Help with my NAS dilemna - YouLookFab Forum

Due to a sudden and uncharacteristic fit of adult behavior I set myself a budget for the NAS this year. (it's a fine budget, but a budget nonetheless.) Here's my challenge: I'm working fairly hard to lose a dress size by the end of the year. So I focused on shoes, and things I thought would still work if I lost 10-15 lbs, like slouchy tops and a slightly snug skirt.

But I couldn't resist trying on the teal leather jacket I had my eye on. And I am in love: it fits me perfectly: a bit snugger than on the model here and the color is fabulous with my green eyes, if I do say so myself. It's a perfect length for me: so many plus size jackets are longer than I like. But if I buy it then many more practical things will need to go back.

If it weren't for my weight loss goal I think I'd keep it for sure, but if I lose a size will this look too big? I'm guessing the difference would be that it looks a bit looser than on the model since now it fits me a bit snugger (but totally wearable now.) Advice?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/jo.....sultback=0

13 years ago

Anonymous

Go for it! Nordstrom has such an excellent return policy and you probably won't be wearing it until fall anyway. Then you might better be able to judge the fit as you will probably have lost more by then.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I kind of have my eye on that jacket too. Haven't tried it yet, but it's on my list.

My advice is that a leather jacket like this can still look good even if it's a bit slouchy-ish, and I also personally find that outerwear takes longer to 'show' in terms of sizing - ie. gaining or losing weight. I don't know about leather jackets in general, but I do know that my trench coats and wool winter coats could withstand a 10 lb. weight loss and still look good. This is *not* the case with things like pants, tailored blazers, close-fitting skirts.

The other thing I wanted to say is that I think it's important to feel fab while you're working on losing the few pounds that you want to lose. You will feel much better about yourself if you have an amazingly gorgeous jacket to wear throughout fall and winter.

Speaking personally, I have 'been there and done that' when it comes to kind of restricting clothing purchases because I wanted and planned to lose some weight, and to be totally honest - in my case, it kind of backfires a tiny bit. It backfires because it's hard enough to lose weight without feeling less than fab. Does that make sense? The more fab you feel the easier it seems to keep on keeping on with a particular challenge - whether it's losing weight, taking on a new career or what have you. I guess what I'm trying to say is that when you're working hard at achieving something, this is the best time to buy something nice for yourself and feel good about your style. When working on a challenge - anything and everything you can do to boost your confidence (and joy!) is a very good idea.

I vote get the jacket! Love it and enjoy it - all fall, winter and perhaps even into early spring. It's a great colour - kind of seasonless, if you ask me. The fact that the jacket is a little bit snugger on you now than it is on the model in the picture is great - this buys you even more time to look and feel fabulous in this jacket

jayne

great advice here , VC & joy! buy

Abie

Oh wow, that is one FAB jacket!! If you can afford it and you love it, I say buy. It will likely still fit nice a size down and if you get to fall 2013 and it no longer fits you can likely sell it and recoup a decent return as great plus size leather jackets are very difficult to find.

ugh - I am sooooo lusting after leather jackets now.

and I'd love to hear more about your NAS experience in plus =)

Janet

(website)

This is such a beautiful color! I think VC makes a good point about outerwear. I have a few jackets from before my 10-15 lb weight loss last year -- they fit more loosely now but are still wearable, especially with layers underneath. I think you should keep it. It's such an un unusual color for a leather jacket! It matches my eyes too, so I was a little disappointed the fit was off for me. But just a little, I already have a bountiful jacket collection!

Nadya

Abie,
I had a great time! The only disappointment was that the one dress online, the Calvin Klein color block, wasn't in store to try on.

The pleated skirts Angie mentioned were very pretty, and I was tempted, but decided it just wasn't me. I don't have my rubric yet, but I know structure or tailored is part of it, for work, at least.

There's a great basic v neck cardigan: it's a fine gauge so it might be wearable say four months in Florida
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/se.....n=category

I quite like this skirt and am probably keeping it, unless I find the Costco one and don't want both.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/se.....n=category
I thought the ponte knit skirts in turquoise and purple showed too many bumps on me: I didn't want something that required Spanx. But YMMV and I could definitely see them as a warm weather skirt with a breezy top.

Lots of great tops: the Vince Camuto high contrast blouse (feather light but you'd have to wear a cami underneath), some really pretty Nic and Zoe fine gauge cardigans. I also liked the Foxcroft tencel shirt in grey and blue.

I also did some shopping for tops in Point of View and Narrative and ended up with a striped cowl from one of them and a blouse. Thanks to the slouchiness of this season, Misses XLs sometimes fit better than 1x tops. You may find the same since I think we're a similar size.

Overall, I'd say check it out and see if there are some pieces that work for your climate and your wonderful sense of style.

Thank you everyone for your advice and support! I am keeping the jacket and am now having fun running different scenarios to see what else makes the cut. (Numbers geek!)

I realized that part of my hesitation is that many many NAS's ago I bought a leather blazer and in a couple years it was too small and I handed it on to a dear friend. I think that's made me a bit wary since they are definitely an investment. But it also reminded that jacket had a happy ending! You all helped me think this through and I YLF-promise to wear the heck out of this as soon as the weather allows. I'm hoping for a long dry fall!

Yay! I am so excited that you got the jacket. I am really starting to edge over to team leather jacket. I am in Austin so I think our weather is similar. I get maybe 3-4 months that I can wear a jacket so from that perspective it would not get a lot of wear.

On the other side. my winter strategy is really my summer clothes plus tights and a maybe a jacket. I need very few winter specific items. Maybe it would be ok to splurge on something like that then wear and enjoy the heck out of it when I can.

I'm not shopping until the 20th so I still have some time to mull it over.

I really like the pencil skirt. I am interested to try the pleated ones for myself. Also interested in the foxcroft tops. I was in love with a denim tencel foxcroft at the beginning of the season but I guess everyone else was too because it quickly sold out in my size before I was able to snatch one.

I will be checking misses too. I think sometimes it's nice to be able to shop both sections, but sometimes it's a real headache =)

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