Would You Buy Expensive Grunge?

Nov 05, 2008 @ 2:17pm

Mary Kate in huge flannel shirt.jpgI have a tiny friend who wears clothes that are often far too big for her, officially. No, I'm not joking about MK, but she's technically a big part of this, too.

My size 0 friend will buy say, a DVF blouse in a size 12, and suddenly, she's wearing a shirt dress nobody can pinpoint. And I think to myself, that's swell, but don't you want an expensive shirt to fit well?

And then the other day, I was at Ralph trying on sweaters, and the salesguy looked at the "L" label and then looked at me and did a double take (Editor's Note: Brett is "L" only in kids' sections.) Evidently, trying on things that are too big is not very common, at least not at RL.

Vera Wang talks about wearing YSL's Le Smoking jackets two sizes too big, and Chris Benz always wears sport coats too small, and maybe it's because they're super small, but the aforementioned MK and Ashley have made wearing things that oversized or undersized a way of life. And yet, I'm wondering, would you spend a lot of money on something that doesn't techincally fit?

And I don't mean buying "Alexander Wang-made to look like it's big but secretly designed to drape perfectly" oversized stuff. I mean seriously buying something that is meant to be fitted but you choose to get it super huge because you like it like that.

Britt says she only indulges in oversized clothes at places like Uniqlo so she doesn't feel like she's wasting money on an item that's expensive specifically because of its fit. But would you buy a too-large Lanvin or super sized Prada, price-for-fit be damned? Or is that kind of like buying a super expensive floor-length gown and rolling up the hem because you wanted a short dress?

--BRETT KANE

Comments

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 2:26PM

Oh, funny. I was just at RL in Las Vegas 2 days ago trying on an XL cashmere cardigan (I normally wear S). It kinda looked like a robe on me, which I liked. But then the salesguy -- an older white dude -- scurried over with a S and said that what I had on was far too big for me and that I should try on a S. I told him I liked oversized cardigans and he scoffed and said the customer knows best and walked away. Hrmph.

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 2:31PM

I am always tempted to buy extra large, oversized everything. but then i'd think: "people will see me and think i got this at goodwill by default, or that i am on some sort of charity program and receive free stuff so everything goes"

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posted by rf

Nov 05, 2008 2:32PM

oh sure, i do it sometimes....if i know that i'm more likely to wear the oversized item enough to get my money's worth, then heck yeah. if it fit on me the way it was intended and in the properly-scaled size, i might not be as enamoured with the item and then it would end up sitting in my closet, unworn.

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posted by helene

Nov 05, 2008 3:09PM

I often purchase over-sized garments, simply because i like the look and it's usually more comfy. And since my budget doesn't allow anything from expensive labels, i don't have to worry about if i'm getting my money's worth! I know i am anyways because i wear whatever i buy.

Also buying over-sized is something of a practicality factor: i hardly ever try on clothing at stores - except for pants - so i always know that if i buy one size larger it will fit sor sure!

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 3:23PM

But, price isn't just about fit. As some will have you believe, it's also about the quality of the fabric, the hems, colors, prints, etc.

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 3:35PM

XL cardigans are never a bad move for me, personally. They hide so much (for better or for worse). I kind of like looking like a popsicle anyway.

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 3:38PM

(@ commentor # 2)funny, my oversized clothes usually come from goodwill (or salvey, or church shops)

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posted by HeatherChandler

Nov 05, 2008 3:45PM

I'm already tall and busty. So wearing anything oversized just makes me look like a linebacker.

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 4:19PM

I always buy oversized clothes... but never at a high price point. Go to salvation army and you will find wonders. I have bought amazing sweaters and shirts that people ask if i bought from Opening Ceremony. Its true they look like they could be, except im getting my sweaters for $3 rather than $300

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posted by laney

Nov 05, 2008 4:19PM

i'm olsen sized but i tend to lean towards mediums in terms of sweaters and some shirts. particularly steven alan. i just prefer the way it looks as opposed to the super fitted xs.

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 4:24PM

I've been doing this for years!

On a side note... MK Olsen's didn't invent this! They copy other people's avant-garde (Traina sisters) style and act like they created it on their own because they crave all this attention.

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 4:27PM

I'm olsen sized but with a Pamela anderson bust, wear oversized?
No way...but clothes tend to be oversized on me anyway, that's where a good tailor comes in!

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13

posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 5:05PM

If you like the way something fits...whether it's too large or too small, it's worth the price : )

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14

posted by Peter

Nov 05, 2008 5:13PM

I buy bigger so I can grow into it whenever obesity is in

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 5:30PM

#14. Brilliant plan!

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 6:09PM

#12--so jealous!

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 9:01PM

hahaha #14


but ya, i do this--in the goodwill men's section. last week i bought 2 sweaters and a button down, all to wear as dresses/tunics. and all for under $12.

like you said, if i'm going to spend a lot of money on a designer piece, i want it to fit me perfectly.

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posted by guest

Nov 05, 2008 10:34PM

im smaller than olsen sized, and i usually tend to buy things that are too large. but not always, i just borrow from both my six year old sister's closet (sick, i know) and my mom's closet.

if i like something, i will wear it. no matter what size. in some way or another, i will make it fit.

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posted by guest

Nov 06, 2008 1:52AM

As someone who is real-life small but not quite Olsen-sized, I've always been uber-conscious about buying clothes that fit really well, and if anything, almost err on the side of too small (but not quite). I am a young doctor who already looks under-aged, so I don't want to look like I'm playing dress up at the same time.

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posted by hannah

Nov 06, 2008 6:12AM

I frequently buy t-shirts too large on purpose because I don't want them to be fitted, but that's from Target, F21, etc....

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posted by guest

Nov 06, 2008 9:36AM

If you like how it looks, then why not?

I personally don't buy anything expensive in an oversize. If I buy expensive clothes it's because they fit better than anything I've encountered in cheaper stores.

Plus, I'm pragmatic and I want my clothes to be wearable for several years (I tend to buy classic), even after the oversized trend dies down, so I would probably want something that fits.

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posted by guest

Nov 06, 2008 1:53PM

Guest #1 - why does it matter that the sales person at RL was white? Just curious as to the statement you are trying to make by adding that piece of info....

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posted by guest

Nov 06, 2008 4:10PM

i think i know of which friend you speak...hee hee. personally i think part of what you are paying for is fit. Lets face it, most clothes are farrrrrrrrrrr more flattering when tailored and fitted properly.

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posted by guest

Nov 07, 2008 3:39PM

Ha

Actually I don't think any designer thought of oversized clothes. Check out the rap world...oversized and baggy are the norm there. The lower the "sag" on a pair of $200 jeans, the better.

Never thought I'd see/hear those in the fashion world consider oversized clothing as "expensive grunge".

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