Nordstrom items - keep or return? - YouLookFab Forum

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Nordstrom items - keep or return?

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I was so excited this morning when my intercom buzzed and I received a parcel from the lovely April. I had to force myself to be patient and finish my brekkie before ripping the package open and trying them on. And here they are!

Item #1 - Halogen Exposed Zip Silk Blouse

Firsty the top. I love it! The print is even nicer in person. The fabric is gorgeous. My woven top count is now up by one - yay! This has set the standard for future purchases! I got the top in medium, and while it fits well without gaping, it certainly isn't as long or as flowy on me as it is on the model though.

Front: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yublocka/5101199082/
Side: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yublocka/5101201428/

Items #2 Halogen Boyfriend Cardigan & #3 Graziano beaded layer necklace

2 items in these pics - the cardie and the necklace. I scooped this Angie-recommended necklace up months ago but have never worn it. It's entirely unpractical for work, but I still haven't worn it out casually yet. I've never worn a necklace with so many beads. The reason I'm showing you now, because if I'm thinking of exchanging the cardie, I'm considering returning this as well (tags on, I love Nordstrom's return policy!)

And then to cardie. I like it, but 2 things concern me: the colour and the size. Again I went for the medium. I don't mind it unbuttoned, but buttoned it is clearly too snug unless it stretches out. It's not as long, nor is the stance as low on me as it is on the model. And the colour. After being unable to decide, I went for the "Cosmic Purple" over the "Mulberry Purple". It's not the brightness that bothers me, but it is nearly more pink rather than purple. If I'm going to need to size up, I'd be tempted to try the mulberry instead.

Unbuttoned: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yublocka/5101204086/
One button: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yublocka/5101206258/
More buttons: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yublocka/5100611605/

I'd appreciate any feedback on these questions, especially from those who have seen/tried on these items. Here are some specific questions:

1) For the silk top, I'm wondering if the large would also work for me, especially as the coal colour is still available at just under $40. That's half the price of silk tops I have been seeing in shops here!

2) Does the necklace overwhlem me? Or should I persist with giving it a go?

3) Should I size up to an L in the cardie (is there a big difference between the 2 sizes?). Should I also exchange the Cosmic Purple for the Mulberry instead?

Cheers!!!

xx tam

p.s. April thanks for your lovely note. I'm glad you tried the vegemite - but did you like it?

Shopping

27 replies

Latest reply was from yublocka

MNsara

Veteran

I love that Halogen top on you! I think it is a good length for under cardis and cropped jackets!

I think you would feel more comfortable in the next size up in the cardi, though. I don't know how feasible that is, but you probably would like the option of wearing it over a long sleeve top also?

(I always remember Vera Wang being quoted that she preferred her cardigans one size larger and left unbuttoned. . . .for whatever that's worth

The necklace is lovely. Somewhat dramatic too! Have you tried it in the open collar of a white button down shirt yet?

kellygirl

Veteran

Wow, the top is killer. The length and fit is perfect. I expect the large would be more voluminous with deeper armholes. Would that be a problem? It's hard to tell from your picture. This size looks great on you.

Not sure about the BF cardi. I love the color although I see what you mean about it looking more pink than purple. I have the petite version of this in black and it fits similarly through the chest and arms. The next size up on me looked sloppy. Even buttoned up, it doesn't look like it's pulling in the chest. Do you think you will wear it buttoned up like that?

The necklace is lovely too. I don't think it overwhelms you at all. You can totally pull it off!

For reference, I have my Halogen cardi (petite M) on here (pic #9):
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....r-or-worse

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

OMG Tam that top is beautiful on you! Are you happy with the length? Gosh I wish we had a Nordies here!

And I agree that sizing up on the cardi might be a good idea - its lovely undone, but not so great done up.

I personally love the necklace on you, but do you think its overwhelming you? I can totally see you wearing a 20's style flapper dress, sequined head wrap, one of those smoking stick things and loads of beads... so for me, it really works on you.

shana

Veteran

Tam, that Halogen top is PERFECT on you! I'd say check the size charts (or would Nordstrom CS be able to give you measurements?) and duplicate!

I like the necklace on you. Why haven;t you worn it? If the number of layers of beads bothers you, you can always remove one or two - I did that on a multilayered necklace that had a couple of layers that were a little too short for my taste. Especially since you're headed into summer, you might find that you'll wear it more often (it reads very summer to me).

I'm not sure about the cardi. I think the color is lovely on you. I definitely see that it looks snug buttoned up but it looks fine when it's open. Do you really think you'll wear it buttoned up? I think if you go bigger, it might look a little sloppy when it's open. Some of my cardis are like this but I don't button mine so I usually prefer the smaller fit.

Maya

Veteran

You are going to get so much wear out of that Halogen top! I wear it once a week. Such a great layering piece and also fabulous on its own.

I like the necklace too. You are tall and don't need to worry about being overwhelmed. I also quite like it with that cardi!

If you plan to wear the cardi open, keep it. If you're going to wear it closed, return/exchange. I like this purple more. It still reads as purple to me and it's brighter. But it's up to you. I prefer the look of it open personally.

There was a cardi I tried at H&M which looked better in an XS when open and an S when closed...but since open looked better anyway, I went with the XS. The S looked rather sloppy when open.

catgirl

Veteran

I love the Halogen top and it looks incredible on you.

The cardi... I tried it on and had the same problem. Sizing up made it too long in the sleeves and length. The body of it just seems to be shaped oddly for closure. I think it's adorable open on you (and liked it on me that way as well). However, I didn't want to buy a button item that I couldn't use buttoned, If you don't care about that, then I actually think you have the right size on for you.

And I like the necklace too - will yuo find ways to wear it?

elpgal

Veteran

I love all the items on you. I tried that cardi at the Rack and found that the torso was significantly larger in the L than the M so I'd sticking with your current size. I was sizing up to get room in the sleeves.

ETA: Some of these necklaces had a problem with the paint peeling off, so do examine the beads carefully.

marianna

Veteran

I like how the cardi looks open! If you are comfortable with committing to wearing it open, keep it! I like the color a lot too. I also think it's probably too much hassle and too expensive to exchange the cardi. I vote for keeping it and just wearing it open. Looks good to me!

Love the silk blouse too. I want one!

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

Oh I can see why you love that top - devine! 1 top to cross off the list now! I like the cardi open best, but if you dont usually wear them that way the buttoned up version looks to be pulling across the front.

Love the turquoise beads too, if it annoys you being that much around your neck maybe see if you can shorten it up a bit.

Scarlet

Veteran

I love everything. The top is certainly very versatile as is, but I am wondering if sizing up to get a little more length/flowiness might work. The necklace looks gorgeous on you and I love the purple on you as well. The only thing is I expect both the cardigan and the top to be slightly longer in length. However, I seriously question if my eye may be skewed because I am used to fitting clothes on my very short self.

LoP

Veteran

Keep all! The woven top is great on you and there's so much potential in the cardi.

Sharon

Veteran

Wow! I love all of them. The silk top is great, but I also really like the cardigan left unbuttoned. The colour does read a bit pink, but it is such a dark, jewel-like shade that it looks amazing on you, particularly with the beads!
Would you wear the cardigan buttoned? With summer coming up, I think it may be just perfect open as an extra layer.

rute

Veteran

OMG! You are gorgeous! Your home is gorgeous! The photos are amazing! I would keep everything except the orange dress (the cut is not the most flattering for you.. but everything else is PERFECT!

April

Veteran

Woo hoo -- the package arrived! Wow, it takes a while for things to reach Australia, doesn't it?

First off, I love both of these items on you. The orchid shade of the cardigan is gorgeous with your dark hair and, as has been said above, I think you would get a baggy look if you sized up. This would be a great cardigan to carry off the "belting underneath with open cardigan on top" look. (What about pairing it with your black shirt dress, maybe with another neutral such as a white cami beneath the dress?)

Second -- yes, I am enjoying the Vegemite! Both my son and I really like it on buttered toast, and are taking your advice to use it sparingly. And we absolutely loved the Tim Tams, which DS thinks may be the world's best cookie.

Anonymous

Hi there -

I would not size up in the Halogen cardi. I don't know, it seems that most of the BF cardis I've tried on look better open, regardless of size. I wouldn't wear it closed. You can always belt it too. I love the color too, the darker purple is more run of the mill for me.
I love both the necklace and the black top, KEEP. I love those "silky like" tops, I wear them with everything, jackets, cardis, etc...

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all the feedback guys!!!

I'm glad the top meets approval. Even if it didn't I was planning on keeping it cos I love it!! The coal colour has now sold out in large, so that's one less decision to make

Beads I'm still undecided about. Maybe I need to play around with them and my summery tops & dresses and see if I can make them work. If not I think they need to go back as they have already gone well over 3 months without being worn. I don't know if I can use winter as an excuse?

As for the cardie, frankly I'm still undecided. I didnt notice it trying on, but looking at it in the pic the arms look snug too, and that's over bare arms because its a sleeveless top underneath. I'm going to take April's very wise suggestion onboard and try it over a my wintery shirt dress tomorrow and see how it copes. If its too snug for that it'll have to go back!!

An

Sounds like a good plan tam. The top looks great on you. I also really like the cardi unbuttoned and by the sounds of it it may end up too loose if you sized up. The beads are lovely, are you thinking you're not wearing them because they aren't your style? Summer may be all you need to bring them out of the woodwork?

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

An its not so much that they aren't my style, more that they don't work with my lifestlye/the rest of my wardrobe. There's no way I could wear them to work.

Out of work I am 99% casual. I don't know how they'd work with my casual tops, and I'm even having trouble picturing them over my dresses. There's only one way to find out though, so expect a barrage of photos featuring the necklace when I get a chance!!!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fab stash, Tam! The purple paired with the turquoise is too delicious for words.

I vote keep it all in the sizes that you have. A size up on both items would probably have worked too, but it's a hassle to exchange stuff internationally. Enjoy!

Why can't I see the orange dress?

Sparky

Veteran

The silk top looks fantastic on you. I wish mine fit better at the armholes the way yours does.

Also chiming in to say that cardi color is fantastic on you. It looks great with those beads, and no, they don't overwhelm you at all. The cardi looks great open but less so buttoned up. I think a larger size would not look baggy (this is a very slim cut cardigan in all sizes, so thin and stretchy) and would fit you nicely both open and closed but as Angie mentioned international shipping and exchanges are such a hassle. The cardi in this size would pair well with tanks or camis, then you could belt over the cardi and add another layer on top when it's colder, like a BF jacket. The cardi's color underneath a jacket would look wonderful.

Lisa

Veteran

The top looks great, I have this exact top and love it, very versatile. The BF cardigan, I have this too, I went up one size due to snug arms and it was that tiny extra I needed. I did not find the sizing really different between the two sizes, just enough for me.

Tricia

Veteran

I love the top, and I love the color of the cardigan on you. I would keep the current size - I think it will be too big a size up, but wear it unbuttoned.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Angie I'm not sure which dress is the orange dress either? Maybe the Hoi An dress from my races thread looks sort of orangey in the light?

Need to do some dressups over the next few days to decide on the necklace/cardie for sure!!!

Maya

Veteran

Tam, I found this cardi in store on sale and couldn't resist it. I got my regular size, and a size up definitely would have been too big. If you look at the models, they are all wearing it open, so I don't think it's meant to be closed.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/30.....4181-0-0-1

I just love it! It's warm and cozy but not bulky and very soft.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Oooh what colour did you get Maya? Interesting to know about the wearing it open - thanks!!! I haven't had a chance to try it as a layer over dresses yet....that'll be the final clincher I think!!

You're right about the weight of the material working well. For bare skin it feels a bit scratchy though to me. Do you think so?

Maya

Veteran

I got the Lyons blue. Wish it came in red but given the options it was the best color I could find.

And it helps that it was the only color on sale and in the petites section...

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Oooh nice! I agree about red - would kill for a red bf cardie! I'm just obsessed by red in general still though!