I Tried On (Almost) Every Piece in the Doen x Gap Collab. These 5 Pieces Are My Favorite.
Plus news from Joey Maalouf! The perfect summer/all seasons cookbook! Loafers that live up to the hype! And J.Crew's sale is worth it!
Greetings and salutations, friends! I had a whole plan for today’s newsletter. The category? Summer sandals that don’t fuck up your feet and can be worn just about anywhere, but then life decided to get in the way. I ordered a bunch of styles from a beloved DTC company…and none of them fit. (Damn you, high instep!) Another shipment from a multi-brand retailer didn’t arrive in time. And then two of my favorite brands—Doen and Gap—decided to collab and break my wallet, so obviously I had to pivot.
The result: A deep dive into what I bought from from Doen x Gap, some news from my longtime friend, who is also an incredible beauty guru, Joey Maalouf, the best cookbook I’ve read in ages (you will win the favorite guest of all time award if you bring it as a hostess gift), the perfect shoes my husband surprised me with last week, and all the things I have in my cart from J.Crew’s ridiculous 50% off summer sale. Hope you enjoy! (Also, in addition to my five favorite Doen x Gap pieces, I tried on almost every item in the collection, so if you have any other questions about fit, sizing, or materials, drop them in the comments.)
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.)
If a partnership was ever designed with me in mind, it’s definitely this one. I’ve been a Gap girl for basically my whole life, and I’ve been Team Doen since Margaret and Katherine Kleveland launched the LA brand in 2016.
Needless to say, when the 51-piece collection (surprise) dropped on Thursday night, slightly ahead of its formal Friday morning debut, I was there, credit card in hand. While fast enough to get a few key pieces, I missed out on the gingham maxi dress, much to my dismay. (The linen-blend pointelle sweater is mine, though!)
Knowing the collaboration would be in demand, I rearranged my schedule on Friday morning to get to my local Gap store, where I picked up a few more pieces, and folks, when I say the pieces are good, I mean it.
Gap x Doen Floral Midi Dress ($128)
This is not normally a dress style I gravitate towards, but it looked exceptional on Busy Philipps, which was all the convincing I needed. The hunch was solidified when I tried it on in store. First of all, it’s lined, so you don’t need any additional slips or undergarments. It’s incredibly soft and swingy, and doesn’t pull on your curves in an annoying way; it simply skims them. And third, the simple floral print also comes in kid sizes, which obviously I bought for my daughter. I’m wearing a 4 here, but a 6 would have worked too.
Gap x Doen Eyelet Midi Dress ($158)
This feels like a very classic Doen silhouette, and the lovely cotton eyelet reads so Gap to me. The design looks simple at first, but between the smocked waist, scalloped hem, and eyelet, it gives you lots of textural interest to look at in real life. I bought a small.
Gap x Doen Eyelet Midi Skirt ($99.95)
While currently sold out online, this eyelet skirt is being restocked on 5/18 at 6 p.m. PT and there were still a range of sizes at my (very busy) local Gap. This one runs slightly more sheer than the dress, but doesn’t require a slip IMHO; skin-colored undies should do the trick. I’m wearing a small.
Gap x Doen Kids Logo Sweatshirt ($59.95)
Did I buy this for my daughter? Sure. Am I going to wear it in the meantime? Absolutely. Folks, it’s so incredibly soft, it’s outrageous. Plus I love the slightly cropped length and slightly boxy fit. I’m wearing a size large.
Gap x Doen Oversized Icon Denim Jacket ($128)
After selling my soul for my favorite Khaite denim jacket (which, for the record, has gone up in price?), I promised myself: No more. Well, fuck it, I lied. I bought this one and I’m totally happy about it. It’s extremely soft, and the balloon sleeves are unlike any other denim jacket I own. They’re fuller from the elbow down, with some extra pleating just above the wrist, and then fitted at the wrist, which is just heavenly. The effect is unexpected and elevated, and I’m absolutely certain you don’t have a piece quite like this in your wardrobe. I have a medium
As someone who is firmly Generation Catalano, I can confidently say that my makeup techniques haven’t evolved much since high school. I’m not proud of this; I’ve worked with so many incredible artists over the years! I should have picked up more tricks, but I was usually too busy working (or talking) to actually study what was going on.
And while I very much appreciate the fact that there are nine million YouTube and TikTok makeup tutorials out there, but that’s not actually how I like learning beauty skills, nor is it generally my preferred makeup aesthetic? Truly no shade, but the makeup that looks amazing on camera, with a ring light, and on a 23-year-old isn’t necessarily what works on me in the real world. You know?
So what’s a gal to do? Celebrity makeup artist Joey Maalouf to the rescue!
Joey—who in full transparency is a longtime friend and someone I’m lucky enough to have worked with for all of the big moments in my life—just launched Zoom appointments that you can book to learn anything from how to do a smokey eye to a full overhaul of your daily routine. And he’ll send you product recommendations too, so that you can refresh your essentials, if needed.
There are two types of appointments—Major Makeup Sessions ($750/60 min) and Mini Makeup Sessions ($375)/30 min)—and I already scheduled my first Major for June. In addition to being something I’m interested in learning, I also think this could make an absolutely incredible present. Stay tuned for more info on my experience!
The Cook Book of All Time ($27) by Ashely Bernee Wells and Tyler Jeremy Wells
As longtime readers might remember, I am a cookbook nut. My collection of new and vintage cookbooks is so expansive that we had to build a big bookshelf nook in our kitchen to hold them all. (My favorite destination for incredible vintage cookbooks is Bonnie Slotnick Cookbooks in the East Village, which is an absolute gem. They also accept orders via email and do worldwide shipping, if you’re looking for something in particular.)
I don’t have strict requirements for my cookbooks. Some I own because they’re interesting artifacts. Some are daily drivers, and are used on a regular basis. And there are a few special ones that are so beautifully written, I think of them as memoirs with a side of recipes. That’s not to imply that the latter isn’t usable; in fact, my favorite chocolate cupcake and ganache recipe comes from a book of that style (Molly Wizenberg’s A Homemade Life, if you’re curious.)
And then there’s the new cookbook from the beloved LA restaurant All Time, which manages to be all three at the same time. (Interesting artifact, daily driver recipes, and special writing, oh my!)
All Time, which opened in Los Feliz in 2018, is the sort of thoughtful, independent restaurant that makes a neighborhood feel like home. If my husband and I are having dinner outside our kitchen, there’s a very high chance you’ll find us in a little corner at All Time, eating their Japanese sweet potatoes, a Good-Ass Salad (their name for it; I wish I could take credit), and whatever fish is on the menu. And desserts. Yes, multiple. I blame their outrageous, wonderful wine list for our gluttony. Couldn’t be us. No no.
But here’s the thing: A beloved local spot doesn’t always translate to other formats. Part of the alchemy of All Time is in being there, getting lightly sassed by whomever is handling your table that night, and eating these dishes that seem somewhat straightforward, but somehow manage to transcend their parts. Or so I thought.
Then I cracked open All Time’s first cookbook, and honestly, it’s a revelation. Written by the owners, Ashley and Tyler, who also happen to be married, the book is a delight from start to finish. Yes, there are really great recipes—50 of them, to be exact—including many of the restaurant’s greatest hits, and sure, the photography is truly lovely, but the part that just thrills me to my core? The writing. The storytelling. The fact that this cookbook is truly one of a kind, and is actually as unique as All Time itself.
(In an imperfect analogy, All Time’s cookbook reminds me a bit of Rodarte’s first decade of work, meaning: It exists outside the trend bubble, and feels true to itself in a way that so few places do.)
Long story long: Buy it. Read it. Buy a second copy to have on hand for an impromptu gift for a loved one. Buy a third copy to present to whomever is hosting you this summer, as it will solidify your reputation as the best guest ever. And enjoy every word of it. I sure do. Oh, and make the brown butter oatmeal cookies ASAP. They are extraordinary!
Jamie Haller The Penny Loafer ($595)
There are a handful of brands that are extremely buzzy in the fashion Substack community, some of which are overhyped IMHO, and a few of which deserve every accolade. Jamie Haller’s eponymous company falls squarely in the latter category, and I’m delighted to say that these loafers are everything they’re cracked up to be, and then some.
In a funny twist, while I’d known of The Penny Loafer for a few years, and have admired them on everyone from Emily Ward and Louisa Pierce (the brilliant women behind @pierceandward, who design my favorite spaces and kitchen, ever, and are my go-to shoe influencers) to my friend Meg Strachan, the founder/CEO of Dorsey. And I’m the owner of an incredible pair of Jamie’s sandals, which I’m writing about soon for an upcoming sandals story. But I’d not pulled the trigger on the loafers, for reasons I cannot explain.
I am so grateful that my husband made that choice for me, and even more grateful to Clare Vivier, who stocked said loafers in her Silver Lake store, which is how he discovered them in the first place. (He also bought me Clare V’s incredible Le Vibe (pronounced luh veeb!) open-knit sweater, which I am obsessed with and 11/10 recommend.)
My issue with so many loafers is actually a problem with my feet. I have high arches and high insteps, which means any shoe with a higher vamp is usually a no-go for me. And since most loafers have higher vamps, I have a hard time with them. Jamie Haller’s iteration is on the higher side, but the difference is the leather. The loafers are handmade in Italy and are so outrageously soft, they are a pleasure to put on, and are a great option for my fellow high insteppers. Mine are a 38, which is a size up from what I normally take in flats. (Yes, I wear a bigger size in heels; it’s funny.) I probably could have taken a 38.5, and will definitely try that for my next pair, and yes, I’m already thinking about them
Memorial Day is upon us, but there’s still time to get your wardrobe sorted ahead of the long weekend, and I personally have an order en route from (surprise surprise) J.Crew, as they’re having a big sale and we know I cannot resist. What’s worth buying? Here are some of my suggestions.
Slingback Espadrille Sandals ($62.50 on sale)
Stripes! Slingbacks! Simple and chic, plus the price is right! Who could say no? Not me.
A-Line Midi Dress in Striped Cotton Poplin ($83.50 on sale)
She’s perfect for this summer, and every summer to come. I love the striped cotton, the simple straps, and the smocked back, plus this length means you can sit on the ground for a picnic comfortably, which is critical for my summer plans.
Relaxed Pullover Sweater ($71.99)
Southern California nights don’t really warm up until July, and the beach is always brisk at night, which is why this summer sweater is in my cart. I love the utility green styled with a red or floral print sundress.
Ruched Tie-Shoulder Bikini Top in Liberty Print ($44.50)
I bought this top earlier this summer at full price, and have no regrets, so I’m even more confident in recommending it at half price!
Vintage Rib Shelf-Bra Tank Top in Stripe ($22.50)
Again, I bought this exact tank a couple of months ago at full price, and I’m deeply obsessed. It’s so very good and is a steal right now. I have a small.
Girls Rash Guard One-Piece Swimsuit with UPF 50+ ($32.50) in Yellow Multi Lemons
Kids grow so fast, so when I find a style they like, I will wait for it to go on sale and then buy the next size up. These suits are my daughter’s favorite, so I just got her this lemon-print one and one in my favorite Liberty-style floral for next year.
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.
Yes!! We bought the same things from this collection — well, minus the denim jacket for me because I did practice restraint for once in life 😂 thank you again for the tip to go see it in a store! Excited to wear both the floral dress and eyelet skirt this summer!!
I hope they do another collab with more clothing! I got a few things, but so much was already sold out by Friday morning! 😭 I also got the linen cardigan but in a size up, so I'm hoping it will still fit. Thanks for all your recs!