Dressing Room Diaries- J. Jill Softness and Comfort
Summer is winding down for many of us and just ramping up for others, so I shopped for things that might work for both occasions. Softness and comfort always seem like a good idea, so I hit the mall yesterday for a J. Jill try-on session.
If you’re new here, welcome. A dressing room diary is when I go into a local store for a try-on session so you can see what’s new and how it looks on a woman over 25. For reference, I am 5’4″ and weigh around 134 lbs. I have broad shoulders with straight hips, a long torso, and long arms. I often buy one size larger on top. You’ll see me try on clothes in colors and shapes that may or may not flatter me because I want you to see what’s in the stores and get some styling ideas. I tell you what sizes I am wearing to help you understand how things run.
J.Jill has streamlined its sizing system so that every design is now available as Regular in sizes XS-4X. Petite and tall are still available in the same popular styles and sizes, plus all sizes are the same price. Here’s my previous J. Jill try-on session in June.
The color of this tunic is more accurate on the website than in my pictures. It’s a rich vicuna color, not a pale camel. It’s almost sold out, but your local store may still have some. The pants are the richest chocolate color, which will be super popular this fall. They’re a cotton blend with lots of stretch so are very comfy. The side zipper means your tops will lay smooth in the tummy area. This 8 is too loose on me, so they run true to size.
This Pima cotton tunic comes in eleven colors. I’m wearing lime zest which looks cool and refreshing. It’s greener in person than in my photo so go by what you see on the website. It’s long enough to go over leggings and skinny pants, or you could do a half tuck. I’m partial to modest depth V-necklines, which are flattering on everyone. I’m wearing it over these knit jeans in a slim cropped length. They’re a pull-on style that feels as comfy as jammies. The small is a bit large for me, so they run TTS.
I popped this Kahki open stitch hooded cardigan over the lime zest tunic and chocolate pants. The cardi is very lightweight with a wide rib and a single button. It also comes in seagrass or white. The open stitching makes it feel lightweight, and it’ll layer nicely right into fall. I don’t wear hoods, but they’re perennial favorites with brands and shoppers alike.
You can tell by this point that I love this soft Pima tunic tee and the fresh lime color :). Here it is with J. Jill’s always flattering slim ankle jeans in the Neptune wash. I popped the cropped Anywhere cardigan on top to illustrate how a shorter layer over a longer layer can give waist definition and change the vertical proportions of a look. It’s such a useful little cardi that comes in five colors. I am wearing the Watercress, which is a warm olive (my photos make it look cooler than it is, so check the website).
I loved this necklace…sorry I blocked it in the pictures. I seem pretty out of practice! The tank is reversible for v or scoop neckline. They run small, so I suggest you size up at least one, maybe two sizes. They come in six colors and make great layering pieces. The boyfriend jeans are super comfy with a relaxed fit so I sized down. The inseams are as follows- R 27″ inseam (rolled), P 24½” inseam (rolled), T 30″ inseam (rolled). The rise is just below the waistline, depending on your torso. 
HOODED ANORAK JACKET regular XS / DIP DYED TEE regular M / PERFORMANCE BOOTCUT PANTS regular XSJ.Jill makes some very stylish active and athleisure wear in their Fit collection. This anorak jacket is fabulous. It has an interior drawstring and a two-way zipper to customize the fit. It’s water repellant in a stretchy fabric, so has pretty much everything going for it. It only comes in this mist color, which my photo shows more accurately than the website. I love the raglan sleeves, which help create a sleeker look than the drop shoulders I see too much of.
The dip-dyed striped tee is called Olive but coordinates with the jacket nicely. The medium is a bit large on me, so it runs TTS. The bootcut workout pant could easily be worn around town so long as your backside and crotch were covered. I prefer this type of workout pants to the ones that are skin tight all the way down. They have side panel pockets that will hold your phone and a zip at the back of the wide waistband for a key, etc.
I love the navy version I bought of these double-faced crops this summer. They’re super soft and comfy, and this mineral color is yummy. Here are the inseams – R 25″ inseam, P 23″ inseam, T 27″ inseam. This wearever cardigan is a nice drapey cotton knit and matches the pants perfectly. It’ll be great in coastal climates or with air conditioning now and on into the fall. This medium is several sizes too large for me, so I think it runs TTS. I love the raglan sleeves and, of course, the color. This duo would look great in the fall with metallic or taupe flats and a simple pullover sweater. Perhaps charcoal suede ankle booties and a deep gray turtleneck.
It’s just this sort of look that reminds me how similar some of J. Jill’s aesthetics are to Eileen Fisher. Beautiful, unstructured knits that can be layered in a non-body conscious way. This V-neck dress is a great chameleon that could be dressed up or down for any occasion. The slim pants are an everyday classic in a stretch knit that’s perfect for travel. You could easily create a great capsule using this dress and pants, then swap in tops and a jacket like this or this.
Are you a fan of the wearever fabrics?
Thanks for reading, and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident.
I still love JJill. Discovered their little B/W catalog decades ago.
The packable knits, now especially the Wearever collection, became my work travel outfits for years. Their color options seem to be increasingly dull shades, so boring, and unflattering for my now white hair. So I stick to their navy blue or black items and add scarves and jewelry. I wish they would include some raspberry or deep teal tops.
I like the green cardigan on you. I believe it is this one:
That’s it! Thanks
I like J Jill pieces here and there, but to me, their clothes are a bit dull. I like more colorful clothing and when I go in there, nothing ever jumps out.
From what you modeled, I really like the pale green cropped sweater with the rolled up jeans.
That’s a cute outfit and at least has some color to it.
I just don’t see anything here at JJill that flatters or interests me. I guess it must be because there is no structure or style?
Thank you for modeling.
I stopped purchasing JJill as the tees are too long and look shapeless on me. Their fabrics are also getting cheaper some looking like dishrags after they are washed. I used to have a lot of the Wearever line but have sold it all as it is physically too heavy for travel. I weighed my Wearever items and compared to regular cotton items and they were way heavier. They are also hot in warm weather.
I’ve been wearing my Wearever wide crops all summer, no matter the temp and find them comfy. I guess a top may be different.
I used to shop at JJill because they have Tall sizes but I found their styles aging for me. Number one their colors just don’t work for a “summer” type person although believe me I’m no slave to color evaluations! Number two so many items seem to have no structure and unless reed thin tend to increase body volume, for me anyway! Lastly, the sheerness of fabric of tops from sweaters to tunics I found unappealing & cheap in appearance. There were some slacks, tights and winter sweaters that did fit my classic, preppy vibe & I never had a problem with lengthalways a plus for tall women! I say yeah to those this brand works for
I agree with you, Lois, about the unavailability of colors that suit “summer” complexions. Sadly, olives and greens just make me look, well, green…
Sadly, J. Jill decided to warm up their images on the website and their catalog, which was bad marketing on their part.
It sounds like you had a bad experience there. Some brands just won’t fit every woman’s style recipe.
Jennifer, I am a fan of JJill’s Wearever line. I own that black dress, and I cannot tell you how versatile it is. Comfortable too! I own quite a few of the Wearever pants as well and the v-neck tees and tanks, not to mention those cropped cardigans in many different colors. All were bought on sale, and they continue to wear extremely well. Basics at a great price point. Paired with “star” pieces from Talbots and Ann Taylor, these garments have helped me build an interesting and colorful wardrobe.
I have several favorites from J.Jill too. That dress is on my short list for my cruise this fall.
Thanks for modeling! I like the sweater w/o the link. I have a similar beaten-up sweater from J Jill that I’ve had for at least a decade. It’s now a work-around-the-house sweater, but it’s still really comfortable. These days, I like JJ’s jeans, but that’s about it. Long tops and over-sized or unstructured pieces overwhelm me, so I’ve never warmed up to the Wearever line,
Love when you do a J.Jill try-on! As for the cardigan, it’s probably part of their brand new collection that comes out officially on August 4. Usually stores will bring out the new items a few days early and you can purchase them in the store, but they won’t be available on-line until the 4th. (I worked at a J.Jill for 12 years!!!)
Good to know!!
Thanks for the intel — good to know.
Though they all look very comfortable and I assume may travel well; unfortunately they are a tad too relaxed in design, for my personal taste. -Brenda-
Love your offerings today. You look really comfortable in them. I like the term, unstructured knits!
Yes! Soft and easy.
Styles in DRD are so classic. Just what I want in my closet for fall.
Thanks for a great fashion show.
Happy Tuesday, Lin
I have loved JJill’s Wearever line for years. The pieces mix and match with each other from season to season and are great basics for work or for traveling. You make such a good point about the Wearever aesthetic being similar to Eileen Fisher, and at such a better price point!
I like a few things from Jill but I find a lot of Jill things are shapeless.
You’re right, many have no structure. That’s a great observation about the brand.
I really liked all the cardigans and jackets in this post. Everything looked great on you! Thanks for sharing.