J.Crew’s Summer Collection Is the Only Thing I’ll Be Wearing This Season—See for Yourself

When a last-minute grab-and-go piece becomes a fan favorite, you know it’s a good shopping day. This little black cover-up dress was dangling in front of me just before the dressing rooms, and I’m not one to look away. As far as cover-ups go, this number takes the cake because it’s everything you hope for: unbelievably light, easy to throw on, breezy and darn cute. Just take a look at that crochet lace trim!

One thing to note: It’s unlined and made from a semi-sheer organic cotton fabric, so you can see your bathing suit underneath—but I love that pop of bikini.

I (and this dress) implore you to step out of your comfort zone and try the busy print. Trust me, this chic, lemon-adorned fabric on this slip isn’t my usual style, but it gave me a confidence boost, making me feel like a whole new woman, ready to have fun and let my hair down. It’s surprisingly comfortable for how form-fitting it is, and I’ll always appreciate an adjustable spaghetti-strap detail whenever I come across it. It’s a Carrie Bradshaw-coded dress, ready for date nights with your own Mr. Big or your soul-mated BFFs. Just don’t forget to complete the look with strappy kitten heels and a baguette bag.

She wore an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny…RED bikini. When I think of J.Crew, swimsuit shopping isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, but when they dangle this fiery number on the entryway table, it’s hard to pass up. It’s your classic triangle bikini, with a few key details to call out. Namely, it features eye-catching blue contrast piping throughout—and there’s something about the addition of primary colors that never fails to impress. It also boasts a cheeky cut that doesn’t veer into thong territory (as they all seem to nowadays). I also genuinely love how the straps offer so much flexibility, whether it’s adjusting the fit on the bottoms or switching between a halter, crisscross or classic tie for the top.

Let me make your beach vacation packing a bit easier with this matching skirt-and-top set. Everything about it, from the contrast stitching to its structured shape and darling beaded print, makes it a real wow moment. I even received compliments from my fellow dressing-room shoppers the second I stepped out. Best of all, you can mix and match the pieces to get more wear out of them, so you’re getting more bang for your buck.

I’m under the impression that one can never own too many pairs of white shorts in the summertime. Enter: J.Crew Tap Shorts. More elevated than white denim cutoffs, this contemporary silhouette will make you feel more dressed up than usual—especially with those sleek seams that run down the front and back of the shorts—yet still keep you cool and give you legs for days. Fans of J.Crew’s crisp chinos will love that these are made from the same fabric—in fact, that was one of the reasons they came home with me.

It’s not often I’m totally surprised by a piece of clothing—let alone a sweatshirt, of all things—but J.Crew’s Cool Lilac really came out of nowhere. From its loose hem to its relaxed fit, it was designed for summertime evenings and cool, breezy days. My favorite detail, besides the vibrant colorway and white contrast trim throughout, was how soft the heritage terry fabric felt. According to the brand, the cotton fabric has “lots of micro loops for added softness and subtle texture,” and it’s noticeable. It’s the type of piece I want to live in.

Hot take: Jean shorts are getting kind of tired. That’s why I love the fresh feel of J.Crew’s Cruise Short. It still gives off that denim vibe, but with the comfort of 100 percent organic cotton and all that breezy, soft goodness that comes with it. And forget the buttons—this baby has a stretchy elastic waistband and, get this, a nautical-inspired rope drawstring. These are the best shorts of the season, and you can’t convince me otherwise.

If there’s one thing J.Crew perfects, it’s their sweaters. The lore of the Rollneck sweater traverses decades and oceans—seriously, I spotted a friend in London wearing the unmistakable rolled-knit, and after asking, she confirmed it was from none other than J.Crew. Best of all, it lives up to its hype. I tried the style made from 100 percent heritage cotton yarn, and I can’t rave enough about how comfortable it felt. The slouchiness was also drool-worthy, and the type of piece I never want to take off. In fact, it’s the perfect piece to wear over a bathing suit after a dip in the ocean. Although it's made to fit slightly loose, I opted for a large (two sizes up from my usual size) because I love my knitwear to fit extra roomy.

As always, an LBD is non-negotiable. As I suspected, this lined linen number was chic, easy to wear and effortless. It’s the type of dress you want in your closet for days when you can’t be bothered to put together an outfit—simply throw this airy piece on and finish it off with chunky sandals, dangly earrings and a straw clutch bag for the ultimate summer-friendly look. Oh, and just wait until you see the back! It has the sleekest V-back detail, which is really refined and unexpected in the best way.

I tried on the Luna pants as another ploy to step out of my comfort zone, and I now understand why they’re a J.Crew bestseller. In fact, I’m going to be so bold as to say these might just be the It-pants of the summer, with their cooler-than-cool, relaxed style that’ll make you look effortlessly chic. They’re made from the breeziest cotton poplin, which actually looks better the more you wear it. (I don’t know about you, but when I find warm-weather-approved pants I don’t have to iron, I’m handing over my credit card.) There’s even an adjustable drawstring, so you can tie the pants lower on your hips or wear them higher for a capri look. I will note that these run slightly big, so stick to your usual size, as the medium (pictured above) was threatening to fall off my hips.