Clothing review: Gap, Eddie Bauer, White House Black Market, Land's End and more...
I bought clothes and reviewed them for you all! Because that's how I roll.
Your headless model is 5'3, typically a US 16 on bottom and 14/L on top. I've been experimenting recently with buying fewer items that are more versatile and will hopefully last longer. I went up a size this year, which seemed like a good excuse to try out my new clothing strategy. Here are some things I've bought over the past few months, lest you think this was all from one spree.
First is a polka dot tie neck sleeveless blouse and a black pencil skirt, both from White House Black Market (both out of stock so I can't link to them). Top is an L, skirt is a 16. The shoes are from RSVP, size 8.5, bought on overstock.com.
These clothes fit exactly as I'd hoped they would from the website. This basically never happens because usually the model is a size 2 and 5'10, and I am definitely not. The blouse looks better now that I've ironed the line out of the bust area and it looks great under a suit jacket or cardigan for work, or as is for party wear. The pencil skirt has a great structure to it and great detail and could be worn as party wear too. A little more detail of the blouse:
Next is a cardigan from Land's End, from their website. I got 'rich red' in a size 10 - 12, and it's definitely red. This photo doesn't show quite how bright it is.
I was hoping for something darker red, but it's such a great cardigan I think I'll keep it anyway. It's a thicker cardigan than I'm used to, but what's great is that it keeps its shape, and it's very warm. It's basically a light crewneck sweater with little shell buttons. I am really never a size 10 - 12 up top, so I recommend ordering a size down from Land's End.
Next are new pants for work. These are from from Gap and are in grey herringbone, size 16 ankle length. Top is from New York and Company size L.
I've never worn a straight leg before - straight as in as wide at the thigh as they are at the opening - and I almost sent these back. But these have beautiful features that don't even show up here, and they're a really warm wool blend, and they're lined. They look amazing with heels, which I'm not wearing here. Blouse detail:
This is my one and only attempt at ruffles/frilly shirts. I went for the squarest, flattest ruffle I could find. This works really well when worn under something, but I don't like it on its own. Plus I have to iron down that collar every time I wear this.
Next, a longsleeve T from Coldwater Creek. Size 10 - 12. I got this in three colours; this is a beautiful deep pink but looks more like a red here.
These are great layering pieces for a reasonable price and the colours are beautiful and the material is very fine and soft. But again, I recommend ordering a size down. Mainly because of this:
These shirts have 7% elastane, so they're never very form-fitting, but they don't lose their shape either. They just stay pretty loose through the torso.
Next, jeans from Gap. These are curvy ankle length, size 16. I bought these a mere 3 months ago, at which point they fit like a glove. I was really excited. Here they are today:
Not too bad from a distance. But when you look closer:
I've never had jeans just give out on me like this before. Even the wash got lighter every time I washed them! I don't have the world's most shapely behind so I need all the help I can get, and these are not help. I'm not a very curvy person so I don't know why I even bought these. I tried on a different style today but I could feel the same cheapness and sag potential, so I gave up on Gap and went to Eddie Bauer instead.
These are Eddie Bauer's modern fit boot cut jean, size 16, regular length. The wash is a very dark blue.
I dislike all other Eddie Bauer jeans except these. These remind me of what Gap jeans used to be like back in the day. They're form-fitting but not tight, except they look tight here because I just washed them and it takes them a good day's wear to stretch them out. I don't wear skinny jeans but these look more flared than they are, because they're too long when I wear flats. Usually I turn them up for flats, but I didn't do that here. I'm very pleased with these jeans overall and can wear them to work without feeling casual. They fit absolutely everywhere and are a completely uniform wash - no fading, no whiskering - and I love that! If I had the money I would have bought one ankle length pair as well.
So overall, it's been a productive shopping experience. I really like it when fatshionistas post reviews of their purcahses so I wanted to do the same for others. Maybe one day I'll post an OOTD :-)
Your headless model is 5'3, typically a US 16 on bottom and 14/L on top. I've been experimenting recently with buying fewer items that are more versatile and will hopefully last longer. I went up a size this year, which seemed like a good excuse to try out my new clothing strategy. Here are some things I've bought over the past few months, lest you think this was all from one spree.
First is a polka dot tie neck sleeveless blouse and a black pencil skirt, both from White House Black Market (both out of stock so I can't link to them). Top is an L, skirt is a 16. The shoes are from RSVP, size 8.5, bought on overstock.com.
These clothes fit exactly as I'd hoped they would from the website. This basically never happens because usually the model is a size 2 and 5'10, and I am definitely not. The blouse looks better now that I've ironed the line out of the bust area and it looks great under a suit jacket or cardigan for work, or as is for party wear. The pencil skirt has a great structure to it and great detail and could be worn as party wear too. A little more detail of the blouse:
Next is a cardigan from Land's End, from their website. I got 'rich red' in a size 10 - 12, and it's definitely red. This photo doesn't show quite how bright it is.
I was hoping for something darker red, but it's such a great cardigan I think I'll keep it anyway. It's a thicker cardigan than I'm used to, but what's great is that it keeps its shape, and it's very warm. It's basically a light crewneck sweater with little shell buttons. I am really never a size 10 - 12 up top, so I recommend ordering a size down from Land's End.
Next are new pants for work. These are from from Gap and are in grey herringbone, size 16 ankle length. Top is from New York and Company size L.
I've never worn a straight leg before - straight as in as wide at the thigh as they are at the opening - and I almost sent these back. But these have beautiful features that don't even show up here, and they're a really warm wool blend, and they're lined. They look amazing with heels, which I'm not wearing here. Blouse detail:
This is my one and only attempt at ruffles/frilly shirts. I went for the squarest, flattest ruffle I could find. This works really well when worn under something, but I don't like it on its own. Plus I have to iron down that collar every time I wear this.
Next, a longsleeve T from Coldwater Creek. Size 10 - 12. I got this in three colours; this is a beautiful deep pink but looks more like a red here.
These are great layering pieces for a reasonable price and the colours are beautiful and the material is very fine and soft. But again, I recommend ordering a size down. Mainly because of this:
These shirts have 7% elastane, so they're never very form-fitting, but they don't lose their shape either. They just stay pretty loose through the torso.
Next, jeans from Gap. These are curvy ankle length, size 16. I bought these a mere 3 months ago, at which point they fit like a glove. I was really excited. Here they are today:
Not too bad from a distance. But when you look closer:
I've never had jeans just give out on me like this before. Even the wash got lighter every time I washed them! I don't have the world's most shapely behind so I need all the help I can get, and these are not help. I'm not a very curvy person so I don't know why I even bought these. I tried on a different style today but I could feel the same cheapness and sag potential, so I gave up on Gap and went to Eddie Bauer instead.
These are Eddie Bauer's modern fit boot cut jean, size 16, regular length. The wash is a very dark blue.
I dislike all other Eddie Bauer jeans except these. These remind me of what Gap jeans used to be like back in the day. They're form-fitting but not tight, except they look tight here because I just washed them and it takes them a good day's wear to stretch them out. I don't wear skinny jeans but these look more flared than they are, because they're too long when I wear flats. Usually I turn them up for flats, but I didn't do that here. I'm very pleased with these jeans overall and can wear them to work without feeling casual. They fit absolutely everywhere and are a completely uniform wash - no fading, no whiskering - and I love that! If I had the money I would have bought one ankle length pair as well.
So overall, it's been a productive shopping experience. I really like it when fatshionistas post reviews of their purcahses so I wanted to do the same for others. Maybe one day I'll post an OOTD :-)