Thrifting Queen

Two EF items for your critique (ETA 3rd item added)

April 17, 2015

I'm currently watching two Eileen Fisher items from my favourite eBay seller. We're putting a new roof on our house and just paid our taxes yesterday so Spring/Summer shopping will likely either be through eBay or clearance racks to keep my spending in a comfortable zone.

So...onto the two items:

Pics #1 - #3: Blue and black color block jersey knit asymmetrical sleeveless dress. Made with the same fabric as my drape front EF dresses. Y'all know I love to wear dresses in the summer and combine them with my various toppers for my freezing A/C office. This is petite sizing so proportionate for my body. Although normally a dress straight from the hip is not flattering for my body type, I think the asymmetrical hemline which creates a "faux" taper would work in a similar manner to the tapered hemlines of my other EF dresses. Correct or wrong? I think the dress could be dressed up or down and be very versatile. What do you think of the particular shape and style for me? I had originally put a shirt dress on my Spring/Summer list but they are very difficult to find to work on my frame and shape so this would be instead.

Pics #4-6: Lavender light wool/linen blend wrap sweater. I'm on the hunt for a light weight sweater for those cool summer evenings and also to take to our family vacation to the west coast in July. I'm wanting something that can be worn with a tee and jeans but also over a dress for an evening dinner on a patio. My complexion and hair work really well with shades of purple so the colour is a no brainer IMHO. The colour would work well with black, white and denim alike which is the majority of my wardrobe. I like the wrap style as it gives the sweater a bit of elegance as opposed to a cardigan. What do you think of the style and colour?

Alright - over to you - please provide your honest opinions and thanks in advance :)

ETA: I've added a third item below - a petite floral shirtdress from Hudson's Bay. It's nothing fancy but I've had it in my cart for about three weeks now. I love the shirt tail hem and the floral on black background. I can see the potential for wearing both with and without the self tie belt - without could give it that great sack look. You could also change the belt for different belts. This would work both at the office and for casual summer evenings out. Thoughts?

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Posted in the Shopping category
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28 Comments

  • Sara L. replied 9 years ago

    I like them both.  I'm not sure about how the dress will look without seeing it on (I can't even figure out how clothes will look on me without trying them on) but I like the blue and black color blocking.  The wrap sweater is great.  I like it both open with the assymetric side lengths and closed.  It seems like it would be perfect for the occasions you list.

  • Astrid replied 9 years ago

    I like the dress! I think it's definitely worth a try. Not sure about the wrap sweater, but maybe I just haven't figured it out right? I think that one would drive me crazy, personally - I think it would be difficult to get it to look "just right".

  • KikiG replied 9 years ago

    I think that they are both great.  You have such a good sense of your own style, and a great eye for what will flatter you. 

  • Tina replied 9 years ago

    That is a fascinating sweater/wrap! You should at least try it, try both actually. I can see you in the dress and you have a nice variety of toppers to wear with it.

  • Robin replied 9 years ago

    I love the sweater!  With the dress, I'd be concerned about finding a topper that works with the width of the waist and position of the seam between the two fabrics. 

  • Beth Ann replied 9 years ago

    Both are beautiful pieces.  My gut response is that the wrap will be very versatile for you.  The dress --- with is color blocking?  I think it depends how the length and position of the color block hit your torso.  Love the asymmetrical hem!

  • amiable replied 9 years ago

    Ooh  - I want that dress!  Both are gorgeous!

  • crutcher replied 9 years ago

    I am totally in love with the lilac wrap...With your coloring, it will look just fab...The dress is a question...My initial response was meh but I guess it will depend on how you style it...Sorry for the total honesty but I would want that from you...smile...

  • carter replied 9 years ago

    Love the wrap! I like the dress for you, but it feels more like a "out to dinner" dress, rather than a "to the office" dress. Then again, I haven't gone "to the office" in 15 years, so what do I know;-)

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Ha! We definitely have some varying opinions here :) Keep 'em coming ladies.

    And yes Crutcher - I absolutely do want honesty.

  • replied 9 years ago

    I'll chime in - I can't resist :)  I love the sweater, but the dress doesn't do anything for me.  If anything, I think the black panel should be on the bottom rather than the top as my eye goes straight to the big blue area - which is not terribly flattering even on the model.  Maybe I'm just having colour block/assymetric fatigue - there is so much of it around that it no longer looks interesting to me.  That wrap sweater is dynamite though - colour and cut - and I can see you wearing it with a ton of things.  No comment on the floral shirt dress - can't get my head around it.

  • Janet replied 9 years ago

    I love them both for you. It all depends on trying them on, but I'd say they both have potential.

    I would be tempted to try the dress myself, but experience has been that those straight cuts don't work well on me.

  • Helena replied 9 years ago

    Beautiful choices!

  • Carole replied 9 years ago

    What fabulous finds, Shannon...absolutely love both pieces. That wrap is so unusual, but I could see how versatile it would be. score!

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    I love the dress and have eyed it myself.  EF sometimes doesn't fit me right, but since it works for you I'm a big yay!  Not as sold on the sweater mostly because I'm wondering how the color will fit in your wardrobe.  I'd need to see the floral dress on - could be vintage cool, modern, or frumpy (but never frumpy on you!).

  • DonnaF replied 9 years ago

    I wish the seam and hem on the dress were a little higher, but I guess one really can't tell how the Petites will be cut.  Love the sweater; does it come in other colors [for me :) ] ?  The dress could either look really cute or Old Lady.  I think you'll have to order them all and go from there.

  • Nebraskim replied 9 years ago

    Love the lavendar wrap. Seems multiseasonal and flexilble. Will it overwhelm you with too much fabric? The color is cool. I love love love the floral shirtdress for the same reasons. Multifunctional and comfortable. I'm meh on the tank. That's the one I think you should pass on.

  • Debbie replied 9 years ago

    Love the wrap. I think it has a Wildcard factor. The EF dress I am on the fence about because I think it is a piece you have to try on. The floral dress is cute but I would have to see it on.

  • marianna replied 9 years ago

    I really like both EF pieces. To me they are more eye catching and interesting than the Hudson Bay piece.

  • Caro in Oz replied 9 years ago

    I think you need to try them all - if they work they would be sensational on you :) :)

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    I love the dress but think we will need to see it on before I could say for sure. Love the knit. Colour and design is stunning and I think this will be perfect for you. I don't love the floral dress for you. I just feel it's not "special" enough. When I think if say you or black and white coral jacket, it has a wow factor, but this dress doesn't (to me) so I would be looking out for something else:)

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    I'd definitely try the EF items, Shannon. I'd be wary of the dress myself due to the top (bra strap showing, possibly feeling too "bare" for office and not pairing all that well with toppers due to asymmetrical shape plus colour blocking). BUT. It's still pretty nifty and worth trying if you can return. I do love the wrap sweater and think it could be super fun. 

    The floral dress is worth trying on at the Bay or if you have free delivery (and can return in person). It makes me think more of your former style -- a little bit structured, a little vintage-whimsical -- but I can also see how something like this could be super useful in our summer climate with a denim jacket thrown over top -- pretty casual but still a DRESS and therefore really easy to wear in summer. 

  • Sal replied 9 years ago

    I am a maybe to the asymmetrical dress, a definite YES to the lilac sweater and a no to the shirt dress.

    Asymmetrical dress I think needs to be tried on...It may be great.....i have had zero success with shirt dresses, belting them always looks frumpy on short waisted me, and leaving them loose is also a challenge.

    I think a versatile flattering coloured light sweater is a useful addition to any wardrobe, I wear things like this a whole lot with jeans, soft pants, maybe even a tube skirt? I think this colour would be stunning on you.

  • dakotacheryl replied 9 years ago

    I also love the lilac sweater. I do like the EF dress, but would like to see it on you, and agree that it may be hard to add a topper to.
    I have a stink eye for florals...so I'll pass on giving my opinion LOL.

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    I like the idea if blue and black in the dress , but echo all about trying to wear with toppers. It calls for a wrap instead.
    The sweater looks luscious. But, you'd have to wear it " wrapped" in a particular way all the time, no? That might bother me. This is one that would be great to try out & play with if you can return.

  • Traci replied 9 years ago

    I have the first dress, but I'm probably going to purge it soon.  I think mine is a PL.  I'd be happy to send it to you.  The material is thinner than my other EF dresses.  It clings to my belly a bit, so I only wear it with a topper.  Bummer, because I coveted it for quite a while before I pulled the trigger.  

    I think you're in a medium, but it still may be worth a try.  I found this to be slightly slimmer fit than my other two EF dresses.

    What are shipping costs like to CA?

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    Can you believe I forgot I had posted this??? (hangs head in shame...)

    Thank you all so much for your feedback. You've all given me much to think about.

    Traci - thank you so much for your generous offer. The fact that it's a thinner fabric on the dress is a deal killer for me. But you've saved me some $$ by mentioning that so thank you :)

  • Marina replied 9 years ago

    I can see both dresses working quite well with a blazer and office shoes for work and with more stylish shoes and accessories to go out. I think they are both very good options :)

    About the cardigan, I think it is lovely but I saw on your profile you are apple-shaped. Since I usually use draped tops/toppers to add dimension on my top portion, I'm not confident they will work well - I guess depending on how much heavier than your bottom your top is it may work with a godet or patterned skirt.

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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.