this thing's incredible

I Look Like an Adult (As Opposed to a Big Baby) in This $27 Jumpsuit

Photo: courtesy of the retailer

You may have noticed some posts from our friends at the Strategist on the Cut. They’ll be dropping in every now and again, sharing their expertise on the basics you don’t have time to research and the weird and wonderful things you don’t yet know you need.

My philosophy for summer fashion is as such: It needs to be easy, and it must be breezy. Jumpsuits are both of those things. I already own an Ilana Kohn jumpsuit, but I needed more color options to work with, and didn’t want to spend a small fortune on an item that is in its essence a glorified adult baby onesie. So I typed in “women linen jumpsuit” into Amazon, and I was delighted to see that Amazon’s linen-jumpsuit game is not only present but strong.

I chose this particular option (I was also tempted by this one and this one) because of its cotton-linen mix, color options (there’s black, an olive green, two shades of khaki), a promised loose fit, side pockets, and most importantly: a stylish wide leg with a slight crop. Two days later, it arrived, and after a quick steam, the verdict was in: This was a winner. The material was breezy thin but durable, it moved nicely with my body without constraining it, the pockets were not just decorative but functional (the perfect size for a work ID, a couple pens, and my iPhone). It should be noted that compared to the Ilana Kohn jumpsuit (which can be worn on its own, and for multiple seasons), this one requires a top underneath, and likely won’t work past October.

The author, debuting her $27 jumpsuit at work.

I debuted my new $27 khaki jumpsuit with a fitted white T-shirt (Everlane Pima Ribbed), a sandal heel (Hopp Studios two-strap sandal in now-discontinued snakeskin), and a chunky necklace. While comfortable, I felt adult. My thighs didn’t chafe. It passed the “is it easy in the bathroom” test. An oil stain from lunch quickly evaporated away after a little water and soap, without leaving a mark. After a few wears I machine-washed and air-dried it because I was slightly nervous about the jumpsuit shrinking in the dryer. With a little de-wrinkling shake, it was ready to go for round two on the town. I plan on buying another in black.

Other Affordable Strategist-Approved Jumpsuits

This is Strategist editor Maxine Builder’s favorite inexpensive and versatile jumpsuit, about which she wrote: “My affection for the piece has reached the point where I actually feel a little lost when I reach for the jumpsuit in the morning, only to remember that it’s in the wash.”

Writer Maria Tallarico has a deep love for this $18 H&M number: “The tank top stays close to the body, the waist is slightly cinched with elastic, and the pant length falls just above the ankle for maximum shoe options. It has the comfort of athleisure but isn’t quite so casual — the pants are tapered and there’s no cuff, so these don’t feel like sweatpants or workout wear.”

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I Look Like an Adult (Not a Big Baby) in This $27 Jumpsuit