Inside the Dressing Room: Brands Outlet & Padini

Stepping into a dressing room can feel like a collision between heaven and hell. Some days, you wind up with the best fitting clothes while on other occasions, nothing seems to want to look right on your body.

Last weekend, it was that time of the month to battle with the wrath of the dressing room. I have to admit, like many other girls out there, I indulge in the satisfaction of snapping away (unless there's a mile-long line queuing outside, of course). If you can't have it, at least you've got a photo of it!

I've also recently been watching 'Inside the Dressing Room' vlogs featuring Amanda from Fashion, Love and Martini's. I love the concept but to actually film in our dressing rooms would actually be a challenge. So, photos will have to do for now.

My colleague mentioned that Brands Outlet was having a 'Buy 1 Free 1' sale at only RM69.90 for formal/sheer blouses, so I headed over to the Paradigm outlet for a spin. They had a huge selection of shirts: from casual button-downs to checkered boyfriend shirts to formal blouses. 

I selected a few from the racks, and here's the outcome:

Shirt #1: Sheer cotton blouse with studs on the sleeves and collar.

I loved the flowing material that oozed sophistication yet effortlessly casual for work and play. Fit-wise, it was loose on my body but just right around the arms. The only downer would be the wrinkles that came with the package, which meant more ironing. (insert collective sigh here)

Shirt #2: Formal sheer button down blouse with lined pockets and puffed sleeves

This one looked awesome on the hanger, but when I tried it on, it was a wee bit tight around the boobage area (another collective sigh). Unfortunately, I couldn't go up a size since the largest was XL. A shame, indeed.

Shirt #3: Semi-sheer button down top with electric blue sleeves

Yet another disappointment due to Mr. Boobage there. But I loved the colour combination on this blouse - one of my favourite combos, anytime!

Shirt #4: Black cotton shirt with rolled-up sleeves and tiny buttons down the front

The first thing I noticed when trying this on was the super comfy material! I almost bought it just for that reason. Only...the cutting on the top was slightly off, and if I'd bought it, I would have to fix an extra button between the first and second buttons to avoid looking like a nun (sorry don't think that made any sense but yeah). This was a no-go for me either.

Shirt #5: Electric blue cotton blouse with studs on the sleeves

I can NEVER get enough of this colour. And Mr. Boobage strikes again! The sleeves alone were a definite yes factor. Oh well.

Shirt #6: Casual printed button-down denim-like blouse with functional pockets

Denim is BACK, and here to stay. This blouse looked amazing on the mannequin, and I started playing out all the possible outfit combinations in my head even before entering the dressing room. However, once I put it on, it didn't seem right, and the material was a bit too stuffy for my taste. Loved the print and style though, but this just wasn't meant to be (cue sobbing fest).

My Thoughts:

To sum it up, I picked up the Shirt #1, and almost bought Shirt #4 and #6, but ended up sharing the Buy 1 Free 1 deal with my sister instead. But I couldn't get enough of the shirts, so I went to the Sunway Pyramid outlet and bought 2 more shirts (which may appear in future outfit posts, maybe). 

The only downside would be the limited sizes - the largest size is XL - however, keep searching and you might just find the right cut to flatter your body shape.

Since we're on the topic, I went to Padini a couple of weeks back and snapped up these two blouses! All hail the long-sleeved sheer blouses trend!

Left: Nude sheer formal top with white collar

Right: Semi-casual sweater with sheer coral sleeves (love this!)

My Thoughts:

Unlike Brands Outlet, Padini carries many brands varying in sizes and measurements. These two blouses were from the Seed line, and available in up to Size 10 (not sure about the equivalent in UK or traditional sizing). They also have Buy 2 for RMXX promotions that run from time to time.

Some Dressing Room Tips:

1. Before battling the dressing room, be prepared! Try to wear a black tank top or camisole underneath. Not only will this be more sanitary - it will give you an idea of the coverage you need for sheer tops/low cut dresses.
2. Keep it bare! Remove all earrings, jewellry and accessories to avoid snag and tear incidents.

Well, we've reached the end of my first Inside the Dressing Room (Plus Size Edition) post. Let me know what you think about this series, and hope to see you around soon!

Till then, stay gorgeous!

xoxo

Mabel