You know what, you're right. I should have said this instead:
It's disappointing to see something from a teenager's store featured on a website aimed toward professional women. Their stuff was poor quality even ten years ago. It's rare in a site like that (corporette, I'm looking at you), so great that you present stuff that crosses the income spectrum, because it makes it fun to shop and brainstom looks but you also typically feature things that are available in a variety of sizes and I've never seen such a sacrifice of quality. This is so limited, and I'm surprised.
(That said; there is nothing like a little negativity early in the morning.)
I wouldn't say it can be worn for years because I do agree that the quality is truly bad. I can vouch for this as I have shopped at Delias. But I do agree that it is a fun piece that can be had for a mere $50 that you can toss out when it falls apart in a few months, without feeling guilty about it. So go ahead, splurge (or not).
I appreciated this choice. I may be a professional woman now, but my money is still tight enough that I can't afford half of the items posted on fashion blogs. So thanks, Belle, for giving affordable options that I actually want to wear!
C-I have two dresses from Delia's and the quality of those pieces is fine. I don't think there much worse than Forever 21 or H&M or Urban Outfitters or ModCloth in that regard. And I'm not sure where I'd fine high quality pieces (esp. jackets) for under $50.
As for the fit, you may be right on that. I didn't see the jacket in person, so I don't know. But that's true of most of the items in the morning post, we're judging by photo alone.
C – Per Tuesday's post, it's Unpaid Intern Week. Almost by definition, any non-accessory item under $75 isn't going to be great quality. Belle is just trying to show that less-expensive clothing can still be fashionable. If you have the means to purchase a 'better' blazer, click the on Shop Style link and shop away.
The petites comment is really unecessary. It's not petite women's fault that they're small any more than it is larger women for being large. Everyone's built differently. I can name dozens of adult, professional, petite women who would jump for joy at the thought of buying a fashionable, inexpensive blazer that won't require serious cash in alterations. And, for reference, I actually can't buy the vast majority of stuff Belle features so I'm thrilled to see something that might fit me.
Several things here- I agree that the majority of us have aged out of Delia's target demographic, and judging from the comments above, their quality is debatable at best. My own personal experience(as someone who hasn't set foot in there in 10 years) is that their quality is horrible, especially for their prices. That leads to the second point- IMHO, when you aren't making any money, $50 is a lot for a blazer that even if it does fit, will probably only last one season. If I was really in love with this blazer, I would either stalk it to watch for it to go on sale (I personally wouldn't pay more than 29.99) or look for a similar blazer at the $50 price point that is better quality. That may be a bigger challenge because you'd really need to watch for sales, but your $50 would be better spent.
I have plenty of items from Delia's that are good quality for what they cost. Like a lot of retailers, they use a variety of vendors, which is why the quality tends to vary. I have a sweater dress from there that I wear in my business casual office on Fridays (when we are more casual than business casual) and I get tons of compliments on it. I've had it for four years and it's held up quite well. Same goes for a sundress I got there several years ago. (I obviously don't wear it to work, but I still wear it with some frequency and typically received compliments on it when I do.) So, I don't think this is “such a sacrifice of quality.”
Additionally, their clothes don't only fit the smallest of people by any stretch of the imagination. I'm an 8 in most stores and wear a medium or a large in Delia's clothing, depending on the item. So, in other words, the same size I wear at the majority of other stores. Their clothes are available in a variety of sizes; anyone from a 0 to at least a 10, maybe a 12 or 14 could wear this blazer. That's a pretty large variety.
And sure, most readers of this website have aged out of the target demographic for Delia's, but that doesn't mean that Delia's doesn't occasionally sell some items that would appeal to us. It's not as if Belle is suggesting we all buy a graphic tee with a Dr. Seuss print!
Ha! Kim – the graphic tee w/ the dr. seuss print is the only Delia's item that I still own :-/ – although it has been relegatted to a sleeping/lounging around home shirt.
Totally agree with becca though, $50 for a somewhat disposable peice of clothing is steep on an unpaid intern budget (or frankly, even on my less-than-well-paid-junior-staffer budget). Would have to check the quality in person, but I would be more inclined to use this is inspiration and head to Goodwill, where with some hunting around I could probably find a (presumably) better quality blazer for $8 (which is what I do with everything posted on CHS).
Fair enough, MM. You probably could find something that is better quality if you search the bins at Goodwill, I am just such an online shopper thatn I never make it to thrift stores, no matter how much I tell myself I am going to!
I realize this is a late comment, but H&M also had a great plaid blazer that was only $20 (https://www.hm.com/gb/product/92370?article=92370-A#article=92370-A) It might be sold out, but it's totally worth it if you can find it. I've worn mine 3 times in the past month alone.
I just ordered this and couldn't be more excited to get it! As a 17-year-old reader, I appreciate this post; not because it's from a clothing brand geared toward teenagers, but because it's actually in my price range!!
Thanks for posting this, Belle. Please feature more affordable pieces like this! Future Hill ladies want in on the fashion, too! 🙂
Delia's? So congratulations to the size 2 and 4 petites who can wear their stuff.
Wow, C, nothing like a little negativity early in the morning.
You know what, you're right. I should have said this instead:
It's disappointing to see something from a teenager's store featured on a website aimed toward professional women. Their stuff was poor quality even ten years ago. It's rare in a site like that (corporette, I'm looking at you), so great that you present stuff that crosses the income spectrum, because it makes it fun to shop and brainstom looks but you also typically feature things that are available in a variety of sizes and I've never seen such a sacrifice of quality. This is so limited, and I'm surprised.
(That said; there is nothing like a little negativity early in the morning.)
I think it's fabulous! Great piece for a great price – can be worn for years to come!
I wouldn't say it can be worn for years because I do agree that the quality is truly bad. I can vouch for this as I have shopped at Delias. But I do agree that it is a fun piece that can be had for a mere $50 that you can toss out when it falls apart in a few months, without feeling guilty about it. So go ahead, splurge (or not).
I appreciated this choice. I may be a professional woman now, but my money is still tight enough that I can't afford half of the items posted on fashion blogs. So thanks, Belle, for giving affordable options that I actually want to wear!
C-I have two dresses from Delia's and the quality of those pieces is fine. I don't think there much worse than Forever 21 or H&M or Urban Outfitters or ModCloth in that regard. And I'm not sure where I'd fine high quality pieces (esp. jackets) for under $50.
As for the fit, you may be right on that. I didn't see the jacket in person, so I don't know. But that's true of most of the items in the morning post, we're judging by photo alone.
C – Per Tuesday's post, it's Unpaid Intern Week. Almost by definition, any non-accessory item under $75 isn't going to be great quality. Belle is just trying to show that less-expensive clothing can still be fashionable. If you have the means to purchase a 'better' blazer, click the on Shop Style link and shop away.
The petites comment is really unecessary. It's not petite women's fault that they're small any more than it is larger women for being large. Everyone's built differently. I can name dozens of adult, professional, petite women who would jump for joy at the thought of buying a fashionable, inexpensive blazer that won't require serious cash in alterations. And, for reference, I actually can't buy the vast majority of stuff Belle features so I'm thrilled to see something that might fit me.
love this blazer!
Several things here- I agree that the majority of us have aged out of Delia's target demographic, and judging from the comments above, their quality is debatable at best. My own personal experience(as someone who hasn't set foot in there in 10 years) is that their quality is horrible, especially for their prices. That leads to the second point- IMHO, when you aren't making any money, $50 is a lot for a blazer that even if it does fit, will probably only last one season. If I was really in love with this blazer, I would either stalk it to watch for it to go on sale (I personally wouldn't pay more than 29.99) or look for a similar blazer at the $50 price point that is better quality. That may be a bigger challenge because you'd really need to watch for sales, but your $50 would be better spent.
I have plenty of items from Delia's that are good quality for what they cost. Like a lot of retailers, they use a variety of vendors, which is why the quality tends to vary. I have a sweater dress from there that I wear in my business casual office on Fridays (when we are more casual than business casual) and I get tons of compliments on it. I've had it for four years and it's held up quite well. Same goes for a sundress I got there several years ago. (I obviously don't wear it to work, but I still wear it with some frequency and typically received compliments on it when I do.) So, I don't think this is “such a sacrifice of quality.”
Additionally, their clothes don't only fit the smallest of people by any stretch of the imagination. I'm an 8 in most stores and wear a medium or a large in Delia's clothing, depending on the item. So, in other words, the same size I wear at the majority of other stores. Their clothes are available in a variety of sizes; anyone from a 0 to at least a 10, maybe a 12 or 14 could wear this blazer. That's a pretty large variety.
And sure, most readers of this website have aged out of the target demographic for Delia's, but that doesn't mean that Delia's doesn't occasionally sell some items that would appeal to us. It's not as if Belle is suggesting we all buy a graphic tee with a Dr. Seuss print!
Ha! Kim – the graphic tee w/ the dr. seuss print is the only Delia's item that I still own :-/ – although it has been relegatted to a sleeping/lounging around home shirt.
Totally agree with becca though, $50 for a somewhat disposable peice of clothing is steep on an unpaid intern budget (or frankly, even on my less-than-well-paid-junior-staffer budget). Would have to check the quality in person, but I would be more inclined to use this is inspiration and head to Goodwill, where with some hunting around I could probably find a (presumably) better quality blazer for $8 (which is what I do with everything posted on CHS).
Fair enough, MM. You probably could find something that is better quality if you search the bins at Goodwill, I am just such an online shopper thatn I never make it to thrift stores, no matter how much I tell myself I am going to!
I realize this is a late comment, but H&M also had a great plaid blazer that was only $20 (https://www.hm.com/gb/product/92370?article=92370-A#article=92370-A) It might be sold out, but it's totally worth it if you can find it. I've worn mine 3 times in the past month alone.
I just ordered this and couldn't be more excited to get it! As a 17-year-old reader, I appreciate this post; not because it's from a clothing brand geared toward teenagers, but because it's actually in my price range!!
Thanks for posting this, Belle. Please feature more affordable pieces like this! Future Hill ladies want in on the fashion, too! 🙂