Help me decide: Black blazers - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Help me decide: Black blazers

Joy

Veteran

I have way too many black jackets. Besides the ones here, I have a couple dressier ones ( light and heavier weight), a black knit jacket, a long EF knit jacket, and a black bomber and a moto. Do you like any of the blazers? I need your thoughts.
Ack, the photos are mixed up. 1-2 go together. I tried to get a quick picture of the jacket open and buttoned, but would most probably wear them open. All but the last have one button. I would wear sleeves pushed up.

This post has 8 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

General

34 replies

Latest reply was from April

Anonymous

This is tricky. I'm no expert, but I would say that maybe the last one with three buttons is my least favourite. I'm not keen on the high buttoned/short collar stance. I think a one button fastening has more staying power....but I could be wrong see what others think.

Joy

Veteran

Thank you, Diane. That is very helpful. I tend to wear blazers casually with graphic tees for the most part. Sometimes in transitional weather they are an outside topper. I know the details on black is hard to see and the shirt and jeans are not doing me any favors either.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

It is hard to see details. 1/2 the pocket placement isn't my favorite but it looks like it fits really well so I don't know. I think #5 maybe looks more current right now than #4 but I prefer it open for whatever reason. The last one has a nice fitted look all buttoned up. I'm afraid I'm not being much help.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm not sure you should keep any of them, Joy. The fit looks off in all these styles - unless the camera is playing tricks with the fit.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Just curious Angie - is the fit too fitted in most of them? That's the main thing I thought but some people like fitted blazers.

catgirl

Veteran

See, to me these are all just different - I don't see anything terribly wrong with any of them.

Now I'm curious as to what the current "right" fit is for a black blazer. Are we talking just regular fit issues, like seams and waist being in the right place, sleeve length, etc.? Or current vs. dated? I have a large black blazer collection too.

Joyce B

Veteran

I am also curious to hear why the fit is wrong. I thought the first two looked fine.

unfrumped

Veteran

I could only go for 1-2 and there the button placement is too high for my eye but that's how I view many women's blazers-they seem to feature the button just below bust instead of at what I think is a more natural waist area. Also it may be a bit short as shown with the low-rise pants, but maybe works differently.
I am watching this also because I have jackets I've kept but am not sure I would buy again. These are kind of in that category.
Not sure you want to spend time shopping, but sometimes browsing, nto buying, helps show me what I might be looking for in a jacket and then compare to ones I have. This of course is for B&M shopping and the problem there is that real blazers are more scarce, since the casualization of the retail floorspace. But maybe AT, BR, JC etc are browsable.

BrieN

Veteran

Black is hard to see in photos and I am no expert but to my eye at least the first few Blazers seem to have the button too high. Were any of these part of a suit?

Joy

Veteran

Brien, as far as I know none are part of a suit but might be. The first is Brooks Brothers from Marshalls, the second is Theory in what I thought was my size from consignment, but other Theory items don't really fit me very well, I've found. The last two were thrifted. The Brooks Brothers (1-2) has a non-traditional collar, more rounded with a low stance. I think the Theory blazer feels too small.

Thank you all for your help. I need to be tutored on how a jacket should fit and what works best on a small busted, sway-backed, short waisted rectangle with broad shoulders.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I think they aren't as fab as the other black topper options that you list.

I like the fit of 1 the best through the body and shoulders, plus the length. But it would need to be worn with higher-waist pants, imo--the button looks quite high compared to where the waist of these pants sits. And in that case, why keep it, if you want to be able to wear it with jeans. The next photos look a bit wide in the shoulders. The last jacket seems to trend slightly toward the shrunken look that was in a while back, so it doesn't look that current to me.

P.S. I really like the pants you're wearing here--such a great color for spring, and I like the fit on you.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I'd keep the first one, if any. To my eye, that one fits fine.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

To my eye, the buttons seem a little high on all the styles. And some a little snug when closed, which happens when women have a large bust. This is not the case with Joy.

Joy is also trying to edit her larger wardrobe. Let's keep the best items. Hope that makes sense.

Joy, feel free to disagree with me.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I'm a fan of black, but I see you in softer colors, Joy.

Sal

Veteran

I like 5 the best but it sounds like you have other black options available so you may not need any?

Yuna Nguyen

(website)

Member

Ji Joy,

When it comes to black blazers, i love wearing it with t-shirts, polo shirts and shirts which contrast in colour.

.For a casual look, you can wear them unbottoned with a white plain shirt and khaki or flare jeans.

I love blazers in summer days when i go to work. What a professional look!

Joy

Veteran

Angie, you are exactly right. I am trying to downsize my large wardrobe for a move and to be rid of the excess. The snugness is probably due to my apple tendencies that remain in spite of diet and exercise. I wonder if a blazer cut is just not right for me. Something with a different shape usually looks better, like a moto or bomber jacket.
I think my problems with not recognizing bad fit go deep with a long history of wearing whatever was available. I am leaning toward chucking the whole lot.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for posting Joy. I would have leaned towards the first one, but Angie's comment makes me look at it more critically. Since you are downsizing, you might ask if you really need a black jacket as well (not that I am that evolved!).

Muffin

Veteran

I had a tough time seeing too much difference until I read through the comments and Angie's in particular. Honestly it sounds like you have your black jackets covered with some of your other options, and maybe best to pass on all if you are downsizing. Exciting times ahead!

Joy

Veteran

I was leaning toward keeping the first one but now think I'll reserve the hanger for something better and probably not black. Thank you, Shevia and Muffin, for your wisdom

kellygirl

Veteran

Thanks for posting, Joy. reading the analysis really opened my eyes on some of the details of fit. I'm thinking I need to chuck a few of my blazers too!

BrieN

Veteran

Joy - I LOVE the idea of reserving the hanger for something "better" -- that's a great way to look at it! I realized recently that I only have a few empty hangers left... and once they are all full it's one in, one out.

chirico (Chiara)

(website)

Veteran

Late to the conversation, sorry.
If I had to choose, I'd pick the first, it's the one with the best button placement IMO. But I quite agree with Angie: all three of them, although not terribile, don't love you much. If you are trying to downsize, let all of them go.
Besides, I think right now the shape for blazers tends to be a bit looser, please correct me if I am wrong.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Onto the next set go fabulous jackets, Joy. I know you have many of them!

Joy

Veteran

Angie, I appreciate your help soooo much. xoxo

Mac

Veteran

Joy - good for you! I'm learning from your experiences with your own clothes.

rachylou

Veteran

Ok. I think I learned something here. I was going to pick one, but I've been taught you don't have to, lol. Good point also about the three buttons. I pass these by in stores because they seem not current, but in isolation here my thoughts were elsewhere.

Nebraskim

Veteran

This was an interesting thread to read. Before I noticed it was a couple of days old, my first thought was: keep none of them. I think they look and feel dated to me, somehow. And I also think that black is too severe a color for you now. One of my friends, who just celebrated her 72nd birthday but is extremely youthful and stylish, has decided to let her hair turn completely white. So her color palette is changing and she realizes that black is no longer working. She's eager to move to the next cool place on her style journey.

Joy

Veteran

Mac, Rachylou and NEkim, thank you for your thoughts. All the black blazers are gone and I think I will do a post on my other black jackets.
Kim, when my hair first started to be mostly grey, I was thrilled to be able to wear black for the first time. Now, nearly 70, I think I can and dost ill wear some blacks but am moving more toward greys or navy or light neutrals. I wish your friend lots of fun on her style journey.

12