Dressing Room Diaries: Saturday Night Fever-ish

Happy Sunday ladies. I have a multi-store dressing room diaries this week because most stores didn’t have their new collections on the floor yet.

DRD is when I go into stores to try new garments on so you can see how they look on a woman over 25 and larger than a size 2. I give sizing intel when possible, along with styling and color options. My hair gets trashed and many things are in the wrong size, but you’ll get an idea of what’s out there.

My first stop was Banana Republic. My local one has very few petite garments in store so I have to shop them online.

high rise wide legged stretch linen pants from Banana Republic
button back linen topstretch cotton&linen wide-legged pants

They had these stretch cotton & linen pants in 2P or 12P. I couldn’t get my leg in the 2 so these are the 12P which are way too large, so they run true to size. The rise is quite high in the petite and the cotton/ linen feels substantial. I went home to order my size and found they’re selling out quickly. Both in-store and online. The sales lady was wearing them in this blue and white stripe which is fabulous. There was nothing in store for me to try on so I’ve ordered them. They’re back ordered until June 4 which is right about when it will be heating up here. I’m wearing them with a linen tank with buttons up the back. I was surprised to like this coral color on me. I’m wearing a petite medium which is too small for me. The armhole is quite short, so this runs a bit small.

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life styling a white linen suit in Banana Republic
classic fit linen-cotton jacket coral linen toplinen pants

I added this classic linen-cotton jacket for a Saturday Night Fever vibe. There’s something so fresh about a white suit and it’s very wearable in a casual fabric. What’s intelligent about this blazer is that they’ve lined it with a stretchable lining fabric. Too often I find a stretch jacket that’s lined with a fabric that does not stretch! #fail This is super comfy because it really moves with your body. It’s also available in black and runs true to size. I’m wearing a 10 petite which fits well but the sleeves are too long.

linen jacketcoral topslim stretch linen pants

Here I switched out the wide leg pants for a slimmer legged, classic cotton-linen blend with stretchable lining. These are the Avery fit which is slim through the hip and thigh. They’re cut for a curvier woman than me because in order to get the waistband to fit I needed to go up to a size that was too full in the hips.

snakeskin jumpsuit and white linen jacket on Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life
snake print wide-legged cropped jumpsuitwhite linen blazer

I haven’t owned a jumpsuit in decades so was surprised to like this one. This is a gray and olive snake print which seemed surprisingly neutral. It has a fitted bodice and wide cropped legs. I’m wearing a petite 10 which made the legs the correct length but the waistband was too high for my long torso. I like how it looks with this white linen jacket. It’s casual but could also dress up for work or dinner out.

Next, I headed across the mall to Talbots.

white linen suit from Talbots
classic summer linen blazersquare neck striped teewashed lined wide-legged linen pants

I duplicated the SNF look with this classic linen blazer and wide legged pants. The jacket is a 10 regular and is cut longer than the BR one. It fits me well but the sleeves are too long so I’d be better off in the petite. It runs true to size and is available in misses, petite, plus and plus petite. This is heavyweight linen and does not stretch. The unlined linen pants are a pull-on style with a drawstring at the waist which I simply tucked inside. They’re available in white or indigo blue. These are called wide-legged but are much narrower than the ones from Banana Republic which makes them less trendy and more timeless. I’m wearing it over a square necked black and white striped tee.

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wearing Talbots lien jacket and side button linen pants
linen jacket striped teeside button linen pants

I love these side button linen pants. Even if the buttons never show, they’re cut beautifully and fit like a dream. They have a wide leg and sit just above the waist for a very sleek fit. I am wearing the flax color in 8 petite so they fit true to size. They’re also available in white or a “chambrayish” blue. This neutral is my favorite. They’re also available in white here, which is lined.

Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life wears a striped tee and slim linen pant from Talbots
striped teebi-stretch high waist  cotton pant

Here’s a better look at the striped tee which is on sale in 4 colors and available in misses, petite, plus and plus petite. I’m wearing a petite medium which fits true to size. It’s a very soft cotton/modal/spandex blend but the exact wrong neckline for my broad shoulders. I’m wearing it here with the bi-stretch high rise cotton pant. This is a straight leg pant that sits slightly above the waist. I’m wearing an 8 petite so they fit true to size.

NYDJ linen pants and Gibsons white jacket from Nordstrom on A Well Styled Life
white cotton jackettangerine linen tee white stretch linen trousers

Next, I wandered down the mall and searched for white linen in Nordstrom. These are NYDJ linen trousers in Optic White. Plus here. They have a high rise and classic five pocket styling like a jean. They’re unlined and available in 4 colors and available in regular and petite. I’m wearing an 8 regular which is too long and too loose so size down. I’m wearing it with a tangerine colored linen tee and this cotton notched-collar jacket in Ivory. I’m not crazy about the ivory with pure white. There’s not enough contrast so it just looks off to me. The jacket is available in 5 colors, plus here.

linen suiting from Talbots worn by Jennifer Connolly of A Well Styled Life

I haven’t owned a white suit since I sewed one over 35 years ago. I think it might be time to rethink one for my wardrobe. The pieces can be worn separately or together for a dressier look.

Have you thought of owning a white suit?

Thanks for reading and have a great day.

27 Comments

  1. Kathleen O'Brien says:

    Wow! How funny, I just put together a “white” suit look – long linen duster and white linen cropped full leg pant. I figure I can wear it with jsut about any color tshirt or tank and have the Miami Vice tropical look. It’s been decades since I wore a white suit but hoping it won’t come off as too ice cream salesperson or nurse. I wanted something fresh and white always looks great on others. What kind of shoe though? That’s what I’m wondering – I was thinking a pewter gray platform-y (Eileen Fisher type) with it. What say you?

    1. I say yes! A soft metallic is perfect with white. Pewter would be my choice too. I do
      Love the Miami Vice reference.

  2. I think I would love that Banana version in a cropped style. They certainly are popular. Almost sold out and not yet in the stores!

  3. Good post, thank you. Do you think the very wide leg pants are a fad? I can’t see buying them at all. I don’t like leggings either.

    1. The wider the leg, the closer it becomes to a fad (short lived). In general, the trend is for wider legs.

  4. Sheila-Merle Johnson says:

    Most of these look great on you, especially the jumpsuit and the corals as well. But most of the styles are too classic for me. I’m more edgy/boho/tribal chic/casual /quirky. I would wear the jumpsuit if it didn’t have olive in it. The wide leg pants would be too hippy for me; the corals would be good’ but linen drives me crazy with it’s wrinkledyness.

    1. I have had to embrace the wrinkles of linen because we’ve moved to a very hot place. Remember, I’m not trying these on for me to purchase but to show readers what’s available.

  5. Linda Todd says:

    I really like the button back tank with the white blaze. I hate the wide pants. You look great in the slimmer leg styles. I remember the 70s when we all flapped about in yards of fabric around our legs. Never again ! Loved the linen jacket it is fresh and looks great.

    1. I’m loving the fresh look this spring knowing things will soon heat up.

  6. I enjoyed this DRD post because you tried on the same kinds of pieces in each store. It really helped to see the differences between the same sorts of garments.
    Also, I get so frustrated trying to find white linen pants to wear in hot weather only to find most are lined with polyester, which is not breathable. So thanks for mentioning what’s underneath.
    I have lots of white toppers but not a blazer. Hum, may have to add one!

    1. I’m planning to add one too. They’re so versatile. I liked doing DRD this way too.

  7. Jody Mercier says:

    You look fabulous in coral/tangerine shades!

    1. I’m discovering a few I do like. Perhaps I will add some to my wardrobe.

  8. Love the jumpsuit in particular on you, that would make a great outfit for plenty occasions and I am in the camp of those hoping you bought it. If I had the right occasion I would consider it. And say YES to the white suit too, great look for you once you get the right fit. Love your DRD posts!

  9. The side-button linen pants are the best. Very 1940s Katharine Hepburn.

  10. Rose Brock says:

    Loved that jumpsuit! You should definitely buy it. Also like the clothes from Talbot’s. Look great on you. I’m still trying to get used to wide leg pants. Happy Easter.

    1. Wide legged pants are really growing on me. My eye gets more used to them each time I see them. They feel very 1940’s Katherine Hepburn and modern at the same time.

  11. I really enjoy these looks you give us, and liked all the clothes, thank you. But I must speak up against the jumpsuit! I thought it loud and busy, just too much, and advise you not to buy it!

  12. You need to buy that jumpsuit!

  13. Catherine says:

    Happy Easter/Passover. I am loving the white. Thanks for combining neutrals. It really helps to see it. This is the first jumpsuit that I liked, i have a average to long torso and generally don’t even try any one piece items beyond dresses and even they can be a challenge. Like Paulette above I prefer the Talbots which makes me sad. I can pop down the street to a Banana Rep but Talbots is across the border! Thanks again for doing this. It really helps to see clothes on someone’s real body.

    1. Happy Easter Catherine. I prefer that classic elements of the Talbots items too.

  14. Happy Easter and Passover! I love these summery looks, but seem to be more drawn to the clothes you are wearing from Talbots. (Hard to explain why…)! They just seem to fit better, and love the button details, the cut….Though they are similar, Talbots (to my eye) just appear to have a better look.
    Note: also, love the tangerine tee and blazer from Nordstrom.

    1. I agree Paulette. They’re a more classic look that will be in style forever. Happy Easter

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