On the Fence

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Top: Anthropologie Dieppe Top - Size XS
Jeans: Lucky Jeans - Size 8
Earrings: Tree and Kimble

"Stuck on the fence with you. This I'm always prone to do." - Grizzly Bear

I was really attracted to this top when I first saw it online, so I was disappointed when I tried in on in the store and discovered that it looked like a big circus tent on me. I had put the top out of my mind and off my wishlist until it went on sale last week. I spent 2 days adding and deleting it from my online cart until I finally succumb and ordered it in a X-small. My hope was that a smaller size would be a cuter, more manageable tent. I tried it on immediately after receiving it in the mail and was pretty satisfied with the fit. My plan was to wear it with jeggings to balance out the roominess of the top. However, sizing down had one drawback - the top was much too short to look good with jeggings. I ended up pairing it with bootcut jeans and black ballet flats.

I'm still on the fence about this top. I love the details on it, but I'm not sure if it's the most flattering top for my body type. Jerry really loved it, but I'm not quite convinced yet. If I can find some more things to wear with it, I think I'll keep it. I don't feel it's versatile enough to keep in my wardrobe if I can only pair it with jeans.

What say you? Keep it or sell it? If I keep it, do you have any suggestions as to what I should pair it with? Oh, and don't bother being mean, because I will delete your ass. That's one thing I'm no longer on the fence about. ;-)

Grizzly Bear - Merge

CONVERSATION

24 comments:

  1. I just saw that top in the sale section a few days ago - I thought it was big too, so I just kept moving. It looks good on you and in the pictures, just have to weigh how often you will wear it and what you have that you can wear it with. Love your hair bun - that is my hair every day and actually as we speak. :)

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  2. Keep it! I love it just the way it is - with jeans. Maybe you could throw a black blazer over it with your jeans to dress it up or tuck it into a pencil skirt and belt it over the waist and let it billow a little bit. Keep! Keep!

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  3. i picked this up in an XS also when it went on sale. i planned to wear it with black cropped pants & red flats for the office. it looked great from the front & back on me, but when i turned to the side it looked AWFUL. my bf saw it & said "there's no way you're keeping that, right?" i was pretty disappointed because it's a beautiful piece.

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  4. I like wearing loose tops like this with high waist and tailored skirts, or even regular pencil skirts.I don't like too many tight things against my body so If I wear a pencil skirt I will probably pair it with a loose top and tuck it in. I wonder how this top would look if you wear it with a belt? Maybe a thin belt would work if you want a more polished look with tailored skirts, and might not even need to tuck it in since the belt would take care of showing off your waist.
    I think even A line skirts would work too, and long bohemian skirts and try tucking it in. You could also try to wear it with a long sweater, the type that doesn't have buttons and wear a belt on top. That is for colder days but it seems like it's been gorgeous out there!
    I think this top has potential. If my husband really loves something I usually keep it but if a year or more goes by and I haven't worn it I let it go even though he asks me to keep it :D

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  5. Could you potentially get it taken in to make it less tent-like... I don't know if that's too much effort? It would also look cute tucked in a skirt. I think overall, I'm not as in love with this shirt as I am with some of your other anthro pieces. My vote- sell it.

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  6. I think it's beautiful! I'm top-heavy too and am drawn to the tent-y flowy tops that always make me look like I'm pregnant. That said, I really think it looks nice on you! I don't suspect any baby-bumps or anything. ;-) As far as styling, I sometimes buy the tent-y tops and belt them. Could you belt it or is it too short? Maybe tuck it into a skirt? Can you do high-waist jeggings and ballet flats? I think it would be very French-girl chic. Just my two cents. You look lovely as usual! :-D

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  7. The top is cute, but it may be hard to style. What about with dark trousers and a blazer (my solution to any difficult to style top)? But then you lose the arm detail... Or tucked in to a high waisted skirt? Yeah, it may be tricky.

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  8. You can make the top longer by layering a longer tank underneath - look for tunic lenth tanks, at least 29".

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  9. Flowy anthro tops give me fits - they're so pretty but ridiculously difficult to style, especially if they're not long. This top is sooooo pretty, and it looks great from the back, haha. But the front...eh. It's definitely has a tent-effect going on. If I had it'd, it'd be one of those tops I would want so hard to like but never wear because it didn't really do anything for me. I say sell it and get something equally pretty but with more styling options!

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  10. love the shirt. and i LOVE your hair like this, SUPER cute!

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  11. KEEP, KEEP, KEEP! It is gorgeous, Bonnie! Very swingy and romantic! I love that it is loose like that. Very boho! Without question, keep it!

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  12. Eh, I think you have a heck of a lot more clothes in your closet that look better on you, I'm not sure black is a great color for you (unless we're talking dressy clothing like that awesome New Years dress). I would sell it and buy something else.

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  13. it's supposed to kinda look like a tent, if you're not comfortable with that style then sell it (but it actually looks quite good on you so i would recommend keeping it).

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  14. I think I'd sell it. It's a really pretty top, but I don't think it was made for a woman with an ample bosom (a problem I have). I love the way loose tops look on the hanger, but I often feel like I could hide a family of squirrels under them the way they hang off of my chest. I think that if you don't absolutely love it, which obviously you don't because you're questioning it, you should get rid of it. I know Jerry loves it, but he'll love you whether or not you have this one top. Sell it and get something you have no questions about and absolutely love. I

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  15. It's a pretty shirt, but the shape is difficult for anyone to wear. Maybe getting it altered so that the shirt has a better defined waist?

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  16. I really laughed at your last comment about mean comments. I thought I would let you know.....I read an article about blog abuse. There is a lot of haters out there (email, Facebook, and twitter, also). Some are even using x-rated language to get their point across. It could be anyone doing this....maybe the nice old lady across the street that hates her dil and is taking it out on you. How to stop it? Don't give these bitter, mean people a platform to express their views. It's not anything personal. They just have major issues.

    I love this top. I am trying to locate one to purchase. Let it stand for itself! I will pair it with colored jeans or pants. If I am wearing plain denim, some bright colored shoes....sandles, flats, or wedges. I also like it with a denim pencil skirt. Jerry has good taste. Don't sell it!!!!

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  17. Hi Bonnie! LOL at your last comment! Good for you! I still can't believe the hate that people spew.
    Anyway, I actually like the top on you and I agree with Bea that it would look really cute with colored jeans or tucked into a pencil skirt. However, if you decide to sell it, I'd be happy to buy it from you. I was on the fence about it too and missed the boat. I just had a baby 6 weeks ago and am still trying to find shirts that hide the lingering bump (no, I'm not implying that the shirt makes you look pregant or have anything to hide, I think you look great)!

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  18. I think it looks good but then I like that kind of tent-like shape. I wanted to buy the top but it was sold out by the time I went to order. I like the outfit on you.

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  19. Hi Bonnie, I love this top on you, I think you should keep it. I have several tops that I can really only wear with jeans, but I like having go-to casual outfits for days when I don't feel like putting a lot of thought into what I'm wearing.

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  20. It's a pretty top, but I think you can do better:

    the pleats should hit your natural waist to flatter you. Your bust brings the pleats up too far (as it would on me) so your waist is in between the two sets of pleats and therfore is lost.

    I would recommend trying it with a skinny belt, but if it doesn't look right I would move on as you have too nice a body to lose it in this top! I bet there are other tops of this style that would flatter you more- just try more of them on, you will find one (I did).

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  21. I think it is a lovely top, but I don't hear you saying you feel confident wearing it. I do not think it makes you look unattractive in any way, but compared to some of your other outfits it is not as flattering. I do think trying it out with some brightly colored skinnies might work; tucking it into a form-fitting, high-waist pencial skirt might be the best option. The pretty details at the neck would not be lost that way, but you would get a more body conscious fit. Layering it under a structured blazer would help too. You also might consider waiting until the weather is a bit warmer and pairing it with capris as the flowy nature of the top would be ideal for sticky Southern heat in July and August.

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  22. You were smart to downsize with this top. I purchased my normal size small, and it was a total miss. I think you wear it the best that I have seen. The back is great. Something is not quite right for me with the battenburg lace, the pleats, and maybe the kind of shear ivory fabric in the front. However, since I have also gone back and forth on this one, wouldn't blame you for selling. Realize this is quite a waffle comment, so don't blame you for "being on the fence"!!!

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  23. These pictures are so lush and lovely, Bonnie. (:

    p.s. I like the top on you.

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  24. I think you should keep it! With some black straight leg jeans it'd look great too.

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