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Loft tweedy jacket sized up?

Aubergine

Veteran

Remember the too-snug jacket here? I finally got around to exchanging it for the next size up and taking some pictures. It definitely seems better, and I'm especially amazed at the difference from the back. Does this look like it works? I'm utterly clueless about jackets and my instinct is that it does, but I wanted to make sure nothing's glaringly wrong that I'm not noticing. #1-3 are the new one and #4-5 (with jeans) are the smaller size. Here's the info for the jacket at the Loft site: http://www.loft.com/petite-mel.....tid=catl00

Thanks for looking!

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Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from shoppingisfun

Caro in Oz

Veteran

There does seem to be some pulling around the top of your arms & at your elbows but it's so hard to tell from photos. Does it feel tight? Does it do up? Can you move your arms freely?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's definitely working better. I'm concerned that it is still snug on the upper back/ arms/ armpit. I'd be inclined to try one size larger still. But the fit is definitely a bit improvement and it looks as if the style, colour, and fabric could work for you really well. How does it feel?

Aubergine

Veteran

Thanks for weighing in, Caro and Suz!

It feels fine everywhere and I can move my arms around, and I'm generally pretty sensitive about things that feel constricting. It doesn't have closures, but I pulled the sides together to see whether it would close comfortably if it did have them, and it seemed like it would.

I can definitely try sizing up just to see. Guess it can't hurt, right?

I also know it sounds like an excuse, but I'm a little heavier now than usual right now because the polar vortex has been awful for my activity levels, so I don't want to buy something that will look too baggy later. I usually run a few times a week, but have barely done that since before the holidays. I also usually get in a lot of day-to-day walking for stuff like errands and going out to eat, but that's been pretty much at the bare minimum for the last few weeks too. I did go running yesterday, though, so hopefully I'll be back into the routine from here on out. And sorry for the tangential TL;DR here!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I totally understand not wanting to buy something that will seem too big in a few weeks. But remember Angie's thoughts on fluid fit. Erring on a loose side (as long as the shoulders fit) will not be a mistake. And since it's the back/ shoulder area that actually looks snug on you, it won't hurt to take a look at a bigger size. Fit on jackets is so important, not just to how they look, but how they feel over the long term.

Stretch your arms out as if you were driving a car in it. Then cross them in front of yourself. My experience is that if a jacket feels snug when performing those motions, it will never be easy or fun to wear.

See...I'm such a lover of jackets I want everyone to love them. And I know that unless they fit just so, they are pretty unloveable....

Aubergine

Veteran

You do sound pretty persuasive there, Suz! It's definitely worth a try, and I did want to start looking at things with fluid fits. And that'll at least be an errand that involves getting off my rear and walking somewhere, if nothing else, right?

Gigi

Veteran

Hello...I would say that since a jacket is usually no small expense, it can't hurt to size up again to check it out. If you size up and it's way too big, then you'll know that you already have the right size. If you size up and it fits just right, then you can decide whether losing weight will make the jacket *too* loose or just a *little* looser. I am big on trying on various sizes if I can't get something to fit perfectly, simply because then I can put my mind at ease that I have at least pinpointed the correct size. More information is always helpful!

deb

Veteran

To me it still seems too tight in the armhole area. The pulling in the front and back makes it look tight even though it does not feel tight. I vote wait for something better.

Liz

Veteran

I would try on the size up. Usually when there are pull lines in fabric, they point to a fit issue. In this size, you still have fabric pull lines angled toward the armhole area and upper arms. You may need to size up to get that portion to fit.

Aubergine

Veteran

I think you guys are right. I'll try the next size up to get rid of the pulling. Thanks for the feedback!

This has definitely made me realize I really am oblivious about sizing. Probably why I stick the the same few types of clothing over and over.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Aubergine, did you also read Angie's recommendations for IT body types? You may or may not have a primary IT body type, but you definitely have some IT tendencies, and reading those over might help you when you head back into the stores.

I know Una (Alaskagirl), for example, even though she is super petite, takes a much bigger size than you might expect in a jacket -- simply because she is an IT. She's at least 3 inches shorter than me and slim yet takes a jacket several sizes larger than mine. And I have a strong shoulder line! (In other words, we're not comparing a pear to an IT, or apples or oranges, as it were, LOL!) It just goes to show you -- the size you need up top may or may not be the size you need on the bottom. And getting it to fit across the shoulder is absolutely crucial. You're used to wearing soft knits that have give; in those, the sizing tends to work quite differently. But for a tailored item, it's the shoulder fit that you need to look to first. For pants, it's the hips and the rise for many of us; the waist for apple shapes and some ITs.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Listen to Suz! Seriously don't pay attention to the size, go for the shoulder fit and comfort.

Aubergine

Veteran

Wow, this is kind of a light bulb moment here! Seriously, thank you, Suz. I've always just assumed I'm a pear because I'm obviously pretty generous in the hip/rear area and I do wear a larger size on bottom than top for easy, soft knits (a.k.a., the bulk of my wardrobe). Now that I think about it, I actually thought of myself as having narrow shoulders if anything because the straps of sleeveless things always fall down and necklines on tops can slip and slide around on me. But all that could also be 100 percent explainable by the fact that I'm just really short.

So it's never occurred to me to take my shoulder line into account in figuring out what works on me. I feel a lot more like I'll know what I'm doing now in looking for things that actually fit. I kind of skimmed the IT dressing post, but didn't pay much attention, so I think I'm going back to re-read right now!

It's sort of funny how your own conception of your body type can be so different from what other people see. And I've always been drawn to Alaskagirl's outfits, especially some of the more recent ones. I thought that was just because, well, she usually looks great, but maybe it's because we actually have similar shapes.

I wonder if what I actually am is an hourglass? That would account for the width in both the shoulders and the hips.

Gigi

Veteran

I have a bit of IT going on--I look dreadful in anything with puffy shoulders or epaulets--but I have the problem with straps falling down also. And don't get me started on purses falling off the shoulder! So glad I switched to crossbodies. Anyway, it could be simply that your shoulders are sloping. They can do that but not be narrow, I think. So you could be hourglass or figure 8.

Aubergine

Veteran

Gigi, my bags do slide off my shoulder sometimes! I think my shoulders do slope. So maybe that's another thing. I was thinking IT = linebacker shoulders, but it seems like there's no reason a wider shoulder line couldn't exist without also having that.

I just re-read Angie's IT guidelines, and it's interesting that they suggest some things I wear constantly like v-neck cardigans left open, softer fabrics for tops, wrap styles, and all my favorite low, open necklines like v-necks and cowls. I always justified all of those as ways of flattering my combination of petiteness, a few extra pounds, and a large chest, but maybe I was also trying to balance my shoulders without realizing it?

Figure 8 is an hourglass with rounder hips, right? Maybe that's what I am.

Gigi

Veteran

Maybe the "linebacker" shoulders applies more to someone whose primary body type is IT as opposed to someone who has it as a secondary type? I dunno. All I know is that I feel like my shoulders are a tad wide, and I don't look that great in spaghetti straps--which is another thing ITs avoid.

Here is Imogen's writeup about figure 8's: http://www.insideoutstyleblog......pes-8.html. It is a variation on hourglass. It has to do with having a high hip that is like a shelf--there isn't a gradual delineation from waist to hip. And I know I read somewhere that figure 8's tend to have sloping shoulders, while hourglasses have squarer shoulders.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Aubergine, I'm not 100% sure what your primary body type is. But I suspect you are an hourglass, not a pear. And because you do appear to carry some of your weight in the shoulder/ upper back area plus the bust, that means some of those IT guidelines may apply -- whether or not you're a true IT, and whether or not your shoulders slope a bit. Jackets might be harder to fit than softer clothes. But not impossible, because there are jackets cut better for this body type. You might also find that some of the jacket guidelines for the apple type body are helpful -- a cutaway collarless style would look fab on you! But the shoulder fit is the first step. Once you've established that, then anything that needs to be nipped and tucked can be. If the shoulders don't fit right, basically, a jacket doesn't fit.

Aubergine

Veteran

Gigi, I followed the link and read some of the other body type entries on her site and I think the figure 8 does sound like me! There's definitely a shelf there. This one with the 8 and X side by side was especially useful: http://www.insideoutstyleblog......pes-x.html. Hmmmmm, maybe I should post a separate thread asking for help IDing my body type to see if that's what others see too?

I think spaghetti straps probably aren't the best look for me, either, so that fits. Not that I have a huge amount, but I do have a few spaghetti-strapped sundresses.

Suz, thanks again for all the advice! That's encouraging that there may be jackets out for me somewhere, and I'll now be better equipped to figure out how to find them. I'm also realizing that every single jacket I currently own is probably too tight in the shoulders. Which may explain why most of them have been sitting around unworn for ages.

ATLynn

Veteran

Since you're rolling up the sleeves, f you're trying the size up, also try the size up in a petite. It might help keep you from feeling like you're "swimming" in parts of the larger size, and the proportions could work better with dresses.

Aubergine

Veteran

ATLynn, I'm 4'10", so that is a petite! I've sort of resigned myself to a lifetime of too-long sleeves.

ATLynn

Veteran

Oops! It's amazing how height does not translate in pictures. Good luck on your quest.

Aubergine

Veteran

Thanks! I'm flattered that I look less short in pictures!

shoppingisfun

(website)

Veteran

Jacket is still kinda tight and arms look too long. Have you tried sizing up in a petite? Not sure how tall you are. Alternately, just size up again and roll up the sleeves. I love the jacket, so stylin'! You just need to nail down the sizing. Loft stuff tends to run small compared to other brands! And their petite sizing is smaller-all-over, not just shorter, so if you try that route you might need to go up an extra size.

ETA: just read you are 4' 10"! Try petites. Really. I am very short too(5') and swear by LOFT's petites. Since their petites run small all over, maybe size up 2 or 3 sizes instead of just 1. This jacket is worth the hassle.

Aubergine

Veteran

Thanks, petitesanonymous! It's always good to see more people around my height (or lack thereof) here! I never thought of Loft stuff as running small, but maybe I just need to keep repeating that to myself to feel better about sizing up here. I'm actually already trying this in the petite sizing, so I think I'm doomed to roll up the sleeves or have them shortened if I end up keeping.

shoppingisfun

(website)

Veteran

Nothing wrong with rolling up sleeves. I do that with one of my cheaper jackets that I don't want to pay for alterations on :-). Sometimes I roll up just because I like the look! But yeah, their stuff (at least their petites....I don't really wear their regular sizes much, if ever) runs small. I should know. I take a size bigger in LOFT than I do at Banana Republic, LOFT Outlet (yes, their clothes fit differently than the regular store), Express, and other stores. I actually had to have a petite pair of pants from LOFT LENGTHENED!!!! That was a first.

shiny

Veteran

Fellow shortie here. I actually think this jacket fits in your shoulders, and you are not an IT. I think the pulling issue is because the armholes are cut too high, and the sleeves are cut too narrow for your arms, and that these two factors are also combining to make the shoulders look like they don't fit. Does that make sense?

I am going to suggest skipping LOFT and instead checking out Ann Taylor petites. LOFT is cut more narrowly than Ann Taylor, and I find the jackets at Ann Taylor are cut more generously in the arms. For the record, I'm an IT who looks better in higher cut armholes but my upper arms are heavy so this can be a challenge. Ann Taylor jackets work pretty well -- though sometimes too well, and I am wanting to have a tailor taper the sleeves down a bit.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Shiny could be onto something here, Aubergine - the fit problem may be more in the armpit area (which I also mentioned). Either way, it is worth experimenting a bit.

Aubergine

Veteran

Petitesanonymous, wow, I've never had to have anything lengthened in my life! And I would have guessed that Loft ran larger than Express and that there'd be no difference in sizing between the "regular" stores and the outlets.

Shiny, that's really interesting and totally makes sense. I never thought of armholes being an issue either. I'll give the jackets at AT a try. That's really good to know about the extra roominess in the arms.

Thanks again to everyone who's commented! I really appreciate this advanced clinic in Jacket Fitting for the Short and Curvy. And I actually have two colors of this jacket on their way to me to try, so I'll have other options to compare soon as well.

Gigi

Veteran

This might be incredibly stupid...but if the problem with the jacket is that the armholes are too small and cut too high up, would it be worth trying the jacket in a regular instead of a petite? I wonder if the waist would be in the wrong spot though...

Aubergine

Veteran

Hmmmmm, it certainly can't hurt to try it. At the least, I'd get a better sense of how things fit me.

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