Zara, I'm Afraid It's Over Between Us - YouLookFab Forum

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Zara, I'm Afraid It's Over Between Us

Jonesy

Veteran

I really want to love Zara, but they continue to let me down :(.

Strike 1: Last spring I was in Chicago and excitedly went to the flagship Zara to find some fabulous things. I combed the store and--no exaggeration--I found a handful of items in my size (L or XL at Zara). I ended up buying a t-shirt and a slightly too-large blouse (XL). Very disappointing.

Strike 2: I saw some gorgeous silk printed pants on their website. They looked long and were wide-legged. I find their website so annoying, because they don't list any sort of measurements (not even inseams!), but the pants went on sale and they have free return shipping, so I thought I would give them a whirl. I normally wear a size 10 in pants; I ordered the L (they didn't come in XL). When I got them they were extremely long on me (I'm over 5'10"), fit in the waist, and were skin tight through the hips. I reckon that these L pants fit like size 6 pants through the hips. What the heck?

Strike 3: I'm in DC right now for a conference and there happens to be a Zara a block away from my hotel. Naturally I had to venture inside. I found a handful of L or XL items, including this fabulous printed blazer I had seen online. They only had an XL, so I tried it. Another example of baffling fit: The shoulders were broad enough, but pinched in the armpits, the body of the jacket was about 4 inches too big (so I could overlap it in the front by many inches), and the sleeves were about 2 inches too short. I left the store empty-handed.

I think I need to accept that we are not going to work out...It's time to let go...Thanks for reading my rant, YLF friends, if you are still with me :). Does anyone else have a store or retailer that they want to work for them, but just doesn't?

Shopping

36 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

kellygirl

Veteran

Rant away! Shame on Zara. Sounds like they have some fit issues to explore. If it's any consolation, I've given up on LOFT. I know there are many fans here but I think the only thing I have from them that fits is a scarf : P

Jonesy

Veteran

I hear you on LOFT, though it sounds like I've had a bit better luck there than you have. Do you think a lot of their stuff is cut more for pear figures, rather than ITs? That's what I've found sometimes.

crazyone

Veteran

for what it's worth, Jonesy, I went to Zara in Madrid and couldn't find my size in the items that I liked, and I'm more of an XS/S! They do run small (probably the Spanish origin is the reason), but the fast fashion aspect of it means that they don't carry that many sizes of each item at a time, I think. For some strange reason I always have good luck at H&M, though.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Zara is very weirdly shaped; I guess the models in Zara-land are odd.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Jonesy, this actually makes me feel a little better. Last fall I took a couple of trips through Zara in NYC, once with the YLF crew and once by myself on a later trip. Afterward i just couldn't understand the hype for them. I also found their fits confounding. Maybe they're cutting for extreme rectangles?? I'm generally a quite straightforward size 8 or 6 these days, and I was starting to think I was some sort of freak of nature because I couldn't find a thing there that fit me in the chest or the hip, *if* I could even find my size at all. I found lots of 0s and 2s but an 8 was a rare happening.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Jonesy, if it makes you feel any better I don<code>t have any luck with Zara either! They just don</code>t make things to fit my height and my size!
I don`t have much luck with Jacob here in Canada - for the same reasons: too small and too short and not for a curvy me!

Jonesy

Veteran

Interesting, C1. The two B & M stores I've been to thus far have been swimming in small sizes. Maybe I've just had bad luck, or maybe there are differences by country? I know Angie has talked about how the smallest sizes are always sold out, but I would swear that I almost always see smaller sizes everywhere I go, and a dearth of 10s and Ls...

Yes, lyn*, I believe Zara-land is a peculiar place indeed!

ETA: Janet and Sveta, we are all in the same boat, I guess! I can't really figure out how they could do a bang-up business in the US if their clothes don't fit regular old fab ladies like ourselves! I mean, we're not Amazons or WNBA players or anything!

kellygirl

Veteran

That would explain a lot. Tops were particularly problematic--too tight in the shoulders and armholes. The sales assistants were always very nice but I was embarrassed at how much I ended up returning. I don't even stop to look there anymore--and I blocked their emails : ) Oh well, their loss!

ETA: Crossing Zara off my shopping "bucket list"--hehe!

Jonesy

Veteran

Totally their loss!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Nothing fit me in Zara, either, except for the purposefully-baggy butterfly tee I bought. I was so excited to try their beautiful blazers and dress pants but, like you, what fit in the waist was very tight through the hips. And the blazers all had shoulders that hung over my shoulder line, too. I do own a Zara turtleneck that I found at the swap meet but, again, that's a knit. Maybe it's best to stick with those instead of the tailored items?

Jonesy

Veteran

Man, I guess I'm not alone at all! I would never have thought that their clothes didn't work for you, Rae. I mean, it can't be just a height issue, right, since you are not a giantess like me :)?

Thanks for all of the therapeutic replies, ladies! This is helping me to move on...

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I *think* we peeked into a Zara at International Plaza last time we went down to Tampa. It was one of the stores I'd heard about here and on a couple blogs, at any rate. When I dragged the BF in he was geniuinely wondering what all the fuss was about. Me too! Maybe it was just an 'off' time for them? I will look again Sunday when we head down there. I for one was excited at the thought of European styling at F21 pricing

LoP

Veteran

Zara is always a bit tricky. Very hard to find something that fits, but when it does it is worth it. I know what you are talking about about the printed pants. I (5'10'') tried similar styles on last summer in France (even brought home one only to return it later). They were unreasonably long. I had to wear my highest heels with them which is not the look I wanted for printed pants.

bj1111

Veteran

i may be the only one so far...but i've had great luck with zara sizing. especially zara woman. i'm pear-ly 5'2" IT38 us vanity size0-2. zara size S is perfect for jackets.

my beef with them...i still think their goods are a tad overpriced esp for the fabrication.

jayne

Veteran

I think the problem is the country of origin. This is a Spanish chain and the average height and body shape will match the Spaniards. I believe the average american is taller and has a body shape to match. Remember that we came from all of the world and are now, most of us, a pleasant mix.

H&M on the other hand is made in Sweden, the land of tall and relatively big boned ladies. (Living in Norway, see it all around me). SO H&M will make clothes to fit the larger lady spectrum.

Both run small. I cannot even step into Mango, which is another Spanish chain with adorable clothes, but nothing (even XL) even fits. The cut is just for a smaller body. My petite Irish friend counts on them to cloth her here as nothing else provides for petite!

What I NEED is a good German chain (me imagining round rosy cheeked women) with a height and body shape like my own! Wonder why the Germans aren't at the top of the fashion industry?

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I do have one Zara jacket and it looks great but feels too tight around the shoulders/back, I probably shouldn't have purchased it but I loved the color and material. It is a size S and feels a little small but the medium was way too big. I may be another one who doesn't fit well into Zara.

Deborah

Veteran

Jonesy what a shame! I have shopped in Zara here is Australia, our first Zara store opened here some months back, but in general I find the sizing off, the quality very average and the clothing over priced:).

Kate

Veteran

I have the exact same problems at Zara as you do Jonesy. I always have to size up one or even two sizes there, and even then there are often odd fit problems.

Tops and jackets I always need a L or XL in; pants are impossible; and I find dresses often have armholes that are cut too high and sleeves too tight for me, even when the dress itself is an otherwise perfect fit .

I'll keep on perusing the website, but only as an observer. Life is too short for this kind of shopping frustration.

That said, I have really enjoyed my ink blue leather purse and snakeskin patterned scarf bought at Zara in a pre-Christmas sale.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I found out the hard way about their super tiny sizing. I went there once--I tried on a dress in my usual size S, but it was too tight. I started pulling it off and then I was completely stuck. I started hopping around with the dress halfway over my head wondering if I needed to call for help and a chainsaw. Fortunately I managed to escape--that was close! Needless to say, I haven't been back to Zara since (sorry, Angie)!

Scarlet

Veteran

I don't even look in Zara any more because the fit is wonky for me too. Mango as well. I am not sure if it is so much that it is not cut for my body type as the fit is simply not very well thought-out. No doubt there must be some gems, but there is always such a chaotic and busy fitting room that it is too much trouble to try things on with such a low score rate.

Belladogga

I've only had a few experiences with Zara while on holiday in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the UK but they worked for me. I'm usually US 2 - 6 and shortwaisted. I did have to size up though.

The UK stores were pretty picked over (end of the season when I was there) but Zara in Mexico was a shopping highlight that I remember years later.

Jjsloane

Veteran

Well thanks for this disclaimer. I have been chomping at the bit to get to one (briefly visited the DC one but did not try anything on) For me Zara and H&M always have such cool looking things in magazines etc... but when I try the H&M IRL it doesn't usually work out so well. And I have Swedish ancestry! It would probably be similar with Zara so I will stop obsessing about it. Phew that's a load off.
ps Jonesy if I'd have known you were in DC we could have gotten together!

ButterflyLady

(website)

Veteran

I struggle with fit in there, too (I'm in the UK) . When they first came to the UK, there was a lot of talk about how they were having to adapt their fit to the UK market - something to do with how UK women's ribcages were so much wider than Spanish women's. It didn't endear me to the brand, but I went in there anyway (feeling very protective of my *huge* ribcage).

In fact, I found they didn't really cater for my hourglass-y shape - waists were huge, hips/busts were tight and pants were incredibly long - even altering wouldn't work because cutting off more than 6 inches affects the shape. The prices have crept upwards too, but the quality hasn't. They have nice accessories, though, particularly scarves.

Astrid

Veteran

I have the same issues with Zara, I don't even go in there anymore because things don't fit me anyway. I have one item from Zara, my black skirt that I wear again and again. Because of this great basic I wanted to like Zara, but it just doesn't work out. And another thing that I don't like is the bad quality (at least over here). Lots of horrible fabrics and bad seams, missing buttons and so on. And it's not even that inexpensive!

@jayne: You cracked me up with your German chain and the round rosy cheeked women!

Jonesy

Veteran

Well, well, well, it appears that the ardor towards Zara has cooled off for some of you too :)! For a few people, it seems like their sizing works, but for many others--in all sizes and shapes, not just the tall gals like myself!--they just don't work.

GP, I have been there with battling a dress that I can't get back over my head :). I commiserated and chuckled over your story.

Jeanne, I didn't know you were in DC! To tell you the truth, I was in "work mode" so I didn't even think of it, but maybe next time, if I ever pop up in DC again :).

Jayne, I do get the country of origin thing, but if their sizing were *consistently* small, that would make more sense to me. Instead, e.g., the jacket I tried on was way too big through the body (while too short in the sleeves and pinching in the pits), and the pants were too long and big in the waist/tight through the hips--which makes no sense for me, because I am more rectangle-y through my waist and hips, with a relatively big waist and relatively narrow hips! Just pure wackiness!

Anyway, thanks for the support and therapy, ladies! It's been cathartic for me :).

Anonymous

I also find their fit rather inconsistent. But I LOVE mango. It's too expensive for my usual me, but very nice things there. Zara also, a bit overpriced but I don't have problems with the fit, as with the styles and lately they're doing all that boyfriend cut slouchy pants, deconstructed jackets and such. They had beautiful colors though.
But, I have a good friend and colleague who shops there regularly . He's a man and has good luck with their coats pants jackets and shirts.

Laurinda

Veteran

@Jayne, you make a good point about stores' national origin. As a big-boned Swede I have no hope in the Japanese chain Uniqlo.

I wonder if there is regional variation in the US too? Wisconsin-based (state with many German immigrants?) Lands End is too boxy for many gals here, but fits my tundra torso just fine.

I hope that German chain will carry nice dirndls.

maharani

This is an interesting read. Ive been wondering about Zara but I think I will pass-one more I dont need to bother with! If i do check it out-forwarned is forearmed-I wont be too disappointed if nothing fits.

Irene

(website)

I don't own any single item from Zara. I do not like their fit, quality and price tag. Everything is too long for me, and even in my size or size bigger everything is too tight. Plus, clothes is made from very flimsy and semitransparent fabric, and costs the same as Ralph Lauren in Macy's or such.

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