EF Drape Front Dress Reveal and a "sorta" K/R - YouLookFab Forum

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EF Drape Front Dress Reveal and a "sorta" K/R

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

About two weeks ago I found an Eileen Fisher dress I wanted to try http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....for-apples- it has zero structure, tons of drape and is quite outside my normal style. I found both a petite large and a petite medium brand new with tags on eBay from two different sellers and ordered both. Neither can be returned for a refund but I would have no problem turning around and reselling either of them, so not worried about that.

I have overexposed the pictures in the hope that more of the detail will show up.

This is not a traditionally figure flattering dress. But the fabric feels amazing, the movement when you walk is divine, and I feel fantastic in it. I want the dress to be wearable now in the frigid cold with tights, boots and a jacket, and then in the summer, on its own with sandals. I want to be able to wear it to work dressed with a blazer and casual with booties and denim jacket for the weekends. Basically I want it to be THE DRESS!

The large is more "sack like" for sure and my hubby hates it on its own. But as soon as I put on my Lanai blazer, he loved it. However, he doesn't personally care for the whole volume trend so I do take that with a grain of salt.

I am leaning towards keeping both and let me explain why. My new insulin medication is working very well coupled with my low GI nutrition plan and the weight is coming off as it should, along with my stress levels dropping. I feel slightly "poochy" in the medium at the moment. I could wear the large now with a jacket as it doesn't cling to any middle wobbly bits and then transition into the medium when able. The cost of the two won't break the bank.

This is not a style that's going to appeal to everyone and I totally understand that. I love the dress and will be keeping it so it's not a traditional Keep/Return thread - it's just the size to keep/wear that's the issue.

Well over to you my lovelies - what are your thoughts?

#1 - #4 - large
#5 - #8 - medium
#9 - 10 - large
#11 - 12 - medium
#13 - #15 - large

#16 - #18 - medium

ETA: Pics #13 - 18 also show you my new mixed media faded denim/leather sleeved jacket I picked up as a winter/spring refresher.

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41 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Anonymous

Sounds like you have sorted yourself out! Large for the body you have now, and M for the body you will have.

You look happy and confident in this dress, and it looks very versatile.

catgirl

Veteran

Shannon, I have to be honest - I am a little wary of commenting when you sound all sorted already. Enjoy and I look forward to some WIWs!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ha ha ha - neither Ceit nor Una sound too thrilled with this dress for me???

Anonymous

I didn't say that -- you said you are keeping it regardless, and presented a well reasoned strategy of wear for both sizes. So, I am saying then you don't need anyone's blessing if you wanted to keep both!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Got it Ceit - thanks for the clarification

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

So apologies to Ceit and Una - I meant no offence by my comment.

Una - why are you wary about commenting?

Diana

Veteran

Shannon, I prefer the medium although I agree with your husband that the large is great with the jacket. Basically I think the sleeve on the large is too long and wide and hangs in an unflattering way, kind of like on a hospital gown. The sleeves look much better on the medium. With a jacket of course you can't see the sleeves which is why I think both look good that way.

catgirl

Veteran

What Ceit said. Here is my reaction not to the dress but to the post itself. My worry is that we are similar in that sometimes when you and I are initially enamored of an item, we feel dissatisfied a few weeks later and annoyed with ourselves for being so gung-ho. Or am I just projecting?

It is hard to know when or why that happens. I enjoy analyzing those issues with you and everyone else when the moment arises.... Hopefully it will not with this purchase!

Sarah A

Veteran

Honestly, I cant see well enough to form an opinion. Photographing black is soooo hard. But I am eyeing some Eileen Fisher for myself so the sizing comparision you make in words is helpful in that regard.

Sona

Veteran

I like them much better with toppers. As you yourself said his morning with the fluid fit pants: you need structure to balance it out. I think even with a flyaway thin black cardi it would be super. Also are you comfortable wearing it with some long shorts sort of body shaper? I always wear mine under any dress mostly for modesty issues but that is a thought too.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Well greedy sort that I am I jumped right to the pictures without reading the text very carefully and then the comments, then got confused. My first reaction was keep - I love how you totally switch it up with the different jackets and actually said hey what's that! to myself when I saw the new jacket. I didn't really realize I was looking at two sizes. Duh. Anyway, right now I would pick the large and don't see why you shouldn't keep the medium if it is a reasonable price and resellable later if you decide you are tired of it. I have a sugar eye for comfy black backgrounds to play with though!

Marley

Veteran

I cannot see the details of the dress on my monitor - so, its really difficult to give an informed opinion. The side shots are showing some type of draping at the neck? (sorry - can't tell for sure!) The first thing that I noticed when looking at your pics was the sleeve length. I'm not crazy about that length - but, that's just me - and since you love the dress, I say keep!

rae

(website)

Veteran

I have to say it's still hard to see the details of the fit with the black, so although I like the M a lot better, I have to trust you that you aren't 100% with it yet. If you love the dress, you should be able to make a nice recovery reselling the L when you move on.

columbine(erin)

Veteran

It makes sense to keep both dresses. I don't love the dress with the black booties and no topper though. With toppers it's more conventionally flattering. The lighter colored footwear extends the leg line and I admit I prefer that. Take that with lots of grains of salt; I don't really know what I'm talking about.

Peri

Veteran

I feel like it is hard to notice a difference between the sizes. As in, both are okay. I like all the styling variety and think it will be really useful.

If you have both and can't return, no hurry on any decision anyway. If you decide later you don't want the medium for some reason you can sell it at that point.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Thank you all so much for your feedback and I apologize if my post was confusing.

I sure wish black photographed better. The details and movement of the dress really aren't captured here.

Una - I totally understand what you're saying and yes, I have certainly had that post purchase regret before. Will that happen with this dress? Who knows. But sometimes we have to just jump in and go with how we feel at the time, no?

anne

Veteran

Hard to say with the black, but from what I can see, I prefer the medium.

Gaylene

Veteran

I think EF dresses are hard to assess from static photographs because so much of their appeal lies in the feel of the fabric and how it falls on the body, especially in motion. Like the other posters, I can't see much difference between the large and the medium sizes from the pictures but if the larger size makes you feel more confident and graceful, then it makes sense to go with it until you feel the same way in the medium.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Gaylene said. It is doubly frustrating that not only do you have the difficulties of photographing black, but the qualities that rather "make" the dress are not truly visible in a photo, no matter how great the light. I do think the medium looks better from the front, even now, and if you plan to wear it mostly with toppers for the next few months, maybe you don't truly need the large. By the time you are wearing it without toppers, you would feel more confident in that size.

Anonymous

Well I could tell a big difference in the sizes and I think you are definitely ready for the size Medium, Shannon! It looks great on you, and the slightly shorter length and better fitting sleeve provide the structure needed in a dress like that. I even like the way it cups your bum ever so slightly, although at the rate you are going, it might loosen up on you pretty quickly.Pics 9-12 pretty much blew me away and I can see why hubs likes it styled like that as well. I think there's a good market for E.F. pieces out there so if you decide to sell the large, you will probably be able to recover all of your costs. I love your new jacket, too (at first I thought it was a vest because the sleeves are black, lol)! Nice refresher.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I love both with the jackets. I think it's a great dress from what I can see - I would like a slightly longer sleeve though. This is why I don't post K/R for my drape-y buys, I can't convey the sense of them in a still shot either.

catgirl

Veteran

Of course, Shannon! You are totally correct. And that is why I didn't want to say anything - I feel like I'm a bit of a downer. I am going to vote for the M though!

Anonymous

I like the way you look in the medium right now. This is a great dress and plays well with your jackets. Maybe you should start searching eBay for a small

Ariadne

Veteran

I love it, and I think you should go with the Medium right away.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I like the medium too, and partly due to the knee-length (which could be remedied in the L if necessary.)

Deborah

Veteran

Oh my...I love this dress. Keep both and you can sell me the large when your done with it lol.

I actually think the medium looks great but if you feel better initially with the large, then keep both. This is such a fab dress. I love it on you. This fits the category of dream dress for me. Can you provide a link....pretty please?

Oh yeah....Keep keep keep...got it? :).

Debra

Veteran

I can't seem to enlarge the photos but have looked at the link and love the dress from what I can see I think they both look great but like the length of M best enjoy wearing them

lyn67

Veteran

Yes, why not keep them both! I like them with the jackets, but the size L not that much without.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I think they look great with the toppers. I know it's hard to photograph black, but do you really need the L now? The M looks fine to me.

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