Thrifting Queen

K/R EF Dark Tulip dress

August 21, 2014

Long day…totally pooped out…sorry for the lack of energy in the pics.

Anyway, the Eileen Fisher red Dark Tulip dress I ordered from eBay arrived today. The fabric is the same as that in my EF drape front dresses, although a wee bit more substantial - like a winter weight version. And although my wall colour skews the red a bit, the colour is absolutely DIVINE. This is exactly the dark rich red I love and want for my fall/winter wardrobe.

However - it's too big :( This is a Petite Large and clearly I need a Petite medium - the same size as my drape front dresses. 

I have been able to find the EF Dark Tulip items in Petite Medium in the skirts, blouses, cardigans, tanks etc but still have not seen one on eBay in the PM. Will keep looking though.

I don't suppose Wonder Woman could make this fit, could she? It is simple in that there are two side seams and no lining. But they are dolman sleeves with dropped shoulders - don't know how complicated that would be.

YLF seamstresses - do you think this dress could be made smaller? 

Or do I just return to my fab seller for my refund and keep hoping for a Medium to show up?

The other option is my seller has a regular Medium available - but that may be too long on me.

So sad...

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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.

26 Comments

  • ironkurtin replied 9 years ago

    Sorry, Shannon.  Too big.  Return and keep eyes open - it will appear!

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    I love this dress on you!!! I think it might be easier for Wonder Woman to shorten the regular medium than to take this one in. I also find that I can shrink this jersey just a bit in the wash. Whatever you have to do, You must have this dress!

  • replied 9 years ago

    Shoot!  What a great colour on you.  But..... taking in a dolman with dropped shoulders is actually an easy thing to do - one long seam one each side.  Tricky at the bottom hem, depending on how it's finished down there, but if she's   a pro, it shouldn't be a problem.  (i'm a pretty experienced sewer and like to think I know what I'm talking about :)  What's the fabric content?

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    It IS a great color. I say take advantage of your good return policy and put hope in the fashion winds to turn one up in your size, sooner or later.

  • shedev replied 9 years ago

    I love the color on you, Shannon. I don't think it could hurt to ask Wonder Woman before returning.

  • Thistle replied 9 years ago

    I lve the color, and in the right size, this could be a workhorse. I would return and keep looking. Might even want to let the eBay seller know you are hunting for the next size down as you love it so much.

  • Beth Ann replied 9 years ago

    So sorry!  It's an absolutely fabulous dress -- just needs to be a size smaller!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Have already contacted the seller and am returning. But I let her know I'm looking for the dress in PM and she's going to keep her eyes open.

    The good thing is I know what the exact color is and it's perfect and I know I want this dress.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    It's a stunning colour. Is it REALLY too big? I think my eyes have completely adjusted to oversize. I kinda like this! In all seriousness! But you know how it feels. 

    Also, let's not forget the dress that it identical to your blue and black dress...that might work instead? 

    Heh. I wonder if your seller has this dress in a PXS?   ;) 

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    I'm trolling eBay as we speak Suz and putting out feelers with the three sellers I buy with. I'll make an inquiry for you if you'd like.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    You bet! It's a fantastic dress. Ask away! And thank you! 

  • Runcarla replied 9 years ago

    Agree, colour is Devine (like your winter robe style coat?) but way too big. Isn't that, kind of, great?

  • deb replied 9 years ago

    Yes, return it and get the reg medium or wait for the petite medium. Love the color!

  • Gigi replied 9 years ago

    Absolutely gorgeous color. I think returning and watching for a medium petite is the best route. 

    I wouldn't settle for a petite medium because it's going to be larger in the shoulders also, and with the dropped shoulders and dolman sleeves, the fit might look sloppy on your petite frame.

  • Janet replied 9 years ago

    Fantastically wow color on you. I say go for the size smaller.

  • DonnaF replied 9 years ago

    Hold out for the PM.  Or even a PS?  In a regular size, the sleeves will be too long and it will hit you too long.  The regular medium will probably be too big, too.  Don't compromise!

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    The color is great!
    I think it is worth it to try M regular: after all shortening the body and sleeves should be a very easy alteration (unlike making it a size smaller). If you can return for a refund what harm in trying? My only concern would be the dolman sleeves but you can ask the seller to measure where they start on the dress from the shoulders so you can assess if this will be too much or not.
    I hope you can find it in this color!

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    Color and shape is so perfect for you - hope size PM appears soon!

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Oh! That's my color, too. I bought a blouse and sweater in that shade at NAS last year and love them. Glad to hear you're holding out for the right size. The dress will be gorgeous on you. I'm sure it could be altered, but I agree with Joy that it would be easier (and less expensive) to shorten the regular medium, if need be.

  • replied 9 years ago

    It is lovely, but way too big.  

  • Diana replied 9 years ago

    What a gorgeous color! I think you should hold put for PM. The regular M may actually be larger than PM ..,I can't remember if EF cuts petites overall smaller but many brands do. Plus I suspect the armholes will be saggy on the regular size.

  • lyn67 replied 9 years ago

    Definitely too big:-(. But as I used to do my alterations, I think your WW  could easily sort it out for you IF there are NO shoulder  seams across the dolman sleeves. I mean if the body of the dress is cut together with the dolman sleeves than she could take in the 2 sides starting the hem of the sleeves, down to the hem of the dress. If there is a quasy shoulder seam on the dolman sleeves it's a bit harder, not sure if I would go there. But it's a fab color, and easy fabric-so understand your love for it!

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 9 years ago

    Love the color on you Shannon.  I think you should hold out for a PM and if you go with regular size, you may want to test out a S.  I find there is usually about 1/2 size difference overall between a P and a regular.

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    Stunning dress and I love the colour for you. As mentioned, I think the alterations would be pretty straight forward. This is a similar design to my Monki dress which was too big. My Wonder Woman altered it for me and it's perfect. Alteration was about $15.00. But if you can be patient, waiting for your actual size will be worth it.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Thank you all SO MUCH for your feedback :)

    I'm definitely holding out for a smaller size. Although I know Wonder Woman could do the alterations, the dress is a wee bit wide in the shoulders and sleeves so I think even taking it in, it won't fit quite right. And checking the measurements, the regular medium will just be way too long and bit all over.

    I did find a Petite Small and a Regular Small and have contacted the sellers for measurements. I think the small will be too small but no harm in checking measurements, right?

    Suz - you are correct in that my drape front dress is available in my size in a color similar. The color I'm after is Dark Tulip but the drape front dress is in Crimson. Not quite as dark. But I may order that as it will fill my desire for red these days. The one thing I haven't done is try out my favorite EF drape front dresses with tights to check out the "cling factor" for fall/winter. Need to do that.

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Blast. I hope you find a Medium Petite. Gorgeous colour, and the style has lots of potential. 

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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.