Splurge or Save: Linen for Spring
Happy Tuesday, ladies. I thought it would be fun to do a price comparison post today with some casual outfits that would fit beautifully into my wardrobe and perhaps a few of yours. I often say great style needn’t be price dependent, and these looks illustrate it.
Many of you live in very hot climates, so you rely on and often reach for lightweight linen, as I do. I know others just can’t get used to the inevitable wrinkles that linen gets and don’t wear it. The wrinkles used to bother me, but it gets so hot where we live that I’ve had to make peace with them.
NEUTRAL SANDALS – HOOP EARRINGS – LINK BRACELET
This look starts with some neutral linen crops, a lightweight crewneck tank top, and a pale aqua linen shirt you could button, or wear open. The hoop earrings and link bracelet add some nice texture. Simple tan sandals and a woven crossbody finish the looks.
NEUTRAL SANDALS – HOOP EARRINGS – LINK BRACELET
The save outfit comes in at $353.00, and the splurge outfit is around $4,168.00. Can you spot the “save” outfit just by looking at the pictures? Was there one piece that tipped you off?
Recreating looks from your own wardrobe is the most cost-effective way to dress, and I hope these inspire you to experiment.
Thanks for reading, and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident, whether it wrinkles or not.
I like linen too until I realized how wrinkly they get even after meticulous ironing! 😫 Any tips? TIA!
It just will wrinkle, so you’d have to get used to it.
Wow! What an amazing comparison! $4,200 vs $350! I can hardly tell the difference!
Thanks, Jennifer. I love to see how a “splurge” look translates to one that gets the same look but is one that saves. I’d really like to see more of these as I have the “splurge” taste but the save” budget.
I’m a long-time J Jill lover but pure linen and the wrinkles would drive me bonkers. I have some of their linen knits from a few years ago and they don’t wrinkle as much. I just purchased a mini steamer so maybe I will look at linen again.
You outdid yourself this time, Jennifer. Congratulations.
I tend to buy on the high end but I’ll take a JJill linen shirt any day over EF. I know I’m in the minority but I’m not a fan of EF. Plus as a tall woman JJill makes clothes that fit a 5’11’ and above female
I know tall ladies struggle a lot. I’ll keep my eyes out more for you.
I love the outfits and yes the jewelry was a give away. I like the JJill shirt because it is longer and can have duster effect and I picked up linen white pants at Talbots yesterday for 40% off. But will head to JJill for shirt but Eileen fisher for tank top. Thank you for the ideas.
The hem on the less expensive pants was the giveaway for me as I used to sew. I don’t know jewelry as I find it hot during the summer months. I do go for the comfortable shoes. My feet demand comfort! This is fun!
Your daughter is lovely and the picture of the two of you is a keeper. I only have four wonderful sons but love their wives like daughters.
You are so blessed!!
Love this blog; so many ideas that I’d never come up with on my own! And wow, your commenters have sharp eyes! I haven’t read your blog for long enough to know if you already do this, but would love to see outfits put together from places like Kohl’s, Penney’s, Target, Costco, or at least incorporating elements from retailers such as those, since in my experience a lot of women do a lot of shopping there.
I’ve heard people say for years that you get used to the wrinkles in linen, but somehow catalogs and photo shoots show the linen in pristine condition. So I’d also love to see an outfit styled in wrinkled linen, to see if it still looks reasonably put-togehter. I’m afraid all those horizontal wrinkles will not be flattering, and I know I don’t want to iron, so I’ve always been reluctant to make the plunge. Thanks for all your wonderful content.
Welcome. My readers are fabulous. I haven’t shared Target for a while so thanks for the reminder. I often share Kohls. You’ll see many candid shots of me in wrinkles.
Nice comparisons, I try to buy a few quality pieces whenever possible, especially when I can divide the payments up, but I do like being able to find budget pieces that are pretty good quality too! Thanks for all you do in helping us find both!
When I spied the Bottega Veneta purse, that was the hint for me! (not that I can afford one!) Both outfits were great – love the colors and the linen for summer.
The choices you made are very attractive…cream pants, pale green shirt, silver jewelry, etc…but the quality of David Yurman jewelry is always a giveaway! I’ve grown frustrated with the quality of some other brands linen shirts and have recently switched to splurging for them from Eileen Fisher. I love the “handkerchief” linen and even the inevitable wrinkles…they just seem so much “softer” to me.
Handkerchief linen feels the softest to me too. I love it.
Re the splurge; the rectangle links in the bracelet and the sandals is what influenced me whereas I prefer the pants in the save version due to their wider hem which I might be tempted to let down to acquire a longer length. (i.e.: Remove the stitching. To prevent raveling, apply a machine running stitch or serge close to unfished/raw edge. Wash gentle cycle/or in launder bag. Air dry to eliminate the re-set of fold line. Then press out the latter blending in any needle/pin holes, then re-hem. Press again. ) -Brenda-
Note: Linen and/or its blend is one of the most forgiving when it comes to such an alteration.
Great advice about how to let that hem down. Thank you Brenda!
You are welcome Jennifer as added it because; I personally prefer my wide leg pants to hit at the bridge of my foot as feel I have more options in footwear but included it in event others might also wish to do it for another reason. -Brenda-
It’s the bag that usually gives it away for me. This one was tough.
I love a good dupe. One way to elevate an outfit is with quality accessories. These don’t need to be designer name brands. If people see a decent quality bag and shoes, they think everything else you wear is the same quality. One good pair of sandals and one good bag (“good” doesn’t mean expensive) carry you through many outfits.
I agree. Quality accessories elevate everything else you wear.
The link bracelet and the handbag tipped me off! Honestly, pure 100% linen is worth the cost, and you can get cheaper. I bought a white linen shirt over twenty years ago at Petite Sophisticate which I still wear!
I’ve been wanting a Bottega Veneta purse for years. I just love and appreciate the quality of the workmanship. I just turned sixty three weeks ago, and I still owe myself a present!
I have linen shirts that are over 20 years old! Quality lasts.