(image via Tracee Ellis Ross’ Facebook Page)
James Perse Open back tank dress
I’ve mentioned before that I can spot a James Perse a mile away. I have Perse-dar; in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m pretty obsessed with James Perse. I identified Claire from Modern Family’s JP tops, Carrie Mathieson’s sweatshirt (she was actually wearing the older version, with the 3/4 sleeves) in Homeland, and while my husband and I were watching Black-ish this week, here comes Tracee Ellis Ross in the James Perse open back tank dress I wrote about trying on over the summer. I was torn between the open-back tank dress and the belted tank dress, and eventually got the belted tank dress (on sale at Shopbop), which I love, but STILL always wanted the open back dress also. Because, you know, they’re different. And Tracee looks absolutely phenomenal in the dress. But she looks pretty good in anything…
(Image via Tracee Ellis Ross’ Facebook Page)
The open back tank dress is longer – goes below my knees – and has more bra-friendly straps than my tank dress (I have to wear a racer-back bra with it, and even then, you can sometimes see it). It’s also more “clean” without the belt and just has subtle ruching at the hips. And the open back is amazing – it looks so tame, really, but in person it’s just stunning. Check out Tracee’s Facebook page for some more still shots of the episode she’s wearing it in.
(via James Perse)
Anyway the dress is still available in some sizes at James Perse (I would take my true JP size, which is a size 2) but otherwise sold out when it went on sale over the summer. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT, and am still tempted to get it (in black) myself right now, but also kind of want to wait and see if it’ll show up in their next sale in my size in gray. A risky proposition, for sure, because often, when JP pieces are gone, they’re GONE. But then again, I know where to get early access to their sales. And luckily so do you…(right here! in case you didn’t know…)
So funny, when I saw this episode, I knew immediately it was JP, thanks to you! And I agree, Tracee looks sensational in everything, but really great in this dress!
haha! so funny. my husband knows the drill by now. he’s like, that’s james perse isn’t it? 🙂
I love that you have Perse-dar. I can’t believe I missed Carrie Mathison’s JP sweatshirt! I did notice that Jessica Brody (Homeland) kept wearing the JP button up shirt, in a few different colors. I kept pointing it out, loudly, and pointing, much to my husband’s dismay. I’m obsessed with the JP blanket poncho this season. I have no idea where I would wear it, but that doesn’t stop me.
she only wore it once, when she was in Baghdad last season i think – there was a scene when she was running around the embassy…i remember just thinking, “i’d never RUN in my JP sweatshirt” LOL – most of the time she’s in boring pant suits, ugh 😉
i love the blanket poncho!! i’d probably just wear it at home, or whatever, it’s not practical for wearing out, really, unless you’re doing a lot of lounging about, brunching, etc. so hard to manage.
I wish so so much the open back dress was knee length or just below instead of mid calf length. I’ve tried it on several times and love the way it looks but I just can’t walk in it – I feel all hobbled. The fabric is very soft and stretchy so obviously I can walk in it – I just feel like I have exercise bands wrapped around my calves.
Hey, Grechen – when will we see the JP viscose twill jacket from this summer again? I only saw the one review and then never again?
Hey, Grechen – I love vicariously living your JP obsession. I do want to see the twill viscose jacket from this summer again – did it turn out to be a great piece or???
I took it with me for the bar mitzvah but ended up wearing the yellow Eileen fisher sweater instead. It’s been just way too hot here to wear it and I don’t have an “occasion” for a jacket very often! Honestly it’s also very wrinkled and my steamer broke and I don’t have an iron … So I need to get the creases out first and then once it cools down here I think I’ll wear it. I don’t think it will be something I’ll wear often, but i do think it will be nice to have. I still love it…
I love this post! Tracee looks fabulous. And I LOVE her in that JP dress.
Watched Blackish this week! And thanks for mentioning it, btw…why isn’t everyone watching it? I keep telling my friends how smart it is and now I can add that it’s also stylish too).
A twist for us today! And I think Tracee’s show is very clever, not to mention that she’s gorgeous.
Tell Leo he’s got a good eye!
Didn’t you buy that steamer rather recently? It shouldn’t be broken already, should it? (Unless Dagny ate it, Leo stepped on it…;-) )
YES. it leaked horribly the first time i used it. now it’s still waiting to be sent back to amazon 🙁
i just haven’t made enough of an effort to replace it yet ….
i agree – that’s why i went for the belted dress that i got instead, because it’s knee-length. i don’t mind the mid-calf length though, really. what i’ve always done is just hike it up a bit so it’s closer to knee-length on me. and i have quite a few JP long slim skirts anyway, so i guess i’m used to walking like i have bands around my legs lol
i love the show so much… can’t get enough of it. but it might be mostly because of tracee…