K/R: Ruffle Jacket (Dated?) ETA: Returning

So... I'll admit the discussion April started on "what's dated", that has a large theme of ruffles being "over" gave me enough pause to take a few snaps of this jacket i found at Goodwill (new with tags) yesterday and post it up for the greater wisdom.

After figuring out i am a Kibbe Soft natural body type i've come to understand why i seem to be fighting with some of my stiffer shorter blazers, esp when worn with tucked tops they emphasize my broadness and not in a good way. So some of the Kibbe rec's for soft naturals are to gently define the waist and wear asymmetrical cuts. This wool wrap jacket does both (although the detailing may be too much for a SN and too high on my body) Still it is a stretchy felted wool, (warm! comfy!) and I was thinking about giving it a try for $8 as it appeals to the Boho element in my style.

But, I dont want the Suz's of my world to think i havent had a chance to shop in 5 years! LOL I am not super keen on the back view (the neck ruffle doesnt feel very proportional), but I do like the front.

Yay -- suits your body and is fluid looking (not dated ruffles or overly flouncy)
Nay -- get those ruffles back to Goodwill

Thanks in advance for your advice

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12 years ago

AviaMariah

Veteran

It looks like it may be too big through the shoulders and in the sleeves. Is it just the pictures? Realize I am really picky about these two things since they are my fit issues so it may just be me. As far as being dated, I think if the fit is right it would look fine and not dated.

Sarah A

Hmmm... So i am so worked up over whether this fits my style i am not sure whether it fits me. Ha. The arm is think is somewhat loose and long (This seems like the kind of thing i could tackle with my beginner sewing skills) but looking in the mirror and feeling the where my shoulders are i think (?) the shoulder fits. I do wonder if the arm scythe (i think thisis the right term) isnt set a bit low and that is why it looks big maybe?

(website)

I'm on the fence - and I still have a ruffle or two hanging in my closet! One of my demoted to lounge items last year was this cashmere ruffle cardi . . .

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Suz

Hmmm. Well, I think the fit of the jacket is slightly off for you, and I also think the style is slightly off for you. I think the "softness" for a soft natural would come less from details like ruffles (though I might be wrong) and more from the overall line and fabrication. In any case, whether that would be true for an "idealized" soft natural, in your case, you also have considerable angularity going on. Your hair cut, your face has some squareness to it, and so on. So to my eye, the ruffles fight that a bit. On the other hand, I quite like the asymmetrical closing for you. And the gently defined waist.

For $8, I would say, depends how you feel! If you feel fab, then rock it. If you feel less than fab, save that $8 for the next piece.

JAileen

I like the jacket a lot. However, the sleeves are too long and that would bug me if I were wearing it. It also may be a little wide through the neckline. But that might just be that the jacket isn't cinched up enough.

April

The ruffle on that particular jacket doesn't actually look dated to me. My dated ruffle went straight down the middle and was a "tighter" ruffle, if that makes sense.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

It doesn't scream dated to me as much as a very particular, earthy kind of look. And I agree it seems too big, everywhere above the waist - the shoulders are a bit too broad and the sleeves are too long (the latter could be fixed of course).

Jules

Well, one of my dated triggers is brown - as discussed in Angie's recent blog post it was everywhere a few years and ago and nowhere to be found now. But I do still wear it with current colours like burgundy, plum and teal. So I'd consider styling it with colour rather than black and denim. But overall I tend to agree with the general assessment that this is ok on you but not amazing.

Glory

I like it and don't find it dated. I do think it looks large on you.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to impart your wisdom I think if the fit was perfect this would be a harder decision but the combination of this probably not being quite right for my style direction (too romatic or earthy) COMBINED with the fact the the fit isnt spot on helps me know that returning is the right choice. I have never regretted returning something that i posted as a K/R. While I feel good in this i dont feel amazing and there is not room in my closet for not amazing. I will be looking for more asymmetric items with softly defined waistlines though

I think this is the right decision, Sarah. I am learning that my misses are really important for my learning. I used to keep things that were "okay" if they were inexpensive because I figured, where would I get a deal like that again? And wouldn't it be great to have a new item to toss into the mix?

Now I'm more picky. If I don't feel fantastic in it, then I'm going to feel less than fab every time I wear it. So where's the joy in that? It's worth waiting for the right piece.

I think returning is the right decision too Sarah. My thrift stores only let me do exchange returns, not returns for cash, which makes dressing room decisions more fraught! Suz, that's a marvelous insight, and I'll remind myself of that next time I'm in the dressing room debating something.

Suzanne (ambergreen)

This may not have been "the one" this time, but I agree with the others that a wrap style with a waist looks like it would work super well with the right fit and collar (or no collar). So, good instincts.

Caro in Oz

I think it's great how we all learn from each other about how to stay on the PPP path I agree that you can do better & Suz makes some great observations.

Vildy

I'm amazed your Goodwill allows returns - ours definitely does not.
If you hadn't wanted to return it, I would have said that I would casually cuff the sleeves on a layer like that plus I would just remove the ruffles completely and go plain cardigan wrap style.

Thanks you all for your support! PPP I do think I am becoming more patient for the right item, but still lured by super "deals" .... overall, making less returns (of items I have actually tried on, online orders and returns will always be another game...)

Now as i was considering the role of returns in curating one's closet and my own K/R posts, i think they have resulted in 100% return. Perhaps if I feel compelled to post something for K/R I should just return... But the feedback here takes such ideas from "i am not sure" to a clear this is the right decision. So thank you for that!

I am quite fortunate that our Goodwill accepts returns on clothes and shoes for 7 days. Really takes the pressure off! Some of the other local shops are final sale and while they have slightly better prices i usually wont go for something I am absolutely not certain about in that situation.

Beth Ann

Sorry so late to post! It seems like you're in a stage of exploration right now. Trying things on, even when you're not sure they'll work, is an important part of learning.

Do you have a pinterest board to get inspiration from? Are there any fabbers already going down the road you're wanting to travel?

I'd call the Goodwill jacket unstructured, with romantic details, but not fluid. I have a jacket with a more traditionally shaped torso, but sleeves just like yours in teal. I love the warmth and stretch of the fabric, but it won't slide well over base layers, which leads to my readjusting it all the time. I do, however, love the brown on you!

Gigi

I don't mind the jacket itself, and I don't think it looks dated, but it looks too big on you. I don't think the fit is good.

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