Soia Kyo: keep or return? - YouLookFab Forum

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Soia Kyo: keep or return?

shiny

Veteran

I had an hour to kill while DD16 was at guitar lessons so I slipped into Macy's. Trench coats were on sale, 40% off, plus with 15% coupon, total of 50% off. I tried on all the coats they had in my size or close to it, including two Soia Kyo's. And I brought home two Soia Kyo's.

One is a keeper, but I am on the fence about one and would like YLF opinion.

Pics are here:

http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....oia%20kyo/

password ylf2008

The green one is a keeper and there's no debate in my mind about it. I adore the fit of this coat, and the color is just so FUN!!!! It says it is a Petite Small, and I didn't know this brand offered petites? That has me confused. The store clerk was confused too, because she didn't think this brand made petites either. But that is, indeed, what the label says! The fit is perfect, except the sleeves are a tad too long but they flip up - as shown - so I don't even think they need to be altered. I LOVE THIS COAT! It's going to be the perfect pick-me-up for rainy days. And, it is waterproof to boot. And, it even goes with my green-and-white bucket hat.

The reason I brought home the cream one too is that ideally I wanted a 3/4 length trench, not a shorter one like the green one. This one I am on the fence about. It's an XS (no petite). Is it worth altering?

1) It is tight across bust and waist - BUT there is ample of room to move the buttons over to give me a bit more breathing room. And, as I've been wearing it, it seems to stretch and get looser too. I would still move the buttons over, but even if it looks too tight, it doesn't feel tight to me, since it has stretch.

2) It doesn't feel too tight to me in the shoulders or arms. I am wearing a medium-weight cardigan under. Does it look too tight in that area? I do not need to wear jackets under it. (That would be nice, but I don't think that's the look of this coat - I think it's supposed to be more fitted than that).

3) Shortening sleeves and hemline - that's a given. Unless this brand really does offer petites somewhere? In which case, where?

5) Ignoring the way the belt has slipped too low in some of these photos (I was hurrying because my photographer was losing patience), are the proportions right lengthwise? Is the waist hitting okay or too low? I think that is the biggest question.

I am afraid if I went up to a Small, the waist would hit too low and the vertical proportions would be completely wrong.

I've gone this far without a 3/4 trench... I can continue looking even if it means waiting until next year. But so far, this is hands-down the best I have seen yet. The standard trench coat just makes me look enormous somehow. But, I want perfect. Will altering make it perfect? I am okay spending the $ to alter it to make it perfect, especially since the price is half off.

I will keep the green one - so this is not an either/or question. I just still want a knee-length trench too.

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from Ariadne

Maya

Veteran

I love the green jacket and am not about to talk you out of it.

The cream one I'm not so sure of. It just seems like a lot of trouble to get it to fit correctly, but if you have a hard time finding one that fits maybe it's worth it. It isn't working for me the way it is. Too overwhelming. But you already know that. I guess it really depends on how much you're willing to alter. I'm always afraid to do too many alterations because they basically change the garment and sometimes cause unexpected things to happen. I can see the potential though.

I'm curious to see what the cream trench looks like on Brianna. That way I think I'll have a better idea of what it's "supposed" to look like.

You are so cute Shiny. I don't know if I'm allowed to call people who are older than me cute, but I'm going to do it anyway because it's true.

Kyle

Veteran

Shiny:

The green is so "you." It's fun, flirty and fashionable. Love.
The cream is fine with the alterations you described, but are you OK with fine? I'm pretty sure we know the answer to that. It's a lovely coat, but does not feel like a Shiny signature item.

Can't wait to see how you style the green. I'm picturing it with something in the melon family. Delicious!

shiny

Veteran

That's so cute you want to call me cute.

Yeah, nearly every trench - even the petite ones! - look overwhelming on me. I'm not sure why that is. I have much better luck with car-length coats, that's for sure. I do like the cream one best with the lapel open. Maybe my neck is too short for this collar?

As for doing too many alterations, I'm thinking (hoping) it would just require moving the buttons over an inch, and hemming the length and the arms - which I normally have to do anyway for non-petite clothes. Anymore than that, no, I would not bother.

Hmm, maybe the green one works because the details are more to my scale? The collar and the buttons?

I do really love the quality of these coats. I can see why everyone raves about them.

April

Veteran

Shiny -- this is hardly the most important question you are asking, but is it possible that the "Petite" on the label is not an adjective, but just a translation of the size ("Small") into French?

shiny

Veteran

Kyle- Hmm, I guess it could be a translation. I didn't think of that! I'm used to regular sizing using P-S-M-L where "P" is just the XS and really has nothing to do with vertical proportions. The cream trench says XS whereas the green spells it out and says Petite Small.

I guess the sales clerk and I must've been puzzled because - looking at these photos - well, it's clear the green one fits better horizontally, vertically, scale-wise for me. I was trying on petite coats too and this looks like it fits like a petite, in comparison.

I just realized what the green coat makes me look like... it's been on the tip-of-my-tongue since I bought this!...

I look like .....

THUMBELINA!!

Thumbelina sitting in a flower.

Okay maybe that's a tad too precious to consider... but I kinda like it... thumbelina was my favorite story growing up.... it just makes me smile.

Uh oh... do you think it's *TOO* cutesy?

JewelryGirl

Shiny, I LOVE the green one. KEEP!!! The cream one seems to swallow you up a bit though...

Maya

Veteran

It's not too cutesy Shiny! Who wouldn't want to be compared to Thumbelina?

I was also wondering if petite was code word for xsmall. I have a skirt like that, and since S&K is Canadian I thought that was it (side note: it took me 3 tries to spell "Canadian" correctly...I keep spelling it Canadienne, as in La Canadienne!).

I guess the alterations you would be doing are pretty straightforward. I suppose I'm just lazy with alterations. I agree that doing up the funnel neck is too much. Have you tried just buttoning it to the second button? My BR coat is kind of similar in that it has 3 buttons in a similar placement. I usually just do the one at the bottom and the one above that, and leave the top one free. Does that make the lapel too big? It looks fine with the three buttons but I"m just curious.

Not to be a PITA, but could you pin it to the length you would be hemming it to and take a picture? That might help to make a more informed decision.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I love them both Shiny!!

Kari

Veteran

Shiny, I really like both coats. The green does seem more "you" and fits better. If it were me, I would probably try to make the cream coat work IF the alterations are easy, straightforward, and inexpensive. Can you take it to your tailor to get a cost/ease of alteration measurement before you commit to it? The coat is really beautiful, but it does look a little tight due to the button placement and long. However, the detail of the coat makes me drool... I long for a trench that looks that polished even though it would be out of place with my lifestyle.

I also have to say that I love the sass you bring to your photos. You are so cute!

Ele

(website)

I also like both coats, Shiny. While the green fits you well now, I think the cream one (with alterations) will end up being very versatile for you. I love how the collar frames your face, and how it looks with your pearls. If you think the alterations can be done easily, my vote is for keep.

Also want to add that Maya is correct- petite small is just a (French) Canadian way of saying extra small! I have a couple of Mackage coats (Soia Kyo's parent brand) in this size. Weird how a garment with that labeling ended up in the States, though... methinks a delivery mistake was made somewhere along the line.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

The green jacket is so you and so FAB, there are just no words.

The white jacket I am less crazy about: there's something about the collar that I think overwhelms you and takes away from your essential "Shiny-ness". From the back and sides it looks terrific, but the front almost seems like too much for you: the large buttons, the broad belt, the puffy collar...I don't know, I think it looks more like a winter puffer than a spring trench, if that makes any sense.

I can't wait to see pics of the green and your rain bucket hat! It will be impossible to be gloomy about the weather in that outfit.

Vani

Veteran

Love, love, love the green jacket on you. Also really like the white trench but I'm going to borrow Kristen's prefect words - it somehow takes away from your "Shiney-ness". But that green jacket, its perfect!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Green is good! That has to be your signature color!

I actually like the cream trench on you, a lot, and it's probably super practical too. If it's any help, I had the same button-moving situation with my S & K wool coat, and once the alteration was done, it fit really well. My trench hits me just above the knee, so I'm wondering if my eye needs to adjust to seeing a trench in a longer length, or if your trench actually needs to be shorter. Hopefully Angie will chime in!

Dani

Veteran

Shiny, the green one is perfect...definitely keep.

I'm on the fence about the cream one. I think it's something about the collar. I think the button pulling can be fixed with no problem. I'm curious how practical a trench is going to be if you have to wear it with the buttons opened like you show in the first picture with the cream coat (as I agree that's how it looks the best on you)? Anyway, just my thoughts!

shiny

Veteran

Laura, that is good to know, that the button-moving worked for you. It does seem like there is plenty of room to move all the buttons - I just need maybe an extra inch.

I do think, if I keep it, it needs to be shortened to the knee. I would shorten it to the same length as my cobalt coat, since I know that works well with dresses and skirts. Obviously the sleeves need shortening too. I will try to pin it up later and will take more pics.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

As a short-armed person, I can attest that if the sleeves are long on a garment, the whole thing just looks huge. When you pin up the sleeves, we'll get a much better feel for the fit.

With the buttons moved 3/4" on my S & K, it made a world of difference - I'm sure you could successfully do the same.

shiny

Veteran

I do have to wonder however if this would be a better style for me:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....erralID=NA

... collar isn't as dramatic and it doesn't have the assymetrical thing going on.

Or this one:
http://www.bluefly.com/Soia-Ky.....detail.fly

... But the buttons are probably too widely spaced and I have this odd feeling I have tried this one on in the past at some point and it didn't work out. I could be wrong. I do know I have tried this brand on twice now, the first time the XS coat was enormous on me, the second time the XS was way too tight. I think this was back in the fall? Hard to remember.

Anonymous

Thumbelina, the green coat is adorable! As cool as Boston is, especially in the spring, I think you should keep and alter the cream coat. It has so much style. I like it best as done up in the first photo with just the button above the belt buttoned. It does need a scarf or top with some color peeking out to give you color, but you will probably get lots of wear out of it.

Ariadne

Veteran

Shiny, the cream trench is the same one I just ordered off eBay last week. Still waiting for it to arrive (it's probably sitting at customs right now). I've had my eye on it for over a year. It'll be interesting to compare how it fits on both of us. I'm a lot taller, heavier and larger-framed than you, so hopefully it won't overwhelm me, but we'll see. I think you could alter this trench to work on you, but I strongly encourage you to go try on the other 2 styles you posted and compare from there.

Strangely, I don't love the green trench. Something about the proportions seems off to me. It looks a tad too short--I think this is actually a visual trick created by the petal-like hem opening at the bottom front--and it also seems to balloon out from the waist a bit. However, everyone else loves it, so feel free to disregard me.