Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Double Double

Of all chambray shirts, I wear the perfect shirt in chambray polka dot the most. It's a chambray shirt and that's the current style gel top
(as opposed to the grey T-shirt of recent past, for example).
With subtle dots and no distressing, the shirt is dressy enough
for the office and makes a good play at pattern mixing
(worn here with the not-so-subtle cropped matchstick jean in indigo floral).
Thought I was smart and frugal picking up a back-up when the factory classic button-down shirt in dotted chambray went to sale
and an excellent extra percentage off came along.
The above pics show the side-by-side comparison fit-wise for
size 00 retail on the left and XXS factory on the right.
A close-up of the fabrics used.
Retail (lower left portion) is a brighter blue leaning toward royal
and has slightly larger dots. The factory (upper right)
is a grey blue material that's not as silky or drapey.
The fabric underbelly tells a good tale.
Retail dots are woven in while the factory prints its dots
(the print is on the surface and thus doesn't go through to the back of the material).
Here's what happens when they're washed and dried on hot.
With one sleeve down to show shrinkage and nope I don't iron
Bottomline: while I like the factory version well enough for
its own merits, for me, it's not serving as a replacement/back-up
of the retail chambray polka dot shirt.
Darn. Because it would be a danged good deal.


12 comments:

  1. Tiffany Rose - you are growing your own flowers, just not in the garden! Love the trousers! I recently picked up the gap version and I love it. I order another as a back up!

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    1. I cannot help it, I love the crazy pants and that goes for jeans too.

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  2. haha i don't iron either! portable steamers all the way:) i haven't had much luck with jcrew factory for some reason...maybe because i'm too familiar with their retail offerings so i always compare them to each other.

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    1. When I broke my portable steamer, it was reordered within a half hour, I can't live without it.

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  3. I did the exact same thing! I like the factory version just as well, though. The retail version is a slight bit dressier than the factory version, for me. I love them both.

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    1. I like the factory version for more casual wear. The retail version is the dressiest chambray shirt I can think of and very easy to work into work outfits.

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  4. I am glad I am not the only one who buys back ups. Although, sometimes my backups get forgotten in my to my still like but not wearing lately packaway box only to be remembered and pulled in an era they don't belong. Ok maybe I am the only one who does that.

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    1. Nope you are not the only one who does that. I've found backups I didn't want to get worn out and end up not wearing them at all.

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  5. great post and I personally think buying a 'back up' can sometimes be a good idea.

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    1. Thanks, TC, as long as I don't get carried away by my back-up plan!

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  6. Great outfits Tiffany Rose. I just bought the indigo floral matchsticks and was looking for some ideas on what to pair them with. I like the style guide pic with a denim jacket. I didn't really need them but they were marked down to $19.99 plus an extra 30% so I couldn't resist. I'm watching those Junes meadow Liberty ones too. I just keep looking at them. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Wow, Shopping Celle, you got the indigo floral matchsticks for a deal, I can see why you couldn't resist. I love the June's meadow print and the small floral is easy to wear. Would be cute with a denim jacket.

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