How should silk blouses fit? - YouLookFab Forum

Likely there is no one answer, and I'm just having a rant. This harks back to tailored, oversized, and on and on.

How "loose" do you like your silky blouses? How picky are you about the fit?

I ordered a blouse on-line, kind of a cross between a v-neck band collar and collarless, with a pleat in upper back, made in a lightweight silk ? voile or similar fabric. In size 4. I immediately liked it when I tried it on with some planned outfits and was preparing to wear it today with a pencil skirt. When I put it on, I first thought it looked good and updated my skirt with a fresh color and pattern and collar style. It was a bit drapey so while it was not oversized style, a not-too-snug fit to me helps make it less prim with the fitted skirt.

But then before the fateful snipping of the tags, I inspected it some more: when I move my arms, maybe the armholes are just a tad big? The shoulder seam comes maybe a half inch beyond my exact shoulder--hadn't really noticed that. Maybe there could be less fabric in the bust? But not much less! The sleeves (long) are fine but could be an inch shorter and still fine (due to button).

So then I had cold feet about snipping the tags and thought, maybe I should see this in a 4 petite. See, that's why I like stores--I can noodle between sizes and swing my arms and see the trade-offs between the right amount of drapey-ness vs. too big. I can usually tell once I've put them on. Now if I order the petite, I pay another $15 shipping and then of course I will have to pay to return one.

Hmmm--I could have it tailored for about the same cost, but I'm chicken about just taking it up in one place if the smaller size would be best..

I think the psychology of why it's bothering me is that it is rather expensive and I feel like I wish I had a crystal ball to tell me whether there's a more perfect fit, or am I being more picky on this particular item when I should just enjoy it and don't make an even greater investment, or even if I misunderestimate the way it SHOULD fit. The lightweight fabric does allow it to be more "forgiving" of a little extra.

I've never before ordered multiple sizes at once, but I know a lot of folks do that. Still costs more than hitting it out of the ballpark on the first try, but not as much as re-ordering. I may have to start ! I'm pretty sure I can't size down to the 2 regular, but "what if?" I've lost my perspective on whether it even matters!

Oh well--just shoot me now! Any wise words appreciated.

13 years ago

Makrame

Veteran

You can also try calling the customer service to see if they would send you a different size with free shipping. I did this recently with JCrew - I was slightly upset when a skirt I ordered did not fit and fumed over not ordering two sizes at once - then I decided to call. They shipped another skirt without charging a new shipping fee and also gave me the same sale price I got on the original order. I tried both sizes and returned the one that did not fit. I have also done this with Brooks Brothers.

DonnaF

You have described EXACTLY why I almost never order from places that charge for S/H and returns! Today, I just returned over $350 of stuff to Nordstrom. Most was ordered, and some I had even seen in a person. I try to order multiple sizes at once, but sometimes a garment doesn't fit. period. A perfect fit looks so much better than an *almost* fit, even at a bargain price. With fabrications that soften over time, I have found that shoulders that once appeared to fit later start to droop and look big. Then, there's the colors that look different IRL, and fabrics and construction not up to par. . .

I have no universal solution for you, other than playing the odds and assessing whether the S/H will make it worth your while. I'm a Petite, so this means that J. Crew gets almost none of my business because I'm not really their body type and I can't try on their petite stuff in B&M. I have thought about going to their B&M and ordering from there to avoid S/H; would this work for you? I did this at Anthropologie; bought a regular size jacket but felt I needed to order the petite size just to reassure myself. (The regular was more flattering!) I am fortunate that I live in an urban area and so can trek out to most stores to make my returns; I know that not everyone has this option.

As to your particular blouse: I think they should be slightly drapey. With some manufactures, a 4P would fall between a 2 and a 4 in terms of bust, waist, and hip size, so maybe it would fit better. Or not. Maybe you can post a photo?

Caro in Oz

I think for expensive it needs to fit really well to begin with & need minor alterations only. Fit in the shoulder & armhole & across the bust are particularly important & usually harder to fix.

unfrumped

Feedback really does help! It had never occurred to me to call and explain my dilemma in hopes of FS, so I may do that. If no FS I may still consider trying another size as just the "cost" of shopping.

CindyReyes

Member

Silk blouses are the most comfortable. If they are loose we can tighten the but the tight ones will eventually get torn if try to wear. So its always better to sew with the with larger size.

12 years ago

viva

I also like being able to try different sizes without being penalized and think Makrame has a great idea of calling to get the online store's help.
But as for the fit of a silk blouse, I think it probably depends on how you are wearing it. Is it for a conservative, tucked-in-with-suit, kind of wear? In that case, I would want a better fit on the shoulder and arm-holes. Still not tight by any means, so with some drape (that's the benefit of silk) but minimal, not at all oversized. Or, is it for a more fluid kind of look -- more likely to be worn in a semi- or faux-tuck with pants? This is how I wear my silk blouse, and the fit is definitely looser. It's not oversized per se, but it is drapier. Everything is just a little bit big, the feeling is maybe 1/3 or 1/2 a size bigger than a perfect fit. It gives it a more fluid, sexier feel. I can wear this more conservatively, tucked in, but it doesn't look great because there is a little too much fabric to stay tucked. It really likes to hang out in a semi- or faux-tuck. (And I should say, this is how the blouse is designed to fit. I ordered my regular size. It's a JCrew blouse.) Hope this is helpful.

Snowqueen

Active Member

I usually go for the kind of fit Viva describes. I like the kind of loose drapey fit that Equipment blouses have. I can wear a size 4 in most of the J Crew silk blouse if they are tucked into a pencil skirt, but I usually order up a size so I can get something that is a little more fluid.

Category