3 Things I Got At J.Crew This Week, Plus 5 Other Items I Bought (And LOVE) This Month.
I've shopped more in the last 31 days than I did in the previous two months and I HAVE NO REGRETS.
Why hello there, dear friends. Sorry I ghosted you last week, but I know you get it. Blah blah work, blah blah kids, blah blah the worst cold ever. Also, I’m feeling rather underwater at work these days, which is fine, but it’s cutting into my free time, which is why I’m writing this at the very sexy hour of 9 p.m. on a Friday night. The 24-year-old me is very confused about my life right now (Married? Kids? Basically sober? Working all the time?). Hell, 36-year-old me is confused about my life right now. Is it weird that I kind of get a kick out of the fact that the more I know myself, the more I surprise myself? Fundamental me is always lurking inside somewhere, but outward me is so very different than I imagined? Not in a bad way…
Back at the ranch: Today I had the weird urge to discuss the things I’ve actually purchased and loved in the last couple of months. Not what I’m thinking about, not future buys, but what I actually spent my cold, hard cash to procure. It’s kind of like my own fashion version of Bon Appetit’s social series, The Receipt. Do you read that? Man, people get mad in the comments. I hope that doesn’t happen here.
I think I should also note that this is more shopping than I normally do. As many of you have commented on social media over the years, I tend to wear a lot of “old stuff.” And by “old stuff,” you have noticed that I wear skirts that I’ve had for a decade, coats I purchased 14 years ago, and sweaters from several seasons ago. It’s true! I actually wear the clothes I own! What a concept. But yeah, I bought a bunch of new stuff recently, some for work, some for Christmas presents to myself (yes that’s a thing), and some on a whim. I really love everything, and I hope you like these items too.
Also: Next week I’m hoping to do my final writeup for my bath towel trials, so stay tuned for that, or don’t! Really your call.
As always, if there’s an item you’re shopping for or you need help sorting through the zillions of options out there, please don’t hesitate to drop me a comment and I will add it to my to-do list. (And why am I prompting you to comment? Because while I love DMs and always try to answer you there, my inbox is messy, and comments here are much easier for me to find and use as source material as I’m working on new things. Also, I love comments; they make me feel seen.)
J.Crew Double Breasted Trench Coat ($368) in Topiary
Full confession: I can be kind of a snob about trench coats. A decade ago, I received a classic Burberry trench in the trad beige cotton-gabardine, and it honestly still looks super smart and brand new. So my head is rarely turned by other trenches, let alone by other brands, but I’m happy to say that J.Crew’s got a style that’s absolutely earned a place in my closet.
This week I bought the brand’s double-breasted version in the most amazing light army green, and I’m deeply in love. It’s more generously cut than my Burburry, which I like, and has really incredible, elevating details, like exaggerated flaps at the shoulders and a double-button element on the sash, which keeps it stationed in place, so it’s not slipping and sliding in the belt loops. I know that doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it’s so thoughtful and nice, I gasped in delight when I realized it was there. I bought the classic size in a 6, and the cut is relaxed, which I like. Could I have done a 4? Absolutely, but I’m happy with the more oversized fit, personally.
J.Crew Heritage Fleece Cropped Hoodie ($89.50 normally, currently 30% off / $54.50)
Dear J.Crew,
Please make this perfectly slim, deliciously cropped, extremely cozy hoodie in a vintage gray, prep school forest green, and a classic black immediately. I have the cream one in a small, and I’m madly in love. My closet needs some additional colors, and I’m begging you to help a girl out.
Very best,
Hillary
J.Crew Sheer Swiss-Dot Socks ($34.50 normally, currently 23% off / $26.50)
Warning: This is a long, roundabout story that involves toes. Back in September, during a routine pedicure, I realized that my unvarnished toenails were looking a little odd. Nothing so major, but they looked…white. Cut to a month later, I took off my polish at home and decided to figure out what was going on with them.
It was worse than I imagined.
Fully half of both of my big toenails was completely white, and I feared the worst. Was it the dreaded F-word? (You know, starts with the word “fun,” but is anything but.) After lots of panicking and Google-doctoring and time, I realized that they were not, in fact, suffering from the common affliction that starts with a F, but rather just extremely, extremely, extremely dry due to the fact that they have been polished—without break—for the better part of 25 years. That’s right. My toenails haven’t gone without polish probably since the ‘90s, if I’m being perfectly honest.
Since extremely dry toenails often lead to a case of the F-affliction, I decided then and there that I would take a polish break until the white part had completely grown out and my big toenails were back to normal. Unfortunately that means my toenails look a little odd at this point. I’m in the home stretch, but 1/5th of my nail is still white, which means open-toed shoes are not really an option right now.
So you can only imagine my panic when I had a work event the other day and realized that the only footwear I could wear with my outfit was a pair of open-toed shoes. I couldn’t be around people with these wonky toenails!
And then, like a light from above, I was saved by J.Crew. Specifically, I remembered I had just purchased a three-pack of the brand’s sheer swiss-dot socks, and the black pair would look perfect with my shoes and my outfit. I pulled them on, slipped on my open-toed shoes, and suddenly all was right in the world.
So long story very long: Take breaks from wearing toenail polish, and also, these socks are great!
Christopher John Rogers Striped Brushed Wool-Blend Sweater ($725)
Next week I am hosting a very important, very fun work event in New York with my teams from Marie Claire and Who What Wear, and I’ve been dithering about what to wear. Since I haven’t shopped for myself much lately, I wanted to get something special, but it’s a little hard to know what to buy when the weather is all over the place.
I decided on this amazing black and white striped sweater from a designer I’ve long admired, Christopher John Rogers. I think he’s immensely talented, and I’ve always wanted to own a piece of his art, and this brushed wool sweater with rainbow cuffs feels like the perfect entry point. An investment, sure, but one supporting an independent American designer whose star will only continue to rise in the future. I’m going to wear it with a pair of Artiza pants that I bought and wrote about two years ago, and the Dior heels that made my list of 19 things I don’t regret buying in 2023.
Toteme Classic Cut High-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans ($360) in Mid Denim
If you’ve been here a minute, you know I struggle with trousers and jeans, generally speaking. But while I don’t love most pant-like articles of clothing on myself, I’m still always looking for the rare style that makes me feel great. While nine times out of 10, I end up returning whatever jean or trouser I buy, sometimes the odds are in my favor. For example: On a whim, I added these classic Toteme jeans to my cart when I was buying the aforementioned CJR sweater, without giving it much thought. I haven’t kept a pair of blue jeans in years, so I wasn’t holding my breath. So imagine my surprise when they arrived and fit and I liked them.
While I think they’re an easy classic to add to my wardrobe, not everyone will love, and that’s fine. My sweet husband gently told me he thinks they’re “mid” when I asked his opinion (for those of you who asked on IG, “mid” is slang for boring/you can do better), and my very chic, very smart friend Jane Herman recently wrote about unfinished hems on expensive pairs of jeans (Gucci, in her story), and I definitely think she has a point. But that said, for this pair, for me, the hem is perfect, and I personally like a little sloppiness in my preciousness, so it doesn't bother me at this moment.
I think I’m particularly forgiving of the hems and the price point because these jeans are the first 100% cotton (read: no-stretch) jeans I’ve tried on since having kids that don’t feel like they emphasize my C-section shelf. I’m not writing that in a self-loathing way; my body made two babies, and I’m fine with the fact that the scar from my C-section means a certain softness of my lower belly. But so many jeans seem to really spotlight it, which is also not necessarily my vibe either. This style feels like it holds my body together—firmly, but gently—and the mid-blue is just so universal and goes with absolutely everything.
Plus, the cropped hem doesn’t require any additional tailoring, which I particularly like, as I’m 88% lazy about getting that stuff handled. Long story long: I like them so much, I think I’m going to get a black pair too.
The Great The Jersey Crop ($145)
Do you ever buy something, think it’s good enough to keep, but not good enough to be in your top-drawer rotation? And then suddenly out of nowhere, like a week later, or maybe a month, or ever a year, or even two years, it hits: You need to wear that item and suddenly it’s perfect?
Well that happened to me this week, with a pair of soft pants from The Great that I’ve owned for at least two years, maybe four? To be fair, they’re so far outside my normal zone, it’s weird I even bought them in the first place. They’re pants, first of all, drop crotch in silhouette, and have sort of a wider cropped leg. One thousand percent not something I’d think I’d like.
I reorganized my closet a few weeks ago, and somehow they surfaced. Frankly, I was surprised to see them. I think I’d forgotten I owned them. I pulled them on, and folks, I’ve barely taken them off since. They’re perfect. I can’t stop wearing them. I’ve washed them three times in the last 10 days because they’re the only thing I want to wear. I don’t know what’s up, but I love them and I swear you will too.
I have a number of sizes, including a 2 and a 3, and I love them extra voluminous, but they’re also great in a more true size. I tend to wear them around the house mostly, but you absolutely could wear them out and about, as they’re not see-through in the slightest. Just casual, comfortable, and feel a little more interesting than your average soft pants. 12/10 recommend.
Adidas Handball Spezial Sneakers ($115) in Bright Red, Clear Pink, and Gum
I’m rarely interested in sneakers, but even I have to admit that my classic black Chucks aren’t the most exciting option out there. Then at some point in mid-January, I felt like everywhere I looked, I kept seeing these cheerful red and pale pink Adidas, and for whatever reason, I had to have them. I bought mine on StockX, but there are a handful of sizes linked above, and also on Farfetch if you feel similarly sweet on them.
Radarte Tie Dye Mushroom Print Cropped Sweatshirt ($267)
For the record, I’m not really into tie dye, and I’ve never been someone who is interested in mushrooms (not to eat, not to trip). I hate to sound square, but if hallucinogens are required to open my doors of perception, I’d rather skip out and leave them closed.
But despite the fact that the song “You Enjoy Myself” is not something I’d ever stream by choice, I am absolutely deeply into this outrageously cool sweatshirt. Technically I bought it for myself for Christmas, and it might be one of my favorite things I own now. Do I wear it with my old-new favorite casual soft pants from The Great? Yes, I sure do. Do I wear it with my favorite faux leather Staud midi skirt to work? Yes, I sure do. It’s a weirdly wonderful hug of a garment, and always puts a smile on my face, which is worth the money, in my book, anyway.
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. (And if you have the time to like it, that would mean a lot to me!) All products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.
Great column - thank you for not only sharing out of reach expensive clothes!!!
Would love to see the toreme jeans on you! I think they’re anything but “mid.” 🤩