Anne Fontaine tunic - YouLookFab Forum

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Anne Fontaine tunic

Patience

Veteran

I've been avoiding the Anne Fontaine store, but between Angie's post and Ana's mention that our store was having a sale, I found myself exploring on Friday. I left with #14 Chloris in white.

http://www.annefontaine.com/main.php?lang=en

I was planning to wear it to work this week, or do you think this is a statement piece for more fancy occasions? My office is very casual. Tips for how to wear it? I was thinking skinnies, of course. Also leggings but it's too short to wear that to work.

Thanks.

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Ana

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I bet this tunic looks FABULOUS on you! That one looks like your style, too--simple and classic, but kicked up a notch. AF Fontaine blouses are very smart, but I think it would be such a waste for something like that to hang in your closet only to be taken out for fancy occasions. I actually think it could work for lots of different situations, and you could definitely wear it all year. To make it more casual, I'd pair it with your clamdiggers and ballet flats or sandals (your gold sandals would look great) and maybe some really simple jewelry. Where does it fall on you, mid thigh or lower? Is it blousier without the belt, or is it still tailored around the middle? Do you think you will wear it with the collar popped up like the model? In the fall skinny jeans would look great (do you have any in red? That would be killer, but any color would be really nice), with boots or heels, or ballet flats.

I'm so excited for you! I picked up the Carmelia blouse (aka Vampire Princess) #26 in white during the sale and I think I'm going to wear it tomorrow.

I know you're busy, but I'd love to see it on you. Will you post some pictures of you in it when you get a chance?

Patience

Veteran

Ana, this is just what I was hoping to wear. The best thing about this tunic is the fit. It is perfectly tailored across the shoulders and chest and then flairs out a bit so it's not loose all over. It's even mostly fitted at the waist. I hadn't even thought of wearing it with a belt until I saw the online pic. I don't know that I could wear the collar like the model as the collar is already tall on my neck, but I will experiment. The tunic hits in the perfect place, about mid thigh. I've been looking for a spring tunic all year and now I've found it. I've been thinking that I wouldn't actually want to add a ton of color the the ensemble since the tunic stands so well on its own. But I do like the idea of red skinnies although I don't have any. And of course, I will take pics and get them up here eventually. I was hoping to take some this weekend but it wasn't happening. I will wear the tunic this week.

Patience

Veteran

One more thing, the tunic is linen. Do you still think I could wear it year round?

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Looking at the picture I didn't even realize it was linen. Hmm...white linen is sort of *the* quintessential spring/summer fabric, but I don't know if there are any "rules" about whether you can wear it year round or not. Like I said, the styling seems pretty classic and tailored to me, and our climate is pretty warm, even in winter. I think the key to wearing it during the cooler months is pairing it with winter appropriate colors and textures. So, maybe when it cools off you could pair it with a chunkier knit cardigan. If the little blouson at the end of the bell sleeves stuck out, that would be really cute and add interest too, so I don't think they're a hindrance. Add boots with skinnies, and I'd think that would be perfectly acceptable. If worse really came to worse and there is some rule about no linen in winter, our winters only last 3 months (maybe) so you could certainly wear it the other 9 months of the year.

Antje

Veteran

Gals, how good is the AF sale? These blouses sure are gorgeous...

Patience

Veteran

When I was in it was mostly 30% off. A few were 50%. I was also told at that time that they were in pre-sale mode. I'm not really sure what that meant and I didn't ask. I figured, if I waited any longer the blouse would be gone. I did notice that the return policy is much more restrictive at AF. And the sale blouses were final sale (which I am actually happy about because it gives me an excuse not to have any internal dialog whatsoever about returning my gorgeous blouse.)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(Welcome to Euro store return policies. We are very spoilt in America).

You shall not be disappointed, Patience! Your choice is beautiful! White is one of your best colours and you are a shirt girl. Money well spent. DO NOT save this shirt for special occasions. That is a waste of money. Wear your beautiful pieces. My late mother saved her finer pieces and she died with a cupboard full of things she wore once.

Wear your AF tunic belted or layered over skinny jeans, boot cut jeans, clamdiggers, leggings or black slacks (straight preferably). Add pearls or a black necklace and your spectators. I am giddy with excitement over this ensemble! Your yellow shoes will look just as fab, and so will a pair of fancy flats.

Ana is spot on with her “9 months of the year” linen reasoning. You live in a hot place. You will wear this top a lot. Post pics when you’re ready.

One of my new AF blouses came out to play Saturday night. It’s the one that you see in the blog posting. I tucked it into a high-waisted black brocade pencil skirt and tied a silver chain belt with a big black patent rose on it around my waist. I finished the look off with fine black fishnets, chunky red patent heels, a retro oversized clutch and a short strand of extra chunky pearls. I felt killer. The same blouse is coming out again this week before I wash it. I’ll wear it with skinnies, black flats and a wide black belt. Hope that gives you a few ideas.

I’m so glad you got that other AF blouse Ana! It looked fab on you.

Tanya

Veteran

Patience, that tunic is gorgeous and I'r try to get a lot of wear of ot. It would be a waist for such a pretty piece to sit in your closet.

Angie, the outfit you described is killer and makes me crave to wear something similar. Sadly I neither own comparable pieces nor have any ocassion to wear such a gorgeous outfit

Patience

Veteran

I also thought of the spectators as I was posting earlier today. I don't currently have any black slacks but I do have some black skinny denim. And I actually happened to be wearing my AT pearls when I tried the blouse on in store. Don't worry-- at this point I want to wear the blouse every week.

As always, I love to hear about the ensembles you put together for yourself. I'm sure you were killer!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Music to my ears my dear Patience. Yay! Paired with black skinnies will be great.

(Sounds like an AF or DVB wrap blouse is in your future Tanya and thank you!)

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I'm kind of glad about their return policy as well, Patience. It makes you think VERY hard before you choose something, so I've ended up with 2 items that I really love. I'm so glad you're going to wear your tunic regularly, I don't think you'll be disappointed! When I was there and bought my first blouse, the salespeople recommended I machine wash (gentle cyle in a lingerie bag) my blouses. I think I will hand wash them since my apartment washing machine doesn't really have a true gentle cycle. Did they mention anything like this to you?

Thanks Angie! I'm excited to wear my blouse tomorrow. I will post pictures.

Tanya

Veteran

Can't wait for photos from both Patience and Ana in their gorgeous AF blouses!

Patience

Veteran

I am wearing my blouse today!

http://i282.photobucket.com/al....._block.jpg

Yesterday evening I tried a bunch of jeans on with it and shoes. Today I decided to go with my sohos, the skinniest jeans I own, and black patent flats. I also really liked leggings but couldn't wear that to work. My favorite shoes to wear with the blouse are definitely the spectators but I felt like flats today. Also, I realized that last night was the first time I had ever actually paired pumps with skinnies! I like it but my eye is not at all adjusted. I usually wear the skinnies with ballet flats I guess. As I posted on Ana's thread I am definitely going to be on the hunt for smart black clamdiggers and probably skinny pants as Angie suggested. The jcrew clamdiggers looked great too but I think my second pair which are being hemmed a little longer will work even better. In addition to the spectators, a good portion of my shoes will work fabulously with this blouse. I'm afraid I don't have a wide belt that will do justice to the blouse-- something to look for. I think my red and black skinny belts will suffice for the time being. I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of all the things I tried but I was speeding through while my kids ate popsicles with their dad.

Something funny to add was that when I was trying on last night, my husband said I looked like what he thought a junta would look like (?). But I think he really liked the shirt because he kept making positive comments about it yesterday and this morning without my prompting.

Anonymous

Oh that is so beautiful. The fabric and styling is rich and luscious. You will be able to wear that for years to come. I love that it is linen.
Did you try a really cute and funky belt with it? Maybe a hip belt that has some real interesting do dads. Maybe something from the AF store, which I saw on the website.

Nicole

Veteran

OK, I'll ask...What's a junta?

marianne

Such a beautiful blouse Patience! I wonder if you could also wear it with white bottoms and contrasting accessories - kind of summery but sounds like you have the right weather.

aisha1984

Oh wow Patience, I absolutely love that tunic! the workmanship is amazing! It looks good with skinnies...something else that I would try it with is a wide obi style belt, perhaps a brocade or embroidered one? That with a pair of dark skinnies and a cute clutch would really dress it up for evening.

I'm so jealous b/c there are no Anne Fontaine stores in Canada...

Patience

Veteran

Nicole, I wasn't quite sure what my husband was talking about either. Maybe he used the wrong word-- junta was his word. When I pressed him, I gathered that he basically meant a Middle Eastern terrorist though he softened it and back tracked a bit. I think his eye is definitely not adjusted to this style. Now I'm hoping that I'm not putting my foot in my mouth.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Beautiful blouse Patience! Quality and workmanship to a tee. You wear white better than anyone I know. (You need a white watch). How did you feel in it today? “Untouchable”, or comfy ? This is a MUCH more arty-farty look than you are use to. Go Patience go! I like it when people push the fashion envelope.

I’m going to prefer the look with heels and a waist-cinching belt. Aisha's suggestion is perfect. Wear this with your spectators or yellow sandals and you’ll send me over the edge with excitement. The tunic is going to look great with leggings, a wide belt and flats as well. Let’s see more combos.

Patience

Veteran

Thanks, Angie! I would say I felt somewhere in the middle of untouchable and comfy today, though leaning towards comfy. The blouse is very much "me" but it does feel a bit strange to wear long sleeves in summer here. Any suggestions for a good wide waist cinching belt are welcome. I have a wide plum/burgundy patent belt but maybe the color is too fall-ish? I've done a few quick searches and not found much. Maybe this one:

http://www.bluefly.com/pages/p.....Product+ID

In any case, I will definitely be posting more combos with this blouse as they come.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Try Express, Macys and Nordstrom. Even BR if they’re small enough for you. Big thumbs up on the bluefly belt. I'm tickled!

Dani

Veteran

Patience, what a great shirt! I absolutely love it on you. I hope you feel more "comfy" the more you wear it because it is so cute! I love the outfit you came up with and look forward to future combos!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Patience, I hope you feel wonderful wearing this tunic because you look fabulous! I echo everyone else's sentiments, and I'd love to see a belt on it with your spectators. Did you wear it to work today? How was the reception?