J Crew Dress Review - Jersey Promenade Gown

The Basket Weave Portico Dress was just bad. The Checkered Puckered Shift Dress (which I haven't even posted yet, but will) was no good either. Don't worry, though, I will post soon to share the scoop with you all. Both of these have been returned to J Crew.

But the Jersey Promenade Gown (#23480, $118) is still hanging in my closet. Still haven't fully made up my mind. I certainly haven't clipped the tags, but since I got 20% off, if I want this dress, this is the one I should keep. It's online/catalog only, so it makes for a good ridealong to get free shipping if you want to check it out.

*** I just posted this and am already editing it. The dress now appears on the website as $94.90, as part of the online-only 20% off tees & knits promotion.***

For starters, much as I like the Sheer Lilac, you know I'm a sucker for all of J Crew's dark gray's, so I did order it in Dark Pewter. I ordered a size 8 in the dress.

I'm still just not sure whether I like it or not...but it may go deeper than that and just be a question of whether or not maxi dresses really work on me. I love the idea of maxi dresses. I love the idea of not having to shave your legs or being able to cover up mosquito bites. But with my height (5'10"), it really is just a *lot* of fabric.

I think this is as flattering as a maxi dress gets for me, but I don't know that it's me. And I'm not really a boho girl...preppy/classic/casual is much more my style. And I believe that my legs are one of my best features, and I like dresses that show them off. Above-the-knee length is my friend. Except of course, for last spring, when I tripped over the puppy gate and ended up with a bruise that ran most of the length of my shin - at that point, a maxi dress probably would have been a good idea.

But on to the fit of the dress, because that's what you're really interested in, right? I have to deal with my existential style issues later. (But again, can't you tell from my expression that I'm not 100% comfortable?)

First of all, bravo, J Crew! It was not low cut down to my navel. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but it did look rather low in the pictures - as in low enough to require special bra purchases. I have on a normal bra here - I think you could actually get away with a regular bra with the clear straps.

The draping on the bodice and twisted straps are very flattering. I love the banded waistband - I think it gives the dress more shape than the usual maxi dress.

I'm happy to field any other questions on the dress. I think, in the end, this will go back. Who knows. But while I waffle, it's still hanging in the closet...

This was my initial Polyvore for the Jersey Promenade Gown:


Jersey Promenade Gown by HeidiGblog featuring J Crew

J Crew Spring Arrivals - Dresses & the Rest

First of all, I will note that I did not get any of these dresses I have posted. Good to clear that up to begin with.

Dress #1 - Retail Only and I didn't get it, so I'll make this up - the Flutter Front Dress (#21811, $69.50) in black, also available in SGR (soft green? sage green? souper green?)

This was another piece that was available in the first spring release, but I just hadn't posted it yet.

I took an M. It fit fine. This seems repetitive (well not to you, but I'm writing this post in reverse order) - I liked it, but I didn't FP love it. A cute dress. Very versatile for the summer.

The other reason I didn't get it? The color. I have enough black knit dresses right now. And the soft green color was very pretty, just not for me.

But if you are needing some more knit summer dresses to add to your summer wardrobe, definitely give this one a try.

Dress #2 - Gabriella Dress (#24330, $69.50), which I tried on in an M. And Pamela tried it on here. I was cracking up as I read her comments because I was like - exactly! It's exactly what I was thinking. I tried this dress on because of how much I loved my dressy jersey strapless dresses last summer. And, as Pamela said, definitely for $19.99 or $29.99. Not worth FP for me.

First of all, it's strapless, with no add-on strap. I don't think I ever wore my dressy jersey strapless dresses without the strap last summer. Second, one of the reasons I wore the djsd so often is that I could wear it without a bra due to the double layer of fabric plus ruching over the bust. This dress...like the Sanur convertible dress, only has the double layer of fabric, so I'm not sure I'd feel so secure wearing it without a bra. But it would be a fab bathing suit coverup (which is actually what I plan to do with my djsd's when they start to fade out of everyday wear...but that's how I repurpose all my little knit summer dresses.)

Dress #3 - Rumpled Meron Dress (#22748, $132) in Black Fog. Loved the color of this. Just gorgeous. i have on a size 10 here - I find that in the shift dresses, I really need a 10 at J Crew to accommodate my hips.

I liked the dress...but I didn't love it. Or at least I didn't FP love it.

The fabric is what really makes this dress - such a gorgeous color. The fabric has such a rich color and sheen IRL.

Pear warning - this dress has a loose fit (which you can see on me as well as the online pic where it's belted). The online copy even reads: "Shift silhouette. Loose fit." Those of you who like something very fitted at the waist will probably want to steer clear.

Dress #4 - Ruffled Carly Dress (#21494, $98). Not sure why I'm even bothering with a pic of this one - it's SO much better on dinagideon here and A Bigger Closet here...and then again on A Bigger Closet where she re-fashioned it as a tunic. Most impressive.

Bottom line...too short on me. I took an 8, I think. I love the ruffles. I love the weight of the fabric. There just isn't enough fabric covering my thighs. Plus, let's be honest, it may be machine washable, but am I really doing to want to iron this sucker? You know how much I hate to iron. So it's really all for the best.

I would love to see something similar in a slightly longer length however...hint, hint J Crew.

Fitting room tip - if you are concerned about whether or not a skirt or dress is too short, just sit down in it. If you are not comfortable, it's too short.

Now this...this is the dress I want to see. Alas, like many of my other spring release faves, it's catalog/online only. Has anyone tried this one yet? I like the sheer lilac color, but I really LOVE the pewter.

Jersey Promenade Gown (#23480, $118). I've been trying to find a maxi dress that really works on me. You would think that being tall would make it easy, but it seems to make it worse. It's just so much fabric. I think this dress could potentially work because (1) it has a more defined (and longer) waist than many maxi dresses, and (2) it looks comfy but not overly flowy.

The only thing that concerns me is the bodice - I worry that I wouldn't really fill it. And what kind of bra do you wear with this? But oh the possibilities this dress has...{le sigh}

And here's the Minnie update. Apparently Minnie is quite the success. The beloved Minnie pant is now available in denim (#23559, $98, yes, almost $10 more than the regular Minnie). No IRL pic from me because honestly, the denim Minnies were just not good at all on me...to the point where I couldn't wait to take them off as soon as I put them on. They just did not work. And my fave SA and personal shopper, Jill, told me they were the same on her. (I love the honesty - she never steers me wrong.)

The Minnie is also now available in wool, as a Collection piece (#17347, $168). Shoot, I'd consider going there. But maybe not at FP unless I really really really thought I'd wear them that much.

But the best (to me) Minnie news is that the Minnie is now available in Tall (#24646) and Petite (#24645), both $89.50 - same price as regular Minnies. I have a pair of Tall Minnies on the way that should arrive later this week (with the long beach cardi), and I'll post as soon as I can. Here's the thing...I love my Minnies, but with a 26" inseam, I have to wear boots unless it's a good 50 degrees outside. So I had gotten out of the habit of wearing them a bit in early winter. But I think the extra 3" of length will make them even more versatile. Maybe even office worthy?

And again, if you've posted on the above, please let me know and I'd love to update with your link. Thanks!