Organic Cotton Blazer

I’ve just been through a torturous process trying to purchase an Eileen Fisher sweatshirt-like knit tweedy blazer. I’ve been wearing EF for decades but hadn’t made a recent purchase til this fall. In the meantime, something has changed with EF sizing. While many brands are going oversized, EF seems to be headed a little less so, in my recent experience. So EF sizing changes played a role in my shopping and purchasing problems, but the main culprit was poor fulfillment and unprofessional execution by Nordstrom. Besides shifting EF sizing, I experienced inconsistent lumping of different items under the same Nordstrom online ad and at the same time, sloppy Nordstrom processing of goods. Multiple weird things happened while I was just trying to buy this blazer, but I’m glad I kept trying, because the third time I finally got what I wanted. I am very familiar with this soft, stretchy sweatshirt-y line of EF pieces. I’ve had several over the years, and loved them all. This time, the first version I bought was a size XS in speckled black, the color I thought I liked the best. I have one of these, but stained the lapel with something white I can’t remove. Toothoaste?? Yes, I can be sloppy, too. #1.) Re the black XS blazer on sale, I got the last one on Nordstrom Rack at a great price. What was delivered, though, was a mesh polyester “blazer” that wasn’t even Eileen Fisher. Ugh! #2.) I tried again with a navy version in XXS. I have plenty of EF items in this size that fit me fine, including a sweater-knit charcoal gray EF blazer from a few years ago. So, I didn’t suspect there would be a problem—but there was. I could wear the navy XXS as kind of a shrunken look jacket with a thin T or tank, but it didn’t give me the “throw over anything” flexibility I wanted. Also, the material used for the navy version I was sent was definitely an improvement over the weird black mesh, but was nothing like the thick tweedy sweatshirt-like fabric I was expecting. On the surface, it looked like the online picture with a mix of dark blue and black, but the fabric was far thinner than the sweatshirt-like stuff. More like a thinner, textured knit. Not a keeper. I was unsatisfied with size XXS, and by that point had received some long and 3/4 sleeve EF knit tees in XXS in other purchases that were so tight they were unwearable. There were no more size XS blazers. #3.) The last time I purchased size Small in EF, the items ended up far too large at a time I was 20 lbs heavier than I am now. So, when a size Small in ash grey showed up on Nordstrom.com at a higher price point than I paid Nordstrom Rack, I hesitated. My other concern was the ash grey shade—not usually a good color on me. Historically, I do better in charcoal grey. My skin is very fair with cool undertones. Very cool colors like pale grey and lavender are not the best on me, but I have been letting my hair go grey, and right now it’s pretty salt and pepper-y. I decided to go for it, hoping for the best with tweedy textural interest, my ability to layer with color and some type of salt and pepper solidarity with my hair! Also, there was the financial angle to think about. I had begun to consider a French Terry mini peacoat from Frank and Eileen at well over twice the price I was spending on the EF piece on sale. Since at that point I had experienced smaller EF sizing in multiple items, I decided to hold my nose, cross my fingers, and try the size Small with just one more transaction…. …and I’m so glad I did! The size Small blazer is boxy and larger on me, but not obnoxiously so. It’s just what I wanted! I can pull it over my tee and cashmere sweater and still look pulled together, and not appear stuffed tight. This process has been drawn out and I feel my time, cash flow, and energy were wasted dealing with the incorrect item Nordstrom Rack sent initially, purchasing three items just to get the one I wanted, and trying to understand EF sizing shifts. Nordstrom, while a little of this is EF, most of the problems were caused by messed up Nordie business processes. You will never be Amazon, so please don’t lose your manners trying to chase their shadow. And above all, please, please don’t torture your customers!