This post started with a conversation over on our Mom Edit Discord channel. A reader was debating whether or not to splurge on the Jenni Kayne raffia hat—beloved by many, but definitely not cheap—and asked if anyone had tried it. I hadn’t…but I love a good sun hat (and a good shopping research project), so I promptly ordered it so I could report back.
I had actually been eyeing many of Jenni Kayne’s summer pieces for years now and wondering if they’re worth the price tag. Jenni Kayne’s effortlessly elegant dresses and luxe cotton sweaters always look so chic with that timeless, easy-sophistication vibe. So, in addition to the sun hat, I went ahead and ordered a bunch of Jenni Kayne’s most beloved summer pieces—the ones that get rave reviews and would fit seamlessly into my classic-leaning summer wardrobe.
Spoiler Alert…I’m madly in love with the Cove and Peninsula dresses, but unfortunately, some of the other pieces were a bust.
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Shopbop | Poshmark
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Jenni Kayne Summer Try-On & Review: Are These 7 Classics Worth It?
Unfortunately, it’s not a straightforward yes or no when it comes to whether Jenni Kayne’s summer staples are worth it. They’re very pricey and for sure you can find less expensive pieces with a similar vibe at many retailers including Everlane, Quince, Aritzia, and of course….the occasional questionable Amazon dupes.
But if these Jenni Kayne pieces fit your budget, the moment I saw and felt them in person, it was clear they’re high-quality, well-made, and seriously luxe. I ended up keeping way more than I expected.
Since my personal go-to closet workhorses are typically timeless classics, Jenni Kayne’s pieces fit right in — easy staples I’ll absolutely wear summer after summer after summer. So yeah, for me, that definitely makes them a “worth-it” cost per wear.
Here’s what I tried, how everything fits, and which pieces live up to their hype and which don’t.
1. Jenni Kayne Cove Dress – Linen Blend
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Saks | Shopbop | eBay
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My Takeaway: I am SO in love with this dress. Annoyingly very expensive, but it was a no brainer that I would be keeping it. The kind of dress I will wear over and over and over again and much more luxe than similar ones I’ve worn in the past.
Pros: Absolutely BEAUTIFUL fabric; the stripe itself is woven into the fabric with a really cool contrasting fiber; comfortable and airy relaxed fit; feels effortlessly elegant; easy to dress up or down; adjustable straps that give you the flexibility to make it sexier with lower cut v-neck or more modest with a higher neckline; pockets.
Cons: No zipper (a dealbreaker if you don’t like putting dresses on over your head); was surprised that it’s not totally natural materials…the fabric content of this specific natural/navy colorway is 47% poly, 32% cotton, and 21% linen; the natural “only” colorway is 69% cotton, 31% linen (with a rayon lining); expensive; stripes keep selling out in certain sizes; no elastic back (like some similar dresses) if you like more give.
Sizing: Flowy and oversized; in these photos I’m wearing a size S and you can see it’s roomy and relaxed even in the top; in the olive cotton dress featured further down I’m wearing an XS and the top is more fitted with less airiness in the chest. I like both fits, so it just depends on what you’re looking for and personal preference. For reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs, small-chested.
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Saks | Shopbop | eBay
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2. Jenni Kayne Cove Dress – Cotton
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Saks | Shopbop | eBay
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My Takeaway: Absolutely lovely. Just like the stripe linen version, I ADORE the style of this dress and the high quality feel. If it’s in your budget (and you like this style), it’s a FABULOUS dress.
Pros: Simple and elegant design; high quality cotton that drapes beautifully and has a silky soft, but crisp feel and look; neutral pretty colorways; easy to wear for warm-weather vaca, special date-nights, or day-to-day casual; adjustable straps that give you the flexibility to make it sexier with lower cut v-neck or more modest with a higher neckline, pockets; 100% cotton dress with a poly liner that gives it a slightly heavier weight for exceptional drape.
Cons: Expensive – especially for a simple dress; no zipper (a dealbreaker if you don’t like putting dresses on over your head); wish it came in black; no smocked elastic back (like some of the dupes) if you like more give.
Sizing: I’m wearing an XS here and it’s more fitted in the bust area than the size S ( I’m wearing S in the stripe version). For reference, I’m small chested (32B). I like both sizes, so just depends on how you like your dresses to fit. If you’re small chested you can consider sizing down.
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Saks | Shopbop | eBay
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3. Jenni Kayne Peninsula Dress
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Shopbop | Poshmark
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My Takeaway: Another Jenni Kayne stunning dress (the dresses in general were my favorite of the try-on); the Peninsula has a dressier vibe than the Cove dress with a more fitted bodice.
Pros: If you want a dress that shows a little more of your body shape, this is a better option than the Cove dress; super sweet and romantic silhouette with the fitted bodice, full skirt, and stitch detailing; pockets; zip back; luxe 100% Italian cotton.
Cons: Not as casual/relaxed of a vibe as the much beloved Cove dress; you could find something with a similar-ish vibe for less $, but the quality of Jenni Kayne is lovely.
Sizing: Wearing my typical size S and it fits perfectly other than the length; unfortunately it’s too long on me with Birks, so I need to hem if I want to wear it casually (which I do). Was thinking ankle length, but our Discord readers are mostly voting for me keeping it long. Thoughts?
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Shopbop | Poshmark
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4. Jenni Kayne Crochet Raffia Sun Hat
Where To Buy: Shopbop | Bloomies | Jenni Kayne
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My Takeaway: A “chicer-than-most” sun hat that truly easily folds into your bag for travel.
Pros: Wide brim; adjustable fit; high quality; chic style….AND it was stuffed in my suitcase this weekend, got fully soaked in a downpour, folded it back up in my purse for the way home, and it still looks good; I can’t say any other hat I’ve worn can work that hard.
Cons: More expensive than your typical raffia sun hat; keeps selling out.
Sizing: I’m wearing S/M and like the fit; there is an adjustable tie inside the hat to get it just the right size.
Where To Buy: Shopbop | Bloomies | Jenni Kayne
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5. Jenni Kayne Chloe Crewneck Sweater
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Saks | eBay | Poshmark
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Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Saks | eBay | Poshmark
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My Takeaway: If you’re looking for a luxe silky soft boxy-ish 100% cotton sweater, look no further.
Pros: The feel of the high quality 100% Peruvian cotton is super luxe; I wear my Frank & Eileen sweater a ton, but have been looking for a different sweater shape with similar high quality… the Chloe is it; I love the boxier fit and slightly crop shape; easy, relaxed, and a definite closet-forever piece.
Cons: Expensive; you can definitely find similar looking sweaters for much less, but with lower quality cotton and detailing.
Sizing: Wearing a size S and happy with the oversized fit; for reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs.
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Saks | eBay | Poshmark
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6. Jenni Kayne Cropped Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Shopbop | eBay | Poshmark
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My Takeaway: A luxe looking and feeling cardi, but not quite what I was looking for this summer.
Pros: SUPER soft and delicious feeling cashmere; pretty lines and classic vibe.
Cons: Too heavy for what I’m looking for this summer (should have ordered the cotton version); I really want to find a cardigan that looks “relaxed-chic” over all the summer dresses, but this isn’t doing it for me.
Sizing: Wearing a size S and happy with the fit; for reference I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs.
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Bloomies | Shopbop | eBay | Poshmark
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7. Jenni Kayne Suede Hutton Slide Sandal
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Poshmark
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My Takeaway: Nope. Not for me. I’ll stick with my Birks.
Pros: Laura loved these in her shoe review post; definitely luxe looking and the suede is very soft.
Cons: These felt and looked too wide and bulky for me (maybe I was just expecting something different from Jenni Kayne b/c I typically tend to like a chunky sandal, but not these); the suede is soft, but my feet didn’t like it on the footbed..rubbed a little funny.
Sizing: TTS, but wide-ish for sure.
Where To Buy: Jenni Kayne | Poshmark
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The Rest Of The Look (Closet Staples I Re-wear On Repeat)
These are the sandals, bags, and other go-to pieces you’ll spot WITH the Jenni Kayne pieces above…some of my most-worn pieces for summer.
I know we have some Jenni Kayne fans out there….what Jenni Kayne pieces do you guys have that have been worth the splurge for you? Any you’ve been wondering about? You know I always love hearing from you all and thanks for reading!
-Linzi
