Well Holy Toledo! It is already Wednesday! (well almost, as I write this!)
I am starting to get the pre-Christmas heebee-jeebies - what do I need, etc, etc, etc. I am close to being done, but need to do the inventory and make a list!
Today's Style Question is a "Help Wendy Question"!
My box arrived from Banana Republic today - if you recall a couple of weeks ago they had a big 40% off sale and I quite fell in love with a dress and coat combo.
Well today they arrived and I need to decide if they are going to stay or not. As a point of info, the coat was on sale for $165CDN and the dress was $80CDN. I always like full disclosure when making a decision.
Like my friend, Dani, I love red! But most reds do not work on me, so I am always cautious! This coat is described as "red delicious"
Here's what they looked like on the website:
The items are 100% wool. And they are gorgeous:
The dress first. It is a lovely soft wool. I think i would belt it. DO you like the toilet?????
The jacket is a slightly different hue of the same colour - I wonder if this is because of the difference in materials? The jacket is 90% wool, 10% nylon and is described as being made of "Italian Material"! Isn't that a funny description? Everyone wants to be from Italy, but as far as I know, only Ema is! The dress is 49% wool, 51% nylon.
And from a distance (in my daughter's messy room!):
The material is lovely and feels very luxe and is well constructed. The coat could NOT be worn around here after about November 15th. It is not lined. I was planning to wear it to work and to dressy events that are not "party". But would it be too much for work?
Finally, with the coat closed:
I truly want your opinions! I have lots of clothes, I only want to keep things that are a wow factor!
I personally like it, but you know that I like a lot of things! I want to know if you think a) that the colour is flattering (or not) b) that the fit is flattering (or not!) and if you think this is worth the price. c) think I should only keep one piece versus the other? d) hate it!
Don't you love it when you can help a friend???
As a thank you, I am sharing Barry's latest royal baby joke (this could be as long a pregnancy for me as it is for her!):
At dinner tonight:
him: I was really upset today!
me: how come?
him: I heard that England has come down with royal baby fever!!! All I could think was how odd it was that this fever should happen just when poor Kate is pregnant! and that only royal babies get it! They have to get her out of England!"
me: &^%$#
Happy Wednesday All! And stay safe out there!
I am starting to get the pre-Christmas heebee-jeebies - what do I need, etc, etc, etc. I am close to being done, but need to do the inventory and make a list!
Today's Style Question is a "Help Wendy Question"!
My box arrived from Banana Republic today - if you recall a couple of weeks ago they had a big 40% off sale and I quite fell in love with a dress and coat combo.
Well today they arrived and I need to decide if they are going to stay or not. As a point of info, the coat was on sale for $165CDN and the dress was $80CDN. I always like full disclosure when making a decision.
Like my friend, Dani, I love red! But most reds do not work on me, so I am always cautious! This coat is described as "red delicious"
Here's what they looked like on the website:
The items are 100% wool. And they are gorgeous:
The dress first. It is a lovely soft wool. I think i would belt it. DO you like the toilet?????
The jacket is a slightly different hue of the same colour - I wonder if this is because of the difference in materials? The jacket is 90% wool, 10% nylon and is described as being made of "Italian Material"! Isn't that a funny description? Everyone wants to be from Italy, but as far as I know, only Ema is! The dress is 49% wool, 51% nylon.
And from a distance (in my daughter's messy room!):
The material is lovely and feels very luxe and is well constructed. The coat could NOT be worn around here after about November 15th. It is not lined. I was planning to wear it to work and to dressy events that are not "party". But would it be too much for work?
Finally, with the coat closed:
I truly want your opinions! I have lots of clothes, I only want to keep things that are a wow factor!
I personally like it, but you know that I like a lot of things! I want to know if you think a) that the colour is flattering (or not) b) that the fit is flattering (or not!) and if you think this is worth the price. c) think I should only keep one piece versus the other? d) hate it!
Don't you love it when you can help a friend???
As a thank you, I am sharing Barry's latest royal baby joke (this could be as long a pregnancy for me as it is for her!):
At dinner tonight:
him: I was really upset today!
me: how come?
him: I heard that England has come down with royal baby fever!!! All I could think was how odd it was that this fever should happen just when poor Kate is pregnant! and that only royal babies get it! They have to get her out of England!"
me: &^%$#
Happy Wednesday All! And stay safe out there!
Hi WMM! I looooove the coat, but the dress, not so much. The color looks excellent on you, but the shape just isn't wowing me. I think the coat can be worn to work, to a party, to just about anything. It is lovely.
ReplyDeleteHi JCJD! Thanks for the thoughts and the advice!
DeleteEARLY BIRD WMM, is it Wednesday already in the Maritimes? Or do you just want to make Christmas come faster? Will give the cranberry combo a think and come back after din din. (BTW, I just took BR pants in the same colour scheme to tailor today to make them capri-ish for boots and heels. That's as Christmas crazy pants as I get. They are 90/10 as well and fully lined - take that JC.)
ReplyDeleteHA! You are right! I couldn;t wait to start getting my advice!!!!!
DeleteI wasn't expecting to read my name in that sentence, it was a nice surprise! I think BR is trying to copy JCrew and throwing the name of my country around for added status (they better do more research a la Crew to make it more believable).
ReplyDeleteNow the coat. First, it looks burgundy on my screen not red. I think the color looks nice on you. I think the coat flares out a bit too much and looks definitively better closed than open. I don't know what size you got but maybe a petite would have better proportions? I do like the dress, if you are going to wear it I think it is a keeper.
If you want a coat suggestion I keep seeing this red coat at DKNY that looks perfection. I was just trying to find a soul mate for it (I don't do red red). Probably very expensive but they have good sales.
Hi Ema! Thanks for the thought! You and JCJD are on opposite camps! I think I don;t care for it open and a petite likely would have been better but of course they had none! The sleeves are WAY too long! I was expecting a reddier red as well! I will check on the DKNY!
DeleteI do have another coat coming for Christmas that I purchased on sale recently - a lovely cinzia rocca wrap coat that is remarkably like this one that is a lovely dove grey that looks amazing with a red scarf. My husband is giving it to me to replace the zebra shoes! I will check the DKNY - I always wanted to be her soul mate!!!!
I laughed when I read the italian part! Still gotta get to Italy!
Yep, it's going to be a loooong pregnancy at your house! Keep them coming, though, they are entertaining me :-)
ReplyDeleteWell you might remember I am a fan of this coat. The color is rich and pretty and so is the fabric. I think the color looks great on you. It is work appropriate, I think.
I have not seen the dress in person and the photos are dark for me so I don't think my opinion counts. It's not bad but not wow either. Maybe you could wow it up with some of your fun sparkly/leopardy things? I don't know where you wear it, though. Do you think the dress is work appropriate? I really can't tell from the picture. I think I'm only lukewarm on the dress.
I don't know how those Canadian prices compare to U.S. dollars so i don't know how to comment on if these are worth the money.
Decisions decisions... I'm on the fence about a few things too, it probably means I should return them. Let us know what you decide!
Cate - Oh he will have a few more - I will keep them coming!
DeleteI think the dress is only work appropriate with the jacket or a blazer, to be honest. The prices are about the same as the US - maybe 10%+ more?
I am not sure what I will keep thus far! The great thing about Banana republic is that you can return it for free!
If you were hoping to wear these two together, than I say no. The dress appears (as best as I can see on my screen) to be a rusty red, while the coat is more a blue-ish red...very pretty color on that coat! I'm not very fond of the dress. I don't think it's you, it's just the dress. I'd probably wear it with leggings or skinny jeans, more like a tunic. I'm not much help, am I???
ReplyDeleteBut back to the coat/dress duo - if you really want a matching set, than pass on these and more than likely there will be a zillion more on sale soon. Take care!
Thanks Suzy! I think you are right! I really thought they would be identical colours, but they are oddly different! I am leaning to the coat if I keep either, but am not loving either the more I look at these photos! That's why I love taking the pictures - it really does help, including all the advice!
DeleteOk...I will give you an honest opinion. Please don't hate me. You can do better than the dress. You have such a cute figure and the dress is so lifeless (sorry to the dress). The coat just looks too big on you. When you find the perfect red dress I would wear with a winter white coat..now that would do your body justice. Don't settle!
ReplyDeleteThanks Blue Booby! I NEVER hate honest opinions - I love them! I find everyone here gives their opinions so respectfully! And remember - I am asking for help! ANd How could I hate someone who said I have a cute figure???? :-)
DeleteI'm having second thoughts about the coat ... I think your hesitation might be why I didn't buy it, it is unstructured. I love unstructured things, but they don't love me back. Could that be it? It's a little shapeless.
ReplyDeleteCate - you and me both, girlfriend! I think that may be the issue in a nutshell!
DeleteWhile I think the dress looks good on you, I keep thinking how amazing it would be if it were a deep royal blue or a rich blue green or jewel purple. I like the color of the coat better for your coloring, it's leaning toward a wine. However, you are swallowed up by the coat a bit. Have you ever tried a coat that is cut sleek and straight, perhaps even without a collar?
ReplyDeleteHI Tiffany Rose - I do have a love gunmetal grey coat that is cut like that and I will take a picture and show you! While I love the idea of this outfit, I am pretty sure it is not going to stay chez WMM, which may make someone happy as I see the coat is completely sold out! ANyone tried to order a medium?? :-)
DeleteI loved that coat too,
ReplyDeleteI know - it is lovely, isn't it? My happiness is that at least I can send it back without incurring shipping, like I always must do with JC. At least this was a free try on! I would have considered ordered a S in the coat, but they are sold right out. I guess I could be red delicious, just not Banana Republic Red Delicious!
DeleteI like the idea of theses pieces, I can see why you ordered them. "On" is a different story. The outfit wears you, not the other way around. You can do better.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I think they are nice, but I didn;t feel like a million bucks in them!
DeleteNO BANANAS WMM, popping back in to say I think the mulled wine, cranberry, cosmopolitan colour is a great idea. But I think both the dress and the coat need a serious nip-tuck for keeping - sleeve shortening/ tweaking on both, tapering, belt etc. Otherwise just look oversized or sloppy, semi-boho (not in a good way), and definitely not as flattering as you deserve, regardless of price. Free shipping, free returns and a range of Wednesday opinions are the best.
ReplyDeleteI agree! As I have always said, you guys are my style sisters and I truly like the advice!!! Saves me money and ensures i look good whilst facing the world or as Jann Ardenn writes so eloquently "feet on ground, heart on hand, facing forward, be yourself!"
DeleteThat's a wonderful JA quote.
DeleteI don't like the shape of the dress on you. The coat is ok, but as you said it isn't lined and I think that you can do better. It makes me nuts to see item descriptions as "made of Italian cashmere/wool/silk/leather." If you feel the need to use Italian materials then please manufacture the item in Italy, please and thank you!
ReplyDeleteI too try to keep only the items that are great quality and truly look great on me.
You made me laugh out loud A! Like I said - everyone wants to be Italian!
DeleteGF - I think the song is called Good Mother. Guaranteed to make you cry, especially those of us who no longer have a mother!
ReplyDeleteYou are right, she gave room goosebumps and a standing o performing it live at Huntsville Girlfriend's Getaway last November. It was such a pleasure to work with her and her band (plus sweetest doggie). I just never thought about it as a lyric line before.
DeleteI like both pieces in theory, but as others have said, you can do better. The wine color is pretty on you but I think the dove gray coat will take you further and will go with everything you own.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie - I think we are of one voice! and no one cried!
DeleteI like both pieces and I think the colors look good on you. But I think both pieces look too big, not in terms of size but proportions. The coat definitely, but even the dress seems to have too much fabric under arms. I would say if they don;t offer petite it is a no. You have a lot of beautiful clothes, there is no need to compromise. Have no mercy.
ReplyDeleteHa! I love the "have no mercy"!! You are right! I did check and there was no petite option! Back it goes!!!
DeleteHi WMM! Well, I also like both of the pieces and love the colors of each, but agree with the others that have said they seem a tad too big for you. You could keep and have them tailored, but if they are not an absolute LOVE for you, then send them back.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to say again how much I love the blue Blythe blouse on you with the grey suit from yesterday's post. I left you a comment, but it was late, so I'm not sure if you saw it or not. I think your entire look was fabulous! :)
Oh FFM! A compliment from you is one to be cherished! I am going to go back and read it as today was crazy and I am just getting caught up! How are you????
DeleteEchoing a lot of what has already been said, but I am one for redundance, so let's do it! Here it goes:
ReplyDeleteBoth are showing burgundy on my screen, and the color looks really nice on you. I only like the coat closed (maybe you should size down?) and the dress is acceptable but not stunning. You look fantastic in so many things that keeping these two pieces (I think) would be doing your lovely figure a disservice. I hope this was "respectful feedback" as it is certainly meant that way. Ps, your hair has been looking great lately, how do you combat the winter frizz? A curly sister needs some help!
Anthro Blogger, anyone who says I have a lovely figure is definitely giving respectful feedback! It is funny tonight my husband asked if anyone ever hurt my feelings on this blog, but I find people so darn kind and helpful. Maybe I should make Mayberry the Club town????
DeleteWell darn it - I forgot to answer your question! I am trying to grow the hair a little longer again, my hairdresser chopped it off. I use Joico shampoo and conditioner and serum, marakesh oil and AG recoil goop on my hair (http://www.curlmart.com/product/ag-re-coil/)
Deleteit is completely hit or miss. My hair is in its own world and it lives there either having wild parties or is sad and depressed! I am so with you on the curly hair!
The dress is nice but no wow factor although I think the color is lovely on you. The coat looks sloppy when open and even closed it has a bell shape at the bottom that is not flattering but maybe that is because your hands are in the pockets.
ReplyDeleteAnd oh yes, the toilet is fab.
xoxo - I know - I think i probably use the pocket thing too much in posting! but you know I do it in real life, so is better to let it go then give up a bad habit!
DeleteI am REALLY glad you like the toilet, heehe!