The 4-5 piece French wardrobe #6

[Caramel]

Size conversion can be a nightmare! I am a EU (or Norwegian?) 34/36 and find that I usually wear a UK 8. I've always thought that was a 34, but I feel like UK sizes tend to run a little big?

I am currently trying to figure out italian and US sizes. What is an italian 40? I think it's somewhere around 34/36 but I am not quite sure. And does anyone know if italian sizes tend to run small?
How about US sizes? 2? 4? 6? I've seen so many different things. In shoe sizes too. Sometimes a US 5 is a EU 35, sometimes it's a 36. Quite a big difference there...

 

[fashionista-ta]

This is approximate of course ... but US 10 = FR 42 = IT 46.

PS I feel my AGL brogues have done very very well. barbara, you may want to look into that (Italian) brand as a possible investment piece ...

 

[Nymphaea]

Don't start about (international) sizing, it's awful! Most of the time when the return costs are low or there aren't any, I buy three pieces: hopefully the correct one, one bigger and one smaller. Even sometimes buying different pieces from the same brand I need different sizes.

 

[Caramel]

This is approximate of course ... but US 10 = FR 42 = IT 46.

So an IT 40 would approximately equal US 4, which equals UK 8? And UK 8 is either EU 34 or 36, depending...

Buying three sizes is a great idea if returns are free. Unfortunately, when you are ordering from outside the US and the EU it can be a huge ordeal to begin with, with expensive shipping and tax fees. Returns are just too much of a hassle.

Re. dressing for the cold: we also have some ice cold wind at the moment (probably the same as you eizhowa) and my solution is layering with pieces in thin wool. I don't like feeling too bulky. Today I wore a thin wool/silk camisole under a thin long sleeve wool/silk top under a cotton button up shirt. Wool coat, scarf, hat and leather gloves. I wouldn't say I was toasty, I could have worn another sweater instead of the shirt, but I didn't freeze. Wearing wool as the inner layer really helps, I find.

 

[Trenchcoat]

Nice to see how you dress in the winters. The winters aren't that cold where I live. My style includes a lot of: black, suit trousers, cashmere/wool sweaters (dark colours), cami's (come with lace), boyfriend blazers, and outfits in one colour. I love all black, all grey, all cream. And the combo: camel and burgundy.

 

[eizhowa]

I just realized that my Barbour jacket is more wind-proof than my wool coat, so I'll probably try to wear it tomorrow If you never hear from me again, I froze to death.

The rings I ordered arrived today. I was really surprised, because US First class internatioal usually takes longer than 4 days to arrive. The rings were a bit big, but they fit my middle finger just right

Betina: I just tried a body shape calculator for fun and the results were "Sorry your body is not in the 4 shapes we calculate."

 

[Betinapple]

I am even more confused now regarding sizing in general. I want a world where I could always buy the same size and call it a day..

I had almost decided not to get the dress due to the sizing confusion and the fact that I found it a tad too expensive for my current budget but then it got marked down furtherly. I still do not know what size to get. I am contemplating getting both a size 8 and a size 10, but then I would definetely have to go through the hassle of returning one of them and international shipping from Danmark is crazy expensive.

@ Eizhowa : great with your rings. How are you holding up in your barbour jacket? I am really impressed by my down jacket. If I ever manage to find a wool coat I like I would consider getting a more fitted version or the down vest to layer under to keep warm (if neccesary).

Where did you find that bodyshape calculator? Sounds hilarious. I used to be an hourglass now it seems like I am slightly more pearshaped..Yet still an hourglass from the waist and up.

 

[eizhowa]

Betina: Just inhale and puff put your chest, and you'll be an hourglass figure

I wore my barbour today (and I am still alive), and I do think it was much better against the wind. I regrett not spending another 60 GBP on a padded Barbour vest to wear underneath though. It was so warm in London the thought never crossed my mind.

Do none of the sites offer inexpensive/free shipping and returns? You could order both sizes from one of those stores, return them, and get the one you prefer from the discountet site... * cunning *

Body shape calculator: http://www.calculator.net/body-type-calculator.html

If I tweek my measurements by an inch here and there I fall into the hourglass category. I fluctuate between a 24-26 inch waist, and when I have a 26 inch waist, I am undefinable apparently

 

[Betinapple]

Betina: Just inhale and puff put your chest, and you'll be an hourglass figure

I wore my barbour today (and I am still alive), and I do think it was much better against the wind. I regrett not spending another 60 GBP on a padded Barbour vest to wear underneath though. It was so warm in London the thought never crossed my mind.

Do none of the sites offer inexpensive/free shipping and returns? You could order both sizes from one of those stores, return them, and get the one you prefer from the discountet site... * cunning *

Body shape calculator: http://www.calculator.net/body-type-calculator.html

If I tweek my measurements by an inch here and there I fall into the hourglass category. I fluctuate between a 24-26 inch waist, and when I have a 26 inch waist, I am undefinable apparently

Well, details matter right?

Sadly I have only found the dress at one site, a UK site, and that is always expensive - especially the returns. Perhaps you should consider investing in the vest at some point? Maybe you could wear it under your wool coat as well.

 

[EvaH]

So an IT 40 would approximately equal US 4, which equals UK 8? And UK 8 is either EU 34 or 36, depending...

IT 40 = FR 36 = UK 8 = US 4 and yes as for the EU size it depends if the garment is actually scandinavian or not. For example it would be EU 34 for Marlene Birger but if you went on any luxury online brand catering for another brand it would be EU 36

It must say though that I do not trust online shop when it comes to EU shoes. I know Mytheresa as an habit of saying EU XXX for Lanvin for example while it should actually be the FR XXX I remember having some issues with a pair of boots as I was systematically converting the EU -> FR while I should have thought EU = FR. So imo, checking where the designer is from (for shops like mytheresa, matches etc) is actually a better idea

Ladies, thank you for your emails and messages. I am having quite a rough time so it really did brighten my days

 

[barbaraaa]

I'm also not definable by that calculator

Betina, in that particular dress the waist measurement doesn't seem that relevant... I think that French Connection tends to run small, too.

 

[Betinapple]

@Eva: I hooe you are doing okay.

@Barbaraa: I know - I am just thinking that neither does the hip measurement, and even though it is loose in the waistarea I would not want it TOO loose since that kind of cut tends to look like a tent on me. I think I'll order both of them and see which one fits the best.

 

[Jinadaze]

I don't like short sweater. I am still very happy with my Mango cashmere sweater btw. For those who are fed up with their wardrobe: make an pinterest board with outfits that you (almost) exactly want to copy. And see which items you still need. I've found out that I still need:
- Coat
- Boots leather
- White silk blouse
- Black silk french cami
- Minimalistic necklace
- Wool scarf (acne)
- Figure hugging wool black dress

I came across this Whistles silk blouse and thought of you, since you're looking for it for a quite some time.

 

[Melisande]

I've been slowly making progress on my list!

Recent purchases:
black daily pavement-pounding boots (Doc Martens)
dressy black angora sweater

I was excited about Betinapple's brilliant suggestion to add stripes to ease out of my noir-centric wardrobe, but I realized that there was a good reason I don't own stripes, and it's that they don't suit me. So I gave up on that idea.

Now I've been looking literally high and low for a nice sleeved dress with flowy skirt that falls well below the knees, but I've been forced to conclude that such entities do not exist in the universe except in my own closet. I can't believe fashion sometimes. I found something almost passable at Gucci but I'm not paying anywhere near 1800 euros for a simple day dress. More like 200. Everything in Paris is black, short, tight, and rock-n-roll. If that's not your style, you're pretty much a goner OK, sorry for my rant. I think I'll start hitting the vintage stores now, maybe even considering separates.

I also need a decent long medium-weight cardi, but that shouldn't be too hard.

 

[eizhowa]

I feel your pain concerning that dress I am looking for a pair of cropped trpousers in a specific shade of copper/rust. I am also having zero luck because the color is not on the runways right now, and consequently not in any store I can afford. The only option that was remotely acceptable color-wise was a pair that was ridiculously out of budget

How can you not suit stipes? Didn't know it was possible

 

[Melisande]

I feel your pain concerning that dress I am looking for a pair of cropped trpousers in a specific shade of copper/rust. I am also having zero luck because the color is not on the runways right now, and consequently not in any store I can afford. The only option that was remotely acceptable color-wise was a pair that was ridiculously out of budget

How can you not suit stipes? Didn't know it was possible

Ouf, cropped pants in copper?? That's a tough one... And thanks for your solidarity!
Maybe this is where we start...sewing...?? I've actually started looking at sewing machines...I feel it's long overdue for me...

Yeah...my sister looks amazing in stripes, she has a whole wardrobe full...I have softer features and it kind of overpowers me. Subtle stripes in similar hues are okay, but that kind of defeats the purpose!

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ I absolutely love painted stripes on a wall in similar colors ... like a cream + pearlescent paint ... I don't think subtle defeats the purpose at all

You may recall that I have this anti-pattern thing going as I get older ... what I like are super wide stripes that I have a hard time finding. I saw in Bazaar an ALC skirt in very wide navy/red. That is too much, but I could definitely go for it in navy/cream or something like that ... it's 6 stripes top to bottom.

eizhowa, could you have them made?

I try not to even think too much about exactly what I want to find, because then I'll simply be disappointed. At some point I need to take a little trip to Asia and have all my fantasies made up for me ...

 

[Melisande]

^ I absolutely love painted stripes on a wall in similar colors ... like a cream + pearlescent paint ... I don't think subtle defeats the purpose at all

You may recall that I have this anti-pattern thing going as I get older ... what I like are super wide stripes that I have a hard time finding. I saw in Bazaar an ALC skirt in very wide navy/red. That is too much, but I could definitely go for it in navy/cream or something like that ... it's 6 stripes top to bottom.

eizhowa, could you have them made?

I try not to even think too much about exactly what I want to find, because then I'll simply be disappointed. At some point I need to take a little trip to Asia and have all my fantasies made up for me ...

Ooh, I love striped walls in similar colours, also bed linens, striped curtains are fantastic too!! The only reason it defeats this particular purpose is that I was thinking of using stripes as a way to incorporate different colour in my wardrobe It's okay, it's not the end of the world. I'll just experiment a little more with coloured accessories. My sister was wearing a black dress with grey textured tights and bright red boots, which actually worked really well! It all depends on the textures, proportions.

I wish I had a choice as for the dress...The fact is I need the dress to be this way for specific reasons, and separates don't really work I guess I may have to find a way to make separates work...Which is its own challenge... I'll go vintage shopping in the Marais today. Most of my favorite finds are from another time and place anyway.

I finally got around to organizing my winter work wardrobe last night!! (I'm not bothering too much with my casual wardrobe, it's my work wardrobe that really needs amping up.) I have a hodge-podge of items that really need friends... Orange+rust silk velvet/chiffon maxi skirt, which I love, but don't really have much to wear it with, for example...

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ What about an oyster white sweater for your skirt?

 

[eizhowa]

I finally got around to organizing my winter work wardrobe last night!! (I'm not bothering too much with my casual wardrobe, it's my work wardrobe that really needs amping up.) I have a hodge-podge of items that really need friends... Orange+rust silk velvet/chiffon maxi skirt, which I love, but don't really have much to wear it with, for example...

Ironically I am searching for a rust bottom-piece It goes with everything except orange and rust in my experience. The skirt seems like quite a piece though, so a simple white sweater like Fashionista-ta suggested might be a good idea.

Fashionista-ta: Having it made for me would be a dream, but I have bad experiences with the cheap seamstress in our town (poor communication - she didn't understand the difference between a o-neck and boat neck...), and a bad price-experience with the good one They charge about 400 NOK (60 USD) an hour so it would be out of my budget:/ The selection of fabric locally is rubbish and importing fabric would be very expensive due to duty fees. We are not supposed to make our own clothes where I live