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sephorablue


Marc Jacobs

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So a lot of my recent ebay and online purchases I had sent to my aunt's house because I couldn't receive them at home, and I just came home for the holiday last night and opened everything up and tried it on. With very few exceptions, my aunt dinged everything, which bums me out. I don't take it personally at all, it's just a downer, cause I know she has a good eye and so if she tells me something isn't flattering she's probably right (although a few of the things she didn't like I know is just a taste issue, so I am lovingly ignoring her opinion in those cases.) But apparently I should stop buying 60's stuff, especially coats, because I'm too tall for it (I thought the higher sleeve lengths were just the style, but according to her the problem is just that at 5'7 I am taller than most women were 40 years ago and so in fact I merely have high-water sleeves) and in fact should stop with the vintage stuff altogether cause few of the cuts are flattering. And a few of the cheapie things I picked up just look too cheap IRL to be worn. Which also bums me out--I mean, I should know better than to buy cheap crap, but the nice stuff I like, that has the right cuts and fabrics, is just so damn expensive that sometimes I figure it's worth taking a gamble that something cheap might not look bad... but usually it does. For example, I badly needed some new heavy sweaters, and did wind up getting a couple of really terrific ones--but they were expensive as hell! The cheapo ones I got to fill in the gaps are too ugly to wear. It's depressing.


Some of the things will look much better once I've gotten them altered, but that also bums me out, cause it depletes part of the fun... I can't wear it till it's been altered, and it makes a bargain less of a bargain if I have to pay $20 to get it fixed to fit me properly.


I think I'm guilty of in-the-ball-park goggles. Like, if I really like something and want it to work for what I had in mind, my vision will go selectively blurry so that I don't notice if something is off or doesn't fit exactly right or whatever.


Am also occasionally guilty of being in denial about being flat-chested. I get so frustrated sometimes not being able to wear certain cuts that every once in a while I'll pick up something that really doesn't quite work, like a lingerie-cut cami top or something, and will just ignore the fact that the bodice is baggy and empty. But I'm not doing myself any favors with that.


Sigh. Oh well, I guess I'll have a bunch of stuff to try to unload on ebay when I get back to NY...



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valenciana


Dooney & Bourke

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That's definitely disappointing!  At least you had someone who could give you an honest opinion before you went off and wore everything and then realized you didn't like the way it looked.  And I definitely hear you on the trying to fill the holes with cheap stuff...I've learned that lesson the hard way too.


But just think...all this means more shopping later!



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Dizzy


Marc Jacobs

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I hate that. I love pink, for example, but only really bright bubble-gum shades look good on me at all. It sucks not to be able to wear the things you want. For what it's worth, I think women who are tall and thin, wearing that "showing clavicle, not cleavage" open front top look really gorgeous.

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zeitgeist4


Gucci

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sephorablue wrote:

I think I'm guilty of in-the-ball-park goggles.


Although I'm sorry your clothes didn't work out, I think that's a really good term. I've come to learn that you shouldn't settle for anything less than exactly what you want. Otherwise you just won't love it.

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Kitty


Hermes

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I totally relate to your post. I think 80% of the stuff I buy on eBay (mostly the vintage stuff) I don't like when it arrives. It's just so hard to tell based on a photo and a few measurements how something wll look on you. Plus, people tend to clip back the item of clothing so that it fits the mannequei perfectly and it's hard to tell actual shape and size on a lot of dresses, shirts, jackets, etc.

I've stopped buying on ebay for the most part. I recently ordered a Bulga bag that was listed as "New: without tags" and it's obviously NOT NEW. It has wear. I am honestly just too lazy and unmotivated to try and argue about it and it was pretty much the straw on ebays back for me.

I've also kinda quit cold turkey ordering things online. Unless I REALLY love something and can't find it in the stores, I just won't do it.

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minkiki


BCBG

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Sephora, I SO understand what you wrote, I'm 5'7" also and irrisistably drawn to vintage coats. Sometimes, they look right and sometimes they don't but I buy them all anyway, go figure. I have a 6' closet stuffed full of one of a kind gorgeous coats and I'd say more than half need to be altered in some fashion to fit my particular shape. I have the type of figure that make friends say they "hate" me but what they don't realize is that EVERYTHING is altered!!! It's ALL illusion, hehe!!


That said, I never feel bad about adding alteration costs to a vintage or even "bargain" item...it doesn't lessen the thrill for me at all. In fact, I'd rather alter that really special vintage/ non-vintage or quality bargain item than pay for an expensive item that doesn't fit perfectly to being with. If something is expensive I EXPECT it to fit perfectly and it never does because I'm ME, not some differently shaped sample model you know? The next goal for my wardrobe is to  get out a number of "never wear those" vintage boxy type Scottish  6-8 ply cashmeres and have them  tailored to fit These can be altered to be figure flattering at far less cost than it would cost to buy that level of cashmere quality on Bluefly even. Some of the "high water" coat sleeves (I have long arms) need to be taken up just an inch or so and they will be perfect... intentionally three quarter sleeve....intentionally and uniquely current.   


As far as the in-the-ball park goggles thing, look at it this way...it's all a learning experience, getting to really know what works on your body and what doesn't. There is a real psychology to the whole wardrobe thing and I've been through it all including buying clothes for the body I wish had, the life I wish I had and all that. It takes time to get to acceptance and peace with oneself and clothing is a wonderful way to express that. Don't be hard on yourself, not for your clothing experiments, not for your body type ...you are a WONDERFUL work in progress!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!



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kittenheels


Coach

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Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.  It's frustrating when things that look great online just don't work out in real life.  I am now adopting "in the ball park" as my new excuse when I look at things in my closet and they don't work, but I thought they would be lovely. 


On the other hand, I love the feeling of packages delivered...so I'll probably always shop online a little bit!


 


 


 



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blubirde


Chanel

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I'm sorry things didn't work out as well as you'd hoped!

I have a tip on the vintage coats, though. I'm also 5'7 and love, love, love vintage coats, especially the ones with 3/4 length sleeves. Buy long gloves. Remember a couple of years ago when long leather gloves were everywhere? I snatched up a bunch of pairs (in great colors and materials) and I wear them almost exclusively with the shorter-sleeved jackets just so I don't encounter the "high-water" sleeve issue. IMO, it really works and accentuates the fact that the sleeves are supposed to be like that. It's definitely worth a shot if you get to keep wearing vintage coats (my own personal wardrobe obsession - I have a closet dedicated just to them and I live in freakin' Texas).

Good luck!

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wetbandit42


Marc Jacobs

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That sucks sephorablue. I too sometimes get those goggles, even when I know that something likely won't look right on me. I need to follow the wonderful advice these ladies have given you - to not settle for anything less than exactly what you want.

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erin


Chanel

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i have really bad vintage goggles, and i have lately been trying to avoid buying vintage because a lot of the stuff can look really clowny and costumey (on me, while totally amazing on someone taller/thinner than me!).

sephorablue: can you get the stuff altered to be more flattering?

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