Thrifting Queen

K/R A tale of three blouses (pic heavy)

August 29, 2013

I have three blouses up for review for keep or return. I have styled all three with the same bottoms - my new VC floral tube skirt, my new NYDJ Megan black jeggings with leather trim and my TR Cameron BF's. I figure this represents the shape and color of bottoms that I own.

Pics #1 - 7: Jeanne Beker cobalt blouse with black trim and hi-low trim
Pics #8 - 14: Zara light cream silk blouse
Pics #15 - 21: Zara navy/white tux style silk blouse

I have my own feelings about the blouses but will keep them to myself for a bit so as not to sway opinions. I have the budget to keep all three if that is the consensus.

Gotta get off the computer now - hubby needs. Will be popping in on the iPhone.

So...whatcha think?

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Posted in the Shopping category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

27 Comments

  • replied 10 years ago

    I think I like the blue Zara one better than the Becker. The white I like with the BF jeans but not so much untucked with the skirt.

  • Diana replied 10 years ago

    White Zara is my favorite by far.  I think it's good with all the bottoms.  The blue Zara seems too long to me, especially in the back (see how it's pooling at the waist?)  Also, may be just the camera but it look really oddly shiny. 

    I'm not loving the Becker.  You can tell the fabric is not as nice as the silk and it doesn't drape as well/looks a little boxy.  Also I think the hi-lo differential between the front and back is too much.

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Fit on the Jeannie Becker looks best to me, Shannon. Sleeves are long on the Zaras. However, the blue of the tux style shirt is gorgeous on you, and how cute are those white accents on collar and cuffs with the printed skirt? Nice! I do notice some pulling or bunching or extra fabric (not sure which) in the back of that one...something seems a bit off. I guess you could get some alterations, but that would add to the cost.

    DARN this being petite business, eh? Sometimes it can be so tough to find things that fit. I was trying stuff on today (from my closet, not new) and I noticed a persistent issue. I'm a bit too tall for the petites (sleeves a touch short, torso a touch or more than a touch short) but when I go into regulars, I'm too short -- so sleeves are too long, torsos can be almost tunic length and I cannot wear tops untucked as a result because the proportions are wrong. If I tuck or semi tuck it's not noticeable, but to wear the tops out? Forget it. Especially with low heels. 

    It makes me wonder if getting the proportions right for outfits and capsules is trickier for us, for that very reason. Not only are we a bit height-challenged, but the clothes are just a bit off for our bodies so that makes it tougher. Karie mentioned to me that her Leith pants don't pool but glide gracefully to her ankles. (Well, she was far too diplomatic to put it that way, but it's the truth). Because she is tall. So she was recommending leaving tops untucked with those. And I thought...yeah, as IF. Not on this body, baby! Not with the tops I can find, anyway....

    Anyway, enough about me. I am torn between the two blue ones. I adore the sumptuous fabric of the silk one but see the fit issues. 

  • pil replied 10 years ago

    The color of the Zara blouse is spectacular. Now I'm just being nitpicky, but I find myself wanting the back hem of the Zara to curve like the Beker and think I would prefer the cream blouse to have a curved hem all around as well. I may be totally wrong here, but at least I'm consistent!

  • Runcarla replied 10 years ago

    Like the idea of the contrasting collar and cuffs, but not sure on either the Beker or the Zara. The Beker is the better colour (you 'do' cobalt all kinds of favours, Shannon!) but the Zara the better cut/ fit. Not crazy about the shine.

    Sorry, but I don't like the cream blouse at all.

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    ETA: I do have reservations about the extent of the high lo on the Becker. I feel that way about my Cassis top, too. It works okay with a wedge heel and a pencil skirt untucked, or skinnies and a heel. Otherwise (with lower heels) I feel that I need to tuck and blouse it. Or my legs are oddly foreshortened. 

    Also agree with Diana that the fabric quality doesn't seem as nice. 

    Also, the white...I keep wishing that it had a curved bottom hem somehow. I think if you hold out, you will find a better one. 

    On the shine -- I want to tell all you people -- this is what happens to silk with a flash in relative darkness, i.e. not full sunlight. It is not a shiny top, just regular crepe de chine. 

  • Isis replied 10 years ago

    ohhhh, no consensus.

    I like the Blue Becker  best.

    I sorta like the cream Zara, but would not so fond of the straight hem.

     

  • Jaime replied 10 years ago

    I like the first one the best. Keep! I love the idea of the cream Zara one but it is not quite perfect. Now I will read the comments.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    So here are my thoughts - NONE of these are keepers IMHO. They each have elements I like but they each have problems too which are what you have pointed out.

    The Jeanne Becker is hot and the fabric not quite as drapery as I would like. Plus as Diana points out, the length difference between front and back is too great. The shoulders and sleeves fit well though.

    The blue Zara is a lovely shirt but the waist doesn't hit me in the right spot so the back bunches and makes the fit look off. And the fabric actually is shiny which I do not want.

    The white Zara has the nicest of all three fabrics but the straight hem doesn't work for me in all styling and something just seems off.

    So I will be returning them all and feel pretty darned good about it. Thanks for confirming what I saw.

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    You go, girl!! 

    So the blue Zara IS shiny? I stand corrected! :-) And feel grateful I won't have to order it myself. 

    I think you are right to return these, Shannon. You have enough nice things to wear until the perfect one comes along. It is just like the white sandal search. When you find it, it will be a workhorse. 

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    Exactly Suz! Getting pickier is actually starting to feel good.

    What do you think of the floral tube skirt and black jeggings?

  • catgirl replied 10 years ago

    Yay for pickiness!  Diana's recent tube skirt search showed me how important it is to get something JUST RIGHT, especially when you know the difference - otherwise it will drive you mad.

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Skirt is super if you have a need. It would be great for spring, summer, and maybe fall, with some smart styling. Leggings -- so dark it is hard to say for sure -- but if they feel great, I would go for them. Angie is very rarely wrong, and even when it turns out one of her recommended items isn't perfect, I often think it is the company's quality control that is the real issue. (I.e. the Gap cable sweater that was so inconsistently sized and that pilled for some and not others.)  

  • Caro in Oz replied 10 years ago

    Late to this but I agree 100%. Nice but not 11s imo :)

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    Una-remember the days when I would exhaust myself trying to make something wrong right?

    Suz - I'm going to keep the skirt as I got it from eBay for $30 and I really do like it.

    I will be honest that I am not 100 percent sold on the jeggings. I do want some bottoms that can tuck into knee high boots but I do feel a bit like a sausage in them. Maybe I'm not a jeggings kind of gal?

  • Mia replied 10 years ago

    I second your decision as these are just "close but no cigar". Love the skirt.

    You do not look like a sausage in the NYDJ but with a longer topper like your Eileen Fisher cardigan you might get he happiness factor up there where it belongs?

  • Beth Ann replied 10 years ago

    Whew!  I looked at the pics, and was scrolling through the comments thinking....well, I like the first one best, but I don't think any of these are quite as good as what she already has........

    And then, you made the PPP call!

    I think you're looking great, btw.  And I love the tube skirt.  I like, but don't love the jeggings.

  • DonnaF replied 10 years ago

    I think the blouses would have been *fine* pre-YLF IYKWIM, i.e. not quite 10s, so I think your decision to return is the right one.  I quite like the skirt on you, and IMHO, you really, really rock the leggings.  Or are they ponte pants?  They look quite thick.  Of course, anything black is quite hard to assess, so if you're unsure, maybe you can take over-exposed shots?  I don't recall ever seeing you in a tunic/short, short dress, so if these are leggings or are similarly snug at the top I can understand your hesitation.

  • Ingunn replied 10 years ago

    You are clever and wise, Shannon! When you're feeling this much doubt, the right thing is to return. I've seen both the Zara blouses IRL, and I'm not sold on any of them. I fear that the silk will become difficult to iron after washing, too, particularly on the cream one. 

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    YAY for PPP ladies! I'm feeling really good this morning about my decision to return the three blouses. I'm also going to return the jeggings as well. I just don't feel like ME in them so back they go. If I change my mind when the weather turns chilly, I can always re-buy them.

    Thanks for all your valuable feedback :)

  • Mochi replied 10 years ago

    I didn't think any were keepers either, Shannon. You have much nicer stuff now. You are already sizing out of them, too. 

  • lyn67 replied 10 years ago

    I like the first two.

  • rae replied 10 years ago

    Yay PPP! I think you made the right choice, as there are bound to be more blouses coming along in the season.

  • Glory replied 10 years ago

    I know you have made your decisions but wanted to say I love the cream shirt - so maybe keep an eye open for a rounded hem in that fabrication.
    Ponte pants- I know exactly what you mean. I bought 2 pairs from all places - costco. One is from Dahlia. They are a wider fit, pull on pant similar to Reitmans. I think you might like how they fit and might be worth a try. Do not size up they are tts or even a bit roomy.
    I also just purchased a pair from Calvin Klein - they are not as roomy but still not sausagy, they also have back pockets. These are tts.

  • jurocha replied 10 years ago

    Chipping in... I like the blue and black from the first pic set the best. I agree with @Suz that it has the best fit. I also like the white one and I would recommend you to keep (one can't really have too many white shirts).

    The navy one is a Return - and Fast! - IMO. The sleeves are weirdly puf on the wrists and it looks like a boys choir school uniform.

  • Vicki replied 10 years ago

    Shannon, I love the first blue one on you the best!  There's something special about it and its color-blocking nature.  Plus, the blue is just really pretty on you and I loved it the first time I saw it on you (you mean the tags are still on!).  I also like the other blue shirt, too.  There's something about the second cream one that is giving me pause and I'm not sure why.

    I'll see what everybody else is saying here.  :)

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    lyn67, Jurocha and Vicki - just a quick FYI that I returned all three, as well as the NYDJ jeggings. None of them were 10's IMHO so off they went!

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I started playing dress up when I was 4 years old and haven't stopped since! My income doesn't match my tastes so it's all about figuring out how to thrift my way to a fashionable life while tossing in a few delectable items.