11 J.Crew Pieces You Need From The Spring Sale (Which Is Annoyingly Good)
There are so many excellent basics in essential colors available right now, it's kinda shocking.
Despite my behavior, I am not, in fact, a paid employee of J.Crew, and had zero intention of writing about the brand in depth again for this newsletter. But how can I resist when they’re having a spring sale? And offering 40% off spring items? And the pieces themselves are annoyingly good? So here we go again!
In other news, I recently purchased a moderately obscene number of books, which I am barreling through right now, and will hopefully report on shortly. Also happy to report that bra testing has yielded exactly two styles that I think are worth keeping, but that doesn’t feel like enough of a story to me, so the hunt continues.
Unrelated: You know that viral Baked by Melissa salad that involves a million green chopped things? The one she eats with chips instead of a fork on TikTok? Well I’m very late to the party, but I made it and I love (the dressing in particular). I keep an undressed bowl of the greens in the fridge, and then dress each salad individually every time, which keeps everything crunchy and fresh. It’s a fair amount of chopping prep work, but will last you the better part of a week, so very much worth it in my book.
As always, I have my own ideas about what I want to write about, but if there’s a topic you’re curious about, please feel free to leave me a comment below.
Sorrento Made-in-Italy Cross-Strap Sandals ($148 regularly, now 40% off) in Raw Cashew or Black
Investing in spring and summer sandals is not normally my move, because I always end up thrashing them by the time the season ends. That said, I’ve purchased a number of J.Crew leather sandals over the years, and I have to admit that they really last and look nice while doing so. I have the raw cashew color in my cart right now, and feel pretty confident they won’t disappoint.
Smocked Waist Puff Sleeve Midi Dress ($148 regularly, now 40% off)
Watch out Ref and Doen, because this black and white gingham dress is coming for you. The fact that it’s currently in my cart (and by that I mean: currently en route to my house) will surprise almost no one because it’s everything I like in a spring and summer frock. The waist makes you look polished, even after you’ve bodied a grip of burgers, the sweetheart neckline is charming but not American Girl Doll, and the slight sleeve is nice, especially if you’re trying different natural deos and aren’t sure how they’re working.
Pleated Pull On Midi Skirt ($128 regularly, now 40% off)
If you follow me on social, you’ve heard me wax poetic about this skirt before, but just wanted to draw your attention to it, on the off chance you’ve missed my public lovefest. It’s an absolute essential purchase, especially at the sale price. I have the black one in a small and a medium; the small is great for when I want to wear it at my natural waist, and the medium is better for a top-of-hips look. The pleats stay all day, the material feels wonderful, and it’s so versatile and seasonless, you literally could wear it to almost anything year round.
Millie Slingback Heels in Italian Linen ($228 regularly, now 40% off)
I already own this slingback in swiss dot, which I also love, and now I’m going to pull the trigger on the linen iteration. They run true to size, or maybe a smidge big; I’m a 7.5 in this style, which is my normal size about 40% of the time. They’re super comfortable and look smart with jeans, work trousers, whatever. I wear them both to the office and on the weekend because they’re so easy.
Cross Back French Bikini Top ($75 regularly, now 54% off) and String Hipster Bottom ($49.50 regularly, now 51% off)
As someone who primarily wears J.Crew swim, I can confidently say I’ve tried the majority of their styles, and this French bikini top—which is currently available in all sizes in black at this bonkers price—is in my winner’s circle. Supportive but still cute, and equally nice on bodies of all shapes and sizes, it’s a winner. Additionally, for my money, this self-tie bikini bottom is the best thing on the market. Doesn’t cut in, always chic, and adjustable, which is just win, win, win.
Linen Roll Cuff Crewneck T-Shirt ($49.50 regularly, now 40% off)
Here’s the thing: Not all linen t-shirts are the same. Trust me; I’ve learned the hard way. But this simple style is actually a great one, made from excellent material, and even the most useful shades (like white, black, and olive green) are included in the big spring sale. I normally don’t care for a pre-styled shirt, but the little cuff is pretty innocuous.
Tablecloth in Liberty Fabrics ($128 regularly, now 40% off)
I’m not as much of a bright floral print person in terms of my clothes these days, but I adore them for a spring or summer tablescape. And when it comes to cheerful florals, no one does it like Liberty. I just bought this bright pink print tablecloth because it will look so delightful for outdoor dinners, and the bold and busy flowers also conceal spots and stains, not that either of those things would ever happen at my house. (They also have matching napkins, or you can get them in a contrasting resort pink gingham, which is what I did.)
Semi Circle Rattan Clutch ($138 regularly, now 40% off)
Look, we all want to be Jane Birkin and carry a wicker basket—and you can buy a handmade rendition of her exact one—but while the idea is grand, in practice, it’s a bit impractical. If you’re looking for a more realistic iteration of that vibe, I think this structured rattan clutch is actually a pretty great idea.
Bristol Blazer in Stretch Linen ($248 regularly, now 26% off)
While I am Team Black Blazer for life, my head has officially been turned by this linen option in vintage raspberry white. A friend of mine recently wore it to lunch and it’s even better in person; the color doesn’t feel juvenile, like pastel-adjacent hues often do, and the double-breasted cut is nicely proportioned. If the color feels too femme for you, it also comes in white or navy.
Woven Straw Market Tote ($118 regularly, now 40% off)
For the last decade, at least, my beach bag has been one version or another of this J.Crew woven straw tote. There are three options for the handle, but really there’s only one choice: natural straw with the brown leather strap. Just to be clear. At this price, it’s a steal, and trust me when I say you will have it for years to come. And yes, it’s big enough for a towel, too.
PS: Do you remember the lightweight sculpted hoop earrings I wrote about a few weeks ago, which are a great dupe for the shapes we saw on the spring runways? Well they’re on sale right now for $24.50, which is 50% off. Run.
PPS: My favorite favorite favorite beach cover up is on sale too, and sells out every year. It’s an oversized striped linen beach shirt, and right now is $49.50, which is 49% off.
Okay friends, that’s it for now. If you want to follow me on @hillarykerr, I’d love it. And if you have anything to say or ask (preferably nothing terribly mean), please drop me a note either via DM or in the comments below.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’m truly so glad you’re here. If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. All products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.
Well that’s definitely not your fault! It’s the one downside of living in Canada 🇨🇦 😂
That gingham dress is GORGEOUS. If anyone’s seen similar in a UK store, I’m all ears (I’m finding a lot of great things at FatFace recently)