With the whirlwind of Mercedez-Benz NY Fashion Week behind us I finally have time to share my thoughts on the Kardashian Kollection for Sears. You may recall that I really liked the collection after promo photos from the line were unveiled back in August. But of course, we all know that clothes can present well in photographs (especially after they’ve been touched up to death) so I was eager to visit Sears and check out the line for myself.
If you’ve been keeping up with the blog you’ve seen me highlight select pieces over the last couple weeks. Overall, I’m pretty impressed with the collection. There were some pieces that really worked for me, and a couple others were a hot mess on me. The issue was never quality – it essentially came down to body type and what was flattering for my figure. Let’s begin, shall we?
1) Kardashian Kollection Womens Peak Shoulder Blazer
I loved this look on Kourtney as well as Kim Kardashian. I decided to experiment with the versatility of the piece by dressing it both up and down. So at the Qream Liqueur & Glam Pampering Event I paired the blazer with black skinny jeans, a red camisole, and strappy heels.
A few weeks prior to that I was invited to the Elle offices on business. I was going for a business-glam look and thought it’d be perfect to debut the blazer here, as I really wanted a strong and confident silhouette that was also feminine. I styled the blazer with a blush pink pencil skirt and silk top from Bebe (pardon the wrinkles – I was sitting most of the afternoon) and completed the look with Nine West nude pumps. I really like the powerful, tailored fit of the outfit.
My thoughts on the blazer? The fabrication of this blazer is such that it’s hard to believe it’s from a notoriously “cheap” store. The quality is equivalent to higher-end blazers I own from the likes of Ann Taylor, DKNY, and Tahari. Also, layers of the suit have been canvassed (stitched), rather than fused (glued together), which typically is a sign of a good suit. In terms of versatility, I really like that this blazer can be worn casually and also dressed up for a more conservative look (it comes in black as well). Style-wise, I’m in love with the dramatic, exaggerated shoulders without the use of huge, stiff shoulder pads. I think it’s hip, edgy, with a funky 80′s glam look.
I do want to mention that this blazer is cut small. I usually have a little space in a medium, and this fits me snugly. I don’t feel like I have the flexibility and reach in the arm area I would like to have without feeling slightly constricted. Also, the waist doesn’t fit as nicely as I’d like but could be tailored for a nicer fit. I did try on a size large, just to be safe, and it jumped in size and was huge and ill-fitting on me.
2) Kardashian Kollection Tattoo Print Dress
I enjoyed wearing this dress to a Fashion’s Night Out event in the city and felt glamorous and rocker-chic all evening. The sexy split neckline, short length, and edginess of the front tatoo print was a divergence from my usual, more conservative style, and that was fun for me. I styled the dress with green ankle wrap sandals by Rouge and a Stella & Dot Panther Pendant Necklace.
In terms of the fit, there was something a little awkward going on with the fit of the chest and shoulder areas. It felt stiff and a little big, and I had to adjust it a bit in order that it fit comfortably on me. It seems that the top was just a little large on me. However, I didn’t want to go with a size smaller because that would have been ridiculously tight on my hips (you know how that is, girls – smaller on top, larger on the bottom – the story of my life). Anyhoo, once properly adjusted, the dress felt fine and I enjoyed the way it contoured my figure. I received several compliments that evening.
3) Kardashian Kollection Jersey Wrap Top Jumper
It was a close decision, but this piece is my favorite in the collection. The silky fabric of the jumpsuit fell really nicely on my body, and the cinching at the waist figure-flattering. I wore the jumpsuit to a dinner party with Glam Media at Barney’s in NYC, and it was the perfect choice for an evening of quiet sophistication. I think folks appreciated the pop of blue in my ankle tie sandals by Bronx and red clutch, along with the waist belt from Mandee, and black and silver accessories. I finished the outfit with my Andrew Hamilton Crawford Red Sole High Heel Shoe Necklace, which also proved to be a hit as people were asking me all evening where I’d found the unique piece.
I found the jumpsuit very slimming, plus my legs felt a mile long in it – and that’s a great thing! I also like that the jumpsuit has pockets – that feature was a nice surprise! However, as most wrap tops tend to do, the bodice did gap open on me - potentially revealing my bra and chest in an unflattering way. Of course, that’s a common problem for me with my figure – I’ve got to find outfits that fit both the top and bottom, and sometimes I have to compromise a perfect fit in the top. That was part of my decision to wear the wide belt, as I was easily able to tuck extra fabric into the belt to tighten the fit of the top. After I had doctored it up to my liking the fit of the jumpsuit was amazing. I like that this jumpsuit comes in leopard animal print as well – really sexy!
Summary
Admittedly I was leery about this collection because, although the outfits looked nice on the Kardashian sisters’, I’ve never been impressed with the quality of fabric or design at Sears. I assumed the material would be thin, flimsy, and cheap to the touch and feel – and this couldn’t be farther from the truth. I also blanched at the initial price tag of $99. Although I believe that the quality of the pieces is worth that, I don’t think it’s a fair price point for Sears. However, after it’s initial debut week, items from the Kardashian Kollection were marked down by 30%, making each piece roughly around $70, which is far more realistic.
In terms of the pieces that were a major #FAIL for me, namely the Zebra-one Shoulder and Jersey Dress, I want to emphasize that it wasn’t the quality that was lacking. The body-con dresses simply didn’t do anything for my figure. They looked nice on the Kardashian sisters, and even cute on the hanger… but I cringed when I looked at myself in the photos! Cringed!!! If your figure is similar to mine and you’re on the fence about purchasing either of those dresses and would like to see those photos, just shoot me an email (using the contact form) and I’ll gladly share.
Well what can I say – their collabo with the Kardashian sisters may have just put Sears back on the fashion map. Really great choice, Sears!
What are your thoughts on the pieces I’ve showcased?
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