J.Crew x Lee
An American classic meets an American original.
J.Crew x Lee
An American classic meets an American original.
To celebrate the collaboration between these two heritage brands, Holiday partnered with Care of Chan to create an immersive, detail-driven experience rooted in the language of classic American diners. The concept pulled from a shared cultural memory — roadside stops, laminated menus, and paper-wrapped burgers.
Each element was designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia while still feeling intentional and elevated. Custom server hats, playful signage, and LA-inspired placemats set the tone, while tactile details like pebble cups, napkins, and fry boxes brought the world to life. Together, these touchpoints transformed familiar visual cues into an immersive setting. Leaning into a nostalgia that felt instantly recognizable, we honored the legacy of the two brands in an unexpected way.
Rather than simply marking a collaboration, the project became a fully realized setting — one where brand storytelling lived not just in visuals, but in texture, interaction, and atmosphere.
Year
2026
Involvement
Event Design, Print Collateral, Merch Design
Industry
Fashion
Collaborators
Care of Chan, Production
Myles Hendrick, Photography
We treated the merchandise as part of the environment — stacked diner mugs, plastic cups, matchbooks, and postcards placed throughout like a lived-in roadside stop. By integrating the merch directly into the set dressing, the line between product and prop softened, allowing guests to experience the brand through context and use in a way that felt natural and familiar.
We extended the experience to the exterior through custom signage and window vinyls, using them as an opportunity to set the tone before guests even stepped inside. Inside, that same thinking carried through to smaller details, like a custom vinyl for the jukebox, bringing a consistent, considered layer to even the most nostalgic touchpoints.
In-N-Out Burger in Los Angeles, California, 1986
Restored diner napkin dispensers
Advertisement card for Dockside Dining Room in York, Maine, 1975
Vintage mug from Tadich Grill in San Francisco, California
Graphic for Melrod's in Los Angeles, California, c. 1950s
Pie display case at Cafe 50's in Los Angeles, California
Looking to the Los Angeles of yesteryear, we drew from the diners and roadside stops from the 1950s to 1980s, an era that’s unmistakably its own. As a born-and-raised Angeleno, Kiana’s references grew from a personal nostalgia — the infamous LAX In-N-Out, high school visits to Cafe 50’s, and her collection of vintage diner mugs.
From chrome napkin dispensers to the illustrated ephemera, we reinterpretted the visual cues of the classic American diner heyday through a contemporary lens, capturing the optimism and unmistakable charm of old-school LA.
Looking to the Los Angeles of yesteryear, we drew from the diners and roadside stops from the 1950s to 1980s, an era that’s unmistakably its own. As a born-and-raised Angeleno, Kiana’s references grew from a personal nostalgia — the infamous LAX In-N-Out, high school visits to Cafe 50’s, and her collection of vintage diner mugs.
From chrome napkin dispensers to the illustrated ephemera, we reinterpretted the visual cues of the classic American diner heyday through a contemporary lens, capturing the optimism and unmistakable charm of old-school LA.
In-N-Out Burger in Los Angeles, California, 1986
Restored diner napkin dispensers
Advertisement card for Dockside Dining Room in York, Maine, 1975
Vintage mug from Tadich Grill in San Francisco, California
Graphic for Melrod's in Los Angeles, California, c. 1950s
Pie display case at Cafe 50's in Los Angeles, California
Hover for reference source
A hero element of the evening’s table setting, the paper placemats featured a curated selection of Los Angeles landmarks, each given its own graphic treatment. Inspired by the familiar visual language of classic roadside diner menus, they became a distinctly Angeleno interpretation of a nostalgic American experience.
Hollywood Bowl graphic featured on the custom placemat
Each detail of the evening was highly considered through custom touchpoints, from paper tray-liners to die-cut french fry sleeves.
Next Project
VMG Partners