Do I need this jacket? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do I need this jacket?

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think not. Although I love the color, I have NO idea when and where I will wear it in the foreseeable future. Although I do like they way it works with all of the lilacs and pinks in my wardrobe. And my bed quilt.

This is how I would style it, maybe for a family dinner with the in laws. Hair would not be up in a prim ponytail like this though (I was on my way to work when I took this picture).

The last time I bought a printed blazer (leopard print) I wore it three times and got laughed at by one of my employees, not confidence boosting.

What say you - K or R?

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52 replies

Latest reply was from Firecracker (Sharan)

Jenni NZ

Veteran

This is so difficult. It looks gorgeous on you. I am sorry your employee made you feel bad last time you bought a printed jacket.
For me, something I have learned from YLF is that I don’t need to own every pretty thing I see online or in store. I can just admire and not own. But I am not sure the size of your wardrobe or how much you try to wear things. I thought you mainly wore black at the restaurants but could be wrong.
I know when one of my staff called me Imelda Marcos at one stage I wasn’t very happy and they all denied it- but a patient had told me they did say that!
I tried then to make sure the shoes I chose would get good wear. Am doing better.
If you keep it just for love, well you are entitled to! Earned honestly, right?
Sorry I am no help!

Minaminu

Veteran

I think your employee was pretty rude, I don't think I'll ever understand why people enjoy laughing at someone instead of with...

Now, the blazer! The sleeves should be shortened, the colour is lovely on you and the material looks great for a night out! I wonder if the pattern works well for you. Maybe it's due to the shiny material, but to me the pattern looks too busy. I might be wrong!!!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Jenni and I too am sorry about the Imelda Marcos comment. My brother called me that in the past but he routinely insults me so it doesn't effect me like an employee's comment.

I wear nothing but black at work, and have no where to go so I predict this would be an orphan. I usually have one occasion I can think of for a K/R candidate but no, not now. Last time I posted a K/R was in May or June and those pieces got worn exactly once since then.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Good point Minaminu, about the pattern.

JAileen

Veteran

Wow - I really like the jacket. The pattern, color, and fit, except for sleeve length. I think you should keep it.

My husband doesn’t say anything about my wardrobe...he is into photography.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

JAileen, thanks for the good laugh! My SO is into baseball and he never dares comment about my clothes ... except when to say he thinks I look particularly fetching.

nemosmom

Veteran

hmmm... I think it looks great on you, but you have to decide if a rarely-worn piece has earned a spot in your closet. For me, when I am looking at new pieces that may be a 'special' piece I ask:

If a situation arose that you needed to create an outfit for, would you reach for this jacket in lieu of one you already own? If yes, then I would keep. If not, and you already have an item for that potential occasion, I would let it go.

Roberta

Veteran

I just love the print. I think you would know if you really wanted to keep it, though, rude coworker be damned. I find the shine of the satin a little limiting. Takes it from luxe to fancy, in my eyes.

I have all kinds of mean comebacks for your colleague.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

It looks pretty great on you, but will you wear it? Do you wear shiny clothes with ease? I am into paisley so I am disqualifying myself for bias.

Joy

Veteran

I love it on you but, if you are going to end up wearing it two or three times, I would pass. What else might you wear on these occasions? Would you wear it multiple times? Think of the probable cost per wear.
The black pants are stunning on you.

nuancedream

Veteran

Paisley is one of my favorite patterns and I think you look jaw drop stunning in the jacket. Echoing what has already been said, the cost per wear might be excessively high if the jacket were to be worn only a few times. TBH, I stopped listening to and caring about unwanted opinions regarding what I choose to wear a long time ago.

rachylou

Veteran

I love this. This is High Fashion. Admittedly, that means there's nowhere to wear it right now... although I hear Santa Clara county is getting the green light to open its museums, so... yeah, I personally would keep it.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh also: High Fashion always makes people laugh, makes ‘em nervous. Which makes me laugh. Revel in it I say, hehe

Sal

Veteran

You look fantastic!!

Sometimes it is fun to just get a piece because you love it....and that is okay. So I would sit on it and decide if this is worth buying for that reason. But I do agree it is not likely to get lots of wear in the short term.

But it is a jacket you could wear at any age....

Aquamarine

Veteran

I think you look smashing! Alas, 2020. Not much going on. However, if you are hopeful of a future full of occasions and places to go, I’d certainly consider keeping it. It’s a statement piece for sure. Ignore dummy co-worker. You’re allowed to wear clothing beyond black and white or whatever your uniform is at work.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all of your often humorous and therapeutic comments!

kellygirl

Veteran

Not reading the other comments but I have to say the color makes you glow and the style so cool. I don't know whether you need it but it certainly suits you and looks like a fun piece to play with! It's gorgeous and so unique.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I think you look wonderful, especially in the last photo.

I think it’s ok to buy clothing as a morale booster, even if you know it will only be worn occasionally. As long as you are truly excited about it and happy to limit the number of morale boosters that you buy. Do you think this is “the one”? If you buy this will you stop looking at jackets or be tempted to look some more? Those are the questions I’d ask myself.
(And disregard what your colleagues might say!)

slim cat

Veteran

If it makes you happy, if it lightens your mood, it you love wearing it even for a short time - consider keeping it. We need some fun things in life ( the jacket does look smashing on you, especially with sleeves pushed up ).

bella

(website)

Veteran

My concern is that if you truly have no occasion to wear it in the next year or so, will you still be happy to wear it in a year? Will it still make your heart sing then or will it be a waste of money? For my part, I cannot usually predict that ahead of time, so I would pass.

bella

(website)

Veteran

And if you decide to keep, the sleeve length will need to be adjusted, which given that the jacket looks lined could be somewhat expensive. Also, I cannot judge the sleeve width, are they a bit too wide for you?

Minaminu

Veteran

CocoLion, I wouldn't worry too much about the unworn pieces for now. The last 6 months have been an exceptional time and hopefully you'll be able to wear the unworn pieces at fab occasions sometimes soon!

Runcarla

Veteran

This is a maximal jacket. Colour, pattern, texture, and shine. It screams S/S (apple blossom, cherry blossom season.) I would style it with a pink or white T and white jeans, or a white T and super faded pale blue jeans, and sneakers. Also, a cerise dress - sheath, or flowing midi. Wear open, and scrunch the sleeves (like #4). Maybe a crisp white button down and the dark wash skinny’s (I think that is what you are wearing (?) in your pics.). That said, the jacket looks to be too big, or at least the sleeves are overlong.

It seems a departure from your regular style, though the colour (pink) is in your wheelhouse. Is it indicative of a new direction you want to pursue? I would vote to ‘return’,but I would put some thought into identifying what it is about the piece that you love so much and explore that some more.

gryffin

Veteran

Cocolion - I apologize I have not read any of the comments. But I just had to say spectacular!! Run around the block howing in agony spectacular! I would chew off an arm (ok maybe just a finger because losing an arm would ruin the line of a blazer) for a jacket that looked so amazing. There are few items that could transition better from casual to formal than this. Add distressed jeans, scrunch the sleeves and you are the best dressed for a market or coffee run. Add velvet pants or lace skirt and you are black tie ready. Leather pants a great bootie and you are swinging on the edge. You've got to love blazers and feel comfortable in the style, but it looks amazing on you and the potential for versatility of wear is very high IMHO. I'm one of those people who needs to feel covered for all ocassions and this is the mother of all blazers to do that. I'd be hard pressed to pack that baby back up. Anyway, that's my 2 cents FWIW!! You look fab!!

Star

Veteran

Wise observations Runcarla! Good idea to identify what it is you love about it and maybe find that in a piece that will get more wear. Gorgeous but the sleeves are a bit too long.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Great to see you, Denise!

Ok, I said “wow” when I looked at the pics. I think it’s stunning and you look great in it. This is a weird year for purchases like that, but hey, I bought a crazy blue sequin blazer back in February (I think?) that still has tags on because who knows when I’ll ever get to wear it? Fortunately it was deeply discounted.

I think this is the kind of thing that has to be considered in the context of your wardrobe, and how much do you love it? It’s a wild card. I have some wild card pieces like this that may only get worn a couple of times a year, but they’re not the kind of item that looks dated after a couple of years, they’re more signature to me and my style, and I look forward to having — or making — occasions to wear them. So I think this blazer is really an emotional check. How do you feel in it? Can you not wait to wear it? Does it add something that doesn’t otherwise exist in your closet?

I hope you keep it but I have a sugar eye for good paisley, and I think this looks terrific on you. If it were a shorter, more fitted style it wouldn’t feel right, but this really suits you and looks like it would be great to dress down with faded jeans and a tee too.

Bijou

Veteran

I have to echo others on how good this looks on you. However, if it is not your style, may cause those with whom you are likely to wear it around give you snarky comments, languish unworn in your closet, then I am a no vote.

I 100% agree with Brooklyn that it is perfectly acceptable to have rarely worn items in your wardrobe because you love them and feel amazing when wearing or using them. I am like this with my formal wear. But, you really have to love the item for it to deserve that special wardrobe status. I love the styling option Gryffin has recommended to make it versatile. The question is, would you want to wear it?

Murph11

Veteran

Keep it and wear it to grab coffee! I’d cross the street to tell you how fabulous you look (keeping my distance, of course)

unfrumped

Veteran

I’m not sure( not that I Kant, anyway!), but I can so relate.
Pandemic or not, I do some buying for imaginary lifestyle and that ends up bloating wardrobe.
Also I relay to how luscious colors make me feel so good tgst I might buy something because of how it looks in the mirror, but then not end up spending much time outside of the house in it!
The blazer is beautiful but is a tad roomy and need sleeve alterations. Tgat is not a dealbreaker for a goo item, though.
But for me the shiny part would be limiting- I would find if far to make it a daytime piece. Don’t know if that is the same for you. Though yes it goes with denim, dress pants, different shoes. Whereas some other fabrications, even in bright colors or prints, I might be able to do the daytime-to-dinner dress up.

My most similar situation right now is that I live blazers and have been buying some in pandemic despite being retired and having no social events! So the test I’m trying to use criteria have been that they can be worn on routine errands and go with a lot of wardrobe items and are easy enough to toss on that I could see myself reaching for them as an easy topper and u could change things up by what I wear with them.
But that is not the same as a fabulous special occasion piece!

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