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A K/R goldmine? landmine? Help!

Greyscale

Veteran

I have a bit of a shopping addiction this month. It better be temporary. I had a few weeks off between jobs and I moved back to San Francisco where all my favorite stores are, so I went a little nuts. Maybe a lot nuts. And for once these aren't thrifted - they're new, so they're pricier. I can afford to keep some but not all of these things so I would love your help in evaluating them.

One important note is that my job is very casual. I could wear jeans and tshirts every day and no one would think less of me. There's limited use for all the lovely careerwear I fall in love with! On the other hand, I'll try hard to wear whatever things I keep. I do love going out to restaurants and such, and SF is finally getting a bit dressier.

Without further ado, the options are:
1. A deep reddish-purple Theyskens blazer (Yesssss! from Nordstrom Rack! $200, so a big purchase). I love the shape and the fabric (wool/silk). It is not black! I really waffle about adding some subtle, deep colors to my mix. It might be great, or it might not stick. I have two blazers already.
2. A Zara sheath dress that fits like it was designed for me, chest and shoulders and all. It is incredible. It is all wool, very high quality for Zara ($160, from their limited higher end collection). Cool leg slits. Should I get it shortened if I keep it? When would I wear it? I could layer a top under it, also.
3. These were a mistake, I think. Charcoal grey Margiela pants, only $60 at the huge sale at Jeremy's, no returns. They need to be shortened and maybe taken in at the waist, and the fit is still a bit off? Lovely fancy wool/silk blend. They have two tiny cuts in the fabric that would be impossible to repair well but could be repaired shoddily.
4. A silk tee from AllSaints. I think this one's going back. I wanted to wear it with my black suit but it just doesn't look right, nice as it is. I'm showing it here with the purple blazer. $155, yikes. I do want a silk tee though...

I'm having an awful time deciding about the blazer and the dress. They're both so incredible but impractical.

And I swear from now on I will shop strategically to fill wardrobe holes. I just love fall clothing. This is the one season when I love everything I find.

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Shopping

26 replies

Latest reply was from Greyscale

AviaMariah

Veteran

I love the color of the blazer. It looks like it might be a little too wide in the shoulders and too long in the arms. I am really picky about both those things since I typically have that issue so it may just be me. I really like the dress on you (hello arms!). It seems to me that it would be really versatile; wearing by itself, layering underneath. I kind of like the pants on you. Since you can't take them back anyways you could spend a little more getting them tailored. I say let the silk T go. You'll find something you love for that price.

pastrygirl

(website)

Veteran

I love the blazer and the dress! There was a thread bumped up recently about how to get a bunch of different looks with a sheath. Lots of photos and great ideas there.

Greyscale

Veteran

Pastrygirl, that was actually the thread that inspired me to try that dress on!

unfrumped

Veteran

What AviaMariah said. Blazer color is great and I might swoop over and try to wrest it from you. But if you actually see the shoulder pads peaking over your shoulder edge it is not your best fit, or shoulder pad style. Not sure if you feel you can't find something better, and darn if I don't know the feeling that nothing is turning up in non-black jackets that I like, so I am tempted to settle.
Would try moving arms about and see if you get more of the sense of the shoulder pad bossing you around. Dress is awesome, and I'm torn between the current length (yay longer dresses) vs. 1" shorter but still just over knee, if that's where it would end up. So not much help there.

Greyscale

Veteran

AviaMariah, you're right that the blazer fit is a bit off in the arms. There is basically no chance of me ever buying a blazer with sleeves the right length, so I just get them tailored. (Short arms, long torso, wide shoulders - no way petites fit.) As for the shoulders, I think they're actually too narrow not too wide, but you're right, it's making the shoulder pads sit a little strangely. I'll try it on again later and see how it works when I move around. Thanks for noticing that.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

The shift is beautiful & if you will get lots of wear out of it I say keep. I would take the others back - the jacket is not right in the shoulders imo & shoulder alterations are expensive.If the jacket wasn't Theyskens would you want it in the same way?

Greyscale

Veteran

I just noticed that the jacket has the same problem on the model here:
http://www.shopbop.com/jomas-f.....956584.htm

And my upper arms are only going to get bigger once I start rock climbing again (I took a year off because of back problems). So... hm. I think you are all correct about the shoulders. I need to think about it though. I do really love it.

catgirl

Veteran

First of all, you're a climber? Me too! High five!
The dress is an absolute keep although I can't tell if the neckline is exposing too much.

I love the jacket but that shoulder pad thing would drive me nuts. I have passed up many a blazer because of that, and worse when it's only one side!

The other two don't look perfect. Allsaints is so hit or miss, but the perfect silk blouse is out there!

DonnaF

Veteran

The jacket seems wide in the shoulders so maybe it is the wrong cut for you. That could be the reason why it was at the Rack. Great color, though.

The dress seems a little big in the armholes. How is it when you move around? Can you see to high heaven? Just wondering if it is made overall for a taller person.

Would Jeremy's take back the slacks due to the slits since it seems like such a big flaw that they shouldn't even be selling it. Is Final Sale always final?

And your prefect silk top is out there for you. Don't settle.

JMHO.

Greyscale

Veteran

Ah - perhaps what looks like giant armholes is the shadow of the overlapping layer of fabric? The actual armholes are perfect. Here's a photo of it on a model to show the dress in better lighting:
http://static.zara.net/photos/.....?137901534
And for hilarity, here's a front view on the model - her shoulders are so much narrower than mine! It's obviously pulled back and pinned at the waist on the model.
http://static.zara.net/photos/.....?137901535

(Jeremy's sells salvage goods from department stores and I knew about the slits when I bought the pants - a lot of their clothes are damaged and the price reflects that. I just wasn't making good purchasing decisions that day!)

bj1111

Veteran

omg...dress all the way.

the blazer seems a bit big in the shoulders.

Anonymous

Oh is that dress on the site now?! I have been waiting and waiting for it to appear!!

Greyscale

Veteran

It isn't online, no. I bought it in the big SF store the day it arrived, and they only had a few in the store. Sadly I think it's one of the things that might never make it online or to the smaller locations.

Though... on second thought, they just updated a lot of the site today so maybe we should check again.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

First of all I am delighted that you are a high end thrifter/bargain lover/Zara lover. I am too! My first impression was I love the jacket. I like the shoulders. I am not at all biased because I want to post my new Theysken's Theory (consignment) jacket for k/r in the near future.
Why don't you (and others) like the trousers? Do I need more coffee?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Echoing Shevia. What the heck is wrong with those trousers? Those are gorgeous drapey baggy tapered trousers -- yes, so they need some hemming -- big deal! I love them! They remind me of a pair that I own by a designer called noir. Fabulous drape. I hope you can find a way to deal with the slits - where are they located?

The dress looks great, although I too worry about front expose -- but I guess it depend where you would wear it, and you can layer under it as well.

The shoulder fit on the jacket doesn't look right to me but perhaps it is the way it is supposed to be -- slightly emphasized peaked shoulders? That's how it looks on the model. If you pin the arms to the correct length for you or roll them up to that length, you will get a better sense of how it really will look.

Parsley

Veteran

These are all such fun and interesting finds! Much more goldmine than landmine, IMO! (love your post title)

I'm not sure about the jacket. I have a feeling that may be how the shoulders are meant to be, but the question is do you like it like that?

I think the dress is great, and obviously you feel good in it, so that's a no-brainer, in my book. If it were me I'd probably shorten it to just below the knee, but that's personal preference.

The trousers look great! I'd repair the best you can, hem, and enjoy!
You know, some drycleaners repair things like moth holes. You might talk to yours and see if they can help you with the cuts.

Greyscale

Veteran

Thanks so much for all the feedback! You've given me a lot to think about.

The blazer shoulders are supposed to be like that - or at least, it's meant to have very strong shoulders, almost retro. A lot of Theyskens pieces have that shape, including my other Theyskens blazer (a huge boyfriend style that would not be to everyone's taste) and my new biker jacket. So I'm realizing it's one of the elements that I really like, and perhaps even the reason I keep buying his designs. As a small person with some chips on my (wide) shoulders about equating small, weak, and feminine, I've always celebrated the few bits of me that are big and burly (wide shoulders, big biceps). The Zara dress has some of the same effect.

But. Those burly biceps and back muscles are what pulls the fit off a bit. If I were a coathanger-shaped model, the strong shoulderpads would sit on top of me and the jacket would drape down from them. Instead, I fill out the rest of the sleeves in a way that might just be seen as "awkward fit" instead of "interesting unconventional shape." It's telling that most of the responses just see something being off. I can't decide, but I am leaning towards keeping it despite that.

(Oh, and the pants - I thought the side photos show an awkward drape, but it sounds like it's fine. I think if I wear a belt or get the waist taken in a touch, it'll pull the butt up a bit and they'll sit better.)

Greyscale

Veteran

And I returned two expensive things to Crossroads today and will return the AllSaints top (and another one I didn't post) this weekend so at least my shopping is somewhat in check!

Debra

Veteran

I love the dress, it looks very versatile, something you will love and wear for years

RunswithDolphins

That dress looks great on you. The neckline and shoulders are very flattering. I would agree with Parsley and maybe pin it to see how it looks at just below the knees. I'd love to see pics with a blouse or long sleeve T under layered under it. Those shoes are killer!

Beth Ann

Veteran

Love the color in the blazer, and I would celebrate strong shoulders and back, too! The fit is good, if not perfect, and you could shorten the sleeves.

The dress is a stunner --- this is my favorite of all of your purchases. You may need to be aware of cleavage issues, but it does look made for you, and I love me a good midi length, when it looks right -- which it does here.

I also like the fit of the pants. Deliberately slouchy and low on the waist. Yeah!

Anonymous

The trousers are my favorite piece on you, maybe because I have such a hard time finding a good fit. You can get some iron-on reinforcing stuff to iron on the back side of the pants to help stablize those tiny cuts so that they don't pull open or get worse

Isis

Veteran

I love the dress! I would shorten about 1", but that may be just my preference.

I also like the blazer if you like how the shoulders are on you. The color is divine. Love the pants, wonderful drape. Perhaps they need to be taken in a little at the waist, an easy fix.

Returning the blouse is a good idea since you don't love it and have to return something.

donnat

Veteran

You have great arms and that dress looks sensational on you. I would shorten it about an inch. I also think the pants look terrific. Nice drape.

Anonymous

It's not on the website I have been dying to try this dress since seeing it on the lookbook.

Greyscale

Veteran

It would look great on you, Ceit. Zara can be so frustrating because there's so much turnover. I wonder if you could call the largest Zara near you and see if they could ship one from the store - or do you live near a big one?