Étoile Isabel Marant S/S 15 Collection Review Part 1

I haven't been THIS excited about an Étoile Isabel Marant collection in a long while (give or take a couple of years). I'm pleased to see that her magic touch is back with more exciting options available for her Étoile line. Her Spring/Summer 2015 clothes are playful, wearable, "fresh" without deviating from her effortless French boho chic style that she's known for. The new collection is interesting but the clothes are also pieces that I can see myself wearing for years to come.

First up, the Étoile Isabel Marant Cassy dress which I've been eyeing for a while. I was wearing a 36 in the first photo which is actually a size down from my usual 38. I look like I'm wearing a sack and have piled on an additional 10 pounds in a blink of an eye. I tried on a 34 (shown in the second photo) next and it was far more flattering. The material's made of 65% cotton and 35% viscose. Thankfully, it's fully lined in 100% cotton so it won't be so sheer when worn. The Étoile Isabel Marant Cassy dress costs £340 and is available in blue, white and black.

Verdict: 7.5 out of 10. I love the design but I would've preferred it to be made in 100% cotton or perhaps a linen/cotton blend. Personally I think it'll look better on someone taller (I'm 5'2 for reference) and not so petite. On the other hand, it's so pretty, flirty and eye-catching so I'm still very tempted to get it.






The Étoile Isabel Marant Glenn jacket is a copy of the Julia from the current A/W 2014 collection. Thankfully, it's made of a cotton blend material which saved me from scratching unceasingly like a monkey covered in fleas. Oops. Sorry for the horrible visual.... that was what happened to me when I tried on the Julia jacket recently. I mean...the scratching bit. I'm not explaining myself very well, am I??!

What can I say about the Glenn jacket? LOOOOOOOOOVE it! The narrow sleeves made my arms look amazingly slender which in itself is quite a feat. I have a complex about my batwings so any jacket that gives them an optical illusion of model-like arms gets 10 extra points. The black exterior with striking white stripes keeps the jacket looking interesting instead of blending into the background. In fact, I can easily see the jacket paired with my usual ripped jeans or a properly tailored pants or even a dress. The Étoile Isabel Marant Glenn jacket costs £260 and is available in black and cream.

Verdict: 9 out of 10. Take your usual size. In my case, I wore a size 38 here. The price point of £260 is still easy to stomach. I love how it flatters my apple shaped torso even after the Christmas gorge fest.




I'll be honest. I didn't think much of the Étoile Isabel Marant Gemma dress when I first saw its photo. To me, it looked like a plain black dress with pleats. I took a size down (size 36) and........this horribly grainy photo does NOT do it justice at all. It's beautifully constructed and gives me a bit of curves despite the fact that I was feeling rather bloated when this photo was taken.

The fabric is thick and solid which gets a nod from me because I'm always worried about pleats on a skirt during a particularly windy day. I'm not all that keen on doing the infamous Marilyn Monroe flying skirt act....... I'm small boned but in no way am I skinny. I love how flattering it looks on me even though I don't have a model-esque build. Étoile Isabel Marant Gemma dress costs £245 and is available in black and white.
 
Verdict: 9 out of 10. LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! I can see how versatile the dress is. It rocks whether you dress it up or down. I don't normally wear dresses but I can totally see myself in this. Take a size down if you prefer a slimmer fit.





I tried on the Étoile Isabel Marant Vicky embroidered top with its matching skirt and.............. I managed to scare myself looking in the mirror. The skirt was so short that it barely covered my butt cheeks.  I may consider it if I were 20 years younger .........or maybe not, seeing that my conservative Asian parents would've skinned me alive. The longer Gilmen skirt is a safer bet. Still flirty and feminine without the risk of inadvertently flashing your tushie on the unsuspecting passerby. The Étoile Isabel Marant Vicky embroidered top costs £160 and is available here.

Verdict: 5 out of 10. Take your usual size. I don't dislike it but I don't love it either. There's nothing remarkable about the cut or design. In fact, I've seen a few similar peasant tops from High Street shops for a lot less.