Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard Can't Remember a Life Without J.Crew

On Thursday, September 5, candles lined the steps leading up to the New York Public Library on Fifth Ave as guests made their way to J.Crew’s dinner to celebrate the return of the brand’s iconic Fall catalog. It was an evening honoring the past, present, and future. Guests—including celebs, influencers, and the fashion set—gathered in lobby, where old catalogs and pieces from collections of decades past were on display—a mini J.Crew museum. for dinner, guests were escorted downstairs to a receation of La Côte Basque, an iconic French restaruant in New York City that opened in the 1950s and closed in 2004. 

Among the celebrities at the event included director/actor Maggie Gyllenhaal and actor Peter Sarsgaard, a couple who has been wearing J.Crew ever since they can remember. L’OFFICIEL spoke to Gyllenhaal and Sarsgaard about their relatonship with the J.Crew and their personal style.

L’OFFICIEL: Tell me about your history with J.Crew? How long have you been wearing it? 

PETER SARSGAARD: Probably from the moment it came out. When did it come out? (ed note: J.Crew launched in 1983)

MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL: I don't remember, but it seems like it's always been there. I don't think it matters. I think the idea is it’s always been a part of my life.

SARSGAARD: It was kind of high end at first, right? I do remember the catalogs. Wasn't J. Crew all the colors?

GYLLENHAAL: All the crazy colors. And you never heard of “burnt umber” before. That was the thing about the J.Crew catalog… was the names of the colors.

SARSGAARD: And also Matthew Barney, who was a model for J.Crew.

L’O: When did you get involved with J.Crew, and with this event?

GYLLENHAAL: I was shopping with our daughter who just started college, just for some basic things and we ran into the J. Crew specialty store on Bond Street and we were like, This is sick. So, anyway, I just bought a couple of things from J.Crew just now. They're really cute, this black polo shirt that I've been wearing is really cool, black corduroys. And then they asked me to come and I was like, I've just been shopping at your specialty store.

L’O: What's your personal style when you're not working? Is it what you’re wearing tonight?

SARSGAARD: No, this is dressed up for me. 

GYLLENHAAL: He's got a really unusual, colorful style.

SARSGAARD: Thank you. She has impeccable style, too.

GYLLENHAAL: I like to dress him in mesh.

SARSGAARD: That's right. Mesh tank tops, mesh tank tops. Silk shorts. 

L’O: Do you actually wear them?

GYLLENHAAL: Yes, he does.

SARSGAARD: Oh, yeah.

GYLLENHAAL: I bought him a whole mesh outfit. Technically, it's to keep mosquitoes away but, I think it looks amazing.

L’O: I bet the mesh pants are breathable.

SARSGAARD: They're really breathable. But you have to consider what you're wearing under them.

GYLLENHAAL: I'm thinking from your mouth to J. Crew's ears. We might see mesh pants next year.

L’O: What's your personal style when you're not working? Is it what you’re wearing tonight?

SARSGAARD: No, this is dressed up for me. 

GYLLENHAAL: He's got a really unusual, colorful style.

SARSGAARD: Thank you. She has impeccable style, too.

GYLLENHAAL: I like to dress him in mesh.

SARSGAARD: That's right. Mesh tank tops, mesh tank tops. Silk shorts. 

L’O: Do you actually wear them?

GYLLENHAAL: Yes, he does.

SARSGAARD: Oh, yeah.

GYLLENHAAL: I bought him a whole mesh outfit. Technically, it's to keep mosquitoes away but, I think it looks amazing.

L’O: I bet the mesh pants are breathable.

SARSGAARD: They're really breathable. But you have to consider what you're wearing under them.

GYLLENHAAL: I'm thinking from your mouth to J. Crew's ears. We might see mesh pants next year.

L’O: How did you pick your looks for tonight?

GYLLENHAAL: I want to be comfortable. Today I put on these tighter jeans, because I was feeling myself for a change. I've been wearing really baggy, loose things because I'm mostly sitting in a dark room, hiding at home. I can't be bothered with the tight.