The red coat arrived today....

Astrid

...and I'm sad to say it's too big for me. The size seems to be like two sizes bigger than it should be! It definitely goes back.

And I'm not sure if the colour would have been flattering on me in any case, I think this red is maybe a bit too loud for my colouring. What do you think?

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14 years ago

Shopping

18 replies

Latest reply was from HelenInCanada

HeleenH

Veteran

The shape of the coat is really nice, if only it were about 2 sizes smaller.
I agree with you that this might not be your best red. The colour doesn't look this bright and yellow-ish-red on the site, it seems more burgundy there.

14 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

You're right Heleen, the shape is very nice. I'll keep it in mind for my ongoing search. I like to wear red, but I always buy a red that is more muted, like burgundy or raspberry red. This is one of the reasons why I don't shop online often, you can never say if they got the pictures right!

14 years ago

rute

Veteran

Lovely color but way too big!

14 years ago

JennyAnne

(website)

Veteran

Aw so sad! It's giant!

14 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Oh, shame it's not the right size! But, keep checking the website, I'm sure there'll be returns as other people too will have the same sizing issues, you might get lucky.

I don't find it too bright at all, not because I love red, but because this really is lovely color and I like it on you.

The good news is we were right this style would look great on you, so at least we've confirmed that fact and you can now look for something else in similar style.

14 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for chiming in, Rute and JennyAnne!

Ornella, good idea about the returns in theory, but this is already the smallest size! It's a 36, but it seems to be cut more like a size 40. Thanks for chiming in about the color, I won't object to try another coat in the same red in any case. You're right that it's good that I've tried it, because the style really is lovely!

14 years ago

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Astrid,

Yes, the coat is too big. I do like the shape but feel as if your instincts about the color are correct. It is much too intense in my opinion for your coloring. Others will disagree but in my experience less color can be more color. Another, more muted and probably warmer red such as rust would add an amount of color that would enhance your natural color.
I think women with bold coloring or contrast such as having bright blond or very dark hair handle bright color the best. I can wear slightly bold color depending on how red may hair is. If your skin and hair color are more the same value, softer tones work better. This is just my opinion. I would love to see you in camel, olive green, rust, eggplant, brown, muted turquoise I know- those are my colors but that is not why I suggest them.

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, what a shame about the coat. This (in my opinion) is the trouble with Land's End and Eddie Bauer sizing. It is way out of whack. I'm completely sized out of their stuff even in the smallest petites. Granted, I'm on the small side, but I have relatively wide shoulders, and in height I am not even technically petite. So in theory you would think SOMEthing would fit. But no.

About the colour: your instincts are right. This is not your red. I would go with the raspberries and cranberries that you prefer. And...although I know Jean is the queen of colour, I would hesitate to go with camels. I think you could TRY them, because goodness knows she is really knowledgeable! But based on what I have seen (on my monitor...and that complicates things a LOT!) I suspect you are a cool-toned redhead who gravitates towards blues and greys for a good reason.

I think Jean's other suggestions for you are fantastic...eggplant, a chocolate brown, some olives, MAYbe rust (just depends), and some turquoises would work for you as they work for me. I have ashy blonde hair, true, but was born with reddish hair (that later went to blonde). So I also have that hint of warm in my overall cool colouring and all those colours work well for me.

14 years ago

Queen Mum

Veteran

I love the color, but agree that it's atleast 2 sizes too big.

14 years ago

teri

Veteran

what a bummer. I hate when things don't work like I thought they would

14 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Jean, you're right about my skin and hair colour being more of the same value. I agree that muted colours look better on me, that's one if the reasons why I plan to replace most of the solid black pieces in my wardrobe in the long run, it's simply too harsh on me. I love the colours you mentioned and you look fabulous in them, but I don't think these are my best colours. Like Suz mentioned, I'm fairly sure I'm cool-toned, so I think these warm colours wouldn't look that good on me. Although it could be that I'm totally wrong about my colouring - I don't really have any of the colours you mentioned at hand to try it out, because I'm never drawn to them while shopping.

Suz, I'll chalk it up to experience. Although I had better luck with Eddie Bauer in the past. I had already read about the strange sizing at Land's End, but I thought it was worth a try because I'm not that small. I didn't think they would be this different in their sizing!

And I'm actually not a redhead at all. This reddish tint you often see in my pictures is caused by the camera flash. My hair is ash blond without a bit of red in natural light. I had lighter blond hair as a child! Although there's red hair in my family, my sister is a true redhead with straight hair and blue eyes, very pretty.

Kim, I though so too, at least two sizes!

Teri, it's really frustrating sometimes...

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14 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Wow, that's too bad. I can't believe how big that is! I do think I like other colors better on you too. Forest green is gorgeous with your hair.

14 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

How disappointing that the coat ended up being so big! I hope you have better luck in the future finding something that fits.

14 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, Astrid, that's amazing about your hair; it really does read red (to me, at least, on my monitor!)

Hmmm. I wonder if it is possible to get some outdoor photos sometime? I know you have showed a few older ones in the past. But the colours are coming out much redder/yellower. This is a problem for me in my indoor shots, too, but not to such an extent. (Then outside they often come out bluer/paler...but that's another issue!)

14 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

I just had a look at my pictures and it was really hard to find some that looked about right colourwise. I think that's one characteristic of ash blond hair, it always looks a bit different in varying light. You just don't see it that often, because most women with that natural hair colour have dyed hair. Most people I know have told me one time or another to dye it too, because they thought it was too 'mousy'.

(When I look at these pics, I can't believe how big the difference to my new specs is!)

ETA
Amy, I like forrest green too, I just have to take care that it's a neutral or cool tone.

Thanks, Sara.

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14 years ago

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Ahh, I see now that in the first picture I thought you had much warmer skin tones.
Therefore- stay away from colors that are too rich in warmth. But I still think softer colors would work. it looks like some of the same colors that Suz wears. Also, color that is not too muted. I see that you could carry some blues and raspberries, I would just not go for the right out of the tube color. You ale so pretty- I would love to try different colors next to your face. There really is no rule that works for everyone and the key is to see the color in person to really recommend colors. My instinct does think that bright red is not the best.

14 years ago

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks, Jean! I'd love to have some direct input on my colours, I often have a tough time deciding if a colour fits or not. And the artificial light in stores and changing rooms doesn't help at all! I think you're right about softer but not too muted tones. I don't look good in pastels, but the really clear colours aren't right either. The bright red together with the black turtleneck in the first picture is clearly too much for me, my skin looks a bit unhealthy next to it. I really have to experiment some more to find my best colours, especially because I really want a small wardrobe. I know that I had already some colours written down, but I somehow wasn't able to implement that while shopping.

14 years ago

HelenInCanada

Veteran

Oh, I really love this coat. I think the colour suits you perfectly. Hope you can get 2 sizes smaller!

14 years ago

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