to do with memories we've made in certain pieces, for others, fabrication and feel trump all. We spoke to members of the Jac + Jack team about their most loved pieces.
For our General Manager Rob, certain items of clothing are intimately tied to memory. He recalls his first ever Jac + Jack purchase, a cashmere shawl that he bought from our Strand store: "One of the things I love about it is that it reminds me of our relationship with our makers, and I know that’s something that's really important to Jac and Lisa, and one of the things that inspired me in my conversation when I came to the brand."
Other favourites include two cosy Jac + Jack sweaters. "When I first started, one of my first work trips was to London to visit our store. I had missed out on the Albarn Sweater in Australia as we had sold out of my size, and then I got to London and because we were counter-seasonal we still had this jumper in my size, so I got it while I was there. It was a piece I got to buy that I really wanted and love, but also for me it holds great memories of seeing our brand in another country and remembering that trip."
With almost twenty years of the brand to reflect on, it's an impossible choice for Jac + Jack Co-Founder Lisa 'Jack'. For her, a most loved piece comes down to something more ambiguous and tangible than memory – it's about the feeling of the piece.
She picks out a few keys pieces — a Japanese cotton denim overshirt, a pure cashmere Grayson Sweater, a moleskin coat and her silk Low Tide pants in a sunset-orange colour. Every piece is special for a different reason — the denim shirt is softer than it looks and yet still has a constructed vibe. It looks great with any trousers and can be worn by itself buttoned up or undone over a singlet or tee. The Grayson, a staple to the Jac + Jack brand, features an elegant funnel neck and has the perfect slouch. With every piece there's an ease.
For Lisa, there's a few balances at play: you want a proportion that is cool and slouchy, and you want a silhouette that's a little bit edgy but still with a feminine touch. Her most loved pieces reflect her style and make her feel the most herself and at ease.
The other main factor at play is colour. Our Founders Jac and Lisa are both lovers of colour, and something about the rich hues in Lisa's pieces that point to this love outright. There's nuance to colour, and you can achieve sophistication, elegance and playfulness with the right approach.
Known for her elegance and grace around the office, eCommerce Co-ordinator Caitlin chose pieces that reflect her love of subtle neutrals and classic shapes. Her first most loved piece is a recent purchase – the Bentnick Coat from our current winter collection. It's the ability to put the coat over just about any outfit and elevate it; whether that's jeans and a t-shirt or a slinky knitted dress, that comes from the structured silhouette of the coat.
Also selecting the silk Dy Pants in Natural, Caitlin explains her love for the drape and fluidity of the silk, the gentle swish adding to the elegance of the piece. And a dusky Grayson rounds out her selects, with the funnel neck and easy slouch of the piece cementing its place in her most loved pieces.
The ritual of dressing is something we experience every morning and is inherently tied to our identity and self-expression. For Jane, our Paddington Store Manager, style, comfort and ease are always top of mind. Jane's most loved pieces include the Prescott Coat, the Layton Sweater and a black silk dress.
When talking about Jane's most loved pieces, versatility enters the conversation. A beautiful piece like a black merino wool coat is a piece to be worn again and again. Understated yet elegant, the Layton Sweater is a true winner for her. Its Italian fabrication of superfine merino wool gives it subtle slouch, and makes the Layton a true hallmark of the Jac + Jack brand and what it stands for.