Help - NAS Dilemma (eta: quick decision made) - YouLookFab Forum

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Help - NAS Dilemma (eta: quick decision made)

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ok ladies - I need your wisdom and reason here. I have vowed to not purchase any more clothing until what I have no longer fits (on weight watchers plan) and I truly don't need anything for fall. I have however expressed two items to refresh my fall wardrobe - one is a replacement pair of boots for my soon departing Doc Marcies. The other is a hope to add a dress or two to my fall/winter wardrobe. I was not planning on adding that dress now though.

However Angie has included in her NAS picks an Eileen Fisher dress http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ei...../3752573?f that I have fallen seriously in love with and would work brilliantly with my new style direction. I note that Angie has indicated it fits large. I would size down to a Petite Medium (the same size as my EF drape front dresses) which would mean it would most likely fit now and would work for a few pounds down due to the style.

The NAS price is significantly lower than I would be paying at any other time. So my question is: does it make sense to purchase it now knowing I will be able to wear it for a couple of months anyway? Do you think it is the type of style that Wonder Woman could alter in the event it becomes too large? Or should I just walk away? I'm caught between purchasing for the body I have now (which this dress would work for - only not to wear in the killer summer heat we're having now) and not purchasing in the hope it won't fit by November - HELP!

Shopping

24 replies

Latest reply was from cheryle (Dianthus)

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

Do you NEED it? NOW?
I'm not being flippant, just saying these are the two questions I'd answer first.

Sadie

Not to try to sway you, but it is Nordstom's- purchase now, keep tags on, and re-assess in a few months when you see where your weight is/how it fits. Then return if you don't like the fit, regret the purchase, etc.

Neel

Veteran

Shannon, when I saw the dress I did think of you! EF always reminds me of you. But the high neckline and the flared style gives me a slight pause. What do you think about those two factors?

Astrid

Veteran

I wouldn't order it. It's a nice dress, alright. But you have so many other great things! And I think your decision not to shop until your current clothes won't fit is sensible.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Alexandra - nope. Don't need it now.

Sadie - good point. Nordstrom's has the BEST return policy.

Neel - ah ha! You are very wise I don't usually wear a higher neckline as it's not as flattering on my shorter neck and I don't wear flared skirts either. In fact, that's one of the reasons I purged my citron flared skirt. I always felt "hippy" (and not the 1960's kind of hippy!) in it. I do prefer a tapered bottom. Definitely something to think about.

Astrid - I think I'm leaning that direction. Thanks for the input.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Alright. I'm part way through my first cup of coffee now and feeling much calmer. Just got caught up in the NAS fun and have taken the dress out of my cart. Nope. Not buying it. Sticking to my plan.

Thanks for talking me down off the ledge Alexandra, Neel and Astrid

Astrid

Veteran

Coffee always helps!

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

Yay for coffee!

kerry

Veteran

Hey Shannon, a little help? Do you have Nordstrom orders shipped directly to you? I'm thinking of my first Eileen Fisher purchase at NAS and wonder if the duty negates the savings. Also can you advise on sizing in EF?

Neel

Veteran

*giggle* Good girl

ETA: Thank god I can't shop NAS lol!

chadya

Veteran

good plan

too easy to get caught up in the AS frenzy

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Good decision Shannon - I placed a couple of things in my cart too, then removed them after carefully considering the items, my needs and the reviews. I didn't need them.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

In my world, coffee solves EVERYTHING - lol!

kerry - Nordstrom's shipping & duties is very pricey and for regular priced items, it just isn't worth it to me to buy and ship. On average, I would say an order of a single dress would cost somewhere around $40 - $50. What I have done is put the item in my cart and gone through the checkout process as far as I can without hitting the "buy" button - you can then see what the total will be to ship and make your decision from there. Sometimes it's worth it and sometimes it isn't. As for EF sizing, I find I need to size down. I'm a petite large in all other brands but take a petite medium in EF.

Good for you textstyle

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Good decision, Shannon. If it is not needed, it's not needed. And if it IS the right dress for you, there will be other chances to purchase.

<said by one who just DID push the button for a few items...blushing now and slinking away....>

BUT in my defence, they are needs not wants (short weatherproof boot and a cardigan for at home wear) and some will not be keepers -- just examining the merchandise, LOL.

kerry

Veteran

Thanks Shannon!

Neel

Veteran

Rofl@Suz - Examining the merchandise?

Sadie

Suz- I just purchased a bunch too! I noticed most of the items in which I was interested were not available in store but only on-line. Hence my order is kind of a virtual dressing room. Even though I got 8 things, all 8 may go back (kind of the same as when I shop in physical stores).

Glory

Veteran

Shannon good girl - staying strong!
I am sticking to my rule of not buying items that I have to pay duty and shipping for! That is my mantra but it can be pretty hard.
I will admit to having a cart with 5 items in it - full of Angie's picks. But I won't press the button because of exactly what Shannon has mentioned.
There is a bright side - March 6 Nordstrom is opening here in Ottawa - perhaps a meet up will be needed. Maybe they will also offer an online service

AviaMariah

Veteran

Good choice Shannon! And I love Suz' line "just examining the merchandise!". Sometimes I order like I'm in the store and just trying stuff on for fun and when the packages start rolling in I wonder what in the word I was thinking!!

unfrumped

Veteran

I see you've already decided, and that seems like the right approach, to me. I wouldn't look at it so much as you can't buy anything until a certain time, but just that you are likely to be able to continue to find more EF items at good prices (regular sales, ebay) and perhaps items better for your style than this particular dress, or this dress may go on sale again somewhere (Nordstrom, Neiman's). Or, you might find a perfect item at a perfect time for you (season, weight change, special occasion) and will pay a higher price if needed to get the "right thing for the right need". So I think it's more that you are not as much into shopping seasons ahead--don't feel like you have to store up items due to sale prices. Enjoy storing up some "shopping opportunity credits" to celebrate progress or events.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Gloria, March 6 for Ottawa? Oh, happy dance!!! I go to Ottawa every April for meetings, and the last I knew it was just "spring 2015" so I have been praying it wouldn't be the weekend after I'm there or something. Fingers crossed that some sort of online thingie is also coming...

Made my day.

Sorry Shannon, total segue, but sounds like you're sorted

rachylou

Veteran

Good job, Shannon!

Neel - you're awake this morning! (At least, it's morning for me ;))

Deborah

Veteran

Shannon, late to this and I see you made your decision. Just wanted to encourage the decision you made:). Also I joust wanted to mention that I am not sure this dress really does fit the style direction you are going in. This is purely my opinion but I thought it might be worth sharing:). I find this style of dress quite unflattering on my shape. As you know we are similar, I know my waist is smaller but I think we share more body similarities than less. The handkerchief hem isn't as "stylish" iMHO as say an straight but asymmetric hemlne, which I think has a bit of edge. I tried something on that was very similar a month ado and it felt messy and untidy due to the hem line. I felt I was channeling Stevie Nicks... Gorgeous woman but not the look I'm going for!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

Not that I mean to highjack but I am highly doubtful that the Nordstrom in Canada will be anything like the U.S. stores. I was in TO a few weeks ago and saw a pair of ikat shorts in the J Crew window display that I bought last year on clearance at the Gap. I remember being extremely happy when J Crew opened in Canada but very disappointed when I saw the price and selection difference. Sigh.