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More cruise prep: in search of a white denim jacket

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I have one of these summertime staples, but I'm not entirely happy with it. I figure my upcoming cruise offers the perfect excuse to track a good one down. I mean, how perfect would it be paired with a cheerfully-coloured top and either jeans or black pants as a travel outfit? And how useful would it be to have something like this for cooler ocean evenings?

Anyway, I've done a little research and found a few options I wanted to run by you. How do these three offerings look to you? Any descriptions you care to offer would be most welcome.

1. Lane Bryant:
http://www.lanebryant.com/shor.....iewed=true

2. Gap (assuming the xxl would work, which I truly don't know):
http://www.gap.com/products/wh.....615744.jsp

3. Old Navy (could someone kindly interpret the size chart, please)?
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....%26cd%3D1%

Thank you all very much.

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from Beth Ann

Meredith1953

Veteran

Hi Michelle,
I couldn't get the Lane Bryant or the Old Navy link to work. The Gap one is cute!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Thanks a lot for the heads-up, Meredith. The links are fixed now.

Anonymous

The Old Navy size chart says their 1X = size 16-18. 2X= 20-22, and so on. FWIW I wear a size larger in Old Navy than I do in Gap for jackets. Good luck!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I like the looks of the Gap jacket, but then I realized it's under the "Girls" section, and not Women - not sure if you noticed. I almost didn't either. I went and looked under "Women" and couldn't find a white denim jacket.

In general though - I agree with Claire, I sometimes take one size larger in Old Navy than in Gap items.

The Lane Bryant one has elbow length sleeves, and personally, I'd rather have a denim jacket with normal length sleeves that I can roll up myself. Not sure how you feel about this aspect - if you want the elbow length sleeves or would prefer regular length?

This potentially leaves it to the ON version. I wonder if anyone's tried that particular jacket yet? I haven't, so can't offer up much in the way of info as to the fit and quality.

jenanded

Veteran

I agree on the full length sleeve option and then you get both lots of wear out of it but can also do a 'french cuff' look or the scrunch up. I think its a very Nigella Lawson look for bodacious chicks like us Michelle which really rocks!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

This is super helpful, guys. Thanks for the size chart clarification, Claire.
VC and Jen, what's your take on the ON jacket? Is it a good style? Is it cropped? How does the LB jacket look, sleeves aside?

jenanded

Veteran

Michelle I like the Gap and Old Navy versions - the white is bright and the silver buttons would work with your colouring. Apart from the sleeves, the stiching on the LB one is distracting for a piece which I think has the potential to work in so many ways... I would then be choosing between them on fit - will you get a chance to try both? I usually find that I get a better fit if its usual sizes (do you call them Missy in the US), sized up rather than plus size outfits which technically fit but are so often cut for apples with thin legs so then are boxy on anyone with a waist). From the photos I have seen of you Michelle, you look like a curvy hourglass like me,... Thats my 2 cents worth anyhow... (and I want one too now you have shown me!!)

Liz

Veteran

Michelle, the Lane Bryant jacket looks like it's cropped to about "high waist" (hard to tell exactly, because the model is wearing it over a flowing dress. The length looks like it would be pretty flexible; it's not super-cropped.
There are embellished silver buttons (they have a celtic cross sort of pattern). Large stitching in a heavy, light gray or taupe thread outlines the front pockets and pocket flaps and the collar. That's not a detail I've seen before in denim jackets, and I can't tell if I like it or not. (the other seams don't have any top stitching.) The fit of the sleeves is not the best on the model; they look a bit tight around the top of her arms and are very loose and wide at her elbows. The sleeve doesn't taper at all from the shoulder, and may even get wider toward the elbow. Hard to tell if the fit issue is caused by the cut of the jacket or by the shape of the models arms (she's a plus size model, but her arms are pretty thin from elbow down to wrist). So maybe the poor fit is because her upper arms are large and then taper pretty quickly from there.
Hope that helps!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Michelle, the ON says it hits below the waist, so not a cropped jacket, unfortunately.

I DO think a jacket of this type could be fantastic for you, by which I mean a cropped white denim jacket. I can really see it looking great on you and fitting into your wardrobe.

By the way, I wasn't on the forum much for the past few weeks but I did at least catch a gimpse of your evening gown thread and hope you have that sorted. I wanted to tell you that you are looking positively wonderful and elegant and the weight loss is very noticeable!! Congratulations.

amyreh

(website)

Veteran

I think if you are wanting a little extra warmth it would be better to stay away from the Lane Bryant one, I'm not crazy about the sleeves personally. I really like the Old Navy one though. It doesn't look cropped, but it doesn't look long either, and it seems to be nicely shaped. I have a regular denim jacket that looks very similar from there that I really like. Hope that helps!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

More looking around...

The white denim jacket you linked from Old Navy is the Plus version, and the photograph isn't very good - hard to tell if it's cropped (I don't think it is). Meanwhile, in the description for the ON plus white denim jacket, it states: "Hits below waist".

But never fear!

I went looking in the regular women's sizes, and lo and behold, this one below has a much nicer-looking picture displayed (I mean, they could be the same jacket, but the photo shown in the regular sized version is brighter and much easier to see the details)...

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....pid=885890

The description for the regular women's white denim jacket states: "Hits at waist". Furthermore, it has sizes up to XXL. The size chart for the regular women's sizes has sizing as follows:

L 12 to 14 CHEST: 38½ to 40½ inches and WAIST: 30½ to 32½ inches

XL 16 to 18 CHEST: 42½ to 45 inches and WAIST: 34½ to 37 inches

XXL size 20 CHEST: 47½ inches and WAIST: 39½ inches

I would try the regular women's jacket, just on the description that it hits at waist, whereas the plus version says hits below waist. It's a nice looking jacket!! (now that I've seen a better photo of it in the regular women's size version).

Are you going to the dress shop again? If so, have the SA measure your bust and waist so know you know which jacket to order, or maybe have your partner do the measuring. Pretty handy to have the charts to go by, because every store's "idea" of what a large is or an extra large is can be quite different.

Try the ON in the regular sizes, and order whichever one corresponds best to chest/waist measurements.

Good luck

editing to add: you could always try a size in the regular women's and a size in the plus, and decide which one you like best, depending on their return policy...if there'd be time to return the non-successful one after your trip.

missvee

Veteran

Just adding my two cents worth here - I agree that the Lane Bryant one is way too frumpy for you. Not only are the sleeves an awkward length, but they appear to be very large in circumference as well.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Oh My!! Those...evocative descriptions of the LB jacket's sleeves are making me run, not walk, away from that badboy. Thanks for preventing a potential snafu.
That ON one does sound like it may have possibilities. Perhaps the plus version could be shortened? I only wonder because I see there's no stretch to that particular garment, which means the chest measurement would have to be pretty close to right on.
Worst-case scenario is I wear the one I already have (see below).

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Kate

Veteran

Michelle, I needed to size up from my usual medium to a large in the Old Navy white denim jacket. The version I have is cropped, but it looks like the plus size version is a longer length, though in every other respect it appears the same. The denim is a great weight and the color is a nice bright white, all in all, a great little jacket—especially for the price.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Thanks a lot for htat, Kate. Yeah, the price is certainly right - a definite consideration for a body in transition! But...it still has to fit. :p And if you had to size up, I wonder how I'd fair. Argh.
Is the bottom banded or more like a normal pant hem? I'm wondering about the possibility of shortening the plus one.

Carole

Veteran

The jacket is banded, Michelle. Not sure about altering the length, but I suppose if you had a good seamstress, that's a possibility.

Just want to add that of all the trips to take with the family, the cruise is a great way to go. So many things for everyone to be doing without all of you having to be together every minute. How are your preparations coming, Michelle? Which cruise are you taking, the Western Carribean?

This will be our 5th cruise coming up and I'm happy yo help with any questions you might have.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Another vote against the Lane Bryant one. I don't like it much at all. I greatly prefer the Old Navy version! For me I prefer a jacket that is not too cropped, as I find that they somehow make my belly look even larger than it is. You are a more "streamlined" than I am, so to speak, so this might not apply to you.

I looked at the size chart for the Old Navy jacket and wrote down the measurements that they give for their plus sizes. Perhaps you could get someone to measure your chest and biceps so you can compare?

1X: 16-18 (chest 45.5 - 47 inches, bicep 14 - 14.75 inches)
2X: 20-22 (chest 49 - 51.5 inches, bicep 15.5 - 16.125 inches)
3X: 24-26 (chest 54 - 56.5 inches, bicep 17 - 17 .875 inches)
4X: 28-30 (chest 59 - 61.5 inches, bicep 18.75 - 19.625 inches)

ETA: I think the one you already have looks fine, too! Are the sleeves rolled up in your photo?

Beth Ann

Veteran

Michelle: You've gotten a lot of good help here already, but I wanted to chime in and say that I have the blue denim version of the Old Navy jacket. I love it. It has a little stretch, which I like, and it's fairly heavyweight denim -- which I like for real jacket weather, although the one I replaced was lighter and more stretchy. I'm usually a size 12 and a 36D bust. The large fit well, although the arms could use a little more room for layering. That said, I have the arms of a farm wife! It isn't really "cropped," which is good for me, because I'm 5'6" and a little long waisted. It comes to my high hip.

Good luck!