Styling J. Crew Factory for Summer as a Grown Woman

Just because a brand carries our size doesn't mean it's made to work for a grown woman. We have different needs, and often have different bodies from younger generations. While we have the right to wear whatever makes us happy, we rarely want to wear the same thing as our kids, interns, and the college kid working this summer at the community pool. J. Crew Factory carries sizes XXS-3X, but how is it styling J. Crew Factory as a grown woman?

We've discussed “factory” fashion before. How is the quality and style of J. Crew Factory? How does J. Crew Factory fit a grown woman's body and lifestyle? I invited Tiffany P. from the Wardrobe Oxygen community to try out the J. Crew Factory summer collection and share her honest thoughts (and photos of her modeling the pieces) below.

Is J. Crew Factory Great for Grown Women?

By Tiffany P.

When Alison put out the call for a community member to review J. Crew Factory, of course, I couldn’t resist putting my name in the hat. I’m excited for the opportunity to share my picks and thoughts with you!

Before we get started, there are a few things you should know about me:

1. I am about 5’7” and typically wear an XL or 16W in most things. For brands that do not carry a 16W, I usually go for the 16, especially if there is some stretch in the fabric content. I carry most of my weight in my tummy and have hips and a good-sized tush.
2. I’m a 48-year-old woman who doesn’t believe in rules around things like wearing white after Labor Day or that women over a certain age shouldn’t wear miniskirts. I think if you love it, then you should wear it.
3. I am a maximalist who loves classic style, anything blue, and the thought of pieces that can be interchanged with one another, with ease and practicality.
4. When I set out to select these items to review, I kept my lifestyle in mind. I’m fairly casual with a tendency for aspirational dressing, so I wanted pieces that could be casual or made more sophisticated, should the occasion arise. So let’s get into it.

Styling J. Crew Factory for Summer

For my base, I chose a pair of cropped wide-leg jeans because just about everyone has a pair of white jeans, and they are perfect for summer.

For look number 1, I paired my white jeans with the Striped Linen-Blend Button-Up Shirt in XL. This shirt is everything that I wanted it to be, and I received lots of compliments while wearing it. It is laid back and easy going but still capable of exuding elegance.

This shirt is light and airy for my Texas climate and looks great with a half-tuck, buttoned up, or worn open as a layering piece. The same can be said for look 2.

For look 2, I kept on the white jeans and added a fun polka dot cropped/bandeau top beneath the Short-Sleeve Linen-Blend Button-Up Shirt in Bright Grotto (otherwise known as blue), size XL. The color of this shirt is beautiful, and I love the folded cuff that is sewn down so that I don’t have to fuss with folding the sleeves myself and getting them to stay put.

This top is well made and is 55% linen/45% cotton, which again is super important for breathability and comfort in my climate that is often sweltering by 9 A.M.

Look 3, I paired the Smocked Peplum Top in size 16 with you guessed it, my white jeans. I love the pop of color that definitely reads red, but the technical name for the color given by J. Crew is Bright Cerise. The smocking of the top sits just right and doesn’t ride up like some smocked tops, which I love because who wants to fight with their top all day? Also, the ruffled bottom creates the perfect peplum.

Can’t say enough good things about this top. I also love that it can hide my tummy a bit in case I have indulged in a little too much BBQ. Don’t judge me! It’s summertime, and summer is all about cookouts, while being cute and comfortable.

For the next look, I decided to use white jeans and a plain white tank top as my base, underneath the Button-Front Eyelet Beach Dress in XL, which I used as a layering piece. Eyelet anything is all the rage right now, but I also think that eyelet patterns are rather classic and will still look great for years to come. Although this is technically a swimsuit cover, my intention when choosing this piece was to use it as a way to dress up my basic tank tops with ease.

I think this beach dress works perfectly as a topper over a top or bathing suit. I also love how the eyelet pattern is perfect for adding coverage while still letting a breeze through.

The last two looks involve dresses because who doesn’t love a good “one and done?”

Look 5 is the Striped Ruffle-Sleeve Mini Shirtdress. When I saw this dress, I knew that I had to have it. In addition to loving blue and white, I was drawn to this rendition of a shirt dress that was cute and playful.

The ruffled bottom and sleeves give just the right amount of femininity for my overall aesthetic, which is classic prep with a touch of feminine flair. I got this dress in my regular size 16; however, it was still a bit roomy around the waist. Due to the style of dress, I am okay with this being a bit roomy, and the looseness in style was a determining factor in my decision to stick with a size 16 when ordering, rather than venturing into a size 18. 

Finally, for look 6, I chose the Linen-Blend Button-Front Mini Dress in Bright Cerise. The dress also came in navy, but I challenged myself to do something different and pick a color other than my usual go-to. In all honesty, red is a color that is fairly new to my closet, and I am glad that I chose this dress to add to my collection.

This dress does not disappoint! It is great for dressing up or down, and the bronze matte buttons add a classic and sophisticated touch. It can be worn sleeveless or with a basic top or blouse underneath, making it super versatile for many occasions and weather. Of course, because it is so hot right now, I opted to wear it sleeveless.

As stated earlier, I am typically a size 16; however, because I have hips, a tummy, and a sizeable rear, I sized up with this dress, which was the right move. Because this one is 55% Linen and 45% Cotton, I knew there would be little stretch. I wanted this dress to be loose enough not to hug my curves, but still structured and polished.

Shop the Looks:

I love each of the pieces that I selected, and they are going to be perfect for wearing with things that I already have in my closet as well as with one another in new and exciting ways. The quality, craftsmanship, and overall style are perfect, ensuring that I will be able to wear these classic pieces for years to come. Thanks to this experience, I rate J. Crew Factory a 10 out of 10.

Disclaimer: Tiffany was chosen from dozens of community member submissions. She was provided a lookbook from J. Crew Factory, which allowed her to select items to be shipped to her for her to keep. She was also paid a fair rate for digital creators, not provided any specific views or content to include, and was only lightly edited for SEO and formatting. If you would like to be considered for future community reviews, consider joining the Wardrobe Oxygen Community on Facebook and subscribing to the Alison Gary Substack!