More Zara: the silver knit top upsized & more

So, while ordering silver jeans to try, I also tried a larger size in that knit top outfit (skirt was the right size) and threw in more things to try as well.

I'm not decided on any of it and would value your thoughts and opinions. Thanks in advance!

First, the knit top/ skirt outfit. I like the top much better in this size. Worn as a dress and then the skirt dressed down. This is inexpensive and might be quite versatile because I could wear the items as separates. I wouldn't wear the skirt in high summer (it is lined, so would be too warm then) but I can see wearing it the rest of the year.

Next, a silvery cardigan. I thought it might be the same material as the skirt set, but it's not exactly the same. Very similar, though. Subtle sparkle. I can see wearing this all year but especially as a topper in summer. I didn't really style it intentionally here -- just threw it on over what I was wearing (old blouse and GAP jeans I was trying on as well).  

Then, an asymmetrical navy skirt. It is a fairly substantial knit. I somehow wasn't expecting it to be knit (didn't read the description carefully, I guess) and at first I thought I'd send it straight back. But trying it on with a few items, I'm not so sure...it looks like it could be pretty useful. Very easy and casual. Incidentally, in a couple of photos I am wearing it with a boxy blouson T-shirt I got from Zara years ago. Some of their stuff has real staying power in my closet, say what you like about fast fashion. 

Finally, the cotton dress Christina got for Morocco. I love love love the Marimekko-like pattern on this and the beautiful fabric. It's lovely cotton that barely even wrinkles! Alas, it truly overwhelms me, as you can see. I might be able to size down (worth a thought?) And/or I could potentially alter. Changes I might make include fixing the neckline so it is not such a low V and hemming a few inches. Or, I could just forget about it, LOL. 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts! 

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37 Comments

  • ChristelJ replied 11 months ago

    Oh wow, the knit top in this size looks wonderful! Love the whole set. Love the silvery cardigan too! The skirt is very cool and you have great tops to go with it already. And the gorgeous print dress- can you size down? I hope so.

  • Angie replied 11 months ago

    I CAN"T GET PAST THE ELEGANCE of the silver set in pic #1

    KILLER to the Power of KILLER :) 

    Beautiful with the new sandals! WOW. 

    I'll be back.....

  • replied 11 months ago

    Plonk re: silver set!

  • Indigoprint replied 11 months ago

    That silver set is too good.

  • Kate replied 11 months ago

    The silver set and cardigan are winners. The dress is pretty, so worth trying a size down.

  • Dee replied 11 months ago

    Wowza on the silver set #1, new size top is perfect, I think the silver cardigan looks good and probably would work seamlessly with your wardrobe, same with the navy asymmetrical skirt, you’ve got tops that look great with it already.
    Maybe the dress in a smaller size might look less overwhelming on you, or is it the size of the pattern print too that contributes to this?

  • Angie replied 11 months ago

    Love the silver cardigan too!

    The skirt styled in #9 is outstanding! KILLER. Try it with your new Scotch & Soda denim jacket :)

    Dress has great potential! Try a size down.

    Zara has been very good to you this season! Me too, actually....

  • Suz replied 11 months ago

    Thanks, Angie! I will definitely try the blue skirt with the Scotch and Soda jacket. And other stuff in the closet. The skirt basically goes with everything I own for tops (examples below) so finding options won't be an issue. 

    I'll see about the dress in a smaller size...

    So glad there's love for the silver set. Thanks to Jenni and others who encouraged me to try the size up in the top. 

  • LJP replied 11 months ago

    I LOVE the navy skirt - that’s a must- keep . Silver cardi is nice too , and the size up in the top makes all the difference . I am not such a fan of the dress on you - it’s just a lot . I understand the love of the print though !

  • Carol replied 11 months ago

    I get overwhelmed by returns, correct sizes, etc. But I just made my first return using USPS pick up...now I see it is possible!

    That navy skirt is smart, looks great in all photos. Looks like what Nancy Drew would wear, or someone playing tennis in The Great Gatsby.  

  • Jaime replied 11 months ago

    Agree with Angie (and probably everyone) that the first skirt set is amazing! Love it full stop. I like the navy skirt but am slightly dubious of the longevity of a knit Zara skirt. Somehow the weight of it makes me feel like it might not hold its shape. But I agree that some fast fashion pieces hold up remarkably well, and I can't assess the quality from here. Anyway, love the pattern on the dress but maybe size down? Or embrace the volume. (I need more coffee clearly!)

  • LJP replied 11 months ago

    Btw - are the new silver sandals from Zara ? I’m on an “urgent “ mission to find some metallic sandals that aren’t too casual .

  • Suz replied 11 months ago

    Thanks, all. 

    LJP, the sandals are Naturalizer. I got them on sale. But I think the sale ended (sob). I'll do another shoe review of all my (many!!) new purchases soon. These seem good, though, and they come in about a zillion colours and probably gold is one of them. 

    Jaime, good point about the skirt. When I say it is knit, it is...hmmm. Not jersey like a t-shirt. More of a scuba kind of knit. Not loopy but smooth -- not as heavy as a ponte but something like that. So I think it might indeed last. (Also, it is crazy inexpensive, so there is that...) 

    The silver outfit is a much more fragile knit that I worry my cat might destroy. However, I think I'm ok with the risk -- the price is right, the outfit is lovely as a 2 piece and easy to incorporate as separates into my closet. So...

    Dee, I am considering the size down in the dress. It won't hurt to try it, right? The fabric is gorgeous, though I do agree the pattern/ colours might overwhelm me on their own even if the sizing were better. But I feel like it is worth a try since shipping and returns are no cost to me. 

    Kate, Indigoprint, suntiger, Christie, thank you! 

    And again, I really have to thank Jenni and a few others for urging me to try the top in a size up. It definitely makes all the difference! 

  • Echo replied 11 months ago

    I adore the silver set and the asymmetrical skirt; they are beautiful, flattering and versatile. I also love the dress, but it does swallow you up a bit. Iit is better with the belt, and I think it might be even better in a size down.

  • SarahD8 replied 11 months ago

    WOW I love the silver skirt set!!! Just stunning on you as a set and I really adore the dressed down looks. The cardi is good too and I suspect the navy skirt will turn into an instant workhorse.

    In comparison to those other pieces the dress underwhelms. (It has been SO interesting this spring to see the same dresses on different forum members and how one dress may be just right for one person and not quite for another.) Worth trying in a size down since orders/returns are easy for you -- but I wonder if the palette here is a little warm for you?

  • Jenni NZ replied 11 months ago

    Suz you’re just the kindest person! I stand by what I said before, that you look like a princess in that silver set! So happy you tried a size up. Now you need a headband like the Princess of Wales and her daughter wore to the coronation!
    The silver cardigan is so pretty too. I like the knit skirt with the blue/green “line shirt” best.
    And find the dress too big and overwhelming :(

  • Sal replied 11 months ago

    The silver set is stunning - I was a nay in the smaller top size but a huge yay here! I also like the silver cardigan - such a useful topper - and the blue skirt looks like a great completer - if you are a wholehearted yay!

    I love the dress - but don’t know that it’s quite right. It’s overwhelming - and I wonder if it’s not just the size. Maybe just too much of a stretch from your Kibbe essence - not that I totally go down that path but I do a little bit.

  • Brooklyn replied 11 months ago

    Love the silver set!

    I personally think the cardigan is a bit meh. You can see through it, which would limit its use. Plus I wonder whether you are over influenced by the colour and overlooking the silhouette.

    Love the asymmetrical skirt (of course).

    Love the print dress, especially with the belt. It’s different for you. I think you should try a size down.

    All just my opinion of course. Your opinion is the one that counts.

  • Katerina replied 11 months ago

    The silver set looks sensational on you, wow! I also love the navy skirt and the cardi. You look stunning in these, gorgeous. Absolute keepers, imo.

    I like the dress - both the pattern and the style, but it overwhelms you a little. Maybe it is the size - agree on trying to size down. The scale and high contrast of the pattern might also contribute, though. Or maybe it is just that I am not used to see you in similar styles.

  • pirouette replied 11 months ago

    Love the silver skirt and top it looks fantastic on you. I saw it in the shop on display model and it didn’t look great but it is amazing on you.

  • Janet replied 11 months ago

    I love the silver set! Totally fab. I’d try that top but that sleeve style is awkward on me. Navy skirt is great too.

    I like the pattern of the dress but it seems a bit overwhelming on you. I found some recent Zara dresses to be really tent-like and just couldn’t make the fit work (that sleeveless striped number that Angie posted was close but no matter the size it didn’t work for me). I’d say try a size down just to see if it works better, but my experience was that I was trying too hard to make a problematic cut work. Dresses this year are so far a strikeout for me. :-(

  • CarolS replied 11 months ago

    More love for the silver set, and now I'm wondering if that skirt could work for me, even if the top won't....

    The silver cardigan seems like a natural fit for your closet, too. 

    I also really like the navy asymmetrical skirt. It has a cheeky classic/edgy/arty mix that puts me in mind of the plaid tulle skirt. 

  • catherine replied 11 months ago

    Seems like you already have a lot of input here, and I’ll add mine. #1, 5, 10, and 12 are my favorites. All are lovely on you, though. Thanks so much for posting these outfits.

  • Irina replied 11 months ago

    Yes, the set is definitely a keeper, looks wonderful. 

    I saw this cardigan in a store and not a fan, sorry. I was looking to possibly add it to my holiday capsule but it is too thin, imo. 
    I added this dress to my online cart more than once, love the print. Looks a bit too big. No opinion on skirt, no idea on quality of fabrics. 

  • phoebe replied 11 months ago

    The first outfit really overshadows the rest haha, you look fantastic

  • LJP replied 11 months ago

    I agree with Brooklyn’s thoughts on the silver cardigan . I too was maybe swayed by the colour without looking at the bigger picture .

  • Angie replied 11 months ago

    FWIW, here's a thought:

    I envisaged the silver cardigan as something that could layer well over sleeveless tops or a sleeveless dress - to amp up the sheerness of it. Make it a feature. Subtle allure, IYKWIM. If you like that idea. Could be awfully pretty! I had one of those in the '90s that was gold and wore it that way. Brings back memories :) 

  • Suz replied 11 months ago

    Thanks, all, for the input -- super helpful! 

    Re the cardigan -- yes, that is actually how I envisioned wearing it, too, Angie -- with sleeveless items, mostly white or ecru. Playing up the sheerness while also offering coverage for cool breezes. But you know what? I think I will do another try on session with it and see if I actually have as many uses for it IRL as I have for it in my imaginary life LOL. Like, am I ever going to wear that sleeveless white top with anything that will go with the cardigan? Or is the cardigan just going to hang in the closet like a silvery spectre? 

    Meanwhile, the dress. I think I am just going to send it back. Much as I adore the pattern and the colours, I think they are just too much for me overall (they wear me, not the reverse) and a size down would likely be too narrow in the shoulders (though the fit would be better elsewhere.) I may pop into Zara in person when I'm next in Vancouver in a couple of weeks and if they happen to have the size down in stock I can put it on and see...but as others have said, if I have to try so hard to make it work (shorten it, adjust the neckline, etc. etc.) it's probably not the item for me. 

    I'm going to check the fabric again on the asymmetrical skirt and consider how cross seasonal it is. Can I also wear in winter with tights/ boots? How far into the warm temps is is wearable? Those are the questions I'll be asking myself. It's pretty much perfect for the weather we are having today (so, transitional spring and fall weather -- which we do get a fair bit of, each year). With tights, it might work in cool fall/ cool spring and even winter. But it's not good for highest summer. 

    Thank you all so much for the help on this. For sure I will keep the silver set and very probably the asymmetrical skirt as well. 

  • Bijou replied 11 months ago

    LJP captured my thoughts exactly! I am glad that you are not bothering with the dress, it is overwhelming on you. #1 and #9 are WOW and set the bar very high.

  • Sisi replied 11 months ago

    I agree that the patterned dress overwhelmes you but except for this, you look fab! So many beautiful outfits, I cannot pick a favourite. I like very much the outfits with the skirt and you inspire me to wear my black long  skirt in new ways.

  • Laurie replied 11 months ago

    Very late to add my compliments and comments. You look SO beautiful in the silver set, Suz! And I also love that asymmetrical skirt, and how you've styled it. Can't wait to see you model it with all of the top options you listed.

  • RobinF replied 11 months ago

    I love that silver set in #1! It is a wow! The cardigan and skirt seem nice but it is hard to tell what the fabric is like, I like the shapes of them. The dress is definitely too much for you in my opinion. Very overwhelming. Too bad because it is a fun print. 

  • lyn67 replied 11 months ago

    Killer silver set, wow! Then, I like the dark asymmetric skirt, too-and the dress would be also great to try it in a size down perhaps.  But I'm not convinced on the cardi, yet...

    ETA1. I see I missed an older post of You when showing us the STRIPED LINEN BLEND SHIRT DRESS WITH BELt from  Zara, unfortunatelly. Can I ask which color is accuratelly for the dress, the one which shows up in your own picties (a cool baby blue-like distressed denim) or the one on theirs' webpage (which I find more a complex  turquoise). Thnax for the kind answer, Suz.

    ETA2. OH, and I recently bought the same white and navy wallpaper floral cotton shirt dress which You and Angie have already, so proud to be in such a great companion!!!!happy dance:-)).

    (May I add-and I said it on Angie's thread, too- I bought a very similar printed dress last year from Zara-and returned because I felt overwhelmed by the print somehow  BUT it only occured me now (seeing  the new version in person) that the real dealbreaker was rather the fabric+print combo, The last year's version  was a crepe-so more dressy (for when I would rather preffer a more subdued print) but the new dress is a thin cotton-and much more casual-hope will be able to embrace on myself as I LOVE it.) 

  • Suz replied 11 months ago

    Lyn-- dress triplet, yay!! I'm sure it looks fab on you! It is nice and airy, isn't it? 

    The dress on the older post is more of the baby blue -- not turquoise (at least not the one that i tried.) 

  • LJP replied 11 months ago

    For lack of a better place to comment on this ….,there is a great little silver knit top at Anthro right now . They call it a muscle tee - but it’s basically a tank with a moderately extended shoulder . I thought of you the minute I saw it .

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 11 months ago

    The first outfit is stunning. You are ready to go somewhere fancy, if you want. Or not! I could see that silver cardigan being super versatile. Silver is a neutral, and it could go over any sleeveless piece in the summer. Especially if you have on your silver sandals or sneakers. I'll be interested to see what you think after looking through your wardrobe.

  • rachylou replied 11 months ago

    The first outfit is brilliant. The skirt looks useful and easy but not if you’ll pardon me exciting. But not everything should be. Agree the patterned dress is overwhelming you.

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