...and honestly...I'm underwhelmed. I knew this fabric came from the Fall 2008 Collection. I knew this because I'm a freaky Style.com junkie and several of the pieces from her line caught my eye. I recognized the blue boucle right away...
...so why am I underwhelmed...the quality of the fabrics. I really thought that Vera used a better quality fabric than what my fingers are feeling. If you flipped to the style.com link, you will see that fabric.com has an amazing amount of the fabric from the Fall 2008 collection.
Now back to the quality, it's not bad! And I won't return it...it's just mediocre...average...nothing special. Will it make interesting garments...yes, I think so...with a little help and some great finishing techniques. Will I keep the pieces...yes...especially since my daughter has already absconded with this piece
to make a dress for her cousin's wedding. But have I purchased superior fabric for less money...yes, most definitely. Would I encourage you to buy it...mmmmmm...not at the prices currently shown on the website...but yes, just at a deeper discount than the 35% off that I paid for it.
Now here's the $25,000 question, "Do I regret purchasing it?" No, not at all. For two reasons, one the white cotton stretch pique is absolutely awesome...I would pay the full price of $6.98 per yard for it. I know the boucle will grow on me...ideas are already popping in my head. The green "vintage" piece will need to sit in the closet and wait for an amazing idea to really make it sing, the yellow lace will become a part of the yellow wardrobe that I'm presently working on and the other pieces will be warehoused for future use. Yes all of that is reason one!
Reason two is that I've learned something about the Lavendar line. It is a mid-priced line using less than stellar fabrics and I will remember that in the future when perusing Vera's goods. Now for the disclaimer! *LOL* This is just my opinion and not meant to disparage either Vera Wang's designs or Fabric.com. I just have a particular idea of the types of fabrics I want to use for creating garments. It's just that I thought these were the top shelf goods instead of the mid-range goods.
I would love to hear what others thought of the pieces they purchased. It will be interesting to hear about your expectations versus the actuality of what you received.
Tomorrow...a finished garment post! And don't forget coming soon the post by my daughter!!!
Thanks for your honest opinion on the fabrics. I have been wondering if I should order some as there has been such excitement in the blog world about this sale. However as I have to take postage to Australia into account, I really need to know it is worth it!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to seeing what you make from your pieces.
Well, from the photo I like what you bought. Can you bring swatches next week for show-and-tell? This to me is the downside of ordering online--you can't always be sure of what you'll get.
ReplyDeleteI am trying not to purchase any more fabric for the moment. After seeing your posts and perusing the sale I almost ordered but stopped myself as I was typing in my address. So glad I did after reading this!
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm not surprised. I've been doing alterations on her things for years and the quality has been progressively deteriorating. Her stuff from 10 years ago was beautiful and she did thing in RTW that really should have been couture. I still like her designs, but the quality of the fabric she uses and the workmanship in the dresses in not what it used to be. Bummer!
ReplyDeleteMs C, that right there is probably the biggest reason I haven't purchased fabric online. Yet.
ReplyDeleteWhen you're in the store you know EXACTLY what youre getting. You can hem and haw for 40mins with the bolt in the cart, ask you husband 50million times if he thinks it's worth the price, make your way alllll the way to the cutting table then change your mind. Lol well that's my process, anyway. I enjoy that process.
Shopping online I'm going to lose that and I also
may end up underwhelmed once it's reached me.
I will eventually get my online fabric buying cherry popped, but I'll do so with fear and trembling. LOL
I like the floral print, it screams fall.
Thanks for sharing this. I had the same experience many years ago when I bought a Donna Karan bundle from Michaels, and since then, I've been wary of these designer fabrics when they come up from time to time.
ReplyDeletewow, I'm sorry it was so underwhelming/disappointing. Hmm, from the photo, they look great, so interesting that the quality is not up to par
ReplyDeleteCaroline - I totally agree. I ordered the boucle as well and was surprised at how thick it was - more coat weight than suit weight. The picture of the finished suit on the runway showed a suit jacket with an intricate collar treatment and a slim skirt. I wanted to duplicate that but wonder how I will get the fabric to behave for the collar treatment and what my rear view will be with fabric this thick made into a straight skirt.
ReplyDeleteI really don't need another coat as I made three this year - so I guess the fabric will age a little until inspriation strikes.
Years ago I did buy some truely Pendelton wool from fabric.com and keep hopeing the quality would be as good with every order since then - once in a while it is.
Love your blog - comments and great garments - I am a faithful follower and sometimes copy cat - keep up the great work and thanks for the inspiration.
Pat E
Hmmm, too bad. My pieces are on their way, so we'll see how they do. I'll let you know.
ReplyDeleteI just recieved three pieces of the poly luxe knit in the colection. It has a nice hand and is pretty but I would not have bought it if I saw it in a store. Kinda of light weight. But the colors are beautiful. So will use it for some shirts or light weight dresses. I'm pleased but not over joyed.
ReplyDeleteJust opened up my box . . . the blue boucle has a little different "hand" than I expected, but I think it might be fun in the new McCalls 5939 coat pattern. The rayon/cotton stretch twill is gorgeous -- dark green, VERY dark green, I'm thinking the new McCalls 5934 skirt pattern. And I'm very pleased with the silk twill "scratches" fabric -- this will make a very stunning outfit one of these days! Bottom line: another satisfied internet fabric shopper!
ReplyDeleteWhile I couldn't justify buying more fabric that would not have home when it got to my house, I am not surprised at your reaction to the Vera Wang fabric. She is primarily a wedding dress designer and I don't find her RTW to be that interesting or special, especially the fabrics. I find them to be more "average". Even if you look at her line at Kohl's, it's no different than any no name line -- nothing that screams "Vera!" I have that same reaction to her Lavender line. Perhaps this is what they had to do to cut costs? You do sound a lot like me -- when I'm underwhelmed with a purchase, I just tuck it away. Usually when I go back to that fabric, I see it with new eyes -- something about expectations and all. I do love the fabrics that you purchased. I probably would have gotten some myself, but my Anna Sui silks may have gotten upset.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to buy some... but controlled myself. I'm glad now.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I hate buying online. I need to touch it, drape it and look at it in person.
I wish I could remember where I read it, but it doesn't take much for a fabric to be labeled "from ____ design house." Many,many buyers work for these design houses and bring in bolts for approval in the new line. Many of them are rejected for a variety of reasons. Oftentimes, these "rejects" are the ones that make it into our beloved online stores. So, even those these fabrics may LOOK like the ones used in the line, they may not be the exact same fabrics. Even still, they WERE picked by the same buyers who pick what actually does go into the line, so you usually get some great fabrics. Things like this don't discourage me from buying on line, I'm just not usually impressed when it says its from a certain design house.
ReplyDeleteI considered purchasing after reading your post. But then decided against it, I was still trying to make room for other fabrics I'd purchased.
ReplyDeleteI haven't received my package yet, but with my beginner experience level, maybe I won't be as underwhelmed as you. Now I am even more anxious to see what I ordered! I'll report back either here or on my blog.
ReplyDeleteOh and thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving that sweet comment! You made my day Carolyn. :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Unless it is a super adorable print fabric, I have trouble buying online. It is so different when it is in your hands!
ReplyDeleteFrom the pics, they look great. I love, love the floral that your daughter has now! Lucky girl!
I purchased two pieces of the wool jersey after I got the 20% off coupon. I think that the Anna Sui silks from Fabric Mart we bought for linings were a much better deal. Especially when they put them on sale! It wasn't a fortune, so I'll see when it gets here. I saw a dress from her collection in a magazine yesterday and the price was $295. To get that price at retail they have to use cheaper fabrics.
ReplyDeleteI am waiting for my first purchase from fabric.com., some black wool jersey. I can't but it where i live at my local JoAnn,s. I have had good luck buying from fashion fabrics club.com If you don't like it you can return it.But I can't resist any fabric, even if its not top notch.
ReplyDeleteUmmm Carolyn, you own enough fabric for the starting inventory of a independent fabric store. You are like a fabric guru. I trust your opinion... if you say it, it must be true! Thanks for the heads up. I like to know what I'm getting!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your Thursday blog and finding the 25% off coupon, I purchased nine yards; this is the first time I ever browsed and ordered from this online store. At this point I am worried and wished I would have passed. :-(
ReplyDeleteI have ordered from Fabric.com for years. For the first time, I actually returned a piece of fabric - from the Vera Wang collection. I was sooo excited and ended up, like you, being underwhelmed. There was only one piece that I loved - a simple jersey knit in cream. The rest was all right but no big deal even with the 35% total that was discounted. I'll use the fabric that I kept but I certainly did not get a great bargain!
ReplyDeleteYou know, that is why I get scared buying fabric online. I'm super sensory and have to touch and feel everything before purchasing. I can count on one hand the number of times I've bought fabric online. From what I can see you got some good prints. Sorry to hear it wasn't exactly what you expected. I know you will produce fabulousity with it though.
ReplyDeleteMine arrived yesterday. I bought the "scratches" silk twill and two pieces of jersey - all were really nice, especially the jerseys! I'm sorry you were underwhelmed but I know you'll make some faboo pieces out of it anyway!
ReplyDeleteMaybe some of this fabric is from her line of clothes she does for Kohl's?
ReplyDeleteI have been working on a 1994 wedding gown by Vera Wang and the detail inside leaves much to be desired...I have had to explain to the client that a famous name means nothing when a seamstress opens her garment and finds flaws and then is expected to make it better than new. I only hope that Vera has gotten better in her wedding line and not taken so many shortcuts.
I purchased some of her jersey from Fabric.com and loved it - it has a great feel and drape, but was actually too nice for the project I had in mind! I didn't get anything else from her collection so I can't speak for any of the other fabrics. Thanks for sharing your experience!
ReplyDeleteI got my fabrics yesterday and I still haven't decided whether to keep them. The "vintage" green one is more teal than I expected, but its pretty soft--I think I just didn't have a good idea what I wanted to do with that piece when I bought it. I agree that I've bought things from brick and mortar stores I've regretted, and I like that you can often return things online. Thanks for sharing your fabric experience, opinions, and enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteI was also somewhat underwhelmed with this fabric collection. I'm beginning to understand why it is so challenging to find high quality clothes at a low price. I was amazed to see that dresses made from these fabrics sell for $250+ Puts a new perspective on the value of sewing your own. I have a love/hate relationship with Fabric.com. On the one hand, I loooove that shipping is free over $35, and that they offer free returns. On the other hand, the quality of fabrics leaves MUCH to be desired. I would also appreciate it if they developed a more standardized method of describing their fabrics, such as stating oz/yard and Pantone color references.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Carolyn....I ordered when the notice first came out and was "ho-hum" when my fabrics arrived. Lesson learned and I will use it...just expected more from a designer. But based on other comments, I should have considered the quality since this is not her top of the line stuff. Good and not too pricey of a lesson learned.
ReplyDelete