James Perse casual tee | size 2
Miranda Bennett Silk Noil (raw silk) skirt | one size (use my referal link for $20 credit at Garmentory)
Emerson Fry slides | gift for review from Emerson Fry
I’ve been waiting for this Miranda Bennett skirt for a while. I ordered it via Garmentory with some store credit a few weeks ago, and knew it would take a week or so to fulfill, but man, I was antsy!! And then, the fabric and dye was backordered, so it just arrived yesterday. I’ve wanted to try Miranda Bennett for a while, she is from Austin, and I love her simple designs – the tops and dresses look perfectly chic and easy. But then I saw this skirt, and pounced.
I chose this skirt to replace a similar style, and beloved Etoile Isabel Marant skirt I had to sell a while ago because it was to big for me to wear anymore; that skirt was a workhorse in my wardrobe and I’ve missed it. This is similar, because it has a higher waist, pleating, easy drape, and it’s “long.”
I LOVE the skirt, and it’s exactly what I was looking for. The raw silk is lovely, and feels better to me than “regular” silk, which makes me nervous because it feels too delicate for me. And raw silk is much more casual in my opinion. Whether it holds up as well as silk remains to be seen, I ran across this interesting tidbit about raw silk…that it’s “weaker” than silk?
I prefer to wear it with shirts tucked in – it’s a better look for me with wider silhouettes on my bottom-half. I tried it with my Everlane linen sleeveless top, and a my Rag & Bone/JEAN mock turtleneck sleeveless top, and loved all the looks. BUT. And it’s a big but:
The elastic in the waist is not secured AT ALL. And it’s wide. I’ve had issues with wide elastic before, and honestly, I don’t understand why at this price point, the elastic isn’t secured somehow into the waistband so it doesn’t twist and bend. I put it on, and immediately the elastic bent and while I was wearing it, was impossible to fix. And it only gets worse the more you try and fuss with it. Once I take it off, I can straighten it out, mostly, but the elastic is now folded under a bit in one place, which keeps the waistband from laying perfectly flat.
Now, my issue is, I can return it, minus a 25% fee, or I can take it to my tailor and have her stitch the elastic down on the inside of the waistband so it doesn’t twist. I’ve done that myself on one or two other skirts with a similar issue. So, of course I can do it myself also.
Perhaps it’s the principle of it though, and my frustration that a skirt which costs more than $200 isn’t finished absolutely perfectly. In my eyes anyway. Maybe stitching down the elastic would impact the way the skirt fits? or the way the waistband lays? My impression is that it will lay flatter, and better if it is secured. And I won’t have to worry about fussing with it to fix it every time I wear it.
I haven’t worn it out yet, I just put it on the second it arrived and decided to snap some photos. I love this skirt so much, and want to keep it, I just have to figure out a way to make it wearable without a lot of fussing. I’ve contacted the designer about it, to see what her suggestion is, and hopefully address some of the concerns I’ve raised here and I’ll post a follow-up when I hear back.
I have such an appreciation for smaller, independent designers, and I understand all the work and effort that goes into creating beautiful, wearable pieces. And I think the price point is usually very fair, given their smaller scale, local production and efforts to be more environmentally sustainable. BUT, for that price, I expect a lot. I expect effortless wear, and quality construction in exchange for that price.
What would you do??
**update!!! please see the comment from Miranda Bennett studio below – I also got an email that mentioned they’d noticed some issues with the elastic in some samples and worked with their seamstress to fix the problem prior to production – so I may have inadvertently been sent a sample. Anyway, I’m going to return the skirt for a replacement, or a fix, or whatever needs to be done. Problem solved. Can’t wait to be able to wear my skirt!!! 🙂
Wow, you look amazing in this outfit, Grechen. If you didn’t share the waistband-elastic woes, I would’ve thought this skirt was absolute PERFECTION. It really looks great on you, and makes such a lovely silhouette on your figure. Anyway, what would I do…hmmm…I’d probably keep the skirt since losing 25% is a big deal for me, and I’d take it to my seamstress to see if she could remedy the problem. Hopefully the designer will get back to you with some input.
I agree it’s GORGEOUS (wish I could feel the fabric!) but I too would be more than a little annoyed by that waistband issue! I’d want to keep the skirt, though, so I’d wait to hear what the designer says and then (depending) take to the seamstress to fix.
You look great in this outfit Grechen. I like the length on you much more than on the store models.
I would be disappointed as well with the lack of attention to detail for that price tag; when it is basically one piece of fabric sewn together it is not a rocket science. The waistband is a little to wide for my liking and maybe it would look better covered with a belt?
25% fee when returning the purchase is insane. Thank you for mentioning that, I make sure to avoid that store in the future.
I think it looks great on you and I also love raw silk. I would be annoyed about it but I would probably have the tailor fix the issue (so you don’t have to think about it when you wear it). If you don’t absolutely love it, I would definitely say return it (and talk to the store about the 25% fee– maybe they can do something about that because it seems really high). I also wanted to let you know that I just ordered the wear-ever trousers from Everlane so I’ll let you know how they seem to me. Hope you have a great weekend.
I’d be irritated, too, by something that I’d consider incompetent sewing/bad design, especially at that price.
And if you’re returning it, could you take advantage of something like American Express’s purchase protection (some Visa and MCs have similar benefits), wherein the credit card reimburses you when a merchant won’t accept a return? I wonder if such a return fee would qualify? And seriously, I’ve never heard of a clothing store charging 25%, only electronics places with ‘restocking fees’ (and then I refuse to shop at those kinds of places.)
… and after typing all that I just saw you ordered with store credit. So I guess not.
The website (linked beneath Grechen’s photo) states the restocking fee is due to the “custom nature of every order”. Which I can understand, but I’m not sure how this company is custom order. Perhaps I’m not reading clearly enough….Are the orders REALLY made to order, in specific measurements? This skirt is listed as “one size fits all” and those two statements together don’t make sense to me….If it’s one size fits all, then it’s one pattern, and presumably can be resold to someone else quite easily.
Gee that skirt is gorgeous and looks great on. I like the wider band and think it highlights the slimness of your waist.
I love that you have contacted the designer, that is the point of buying from smaller designers to have direct dialogue. It will be interesting to see what she says about this problem. Hopefully she can offer you a solution.
I agree with some comments above: if you love it (other than this elastic problem) and your tailor feels they can do a good fix, then keep and repair. If you really won’t wear it then 25% loss on return is no good but better than hanging on to something you won’t wear.
ah, yes, i did use store credit (mostly) and purchased via garmentory, so can’t use credit card protection. and to be honest i didn’t pay a lot of attention to the return policy, and restocking, all i usually pay attention to is if it’s final sale or not. my bad on that one, although i’m not sure it would have dissuaded me from ordering in the first place.
yes. i understand completely for custom orders, and even if you produce very limited sizes, etc. and i also understand why smaller designers often don’t take returns, only offer exchanges, or whatever; they simply don’t have the margins to survive oftentimes and returns cut into the bottom line quite harshly. but that’s also why it’s hard to buy from them, quite frankly.
and i agree, custom and “one size” are pretty contradictory IMO
Skirt looks great on you. Me, I’m prone to just tolerate annoyance. A tailor is a much better option!
Hi Grechen,
We just received your email. First of all, you look beautiful! We love how you styled the skirt. We are so sorry & so upset to hear that the elastic on your skirt is doing that! We do apply a stay stitch on the waistband of that skirt, so if your item is lacking a top stitch, that is a mistake and we sincerely apologize. As we manufacture locally, dye in-house and purchase our fabric from US based suppliers, unfortunately delays do occur, and fabrics get back-ordered from time to time. We so appreciate your patience and the fact that you seek out smaller, independent designers.
We emailed you back a moment ago with details regarding complimentary return shipping so we can take a look and replace your garment, please get back to us when you get a chance.
Thank you for your patronage and the cute pictures!
Best,
MBS
I also think it may have to do with the quality and weight of the elastic used. if it is a lighter weight elastic and it is wide, even tacking it down may not resolve the issue. I would have a discussion with your tailor before sending the skirt back. If the problem can be resolved, I think the skirt is totally a keeper!
I love the look n you! It’s so damned classy. But at over $200, I’d be expecting a LOT more from the performance of the elastic in the waist. I’d work with them and get them to fix it…but if they won’t, I’d try to have them pay for the fix at your tailor. Too much money to not demand [near] perfection!
I agree! I was going to purchase a dress from them, and now I’m VERY leery!
“Sunk Costs”! 🙁
I have purchased directly from Mirada Bennett studio before and had to suffer that 25% return fee. I ended up purchasing another piece, at discount, from a boutique I trust so luckily it was a wash for me. But I will never buy directly from the atudio again. I understand the items are hand dyed (ironically I got a white piece both times, the sleeveless gauze top and then the raw silk top with sleeves) but they supply to a lot of boutiques and I’m sure the item I returned they sold without problem. I love their designs but really hate their policy. And to be clear I love my raw silk top. It does not feel super delicate to me, is quite thick and drapes well. I’ve done a bit of spot stain removal and washing on super delicate in machine with cold water and hang dry without problem. I have washed it twice in 9 months. Your skirt is beautiful.
That looks really great on you! I’ve been trying to find a skirt like this myself. I don’t have any experience with raw silk – does it wrinkle? Do you have to get it dry cleaned? And since this is a one size fits all… how is the elastic fit in terms of tightness?
thanks for your input laura! (good to know about the washing…)
i didn’t find the elastic tight at all, but the one-size is 0-10 and i’m about a 6-8 (with ample hips/butt); i definitely don’t think it would fit anyone over a size ten with hips. i feel like it fits me just right, not too big at all, and i’d be hard-pressed to recommend it for anyone over an 8 with hips/butt honestly.
this is my first raw silk piece, so i haven’t washed it yet (I sent it back to the studio for them to replace it), i don’t dry clean anything, so i’ll wash it on delicate in cold water with gentle detergent and hang to dry. i would imagine it might wrinkle a little, but that doesn’t bother me much, and since the raw silk already has a little texture to it, i don’t even think wrinkles would be noticeable enough to matter….
I may take the plunge. Is there a trick to using the referral link? I’ve gone through it several times and don’t see the $20 applied anywhere. I even made a new account using the link (I had never purchased from them with the first account).
hi aura – it should automatically be applied in your account when you sign up. that’s my experience anyway. did you use this link? https://www.garmentory.com/?ref=k54bH8atq9HFE_jKJ5iwpA&spop=3&utm_campaign=referral – maybe it was the wrong link? let me know if that helps. otherwise, i’d contact them and ask about a $20 credit – i’ve contacted their CS several times and they’re usually pretty quick and helpful.
hi grechen, just chiming in to say what others have said- that skirt looks GREAT on you, i love it w/ that neckline too! raw silk is beautiful & i agree w/ you – has a more “casual ” feel than regular/ more formal silk.
also, wanted to add – i just received the james perse cardigan in bark that i ordered a while ago (i live in asia, so had it sent to my cousin in the US who is visiting now, shipping here is high). i love this cardigan so much!! the length is perfect (so often they are just a tad too long), it’s very light weight, perfect for spring & the sleeves are not baggy. you know how w/ some things, you can tell right off they will be a mainstay of the wardrobe? i’m so glad i got it for half off – i paid all in $160. thanks for the discount code- it was the last nudge i needed to order it!
so glad you love it!! is it the long silk cardigan?
yes! it falls at about mid thigh &has a perfect collar. ?
i mean !
I know this was posted awhile ago, but how has this fabric worn? I’ve wanted to buy a nice top from a smaller, conscious designer and I’ve been back and forth between the Elizabeth Suzann Linn tee and the Miranda Bennett Everyday Cropped top in silk noil. I’m pretty hourglass shaped, 38-30-42, and so I think I’m leaning toward the silk top. I’m just nervous about the fabric wearing well and that the V neck won’t be *too* deep (when you have a larger bust those plunging necklines look more VEG).
Ha! I meant to say more *Vegas* than Paris 🙂
hi alexandra! i don’t have the skirt any more ( i sold it because i couldn’t deal with the waistband) but i do have the elizabeth suzann marlena dress in raw silk and it has held up really nicely. i’ve worn it many times and washed it several and it holds up nicely. that’s the beauty of the raw silk i think – it has a nice matte and slightly textured finish that really stands up to wear.
i can say with the marlena dress that the v in the front IS pretty deep, and i don’t have much of a bust to speak of…