Friday, July 20, 2012

Summer Tweed

I need some advice. A while ago I ordered the elusive Terrazzo jacket as a birthday present from my parents (sorry, I am Italian and I can't push myself to replicate the typo in the name of this jacket. If you look for it on the website you should type "Terrazo" or it won't come up). I had tried it months ago in store and loved it but since I have my share of tweed jackets and needed this one like a bullet in my head I decided that I would wait for it to go on sale. The thing still hadn't gone on sale at the beginning of July so I used my parents money to order it to at least see if I still liked it, since it was long gone from the stores. I ordered the same size that I had tried on, a 0, because I remembered thinking that it was perfect, even if usually I am more of a 2 in blazers and coats.
The jacket arrived and I am a little bit on the fence about it. Maybe it is because I can't see myself wearing it with anything else than jeans, maybe it is because I have too many tweed jackets already that I don't wear that much and maybe it is because it fits a tad smaller than I remember it fitting. I couldn't reorder it in a size 2 just to see if it had a better fit because in the meanwhile it went on sale and final sale kicked in. It did pop back the first day of the 40% off in a size 2 for $199, so it would have been a very good deal and I almost ordered it but since I wasn't 100% sure I didn't want to be stuck with it.
This is one of the fitting room pics back in March. I am sure that I tried a 0 because I was trying it for a friend. As you can see, I could button it easily and it doesn't look small in the shoulders:


And here it is the 0 that ordered:


I don't know if I am biased by the fact that it does feel a bit small in the shoulders and I can't recall if the one that I tried on did (who knows, maybe it did and I forgot), does it look smaller in these pics to you?
I do think that it is a very modern take on the classic Chanel tweed jacket. The chain trim gives it a twist and unlike the ugly exposed zippers on other similar jackets I don't think that it will look dated anytime soon. I also like that it is a v-neck style instead of a crewneck.
Look, I love the chain trim so much that I even found a chain belt at Intermix to wear with it:


In any case I wanted to try it with other things than jeans, even if to me this is a jeans jacket. I tried it with my navy Mila mini and my ruffled Zara blouse:


As an aggravating factor in my decision, the other day I got to try the neon tweed jacket, that just went on sale as well and could be an alternative. This one is really a summer jacket because of the short-sleeves and it is also a lighter tweed than the Terrazzo, which is more suited for spring. I always admired this jacket but could never find it in store. This is a 0 as well:



The short-sleeves are adorable but could be a very bad idea for our weather. I think it would look great over a little black dress but then I also think that if I need a topper I probably need a long-sleeved one. It also seems to be less my style if styled differently than in these pics (I really don't need a jacket to wear with cropped white jeans) than the Terrazzo.

So here is my dilemma: should I keep the Terrazzo in a 0, try to catch a 2 on super-duper final sale and pray that it would fit or just return and forget about it? Any advice is appreciated, I value your opinion!

22 comments:

  1. Ema
    the jacket looks wonderful on you however, as far as fit goes, if it is tight in the shoulders my feeling is it will never feel right so go up a size, can they find a size somewhere else in the city for you?

    the 2nd one if cute too, but the season for that is so short....
    Isabella

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  2. I think the jacket looks great on you Ema. It doe s not look too tight but you know how it feels. But it may also be that when you try wool or tweed in the summer it feels opressive. I am a bad person to ask because I never wear those types of jackets but I think you do, right? May be good for all those school functions. Looks great with jeans but I like it with a skirt too. the second jacket woudl look better with a skirt I think, but I agree it is not practical at all for our climate, any climate actually.

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  3. Hmm, you know it could be Boden or anything, so it depends on what you paid and it you have anything like that already.

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  4. What a tough decision. Both jackets are lovely.
    I don't think the Terrazzo looks too tight. In fact I think it looks very good on you. I would say this is the more versatile of the two jackets. Are the shoulders uncomfortably tight? If so, then I'd return it. HTH.

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  5. I like the jacket on you,i think it looks right sizewise.
    You have to feel right in it though.
    I also think the colors are really modern,yet classic.It is a great look on you,ema.

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  6. Ema, I agree with Kate and ajc on all counts. I do think if the shoulders feel tight (they don't LOOK it, but I know and hate that feeling) then you may regret the 0 -- especially if you think you'll ever layer this jacket over anything even slightly heavier (say, a cashmere turtleneck).

    Before you return the 0, why don't you see if the nationwide "find it for you" people at JC will help scout out a size 2? I can tell you firsthand that it's worth a try even though the jacket's on sale, because this very morning I called the cardmember 888 number (see the back of your J. Crew card) to ask for help finding an item that's on sale and long gone in my size. A very polite young customer service dude named David explained to me that this special assistance service was for full-priced items only... but that since I'd gone to the trouble of calling he'd be happy to institute a search for me.

    I gotta add that the sheer "huh?" quality of that conversation with David is still making me shake my head.

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    1. Hmm this is very interesting.

      I had a conversation also with a "David" or (perhaps Daniel?) about a month ago seeking help with my order. He told me he couldn't help me because it was an online only sale. I was having trouble also getting the promo code to work and he was no.help.whatsoever.

      It actually turned me off ordering this past month... Still shaking my head here too.

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  7. Ema,

    I remember when you tried the tweed jacket awhile back and think you look lovely in it. They do look like the same size to me.

    Your sleeve is smooth when you are standing still, however when you move your arm in you get pronounced creases that do look like it may be pulling at the shoulder. They are certainly more pronounced in the dressing room pic probably from other people trying it on. If you can get it for the sale price, I would get the 2 and have the rest altered if need be.

    It's a classic jacket you can wear with jeans, a lovely black trouser, sheath dress of any colour or pencil skirt.

    I think you look lovely in the short sleeved tweed but personally would find it hard to wear. If the weather is cool enough I'd feel like I may need a coat on top, too hot and I wouldn't wear it. The weather here isn't "just right" enough for me to justify it!

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  8. Will you be buttoning the jacket? If not, is it comfortable when it's open? It looks as though it is.

    I do not care for the short-sleeved jacket; I would eliminate that from the running.

    I think you could either keep the size 0 and wear it open, if it is comfortable, or you could wait out the final sale and wait for a pop-back in both sizes once final sale is gone. Or, if you are not a serial-final-sale-returner, you could order the size 2 now and then if it doesn't fit, beg for mercy for a return. Or if the 2 is better than the 0, you could possibly have the size 2 tailored.

    I hope it works out!

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  9. As you said yourself, "I have my share of tweed jackets and needed this one like a bullet in my head." You're on the fence about the fit, you don't wear the ones already hanging in your closet very often...it sounds like a return to me.

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  10. I'm with Rachel. I also think that I don't like it with the short skirt, although I think it looks great on you with jeans. SOOO.... If you could resolve the fit issues and get it for the sale price, even though you don't need another jacket now, this is a nice classic style... And I'm told that skirts will be longer this winter. Well, that was decisive and helpful. Glad to have been of service.

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  11. I love it with the jeans and dress for sure! I am biased as you always look so tiny! I think it looks great on you!

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  12. I love it - lmk if u want to sell the 0 and I might take it off your hands!

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  13. You will never reach for it first if it is at all snug. Save your parent's money for the next beautiful tweed jacket from the fall or winter collection. Besides, summers in NY are usually too hot to get a lot of wear from a tweed jacket you are on the fence about. They both look lovely on you. I love your blog and have be a reader for years. I just started a blog, so I can finally comment!

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  14. I say return it and forget about it. There will be something better around the corner.

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  15. Hi Ema! Now that I see the jacket on you I wish I had bought one during the 40%. I tried this in the spring but with the skirt and sent it all back, but seeing it on you makes me like it more.
    I think the short-sleeved tweed would be great over a black dress as you said, but out of the two I like the Terrazzo more.
    Of course others here make a good point, fall is coming and you could save the jacket fund for a new tweed jacket from the Collection!

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  16. Hi Ema,
    While both jackets look great on you, I prefer the Terazzo. It does not look tight in the photos, so I wouldn't risk buying a size 2 on final sale.
    My rule with full price or nearly full price purchases at JC is that it has to be something that I love and would wear alot - if not it goes back.
    It sounds as though the Terazzo jacket may fall under your shopping rule #5.
    If that's correct, return it, and wait for something that you will enjoy.

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  17. The fact that you only want to wear it with jeans ( the terrazzo) and you mentioned not needing another tweed jacket...send it back. The fit not being quite right and the price is still up there for this type of jacket. Zara has really nice ones for way less and they are on sale now. Carolyn form Vancouver

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  18. I love your tweed jacket! Zara and I have these love and hate relationship, most of the time. it never works. =[ They jacket looks fantastic on you! Definitely a keeper!

    Crystal

    http://mai-heart.blogspot.com/

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  19. I think the Terrazzo looks "acrylic-y" for lack of a better word. It doesn't look high quality. The style is very cute though and the chain trim is unique.

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  20. Don't force it. If it's not working, it's not working. I agree you can get something at Zara for a fraction of the cost & not feel guilt about owning too many. $.02

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