Shopping trip report & thoughts on couple of Zara items - long post

Tanya

I went to a little shopping trip today, I went to our main shopping street and stopped at couple of stores. I also went to huge fancy nearby mall, but by the time I was there (6:15 pm) all the stores were closed, which I wasn't expecting, since the mall I usually go to is open till 9:30 pm. Oh well. I didn't buy anything, but I did spot a couple of potential purchases.

First I went to H&M, which didn't have too many new things since my last visit. I tried on a gorgeous cream cowlneck sweater with elbow length sleeves. I would have bought it, but the quality was so bad that it started piling significantly while I was trying it on, so I sadly passed. I also tried on a nice fitted dark purple corduroy jacket that worked well, but I decided to wait on Angie's corduroy post next week. I already have a couple of corduroy jackets: cream, grey, brown and lavender, but I actually get a lot of wear out of them. I'd really like to add the purple one to the collection.

Then came Filene's Basement, which was a huge frustration, mainly due to the lack of small sizes - everything usually started from 6/8 or M up. They did have a lot of cute items from my favorite brands: Theory, BCBG, Elie Tahari, but none in my size. I tried on a pair of Joe's Muse wide-legged jeans and really liked them, the wide leg was not extreme like it tends to be with this style. Unfortunately they had those pesky whiskers ( grr) so I passed. I found a pair of gorgeous Franco Sarto spectator shoes called Brandy. It came in two color combos and I couldn't decide which ones I liked more, so I decided to ask you for an advice and then go back. Unfortunately Filene's does not allow photos and I couldn't find them anywhere on line, so I'll try to describe them.
The shape of shoe and heel is exactly the same like these, without the strap:

http://www.endless.com/Franco-.....co%20Sarto

They were all patent, spectator style with three colors, one combo was black/ slate grey/stone and the other dark plum/mauve/cream. Which do you prefer?

The final stop was Zara, they had a lot of cute things but again sizes were frustrating. Same items started from XS and some from S, some S items were to small and some XS too big. I found two skirts I liked, they are both plaid and a bit funky. I am trying to decide which one (or if any) to get. Please use CRS to help me determine that. I apologize for the poor photo quality and angle, the dressing rooms were tiny and the lightening very bright.

Skirt 1 - black & white plaid
http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....skirt1.jpg

Skirt2 - plaid in whole bunch of neutrals
http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....skirt2.jpg

Finally, there was this incredible jacket I fell in love with. They didn't have it in XS or S so I tried on M for the photo, but of course it is way too big.

http://s300.photobucket.com/al.....jacket.jpg

The jacket is plaid in shades of grey, with very subtle silvery sheen. It has asymmetric closure and tiny gathers and the side that form peplum. Now it is also pretty pricy, $170. I have been looking for a statement piece to treat myself to for my upcoming b-day, so I'd like your opinions on it and if you think it would be worth it. In that case I'd try to find it in smaller size in some other stores that would require driving out of the city.

Thank you very much for your opinions and for reading through this "War and Peace" of mine !

17 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hi Tanya! Thanks for the report.

First of all, I LOVE those FS shoes you posted. I instantly added the red pair to my list, hee hee. The ones you found sound very pretty as well. The mauve/plum/cream sound really interesting and unusual, and seem very much like you. I can see you getting a lot of use out of them with your wardrobe, even into the spring. Also, do you still have those grey Me Too booties from the NAS? I think you have a lot of grey/black/cream shoes (although maybe not all together on one shoe). So I vote for the purple shoes.

I'm a huge fan in general of plaid skirts. Maybe it's the angle of the photographs or something--I prefer the second green/brown one, although I'd like to see it from more of a straight on angle if possible.

The jacket is totally awesome! I'd definitely try to find that in your size. I can think of all sorts of ways to wear it--jeans, black pencil skirt, etc. Really nice--if I had a Zara anywhere near me I'd be all over it.

Ooh, birthdays! I'll soon have to figure out what to get for myself too, hee hee.

17 years ago

Dani

Veteran

Tanya, sounds like you had an eventful day as well today. It's been a busy weekend of shopping in the Boston area

Those spectator shoes are great. I think the purple could be fun, especially since you wear so much purple.

I prefer the first skirt for some reason, but I agree with Ana, it would be better to see them from another point of view, but I know dressing rooms are cramped and poorly lit for photo opportunities. Which did you prefer?

I LOVE that jacket and can see you sporting that very well this fall. I would hunt down your size for sure! Does Zara offer any assistance in finding your size? I have no idea, we don't even have anything close to a Zara or H&M near me so my shopping knowledge is limited on this subject.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Thank you for your opinions Ana & Dani!

Ana, I am glad you like those shoes I think both you & Dani are right, I'll go for the purple spectators and then later return them if you guys disapprove of them. yes, I kept those grey NAS oxfords, Although I still need to exchange them for a non-defective pair, I've been lazy about that.

I am completely undecided about the skirts. I'd wear them with boots and fitted jackets for fall. I only want to get one if it's least 9 in CRS and also won't date too fast.

The jacket, well I'm swooning. I do not know if Zara finds stuff for you in another store, but I highly doubt considering it's a Euro store. But i think I should go back and write it's model number or something and call other stores before going there.

17 years ago

Sihaya

Veteran

Tanya - sounds like a fun and relaxing day. Shoes are awesome. I like the first skirt over the second and think it will look great and funky with boots. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the jacket. It's killer. Definitely worth hunting down. By the way, did I say the jacket's killer?

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

Hi Tanya! I love the shoes. Def. get purple--you wear a lot of purple.

I don't care for the skirts. I'm not a big fan of hankercheif hems, and the second one seems like too much fabric for little you.

I absolutely LOVE the jacket. Skip the skirts, and get the jacket!

Where is the Filenes Basement you go to?

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Thanks for your opinion Nicole! I go to the Filene's on Newbury street, it is closest to me. I used to go to the main downtown store before it closed Do you know of any other stores that are relatively close to Cambridge/accessible by public transportation? All the other ones I am aware of need a car.

Btw, I failed to mentioned in my original post that those micro-check pants someone mentioned Filene's has did not work out for me. The sizes were 8 and up, and they were actually made from the dressier rayon material.

Oh, and the color organization on those Franco Sarto shoes is pretty much the same like on these:

http://www.endless.com/Unliste.....B0019FAOJW

17 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Get the shoes - the purple ones. Definetly.

Skirt #1: I can't get my eye past the mismatching of the patterns. I know we had this discussion before and Angie said it is okay if the lines don't match up; but my long sewing background (even if I hate to sew) taught me this is the sign of a chintzy, ill-made garment. Better garments would have those lines lined up. I know it's Zara so it's not high-end, but.... anyway... you get where I'm going: pass!

Skirt #2: This one looks a bit mismatched too - but doesn't bother me as much because it's not quite so noticeable. And tartan plaid is definetly "on trend." It looks a bit too full on you, but I'm thinking a tartan skirt is definetly in your future....

Jacket: You know I love the idea of buying your own present to commemorate birthdays. Especially major ones. I think it's cute and different. Is this a Zara find or Nordies? If you can track it down and find it, great. If you can't, I'm sure something else just as wonderful is going to find YOU.... just in time for your bday? When is your bday?

P.s. You may have better luck at the Fileen's Basement in Watertown. Since they renovated and expanded, they seem to have a lot of good stuff - nicely organized - and it's not so helter-skelter as the one downtown. Can you get there by public transpo? I believe there is a bus.

17 years ago

Alecia

Veteran

I think the shoe issue has been decided already. On the skirts, I'm with shiny. The mismatched pattern one the first doesn't work well. I don't know if it's about the fact that it's mistmatched in particular or that it's where it's not matching. It draws attention to the hip in a way that doesn't warrant a 10. The second one I'm just not very inspired by.

The jacket is nice. If you do get it, I can't wait to see it in better light conditions.

17 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(fab report, thank you).

Get the purple shoes! SOOOO Tanya. Love!

Love the black check skirt too. It’s almost mid calf-length, right? Great funky potential with your patent boots. Nice new look for you. It gets my thumbs up.

Jacket is KILLER. GET!!! Happy early birthday! Can you tell I’m excited ?! Woohoo!

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

Tanya, I don't know which FB is on Newbury STreet....that's not Back Bay is it?

The watertown one is at the Arsenal Mall. Theres one in Newton and Framingham. The one in Framingham is probably closest for me. But I have not been to any of them since I was a kid. After hearing Shiny's recommendation of the one in Watertown, I just might have to hit that one.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Thanks to everyone for your comments! Nicole, thank you for the FB information!
Maybe Shiny and you and me should hit the Watertown one together

I went back today and bought the purple shoes, ( and bunch of other things), will post that later. I'll try to hunt down the jacket in my size. I might get the black skirt depending on my finances when I hit the Zara again.

17 years ago

Anonymous

The shoes are a 10 definately. I also love the jacket, another 10.
I liked the second skirt alot.

17 years ago

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