Comfort Picks (+ J. Crew Extra 50% Off Sale)

I overexerted myself on a run last fall and woke up the next morning with a soreness in my right ankle that lingered. While becoming more sedentary has helped the discomfort, I have also been more measured in my high heel use. And after my ankle recovered, I suddenly struggled to get excited about wearing heels on the weekends. As it turns out, I really like wearing fashion sneakers, ballet flats, and leather loafers, especially after I settled the pesky question of which liner socks and no-show socks to wear with what shoe.

The only downside to my gaining more mobility is that, because I have Icarian tendencies to be both complacent and overconfident, I have become even more accident-prone than normal. Whereas before I had to pay close attention to the ground I walk on when wearing heels, now I am empowered to walk right into trees while gawking at cute dogs, or wander too far from the beaten path and have to GoogleMaps my way back to civilization.

*J. Crew Striped Button-Shoulder Turtleneck in Ivory Dark Seaweed* (size XXS) || Burberry Bowpark Rain Jacket (size 2; reviewed here) || Salvatore Ferragamo Saffiano Leather Shoulder Bag || LOFT Skinny Tie Waist Pants (size 00P) || Adidas Superstar Sneaker (also here and here) // Scunci Effortless Beauty Skinny Plastic Headbands (both the quality and function are so-so, but it is cheap and somewhat effective in taming unruly flyaway hairs)

I want to highlight a promotion that I am very excited about: sale styles are an extra 50% off at J. Crew until Wednesday night with code HOORAY. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been unrestrained when shopping the J. Crew sale section, even in the absence of a relevant promotion. At this point, I’ve tried just about everything in its sale section, and can now make pretty good recommendations.

Striped Button-Shoulder Turtleneck Most of us certainly don’t need another striped top, but at this price point ($12 after discounts), I am encouraging of starting a reserve. The fit is a tad boxy (but true to size) and it is best worn untucked because of the medium-weight fabric (100% cotton). While the buttons at the shoulder might be a little awkward for those with a shorter neck (like me) and the sleeves a little short if you are tall, this is still a well-made and classic piece that I would urge you to consider.

Italian Wool-Blend Scarf in Leopard I bought a few of these for my mom as she keeps randomly giving hers away to people who reacted positively to it. The wool-blend is warm and the print classic. If you wear a lot of neutrals but don’t own a printed scarf, this is the one to get.

Open-Front Sweater-Blazer I own this comfortable and versatile piece in three colors. I leave one in my office and another in my car as it’s the perfect piece to throw on when it gets a little chilly. The material (100% merino wool) is medium weight and soft. While J. Crew calls it a “blazer,” it is really a cross between a duster cardigan and an open jacket, and probably most suitable for work environments that are more casual. As the fit is “relaxed,” you might consider sizing down if you prefer a more fitted look.

Sheath Dress in Spotted Tweed This well-made dress combines some of my favorite details: tweed, spots, nautical colors, and a sheath silhouette. As with other J. Crew sheath dresses, the cut is slim, so you may want to size up if you are curvy.