Welcome to The Great Try-On. We’re gearing up for fall, and that includes freshening up our wardrobes with some new pieces. We got to try on some of the best fall pieces from some of your favorite brands and documented it all from our at-home dressing rooms so that you can see how they actually look IRL. We hope that our photos and candid reviews will help you shop for fall wardrobe builders and trend-forward pieces that you’ll wear over and over this season and beyond.
For all those out there who love J.Crew as much as I do, you’ve come to the right place today. If you read our site regularly, you’ll know there’s been quite a buzz about J.Crew recently thanks in part to its head of women’s design, Olympia Gayot, revitalizing the brand and adding her cool, elevated spin on the preppy, coastal-grandma-leaning aesthetic. (In fact, my colleague Erin Fitzpatrick was one of the first to interview Gayot on her unabashedly cool style.) Personally, I’ve always had a sartorial soft spot for J.Crew, and there’s no doubt its recent collections have made me fall in love with the brand all over again.
So you can imagine my excitement when I got to try on a handful of pieces from its recent fall drop for The Great Try-On. I narrowed down my wish list to a mix of classic blazers and jackets, cozy and colorful knits, plus of-the-moment silky slip dresses, cargo pants, and elevated basics. Along with all my mirror selfies, below, I’m sharing reviews on my eight favorite pieces that I had the pleasure of trying. Find out why they’re great, and shop all of my J.Crew favorites for fall below.
My Review: While slip dresses are inherently timeless, they’re certainly having a major moment this season, and J.Crew has jumped on the trend, creating the perfect sleek slip midi dress that leans into the ’90s aesthetic we’re seeing everywhere right now. I love the classic and versatile nature of this dress—easy to dress up with heels and knee-high boots or dress down layered over a white tee with sneakers. I love the delicate spaghetti straps and the way it drapes on the body beautifully—not too tight and not too bulky. This is one of those dresses I’ll wear on heavy rotation for years to come. I want it in every color!
My Review: If you want a subtle yet polished take on the cargo-pant trend, then this J.Crew pair is a must. I love the idea of pairing these with a kitten heel and elegant accessories for a cool contrasting look. These are really nice quality, and the crisp white hue means you can pretty much pair them easily with anything—a sweater, a button-down, a formfitting top, or a chic blazer. They have a mid-rise silhouette that sits nicely on the hips. They do have a cinched hem, but I opened up the ties to give a wider-leg silhouette so it’s easier to pair with any style shoes. Although, I personally like wearing them with a small heel.
My Review: Let me introduce you to the fall cardigan of my dreams! It was hard to choose between green and ivory, but I couldn’t resist this striking kelly green that J.Crew does so well. This is a staple in anyone’s fall/winter wardrobe. It’s thick and cozy, has a flattering silhouette, and is easy to wear with jeans, pants, skirts, or over dresses. The cable-knit detail is gorgeous. I can’t tell you how many times I’ll be wearing this in the months to come.
My Review: J.Crew is winning when it comes to luxe basics. This is my new favorite knit tank. It’s hard to tell in the photos, but this is super soft and comfortable—made of the most sumptuous cashmere. The silhouette is so flattering, and I love the fact I can wear it to transition from day to night seamlessly. It’s not overly cropped, and I love the fact I can tuck it into my high-waisted trousers and jeans easily. Honestly, I cannot rave about this basic enough!
My Review: I’m not going to lie, anything that exudes Chanel vibes is a keeper in my wardrobe! This jacket is the epitome of effortless elegance. It’s perfect for work or dressed down with loose pants and fisherman sandals. I’m already thinking about all the cool ways to style it this season. So chic.
My Review: Button-downs are a big part of my everyday uniform, so I’m always on the lookout for iterations that feel cool and a little different. This striped one hit my eye just right. The chic contrasting white collar and cuffs give it a luxe look, and the relaxed cropped silhouette feels fresh—great for pairing with higher-waisted pants. Also worth noting is the fact that it’s made from 100% cotton and feels very crisp and comfortable.
My Review: Is it even fall without a little corduroy? J.Crew’s latest fall drop has the coolest corduroy pieces, including this matching blazer and skirt. These can easily be styled separately, but I wore them together for a preppy-cool look. The ivory hue gives these an expensive look. The blazer is a no-brainer, a classic cut that gives all the vintage vibes. I’ve been throwing it on over my fitted tees and jeans this week and loving the look. The miniskirt (a big trend right now) is super cute, and I can see myself wearing it with a fitted turtleneck and knee-high boots this season. I could have probably sized down in the skirt for a more fitted and shorter hemline.
My Review: There is not enough space on the page to express my love for this bag! I have been featuring it in stories and on Instagram ever since it came onto the brand’s site, and when I got my hands on it physically, I fell in love with it even more. The tote/bucket bag is made of the softest suede-and-leather fabric in a gorgeous of-the-moment dark brown. It’s roomy enough to fit my laptop, and as a mom, I appreciate the extra space with everything I tend to lug around. But let’s not beat around the bush, the best part about it is that it looks ultra luxurious, like it just stepped off the runway.
My Review: I have a bit of an obsession with camel coats and blazers, so I figured I had to try one from J.Crew. This versatile blazer-jacket hybrid gives the best of both worlds and strikes the perfect balance between casual and polished.
Thanks to her Instagram post, @olympiamarie just made me want to buy this.
Do I need another slip dress? After seeing this one, the answer is a definitive yes.
Lean into this season’s ’90s denim silhouettes.
Quite possibly the perfect black ankle boots.
J.Crew’s Tissue Turtlenecks are so good (and a current Who What Wear best seller). I’m loving this floral print.
