Keep or return : lots of pics

I've just taken delivery of a large order, and I've already discounted 5 jackets and 2 tops because of fit/quality issues. This is what's left!

The tops I am wearing in 1 to 11 are just what I happened to be trying on - they're layering tanks - not what I would wear with the clothes (I haven't unpacked next season's clothes from storage yet).

1-4 Black jacket - to be part of my 'going out' capsule, as well as to wear with jeans and a big scarf. I like the way it fits - what do you think?

5-8 Grey pants (they have a sort of self-stripe - see close up #8). I like to wear more 'formal' pants occasionally, to stop myself always wearing jeans (I'd quite like to find something that's inbetween formal pants and jeans, actually, but that's another thread!). I like the way they fit, but do I look like I'm wearing part of a suit??!

9-12 Dark brown pants - as the grey pants, really - they have a slight self-patter (see #12) - and the same question as above applies!

13 Teal bag with purple rosettes - I love the size, shape, colour and usability of this bag - but it's not leather. It looks lovely and squishy, but would it be better to hold out until I find something similar in leather that I can afford (I find it hard to find bags that are the right size, shape etc that I like).

14 and 15 Patterned skirt. I love the pattern of this skirt, and the colours. But when I came to try it on, I could only find this sweater that 'goes' with it. It's also a very light fabric, you could easily wear it in the summer, and I wanted it to wear with these brown suede boots. Any input? Or should it go back, as it's just too limiting (I would probably only want to wear it a couple of times from now until the much colder weather hits).

Any ideas/styling tips/input gratefully received!

This post has 15 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

14 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

everything looks like it fits really nice. It's hard to advise on the bag... do you feel that you're settling with this one? or do you feel that you would get alot of use out of it?
Skirts are hard too... I like it with that teal top and boots. On the one hand, it would be nice to have other things that it can go with , but on the other hand, it is a nice outfit as is...

ButterflyLady

(website)

With the bag, I think if another leather one came along that was affordable, I'd want to buy it - maybe that's a sign I shouldn't have this one!

It's very difficult - I am thinking I may keep the grey pants, but not the brown, as I have more tops and sweaters that would work with them. I just feel a bit like my clothes are very predictable in the winter - pants/tank/cardigan or pants/tank/wrapover sweater lol!

kimlee

I like everything that you have chosen and think that each item fits well. If you were to choose to keep only one pair of the pants, I vote for the grey. Those are just my thoughts.

rae

I agree w/kimlee. The gray are a smidge more flattering than the brown, but both are nice overall.

Could the bag be a stop-gap item that you can use until you find the perfect one in real leather?

The grey pants are keepers I think.

rae - I am looking online to see if I can see anything that might be a 'possible' bag, (I only have 6 days before I have to return all this, the return policy of this store is awful ) If I can't see anything, I may keep it as a stop gap, as I only have a huge black bag for winter, really.

catgirl

Everything seems to fit nicely! I do think the pants have a bit of an office vibe, but that's not a bad thing if you want to step up from jeans. I prefer the grey as well. As for the skirt, I just revisited my orphans skirts and finally let them go - several were just to hard to find matches for due to color, fit, etc. It was a little traumatic, because skirts are my easiest item to fit and I tend to collect them. From that perspective, if you don't have enough to match it or pattern mix, send it back before it becomes a sad, lonely orphan!

Una - you're right about the skirt, it's definitely a possible orphan!

Re the pants - I wish I could find something that wasn't jeans, but wasn't like these formal pants. I find it really hard to style jeans, the looser fit of pants like these I find easier to find suitable tops for (apologies for the terrible English in that last sentence!)

I know what you mean! Black is a good option for dressed-up denim. Also, the Gap has a lot of options with different cuts in trousers....

http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=57240

Kat

I think you've got some great finds here. Great fit all-around. As to the pants, are they both filling a need? Sounds like the grey fits in a bit better as your more predominate neutral, but would the brown fill a gap in your closet? The skirt is lovely on you, and lovely as you've styled it. It seems like the sort of thing (color and style-wise) that you wouldn't have a terrible time finding additional top options to work with....Maybe commit to looking for one other workable top and, if not, return it to avoid an orphan skirt as others have mentioned.

ruthe

Active Member

I like everything you are modeling.
#1-4 black jacket fits great. Like the cut and style.
#5-8 doesn't look like part of a suit to me.
#9-12 I'm with all the others.
#13 If you want leather, I'd hold out unless you just need a bag now.
#14-15 It's a little hard to see (using my netbook), but you can actually wear many colors with this skirt. Not knowing what colors you favor, perhaps golden yellow or spice would possibly look nice.
BTW...The walls behind you...I like.

Anonymous

I agree with the others, it looks like everything fits you so well! I especailly love the print on the skirt!
If you love the bag, keep it. I recently broke my "only real leather bags" rule and I'm having a lot of fun with it! As long as it wasn't astronomically expensive, I'd use it as a stop gap too, and try out the style while keeping my eyes peeled!

Great lot! I would pick the grey herringbone pants over the brown, as well, and I would keep the skirt. I really like its pattern and you could also pair both the dark background and the light (off white?) circular border colors in it. That makes at least 4 different top colors you could choose, assuming you have them on hand. As for the bag, I forever steered clear of non leather but ended up really liking my fake leather pewter crossbody I bought last winter. It's very soft, not to mention so much more affordable!

Right, ladies, I've 'slept on it' (my mother always said that you should sleep on things, and you'll find you can decide more easily - and she was right!), and I am going to keep the black jacket and that's it (well, I also ordered some socks, but I didn't model those for you, but I'm keeping them!!). If I change my mind then these things will be in the store for a while yet, so I can get them if I need them

Reading Una's post reminded me that I bought some black sort of jeans-style pants - or perhaps they are pants-style jeans lol (they are in my 'may need hemming' pile at the moment) a few weeks ago, which are different enough from jeans to please me, and not as formal as the pants on this thread. I also realised, when thinking about tops to style with these pants, that actually what I need are more tops. I already have jeans, 2 pairs of black pants, one pair of brown pants, one pair of very subtle check pants and the black pants I just mentioned, but only about 7 different options to wear with them all - no wonder I was getting bored and feeling like I was wearing the same clothes everyday!

Mo - I love the print of the skirt too, but at the moment I only have that top that works with it. I will work on more options for tops, and then see if the skirt is still available.

So now I'm shopping for less formal pants and more tops! Thank you so much - I never would have worked any of this out on my own - I would have just thought it all fits, I'll buy it, and end up with closet orphans and nothing to wear!

Category