Sveta's Blog

WIW - and a review and a question

May 20, 2015

This is a variation on Angie's ensemble: the colors are reversed from black to white and flared trousers replace the culottes - but I hope it is close enough in spirit to qualify :-)
I spotted this vest in London UK a month ago when Inge and I were browsing the Banana Republic store on Regent street but it was black. I tried it on and almost fell in love with the quality of leather and the design. 

  • Two zippers to make it more fitted or boxier when closed!
  • Side zippers to make it easier to layer over  when closed!
Yes, it was love but there were 2 details which prompted me to leave it in the store:
- price: in pounds or in CAD it was quite expensive little piece;
- color: as I considered this to be useful in warmer months I was not inclined towards black. "If it was more reasonably priced AND white..." I said leaving the store empty handed.

When I came back home I checked the online site - and it was also available in white...however the price was still too steep for me.
Fast forward one week and this vest was gone in US in all sizes...but still present on Canadian site...I waited...and then it happened: one day sale for "best customers" with no exclusions! I closed my eyes and pressed the "order" button feeling very guilty. :-)
That was the story and this is how it ended - after several weeks of thinking the tags came off this past weekend and I wore it to work today. 
It is a lovely little piece with quality leather which is butter soft and lightweight enough for not-too-sweltering summer days. I hope our love affair  will last a long time!!!
As a bonus: I was playing with new YLF toys cataloging ALL my wardrobe after a purge this weekend and creating several capsules in my finds with custom items. Then I used the "ensemble" feature to record today's outfit. I created outfit ensembles for the whole work week - what a fun feature to play with. I want to continue doing this and only hope that Greg has enough room on the server for all these pictures :-)

An now a question. These white flared trousers were too big for me last year. My Mom took them in but they are still on the roomy side. Do you think they are good enough for one more season or is rear and side views are too ill fitting?

Wow, it is a novel! If you are still reading it you are a trooper!!!
Thanks a lot!!!!!

 

1
2
Posted in the What I Wore 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.

37 Comments

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Wow--that vest is fantastic in you, Sveta, and what a fun story! (Wish I had been there with you and Inge!)
    The outfit is lovely, and I think the pants look like an elegant relaxed fit. PPL, too!

  • Sara L. replied 9 years ago

    Great vest! I'm looking forward to seeing more outfits with it. The pants look fine to me but I'll admit that I'm not so good at judging fit through photos.

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    The vest is fab and belongs in your closet. I will be interested in what others think about the fit of the pants as I have several that look like yours. I agree with Sharan that they look fluid and relaxed.

  • Runcarla replied 9 years ago

    Lovely outfit that really suits you. Keep the trousers. They look roomy, but not too big. At least least keep them until you have a better replacement..

  • lyn67 replied 9 years ago

    It's so crisp, it blinds me, that moto vest is a gem, YLF, Sveta, love the  flare trousers-fit is a bit loose, but not deal breaking, keep them wearing!

  • Karie replied 9 years ago

    After reading your post (yep, I read it all!) I opened the pics and said, "WOW, that vest is gorgeous!" I'm so glad you were able to purchase it, it's a beauty. It pays to be a stalker! 

    I think the fit of the pants is fine. A tad loose, but not too much so. The lavender top looks good too.

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 9 years ago

    Love the vest and the outfit Sveta.  I am sure it will get a lot of wear.  

    I like the fit of the pants.  I find a slightly roomier fit to be more elegant than a more fitted shape and it works well with your height.

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    All looks good to me. Great vest PPP story.

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    Oh my goodness, that VEST!  I'm almost tempted to order it at full price, just to see if it works, then keep the tags on to see if there is another no exclusions sale, then order again and return the full priced one.  Yes, these are the games I play.  You saying that it can zipper closed on both zippers has pretty much put me over the edge.  I LOVE it.

    Anyway, this is about you, isn't it! :)  I love your vest :)  I think the pants will definitely do you another summer... they look fluid, not big.  And lose is always better in the summer, and with white. 

    I also had missed the part where you met up with Inge in London... how fun!!

  • Vildy replied 9 years ago

    What a special piece that vest is!  Your white pants remind me of a different slouchy/fluid pair you have that inspired me to get a pair of my own in dark camel. So, obviously, I like them on you. Nice contrast with the structure of the soft leather vest, too.

  • jackiec replied 9 years ago

    Gorgeous, Sveta! I'm so happy you got that vest! I think the pants are still working. Wow. Love the outdoor photos as well :)

  • dakotacheryl replied 9 years ago

    Great vest!!!

    I think the pants look fine from the front....but a little too big from the rear.

  • donnat replied 9 years ago

    That vest is gorgeous! Very nice outfit, the pants look nice and relaxed to my eye.

  • Daria replied 9 years ago

    Wow Sveta, what a great story with happy ending! The vest is gorgeous.
    I would say pants look fine.

  • texstyle replied 9 years ago

    The vest is fantastic Sveta - just perfect, worth the wait and effort for sure!  I think the pants look great, it's a lovely outfit on you all around.

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    The vest is WOW Killer on you - and so is that shade of lilac, Sveta. It was MEANT to be yours. Keep it safe - most of the forum wants to steal it. 

    Honey-pie, the trousers do seem very big. I vote retire them. You've had a good run. 

  • UmmLila (Lisa) replied 9 years ago

    I love the vest on you, but I think the trousers are too big in bum and thigh.

  • Carole replied 9 years ago

    Beautiful vest and the lilac blouse is so pretty with it...I agree with Angie, the pants looks big...time to shop!

  • gardenchick replied 9 years ago

    I love your new vest and the lilac top. Congratulations on finding the vest at the right price.

    I agree with Angie, the pants seem too big for you in the back.

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    Of course this vest is perfect on you. Pants look a little loose but i don't mind that.

  • replied 9 years ago

    I love it.  

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Thank you ladies!
    Opinions are divided on the trousers but of course Angie's vote decided their fate. I had these trousers for 3 seasons already, with first 2 years of pretty heavy wear and a lighter wear last year when they "grew" too large for me. They also do not look as pristine anymore so our p[arting is not that hard. The hardest decision is should I shop for another pair of flared or bootcut jeans / pants for this summer or make do with what I alredy have...:-)
    Thanks for the love for my new pet! Angie, don't worry - I am goung to keep it safe under lock and key! :-)
    Elizabeth, can you imagine that BR DID have a no exclusion one day sale last week and I missed it by just a day because I was away on the business trip! I am frustrated because I was stalking this shirt which is usually excluded (btw how gorgeous it would be with this vest, right?)
    OK, have to get back to work - talk to you later!

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    And now I want that white eyelet tunic. Blast. I am not allowed to shop until we leave for our trip in two weeks. 

  • Tanya replied 9 years ago

    Sveta, the vest looks fantastic on you!  Gorgeous with the orchid sweater.  I was going to say that I would get rid of the too-big pants, but I see you have already decided.

    That BR white eyelet tunic has been on my wish list for a while as well, I am afraid I am going to give in to the temptation and get it one of these days.

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    Really?  I'm pretty diligent at checking those. I almost wonder if you get different sales than I do, because I went back through the emails after the last one (that you got the vest on) and couldn't find one with no exclusions. 

    All together now:  GRRRRRR!!!

    But you've upped my optimism that I WILL get a sale!

  • Thistle replied 9 years ago

    Vest was meant to be yours, particularly after all that stalking and thinking!  Gorgeous on you, and I know it won't be orphaned :)

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Thistle - thanks!
    Tanya, you and me HAVE to have this tunic, aren't we? I was waiting for it ever since I saw it on BR fashion show pictures way back but it was not available in the store until very recently.  The only problem I have that I cannot decide if I should get white or black...
    Angie, you can shop for this tunic in London because it will be AFTER you leave on the trip :-)
    Elizabeth, maybe I shop there WAY more than you do (even though I return 80% of the stuff) :-) If you PM me your email I can forward you the email I got last week.
    Actually this orchid linen sweater from JCrew is pretty big on me now too. I cannot remember if it was that big to start with or if it stretched out that much. Does anybody else who got it last year have the same issue? I wish I went for size M last year instead of L...

  • CocoLion replied 9 years ago

    Love this Spring outfit!  You and ClearlyClaire get the top storyteller award of YLF.  How you can turn a shopping experience into one with all of key dramatic elements ... love at first sight (meeting the vest), loss (walking away from the vest), regret (vest not in right color), suspense (vest sold out, then -- finding it again -- and, will it work?), and finally a happy ending!

  • Tanya replied 9 years ago

    He he Sveta, I have decided that I want the tunic at the same time, when someone posted the fashion show pictures a while ago.  I have been checking the BR site obsessively ever since every time they got new arrivals to see if the tunic is finally available.  I am definitely going with white:)

    I will be helping a friend shop for a suit this weekend and we might stray into BR :) It will be a long weekend here in US and BR is supposed to have 40% everything.  I do not buy anything from them full price these days as the discounts are so common and frequent.

  • celia replied 9 years ago

    This is a beautiful outfit. I am so glad you stalked that vest because it is perfect for you.
    I don't think the pants are too big but I tend to like them a little bit wider.

  • Aida replied 9 years ago

    Another voice to the choir of Great Vest! Totally meant to be, so glad you were able to get it. I don't find the trousers too big but then I used to have a similarly fitting pair of wide legs trousers myself (now retired, sadly). You really have to want that as The Look though, it can be overwhelming quickly. I think you'll be much happier right now with a pair that's more fitted through the thigh.

  • Inge replied 9 years ago

    OK, the trousers have been sorted:-)

    And good thing you decided to keep the vest, Sveta, I would have been extremely miffed if you'd sent it back!!!
    The black version looked amazing on you in London, but my word, the white one is even better. Elegant, unique and utterly gorgeous. I have a feeling it's going to be a workhorse for you.
    (agree with Angie, that the lilac sweater is a seriously flattering colour on you as well).

  • Debbie replied 9 years ago

    The white vest looks amazing on you. I agree that those pants do not do you justice. That tunic has your name written all over it!

  • frannieb replied 9 years ago

    The vest is freaking fabulous.  Love the whole outfit.

  • Deb replied 9 years ago

    Love the vest....it was made for you Sveta!! A fabulous pick and even better on a sale price. Agreeing the pants no longer fit well and need to be moved on.

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    Gorgeous vest and impressive stalking!

  • replied 9 years ago

    I do love a happy ending! The vest is awesome.

    The white trousers are a bit too roomy through the hip and thighs, so pass perhaps.

You need to be logged in to comment

Categories

Blogroll

Archives