No Sweat(shirt) And A Bit of Fashion Maths

Monday 16 December 2013


I have a grey Gap sweatshirt which I'm actually quite happy with in terms of fit and look. My only gripe is that the inside is not that soft fleecy inner. It's a woven cotton and more a spring/summer weight . Other than that, there's nothing wrong with it and it doesn't need replacing with another.

Gap Sweatshirt


But I still went and ordered the plain grey sweatshirt from the recent Isabel Marant for H&M collaboration. Grey sweatshirts are a wardrobe staple - there is always room for another. I was quite lucky. I didn't waste any time waiting in a queue to buy in store and I didn't waste any time going on line trying to order on the first day of the collection launch when the systems crashed. When I logged on the first day and I came up against the error screen, I merely shrugged my shoulders and thought "C'est la vie, not meant to be" and went on my merry way.

It just so happened I logged on the next day and saw the Isabel Marant tag and clicked on it and lo and behold - lots of stuff still available. So I ordered a few pieces. The sweatshirt being one.

My order took more than two weeks to arrive. Ho hum.

Anyway, I shook it out and guess what? lt had that nice soft fleecy inner that I was talking about :o) 

Gap - woven inner

H&M Marant - fleecy inner


Looks okay on doesn't it?

Isabel Marant for H&M Sweatshirt

And it had little fashion details like the tight cuffs and the shorter body length. However, when I tried it on, something felt wrong. The fit was fine, the sleeves were okay, the fleecy inner was lovely. What was wrong? The v on the sweatshirt was not central. Gah! 

Definitely not central

A little bit off ....


I think this was meant to be an isosceles or even an equilateral triangle. Fact is - it's a scalene triangle. My fashion maths says this is wrong!

You know how these things wind me up. It wasn't extreme but it was enough to niggle me and once you notice something like that, it stays in your head. So it had to go on the returns pile. Shame.

And guess what, by chance I managed to order the red sweatshirt a week or so later - I saw too many pics of people looking nice in theirs so I wanted one. And guess what? Same problem!

This triange looks more isosceles but  is definitely a few cm off centre.


I hope everyone who went and bought one of these sweatshirts had more luck than me especially if they did a smash and grab in store but in the meantime I've had a lot of fun googling pics of people in their sweatshirts to see if their v's are central or not :o) I've not spotted any yet.

Must just have been me who was not destined not to have one.


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Last Note :

  • I should apologise for the lack of posts in the last week - Christmas life gets in the way and it's probably going to get worse. Meanwhile, I am on Instagram if you want to know if I am still alive. Follow me here.
  • Err yes - the IM for HM collection happened last month and has been covered to death by every other blogger going. I'm only a month behind but I blame it on the H&M delivery times rather than my my general blogging tardiness.




31 comments

  1. It looks soft and comfortable, and man I might not have even noticed the skewing of the triangle. Good eye!

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    1. It was soft and comfortable but the triangle really bugged me. If you looked at me straight on, you'd probably only notice if I pointed it out. But at £35. Not good enough. And the red one, I could see when it was in the bag, how skewed it was. I almost didn't bother to try it on.

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  2. It looked wonderful on you...... I didn't notice until you pointed the wonky V ...... How annoying!!! I would of been tempted to keep it but then it would of annoyed me further down the line..... You have such a good eye and willpower to return! X

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    1. It's one of those things - how can you go wrong with a simple grey sweatshirt? Well they managed didn't they. But if no v, there probably would have been no problem. I tried it on a few times just to make sure and I just knew I could put my money to something better made.

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  3. I really like the red, however the wonky triangle is just so annoying - I'm getting stressed at the thought of it and i've only seen it in your pics. That would put me off the brand for life ! haha

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    1. The red is stunning on everyone else but it's not really a me item. I guess I was caught in the fashion madness. The other items I ordered, looked to be relatively well made but the sweatshirts just didn't cut it. I've had better stuff from mainline H&M to be honest.

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  4. Ah I see what you mean about the triangle, it's a bit frustrating, although I suppose when not looking in the mirror you would never know.. right?

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    1. The red one is blatantly obvious if you wore it and looked in the mirror, it was probably about 2cm off on one side compared to the other so it definitely didn't sit central on your neck. But at least the triangle was more "equal". The grey one, I think most people would be happy to go with.

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  5. What a shame Sue - knowing me I'd have been too lazy to return it and then regretted it later! Tell me about 'Christmas life' - it's manic isn't it!

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    1. Just a bit! And breathe .... Last week was a bit full on but it's calmed down a little this week. Phew. But I still haven't finished the Christmas shopping and there's not many days left. My only problem is I' seeing so many nice things I want when I'm out and about.

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  6. Argh that would drive me nuts!! Especially as they were $60 here! Save your money and buy one in the sale on NAP xx

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    1. It did drive me nuts. And you've got me sussed. I'm saving my pennies for a sweatshirt I really want and it might be from NAP :o) or Avenue 32 - depends on who is cheaper and if there are any in my size when the time comes.

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  7. I think it's disgraceful, just goes to show its cheap tat but when they can get the 3.99 sweatshirts right, why not these? X

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  8. This is so funny! At first I thought maybe it was an intentional thing that the triangle is off - but I guess if other people's were centered then it was a mistake. That is such a shame as it looks pretty perfect otherwise! xx

    http://thestylecrusader.com

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    1. I was actually starting to think it was intentional. Only problem is I can't really make out too clearly on other people's photos whether a v is straight or not so if I can't spot it - we'll just say it is.

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  9. i've heard about H&M having quality issues before, I'm just surprised it was the IM range! The red one looks quite bad too. Bummer! I was hoping to stalk eBay for some later in the year - I'll have to keep this in mind. Thanks Sue! Hope the Christmas business leaves you some you time!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. Oh it's not all bad. I ordered a few things and some of them looked lovely and were well made. They just didn't suit me or fit me well enough to justify keeping. I like IM stuff and styling but it still has to be well made - collaboration or no collaboration.

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  10. I tried that sweatshirt on instore and almost bought it - because to be fair it was very comfy and slouchy with nice tight cuffs and waist. I've just gone back to look at my blog pics, but the phone is in the way of the triangle, so I'll never know if it was skewed or not. The label on the red one isn't straight either. Isabel Marant ... pah!

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    1. I got the grey one is a size 8 - I think you tried yours in a size medium? So yours will be a touch slouchier. I have to say, the material was lovely - just shame I couldn't get past the v. To be honest, in real life, the Gap one looks better on me in terms of fit. I definitely felt more at home in the Gap one.

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  11. I bought both the grey and burgundy sweatshirts but I haven't eyeballed the triangle yet. I didn't even looked at them. It doesn't look that skewed in the photo though. You look great in it.

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    1. I think you did good with your haul. I loved the cream lace crochet top you have but I just couldn't work with the length of it or else it would have been a keeper. I couldn't even do a fashion tuck properly with it so I really had to let it go. However, the joggers were good ...

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  12. What a shame and the fleece back looks so cosy but little things like that irritate me too. I dare say if you tried, you would eventually find one with a perfect v but I'm sure you are too busy for that at this time if year!!

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    1. I'm sure if there was the choice and the luxury of picking through them, I might have found the perfect sweatshirt but to be honest, I was a little half hearted in my IM quest. I actually only wanted a pair of shoes but then got side tracked when I found out the shoes were unavailable in my size. As it is, a lot of pennies were saved.

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  13. Oh my god, that is scandlously off center! I can't believe they would overlook something like that. Totally outrageous. Oh and, you may have noticed I'm MIA as well, so nice to just spend time with family and away from the computer over the holidays, isn't it? Trying not to feel guilty about it...

    www.nomadicd.com

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    1. I had noticed that you were MIA. Have you noticed how I've been kind of going AWOL as well? I'm going to be signing off very soon for Christmas and taking the time off. I enjoyed it last year and it's nice to refocus. There should be no guilt for what is essentially doing the right thing.

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  14. I'm more intrigued by the fact that there's so many kinds of triangles... :-D Happy holidays, Sue!

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    1. I'm surprised that I remembered any of them - I did have to google to reconfirm what I thought I knew. And happy hols to you too Amanda!

      BTW. Are you planning any trips to the UK at any point?

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  15. Thats so bad! Just goes to show! I hope you gave them what for when returning them! Ax

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  16. the post were very detailed I like it as it was the same sweatshirt I am about to look this winter. I hope 120% Lino USA palm beach branch have one. thanks!

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  17. I think you should write more on this topic.
    Sheer Shirt .

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Susie So So