Eileen Fisher - anyone have experience with the brand?

Thistle

I am looking for a workhorse or two pairs of lack trousers. I want them to look polished and professional, but still be comfortable and "mom friendly".

I saw so e good reviews on Nordies for this brand. It is more than I normally pay for pants full price, but I am willing to pay more for a quality workhorse.

Also a bit worried that I don't want them to look matronly. Mom friendly, yes, but not frumpy.

I checked the department stores in my area, and none carry the brand.

Environmentally, I hate shipping something and sending it back, so I thought I would see if any of the lovely ladies here have had any experience.

13 years ago

Shopping

11 replies

Latest reply was from fern

Mann

Active Member

I have experience with Eileen Fisher. It's a brand typically aiming for the more, hmm, mature woman, but has recently started to target younger people. I guess that's me right now. I've been happy with the quality (I have a tunic and a sweater and a belt), but not pants. I've tried on some dresses too. FWIW, their sizing in my opinion seems to run HUGE. I am medium in everything else, but swimming in their medium, and even their small is roomy on me. I think it's because their sweaters/tunics/dresses are supposed to fit really roomy? I wonder if that's the case for pants as well? Sorry I can't be of more help!

13 years ago

kkards

Veteran

i agree with Mann, this brand tends to run large.
the quality is good, but not a brand that i would pay full price for. for basic, everyday black trousers, i would try ann taylor. good quality, much better prices than eileen fisher.

13 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I have a couple of EF pieces and find the quality to be quite good, especially the silk jersey and the knits.

That said, I agree that the fit is often quite drapey, so you might want to size down if you like your clothing to fit more closely to your body. If you pick your pieces carefully and don't wear EF from head to toe, I think her clothes can look quite polished, yet be comfortable and practical for everyday wear because of they withstand laundering quite well. I know that often pack my EF pieces when I travel for exactly these reasons.

13 years ago

Susie

Veteran

I love every piece I've ever had; I think the quality is very good.
The pants I currently have are slim legged in washable crepe. Some pants get baggy after wearing but these maintain their shape very well. I liked them well enough to go back for the black after wearing the charcoal.

I do think the sizing in general runs large.

13 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Thanks For the feedback!

I am in my mid 30s, so not sure where that puts me in the fashion world. Too old for some things for sure.

Hmm, not sure if drapey would be good for a curvy woman like me. I tend to look for structured pants to help balance fuller hips. Perhaps I should try Ann Taylor. I used to love their pants about 10 years ago . . . But then they stopped carrying above a size 12 and I couldn't shop there anymore. Looks like they went back to carrying more sizes.

13 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I used the term "drapey" because of the way most EF tops fit. That said, as Susie, mentioned, the EF slim legged pants can be quite nice. I'm a fairly straight size 8 IT and I've got a pair of EF slim-legged, double-knit pants with a waistband that look very sleek and modern-- and are very comfortable. But I did need to size down to a 6.

13 years ago

Anonymous

I've never bought from Eileen Fisher. I live fitted clothes, so I'm not drawn to their tops and tunics, but the colors are lovely. Have you looked at Talbots? They carry a lot of structured trousers in all sizes. I

13 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

I own a fair number of slim-cut Eileen Fisher trousers and I love them. They are excellent quality and cuts. I am a size 6 or 27 in other brands but take anywhere from a PS to 2 to 6 in EF, so definitely try before you buy, they have their own sizing system.

13 years ago

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

The Eileen Fisher pieces I've had are definitely high-quality and long-lasting. They tend to have a more unstructured cut in trousers, so it just depends on what you're looking for. If you want a traditional flat-front trouser somewhere else might be a better bet. IIRC, Ann Taylor carries up to a 14 in store these days and AT Loft up to 16 or 18, with larger sizes available online.

What about J Jill, do you have them in your area? They are kinda the same feel as Eileen Fisher but not as pricey and maybe in more mom-friendly fabrics.

13 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I checked out Ann Taylor and was surprised at the couple of pair of wool trousers I found. They were wool, but unlined. They did not carry my size in store, only on line, but might be just as well. My fussy skin would not like unlined wool.

We do have a JJill. Perhaps I will try there or Talbots.

13 years ago

fern

Veteran

I love the brand. The quality of the fabric is generally very high.
I think the EF clothes, especially tops, used to be cut more boxy and now they are more drapey. I wear a 12-14 for most bottoms and I am a Medium for Eileen Fisher pants - which they say are sized for a 10-12.
I look for EF in thrift stores, because the clothes really do hold up well, or, since I am consistently an M, I can buy from Ebay with pretty good success.

13 years ago

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