Use code GRCHNSUMMER17 for free shipping & exclusive early access to the summer sale at James Perse (access to the sale only via this link, it’s not public on the site yet!). Free shipping is valid on any order and in the US only.
What to buy…
Open back skinny dress | $129 (MUST HAVE – this is so good, and many readers have sized down, although I have my “normal” size)
Shirred tube skirt | $99 (I definitely sized down in this one)
High gauge circular shell top | $79 (this is an excellent top – I’ve tried it on a few times but keep passing it up for some reason…)
Vintage fleece sweatpants | $89 (these are my favorite sweatpants – they’re 100% cotton so size down)
Sleeveless pocket maxi dress | $149 (I have this from several seasons ago and love it more for spring/fall since it’s a heavier material)
Sheer slub crew neck tee | $49 (my favorite crew neck tee ever – semi sheer, but the perfect length on me)
Slouchy Khaki pants | $149 (pants are tricky with JP – I sized down two sizes in my last pair – so I don’t necessarily recommend buying them final sale, but I’ve had my eye on these since they launched…I would probably size down)
Oversized cashmere scarf | $149 (the last thing I want to think about right now, but this is the perfect thing for travel during the holidays! or would make a wonderful splurgy gift..)
Silk cardigan | $89 (what a great price for this!! And good for wearing now in the A/C)
ALL SALES ARE FINAL with this code* so please please please ask questions in the comments section if you have any, or leave feedback if you already own or have tried any of these pieces.
What do you have your eye on??
*I’m also happy to take any pieces that don’t work on consignment at slowre 😉
Just ordered that open back skinny dress! It’s my first JP purchase so fingers crossed it fits — based on your sizing and chatting with the customer service rep, I’m hopeful!
I have been stalking a pair of JP pants on the Net-a-Porter sale (NB, several things are cheaper over there than here), and just ordered a different and cheaper pair from the JP sale. (Fingers crossed they fit!) And, ahem, a few other things. So, thank you!
I bought a gray Straight-Hem Tee (available in white, gray, and in XS in blue) earlier this year and it is perfect. So much so I just bought a white one. Perfect length for me, slouchy bit still fitted, and the neckline is ever so slightly more open than a traditional crew. I sized up (both the 1 and 2 fit, but preferred the slightly longer length of the sleeves in the 2). Anyway, I can highly recommend it.
I also have the high-gauge circle tee (purchased insanely cheaply because Saks mispriced things at a sale and they honored they error), and it is fantastic. It’s a beautiful fabric that dresses up nicely, a slightly more interesting shape than the average tee or shell. I have it in a size 1, but ideally I would have sized down (to a 0), because it seemed to run large on my slight upper body, due to the openness of the neckline.
I would also recommend that slightly off-shoulder jersey dress: I have a variation of it (with a zipper at the shoulder), and it is lovely. Very forgiving in fit (fits my large hips and minimizes my stomach, unlike some of the more body-con styles) and it has gone to several nice dinners and events. And the off-the-shoulder thing isn’t too pronounced, so I don’t feel like I’ve overly succumbed to this season’s trend.
I like the rolled sleeve shirt dress in navy but according to their measurements I’m in between sizes. I spoke with one of their sales assistants and they said they generally tell customers to size up in that situation, but due to it being final sale I don’t think I’ll chance it. I’m a pretty standard 6/8 but I think for the dress to clear my hips it might be too big on top. Some nice things in the sale though! I’ve never ordered from them before–maybe someday.
oh yes, that dress ran pretty small i thought – i did NOT like it on me with my wider hips, even in the larger size. i think it’s better to pass on honestly, i should have mentioned that directly in the post.
ARRGH. you’re tempting me now with that dress!! i find it very appealing, but i also think it would be shorter than i prefer on me. what do you think?
and i was wondering about that straight hem tee too…
which pants did you get?
oh good!! please let us know how you like it when you get it. that dress NEVER shows up in their sale, i’m surprised it did this time…
I ordered the “SLIM COTTON LINEN TROUSER” ($89). I was given some cotton twill ones (whichever ones originally cost $225) as a gift earlier in the year, and exchanged them for the aforementioned jersey dress. I needed a 3 in the other pants, so that’s what I ordered here (as also aforementioned, I’ve got wide hips.) The other ones are on the Net-A-Porter sale for $113 now. I live in a state that charges sales tax on clothes above $110 (meaning $113 pants are really $125) so I had been hoping there would be a further discount. Problem solved!
The jersey dress (at least the version I have) isn’t short– it’s knee length, at least, on me and I’m 5’7″. I like it because it’s more of a straight cut so minimizes my very pear-shaped-ness.
I ordered the cropped cargo pants, the cotton linen slim pants in white, and a couple white tank tops (the ribbed V-neck and high low woven tank). I hope they all fit me! 🙂
Thanks Grechen, good to know! The silk cardigan is gorgeous too and that scarf!
I like so many of the pants but would never take a chance on final sale. I have too many fit issues.
Wondering, Grechen (or anyone else), if you know anything about one of the other skirts, the “double shirred skirt”?
I haven’t tried it or seen it but it looks like a similar version to the shirred tube skirt which is the one I have, except that it’s double shirred – whatever that means – and has a narrow waistband that’s not so high waisted. I bet it’s a great skirt…
OK, I have some definite YES votes for my constantly changing size 12 body.
The High Guage Circular Shell will work for me in a size 3. So excited to be able to get it in Carbon, which will be a new go-to.
The Sheer Slub Crew Neck in the color Malta will be amazing. I’m getting it in size 4 because I know my husband will accidentally dry it at some point. It’s happened.
What do you think about the One-Shoulder Jersey Dress? Is that really for people with super toned arms and a non-curvy bod? Tough love appreciated here.
How about the Linen Pocket Button Up shirt? It’s a wonderful gray color. I’m curious whether you’ve tried it and feel it’s TTS or which way it leans. I’d love a summer blouse for these warm afternoons that move into (almost often) cool evenings in Colorado.
Thanks!
Grechen, I just remembered your “summer of linen” last year and checked to see if you’d tried the Linen Pocket Button Up Shirt, and YES, you did a pretty thorough review of it. Sorry for not checking first! I wasn’t sure whether you kept it and ended up wearing it a ton, or if you sold it.
I couldn’t find the One-Shoulder Jersey Dress in any of your previous posts (sorry if I missed it!) so am still wondering what you think about that one and the fit. I hope I’m not just using wishful thinking in imagining it would look good on me. You know?
Thanks – Susan
I just want to say that I bought the shirred tube skirt in dark gray a couple of months ago and it’s a great skirt. I’m reverse triangle shape (wide shoulders, no defined waist, narrow hips) and it looks really slimming on me provided I wear a tee that covers the waist part. I sized up one size so I could have more shirring. It’s held up great and due to sizing up it’s kind of midi length on me, can be slightly hard to walk in, but it’s worth getting used to because it’s so flattering and I still look good in it even when I wear flat shoes!!
i ended up selling the linen shirt, not because it wasn’t great, just because it wasn’t really my “style” – i loved the shirt, i felt like it fit well in the size 2 (tts) and was a really great linen shirt (not oversized, not too long…) – i think it would totally be worth buying during the sale.
i think mustard mentioned the one-shoulder jersey dress above? although she has the one with the zipper on the shoulder, and i think it’s a different material…i haven’t tried it at all, but I’ve always be intrigued by it – i love the draping at the top, and the “slim” fit. i would totally try it for that price. i think it would be beautiful on a curvy body!! i would wear it 😉
So tempted by that first dress. What are your sizing recommendations/comments on it again? Thanks!
quite a few readers have sized down in it from their “regular” james perse size, but I stuck with my normal size, which is 2 – I think it was because of the arm holes, they felt rather snug in the size 1 on me. it’s an amazing dress!! the rear view is stunning 🙂
Ugh. I’m so confused about sizing. Customer service says I’m a 1 based on the fact that I wear a 4 or S, but I’ve read reviews on some items I like saying to size up here or size down there. I don’t want tight, but I don’t want loose either. I’m interested in the sueded jersey skinny dress, the brushed jersey tank dress, and the shirred skirts. Any sizing advice is welcome.
for reference i am a 6-8 (or 10 in everlane pants) and pretty typically a size 2 in james perse. so i think that you’re a size 1 generally.
the thing with the dresses, and anything with shirring/ruching, is that you need it to be fitted to get the full “effect” if that makes sense. they shouldn’t be too big, otherwise, they’re not body hugging, although the shirring makes it FEEL tight at first, those pieces will typically loosen up and feel a bit better with wear.
i would recommend size 1 in everything you mentioned there. maybe someone else will chime in too! hope that helps!!
for reference, look through my james perse posts, to see things on me
Thank you, Gretchen. I’ve actually found your posts more helpful that customer service. 😉 One last query: if I’m a 1 and you recommend sizing down in the long shirred skirt, would you suggest a 0? I’ve got a 37.5-38 hip and that seems awfully small to me (solely based on the JP size chart).
my hips are about 40″ (waist 31.5″) and i have a size one in the long shirred skirt – not the double shirred skirt.
so yes, i would size down to a 0 🙂
the good thing with that skirt is that you can play with waist and fold it over if you want, and place it higher or lower on your body, depending on how you want it to look. so it’s a little more forgiving in size, if that makes sense
Thank you again, Gretchen. So a 0 it is. Wow. I’m wondering if it’s the same for the double shirred skirt. We’ll see!
ok. not to be more confusing, but i checked chandler’s comment again, because i thought she bought the double shirred skirt, but i think she just got the “regular” one like i have and she said she sized up.
i forgot to make the point on the walking issue, it is snug around the legs, so until you get used to it, it shortens your stride a little bit, but it’s not noticeable for me at all. i’ve owned some long JP items that were REALLY difficult to walk in, and this skirt is not. it takes a little getting used to if you’re not accustomed to it, but honestly, no big deal…just fyi.
Thanks, Grechen. I couldn’t handle the stress of not knowing how those dresses would fit me and ultimately decided to just get the two (awesome) tops. I don’t really *need* a new dress right now, so that helped me make the decision. I did order a Sueded Jersey Polo for my hubby in Kelp, a gorgeous green. I hope he loves it. I’m so excited for the Sheer Slub Crew Neck in the color Malta that I can hardly wait!
THANKS for the free shipping!!
Yeah, I have the regular shirred skirt with a wide foldover waist. I am 5’5″, 155 lbs, my measurements are 40, 36 (at belly button), 41. I wear waist 30 jeans at J. Crew. I bought the regular shirred skirt with a foldover waist in size 3, it is midi length on me but I do not fold over the waist as to not add bulk to my tummy. I’m usually size 3 in JP tops and size 2 in bottoms but I’ve only bought items in stretchy fabrics.
Shopbop has a detail photo that shows the “double” shirring well, and it looks like it’s done in a way that would add bulk to the hips. So I’m passing on that one but still considering the “tube” version that you’ve pictured. Thanks Chandler, too, for your review of that skirt! 🙂
Great deals on some off-season items. I jumped on the chance to order a cashmere beanie… I bought the sepia hat as a holiday gift to myself last year, and I’ve worn it a ton. It stays put even when I’m jogging. After the hat arrived, I thought the color was more “green” in person than it appeared on my screen. I had bookmarked the light gray version to check back on for a discount, but it eventually sold out (or at least the item was pulled from the web site). So happy that there were a few left over for the summer sale – and for only $49!
Thinking about going back for the boxy french terry jacket; it looks like a good option to throw on for casual fall mornings. I love the pockets. Just not sure on the sizing, and $179 is still quite a lot to risk for a final sale item. I’ve bookmarked it and am going to check back to see if there are any steeper discounts later in the sale.
Just wanted to say that I got my order in yesterday and thankfully, the pants I ordered fit great! I ordered the linen-cotton pants in white (with the drawstring) and ordered my usual JP size 1. No bagginess, not tight, and the material is on the thicker side so not sheer. I also got the cargo cropped pants in the “troop” color, in size 1 and again, they fit perfectly! Love all the pockets. For ref. in case anyone else wants to get those, i’m usually a size 26 or 27 in pants/jeans.
The two white tanks I bought are very nice too–the high/low woven tank–pretty sheer though, and the ribbed v-neck tank–great deals and will get plenty of wear on these this summer.
Hi Grechen! Thanks for sharing the sale info and shipping code. The open back skinny dress will be on its way to me soon. I also really appreciate the sizing discussion. I have one other JP dress and after reading here I realized why the fit is just fine and not wonderful. It’s too big. I pulled it at the sides and it looks much better, so I’ll see if the tailor can take it in so it will fit properly.
Gretchen (or anyone else), Have you tried the shirred boatneck dress?
Hi Grechen,
Just wondering if you have ever tried any JP shoes? How comfortable? I am looking at the Santos Leather Ankle Espadrilles & I am generally a size 8 (8.5 in running shoes) but I contacted customer service who told me if in between sizes to size up.
Thank you!
Anne
I have tried the shoes – but never leather ones and ended up returning them – but I do remember that i sized down in the canvas slides and took my regular size in the sneakers. Those probably run differently than the espadrilles though…I would go with CS on this one probably. I’m sorry I’m not more help!!
Thank you for the feedback! I may pass on the shoes since I can’t confirm the size/comfort!