Should I buy these? ON dresses + J.Crew Factory coat - YouLookFab Forum

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Should I buy these? ON dresses + J.Crew Factory coat

K.M.

Veteran

I tried on some Old Navy dresses today and could use your take. Usually I steer clear of them because of quality, but I was surprised at the store--I liked them on me. I'm just wondering if they are too obvious in their "Old Navy" vibe, if you know what I mean... either because everyone will have a similar one, or because of the prints and colors...
I thought of wearing them with tall boots, inspired by Angie's post on Fall's new proportions (dresses and boots). Do they look too cheap?

PS. Sorry for the bad quality of the photos... the mirror had a smudge, I was wearing trouser socks, etc...

Also adding another question-mark item here, the Vail Parka from J.Crew Factory. I like it but have some reservations...

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Liz A.

Anonymous

I think the dresses are great! I popped in to Old Navy the other day for the first time in years, and although I know exactly what you mean about it being cheap and having it's particular vibe, I thought the dresses were not bad at all! They certainly will not wash well, but for the price, it really doesn't matter. I brought home two of them and returned them (I was too optimistic about my size, I guess, but didn't care enough to try again) and saw both of these . I think you look really cute in them - the colours are great, and you are slim enough to have those styles flatter you. Go for it! I don't mind the JC coat, just not a fan of the colour for you.

jill58

Veteran

I think you can do better than that coat, however I think the dresses all look great on you.

K.M.

Veteran

lisa p. and jill58, thank you so much! This is very helpful. Lisa p., the coat color is indeed one reason I wasn't sure. In store they only had this light gray and a light oatmeal, both of which look a bit washed out. Jill58, you're right that I should hold out for a better coat. It fits well on top, but the parka-style pockets make it so bulky at the bottom, and create a strange draping "bubble" at the hem line.

I went inside J.Crew Factory fully intending to buy something (at the very least colorful Teddy sweaters), and with a coupon to do so, but I left so disappointed. In recent years I've loved them as closer to what the old J.Crew used to be, but today everything seemed a bit off.

Sara L.

Veteran

I think the dresses all look good on you and will work well with boots. If the dresses are rayon, be sure to be careful how you wash them.

K.M.

Veteran

Sara L., I welcome any pointers on how to wash rayon... I don't remember the fabric on these (and I just ordered a couple of them--will order the other one later), but I'm one of those people who washes everything before wearing, so I'd hate to ruin a garment before even using it. (It happened the other day with a Uniqlo cotton sweater, which I washed following all the instructions--it shrunk )

Joy

Veteran

I like the first dress best. The colors, neck detail and print look like a Loft piece.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I especially like the floral dresses on you. I cannot access the quality from the pictures, but the fit and cut look excellent.

Christina F.

Veteran

I have had some ON dress luck this year too! Those are nice on you.

I have that parka in the non Factory version in black. It’s great (but loves lint). I agree the grey one doesn’t work well. JC has great non-neutralcoat colors, including a bright green I got in the City Coat style recently. You can do better, there or elsewhere. It’s a shame they didn’t have happier colors in the store,

K.M.

Veteran

Thanks, Joy and Shevia! I was so excited because usually swing dresses don't look good on me, but these were swingy without being too big.

PS Shevia, you can see my curls re: my other post about curly hair products... They are looking just a wee better as I began to try some of the suggestions (still waiting for the Tigi Curl Amplifier to arrive in the mail) although these pictures reveal that I need a trim!

K.M.

Veteran

Christina F., since you have some of the J.Crew coats, could you tell me how warm they are? I know this is subjective but it's always a big issue for me as I run cold... I would love to wear them into the Fall and mild Winter days (knowing that they won't be warm enough for our freezing Minnesota winters).

Christina F.

Veteran

My J Crew chateau parka is good down to about freezing temps or a little below. I can’t vouch for any warmth differences with the Factory version. My only frustration is that it’s a lint trap, the furry hood only adds to it. Going to try static guard before using it this year,

3style

Veteran

Ditto what Joy said.

Also maybe show us the coat with a hat scarf and glove ensemble? About a decade ago I had a coat that color and I dressed it up with black and white accessories. Right now it looks a little bland by itself but it has that denim blue quality which might make it a nice background for woolen items.

Anonymous

I would buy 1 Old Navy dress. I like the boho one with the warmer colours.
The parka looks nice but it seems like it is the wrong colour for you?

viva

Veteran

I love the first dress. I hear what you are saying about the Old Navy look and quality but these dresses really look good on you! I also wonder if that coat might work better for you styled with a colorful scarf and hat, etc.? JCrew (retail) has an amazing jade green color coat this year but the outlet prices are so much lower. If budget is an issue it might be worth trying this coat again with more colorful accessories to see if it can work.

Thirkellgirl

Veteran

I think you look great. If you were my daughter I'd side-eye the low opening in the front but you're not so I can ignore it. I especially like the second floral on you! ON comes SO close to what I'd like to wear, but the fabric weight just often doesn't work on me (I need a little more camouflage, if you get my drift).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like the first dress. It fits the best. Can you size down in #3 and #4? They have potential.

The dresses are too short for the post on "new proportions" though. You need knee-covering dresses for that look.

JuniperGreen

Veteran

I got an ON dress earlier this fall and have been wearing it over pants - I always get compliments on the look so my vote is to keep the ON looks you love!

Smocked-Yoke V-Neck Shift Dress for Women

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1

K.M.

Veteran

Christina F., thanks for the feedback on the J.Crew coats, it's very helpful!

3style, yes, maybe it would look better with accessories and different clothes. I was wearing some slouchy gray sweatpants (day off ) so this probably contributed to the monotone vibe.

smittie, I ordered a couple of them--the other two--but am hoping to get the boho soon! Mostly because I prefer long sleeves and the boho has bracelet sleeves, slightly puffy, so hard to layer.

viva, yes, budget is an issue, so at this point if I don't love the coat I will simply not buy one. I do have an old wool navy peacoat that sort of fills the niche, but I wanted something a little warmer, longer, and in a different color.

Thirkellgirl, that's funny! My chest is so small (I was a 32B before my daughter and now I'm a 34 A) that a low neckline is usually not too revealing...

Angie, interesting comment about size. Those were XS regular and I think they are both available in XS Petite. However I have extra long arms and Petite tops often result in sleeves that feel too short (especially since I love long sleeves that go over my wrists because I'm always cold). They would also be even shorter in length... but I might give this a try. As for the new proportions, oops! I guess I only retained half of your lesson... I do have a perfect dress in mind for these new proportions, it's a red number by Boden (I think on me it would hit below the knee as I'm short and short-legged), but alas for now I can't afford it...

JuniperGreen, I was indeed wondering if I could style some of these with pants. I know Angie posted about this a while ago... I'd have to study her post and my options.

Thanks everyone, this is helpful and reassuring... My wardrobe is weak on dresses after a decade of preferring pants and skirts so it would be fun to add some in the mix while keeping to my restricted budget...

Ashbourne Dress

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Jaime

(website)

Veteran

K.M. your curls already look heavenly - hope you like the Tigi product!

K.M.

Veteran

shevia, thank you! <3 I was indeed happy with them that day. I love putting the advice from this forum into practice!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

K.M, I know how you feel. I'm sized out of an XS sometimes too. The petites will be too short. Pass on those dresses and get the first one.

K.M.

Veteran

Thanks for the solidarity, Angie! If only everything could be custom-made for our unique bodies...

Vanessa

The dresses are nice but not the coat!

Laura G

Veteran

Alll the dresses are nice, but #1 looks best on you, I think. The coat color doesn't do anything for your warm skin tone.

K.M.

Veteran

Interesting to get the feedback on the coat. It looked so promising on the hanger. Besides the color it also bothered me how it had a weird bump when I closed it, right at the hemline. Today I saw someone wearing the J.Crew version of this coat (Vail Parka) also in gray and it looked absolutely crumpled all over, front and back. Unless she smushes it in a little box every night, I have to imagine this is from regular use and wear? And if so, isn't that weird for a wool coat?
But then again I saw someone else the other day wearing the J.Crew Vail Parka in that bright lemony yellow and she did look fab...
Oh J Crew, I am still rooting for you, but you gotta get yourself together... As I said above I was way more excited about my finds at Old Navy than with anything I spotted in store at J.Crew Factory.

Jules

Veteran

Another vote for the first dress. I love your curls btw!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

More love from me for your GORGEOUS curly hair.

Anonymous

I bought the long version of the print dress, it's a gorgeous print,
the dresses are really good this fall.

I don't wash stuff before wearing, but I would do a cold gentle wash in a sweater bag.

Liz A.

Veteran

I don't know about the dresses, but I'm obsessed with your hair.