Dressing Room Diaries Early Summer at Eileen Fisher
I walked into a joyous riot of color at my local Eileen Fisher store. It was bustling with activity, and the dressing rooms were full. I’ve been shopping at Eileen Fisher for over 25 years, and the more things change, the more they stay the same. She still makes the same timeless shapes in fabulous fabrics…and now in increasingly gorgeous colors. This was a small try-on of the early summer collection, and I’ll head back for an update soon.
A dressing room diary is when I go into a local store for a try-on session to show you what’s new and how it looks on a woman over 25. For reference, I am 5’4″ and weigh around 147 lbs. I have broad shoulders, straight hips, a long torso, and long arms. I often buy one size larger on top. I mention what size I’m wearing to help you understand how things run. Eileen Fisher designs are available online in a full range of sizes, from XXS to 3X, and most are now available in petite. Her pieces run large, so I always usually size down. I love that most of her fabrics are organic, and I have high regard for their sustainable practices and B-Corp rating.
This cotton poplin shirt is one or two sizes too large for me, but I wanted to style it because I love its crisp feel for summer. It also comes in a red, emerald, and black color. This is a great classic piece to wear with a pair of jeans or pants or even to tie at the waist over a tank dress. They also make a poplin shirt in this collarless version here and a longer length one here that would work well over leggings or slim-leg pants.
I’m wearing it over one of my favorite colors this spring, Aegean. These organic linen lantern pants come in 4 great colors. They’re a pull-on style and with pockets, which I always love in pants and skirts. Some lantern pants are very full, but these have a slimmer silhoutte and are easier to wear. The simple pima cotton tee has short sleeves. It comes in comes in 8 colors this summer and is a silky smooth cotton that feels elevated.
I’m a big fan of Eileen’s Bone shade because it seems to match my hair so well. I have this washed silk blouse in Bone, and love it’s soft appearance. It pairs well with white, gray, taupe, blue, black…just about any other color in my wardrobe. This long organic cotton sweater has high side slits that come almost to the waist, allowing you to get into those pockets I love :). I think this would be fabuous over their washable crepe pants.
I’m wearing it over these wide leg cotton blend pants that have a beautiful feel and are opaque. So many white pants have a sheer quality, so I like to call out the ones that don’t. They’re ponte fabric that feels substantial but wil be cool in the warm weather. They also come in black.
This ocean color is one of my favorites. It’s a dusty blue with gray undertones. The fabric of this puckered linen is a yarn died check in shades of ocean and black. It’s crinkled texture means the wrinkles are less noticable and it’s much softer to the touch than other linen. I loved it!
The sleeveless shirt has a totally classic shape and the pants have a slight lantern shaped leg. They also make this fabric in this tapered leg, if lantern isn’t your thing. They also make some great shorts in the puckered linen. You can see more of their puckered linen here.
I topped these with a organic cotton cord, crochet like, top that’s airy and so fun. They have a lot of things in this cool fabric this year which is a perfect topper for warm days.
These cotton poplin pants are sooo fun! These are slim through the hips then widen to a wide leg. They’re a pull-on style with slash pockets. These also come in soft pale gray. The poplin is airy any floaty which would be very cool in the summer. I also spotted this poplin skirt pant which is amazing!
The cotton voile shirt is buttery soft with a light puckery weave and a lovely drape. It’s a classic shape that fits close to the shoulders and is slightly wider at the hem. It also comes in white which is very pretty.
Eileen is excelling at great fabrics this season, and her lofty cotton gauze is no exception. These gauze pants have a classic straight leg and pull-on style that are as comfy as your PJ’s. They also come in white and a pale, soft gray called Nimbus, which is lovely for summer. These have a full-length leg, YAY, so the petite is perfect for me with a 27.5″ inseam.
I’m wearing them with a simple linen tee, and this washed linen shirtdress. The shirtdress is fitted through the shoulders with high slits at the side. The slits may make this more open than some ladies like for a dress, so it’s perfect to layer. It also comes in Coriander green.
Are you wearing more color this summer?
Thanks for reading and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident and gives you joy.
Great review! I love luxurious fabric, which makes me want every thing EF this season. So far, I’ve only brought home a couple dresses (the washed linen shirt dress you tried and a crushed silk tiered tank in flame). But this post makes me want more, including the poplin shirt. Am I crazy to think that it would be fun to wear it tied at the waist over the silk tiered dress for a more casual look?!
Not crazy at all. She makes an obi type belt but any title would work. The poplin is very soft and malleable. I own the longer version of the linen dress and love how soft it is.
I think I need to try some of these Eileen Fisher items! So pretty!
I also wear a lot of EF. I mix and match petite and regular. Their ankle length lantern pants in regular sizes fit me (5’2 1/2”) as full length without having to hem them. I loved her shorter boxy tops , but I haven’t seen them this season. Drat! I even have a few of her dresses and I usually hate dresses.
I have both petite and reg for her pants, so I like to mix and match too
I want to love EF pieces because of her sustainability and B-Corp status but then I try things on. I find her clothing too shapeless and voluminous on me, no matter how much I size down. Such lovely fabrics and colours but just not my style.
It’s all in choosing the right pieces for your shape and the fit you like.
I always like Eileen Fisher Tees. So soft and not too tight or too long.
Oh I bit on the Agean but as a winter I only like it in linen. It’s a bit warmer in cotton and other fabrics. I also love the Atlantis blue. Both just pop against pure white for that contrast a winter needs. I will always fall for one of “my” colors! I have recently circled back to EF after having a chance to visit a store and figure out my correct size. Sometimes styling head to toe EF is a bit much but I’m enjoying mixing these pieces in with other things!
I love how it pops against white too!
I have also worn Eileen Fisher clothes for many years. I had a number of their very pretty linen boxy jackets and loose pants in suits. They were my favorite business suits for the summer. I even wore them to my mother’s viewing and funeral, the lavender and a lovely green.
Unfortunately I don’t think many of the clothing is flattering on shorter women. I am also 5’4 and rarely wear their clothes anymore. I feel I am too short, the clothes are designed for tall, willowy women.
It’s all about the proportions you choose. She has many pieces that are closer to the body which work for shorter women.
If I could love an object, EF’s poplin shirts would make the list. My white shirt is entering its fourth summer and still on regular rotation. I know that I could spend less on cotton poplin, but have never found shirts that give me the “oversized” look without being swamped and that soften so nicely with each wash. I’ve got to pick up the green while still available. The white linen ripple shirt, from earlier this spring, is really nice, too.
I couldn’t have described their cotton poplin better! It’s just fabulous. Her fabrics are really a cut above.