Two Chambray Shirts Walked into a Bar..... - YouLookFab Forum

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Two Chambray Shirts Walked into a Bar.....

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

...and started arguing over which was better.

Land's End or Mango?

One is 2x the price of the other.

I'm curious--Can you tell which one? (just by looking?)

One is having a 30% off sale. (Sadly, not the more expensive one.)

I cannot tell the length of the LE shirt and length is crucial to me. The top stitching looks a bit loud on the LE shirt--but the bright white breast pocket buttons on the Mango shirt annoy me. But, these are details which may be totally different in person, so I can't judge anything.

From the info given--Can you tell which shirt is the better shirt?

Thanks!

Women's Plus Size Chambray Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

1

Dark Denim Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

3

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32 replies

Latest reply was from Alana in Canada

Aida

Veteran

For myself, I'd like the bigger puffier pockets on #2, but my bust is rather small. For you I like #1, the color is cooler and will play very nicely with your preferred white and black.

Meredith

Veteran

Alana, I dont know your size, but length from shoulder to bottom is 27 1/2 for a 16 and 27 3/4 for an 18. Does that help?

Dixie

Exactly what Aida said, I prefer the second one but I think the first one will suit so nicely because of your light skin. About the buttons on the mango t-shirt annoying you.. You can just paint them or replace them. Hehe. I do that type of thing with my clothing. I honestly say, go for the cheapest one.

jackiec

Veteran

Can I just say that I love your title??? lOL!!!

I agree with Aida. I'm not much help bc I strike out on chambray & denim shirts all the time.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Jackiec--what do you mean you strike out on chambrey shirts all the time? I had one that fit which I purged frommy closet--It had one of those non-collar collars (the word for it escapes me right now) and I didn't like that--I hope it wasn't the whole shirt!

Thanks, Mimi. The Mango just looks softer, but I like you seconding Aida's reasoning for the first one. (I confess, I did think of removing those buttons, but colouring them darker would be better.)

Meredith--oh hey, thanks! I will look at that length info for my size--if it is available. I am a 2x in the LE--not sure what in the Mango--I've never ordered from them.

Aida--thanks so much. The pockets are puffy? I did not know that. You're right, I would not like puffy pockets, that's for sure.

Aida

Veteran

Hehe well I don't know how actually poofy the pockets look, but what I mean is how much bulk they will add. The Mango's pockets have pleating and a flap, which is going to add more visual width there; versus the LE pockets, which are flat and have no flap, so wouldn't add visual width. That said, stylistically I see the Mango as a bit more modern-classic and the LE as a bit more classic.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

If I were buying for myself, I'd pick 1, because the pockets don't have flaps (same rationale as Aida, just in reverse) and I like the shade a little better, not so much yellow. That and Lands End has consistently high quality and a great return policy.

BTW, LE has sales *all the time*. Sign up for their emails and they'll notify you when they've got a deal going.

As an aside, I think I own four denim or chambray shirts. That's right, four. :/

Aubergine

Veteran

I like the Lands End one better because it looks a little more refined and feminine. I think it's the wash plus the lack of buttons and flaps on the pockets.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Go for the LE this time.

Chambray and denim are really, really hard.

I am like Jackie. I have "struck out" a couple of times.

Why? Well...the colour wasn't quite as expected.

Or, the colour was great, but the fabric was too rough and didn't drape nicely. And/ or the shirt was too short. (On 5'4" me!!!!)

Or the pockets were too fussy.

Or the buttons weren't right.

I've bought and sent back, or bought and kept but eventually purged, at least 3 denim/ chambray shirts since joining YLF.

The one I eventually kept (and love) is by Halogen. But that was last year's model. Who knows what this year's is like.

Meanwhile, I would still like one in a darker wash. The one I got and like is very faded. And that is okay, but not always what I prefer.

Stephanie

did one shirt say to the other, "Hey, you're looking a bit blue."?

i think the only way you are going to solve this to your satisfaction is to try on both, and take a good hard look. quality of material may outweigh the look. try both.

stephanie

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I agree: chambray is hard! There are so many subtle variables like shade, weight, pocket placement, fabric 'hand'... Is there any way you can order both and then decide with them side by side IRL? I'm busty myself, and broad shouldered, and I just never know until I try the darned things on when it comes to button front shirts. (In fact, I'm stopping off in SF this weekend to try on some deliciously dark & distressed new chambray shirts in the Ines de la Fressange fall capsule for Uniqlo. Fingers crossed!) For me what really matters is that the fabric has the right sort of drape. Otherwise I look like that cross-dressing Mountie in the old "I'm a Lumberjack and I'm okay" number. But thats just me! Best of luck! xo

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Laura--this whole thing got started because I got land's End e-mail announcing 30% off if I ordered by midnight. Great! BUT! But it was by 11:59pm Sept 2nd. The e-mail was delivered to my inbox at 5:00 am this morning (sept. 3rd) --in other words five hours after the sale had ended. Talk about dissappointed! I've e-mailed them, but you are right, there's bound to be another sale soon.

Suz--oh no! You sound like you are much, much too familiar with what can go wrong with a chambray shirt! I guess I will consider myself lucky if I get it right the first time.

Thimblelina--It would be pretty difficult to try on both at the same time as I have to order both on-line. Fingers crossed you find something at uniqlo. Keep us posted--sounds like fun.

Stephanie--I certainly have enough items collected from Mango to place an order, so perhaps I will try it. I have to check their returns policy before I pull the trigger, obviously. Love your new avatar.

Aida--see, I am so glad I asked you, I hadn't even noticed that the LE pockets did not have a flap. Definitely a good thing in my book.

Aubergine, it looks more refined? Hmm. Interesting. I would have to jazz it up somehow, I think. Of course, in winter, it will spend 90% of it's time underneath something....and in Fall and Spring, over something else.

I forgot to mention--in plus the LE chambray is the same darn price as the Mango.

DonnaF

Veteran

Shirts can be so hard! The LE looks like a cooler color than the Mango, but it also looks like a blend, and prefer chambray shirts to be 100% cotton. I wish they showed how the bottom is cut, whether straight across or shirt tail style, or a bit of a hybrid. I have a short neck, so several years a ago I bought my chambray shirt because the collar set lower in front than many do plus it fit in the shoulders. I ended up having to increase the size of the vertical darts because it poofed out at the hips. Thankfully, it was an easy alteration, but I had to track down a sewing machine to borrow. I think I had been searching for three or more years for that shirt.

Don't settle because you may regret it!

Runcarla

Veteran

The chambray shirt search (say THAT 3 times fast) was a long and arduous one for me. I must have tried on 30 different shirts over 6 months. My perfect shirt? $15.00 clearance at SEARS from the Jessica line. For me it was about getting the shoulder line, and arm length right.

A chambray/jean style shirt is kind if a classic thing to have in your closet.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

DonnaF--I won't settle! I am just beginning.
My goodness, Runcarla. That's a lot of schlepping for a shirt. But it is important to get it right--especially because, as you say, it is rather a classic.

Leave no retail stone unturned.....

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

Sometimes I do actually order both items, and compare them side by side before returning one (or both!)... I tell myself I'm saving money on gas so I can spend on returns.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Alana, one is chambray (LE) and the other is denim (Mango). Chambray is a lighter fabric, and see how the fabric looks the same color on both sides when the sleeves are rolled? On the denim, the fabric is lighter on the back side, just like on blue jeans. To me, the denim shirt looks more casual, the chambray a little more refined. I don't have a personal preference, but I just thought I'd point out the difference in the fabrics.

Neel

Veteran

Alana ... With my own experience .... I would go for neither! I find the single pocket or no pocket chambray (not denim) shirts the most flaterring for bigger busted girls like us. My denim shirt is annoying the crap out of me because of the thickish material, too many buttons and two pockets right on my boobs ... Making them just weird!

Not sure why I bought it! o_O

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Runcarla

Veteran

Excellent point, Firecracker. I believe my shirt is jean. A very light weight jean, but jean none the less!

Style Fan

Veteran

I have nothing new to add but I did notice that one shirt (Mango) is denim and more casual and the other (LE) is chambray and more refined. It depends on what you are looking for. I also have been looking for a denim shirt for a long time. I have a long one that I love (Espirt) but I would like a shorter one. Sigh.

Dixie

@Neel I don't think it looks weird! Maybe if the button falls exactly at your nipple it could look kind of funny, but I don't think is that bad, I didn't see anything wrong in your photo. I have big boobs and I have a jean shirt. I wore it as a jacket in vacations. What I did was bought the size that fit me well at the waist (no, it doesn't close right all the way up). If I wear it opened it gives a nice shape. If I wear it buttoned, it is tight at the waist and I leave the top buttons unbuttoned, so it creates a V shape. I think that's a flattering way to wear a jean shirt on big boobed girls. Maybe not as "fashionable" as the whole buttoned look, but it works for me.

Although it makes sense that less volume on top is going to be more flattering on a big chest.

Neel

Veteran

Dixie - your denim shirt looks lovely on you. I think it also helps that it is a lighter shade and less substantial material unlike mine. I tried unbuttoning the top of my shirt but it doesn't form a V. It just lays flat. It could be because it is not fitted around the bust.

Probably mine is just an odd one of the lot! And may be some denim shirts are good for bigger busted girls. Hmm ..... Not sure!

Aquamarine

Veteran

The LE shirt is 100% cotton and if measurements are not listed you can always call or "chat" with them. I prefer it over the Mango one because it looks a bit more refined so you can dress it up or down. And those breast pockets are better for those of us more endowed. Of course, it all comes down to fit so unless you have a similar shirt you can measure for reference, you may have to order both and return.

Agree denim/chambray is tough to get right!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I prefer the one from LE because it's more streamlined on the bust.

Inge

(website)

Another vote for the LE for the more streamlined look and 'cooler' colour.

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for weighing in, Angie and Inge.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I don't think you can decide from a picture, you need to start trying them on. They ARE hard! I also went through the chambray shirt hunt last year, and probably tried a dozen. I remember going to ON and returning a bag full! Different styles, different sizes... I ended up initally with a dark wash denim from the Gap, which I really like, but my initial search was for a lighter wash. When I finally found chambray, after all the searching, it was $6 from ON!

And ironically I've hardly worn it... Not sure why I was so desperate for one.

Anonymous

I vote for the L.E. shirt for you; hopefully it's less expensive. There will be another sale later....but you know...L.E. has such amazing customer service. If you call them, they might honor the sale price since your email was delivered late. It's worth a try!

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

ElizabethP--I challenge you to find ways to wear your chambray shirt.

There are a few ideas here: http://www.outfitposts.com/201.....tm_medium=

Clearlyclaire--well, I did send something to a "reply" address included with the e-mail telling them it was late, but it hadn't occured to me to talk to them directly. Thanks.

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