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Another Theory, and a penny for your thoughts

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Warning: Many pics!

With no final decision on the BR suit yet, I picked up the Theory Lanai (navy pinstripe) and the Testra trousers today for comparison.

Once again, I was plagued by poor light, so I fear the detail is lost on these. If the weather improves I may ask Mr. Suz to take a few outdoor shots of both suits tomorrow. I did try to lighten some photos.

I tried some of the same combinations as in my previous post to aid comparison (i.e. with jeans, with a skirt, with a dress, pants with a different top.)

#9 shows the jacket with my Theory Emerys.

#10 shows the Lanai jacket with the BR straight trousers (as yet unhemmed so falling down at the bottom).

FInal pic (18) is the BR suit for comparison. I really wish the detail was showing better here.

I am not going to say a lot here because I'm genuinely curious about your responses.

Apologies for the spotty bathroom mirror. Was trying to show a bit more detail.

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60 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Suz I am going to try to bracket all things I have read about this jacket and you and this jacket and others and just give you my first impression. I love it! I am willing to over analyze later if need be.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh dear I had to look again and see I have totally ignored the question of the trousers. The theory ones are more tapered. They are different beasts. I need outdoor pictures. Please ask Mr. Suz nicely for me!

deb

Veteran

I like the Theory better. The cut is not your normal suit cut like the BR. To me it has more edge. I love the jacket with the jeans. Well, I just love it on you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Shevia, that is absolutely correct. The Theory trousers are an entirely different species. I'm not sure what they are supposed to be; in the stock photos they are cropped! On me they are regular length, slouchy, and tapered, whereas the BRs are classic straight trousers. So in that sense we're comparing apples to oranges.

I hope our weather will cooperate for outdoor pictures!

Deborah

Veteran

As always the darker items are so hard to photograph. From what I can see, the jacket fit looks good particularly the shoulders. Comparing the two jackets (Theory & BR) the Theory is a sharper almost 'harsher' cut jacket (I can't find the right word:() Don't get me wrong, I really like it, and have something very similar. The BR has a softness to it which I think relates to its shape and length. Both look very good on you, I think it just comes down to what you are wanting for your wardrobe... I know I am no help.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I much prefer the theory. The fit on both looks good, but the theory looks sharper, more modern.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I love the Theory blazer on you. In fact, I'm having a hard time seeing why there was hesitation that it would be fab on you. I think it looks very flattering and has more personality than the BR, yet it's still classic enough to have longevity.

The pants being evaluated are in 6-7-8? They are quite tapered, and they appear fairly baggy on you, but that may be due to the taper. It's hard to evaluate those.

Elly

Veteran

I love the theory blazer, but for some reason don't like it as a suit. I like it when paired with a contrasting separates outfit which draws horizontal lines. For some reason it seems very torso elongating.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

First gut reaction is I prefer the Theory. I like the lapels coming in at a point near the waist to add interest. I love the fit on you.

Now to go see what others think . . .

heh, I didn't even see that it was a whole suit - I thought it was just jackets comparing with the same slacks. Will get back to you

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I like the Theory jacket but I am not sure about the trousers: they seem to have a weird butt shape from the side. They fit similar to how BR trousers fit me ad i could not stand it. However this is what I am very sensitive about this area so you can very well ignore me here

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I will be honest Suz and say I hesitate to even comment on this jacket as I'm not sure I can be objective.

I think it looks great on you. The close up bathroom mirror pic does show the bit of excess fabric above the bust and below the shoulder. I have a wee bit of that too - I suspect it's because we are petite. This is not a deal breaker IMHO.

It's interesting to see how it fits each of us so differently. Because you have slimmer hips than I do, it hangs straighter, which is neither good nor bad, just an observation.

Now I will ask you what you asked me - what do you think?

As for the pants, it's hard to tell.

Makrame

Veteran

It's so hard to judge the fit of dark colored items in photos - if Shannon had not mentioned a tiny bit of bunching on the jacket in the mirror photo, I would not have noticed. Aside from that tiny fit issue, I like both jackets but I am partial to the Lanai because of the more edgy/interesting cut.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thank you so much, all, for your thoughts.

Shannon, you know what? I honestly don't know what to think. I took the bathroom mirror pic on purpose to show that fit issue. This is what Angie had been warning me about and what Marley experienced. It fits the model the same way, if you notice. Which doesn't necessarily mean it's okay.

Anyway, it's less pronounced than I expected it to be, and I'm not sure how noticeable it would be to someone who wasn't looking for it, if you know what I mean. (And I know you do, LOL!)

The pants are a bit weird, to be honest. Not sure what I think of them. I sized up, because while I could do up my normal size it didn't feel right and they were tight on the front of my thighs while being baggy on the back. So I decided to go with the larger. These are most certainly baggy and slouchy. At first I hated them, but they are sort of growing on me.

I really hope I can get some photos of this in the daylight tomorrow because I recognize that it's well nigh impossible to judge accurately due to the lighting.

Joy

Veteran

In general, I like the shape of the Theory blazer best although the BR is more classic and may have more staying power. I like the Theory blazer best with the shape of the BR pants.

Vildy

Veteran

By far, I prefer the front cut of the Theory. That might not have been true before I saw the Theory on you but now that I see the comparison, I like it lots better. Just going from the picture in the bathroom mirror, I would say you might benefit from an additional front shoulder pad or pads. This is no big deal. When I put shoulder pads in or change the location or elevation of a pad, I like to shift them so that I get more padding below front shoulder. You might need that, too. It can have more to do with slope of shoulders than anything to do with bustline. Why don't you approximate this bit of stuffing and see what you think. Anyway, it's easy enough for a good tailor to see and do. Alternatively, actual slope of shoulders can be changed if necessary. I just think the cut in center front is much saucier than the BR's.

Beth Ann

Veteran

So hard to see all the details, but here are some thoughts:

1. Love the modern shape of the Theory jacket. Stunning and sleek. I'm not bothered by the idea of a little "wrinkling," but I do think the lack of collar and lower stance will mean that you need a soft underlayer and a higher neckline. Most of your tops, of course, already fit this description. I thought the length would be too long, but what I see here is perfect for you.

2. I like the idea of slouchy tapered trousers with the jacket -- but I'd need a better view to be sure. I think it's wise to buy a pair of pants with the jacket --- dye lots can change things enough to make items seem "off."

3. The jacket looks amazing with the dress and your jeans!

Adelfa

Veteran

I love the jacket and think it looks wonderful on you. I have a little niggling wondering: Is this what you're looking for, or do you want a classic shape after all?

Ariadne

Veteran

I love the jacket, and I prefer it 100 times above the BR one.

Too tired to try to figure out the rest--I'll leave that to our more with-it forumites

Neel

Veteran

Is something supposed to be wrong in a few of those pics? Oh dear! I found all of them beautiful on you! I'll take a pass!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Vildy, that is a thought. It hadn't occurred to me to change out the shoulder pads but I can see that you are right -- I seem to remember that back in the 80s they came in so many shapes and sizes.

My shoulder is quite square and not at all sloped. The fit issue arises because I'm small busted and slender framed and don't "fill it out." As Angie so wisely stated, this cutaway type of jacket best flatters those who are larger in the bust and/ or more apple shaped.

I find the comments so interesting and instructive. Thank you again. I am afraid I can't take better photos today because it's dark and raining here. But maybe tomorrow.

Scarlet

Veteran

Unfiltered response to photo 1, Scarlet says AMAZEBOMBS! Further photo clicking does not change response except that those one trousers need to be hemmed as you note. OMG please keep.

ETA:
Now having read the comments, I guess I can see what you and Shannon mean in the close up picture. Hmm. Well colored me waiting for what Angie says because I love the low stance on you. As I have just spent an extended time in a WiFi desert, I am not sure what the whole pants discussion is.

Vildy

Veteran

It would also be possible to put in a dart going from shoulder line part way towards bust point. I'd check with a good tailor.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ok...just looked again at the pics and enlarged the heck out of them as well as looked at the pics the size you posted.

The back of the jacket fits positively divinely if you ask me. Much better than mine does.

The shoulder fit is also spot on.

I absolutely love the way the jacket hangs on you with such an easy elegance. Very beautiful. This one is the wool blend correct? Nicer fabric for draping than the fabric in mine which is a bit stiffer and therefore adds a bit more structure which on me, I prefer since it gives me shape I don't have naturally.

The color of course is fab and perfect for your wardrobe.

As for the "trouble area" we both know the average person isn't going to see this but since we now know it's there, is it going to drive you crazy? Would a size smaller eliminate that?

I've also looked at the pants more closely and am actually kinda digging the menswear vibe they have. Not sure if I like them with the jacket though.

So how are you feeling about it all today? What is your happiness factor Suz?

Anonymous

Hi Suz, I'm a bit late to this party but I agree that the Theory is a lovely style jacket on you. I looked at the close up picture of it and I could instantly tell that the problem is one I seen before in that collarless type of style. What it is, is that the back neck is probably cut a little narrow and I suspect that if you grab hold of the collar either side of you neck and pull down slightly then the wrinkles will go and it may prove my theory (pardon the pun!). The jacket doesn't settle to your neck contours due to a bit too narrow neck across the back. I've made many a jacket in that style neck and I encounter that a lot. I usually have to tweak the pattern a little. To be honest though it really doesn't show up much on you and as you said, its not a deal breaker. I love how you styled it in all iterations.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Diane - very interesting! I wonder if this relates to how Una suggested that on me, she wanted to tug the shoulders back a bit?

Suz you might want to give that a try. I did sit the jacket a wee bit further back on me and it did make a difference.

Anonymous

Definitely it relates. You feel like you want to push the edge of the shoulders back when really you need to pull the inner neck edge down. I could tell straight away by the direction the wrinkles pointed.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, thank you for that detailed set of observations. It's really helpful especially since you have real experience with this jacket.

You're correct -- this one is wool. It's a very lightweight summer wool. About the same as the BR suit fabric. The trousers are not lined (as they are in the BR suit) but they don't itch. On the other hand, as a winter trouser they would provide approximately zero warmth.

I think I need to try both on again. My feelings are truly all over the map. My first impression (when I put on the pants, which I tried on first in the bathroom of the "my US address" place so I could immediately post the ones that did not fit for return) -- Errrr, um, eeew.....I don't know about this. Then I put shoes on and felt differently about them. They're sort of swaggery man pants.

As for the jacket, initial reaction was -- Fits way better and looks way better than I'd anticipated. Worth considering.

That's more a thought than a feeling. Interesting.

Mr. Suz's reactions may be colouring my own. He really did not like the pants (even though he likes my black slouchy trousers) and he immediately noticed and picked on the fit issue with the jacket, saying that it bothered him.

He also doesn't like pinstripes and the Theory has a faint pinstripe. I do like pinstripes so that part of his opinion I am happy to ignore. But his feelings about the pattern may be colouring his other reactions and I need to keep that in mind. He tends to fixate at first on things he does not care for.

He said, "The Theory is 'sexier' but it doesn't fit as well."

Interesting comment, no?

He prefers the BR suit and says that jacket fits perfectly. Which it does. But then again, he has a much more classic, "preppy" taste and his eye takes some time to adjust to new looks on me. Over time, if I love something and wear it happily, he always comes around.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Diane, that's really interesting. Is there a way to get a seamstress to make an adjustment, do you think? I did some tweaking (pulling it back and such) and it just came back with movement. It's more on one side than the other. And as I said, it is a lot less noticeable than I had anticipated.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Hubby comments can definitely cloud our own judgement, consciously or subconsciously.

"The Theory is sexier" - I agree with that actually. It has a bit more edge in its style.

I think you need Angie's feedback to help sort this out Suz. You trust her eye and since it was Angie who felt the jacket might not work but said to try it, you probably need her assessment to "close the deal".

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