Trying Out James Perse

As a jeans girl, what better to collect than a small wardrobe of excellent t-shirts? So I’ve been anxious to try the famous-for-being-perfect brand of t-shirts…James Perse.

At first glance, it’s an insanely expensive t-shirt, but everyone I’ve met who actually owns the brand, absolutely loves it. I couldn’t get myself to pay full retail, but I did find a few good deals on the classic contrast panel shirt, which I’ve liked since the brand first hit shelves a few years ago.

My first purchase was the Contrast Panel Shirt in Rose Nude from LastCall.com (Neiman Marcus outlet). There are two main versions of the contrast panel shirt, one in a thicker cotton retailing for $144, and one with a softer, thinner cotton retailing for $155. This is the $155 version, starting with a sizable markdown for the outlet, with an extra 40% off coupon code, and a gift card I redeemed from credit card points (love doing that!), I technically got this one for free.

This is a size 1, as James Perse has their own numeric sizing, of 0 through 4. Size 0 seems to be a new size that was recently added to the line, and seems to be a size department stores don’t like to carry. This is a shame, since the best discounts can be had during department stores sales, or at their outlet stores.

As you can see, the shirt is long on 4’11” me, but thanks to the ribbed pima cotton paneling along the sides, is nice and fitted all the way down the torso. Some tucking can help handle the length, or it can be worn out for an especially casual look. The top button is also a bit too low for full bust coverage on me, so an undershirt or cami is a must.

Before the Rose Nude shirt arrived from Last Call, I stumbled upon similar shirts at a sizable discount at Nordstrom Rack in an array of colors. This is the thicker $144 version, which again had a sizable outlet discount, coupled with a Rewards Card (Nordstrom credit card perks), I was able to snag this “Fin” one at a great price.

Once I got them together, you can see some fit differences, even though this is technically the same shirt. The sleeve of the thicker version is wider, and because the fabric is thicker, the shoulder stands straight and appears wider.

After trying on these shirts, I love how soft and easy they are, and can see this look turning into my weekend uniform. While I would love to keep them, given the great deal I got, it’s hard not to reconsider after seeing them from the back. This is a common problem for me with blouses that are not made for petites. Even if the torso is slim and fitted, the shoulder is often made for a woman of much more substantial size than myself. It’s very evident that the shoulder is too big in the grey, but can also be seen in the rose. The thinner fabric of the rose looks better, but the shirt shoulder seam is still running down the top of my arm.

Tip: Even if a top or jacket looks okay in the shoulder from the front, try to get a look at it from the back. The view from the back will tell you if the shoulder really fits or not. I’ve had to return a lot items after seeing how awkward the shoulders look from the back.

I’ve decided the grey must go back. The sleeve is not as fitted as the rose, and the shoulder from the back just does not give a nice clean silhouette.

So now, my dilemma. I LOVE the Rose Nude. It’s a color I never would have expected to like (I’m not a pink girl), but it’s so pretty in real life and different from any color I have in my wardrobe. It’s also heavenly soft, and it’s getting my color pairing juices flowing. But I’m unsure if the fit in the shoulder is distracting. There is a chance a size 0 would fit better, but given the unavailability of that size at such deep discount prices, It’s very unlikely I’ll find that size in this color (or similar), at this price. I could use this shirt as a layering piece, which would hide the shoulder issue. Plus, I technically got this shirt for free. Ugh, so many factors to concider! So, what do you think?

 Should I keep the Rose Nude with the big shoulder which I technically got for free?

PS. If I don’t get a chance to post again before the holiday madness begins, I’d like to wish a very happy holidays to all readers celebrating this week!