Well, happy Wednesday 🙂 How about another James Perse sale??
Get early access to the James Perse Winter sale (only available via that link) + free shipping – no minimum order – using code VIPWINTER17.
There are lots of new items, and some items carried over from the holiday sale, just marked down a bit more. Below are some of my favorites, and my comments, and as all sales are final, please ask questions or leave your own feedback in the comments below!!
James Perse Military Blazer | $169 (love this blazer, simple, cropped, nipped in at the waist…)
Crepe funnel neck dress | $179 (this is such a beautiful drapey fabric/dress and looks so easy chic on)
Classic skinny dress | $149 (just an amazing classic in a beautiful color)
Skinny split dress | $129 (amazing dress – I highly recommend it)
Brushed jersey henley dress | $79 (I love the brushed jersey material – it’s mid-to-heavy weight and so comfortable)
Canvas Linen caftan | $89 (no brainer!! gorgeous, easy 100% linen caftan…)
Oh no, my bank account! 🙂 What size would you recommend for the Skinny Split dress, sometimes they run super small. Thanks!
i had that dress in a size 2, which is my “normal” JP size: i’m 145 pounds 5’3″ with HIPS & a BUTT 😉 – i wear a size 28-29 in jeans
i wouldn’t size up or down in it…
Oh gosh. The skinny split dress! Sooo tempting. Is yours one of your favorite pieces? Borderline can’t live without?
i loved it, but i had it in gray, and i have a hard time with lighter colors on my body (show too many bumps), so i sold it. been wanting to get the black version though. it’s a great dress – picture on me: http://grechenscloset.com/outfit-james-perse-split-maxi-dress/ –
the classic skinny dress in grey looks great , but is it as flattering as it would be in black? I have the turtleneck and the strapped (open back) version in black in a 2 and they are flattering. Should I get the classic skinny in the same size? With the grey be as forgiving? And how do the pants fit? (pants and I have a tortured relationship) I wear a 29-30 in jeans.
i love the color of that tee dress, but to be honest, i wouldn’t buy it in that color; i prefer black for more fitted styles. my friend wears the fitted dresses in ALL colors (and white) and she looks amazing in them. i just can’t see myself in them. i had the skinny split dress in charcoal grey and didn’t like how that showed off all my bits, so i sold it 🙁
i just know I personally wouldn’t be as comfortable in that color. not that it’s less flattering, if that makes sense…and yes, i would take your normal size.
pants i have a hard time with from JP – i have had some, but they never fit me exactly right because of my larger calves – they can be very snug on my legs/calves and loose at my waist/hips, so i’d never buy a pair without trying them on first. if you’ve never tried them, i’d not recommend buying a pair final sale. i’ve not tried any of the styles on sale now.
Someone started a Reddit thread about your site today: https://www.reddit.com/r/blogsnark/comments/5n6yqr/grechens_closet/?st=ixtaua6o&sh=bd144652. I thought that you might want to read it.
That code JPWINTER17 doesn’t seem to be working, has it worked for anyone else?
Sorry I updated the post – the code is VIPWINTER17 !!
I see it has changed since the email, sorry about that!
I’m really liking the Double Split Midi Skirt, Puckered Gauze Full Skirt and the Brushed or Lightweight Cotton Culotte… I was wondering how their fit is on the Culottes and Full Skirt.
I would say true? Although I have tried either of those. Hopefully someone else can chime in!! If I was going to buy I’d take my regular JP size which is a 2 or 1 in rare cases I’ve heard their live chat is pretty good for fit information too FYI
Hi Grechen,
The Military Blazer: Since all sales are final, I have a question about the fit.
Does it fit similar to the button up Slub shirt? Would you order the same size as you wear in the Slub or one size higher since its outerwear?
If I could order one for size, I would but there are none on sale online. 🙁
i personally would buy my “true” JP size (2) in that blazer. in fact it’s in my cart now 😉
here’s why: it’s a slim/cropped fit and more suited to wear as a blazer, not so much as outerwear, if that makes sense. like i wouldn’t try and layer it over a sweater – it would more likely be something i’d wear with a t-shirt, or camisole/tank top. that’s the way i see it…
BUT, as the sleeves on his jackets, and looks like this one in particular, tend to be slim, if you DO Want to style it with a sweater, i might be inclined to go a size up. does that help LOL??
Yes, Grechen, it helps a lot! Thank you. ? I’ll go for the size 3 . I would be a 2 if I weren’t 5’9″.
I have the Slub in size 3 and its a tad oversized but the 2 is too small for my length.
*Thank you. *
oh, haha. thanks for sharing that 🙂
THANK YOU, GRECHEN!!! I snapped up a canvas linen caftan in black, a cotton cashmere raglan in navy, a lightweight jersey tee in carbon, a cotton linen dolman tee in carbon, a melange tee shirt dress in charcoal, and a (non-sale) Malibu Beach graphic tee in black only because I can’t resist it. I love JP’s tees and am pretty confident in their fit, but the two dresses (canvas linen caftan and melange tee shirt dress) are gambles. I have relatively thin limbs but a thicker middle so sadly any skinny dress is out of the question. Crossing my fingers that my purchases work out! So excited !!!
oh good buys!!! i love that melange shirt dress, i think it will be wonderful 🙂
report back and let us know what you think when you get them!
Does anyone here have experience with the fit of the high gauge flared dress , pocket shirt swing dress, and/or cut away tank dress in this sale? My shape is inverted triangle with a thicker middle, do well in size 2-3 of JP tees, but definitely can’t do skinny dresses. The dresses I listed above intrigue me but I don’t know if they will be too A-line and make me look bigger than I am. I’d love some comfortable casual dresses as I don’t have any right now.
When does the free shipping code expire?
the code expires today, but i believe once the sale goes live on the site there will be free shipping automatically.
i haven’t tried any of those, but i think any of them would be wonderful on your shape! for the high gauge flared dress, i might go for a size 3 to make sure there’s plenty of room. i PERSONALLY have never really loved a-line shapes on my body, because of my thick, SHORT legs – i guess i’m an inverted triangle too though? but with a slim waist/upper body – i do really like that cut away tank dress, and in the right size, i think it would be a nice balance. and the pocket shirt swing dress is awesome 🙂
not sure that helped at all!!
That’s very helpful! I don’t know what dress shape would look good on me really. I assume because we are opposite in shape what looks good on you (skinny ruched dresses) would not look good on me and vice versa. If you never like A-line shapes on you maybe they’re supposed to look good on me, just I’ve never tried? Separates are a no-brainer for me so of course I obsess about dresses, which present a challenge!
I’m crazy about the Canvas Linen Shirt Dress as well as the Pocket Swing Shirt Dress, but the linen one only goes up to a size 3 and I am clearly a size 4 in James Perse (size 12-14, broad shoulders, not hippy, but I’ve got a tummy). Is it pretty oversized? Maybe I should go for the Swing Dress, but I really want a white dress for summer! Any advice would be appreciated! (I also love the Crepe Funnel Neck…SO cute!). 🙂
This is a review of my purchases:
I received my package via two day free shipping so I already had a few days of wearing my new items. Everything was washed before wear and I tried to wear every item for at least a day. I am a 40 yo woman, an inverted triangle shape with wide shoulders and back, 5’5″, 150 lbs, 41-32-39. I usually am a JP size 2-3 on top, 2 on bottom.
HITS
Cotton cashmere raglan in navy, size 2. My favorite item of this purchase. Fits perfectly. It’s relaxed in the body so size 2 was fine, but the 3/4 sleeves still fit at the right place on my arms. I have experience with this fabric and it is lightweight, soft, and comfortable. Not itchy, not overly cool or warm. I wore a heavy shoulder bag with it all day and no pilling or sign of wear. Held its shape.
Cotton linen dolman tee in carbon, size 3. This is the most flattering shape for my body type – low scoop neck, roomy in the torso but narrows at the hips, elbow sleeves are flattering on arms. However, I don’t feel comfortable showing any cleavage in my real life so I turned the tee backwards and wore the front like a bit of a cowl neck with a low back. I didn’t have experience with this fabric and it is very airy. I was cold even though it was 70s here in southern California, so I will definitely save it for summer time. The tee stretches out about a size worth so I could have gotten a 2 but I’m fine with a slouchy shape. I will buy this fabric tee again but probably with a higher neck opening.
Melange t-shirt dress in charcoal, size 3. This is the first time I tried this fabric and it is so comfortable. I’m not sure I can dress it up sufficiently to go out of the house because I have a boxy upper body and am too big on top in this dress to layer anything over it successfully. It is now an expensive but comfortable house dress. I’d be disappointed if the fabric wasn’t so comfortable against my skin. Wore it three nights in a row with no pilling or sign of wear.
OKAY
Malibu Beach graphic tee in black, size 3. Any other cap sleeve tee will look awful on me but this one is more flattering than most. I’d like it more if the scoop neck wasn’t so deep, since this tee doesn’t work if I wear it backwards like the cotton linen dolman tee.
BLAH
Lightweight jersey tee in carbon, size 3. The description does say it’s for layering, but I didn’t heed it. I have another JP long sleeve tee made with cotton and lycra and it’s heavy enough weight to wear alone and so flattering – makes my upper arms thinner and looks fitted but actually doesn’t cling to my tummy at all. I checked the tags and the percentage of lycra is different in this tee, which is much thinner and clings all over. It fits me like J. Crew’s tissue tee which isn’t good with my thicker middle. I wore it all day today under a cropped JP sweatshirt and it’s fine, except I was hoping for a tee that can stand alone.
Canvas linen caftan in black, size 2 (M-L). This is the only item I didn’t wear for at least a day, because it’s meant for warmer days. My trouble with it is that it emphasizes my boxy shoulders. Both dresses I bought in this sale make me look boxy, because usually dresses with sleeves make me look boxy, since I am boxy. Somehow I never accept this and keep trying.
Thanks for the informative reviews on your purchases, Chandler! I found them incredibly helpful.
AMAZING reviews!! Thank you chandler!
and i love your resourcefulness in turning your tees around! it’s a great idea!
i also have expensive JP house dresses LOL, but i LOVE THEM so much, i wear them all the time at home, or if i’m traveling, i’ll take one with me to wear in the hotel, or to breakfast in the lobby or something. i don’t wear them “out” in public i guess because like you, maybe I don’t think they suit my shape as much as some others, but man…they’re comfortable! i absolutely see the value of having comfortable, quality “house dresses” though, so i no longer feel bad about it!
From BLAH to HIT:
Lightweight jersey tee in carbon, size 3. I was disappointed at how thin and clingy it is on me, although the website was clear that the tee is meant for layering. Today out of nowhere I decided to try it on with my flared knee-length skirts in woven cotton – I accumulated quite a few of them and wore them often 10-15 years ago, when the “in” silhouette was cropped cardigan/jacket + shorter tank top/tee + flared A-line skirt. The JP tee works great with it. I wore this combo all day today. Since I wore the tee all day yesterday layered under a cropped sweatshirt, that’s two straight days of wear. It loosened up about a size worth, no pilling or sign of wear.
While I had my skirts out I tried them on also with other items in my JP purchase. Both the Malibu Beach graphic tee and the cotton linen dolman tee worked well with knee-length flared skirts, to my surprise. The Malibu Beach graphic tee also works with stretchy JP knee-length pencil skirts. I am now curious whether the graphic tee is in fact identical to the relaxed casual short sleeve tee, if so I’m getting the latter in black because it is versatile and the cap sleeves layer fine under cardigans for me. Neckline is still an inch too low for my preferences but with a cardigan it doesn’t bother me as much.
I apologize for going on and on about these tees, but JP tees are the only ones that flatter my shape this well other than Eileen Fisher stretch silk jersey crew neck long sleeve tees. I used to were the EF silk tees all the time but they snag more easily so aren’t as practical for daily wear. On sales like this I can get two JP tees for the price of one EF tee. Of course I know I can hide my thick waist with things like Garnet Hill/EF tunics and I do have them, but they never feel quite as youthful and effortless as a simply cut t-shirt. Big thanks to Grechen for introducing the brand, I don’t know if I would have known about JP otherwise.
I ordered the Canvas Linen Shirtdress in size 3 after using the online chat to ask a few questions about measurements. The only thing that seemed odd to me was that the rep could give me the waist and hip measurement but NOT the bust! So, if this doesn’t work, it’s probably going to end up on SLOWRE!
Good luck and let me know how the dress fits! From your earlier comment I think we have a similar shape. By the way I just read your other comment on how your last week went, I don’t know what to say but want you to know I fully understand you’re going through a tough time right now and that you deserve to feel better.
I think we do, too! Thank you so much for your kind words, Chandler. This is such a caring community that Grechen has built.
i hope it works for you…fingers crossed 🙂
please don’t apologize!! i love that you’ve found james perse, and i totally agree with the way the tees fit 🙂 they are my favorites, and have been for ten years. thank you so much for all your comments and feedback.