Debate: Vintage Armani or New Zara? - YouLookFab Forum

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Debate: Vintage Armani or New Zara?

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

1) The other day I stumbled upon a vintage Armani blazer/jacket in the Salvation Army store. It was black, made of lovely summer wool, quite current, but with three buttons and quite wide lapels. It had an interesting retro look. The fit was impeccable. I walked away because I already have a black blazer. This one, however, would look a lot better with dresses and skirts, because it enhances my waist and is shorter. Sorry, no photo, but I hope you get the idea.

2) At Zara I tried on a red blazer with narrow lapels and in current style. It is my kind of red. The quality is far from the well made Armani jacket, but the look and feel of it is still very nice, and it fits really well. I haven't made a decision about it yet. I don't have a red blazer.

The two jackets are at the same price point. The Armani jacket was really special, and it keeps popping up in my head. Should I go back and look for it? Or forget about it? Should I rather buy a red Zara blazer, or look for one in a better quality? I don't need any of these, but I think they both could play a part in my wardrobe.

What would you do, if you were me?

I might very well end up doing nothing, as I'm in no rush, but your thoughts on this will definitely be very interesting and enlightening. What says the wise forum? Fire away!

Shopping

22 replies

Latest reply was from Firecracker (Sharan)

rachylou

Veteran

If you were me, I'd go for the Armani.

If I were you, I'd go for the Zara.

FlorenceFearne

I'd get the thrifted one, if you like it equally well, and feel it's equally versatile. The reason? If you change your mind later, you can still buy a new red blazer. Heck, you can probably even get that exact one from Zara on ebay if you bide your time. But there's no guarantee you'd ever be able to duplicate the Armani.

unfrumped

Veteran

Reading with interest.
I would love to have something Armani, in theory.
But, "wear now" still seems valid--meaning, even thrift Armani isn't a good buy
unless you really want to wear it--and if the red Zara would get lots of use.

What about taking an Armani photo? I'd be interested to know if the style mavens think it has a true vintage/forever look, or is dated like anything else.

Also, other questions I ask myself, when I stumble across a bargain higher-end item, is (back to team wear) do I LOVE it myself just as it is and not because it's xxxx or I think I ought to want it? If I love it and it's truly flattering in terms of fit, color and those things, then I might still want an opinion on how it looks to others (dated, etc).

No help, huh.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Armani.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

hmmmm, tough dilemma! You'll get expanded outfits with the red, since it's not a replacement...but will you dream of the Armani every time you wear the black jacket you own now? If so, then I'd get the Armani. If you've got a million ideas for the red jacket that you want to try out, so that you'll wish you'd gotten it...then I'd get the red.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I would find out the return policies of both and if they are both returnable within a reasonable time frame I would buy them both and bring them home and snap photos with the clothes I want to wear them with and show us all here!

Seriously, I want you to have both of these!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Rachy, you crack me up. I'm going to have to twist your answer in my head all evening to get it.

FF, I think you're onto something. I'm twisting my arm right now, and hoping it's going to still be there Monday morning.

unfrumped - you always ask such great questions. I would love to have something Armani, too, in theory, but only if I'm actually going to wear it. The red Zara would get a lot of use. But I do actually have a void in my toppers capsule after sending my short black blazer off to college with my daughter.

I will try and get a photo. If it's still there on Monday, I'll take it home - there is a return window of ten days. Your suggestion of having it assessed is of course the best way to sort this out, and lots of people on this forum know about dated styles a lot better than I do. I would of course love to hear Angie's view, too!

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, Armani seems to be in the lead! (Suz, I'd love to have both). I'll RUN back Monday morning and look for the Armani.

In general, fabbers - if you have a choice between a good quality thrifted piece and a "normal" quality new one, what would you prefer as long as the fit & style suits you in both cases, and the price is the same?

ironkurtin

Veteran

I feel like used items add less to the general overflow of goods in Western culture. Also, I'm not keen on Zara's labor practices.

However, I have been known to throw all that out the window when an item was really great.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I love second hand, too, for the same reasons, and because I like to have something note everybody has, but at a kinder price point. I would newer buy Armani jackets at full price, they are definitely outside my budget.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Generally speaking I buy second hand and love getting high quality items at Zara prices but jackets are very tricky in my experience. For some reason jackets/blazers date (or maybe make me feel dated) in a way vintage coats and other things do not. So I don't have a blanket answer but will be delighted to see a picture!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Shevia said. In theory I would prefer the thrifted high quality item, but jackets tend to date, and unless you are going for a deliberately retro look, that can be a problem. I bought several jackets on consignment my first fall on YLF. They were gorgeous quality and I wore them constantly that first year, and quite a bit last year, too. But now when I see pictures of them, I feel tempted to cringe at myself. They just don't read "modern" to me.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I thrifted a beautiful designer pencil skirt that sat in my closet unworn
It still gave me pleasure though- the finding, the admiring and eventually passing on to a much better home!
If it is something that you do wear- and if you already have a similar, you probably will- I would say buy both if it is within your budget.

Vildy

Veteran

The number of buttons on my jacket depends on the number that I feel look good on me. I will sometimes add a second button to a one button jacket if it flatters me more. Same deal with lapel width. I obviously could not increase the size of very narrow lapels but I can narrow wide lapels if I wished or change the shape of them. The shoulder construction of a real Armani is supposed to be incredible.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Difficult question I know but, if you hadn't seen the label, which one do you prefer on you - colour, cut etc?

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

So many interesting perspectives here. Thank you for helping me think, ladies. I agree that the label influenced my feelings about the jacket to some extent. But I've never been a label hunter, and I believe that if the jacket was priced at regular thrift shop level, it would have been an easier choice for me. Like you used to do, Suz, I often buy second hand to try something new, or add a basic that I need anyway. Later I might upgrade if I love the piece enough and find a better quality/more modern replacement.

Vildy, I would find it challenging to change the look of lapels. Do you sew yourself?

Caro, the color and cut on these two blazers are very different, and they are really not that comparable. I am contemplating getting both, because the two together are not more expensive then a midrange priced blazer.

Vildy

Veteran

http://www.halsbrook.com/desig.....acket.html
Here is a current Armani 3 button jacket on sale, not extra short length, though.
Customers obviously think it's okay to pay $1300 for a 3 button jacket in a season that has featured one button jackets.

Yes, I do my own alterations. In the past, since men's styling changed more slowly, tailors were used to restyling men's suits by slimming them, changing lapel width, etc.

Vildy

Veteran

Here's a page with 1,2 and 3 button jackets, some in shorter length. I notice that he often places the stance of his 1 button jackets higher than many "newer" jacket styles.
http://www.saksfifthavenue.com.....N-1z12vlbZ

MovingFashionForward

I agree that jackets can look more 'out' than other items, so I might well be put off if it seemed dated to me, but if not, i'd definitely get the Armani, and then get the Zara when that appears in the charity shop later, or get both now if I feared not being able to get the Zara one later, or if I wanted to wear the Zara one immediately.

Best of luck with the decision!

Sarah

Deborah

Veteran

You have a good eye Ingunn so if you feel the Armani is as beautiful as you say, I would buy it. It it were me, I wouldn't worry too much because if I ended up not wearing it I know I could sell it. The red Zara sounds nice but I would simply encourage you to consider how you feel about the quality of lack there of:).

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Thanks a lot, Vildy, the links are really clarifying. Several of the models have similarities to the one I saw.

Sarah and Deborah, now I really want to go back and investigate the Armani further. I hope it's still there tomorrow, if I'm lucky. The Zara blazer is also great, but I will probably not get both right away, because I need other things, too, like new black booties/Chelsea boots. I might of course get carried away

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I'd be tempted to get the Armani jacket. Sounds like it's a lovely jacket that you can see wearing with things in your wardrobe. If it were a duplication of your current black jacket, I'd be more hesitant. But the fact that it goes wtih things your current one does not does make me lean toward it. Sometimes a great garment that fits and is a super bargain is hard to pass up, just because it's such a good deal. If it doesn't fill a wardrobe need, then it's not really a good deal at all. But in this case, it does seem to fulfill a purpose in your wardrobe. Would it keep you from buying something you need more?
I like the idea of a red jacket for you. But I don't think a Zara jacket will take away the longing for the Armani steal at the thrift store.