Monday, August 19, 2013

Andie chinos vs Café capris – Advice needed

 Hello everybody! I have promised you a review of the new Andie chinos from J.Crew in my last post. I was going to publish it over the weekend but I have been having problems a lot of problems with Blogger and 'errors on page'. My mac that I have been using for blogging has died and my when I tried to post from my PC it would not work, I think due to Internet Explorer or Windows 7 or both. I am also having problems with posting comments, so sorry about that and please bear with until I figure it out, I will eventually...

I have never been a big fun of the chino look as they tend to be generally unflattering on me. I associate them with those admirably sturdy gals that could not be bothered with makeup and would usually 'style' them with a pair of sneakers and t-shirt they got at the Cisco training class. But I was tempted by the pair of pants that promises the look and comfort of skinny jeans and be as office appropriate as a pair of trousers without the need to dry clean them. Hey, I thought, if they can do that, this might be the Holy Grail of the office bottoms.
So with that in mind, I have decided to try the Andie chino. Now, I did not have super high hopes because I have previously had the some hopes for a few recent iterations of café capris without much success. I mean, I do own few pairs of them and they are OK but nothing to rave about. They look OK in front but they do sag in the butt and upper thigh area. Well, this is mostly due to my lack of booty curves but a girl can dream (and hope for the miracle), right?

Andie, size 4 Tall


After asking for an advice from the JCA community, I decided to order them in my old size 4, as there seemed to be the consensus that they run smaller than café capris. I have actually confirmed that by asking for measurements and yes, size 4 in Andies seem to have similar measurements as Café Capri size 2 with the hips measurement proportionally narrower, which is usually good news for me.


Andie Chinos on the left (size 4 regular) and Café Capri (size 2, regular) on the right

My current café capri size is 2 and even that is not too tight, but I don't think I can size to a zero. Actually, I quite like them in this new size. They seem to be a little longer than my black version from 2 years ago and a little looser in calf, but maybe they will shrink? I do like the desert color, kind of dark camel shade, which looks very nice with black and white/ivory, but it is not so great with pretty much every other color. I can live withthat because these are my colors of choice anyway, although I did contemplate them in natural but decided that it may be too boring. Not that desert khaki is that exciting, lol.


Andie Chinos size 4R, Andie Size 4T, Café Capri 2R

After asking for an advice on Andies from the wonderful JCA community, I decided to order them in my old size 4, as there seemed to be the consensus that they run smaller than café capris. I have actually confirmed that by asking for measurements and yes, size 4 in Andies seem to have similar measurements as Café Capri size 2 with the hips measurement proportionally narrower, which is usually good news for me. The fabric on Andies is thicker and less refined than on Café capris, it feels much more utilitarian. The waistband is narrower and they close with a set of double tabs and buttons. Actually the tab closures are almost difficult to undo but maybe this is just me or lack of dexterity.

OK, so despite the claims of slim fit, they are not that tapered in the leg and no, they don't fit like skinny jeans. But they do fit closer in the tight and seem to enhance my usually, ahem, unconspicious rear view.

Andie Chinos size 4R, Andie Size 4T, Café Capri 2R

The Tall Andies are supposed to be 3 inches longer and have the same other measurements. Well, I can hardly see the difference in length so it cannot be full 3 inches but they bunch up a little more. I think I prefer the regular version.

Is it me or the full length veers too much into the hiking pants/Cisco t-shirt direction?
So which ones should I keep? In the pictures, surprisingly, I actually like the café capris the best. Maybe it is the color? Or the more refined fabric? And how about that rear view?

 

And here is the basic silk cami in black. I have quite a few of these but I have been buying them in Small and this one is an Extra Small and it does look so much better now. Btw, this might be tmi, but to my great delight I have discovered the perfect strapless bras and I have been wearing them non-stop this summer. I got four of them when they had them on sale. I like them so much that have been wearing them with regular tops! I never thought that would happen but it is just so much easier when you don't have to deal with the straps. Halleluiah!


***
I am curious what you think about Andie versus Café Capris and which ones should I keep.
I am a little confused myself, so please share…

***

Update: I listened to your advice and tried on Andies in size 2, in different color.

What do you think? I think they look much better now. Sorry for the picture quality but just wanted to make it quick.
Andie Chino in 2R

35 comments:

  1. Oh Cafe Capris without a doubt - they are wonderful on you.

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  2. I am with Tabs - no contest - café capris!

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  3. Cafe capris all the way! I feel the same way you do about chinos. I don't have a single pair. I do want to try the Andies though.

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  4. The cafe capris look better all around. Thanks for the comparison. I won't be curious about the Andies any more!

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  5. I agree, the Cafe capris look better than the Andie on you in these photos and are quite flattering. The size 4 Andie looks too big.

    I usually take a petite 2 in the Cafe capri and I get a bit of butt sag. I bought the Andie in a regular 0, which according to the size charts, has similar measurements to the petite 2. The regular 0 Andie gave me a very slim look with just a bit of wrinkling at the knee and a little bunching at the ankle (because they are a little too long). I think you will get a slimmer look in the Andie if you tried them in 2. HTH

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  6. I like wearing the Andies as work clothes in navy blue (and tall size so they don't look so casual). The khaki color looks to tech conference-y to me and the navy goes well with a lot of things and doesn't look too casual for work.

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  7. I also vote for the cafe capris, somehow that lone button at the back of the Andie bugs me. Ditto on the silk camisole, I stocked up on the beige, black and navy when they went on sale. I also had to size down to extra small. I would be interested to hear about your strapless bra recommendations and racer backs too.

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    1. Sorry, I meant to link up but forgot. I added the link. They are Wear Everywhere multiway from VS. The price is perfect too! Currently if you get 2 bras and add 5 for 26 panties including 2 from PINK collection you can use PINKSHIP code to get free shipping.

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  8. I wore the Andie's in the chino/tuxedo stripe to a party Saturday night and I could not believe the compliments I got on them, including men. I sized down so they were on the fitted side and wore with a untucked fitted white button down and black heels and it was very masculine-sexy. I love them but the fit has to be right. They tended to sag a little as the night wore on and I kept having to pull them up (they don't look right with a belt, imo).

    I think the Cafe capris look better on you from the front and the Andie's from the back.

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  9. And are you not going to tell us about the fabulous bra? I've taken to wearing strapless under everything myself, too. Seems I can't find a regular one with the straps inset enough to not fall off my shoulders. Pulling up bra straps, in button downs, is not a pretty sight....

    The Cisco conference-y comment made me LOL! I would never dream of wearing tennis shoes without, in public, without workout clothes, so I do think you just need a mental adjustment!

    You took away my need for trying the Andies, thanks!!

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  10. I'm going against the consensus and saying the Andies, but I think you should try them in a size 2. I think the Cafe Capris are not very flattering from behind. I have a similar issue with them, being un-curvy in the behind too.

    I really think you should try the Andies in a smaller size and then make a decision!
    The size 4 look too big.

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  11. I prefer the cafe capris, I like the cut better on you and I think they look more tailored.

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  12. I also think the Andie chinos look too big on you. Try a size down. Also, I don't know if I'd compare the Cafe Capris to the Andie chinos. The chinos are thick and sturdy, not dressy at all in my opinion, and the Cafe Capris are dressier, work-appropriate. Not that you couldn't wear the Andie chinos to work, it's just that I think they will disappoint you in that regard as they are quite casual. The shape and color are similar, but the pants still seem very different to me.

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  13. Cafe capris for sure, esp if you are going to go with the camel color. If I were you, I would try the Andies in navy just to see how a different color may look on you. I agree with everyone that the capris are way more flattering on you.

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  14. Oh dear, I'm no help-- I think you look great in both! Anyone wear the Waverly chinos? These are my favorite for fall/winter; I have 3 colors in Tall (for my 34"inseam). I like the cafe capris for summer and have black and natural.

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  15. Def the cafe capris!!! They are much more flattering than the Andi's. Although the Andi's look like they'd be great for comfort. Funny, I always think the cafe capris look saggy in the back and legs, and believe me, I have 'curves', lol. I tend to stick with the minnies. ;D

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  16. They look great on you. Is that the steely grey or the fatigue? Do you like them better now?

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    1. It is Fatigue. Yes, I like them much better, I think I will keep them in this color and size and cafe capris in desert.

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  17. The Andies look great now that you have sized down. The 4 was too large for a fair comparison.

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  18. AJC, thank you for being my chino fit model! I think that you and I are about the same size (including "flass" lol) and I've been trying to figure out what chinos to buy. I haven't liked the Cafe Capri since they changed the fit in like, 2009 or so, but now that I see how they look on you in the smaller size, I might re-visit them! The Andies look awkwardly stiff and heavy; I definitely prefer the Cafe Capris on you!

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  19. The size 2 looks great on you!

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  20. I'll add my vote for the Cafe Capris.

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  21. The smaller size Andies look great, and I prefer that colour.
    Glad you tried a smaller size!

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  22. I LOVE the Andies. I personally think the Cafe Capris are a little mom-ish. I have the Andie in green and plan to purchase the tuxedo stripe as well.

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  23. I was going to say Cafe Capris, but then I saw the smaller sized Andies and they look really great on you. More fun and more interesting. You look really incredibly fit, AJC. Good for you!

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  24. Cafe capris. The Andies look too wrinkled and not the professional business casual/office appropriate look I think you're going for. The green Andies look better in that size and that color. They don't strike me as a work pant for your office, though. Maybe with a navy blazer it might work, but I think the cafe capris are the best. They have clean lines on you.

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    1. I finally went in to my B&M today to check out the new arrivals and really was not excited by anything. I did try on the Andies and I don't like them as much as I thought I would. As Gigi said, they are more wrinkly and definitely more casual than the cafe capris. They just look like fitted khakis. Will change my vote back to the cafe capris.

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  25. Hi Guys, you are the best! Thank you for all the advice. I decided to keep cafe capris. I am still thinking if I should keep the green Andies, I have already returned the khaki ones in both sizes.

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