Eileen Fisher organic linen box top (sent from EF for review) | small – on sale!!
Eileen Fisher organic linen wide leg pants (sent from EF for review) | small petite – also on sale 🙂
The Palatines slides | purchased w/credits at Garmentory (use my referral link for a $20 credit)
admonish leather tote | sold out, similar, smoother leather, slimmer profile
I mentioned previously that I was going to do a major linen review in the coming weeks. I have been “collecting” linen from different brands, and different types (tees, woven, etc) to try and provide more in depth information about the different qualities of linen and how it holds up/washes/wears. I’m going to trickle in outfits for a little while, and then do a comprehensive post with all the items & thoughts together.
But first, Eileen Fisher. The brand was gracious enough to reach out and provide me three organic linen items to review for you (I was not compensated for this post in any other way): the Icon box Top, the wide leg pants, and the shell top (all in size small). Each of the pieces is their “handkerchief linen” which is organic European flax, in a fine, lightweight woven linen. These pieces are just a little lighter than Elizabeth Suzann’s linen tunic, and Everlane’s boyfriend linen shirt, for example.
I wore all these linen pieces traveling over the weekend, and have also washed them (with The Laundress delicates detergent and hung to dry). I shot this outfit photo just after they were washed and had dried, NOT after a full day of wear. None of the pieces shrunk at all, and as linen does, they have become slightly softer with wash & wear.
It is linen, though, and no matter what, linen will crease and wrinkle with wear. Linen can look deceptively nice and crisp, but the moment you put it on, all bets are off. Which, I think, is the beautiful thing about linen; it’s meant to be worn, enjoyed, and lived in, not babied – no matter how hard you try, linen cannot be babied, or remain pristine (perhaps it’s a metaphor for life? for each of us? for ME??). And it only gets softer and better with wear. But all linen isn’t created equal, and I’ve found that the heavier linen tends to look slightly “better” with wear than lighter weight, also shape matters, specifically where tops hit on the body and how they crease when you sit down.
More about these specific pieces:
The icon box top is just that, an iconic boxy top with a boat neck and longer sleeves which is meant to be oversized. It’s very nicely made, so easy to wear, and a great length for just about anything. I chose the size small instead of the small petite because I wanted it to be long, as you see here, and loose. Sometimes I roll the sleeves up a bit, and sometimes I don’t. I also usually wear a black bra underneath; you’re going to see the bra, so you might as well SEE it, you know?? I don’t mind that at all, seeing my bra though the shirt, but if you do , you might prefer a camisole. While the top isn’t opaque, it’s not completely sheer either, so honestly I think it’s modest enough with just a bra, but everyone’s preference is different!
The pants are also wonderful, lightweight, and super easy. They are not completely opaque either, but I am wearing lighter (gray) bikini panties underneath and you can’t see them, so I don’t have any concerns about sheerness wearing them. I LOVE the pockets on these, and the length is perfect for me (I’m 5’3″ and have a 26.5″ inseam). I’m not wearing them all the way up at my waist though; I prefer to keep them a little lower. I wore these a lot over the weekend, and was so comfortable and pleased with how they felt and looked. I feel like with linen pants, since there is more length, wrinkles tend to fall out a little better with the weight of them. Which doesn’t matter a bit to me, but FYI.
But back to the top. Here’s what happens to it with wear: it stretches a little and starts to blouse out a bit around the middle so it becomes even MORE boxy. I’m not sure how it would wear if you sized down – maybe it wouldn’t blouse out so much, and stretch to fit, but I wouldn’t want to size down. After I wear my linen pieces, I spray them with water until they’re almost saturated, but not quite, and let them hang to dry, which brings them back to “new” for the next time I want to wear them. I’ll go 2-3 wears per piece before washing that way.
A note on Eileen Fisher sizing: I find Eileen Fisher very hard to fit. My slouchy ankle pants are a size large petite, my harem pants are a medium, and I’ve had tops that are size XS. I’m not sure I’d ever be able to order Eileen Fisher online confidently without trying it on first because I’m really never sure what size in what style will work best for me. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth a try, and if you order from Eileen Fisher or Nordstrom, you’re covered on shipping costs and can be confident in their customer service.
What has your experience been with Eileen Fisher linen? How often do you wear linen in summer?
what no mention about the chic hair?
I was going to talk about the two linen Eileen Fisher dresses I bought for this summer, but realized that they aren’t linen at all, but hemp / organic cotton!
Anyway, I love this dress, and it has worn really well, even the super-hot weekend I spent in Portland. This dress has the feel of linen, but I feel like it wears better and maybe isn’t as wrinkly as linen:
http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/eileen-fisher-cap-sleeve-casual-dress?ID=2656189&CategoryID=64883#fn=DEPARTMENT_TYPE%3DDresses%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D26%26ruleId%3D98|BS%26slotId%3D25%26rdppSegmentId%3DCONTROL
i didn’t want to hijack the post 😉
Thanks for the tip on spraying blouses with water and hanging to dry to make them fresh for the next wear — so clever! I bought my first linen shirts this summer (by Everlane and Eliz Suzanne) and have been so nervous about caring for them.
don’t be nervous 🙂
i’ve not had a lot of linen until this year (mostly linen t-shirts, which are pretty flimsy, actually), but what i have, i have found it very sturdy and so easy to care for. it seems almost indestructible!
oh, love that dress! i’ve been wanting to add some hemp pieces to my closet also, i really believe we should be using it more often for clothing; it’s sustainable, and very sturdy.
This looks like the perfect easy breezy summer outfit 🙂
Monica.
I’m excited about your linen round-up because I’d like to hear about the softness of different brands of linen! I shy away from linen because it’s just always felt scratchy. It’s been cemented in my mind that linen is scratchy and never soft, so I don’t ever wear it. So just how soft is the Eileen Fisher stuff? Like, supima cotton t-shirt soft? Microfiber soft? And what accounts for the scratchiness of some linens? I assume it’s because they are cheap and/or blends – not true 100% flax linen.
I love your hair! Ironically same length mine is that I’m starting to grow out again. Saw my hairdresser last week with my good news/bad news – it’s the best look on me and I loved the cut (from a couple months ago) but it’s just too short to put up and I cannot survive summer in NC or travel without being able to put my hair in a ponytail.
I have a couple things to return to Nordstrom – mail order -and am hoping to go next week after work – would love to see what Eileen Fisher they have in the store. But am also planning to go to the Eileen Fisher store in Boston when we travel there in the middle of the month. I have some EF linen trousers I thrifted – love them! They’re a wide leg with an actual waistband so more flattering than many of the elastic waist options I’ve had over the years (not that an elastic waist linen pant isn’t the most COMFORTABLE thing ever – it can just occasionally look like my diaper is full 😉
What a great simple and polished outfit and your new haircut compliments it beautifully.
I love linen (the real one 100% flax) and remember wearing it a lot in my high school/college years before moving to the US. I had heavy linen window drapes in my very first apartment and linen sofa covers, they were indestructible and you could wash them in a washing machine. I still have my light blue linen shirt purchased in 1998 (yes!) which I use as a beach cover as it is quite oversized – still going strong quality and look wise. I know my linen and what I see in stores doesn’t satisfy me, flimsy light wait, see through pieces – thank you but no thank you. The only exception is my Reformation Ghana dress – beautiful dense woven fabric, which softens with wear and I can tell I will enjoy for years to come. Tee shirt wise I have Current Elliot stripped 3/4 sleeve tee from Outnet which is so soft, dense and opaque and it drapes well.
I am so looking forward to your linen review Grechen:-)
I love the do too! Perfect for hot summer weather and I think the short more precise cut is a wonderful compliment to your clothing style, which is relaxed. I’ve only been getting into linen recently. I have a loose charcoal tank and a striped scoopneck T from Everlane. I also have a linen/cotton sweater from EF petite (in stores now) and a grey/green racerback tank from Banana. These pieces have a bit more structure than the looser linen styles like you have on, which I don’t think looks good on my shape but I do like it on other people. With the exception of the striped, mine are sheer so I usually wear a fitted modal tank underneath. I almost always take a S Petite in EF (with the exception of sweaters where an XS is a better fit). The styles that don’t look quite right in a SP won’t look right for me in any size, just not the right style for me. I mainly wear the vicose jersey pieces or the silk separates however. Mainly in black as those pieces are my building blocks,
Your hair is adorable, and this outfit is EVERYTHING. I love Eileen Fisher and have a couple of her pieces. She does a fashion show at Nordstrom every year and it’s always amazing. Will totally have to check out some of her linen pieces!!
We got an Eileen Fisher store in town a few years ago. You know what, they don’t stock petite sizes. For that I need to go to Nordstrom or Macy’s. And yes, their sizing is unpredictable!
Not all of them do. The one here does, but the one I frequent in FL does not. I wonder how they determine where to put them… Perhaps DFW has more short women lol
Right? I was like, “Did I miss the haircut post?”
Ha. Sorry. I didn’t want to make the post about my hair…
In NYC, the EF stores that have petites (Soho, Columbus Circle and Flatiron, Upper East Side) are larger by area – at least it seems that way! The one close to my office in Midtown is quite tiny by comparison and carries only regular sizes. Though they have offered to get particular pieces shipped in the sizes I wanted to try – either to my home or the Midtown store, so you might want to try asking about that if there’s something specific you’re looking for. Generally I would rather go where I can try on a range of sizes. I’ve been all over the place in EF. Most often small or petite medium but some extra smalls, some petite larges … You get the idea.
That was for everyone. This is for Grechen – the hair is adorable!!! It looks so healthy and bouncy! 🙂
I really like this look. I’ve been living in linen this summer, especially after finding a few pieces that fit perfectly, all in the same shade of oatmeal. It makes for easy mornings and maybe slightly less interesting photos.
You know me and Eileen Fisher….we’re like THIS! (Picture the twinsies emoji)
I’ve had linen pieces of hers in the past, and washed them successfully, but I can’t think of anything I own of hers in linen at the moment, except for a tee. I’ve got several CP Shades pieces, but I’ll save that for another time. 😉
I feel like it’s pretty scratchy at first, too, so I’m not always patient enough to wait it out. But linen says classy to me. A chic bob, a red lip, and linen. (You’re there…minus the red lip!)
I love the hair, so chic! And I’m in love with the top.
Linen is my favorite of all fabrics. I like the wrinkly aspect of it. It speaks of no fussiness and of life actually lived. I feel bad that summers are so short and I don’t get to wear it as much as I’d like, but for three months at least I’m most of the time head to toe in linen (or at least on top). I can’t stand heat, so linen saves me in the summer. I own several Eileen Fisher linen tops, both woven and knitted. I love all of them. The woven linen tops do wrinkle at the waist kind of weirdly. Less after some washing and wear. Linen tends to be stiff and shiny when new, but softens and wrinkles less with age. I never found it itchy, and I don’t tolerate itchiness well, but I usually only have such issues with synthetic fibers.
The top you have on today is so dreamy. I like the neckline and the sleeves a lot!
I would guess that scratchiness is either cheap fabric and/or sizing in the fabric to keep it “crisp” while in the stores. Once you wash it out – much softer 🙂
It looks fantastic!
What about yellow stains in the underarm area? I washed my favorite white linen tank and soaked them in spray & wash….considered bleach but it’s so harsh. Thoughts?
Linen – I have a pair of Eileen Fischer white linen pants that are at least 8 or 9 years old and an absolute staple. Side zip and somewhat straight/tapered. Love them!
(Came over from Priviledge)
As soon as I saw the first image I was gearing up to find where that bag was from – I love it! I have a well-loved black leather tote that will probably need replacing in the next year, so I’m starting to gather up links to potential replacements. I think I like the look of the leather on yours better vs the similar one though.
I like the leather on mine too…It was slightly distressed to begin with, but with use has become even more so. He just makes bags with whatever leather he can find that he likes, which is why they’re all different.
Are you replacing your hope tote?? I was obsessed with that bad a few years ago. Almost bought one! I loved the leather on it.
Hello! Thanks for joining us 🙂
I don’t generally have a problem with stains in the underarm area, but a friend recommended something to me she uses, I’ll have to get back to you on that! We’ve also had a few discussions abut that here and a few people have said once they switched to natural deodorants they stopped having a stain problem. Perhaps something about the reaction of aluminum based deodorants and sweat?
Hello everyone! I’m a lurker and was introduced to your lovely blog by Catherine who often comments here. Love the real talk and the reviews and the comments. It’s a pleasure to discover a new-to-me blog to add to my rotation!
Since we’re talking linen, I have a “detective” query. Naomi Watts was spied wearing a lovely linen pair of overalls a few weeks ago and I have not been able to find out what they are. Here’s the link…
http://tomandlorenzo.com/2016/06/naomi-watts-in-nyc-street-style-fashion/
Any ideas about who made them or where I can find them? I’ve tried Etsy and Nordstrom, etc so far (just so you know that I’m not expecting you to do ALL the work for me!).
**EDITED** nevermind!! found them: they’re by sundry – i have a jumpsuit by sundry and love them. they’re made in the US too
welcome 🙂 i love detective work!!
my gut at first, was to think that those could potentially be the james perse overalls i was obsessed with a few weeks ago, but that have since sold out…but he usually does a wider shoulder strap. they still could be though, they look like they would be, but they’re not available to buy anymore anyway.
also, i wouldn’t rule out that those are cotton gauze instead of linen
i will keep searching and let you know if i find anything similar. they could also be old!
(i love them – so cute)
Yes! You have made my day! You are a supah stah….just ordered the last in size 2
yay!! i love detective work, it’s sort of uncanny how good i am at identifying some celebrity fashion LOL it’s a weird talent…
it’s super-cute, i hope you love it!
Hello, can you please tell me if this is the same black tote back shown in the photo? Here’s the link: http://admonish-shop.com/collections/handbags-1/products/copy-of-curved-open-tote-waxy-black
Thanks
Frankie
yes, it is the same style/shape, but in different leather (thicker, and a little heavier; it’s such a beautiful leather – very substantial, I’ve seen it in person), and i think the one on the site now is slightly narrower than mine.
Thank you, Gretchen!