K/R: Need Help w/Jackets (Trouve, Avant-Garde and Not So Much

I'm searching for a fun, interesting jacket to throw on over jeans and a tee to really make an outfit. I've got several on order, but some have come in and I need help evaluating them.

Ideally: the style would be a little modern classic, a little avant-garde, a smidge punk, streamlined, interesting. So far, I think all of these are "return" rather than "keep."

I'm looking for something fabulous. A true 10 investment piece. I'd rather hold out and get that than pick up something that'll just do.

The contenders:

Trouve leather jacket (1 & 2)
Like: This is a fabulous grey blue. I love the style. The light weight will work for me for a lot of the spring/summer/fall in Portland. Good value (under $300).
Don't like: I think the wide v accentuates my broad shoulders. It doesn't have any type of fastener (but I could work something up, I'm sure). I have the Halogen black scuba jacket from the NAS, so this would be a second leather jacket.

Helmut Lang jacket (3, 4 & 5)
Like: Ohhhhh goodness this is a gorgeous jacket. The fabric is beautiful. The craftsmanship is beautiful. The shape is amazing, other than one thing. This could be a lifetime classic. And did I mention how gorgeous the back is?
Don't like: The shoulders have obvious shoulder pads. They really bump up my already broad shoulders, and I'm worried they make this look too '80s holdout rather than avant-garde on me. Also, it isn't obvious in the picture, but the arms are a little too tight. I think sizing up will only make the huge shoulders look even bigger. Price. This is nearly $600.

Halogen black jacket (included pictures of white too to show details) (6, 7 & 8).
Like: Basic, hard wearing piece. This has a little interest in the lapels. It is hard wearing polyester, but in black it looks like it is decent wool gab. White defs looked like poly, so no go on that option. Price is great: $100.
Don't like: Probably too basic. I put it on with jeans and a tee and hubbs said, "Oh, that's a nice suit jacket." So, not so avant-garde. However, I could check with my tailor about altering the bottom line of this jacket to make it more like the Helmut Lang. It may work.

Thanks in advance, everyone, for your thoughts on these.

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11 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I agree with you to hold out. Honestly, I didn't look at the pics super closely because I personally think that if you don't feel like a 10 in them then my opinion isn't that relevant... Not to say I don't want to help; just that your gut is probably telling you something here. :T

DeclawedJaguar

Ah, I love the Helmut Lang jacket. The strong shoulder line looks beautiful to me, but if the arms are too tight, it's a no-go. Keep looking!

K. Period.

Rae: good point. However, don't let the fact that I don't think any is a 10 keep you from opining. I am a very, very self-doubting shopper. Especially when it comes to "investment" level pieces, I will agonize every. single. detail. to. death.

catgirl

RAAHRRHH! The Helmut Lang! At that price it has to be perfect though... well, at any price really. It is so close to perfect on you, dang it.

I see the issues with the navy jacket. I just ordered it, so am curious to see if it's going to be totally off on me.

The Halogen jacket is a reliable choice and not boring, but certainly not the ultimate edgy jacket I think you're seekeing.

I will keep my eyes open for you - this is my favorite style to hunt down!

I know! So much Helmut sadness. So close, so 9, and yet, not 10. Not right. (Sad Dieter.)

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Suz

I don't think any of these is your "it" jacket. The Trouve just isn't as flattering as one might hope. I think Angie's right - the front is just too long, so the way it falls, it sort of draws attention to the midsection and the shoulder points and away from the face. Not good.

The HL is amazing!! SO gorgeous. But I see what you mean about it; it's just not quite right in the shoulders, I think. Still...if after a few days you are still thinking about it, maybe try to style it with a few things?

I think the Halogen is nice, but much more of a basic. Not what you want.

THANK YOU, again, for trying on the Trouve and reporting on it. That's so helpful. If it's long on you it would be even more so on me.

Sylvie

Lone dissenter here. I really like the Trouve jacket on you. If it had looked that good on me, I would have been tempted. It really needs to be styled with a dark shirt underneath though.

Isabel

I agree totally with Rae...I just don't see it or feel it because you don't. I love the following jacket, FWIW :

I LOVE the black but I am showing the taupe ( which is sold out ) for detail. Danier has some great stuff !

Thistle

I agree with Rae as well. If you don't feel like a 10, then it should not be an investment piece. Not really any piece in your wardrobe. Form this, there should be no settling.

That said, I would keep looking anyway. There is something not right about the Trouvé jacket to my eye, maybe the length in the front?

The Helmut Lang one does look snug through the arms, and that will be extra difficult for layering, which is needed in a topper.

The Halogen jacket seems less edgy than you would like. Also, white sorta disturbs me, as every stain in a three mile radius finds it's way onto anything white I wear! Probably not an issue for anyone else, though.

Look forward to seeing the rest of the jackets.

Preppy Pear

I really like the Trouve jacket better than the other two! It makes me want to try it myself...but I think you are very wise to hold out if you don't think it's a 10. Thanks so much for sharing the pics of you in it!

I think the first two do not come in on your shoulders enough in front. The last one does. But if you are looking to find a 10, don't settle.

DonnaF

I would hold out, esp. if it is a black jacket that you want. If I were to spend $600 on a jacket, I would want it to fit perfectly or only need super minor alterations and be 100% flattering as all get out and make me feel like I'm on top of the world.

I went into Nordstroms today just to check out that Halogen jacket but in teal. True, it looks much better in the black and white versions; I was so-o-o-o-o disappointed how really cheap the polyester looks in teal (so nice in the photo!) since that would be a perfect color for me, so bad that I don't think I would even buy it on a discount. Looks like I may end up spending $169 to get the RED Anne Klein one. I would prefer red to RED, but interesting cuts are hard to find in petites. . .

cinnamon fern

I have loved that HL jacket for ages but I don't think it's perfect enough to keep. I vote return all three.

Looking at the first two, I wonder if this shape of lapel works better on someone pretty flat-chested? Or if these two jackets are just cut for someone flat-chester? They don't hang right on you and I suspect wouldn't on me either.

Mellllls

I'd keep looking.

Totally agree, Donna. I didn't even think that the white looked good after a couple glances. It was nicer than the colors, but the more I looked at it in isolation, the less I liked it. Black was passable, but I don't really feel the love. Such a disappointment because I've bought several Halogen jackets and always thought that the pricing was very fair and quality quite good. This feels more like juniors quality fabric, but with a better fit.

I have to laugh about the RED Ann Klein jacket. I couldn't tell what you meant, and then I looked it up on the Nordstrom website. It is definitely all caps red, isn't it!

Jyoti

Definitely agree with the general consensus that none are good enough for you! I don't think any fit your avante garde criteria perfectly either. Keep looking!

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