I popped into Amour Vert recently, so here’s a quick fitting room review. (And I mean quick! I think I was in there for 15 minutes, 20 max.) If you’re new to Amour Vert, it’s a sustainable clothing brand based here in San Francisco. The company works directly with mills to create its fabrics and it only uses non-toxic dyes, according to this interview with the CEO in Forbes. The price point, while not cheap, is moderate for a sustainable brand. (T-shirts run $40 to $60. Dresses $100 to $250). That actually doesn’t seem bad to me considering that the clothes are made in the U.S., the majority of them in California. (You can read more about the fabrics and factories here.)
On a whole, Amour Vert’s style is feminine. Think flowy, floral prints, twist designs, and tulip hems. Personally, this doesn’t always work for my tastes, which has increasingly moved towards the minimalist. Still, I find myself looking at their stuff because even an Everlane devotee like me tires of the basics. Sometimes I want to mix it up with prints. The problem, though, is that I feel indifferent towards most of Amour Vert’s prints. I can’t quite put my finger on it, except to say it just doesn’t do it for me. Not surprisingly — and very on brand for me — the one Amour Vert item I reach for a lot is a solid black dress.
Amy Silk Blouse
Anyhow. The main reason I dropped by the store was to check out the fit of a silk shirt I had seen online. The magic words that got me in the store was “3/4 sleeves.” Why? Because I’m petite and most long-sleeved shirts are too long for my arms (as exemplified here in this review of several Everlane silk shirts). Three-quarter length sleeves means there’s a chance that they’ll fit like regular length sleeves on me. Here is a 5′ 10″ model wearing a small in the shirt in question.
Amy Silk Blouse (Mojave Floral print) – $98 on sale (originally $168)
I also tried a small. Here’s what it looks like on 5′ 4″ me. Pardon the photo quality. The fitting room didn’t have great light and I have an old phone with an outdated camera. (But I refuse to upgrade! Trying to use things for as long as possible because that’s the sustainable thing to do.)
I’m a size 4 and an XS or S in most brands. In this case, the S was definitely big. It was big in the shoulders and too long for my petite height. I’d only be able to wear this tucked in. The sleeve length worked out alright though. (By the way, this is a perfect example of an Amour Vert print that doesn’t do it for me.)
UPDATE 11/7/19 – I’ve since found a discontinued print that I like. Check out this post to see how an XS fits.
Colombe Dress
Next, I tried this midi T-shirt dress made out of a soft and stretchy blend of organic cotton and modal. Here is a small on another 5′ 10″ model.
Colombe Dress – $128
And here is the small on me. It fits true to size.
This dress is described on the Amour Vert site as having a relaxed fit. While it was comfy, I didn’t find it be relaxed at all. In fact, it was sort of fitted across the belly, making any tummy bumps apparent. I’m self-conscious about my belly, so nope, this is not for me. I think this other dress made out of T-shirt material would have been more forgiving on me. But that one wasn’t stocked in the store when I visited.
Gardenia Jumpsuit
The last item I tried on was this jumpsuit, which is made out of beechwood modal, a man-made fiber. Creating fiber out of wood involves turning the wood into a liquid-like pulp and forcing it through tiny holes. Amour Vert says its beechwood is sustainably-harvested and pesticide-free.
Here’s a 5′ 8″ model wearing a size small.
Gardenia Jumpsuit – $158
Of course, it’s not cropped on me.
I liked the sexy V on the back (shown in the very first photo in this post) and how it could be worn casually or dressed up. But, I didn’t love the way it tied in the front and made a starburst of creases right at your center, which you can see more clearly on the model. The fabric was soft and drapey and quite comfortable. But maybe too comfortable — it felt like wearing pajamas.
On a whole, it seems like Amour Vert clothes are created with taller people in mind (but what American clothing brand isn’t?). So it’s not exactly a shorty-friendly store, though I think petite shoppers like me can find things that work. I’m used to rolling up sleeves to achieve better proportions and of course, visiting the tailor.
While nothing grabbed me this time, I do keep Amour Vert in mind when shopping for clothes because of their sustainable manufacturing practices. Something always catches my attention. I wish they carried more products in store, though. I’m old fashioned and like to try things on in person.
For now, I’m just eyeing things online like:
– this crisp-looking striped blouse (on sale and I’d no doubt have to roll up the sleeves)
– this puff-sleeve blouse
– and this silk tank with a V shape on both the front and back. (Just waiting for them to make it in a print I’d wear.)
– I’ve also been staring at these Coclico flats since the fall
It’s helpful to see try-on photos of some Amour Vert clothing, because I don’t think I have any way of trying their clothes outside of ordering some for myself. It’s good to know (and alas, not that surprising) that a lot of their clothing is probably better suited to people who are taller than me. When browsing their online store, I’ve found that they tend to only have a limited size range for any items I’m interested in, so it’s not likely I’ll be ordering from them anytime soon.
I like the idea of prints, but like you, I find that a lot of Amour Vert prints don’t catch my eye in a way that makes me want to try them. Though, to be fair, it’s pretty rare to see prints I’m interested in at any price point that I’m able to regularly shop at. It’s really hard to find things that are in the right type of pattern, in colors I think will suit me, on the right type of fabric…
“a lot of their clothing is probably better suited to people who are taller than me” is the story of my life. That’s one reason why Uniqlo is so enticing even though it’s not sustainable or ethical, because their stuff actually has a better chance of fitting. I’m pretty picky about prints too and find it hard to articulate what I like.
I’m 5’ and just this year discovered Amour Vert. As always we just have to keep an eye out-I bought a black “cropped” sweatshirt because all the reviews said it was way too short. I love it! The fit is perfect on me and the material feels substantial. On the other hand, I also bought an XS striped shirt but it’s a bit too large on me. I kept it but don’t love it.
I love when things are described as cropped. Then there’s a chance I can save money on hemming. 🙂