Tanya attacks the local mall - part II

Tanya

I have tried on a tons of things at the mall today, and here are some that I'm considering getting from H&M. Please let me know what you think and use CRS.

1. Cotton sateen dark purple jacket with tiny peplum
http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....blazer.jpg

2. Charcoal argyle vest
http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....t=vest.jpg

3. Purple sweater dress ( photos of both XS and S), to mainly wear over skinnies, and maybe on it's own with opaque tights and knee boots in non-work situations
http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....ressXS.jpg
http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....dressS.jpg

17 years ago

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Nicole

shiny

Veteran

Love #1.

#2... I think it's... too juvenile. I hope that doesn't hurt your feelings! This is something my DD14 would wear; I can't see it on anyone over 18.

Sweater dress: I would have to see it over skinnies, but it looks promising. Not sure which size I would go with. Well, if it were me, I'd go with the S but I don't like my dresses to cling to my bulges. However I don't think you have as many bulges as I do, so you can easily get away with the xs!

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I'm with Shiny, the first jacket looks great. The sweater vest looks like it fits you well, but the pattern is a bit cutesy for my personal taste. Having seen the sweater vests you posted this past week in your outfits thread, I'd say that you could probably do better.

The purple sweater dress is beautiful on you. You could definitely pull off an XS, but I wonder if that will be too fitted to wear over jeans. My only concern would be that you would see the outline of the waistband and pockets and things because the dress would be very fitted over the top. I'd try it on with a pair of jeans, and go with whichever size laid smoothly.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Thanks ladies! Something was bothering me about the vest, but I did not realize what it was - it is indeed to juvenile. No worries Shiny, you did not hurt my feelings a single bit, I really appreciate your honest opinion. I'll pass on the vest. I love the jacket, just trying to decide if it would get enough wear.

I think I'll try the sweater dress again over skinnies, as you recommend Ana. Probably the bigger size would be better, since it wouldn't cling to the jeans.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

More fab Tanya at the mall. Here we go:

o Jacket sleeves are too short. Am I the only one that thinks that? The rest of the jacket fits well, though.
o Heart vest is a little child-like, but I like the fit and colours.
o Sweater dress has potential for skinnies in a size small. I think it might still be too clingy even in a size S. I like this look a little roomier. I feel it’s too short and tight to wear as a dress with leggings. Again, I prefer this look roomier.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you Angie! I think I'll pass on all of these items.

I love the purple jacket, but upon closer inspection I realized that you are right about the sleeves- they are too short. The vest colors are pretty - that's what attracted me to it, but the hearts do make it too young. The sweater dress is already a little too roomy in the chest&armholes in size S, so if I went up one more size to accommodate my bottom I'd be swimming in it at the top.

Anyway, I'm glad that I bought the things you guys liked more and waited on these ones.

17 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

For some reason I thought the eggplant jacket was cropped and meant to have sleeves that were very short.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I hear you Ana. Sometimes it's hard to tell.

I think you're after a different fit on a sweater dress, Tanya. Not so hourglass-y , but a little straighter. I know that’s not what you’re usually after.

Sweater dresses look really good with a bit of volume in the right places. I went through sweater dress boot camp with clients last year. They can look clingy and unstylish fast. Especially on someone curvy. I managed to get a great one from Max Studio last season. It’ pretty voluminous and I love it. I hope that makes sense!

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you so much for the advice Angie! That totally makes sense. I really want one, but I know it won't be easy finding one that looks good on my curvy shape. I'll keep trying, not so actively though, maybe I'll get lucky. I know that I'll need a size up from my usual, but the trouble is that by the time I manage to make it non-clingy on the bottom I'm swimming in it on the top.

So, do you have any tips on shapes to look into? More straight or more A-line? Or there's no rule, I just have to try tons of them on and see.

I am glad you are enjoying your Max Studio one. I am sure you look amazing in it!

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This is what I have. It does not cling at all. It stands away from the bottom part of my body. I don’t wear baby doll styles and this isn’t a real baby doll. It gives that impression because the stitch interest tapers the bodice. I wear it with diamond black hose, patent wedged black knee-high boots and a long chunky pearl necklace (of course). When it’s colder, I add my cobalt blue coat and cobalt snake skin bag. It’s a sweet little look. I hope that helps you.

http://www.maxstudio.com/cgi-b.....D=20395615

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Thanks Angie! That helps a lot indeed! I keep trying on the wrong ones, but I did not know what the right type of shape is. Hmm, I think next time I am at the mall I might try this BR one:

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....=588270012

Does your dress work over skinnies too? Sorry for so many questions, I am yet to figure out many things for the fall dressing.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Beautiful. I hope the BR style is longer on you. Mine hits me a few inches above my knee cap which is a perfect sweater dress length for me. I don’t wear it over skinnies because it’s too long. I hope you find that perfect sweater dress because I know you’ll love wearing it!

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Angie, this makes perfect sense to me. I have a BR sweater dress from last season that works great because it is similar shape as the Maxstudio one (but with a different neckline.) No clinginess - defined waist but then falls away from there.

And this is precisely why I passed up the clingy BR sweater dress yesterday - intuitively, I just knew it was too clingy. It looked great as long as I could hold in my breath and maintain perfect posture, which I know I can't do all day long.

(Although I still think Tanya - with her great figure - could get away with such a clingy dress... for a date night with her bf...?)

Tanya, I tried this one at BR yesterday - I don't care for the color on me - but it has a lot of interesting detail and neckline and might be worth a try, if you like the color:

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....=588270012

The petite wasn't that short on me.... it would've been too long for a tunic over skinnies... but you are taller so perhaps it would work?

Ohhh... wait! That is the one you just linked to, isn't it?? It is adorable, and cozy too. Definetly get over there and try it on. I would've snapped it up had it been in a different color, light grey just washes me out.

17 years ago

Patience

Veteran

Angie, I am also interested in a sweater dress. As a rectangle, do I need to look for something different? Maybe the clingy styles will work for me or should everyone stay away from these?

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It's hard to say Patience. Sweater dresses have a mind of their own! Tanya and I are the same height and have a similar body type. But I am straighter, more boyish with a shorter torso. I felt too exposed in a clingy sweater dress even though I’m not curvy. But I love slim, tailored clothing. I boil it down to the fact that it’s a knit. I’d have felt far less exposed if it was a clingy woven. I suppose I’m still a woven girl at heart.

I’d suspect you could go a little more clingy to ADD curves. But I still like the look of a sweater dress with volume in the right place despite your body type. It adds a level of class to the silhouette. I hope I don’t sound like a prude! Experiment and let us know how you fare. Sweater dresses are tricky.

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

Ok without reading anyone else's comments (because I'm easily swayed sometimes)...I love the jacket...I'd give it a 9. I'm not crazy about the sweatervest, but only because of the hearts. I don't know why I don't like them, but they just turn me off. And I like the sweater dress. I think the first one makes your shoulders look broader than the second one...but that could be the angle of the camera. But, if you're going to wear it with pants underneath, then that might give you a better balance to your bottom half.

17 years ago

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