Mother Stories
Meet The Mama-Of-Two Behind J.Crew’s Crewcuts, Jenny Cooper
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Nicki Sebastian
Jul 26, 2016
If you want to thank one person for the plethora of cool offerings in kidswear these days, it might just be Jenny Cooper. The Brooklyn-dwelling mother of two (Walker, 14, and Miller, 11) has lead the team at J.Crew‘s Crewcuts for almost a decade now. And we all know how consistently good the pioneering designs (finally, kids’ clothes a parent would wear themselves!) have been over the years, leading the way for indie brands and major retailers alike to follow the Crewcuts’ beat of sophisticated wares for children, infused with plenty of fun. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that the home Cooper shares with her husband and two sons is equally inventive. Here, she invites us into the garage-like Brooklyn building (which they scouted for its unique, not-made-for-living layout) to talk motherhood, work, fashion, and what’s up next for Crewcuts (hint: it involves a certain superheroine’s golden lasso).
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- “I wanted a space that was not intended for living, like a garage. We were on a budget, so I refused to set a time limit and we looked at all sorts of garages over the course of a year and a half. This wasn’t a garage, but it fit the bill. We’ve been here 16 years.” Jenny wears a Drakes for J.Crew pajama top (launches mid-August), J.Crew Point Sur Denim, and Seavees for J.Crew Legend sneakers. Miller wears a J.Crew ringer tee, J.Crew boys' slim jogger with glow-in-the-dark Max the Monster, and his own Nikes. Walker wears J.Crew skinny jeans, his own soccer jersey, and Adidas.
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- “Functional eclectic. Everything needs to work and be comfy, but look a little off, a little unexpected.”
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- “I don’t like throwing things away, so I always ask myself if I will still love the item in 20 years before I buy. And I have to passionately love it. I also think contrasts are interesting, and everything plays off everything else, so what things are next to is important. Hence the Lego on the coffee table.”
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- “Anything I got from my grandparents house; a pair of ceramic tortoise mirrors, a pair of horsehair footrests, and a little copper and black marble table. Also, a Walker Evans photo that was given to my son Walker on his birthday and my husband’s vast panoramic photographs of the kids on the beach when they were small.”
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- “My husband corals and I let it flow, so we have a playroom that sometimes takes over the living room.”
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- "They share! They talk to each other at night and their beds are end-to-end, so they can tumble from one end to the other. I never shared a bedroom as a child, so when I went away to school I was so unnerved at the idea of having someone else in the room that I lost so much sleep. I want them to be happy and accustomed to sharing their room.”
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- “I bought a door from an 18th Century Connecticut house at Build It Green, with a ceramic tortoise knob and brass hardware, and I had a friend build a box around for a Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe situation. I wanted them to play hide and seek in it, but I don’t think they ever did.”
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- “Definitely their soccer posters and trophies. The Liga Latina de Brooklyn that they played in one year had some serious hardware for all participants that is currently lining their bookshelves. And the Kids Snark Darth Vader and Chewbacca comforter covers from J.Crew that I got for myself for Christmas and they absconded with. They treat them a little bit like their friends and like the comforter covers are real people.”
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- “I’m much more open to people. It’s like having these two crazy, amazing new people in my life has cracked my shell and I welcome the havoc and noise that they bring. I’ve come to enjoy a certain amount of chaos in other areas of my life, as well, and realize it makes things so much more interesting than if everything is planned and controlled. I can’t say that there is anything bad about being a mother, although I do relish the few moments of peace when they go visit their grandparents!”
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- “How much I enjoyed children, and how their view of the world shapes mine. I care about them and what they think more than I ever thought I would.”
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- “The intense connection with another human being. I am like no other person in the world to them and they are like no other person in the world to me. It’s probably foolish to say nothing makes me nervous. But they are amazing, loving people figuring out their way in the world and we will handle whatever comes. Except traffic. Brooklyn traffic makes me nervous.”
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- “Just breathe! And sleep when the baby sleeps. That was the best advice I got and once I started following it, some sanity returned. Also my pediatrician recommended always giving them a choice in everything and just make sure you are okay with both choices. That way they are part of the process and learning early to make choices. Oh, and do what you think is right, don’t listen to any books or people who think they know what is right for you and your child.”
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- “Walker was named after Captain GL Walker in Mad Max, the mythical founder of the lost tribe of children. The tribe children thought Max was Capt. Walker when he tried to fly them to safety and I think I did, too, when I watched it in my last trimester. And we wanted a kid who could walk a lot. Miller's name came out of nowhere. It was just a question, ‘What do you think about Miller?’ and we both liked it.” Walker wears a J.Crew pocket tee.
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- “They are both completely obsessed with soccer, but after that they diverge. One is turning into an extremely concerned citizen, disturbed by the current political situation, the election, and the issues that need addressing in America. Miller is practicing to be a professional guest, and concerns himself most with sleepovers, hanging out, and Snapchat. Fortunately, I love his friends and love having extra little boys around.”
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- “Waking up to a fierce wrestling/tickling match in my bed that only ends when someone gets hurt, then pancakes, and a soccer match hopefully somewhere lovely, like Pier 5 in Brooklyn. Maybe someday it will include a visit to a museum, but right now that has to be strong-armed in.”
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- “Most moms I meet are inspirational and have some trick that makes their lives and their children’s lives better. I don’t know that I could pick one to single out.”
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- “We all fantasize about a third, but probably not.”
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- “Like my apartment, functional eclectic. Rooted in classics, but I never want to look like I did yesterday or generic. Always changing, but always coming back to the same thing. It hasn't changed at all with motherhood. I often wonder why women are asked that.”
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- “A pair of good jeans, a high-waisted flair from Point Sur, and white t-shirts or a muscle shirt. My favorite question is, ‘If you could only wear one designer, who would it be?’ Mine would be Dries Van Noten. But I have more J.Crew than anything else. It mixes well, has the classics, the quirk, and the bling.”
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- “I’m a hunter gatherer, so at the grocery store, mostly. And whenever I travel. It’s so much more fun to explore and shop at the same time.”
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- “Simple. A little Witch Hazel and a collagen cream from Pratima in Soho are the basics, but I love trying new things, so I’m always adding a little something else. Right now it’s a hair shine spray from Mermaid Hair, which smells like a tropical drink. And I have dark circles under my eyes, so Cool Eyes from Bakel is a lifesaver.”
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- “I tried meditating once and I had a great day after. If only I could focus enough to do it again. The geniuses at Everyday Athlete in Brooklyn are trying (maybe succeeding?) to cure my chronic hunchback with 3-4 strength- and movement-based workouts. Mainly, I just like the early morning walk or scooter through Brooklyn before everyone else gets up.”
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- “They are so sporty, they really live and die for their soccer heroes, so that is a huge part of their style. Their love of bright colors and neon soccer jerseys mixes really well with the classics that I love and is a major source of ideas for me. I think a neon yellow polyester DeBruyne jersey with a slim heather grey Ludlow pant is soooo chic!” Jenny wears a J.Crew fatigue shirt, J.Crew Collection skirt in French lace, Seavees for J.Crew Legend sneakers, and her own jewelry.
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- “Stretch fabrics. All of a sudden my sporty boys will wear woven pants because they can move comfortably in them. For back-to-school shopping, Max the Monster sweatpants with the eyes peaking over the side pockets, slim stretch chinos, our ‘so-soft jersey’ tees, and Vans high-tops. And since I kind of wish I had a girl, I always have favorites from our girls' line—this fall it would have to be the scarf print with the hand-painted birds and flowers on it and the Olive tees. We had a guest illustrator, one of our women’s designers, Julie, who dressed Olive up as the Statue of Liberty and took her on a trip to find a castle in Scotland. We also made Olive patches that you can iron on or sew all over anything—so much fun to customize things!”
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- “I buy a few things that I like before school starts, but then after it starts I’ll sidle up to them on the sofa with the laptop and we’ll pick more together online.”
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- “I’m a professional clothes fetishist. I have this weird passion for fabric and clothing, so I just indulge that while helping the team do the same. I’m daily delighted by the creativity and imagination of the people I work with, so I’m really just here to help them do what inspires them.”
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- “I grew up driving back and forth from Ottawa, Canada, and The Berkshires in Massachusetts. My parents felt that fashion wasn’t a great career choice, so I went to a liberal arts college in Hartford before moving to New York to work in art galleries and go to fashion school. But I was a far better student of fashion than art.”
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- “Yes! Before I had kids I thought I never had enough time to do everything and now I know I don’t!”
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- “I have always been obsessed with clothing, the fabric, the feel, details, and construction, which was a dirty little secret for so long. Now I get to use that obsession for good, and, in a small way, make people feel better about themselves and how they feel during their day. And I have an amazing team that makes coming into the office not just productive but entertaining.”
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- “We started Crewcuts because people in the office started having kids, myself among them, and there was nothing to dress them in. Everything was navy or grey and we needed to add pattern, color, humor, and fit into the mix. That was around 8 years ago and since then it’s evolved tremendously. Everyone wants more and better options for their kids.”
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- “It would be impossible without mountains of help from their loving soccer dad.”
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- “Does the schoolyard across the street count as a support system? We have amazing neighbors and friends with kids the same age and we can always find someone for the boys to hang out with when we need it. They also love playdates and having people over, so it feels like we have a giant rotating family.”
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- “For myself and so many others, Bell & Evans Chicken Tenders and avocados.”
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- “Adding Wonder Woman’s golden lasso to the line.”
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- “The incredible array of other people and kids who are doing the same. We are fortunate to live in a neighborhood full of friends who are always up for a game of soccer or a meal or just hanging out. I would live somewhere else maybe if it had a beautiful view and I could split my time with Brooklyn.”
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- “There is a crazy rush in the morning to get them out the door in time, which gets less hectic every year they get older and more on top of what they need to do. Half the time I walk with Miller, which I love because I get a little hangout with him and then get to stop for coffee at La Colombe on my commute to the office. I usually get home for leftover dinner and in time to help anyone who wants it with homework. I love a good school project, so I’m usually begging to help build dioramas, costumes, and swords. The last one was a giant Mayan ruler’s spear.”
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- “Pier 5 on the Brooklyn waterfront and any new restaurant that will get them to try a new food. Both boys are more adventurous about food outside the home and I love watching their faces when they discover a new taste that they like. Or one that they don’t—equally entertaining for me!”
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- For the latest on Cooper and her team's creations, check out Crewcuts on J.Crew.
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