The garments and accessories seem effortlessly or casually strewn on the page. I can tell that the stylist is very meticulous and exact in how they decide to place items so that it best shows the garment and small construction details. There are rarely any props when it comes to the product styling. There are, however, props used with model styling and catalogs shot on location. J. Crew’s catalogs almost always feature a basic, white or off-white background and bright lighting so it is easy to make out the details of garments and accessories. There are generally very few shadows or dark backgrounds. The backgrounds are occasionally other neutral colors such as gray and taupe. It is fairly rare that the backgrounds are dark, but it has happened occasionally to convey the mood of the season and the style that it is coupled with.
I think the styling communicates the message of the lifestyle brand. It conveys that you can still be casual, but put together or effortlessly stylish. I think it helps make the simple and classic designs stand out. If the styling was more over the top or the background was not white or well-lit it would change the brand message and wouldn’t fit their target market or overall style of the clothing. Styling of the catalog goes a long way in communicating the style of clothing J. Crew carries and the lifestyle behind