2 unflattering jumpers?-please be honest - YouLookFab Forum

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2 unflattering jumpers?-please be honest

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Hi all, my wardrobe is too large. Culling is hard, partly because I still like things, partly because I want to wear them 30 times now before I consider getting rid of, partly because I'm horrified about the mountains of donated clothes that get shipped to the third world. These jumpers were purchased for love, from an outlet store which is a good brand that is expensive at full retail price. They were bought at nowhere near that.
1. Olive/grey stripe. Bought to go with these beloved 2013 olive pants with gold zip I had, which died by 2016, and to go with my grey merino layering top. I now wear with different olive pants, or grey or black pants. Bought in 2014 for $30, 23 wears now, CPW $1.50. When I posted the pic below The Cat mentioned that some of the items seemed to highlight my mid-section. I think she is right about these. Tummy sticking out is obvious?
2. Orange with greyish/tealish pattern bought in 2015 for $21 same shop. I liked the colour and given it was the same shape as the grey/olive which I had bought the year before and was wearing a lot, I thought it would be a winner. Worn 14 times which is not a lot, CPW also $1.50. When I posted this one someone said it overwhelmed my petite frame and I also feel it makes my sticking-out tummy very obvious.
So I'm thinking of getting over guilt of not wearing enough, donating to hospice shop, and steering clear of such long jumpers in the future. Thoughts?

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Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from shoppingisfun

rachylou

Veteran

I don't think they highlight your tummy, and I like them. That's said, I also don't think they're perfect fits. They exist; they're gonna have to be disposed of one day; so in that sense, I don't know that passing them on now or later matters. And if they're in good shape, which they seem to be, you might as well pass them on while they still have wear in them.

Just my two cents...

Laura G

Veteran

I like the striped sweater on you. I don't see any tummy issue, but that's more visible from the side view.

The orange color of the second sweater is beautiful with your skin, but the overall shape of it...maybe it's too big, maybe it's just not the perfect cut for you. If you pass it on, you have to get something else in that color!

Laura G

Veteran

I think the number of wears is largely determined when you *buy* the garment. Right style, color, fit for you, plus quality materials and construction, equals lots of wears. The only way to stretch out the wears on the other end is by restyling it (if you're lucky) or just continuing to wear something Not Quite Right.

JAileen

Veteran

The views are not exactly the same, so maybe the sweaters fit the same. But I like #1 on you. It shows your curvy figure, the color looks good, and the sweater looks modern. #2 looks dated to me, with the big armholes. It also looks too big on you.

I donate my clothes to a thrift store where individuals buy things for their own use. Do you have a shop like that in your area?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

The first one isn't bad, but I think the second one looks too big and droopy and is not worthy of you. The important thing though is whether you like wearing either one of these enough that you will choose them over something else in your closet. You don't sound enthusiastic about either, so I would consider letting both of them go.

jill58

Veteran

I know it's difficult to let things go when it feels like you just bought them but you have actually gotten some wear out of both of these sweaters. Do you feel good when you're wearing them? Of the two, I like the first one better but I'm partial to the pants and booties. I too feel that #2 looks dated. I get the feeling that you would like to let go of them. If so, maybe you can think of it this way. These sweaters served their purpose and now they can be passed on to someone else who can enjoy them. You have now found that you don't like this style as much as you thought you would--lesson learned--you can now move on. It's distressing to spend money on something and quickly find that you don't like it, but it's more distressing to have the clutter of unworn or, as Laura G said, "Not Quite Right" clothing, sitting in a closet.

Runcarla

Veteran

Time to pass them on. There doesn't seem to be a very high 'happiness' about these garments.

Anonymous

In your description of what motivated you to buy them you didn't say "they made the most of my best features" so I will tell you my ONLY objection is I don't think they do you justice.

You may wish you had less stomach but you do have a pretty defined waist and very curvy figure and these both obscure those very attractive qualities.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

I think the wear count is something useful to consider when making new purchases, but not as useful when utilized as a method of self-punishment by forcing you to wear poorly conceived past purchases. If it has wears left in it, let someone wear it who is flattered by the item or who badly needs it. I'm OK with the first sweater, but not a fan of the fit of the second--I think it needs more fit and structure in the shoulder and bust areas.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Thank you all so much! And some kind thoughts about my better features which I can certainly see are not highlighted as much by these. Those features were not considered in these purchases, it was more for certain colours they were bought. Fear not Laura re the orange, I have other even brighter orange items and am always drawn to it. Next orange purchase, whenever that may be, I will pay more attention to the fit. I did get some joy from these purchases but it's waning. Thanks Laura and Jill about "Not Quite Right" sitting in closet, I may have a few of those, and Emily you have honed right in on my Protestant guilt of "self-punishment", that comment made me laugh out loud! Thanks Janet and Carla for succinct advice. Of the two, I prefer the colour of the orange ( which I am wearing again at home this weekend) but the look in the pics of the stripe. I have other things I can wear with my olive pants so it will not be a loss as far as styling if I let olive/grey stripey go, I can do Angie's latest ensemble with my olive pants in spring.
It seems more love is shown for olive/grey than orange from all of you. I need to wash them and then will donate either just orange, or both.
J'Aileen, the hospice shop does run several stores in my local area but I donate at the bigger distribution centre and so I don't know if my good clothes like these end up in those shops. Surely it depends on the volume that's donated?

Bijou

Veteran

Hi Jenni, if you have better items in your wardrobe that make you feel great when you wear them, then keeping these sweaters will just dilute the number of wears that you get from your preferred one. I vote pass on the orange one, because it is too big on you.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

The colors of the first one are great on you, but it does seem a bit too long. The orange one also seems a bit big. Remember if you donate them while they still have some life in them, there is a good chance they will be sold - donated clothes still do provide important income to charity.

karen13

Veteran

I like #1, not #2 as much - the fit is off. If you have plenty of other items that fill the purpose and make you happier, pass these on.

I am terrible about allowing purchase mistakes to mock me from my closet for far too long. I feel guilty every time I see them, and when I finally bite the bullet and let them go, I actually feel much better - they aren't mocking me any more and I forget about them! Hopefully I remember the lesson of why they weren't right, although not always.

Kasia

Member

Both of them are a toss. The first one does not emphasize your best figure features which is lovely shaping between waist and hips and great legs. The length of the jumper ends at the widest part of your hips, and stripes make it overall busy.
The second jumper has too large sleeve openings, they fall just under your bust line, not a flattering modern look.
I think, if you want to wear skinny pants the cardigan would be the best option. With layering you add extra dimension to your figure while still showing of your bust and waist area and camouflaging tommy a bit.

Laura G

Veteran

Karen13 makes a good point about remembering the lesson from a mistaken purchase after the item is mercifully gone. I just started saving photos of those pieces with notes about why they didn't work. I even save things that I tried on and returned--like the brand of leggings that looks great and might tempt me again, but is too short in the rise for me to wear comfortably.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I guess posts and pics we leave on the YLF forum could also do that for us!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I would donate the orange top. It is too big for you. I really like the colours of the first top on you.
I second what EmilyK and Rachy said. If you do not love these items you should pass them on. Wear what you love and try to avoid making the same mistake in future.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I agree the orange jumper can be donated without guilt. The olive one looks good to me, if you are still likely to wear it. But honestly, I try not to feel bad about donating clothing still in good shape. Someone will appreciate it and it's served its purpose in your life so it's okay to let it go.

skylurker

Veteran

Completely agree with Emily on culling.

I would not like my profile in these sweaters either, you know, long and narrow knits really make the tummy stick out. I'd look for sweaters with more fluidity around the mid section.

lozz_oz

Veteran

If you truely love them, keep them - if not pass them on to be reused by someone else. Look in your wardrobe for those items that instinctively make you feel fabulous when worn.

Deborah

Veteran

The fact that you are considering moving them on in itself suggests that maybe you know it's time. That's how I often know I have seen in you in items that I feel are better suited to your lovely figure. They are a good brand, nice quality and someone (if you donate to say an op shop) will really appreciate them.

Scarlet

Veteran

I think you can let these items go in good conscience. Like Deborah said, they look like good quality items that have a good chance of finding a new home. As someone pointed out above, the longer you hang onto them the less life they will have for someone else down the road. I have just done a closet clean out myself, and I noticed how absolutely beautiful clothes I have held onto for years without wearing them have become dingy with age. I should have passed them on sooner. No need to punish yourself. It was a learning experience.

shoppingisfun

(website)

Veteran

The striped sweater looks cute! The other one is not horrible but not great.