Replacing unwearable favorites

Hi all! I haven't been very active here because I've been trying to keep my shopping to a minimum. I need some help, though! I have a few absolute favorite tops that I need to replace with smaller versions and have tried TJMaxx and Nordstrom Rack for the past couple of months and have come up empty. I've been settling for standbys, but I'd really like to find something like those pieces SOON. I read that blog post about updating favorites and I think I pinned down the aspects that I'm looking for, but it's proving difficult to find replacements.

I've looked online at Coldwater Creek and Banana Republic, which is where my existing faves came from years ago, and added Ann Taylor into the mix now that that brand fits me well. I found a couple of great tops at AT but I'm still missing my old favorites. The tops are flowy sleeveless shells, not t-shirt fabric, and some are embellished with beading, ruffles, or tie necks. My must-have is that the top can be worn with a regular bra.

So, I'm popping in here to ask: what's YOUR strategy for replacement? Where else should I look? Or is this just a lesson in patience? I wear (wore) those pieces year-round, so they're not just for summer -- no time crunch. Thanks for any help!

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I'm doing that exact thing today with a simple (or so I though) white cami. I search and search until I find a right one. I've found 'making do' doesn't cut it and I still end up trying to find an even better replacement than the make do item, ending up in a 2 step buying process from so so, to 'this works'.

Suz

Embellishment may be tougher to find right now. I definitely see fewer ruffles than I did a few years ago. These things tend to cycle. So in that sense, it might be a lesson in patience.

When you say "flowy" what shape do you have in mind? Trying to figure it out to offer suggestions. I have seen tops with collar embellishment at J Crew and also Banana (I think). Ann Taylor did have sleeveless shells earlier this year online.

Zapotee found some lovely diagonal sleeve (very short cap sleeve) shells at Express. But they are not embellished.

Something else that occurs to me..... when I lost weight, I discovered that some of my former "go-to" items just did not work any more. Even if I could find similar things (and I couldn't always find them) they sometimes didn't look as good or feel as necessary. The silhouettes that worked best for me shifted a bit and even the detailing that looked right seemed to change. So that is something to keep in mind.

pastrygirl

Oh, I don't need embellishment or ruffles, I just meant that I'm open to those since that's what I already have; pretty much open to anything that makes it something other than plain. Flowy, I just mean woven rather than knit, but not rigid.

As for strategy, do you keep a list and keep it in mind when shopping for other things, or do you specifically go looking for it? I'm getting frustrated specifically shopping for these.

In particular, I'm looking for a kelly green shirt to replace the one I posted in the orphan challenge, a pink/brown patterned top, and a dark olive green top. I almost found the olive top yesterday but the back was t-shirt fabric and too tight. It was SO CLOSE to my existing shirt, though!

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

One word: eBay. Start with the brands you like, and if/when you get 10,000 entires, narrow it down by type (Women's Clothing, Tops & Blouses or whatever category you're looking for), then size, sleeve length, and if you know you want a specific color, use that as well.

eBay is chock full of other people's unworn or barely worn mistakes and regrets, heavily discounted from the original retail price.

unfrumped

Keep after Banana Republic; they usually have a large selection of woven shells. In-store I've seen pussy-bow versions and some other embellishments on a regular basis.
WHBM has a lot of wovens, usually poly and sometimes silk, shells often and ruffles often. They carry XS.
Pendleton is pricey and can be kind of meh, but again, often features some kind of special necklines--ruffles, bows, trims; some petites but M sizes usually stop at 4, with occasional 2's.

ironkurtin

Nordstrom Rack!

Anonymous

I second IK for Nordstrom or the Rack for a huge variety of tops. Keep an open mind. As Suz says, different styles may look better now than your favorites.

lyn*

I kinda panic and scour eBay. Sometimes it's the exact same thing that pops up and I feel relieved

Never even thought of eBay. Great idea! I should also try consignment stores. I don't necessarily want embellishments, but I do want something that makes the top interesting. So many tops now are just solid, plain.

I ended up bidding on a top from eBay that same day, and received it today. It's a great replacement! Thanks, all! Now just two or three more to go.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

This process can be soooo tedious. I finally found a decent replacement pair of black ballet flats after looking for over a year! One thing you could also do is post a picture and/or description of what you're looking for, and ask the fabulous folks here for help. There are some master internet searchers here.

I wanted to update that I found almost everything I was looking for, in one shot! On a whim, I went to Bon-Ton while visiting family, a store we don't have around here. I found replacements (and then some!) for everything except a kelly green top, all with the 75% yellow dot clearance they're having right now. Yay!

Here are a couple of tops I found:
http://www.bonton.com/shop/wom.....k-top_5931

http://www.bonton.com/shop/wom.....ank_635374 (also got this one in houndstooth)

Nice finds! You did well to have your list and know what you need and then finding it!

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