Fit Review Friday! Battle of the Vests! Wunder Puff Cropped Vest VS Aviator Nation Sunburst Vest & 5 Stripe Flex Board Short

 

Gosh, I already started writing this post with my usual Happy Friday, but I just heard the news that Queen Elizabeth just passed away. 😢 We all knew this was coming but it's still very sad. The only silver lining is for the first time in 70 years we're about to witness a coronation. Not gonna lie, I am excited to see this part of history. This kind of makes me want to watch the first couple of seasons of The Crown again.

So, how are we feeling about fall season coming just around the corner? The last days of summer are upon us. This morning in Atlanta it was a "chilly" 66 degrees out. I definitely welcome the cooler temperatures but I am sad that the days are getting shorter. With that, we have the first fall fit review! It's the battle of the vests. 

For reference I'm 4 feet 11 inches tall and typically wear a size 4 in Lululemon tops and bottoms. For Aviator Nation I wear size XS in tops and size small/medium for bottoms depending on the fit.

Wunder Puff Cropped Vest Heathered Plumful Size 2

I did try this vest last year in Pink Lychee. I really loved it, but decided I just couldn't justify it since I live in Atlanta, but I couldn't resist when I saw it in Heathered Plumful. The fit and cut are exactly as I remembered it to be. However, I did notice one difference. The fabric on the Pink Lychee was super soft and felt like a snuggly down blanket. The fabric for Heathered Plumful felt textured and a bit stiff. I would even go as far to say it feels a little rough to the touch. 😕

The color is still amazing and beautiful as I remember when I tried it in the Wunder Puff Jacket two years ago. The fabric on the vest is very different though. I wonder why they changed it? I'll be honest, I was a little disappointed with the new fabric. I'm curious if anyone else found this to be the case with the new Wunder Puff items? Or is it just Heathered Plumful? 😕 

The price has remained the same at $228. I kind of expected the price to increase along with everything else these days. Last few thoughts on this vest- it is safe to size down, I love the removable hood option and the waist is adjustable with drawcords to customize the look and feel. Overall, it's a beautiful vest and dare I say worth the money with all the extra details.

How does Lulu's Wunder Puff vest compare to Aviator Nation's Sunburst Vest? You may think it's comparing apples to oranges and you may be right. The Sunburst Vest has a semi-slim fit, with no hood and it's much thinner and better suited for milder winters. The collar is lined with super soft sherpa. I think it's sherpa, as it doesn't actually say. The vest is insulated with Primaloft. 

Sunburst Vest Black Size XS

I'm wearing size XS which is the same size as my other Aviator Nation hoodies. The best part of this vest is the sunburst on the back. What's not to love? It's very retro and has Captain Marvel vibes. As for fit, I can layer with a sweater underneath it, but if you're looking to layer more than that I would size up. The length hits at low hip.

The gold hardware is heavy and substantial just like the 5 Stripe Jacket I have. There are two zippered pockets as well as as inside breast pocket. This vest is extremely well made and high quality which I would expect for the price of $395. I did get it with their 20% off sale that occurs every couple of months. Aviator Nation clothes are made in California which has some of the best labor laws in the U.S. I try and support American companies when I can. However, I will say comparing value for the money, Lululemon I think is the better deal. That said, it really boils down to which vest would you get more use out of? Personally, I would get much more use out of the Sunburst Vest.

Verdict? I ended up keeping Aviator Nation's Sunburst vest. Mainly because I love rainbows and the vest is more suitable for Atlanta winters. If I still lived in the northeast, I probably would have kept the Wunder Puff vest. 

5 Stripe Flex Board Short Parrot/Rainbow Size Medium

Last but not least, I purchased the 5 Stripe Flex Board Short after seeing it on a tall leggy blonde while shopping at Avalon a couple of months ago. I decided to size up for extra length considering there's a high slit up the thigh. The waistband is super stretchy. I'm wearing a medium but could have also fit into the size small in these shorts. The retail price is ridiculously high at $168. Even with the 20% off coupon it still hurts, especially when there's no built in liner!! What?! I guess since they are board shorts, which means they are expecting you to wear a bikini underneath it. Even so, I think they really should consider making these shorts with a built in liner.

These are made for water activities so they feel a bit like swimwear. I would wear them out casually as well, especially in the summer. 

As you can see, size medium runs a little too loose and baggy on me. Size small would have been a better fit. They are super cute though, so I would still recommend them if you have zero budget. 😅 

Still cute, tho!

That's it for me! Hope you all enjoy the last days of summer. Let me know what you think of the two vests! Which one would you pick?

Shop:

Wunder Puff Cropped Vest

Sunburst Vest

5 Stripe Flex Board Short

Aviator Nation is also available at:

Saks

Bloomingdale's

Revolve 

Bandier

WMTM

Swiftly Racerback Race Length $39

AirWrap Modal Pullover Hoodie $79

Softstreme Gathered T-Shirt $64