a black blazer question - YouLookFab Forum

I'm loving this particular look, with a long, somewhat drapey black blazer over long BF jeans and oxfords, that I'm seeing a lot of on the web lately. (This particular outfit is from the Anthropologie site).

I'd love to recreate it, but I don't actually own a black blazer that would work for this. (I know!) My Nanette Lepore black blazer is a very shrunken style, and my Aqua jacket is also too cropped and rounded and is not really a blazer anyway. My longer blazers are all bright colors and I feel like this look needs a black or dark neutral color like charcoal or navy.

Anyway, I do already have a black blazer on my shopping list. Thing is, what I really need is a suit-style blazer, on the conservative side, that will go with both pants and skirts. Ideally part of a suit, although I wouldn't wear the pieces together too often. So I basically need something that would be business casual to business formal appropriate; it would be nice as well to be able to dress it down but that's not a requirement.

So my question is whether you guys think this look would work with a suit style blazer. It would definitely be less drapey and probably a bit shorter than the one shown here. Or is this a style that really only works with a longer, more casual looking blazer?

(I wouldn't actually be totally averse to getting two black blazers, although if I did the non-suit one would probably have to be an inexpensive one. Or maybe in a different dark neutral like charcoal.)

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11 years ago

merwoman

Veteran

Gorgeous blazer - thanks for the inspiration Diana!
What I notice about this blazer is the very low stance of it - and the relaxed fit.
Why not try a blazer with a similar profile - not sure it would work with skirts - but i could definitely see it working with trousers.

Diana

So this is the actual blazer in the photo:
http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....980225.jsp

It's not too expensive, so I may see if I can find it in store to try on. I have a lot of trouble with this type of super low stance because they tend to be too overwhelming on me (since I'm so short waisted). But since this one is quite drapey it may work. The problem is that there is no way this particular blazer would work as a suit for interviews and things.

catgirl

So when you look at it in the other color, it's almost like a waterfall cardi in shape, which is what would work in my mind. If it were stiff, it would stand away from the hips with any baggy item like BF jeans. I LOVE IT. I can also see it with the VC skirt!

Day Vies

I am not sure that longer is required necessarily. I agree that cropped won't work I have a top-of-the-hip printed blazer that creates the same straight line. A jacket sans feminine details such as a defined waist and soft lines is a must.

I think you like the moody color palette but I don't think it's required to get the look. There is a retro 80's casually polished ease about the drape of the outfit which I think could be achieve with clean lines in any color. I seem to recall Sveta did a similar look with a bright yellow jacket. It's slouchy has clean lines and evokes the same feel but it's brighter. I think you can recreate this look before you get the perfect jacket and I hope you try.

kkards

i think that a jacket like this can be found in a suit, -as an example i'm linking a hugo boss suit that shows a jacket that is a similar shape, altought it is not quite a long.
http://store-us.hugoboss.com/%.....Dark-Green
i would wear the anthro jacket with work pants, but i'm a total jacket person and own 4 black blazers (2 spring & 2 fall).

Una that's a good point about it being almost waterfally. I don't think I have any jackets like that in my closet. And good call about the VC skirt!

DV, I think you've hit on the issue with my jacket collection. Most of them have some kind of very feminine details like a nipped waist, puffed sleeve, or peplum, etc. I did a challenge last year where I wore all my jackets here:
http://diana.lookfab.com/post/.....-challenge
(Since then, I've gotten rid of the denim one and acquired a fuchsia duplicate of the cobalt one, the Bellatrix lace print jacket, and my plaid riding jacket.) The cobalt, fuchsia, and turquoise are the only ones with even close to the same silhouette and they all seem a little too girly to me for this look (the cobalt and fuchsia have puffed shoulders, and the turquoise is too girly a color maybe).

KKards, thanks for the link. I wonder if that length would be too short for low-slung BF jeans though? There is a similar one also at Anthro that I was considering trying too. On me, it would be longer than on the model.
http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....690577.jsp
And I would def. wear the first blazer with trousers, etc for biz cas, but my issue is that I do need something more conservative (and that would work as part of a full suit) for things like interviews.

I see what you mean Diana. But all of them are cute!

Lyn D.

I like this look too!

rae

(website)

Hm, I think a long-ish boyfriend blazer might work in theory... but I'm also thinking a substitution like that would work best on a very straight body type, since the drapey-ness of the blazer is less pronounced that way. I think the cardi substitution that Una suggested might preserve the softness of the look a little more.

I do have a long drapy black cardi, but it might be too long/thin (it's like a jersey, not a sweater knit). I'll give it a try though. If I'm going to buy something it'll definitely be a blazer. I'm not interested in more cardis except possibly very unique shapes (hand knit, most likely) these days.

Rae, agree about the true bf jacket working better on straighter body types. I've never found one that doesn't swallow me up and make me feel like I'm wearing a box. Being short waisted does not help.

rachylou

I like it. I think it depends on if you're trousers are wide-legged all the way up and down. I think this blazer needs pants that are fitted at least through to the knee.

unfrumped

I like this blazer, too, Diana--several of the Anthro blazers this fall are more appealing to me due to longer length and not looking too stiff. I like that whole look, too with the drapey T and loafers or oxfords.

Joy

Trying you black drapey cardigan may help you decide if you want to pursue a drapey blazer and what length works best.

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