Saturday, June 28, 2008

Somebody talk me back in off the ledge...


I'm having a moment. It started innocently enough, with an intriguing silk ombré scarf in the window. But twice this week, I've found myself in Eileen Fisher, trying on flowing, body-skimming clothes. Maybe it's my recently expanding dimensions, maybe it's the warm weather, but...I'm liking some of this stuff, and finding it to be flattering and comfortable. There's always been an aspect of my style personality that gravitates toward the hippie-dippy-artsy-fartsy, at times taking over my sartorial consciousness like one of Sybil's more insistent selves, only to vanish as suddenly and leaving that "what was I thinking???" section of my closet as a reminder.

But some of these look really good on, like this tunic tank.
Or these linen jeans (which are light and soft and have lots of movement):
This cardigan is fabulous over the tank, and has an interesting sleeve detail. I've always loved duster-length jackets or tops in soft, flowing fabrics, but hesitated out of fear of the Dreaded Bea Arthur Effect. But look at this silk duster! It's simple, it's elegant, it would look great accessorized with an Hermès scarf!These are clothes for women who have Given Up, right? But is it so wrong to just want to wear something loose and Wealthy-Marin-County-Aging-Hippie-esque sometimes? And I must confess that the Garanimals aspect is appealing for those days when pulling together disparate elements of the closet is just too daunting. Yet some of the pieces could be mixed with more tailored items as well. One would think that the "would I wear it in Paris?" standard would eliminate just about everything I've shown you, but last year I did see many women in Paris (in some of the tonier locations, yet) dressed in this looser, more bohemian style. Have I been abducted by the Yoga Chic Body Snatchers?? Or is this fascination just a manifestation of a midlife crisis, like when my dad went to EST and grew his hair long and started talking about his past lives?
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Posted by at 5:00 AM
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32 comments:

  1. I don't think that Eileen Fischer necessarily means that you've given up. Some of my personal rules of thumb for dressing "relaxed" include accessorizing, especially good grooming, mixing them up with edgier pieces, and not wearing this style everyday. To me, giving up means colorful sweats from Walmart. The outfits you posted are relaxed but still elegant.

    So slip a few EF pieces into your wardrobe. It's OK.
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  2. I agree with Nancy. What you're showing here is very different from a pastel velour tracksuit. First, this is a sophisticated palette which you can enliven with your scarves. And the cut is simple and restrained, not overly "goddess" as many of Bea Arthur's outfits were wont to be, particularly in her Maud incarnation. Finally, I agree that this could play in Paris -- like you, I saw women who did a very classy, "rich hippy" look, luxurious neutrals in wonderfully draping fabrics -- deceptively simple and always set off with stunning jewelry or scarves or bag and always with great hair and fabulous skin.
    Make sure you get the linen jeans -- those look great!
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  3. I want to know more about your dad's past lives. Did he think he was royalty? Everyone prefers to think they were royalty rather than a serf.
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  4. nancy, thanks. The French have a saying, "don't buy the mannequin" which means don't wear everything from the same brand all at once. Mixing with edgier pieces would work.

    materfamilias, I'm going to confess that I did buy the linen jeans last week when I first tried them on, and have already worn them. They are superb!

    wendyb, oh yes, he was one of the Pharoes in Egypt, he was King of Bavaria, and he was one of Ghengis Khan's generals. No one was ever a peasant or stable mucker in their past lives, that I've ever heard.
    ;-)
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  5. I haven't admitted this to anyone until now, but I too experienced an Eileen Fisher moment last month in Macys Union Square, which has the hugest E.F. collection I've ever seen--much, much larger than what's carried in E.F. boutiques. I wondered whether the company had switched designers: many of the styles, colors, and silhouettes seemed much more sophisticated, fitted, and current than what I had come to expected. In the past, E.F. pieces just hung on me like potato sacks. (Not for nothinig is Eileen Fisher sometimes called "Forever 49.") In the end, I actually bought a sleeveless crinkled-silk dress with clever seaming; it feels fabulous and moves beautifully. Not practical for the Bay Area, where temperatures have been in the low 60s lately (June Gloom), but someday I *will* wear it. (And I may go back for a luscious little layering piece: a 3/4-sleeve tie-front "gossamer crepe" cardigan in a color called Hibiscus.)

    Pseu, your comment about your father's past lives reminded me of an interview I once heard with David Chase, creator of "The Sopranos." His name is an Anglicization of "Cesare," which he was thrilled to discover means "of Caesar." And then, he said, he learned what "of Caesar" really meant: one of Caesar's slaves.
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  6. I agree with Nancy and materfamilias and think the pieces you have shown could be easily incorporated into a versatile and elegant wardrobe. Again, simple with good grooming does wonders, as does mixing pieces and styles. I think one or two pieces have worked their way into my wardrobe quite happily as bit players.

    Good for you for getting the jeans! I had a pair of tencel and linen jeans that I simply adored until I wore them into the ground. Too bad that Eileen Fisher pants are always too short, and there are no tall sizes.
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  7. I think if one is a bit taller, this style works wonderfully; I'm 5'2", so it makes me look as if I'm wearing 'jammies' - as a short woman I have to go for all the structure I can get.
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  8. Wait a minute...I would like to take a moment to remind of this previous post:
    http://tinyurl.com/3z47j9

    Is it really so different?

    Tailored is just one style, not "the" style. Lots of styles out there to choose from. I like the layered unconstructed neutrals thing. You can always cut out the EF labels if they prove bothersome and pretend it's some kind of exotic Lagenlook instead. Or not...don't know what's worse ;-)
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  9. nancyf, I think I may have tried on the blouse version of that dress. The fabric is lovely! And like you, I'd previously scorned EF for their Potato Sack fit; something has definitely changed!

    "Of Caesar" indeed! I learned a few years ago that "Fitzroy" means "bastard of the king." In fact, "Fitz" anything means bastard son. Heh.

    mardel, I think JJill sometimes has tencel pants, and I think they offer tall sizes, don't they?

    toby, it's interesting, I'd always thought the same thing about lack of height and unstructured styles, but what I'm finding is when the fabrics have some weight and drape, it works.

    dea, yes, you're right about my previous admiration for a very EF-esque ensemble. Incidently, I've often been inspired by your style of layered neutrals; you always look so fabulous especially with your handmade jewelry.

    I think a lot of what's going on here is that I've relied on a rather "corporate" more structured style, and now I'm weaning myself off that. I've always secretly wanted to dress like an art gallery owner from Carmel.
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  10. Could it JUST BE that Eileen Fisher has read our blogs and knows what we've said, and boosted up the style quotient?

    None of this has the boxy nunnish cut and Sad Vegetable colourways that is characteristic EF of past seasons. It's more like Zoran.

    Those linen jeans are perfect! I like the tank, too.

    As your other friends have said, don't wear all pieces together or (as my mother used to say) "you'll look like you hit a sale". Not sure about longer duster as I think you are short and curvy...maybe.

    Just promise not to wear with Birkenstocks.
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  11. Thanks for the kind words, Femme. It's probably more of a solution than an active choice...so happens that the layered neutral thing tends to work out well for those not in possession of an hourglass figure. Tailored, not so much. What's really lovely about the EF you show is that it hits both marks, I think. I'm totally seeing it on you!

    Talk about Carmel Gallery Owner: I secretly aspire to a wardrobe full of Eskandar. Oh yes.
    http://www.eskandar.net/
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  12. I'm sorry but those clothes remind me of hippy art teachers. Not that I have anything against hippy art teachers but I've never admired their dress sense.
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  13. Hmm, I think I know what you mean Dea. There's a shop in Marylebone High Street, London, called Skoon (or something like it) that sells Eskandar-type clothes. I've tried things on there several times. They look enticing on the hanger, but it only confirms that I suit a more tailored look. I'm tall and do have a figure that goes in and out in the conventional places and stuff like that just makes me look like a sack of potatoes...

    Deja, I think this sort of thing needs to be approached with caution. Definitely a mix and match and careful accessorising approach.
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  14. Susan: I'm tall with 'landmarks' too. There was a time when I thought the loose/layered Eskandar effect flattered me, because I FELT good... then saw some photos- looked tented.

    I've landed in a place that's neither
    severely tailored nor flowing.
    Soft construction and drape is the sought-for now. Pseu's long tank is a pretty close example.
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  15. As some others have pointed out, I think the choice between unstructured/ tailored is a matter of style and what suits your figure.

    I've worn some unstructured/ layered looks since my late 20s, but the arty look is my thing, along with the Birkenstocks :)

    IMO can be tricky to pull this look off without looking like you're wearing a tent. Being tall-ish helps as does not having a large bust.

    I tend to make sure that at least one piece in any outfit is more closely fitted and that the hems don't hit me at my widest point (hips). I like the way the EF tank/ tunic is fitted through the bust and shoulders and falls below that saddlebag spot. Would look great with those figure-skimming jeans and the cropped cardi :)
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  16. Ha! EST! Man, what memories! That said, I like the pics, but fashion is so obviously not my forte. I love my cargo shorts and rugby shirts, fashion be darned to Heck (ruled by Phil, Prince of Insufficient Light). Glad you like the pants, that's what counts. Really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, in the long run.
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  17. I am unaware of Eileen Fisher, the tops look lovely with the trousers where the balance works. I like the tops worn with the skirts less so, as ANON says this does edge into the stereotypical art teacher look. It is easy to lift this look with the right accessories, for me it would be jewellery.
    As for concerns about 'expanding dimensions' It is far better and certainly more flattering to skim than to hug!
    A new mantra could be "would i wear it in Stockholm" and this look is everywhere on women of a certain age.
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  18. Viva la comfortable! And what could be a better backdrop for shoes/hats/jewelry/bags/scarves than some of this stuff?

    Remembering magazine advice for "volume" styles: Balance. Full top over slim bottom, tailored top over loose bottom.

    I, too, love saying artsy fartsy hippy dippy. Makes me feel like i'm not taking myself too seriously when I'm Accessorized.
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  19. I will admit it in this public forum; I have some Eileen Fisher in my closet. I have a couple of wool trousers, a pair of linen pants, a great white shirt and a fantastic cardigan. However, a little Eileen goes a long way. Restraint is key. But, I say let a little EF in and enjoy the comfort. I would recommend pairing it with shoes that look uncomfortable so as to avoid the archetype of the EF gal.
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  20. You might need a studded cuff bracelet - go hard or punk rather than World Beat with your jewelry and you'll be Ok. And you will be comfortable, which alsways looks chicer beacuse you hold yourself better if you don't feel at war with your clothes!
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  21. anonymous, you're spot on!

    "Being tall-ish helps as does not having a large bust."

    I said I was tall, but I was forgetting about my big bust. The "yoga teacher look" is so uch better IMO if you're not very well endowed on top.
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  22. duchesse - I don't actually own any Birks currently, but was surprised to find some cute sandals I was admiring recently came from them. And I find that anything voluminous in stiffer fabrics makes me look "tented" as well. It has to be soft, and it has to drape. Bias cut even better.

    dea - Oh, that Eskandar stuff is pretty. Love those colors.

    anon - that's OK, I know this isn't a look for everyone.

    Susan - yes, mix and match seems to be key. I've worn the linen jeans with one of my snugger-fitting BR tees, and they worked brilliantly.

    spot - those were the wacky years, weren't they? :-)

    indigo16 - I wouldn't mind looking like a denizen of Stockholm either. Some very stylish women there!

    dana - yep, the balance is always between comfort and not looking like an instructor at Hogwart's. I've always liked the loose over fitted look (and like anon noticed, the tunic hits below the "saddlebag" area).

    LBR - I plan to wear with restraint. Do they shoes actually have to *be* uncomfortable, or can they just look that way? ;-)

    glamaruth - that's an interesting idea. I don't have much jewelry that's "punky" but that type of accessory is generally not that expensive, so experimentation is possible.

    susan - normally I would have assumed the same thing about needing a small bust to carry it off, but that's what really amazed me about the tunic. Not only am I short, but well endowed on top, and the cut actually minimized the bust area, and the volume on the bottom balances out my broad shoulders.
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  23. Pseu, you'll have us all in EF at this rate! Are you really sure you want to be talked back?
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  24. susan - Actually, I was really just hoping for a reality check. I am a slave to hyperbole.
    ;-)

    Oh, and duchesse, LOL at "Sad Vegetable colors"!!!
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  25. Pseu, mind on your post I stopped at the EF section at Holt Renfrew. 85% of what they carried was classic boxy EF. The other 15% (the Hibiscus gossamer cardigan) and some bitter chocolate pieces were fine. But when I got to the Etro section, so audacious and stylish, realized EF is still understated enough to be boring if not 'helped' by accessories.
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  26. LOL. Dusters always remind me of Bea Arthur...and Bret Michaels.

    Still, you have made me a wee bit curious about Eileen Fisher!
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  28. style spy - I *knew* you'd say that!
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  29. I'm short, busty and closer to "plus" size than I'd like to admit. I have an EF chocolate knit sleeveless tank twin set and an Eskandar charcoal grey sweater that look beautiful with slim cut tailored black trousers. It's completely in the mix.

    My pseudo-boho side has to live sometime but the key for me is that the individual pieces must be top quality.

    Love the "forvever 49" comment; hadn't hearnd that before!
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  30. Yeah, on 5'3" me it's just Units at a higher price all over again. I love Eileen Fisher in theory but not in reality *on me*. They look lovely and elegant on someone slim and tall and elegant.
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  31. OMG, I wore an Eileen Fisher duster coat at 40!
    http://badmomgoodmom.blogspot.com/2007/03/get-out-of-jail-free.html

    Seriously, some of her stuff is more fitted, or less body-skimming than others. I find that her pants and skirts fit me oddly; they are designed for someone with a less pronounced waist. But her jackets and sweaters really hit a sartorial sweet spot for me. To my eyes, they don't look mu-mu-ish at all.

    But I would stay away from that 35" tunic/dress thing that is billed as "knee length". On my average frame, that would not be anywhere near my knee. On a tall person, it would look like a Hollywood starlet trying to pass off a top as a minidress, spending the whole evening tugging the dress down.
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  32. I think this post has taken the lead for most comments evah since I started blogging!

    I've tried on a few more EF pieces since I posted this, which has reinforced these conclusions:

    1. These pieces work best when mixed in with more tailored pieces or jeans. Head-to-toe EF is just too much.

    2. Not all of the pieces work for every body type. I'm finding the softer, less voluminous stuff works best for me.

    3. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. The simplicity is a great pallette to show off scarves or jewelery.

    Thanks, everyone for your input. I can see incorporating a few EF pieces into the wardrobe, but will use sparingly.
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