Moment of truth: keep or return this skirt? - YouLookFab Forum

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Moment of truth: keep or return this skirt?

stringy

Veteran

This is it: the Karen Walker skirt that I ordered after much soul-searching about whether or not I should pay for a designer skirt. It's fantastic: the fabric, the quality, the lining, the pockets!, the colour, the construction. It also came with a free belt.

I truly love it and feel like it's exactly what I need to fill a wardrobe hole - I can wear it casually or dress it up, in summer or in winter with tights and ankle boots, and with a lot of colours I already own. Like Transcona Shannon's jacket, this skirt speaks to my heart!

But.... I have two issues.

1) Does it suit me? I'm very self-conscious about my belly and I feel like this doesn't sit well with it. I am watching what I eat and doing exercise, so this should be a temporary problem. But I buying something in case it suits me later doesn't seem wise.

2) Does the frill around the waist make it less versatile? The catalogue and website pictures always show it with tucked shirts and tanks. But what if I want to wear a skirt-length shirt over the top?

I really value YLF opinions, and I really love this skirt. But if it's not to be, it's not to be. Let me know what you think.

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Sveta

Deborah

Veteran

Stringy, you look so fresh and pretty! I think the way you have styled the skirt looks really lovely. I do think wearing a top over the skirt could unbalance the proportions so I think tucked is the best option. Also given the skirt has fullness, a nice slimline top like you are wearing is a good choice. You could try a fitted cotton blouse and see how that looks for another option.

Lantana

Veteran

It suits you alright! I agree with Deborah about staying with "tucked". When it's cooler you might want to try a 3/4 sleeve, wide neck, close fitting top such as a leotard or body suit. You could also try an ultra cropped top over the top you're wearing here. You have all the options of the colours in the skirt to play with and could try a wider belt to cinch the waist more if you wanted to. You can tell it's a beautiful skirt and you look like you're enjoying wearing it. You know, you look just gorgeous and your tum is not taking centre stage at all, even though you might feel it is.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I think it suits you now, it is a beautiful skirt and I agree with the styling suggestions so far. For what it's worth my unbiased 3 year old DD said "Oooh I like her dress" and she has no filter.

Sharon

Veteran

It's a very pretty skirt, and I think it looks lovely on you. One suggestion I have if you want to de-emphasize your waist is to try swapping out the belt for a darker colour. At the moment, the bright white belt draws my eye immediately. I don't think your tummy is really the problem you think it is, though - you look great just the way you are. I vote follow your heart.

Anonymous

I'd suggest a wider, darker belt and to keep the top fitted as you did. You could do untucked, as long as the edge of the shirt hits you at the right spot on your hip. I would think a jersey fabrication would look better untucked, as opposed to a blouse, per say. I vote keep.

ETA to add a couple ideas from the intewebs. I think the second pic is from Antro. I'd *might* lose the pink scarf on the first pic.

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Transcona Shannon

Veteran

This skirt is beautiful - my goodness, the colours are gorgeous! I totally agree with the slim silhouette, tucked in top and love Zapotee's idea of a wider belt and her photo of the felt with a belt.

Queen Mum

Veteran

Have you tried styling it with a jacket? Just with the tank top is not the best silhouette IMO.

Anonymous

I love the skirt and I can see why you like the pattern and fabric so much. The thing that concerns me are *your* concerns. I think the gathers at the waist could make it hard for a lot of people to wear (myself included). How does it make you feel (psychologically)? If there is any discomfort with your *perceived* problem area, then you might not reach for it as often as you hope to.

If, on the other hand, it makes you feel fab and like you could conquer the world, then you will wear it all the time and feel awesome every time you do. I think a slim fitting tucked in top will be your best bet with this skirt. Can you play around with it and see how many different ways you could wear it to determine it's versatility? Taking (and posting) lots of pictures should help tremendously in making your decision.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I agree with QM--this would be fab with a cropped denim jacket or white (or black) moto jacket on top! Or a close-fitting top with longer sleeves. I also agree with Claire. How do you feel when you wear this? This skirt looks really pretty on you, but if you feel self-conscious, you won't want to wear it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Stringy, I have to say it how I see it and I apologize for being a spanner amongst the positive feedback :(.

I don't find the paper bag waist detailing and multiple gathers flattering around the torso. It's a VERY hard style to wear even when you aren't self conscious about the midsection. It's also not a versatile silhouette if that was your hope.

However, the photo might not do the skirt justice. There is a shadow behind your black tank top that could be playing tricks with my eyes. I know you love this skirt - so if you like, take a photo outside sans the shadows and lets have one last look!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Ialso want to suggest pulling it up a bit higher with your next photos. I have a similarly structured skirt, and if it slips down a bit it looks much less flattering.

stringy

Veteran

Thanks as always for your feedback! I do feel great in it, it's just when I look at the photo that I'm not so convinced.

Here it is with an untucked tee, just to see. I started with the everything smoothed out, but as you can see after a few minutes of moving around it chose it's own positioning

Angie, in your opinion do you think it would be worth having it altered? Or is that trying to force the skirt to be something it's not? The skirts section on this page has my one and it's sister style, which seems to have a flatter waist section: http://shop.karenwalker.com/co.....h-mainline (I'm keeping an eye on that page and the sales page - if one of the flatter waist ones gets returned perhaps I could exchange them).

Chewy, my natural waistline seems to be quite high up and the skirt sits nicely there - but then I look like I have no torso! I think because of all the gathers in the fabric, and I have a small chest so there's no balance. Hmm. Will ponder this some more.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The style with the box pleats is better for sure - although it looks like its sold out

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Sorry, but I don't like the way it looks under a tee--the paper bag waist under another layer makes you look wider than you really are. I would go for the flatter waist one if you can.

I just have to say though, that the orange "cash chiffon" dress on that page has me swooning!

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Marley

Veteran

Stringy - I think that the paperbag waist makes this skirt really hard to style. I cannot imagine any kind of top that would look good if worn untucked with this skirt, because of that ruffle around the waist! I think that the skirt is really pretty on you - but if you are looking for a versatile skirt that you can wear a lot of different ways with a lot of different tops, I just can't see this being the one!

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

While I love the fabric and print, I think you're going to need to put a little effort into styling this; I love the idea of wearing a thick black belt over the top of the waistband, effectively covering the paperbag waist...I also think trying this with a black jacket on the shorter side might open up new possibilities.

Anonymous

I still think that putting a belt over the top could attack the paperbag waist issue, IMO. See pic below.
I don't like neither of the three pieces in the pic, but you get the idea.
I am coming from the standpoint that you seem to be very, very excited about this item. I think you could make it work.
I second the suggestion of a cropped jacket as well.
Is this silk? I assume the fabric is thin and not too much bulk, right?

Also, I am not sure how far you are willing to go, this is a pricey skirt to start with, but eliminating the paperwaist is a very easy tailoring job. The only thing that might be needed is to lay a flat waistband over it. I think these type of skirts are born with a paperwaist

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The challenge is not just the paper bag waistband, but the gathers that it leaves behind as a result. If you remove the waistband, the gathers are still there, right? In my opinion, those types of gathers are really hard to wear - unless you aren't self conscious about your torso at all.

Stringy, wearing a long tee over the rather bulky skirt as in your second photo is not the solution either. To my eye, that look does not do cute you justice.

Zap, I think that skirt in the photo is cut on the bias. It might not have a gathered waistband.

Anonymous

I know Angie I was just trying to illustrate the belt over the top idea. I see your point, however, with the gathers.

Just wondering - Could one "hold down" the gathers with a straight stitch to then create a flat waistband and stitch it on top of the gathers? I admit my sewing skills are below basic - just a few years spent in high school.

Ahhh.... tailoring is too much hassle, especially for this amount of money.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are creative, Zap! A box pleated skirt with stitched down box pleats is hands down the most flattering option for a pleated style. Sunrays and knife pleats in drapey fabrics are great too. Does that give you a better idea?

Anonymous

Yes Angie! Thanks for the explanation and the compliment!
Are you still swaying towards return?

stringy

Veteran

I'm still very much on the fence. One difficult-to-style item in a wardrobe full of neutrals and co-ordinates isn't that bad, is it? I'm not used to loving something impractical, this is a first for me Maybe I could just hang it up on the wall and look at it

The gathers are from the elastic part of the waistband, just below the frill. If you stretch the waistband out, the gathers flatten out, as does the paper-bag section. I'm not sure if that has any impact on the tailoring option?

I do have a tailor who is very very good - I'd trust her with the job *if* this is a fixable problem.

Lantana

Veteran

I'm still for keeping this skirt. To my eye, it is sitting at below your natural waist. I see your waist arc in the black top and above the paper bag ruffle. Are you still in love with it? ....I am!

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Stringy, I have tummy issues too, and although this is a lovely, romantic, and unique skirt, I can understand your hesitance about the gathered waist and feeling self-conscious. It truly is a pretty item, though. Still, it has to fit well and make you look and feel your best. You mentioned your tummy is "temporary" because you are exercising regularly and eating well - perhaps your tummy will shrink a bit and the skirt will look better proportioned on you then...? At this moment, though, I think a flat-front skirt (perhaps in a similar print and fabric, with a flared bottom) will flatter you better! I've got some beautiful pieces just hanging in the closet all lonely, waiting for me to shrink my tummy back to pre-baby size! I also have pieces I can wear today!

stringy

Veteran

I have returned the skirt today.

::sheds a tear::
::puts on brave face::

It really isn't going to fill the wardrobe gap that I have if it's not going to be versatile. I truly loved the fabric, but the skirt itself was just not going to work for me, and at that price I really needed it to be a staple, not a once-in-a-while item that needs special treatment.

Lessons learned:
- get on the Karen Walker mailing list, so I can find and try things on before they sell out. My remote location makes this important.
- paying for quality is worth it.
- it's not that hard to return an unneeded item, I should do it more often.
- Shop til you Drop magazine (where I first saw this skirt) really does unearth some of the best items out there each season.

Thanks everyone for your honest and reliable advice, especially Angie. I don't know how I'd ever make important wardrobe decisions without you all!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for keeping us posted, Stringy. A KILLER skirt is waiting for you somewhere!

MNsara

Veteran

That WAS very brave of you, Stringy, to trust that you'll find the perfect skirt and to not have $$$ tied up in a near-miss. Good work!

You've also learned some good lessons there that should help with finding it

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Stringy, I missed the main part of the conversation in the heat of the moment but I am glad you posted and glad I stopped by to read; this is a fascinating and very useful conversation. I loved being able to watch your thought process and see what you took away from it all. Thank you! And sorry this lovely item didn't work out for you.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I am late here, Stringy, but I think you made the right decision. And lessons learned from this experience -priceless IMO.
I do hope that your perfect skirt is somewhere there waiting for you...