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edge to EF (Shannon! et al)

minimalist

Veteran

How do you add edge to Eileen Fisher?

Lately I've picked up a few EF pieces, in the interest of having comfortable core items of decent quality. But oh my, what a recipe for frump. I may be closer to 50 than to 40, but the way I'm dressed today looks like 90 in a "comfortable" way that accentuates all present aches and pains. In underwear, I felt optimistic. Dressed, I feel like the poster child for the Hemlock Society. "You don't have to let it come to this!"

Wearing grey linen trousers, grey drapey cardigan, black tank top, black narrow wrap belt without ornamentation, black sandals. Would be fine as loungewear, OK to answer the door or take the trash out in.

Trousers smell like Chanel Nº5, which I love because my grandmother always wore the perfume, but don't wish to exude, myself.

Am supposed to meet a friend for coffee in a few hours, but this outfit is worse than worn jeans and swag hoodies. "Don't ask me to make an effort" (mens clothing in black, from swaps or free boxes) is a look I can stand by. "I've given up, and pay money for it" (like-new EF garments in black and grey) feels awful.

Guessing the cardi and trousers would feel better with cutout boots and a tank top fashioned from a metal t-shirt, but that's not happening today. Any other ideas? bf has a poison eye for most hardware (rivets etc), bc he associates that with his mother's generation.

How do you fab fans of EF wear it so it works?

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from minimalist

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm afraid I was kind of giggling as I read your post Amy. I totally agree that EF can take on frump factor if allowed.

May I ask if these EF pieces you've added to your wardrobe are new or pre-owned? Just wanting to get a sense of whether or not they are if this season.

I find in any brand, not just EF, too much drape can make me feel frumpy. I'm wondering if the grey linen trousers paired with a drapey grey cardigan is not enough structure in the outfit? When I wear the drapey grey cardigan I have from EF, I pair it with slim fitting trousers tucked into boots or over a sheath dress for example. I need to have an element of structure to offset the drape.

I also find my footwear needs to be edgier.

Meredith

Veteran

I don't own any EF, but just wanted to say you are hilarious.

rabbit

Veteran

Lol

I don't have EF, but I have some drapey things. I agree with Shannon that you need to mix them up with their opposites. So drapey natural pants with pointy hologram silver shoes and a bright orange plastic clutch or something is probably what I'd end up doing.

Also with the belt I'd go for something kind of unexpected (crazy color?) and see if that helps. I wear drapey cardigans with drapey tops, but with form fitting or short bottoms mostly, again to add structure and contrast.

Greyscale

Veteran

I'm curious if it would look frumpy to us. Sometimes my own feelings about my clothes get in the way of seeing how it actually looks. It can go in either direction.

For me the black and grey draped EF look is what I aspire to, though I often think of it as "what I'll wear when I'm grown up" (I'm 35, so arguably I am grown up). But I agree that EF has the potential to look frumpy if you're not careful. I love her clothes, myself, but I do worry about that. One thing I've noticed is that I have to make sure it's not too big on me. The sizes run large and I'm small, so even the xs is often too much volume for me.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

A - I think some of it has to do with your figure type. I look dumpy in EF (and its J Jill lookalikes) because of my shape, whereas with ladies who are rectangular (not necessarily skinny, just straight up and down) with nice bone structure on the visible parts (wrists, ankles, collarbones, neck) it looks elegant and artistic.

B - are you a bold jewelry sort of person? I have an acquaintance 'of a certain age' who almost always wears black, occasionally with a jewel tone or two, and almost always wears that sort of bold arty jewelry that you imagine has been collected since the 70s when she picked it up in Carmel...but of course can also be purchased at places like Chico's and Cost Plus. It really makes the look: without jewelry or the handknitted accessories she wears in the winter and the cool boots she owns, it would look like barely a step up from pajamas.

rabbit

Veteran

Also just adding on, on Greyscale for example, I feel like your hair and your awesome footwear would add edge and make anything drapey in between read as avant garde rather than potentially frumpy. Also my perception of your style is somewhat minimalist, so I feel like keeping the number of items you are wearing at one time to a minimum helps too.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

What about adding punky/chunky jewelry, bold nail polish or (neutral) smoky make-up? Angular shoes?

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Suja

Veteran

What an interesting question! I am new to EF and have just recently bought a few pieces. They are high-end and comfortable but I do feel that I need to make an effort to add structure to avoid the appearance of "giving up." I use the usual structure creators, scrunching sleeves, slim pants with flowy top, open necklines , etc.

EF is great but you do have to think about the frump factor when wearing her pieces. Somewhere in the blogoshpere, I read a comment saying EF designs clothes for the Upper West Side Therapist who has given up in sex. I don't agree but I can see where that comment is coming from if you're not deliberate about adding structure.

Diana

Veteran

First off, thank you for a hilarious post!

EF from the last few seasons is a lot edgier than in previous years so I think Shannon is on to something when she asks whether you have current or older pieces. I think they are trying to target a more youthful or trendy demographic as part of their new campaign. I know I for one have found the last couple of collections really cool, whereas in the past EF was solidly frumpy for me. I'm 35 by the way. I am slowly adding a couple of EF pieces to my wardrobe.

I also agree that you need to incorporate some structure when wearing her pieces. The others have made many good suggestions.

Also, how tall are you? And are you buying your regular size in EF items? I ask because I find her stuff runs really long and often quite large. My silver skirt is a Small (normally I'm a M-L on the bottom) and I think it's supposed to be a mini, but it hits me at the knee. In tops I generally have to get petites (I am 5'3.5" tall), otherwise the clothing totally overwhelms me.

Susie

Veteran

I'm picturing the trousers as wide legged and flowy. Pairing them with a drapey cardigan would seem to require a very tall, very artsy and eclectic woman with wild hair and several pieces of large, distinctive jewelry. Definitely not something this 5'1" apple can pull off! I can't wear any wide legged trousers without feeling frumpy.

Yet I love EF! As others have said, I do like to have a bit of structure in the outfits and I don't really go for the drapiest pieces. Plus I like to add cool shoes.

Thanks for the laugh!

Gaylene

Veteran

I think context is everything here. If your style leans toward color and patterns, structured and fitted clothing, interesting accessories, and fashionable, edgy footwear, the minimalist, monochromatic, looser-fitting look of EF is going to feel dull and, yes, frumpy, in comparison. A full-on EF look doesn't appeal to everyone, just like not everyone wants to embrace a head-to-toe All Saints look, or Betsy Johnson look, or a Helmut Lang look. Sometimes we can adapt to a look in smaller doses but a whole outfit just strays too far from our personal comfort zone, especially if that look isn't that common in our environment.

Liz

Veteran

I wonder if there's a psychological thing going on here as well as the practical aspects. Does the "anti-establishment" and "rebel" choice of wearing men's clothing and hoodies just feel fundamentally different to you than "giving in" and wearing the clothing of an "established, middle-aged woman"? (huge generalizations there, of course, and not saying that's what EF wearers are, just that those are the pictures in your post).

deb

Veteran

The issue you are having is exactly the trouble I have with EF. I have two EF tops that I wear over skinny jeans or legging only. I love the drape of the tops but not so much the bottoms.

claire

I can so relate to your post, I could have written it (if I could write that well)! I only have a few EF pieces but a lot of that esthetic and drape, and as soon as I have too many on, DH always says I look like my mom. Now my mom is The Master of EF and drape and does it really well, but head to toe, if you know what I mean. So as soon as I'm in that territory I switch out one piece for something a little sleeker, like a slimmer BF jean on the bottom, or my Prima capris lately, or even a contrasting racer back tank underneath, something NOT EF and it just beings everything back and feels more like me. Seems to work

Anonymous

First of all, I laughed most of my through these replies - the best is the West Side Psychotherapist who has given up...anyways, I have always loved the idea of Eileen Fisher designs from a purely spectator point of view. The ads are beautifully photographed and usually modelled on a very specific body type . I love the minimalist/arty/high quality idea, but try as I might, it looked like crap on me, and makes me feel the same way. Fortunately, it's also so expensive in Cdn dollars that one try-on in a local boutique cured me of any desire to buy it or think about it again.

I don't mean to make this an "all about me" answer - but my take on some of these brands and looks is - if it doesn't immediately make you feel good, for that price, don't try to force the issue even if the idea of it appeals to you.

Anonymous

This is quite a funny post. What I wear is 85% EF. I used to wear the big baggy stuff typical of EF and I wondered why I did not look right. It took me years to figure out that I do not need big baggy stuff to hide my tummy. I need shape and some structure, and I like drape and fluidity. I can find all of these features in EF clothes, if I choose carefully.

I need PS or regular XS in the EF bottoms, even though I am no where close to be a PS in other brands. I need regular S or PM in EF tops, again even though I am no where close to such sizes in other brands. But paying attention carefully to the size and usually sizing down, I look quite OK in EF clothes.

Not sure how to add edge though, since that is never something I strive for. A little artsy, very feminine, and extremely simple, yes. Edgy, never.

ironkurtin

Veteran

It's all about styling and attitude. Pieces from older EF collections can definitely have the arty older lady vibe. It's hard to advise without seeing what you are wearing, but I love looking at the EF site. Everything looks gorgeous and there is no frump there at all.

Also I'm really glad that after 2 years of shouting how awesome EF is, there are so many converts!

Anonymous

This post cracked me up too!

I have one EF item (a long, open black merino cardigan) and really like it, and I feel like more Eileen may be inevitable for me sooner or later. But I'm trying to hold off on buying much more for now partly because I worry about prematurely looking like a 50-something version of myself who spends way too much time discussing her favorite NPR hosts. Well, the price point helps with that too.

I definitely second the suggestions to combine a piece or two with something more structured or youthful-looking, rather than wearing it head to toe.

Grey Rainbow

Black and grey and ink/navy EF drape is my wardrobe. Along with tailored bottoms and jackets from Theory and some Vince that to my eye look like EF clones. I'm 57 with grey hair, 5'5", mainly pear shaped but with broad and square coat hanger shoulders. To edge it up, as others have said, mix drape with tailored or slim -- long tunic and drapey cardigan with EF slim crepe or ponte pants, or her harem pants or super wide leg silk or jersey pants with a tee or tank that shows shape, ends at high hip, and a topper with narrow arms and interesting angles. And contemporary shoes, booties, or sandals. And interesting necklaces or bracelets with presence. If I'm wearing black and grey, I always mix in something in white for the contrast. That adds drama.

Debbie

Veteran

I have several EF dresses and feel best in them with trendy sandals and jewelry. I like bracelets the best so I try to add a few of them.
I loved your writing. Preset descriptive of how I feel some days.

catgirl

Veteran

I look dumpy in EF. I shouldn't because it's all about shoulders and drape, but it just doesn't work for me. I am reading along to learn, though - I keep trying thanks to Shannon!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I'm cracking up at your post! I am wondering if it's partly the color combination that isn't working for you. Some of my favorite Eileen Fisher items are the ones in rich colors. I also tend to go for pieces that are less voluminous and with interesting details--I love some of her unusual seaming or asymmetrical details. The knit harem pants I have from EF are the exception to these observations, though: they are black and drape personified.

minimalist

Veteran

Sorry these responses are so late; I wanted to reply to everyone individually but for now am just posting this as-is in hopes of getting back to respond to those I've missed.

Shannon,
pieces are from last year. Trousers and tops seem non-descript, never particularly on trend. Yes, the cardigan was too much drape. Previously worn only as loungewear with leggings, so it already has a strong homewear-only association for me.

Meredith,
glad your sense of humor appreciates my occasional morbidity.

Rabbit,
pointy silver shoes! Yes. Your observation about Greyscale's style is helpful to me, although she and I have very different body types.

Greyscale,
your point about one's own feelings clothing getting in the way of seeing how an outfit actually looks is well taken. Perhaps I should get back to taking WIWs even though I don't plan to post any more of them.

Laura (rhubarbgirl),
my "visible parts" are all well-cushioned, not much visible structure there. Bold jewelry as far as earrings and necklaces isn't really my thing. Belts, rings yes. Would those help? Statement jewelry riles bf's poison-eye, along with hardware and all things flora or fauna. "Barely a step up from pajamas" perfectly describes the cardigan, which was bought as and will remain loungewear.

gradfashionista,
you're right, these pieces cry out for footwear with character. These sandals (pictures attached) I love for their quality, fit, support and so on, but they don't *say* anything and they're not on any trend. I have yet to figure out how to tone down the unfortunate boho garnish.

Suja,
"Upper West Side Therapist who has given up ..." Oh my! For structure, I swapped out the lounge cardigan for a black/white graphic wrap top which I didn't think would go with grey, but it felt much less dumpy. And I got compliments on ... my hair.

Liz,
"I wonder if there's a psychological thing going on here as well as the practical aspects."
YES! Until a few years ago, I lived in suits. Dark suits. (At one conference I dared to wear a medium-grey pinstripe suit with burgundy print wrap top and burgundy spectator pumps, and was mistaken for a member of the press. Never again.) Then my life changed, I upgraded my lifestyle by downgrading my work to a field in which I'm self-taught and am avidly avoiding any management responsibilities. Worn baggy clothing fits fine with that, but doesn't reflect the range of options I actually have. Oh, and I had a sports injury and gained a lot of weight, so I'm dressing a different body than I know how to work with.

crackers,
you're right, I won't try head-to-toe EF again. Love the contrasting racer back tank idea!

lisap,
I haven't seen any of the EF ads, just heard about it here. "looked like crap on me, and makes me feel the same way" is true for the cardigans. Even as loungewear, they feel too sloppy to me. I'm probably better off with decent-looking fleece, or a firm jersey jacket.

Diana,
I'm 5'6" on a good day. IT with long torso, short legs, full chest.

Firecracker,
color is such an important point, thank you for that insight. I wear a lot of grey and black, and when combined badly it's just drab.