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K/R: suit part 2 (the 2 button BR jacket)

Diana

Veteran

Earlier in the week I posted a K/R for a BR suit featuring a one button jacket. Many of you thought the jacket was too long/boxy for me and encouraged me to try the 2 button version, which is shorter and has a higher stance. I managed to track it down in store yesterday (since annoyingly BR's 40% coupons only worked on blazers in store and not online). This is the same jacket that Sveta and Suz are trying in navy.

So here it is, with the same pants. I have significantly bumped the exposure on most of the photos so you can actually see detail. 1-4 are unbuttoned, 5 is with both buttons done (don't like this but angie has assured me I will never need to button it if I don't want to), 6 is with only the top button done, and 7 is with a BF jeans outfit just for fun. The sleeves are too long as they were with the other blazer as well; I will get them shortened.

Photos 8-10 are with the one button jacket for reference.
Previous thread with that jacket here: http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kr-br-suit

What do you think? Is this one better? Have I found my suit?

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26 replies

Latest reply was from Amy

Suz

(website)

Veteran

On my phone so don't have the best view but I think it is working!! How does if feel?

unfrumped

Veteran

Boy, these jackets are hard. I think I like this one better because is is not so much jacket--shorter but not really short. I like it unbuttoned best. This is hard for me because I usually find jackets too short for my taste even when shorter is trending, so I'd like to know what folks think about "longevity" at this length.
Like Sveta's suit, to me the shorter jacket has a good curvature/line and does not look like "a short jacket".

Gaylene

Veteran

I prefer the one button style because I think the line is more elegant in the front and the back. This longer, more fluid style is what I'm falling in love with on Angie's Fall/Winter 2013 pins. To me, it looks fresh and modern.

talific

I prefer this one to the one-button. That being said, I think it's too small when buttoned. Or at least, it seems that way from the pics. But I personally think this one looks sleeker than the other one, which just seemed too.. big?

cinnamon fern

Veteran

If you are OK with never buttoning - at least not both buttons - I think this is really good. It seems like a better fit - although for some reason I can't articulate I think the original one was better with jeans.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Is this the same size as one button jacket? It seems to fit smaller when closed. Other that the fit when closed I like this jacket (may be biased, you know). I think if you want a suit it makes sense to be fitted rather than BF like.
Gaylene, I actually quite like the fitted blazer paired with fluid trousers, feels modern to me too!

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Adelfa

Veteran

I like the side view of the new one especially! And of course if you don't mean to button, the buttoned view doesn't matter. I like it!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm. Back on a bigger screen and I feel unsure. I am not liking it buttoned as much and almost want to see a different size. As UF says, these jackets really are hard. (I have decided I bought the wrong size for myself and need to exchange, so that may be colouring my impressions!)

Diana

Veteran

Sveta, they are the same size.

Suz and Talific, the size up was clearly too big in the shoulders. If a looser looking fit is desired, then I might as well stick with the one button blazer. The two actually fit almost exactly the same through the shoulders and back.

So I think what is making it appear too small when buttoned is not that it's actually tight but that the stance, even on the two button one, is too low. It's hitting completely below my bust, which makes the excess material at the bust pouf out in a weird way. The stance on the one button is also too low but it's so low that the bust doesn't pouf.

I'm not sure I ever want to wear it buttoned, but on the other hand I'm not sure I don't want the option to be able to do so...

Adelfa, glad you like the side view. I was actually unsure because the fronts are longer than the back (that is how it is designed) and the other one is longer in back which maybe seems more conventionally flattering to me.

CF, I agree the first one was better with jeans. But to be honest neither of them is exactly the look I wanted for the BF jeans anyway. I think for that I just need to get an inexpensive drapey blazer like Una's.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm. Interesting. Diana, are there petite ones in this version in your size?

I am going back and forth between petite and regular. I purchased petite but think it was a mistake because the armholes are cut a bit high for me. But I am wondering if the difference in stance would be enough to help this situation for you.

Diana

Veteran

I felt like the petite was too short overall, plus the sleeves were too short and it didn't look like there was enough seam allowance to lengthen them. I like the length of the regular with pants, I wouldn't want it to be shorter.

ETA: And I think the armholes felt tight to me too on the petite.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yeah. I hear you. So frustrating. As you said before, there is probably a reason you have more shorter jackets in your wardrobe. Me, too.

Having said that, I really like it unbuttoned from front, side, and back.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I do think I like the 2-button better, especially if the plan is to wear it undone. See how the 2-button curves in a little bit near your waist, while the 1-button hangs mostly straight down? And to me they look to be about the same length.

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Beth Ann

Veteran

OK, jumping in here. I like the one button better. Quite a bit better. I know you have more shorter jackets, and I like that style too, but the one button has a stronger, more modern line, and I don't think the 2 button has enough shaping to qualify as a real "feminine" jacket.

Just my two cents!

Diana

Veteran

Bumping for Angie.

Rae, I think you're right and they are similar lengths in the front. The back of the two-button is a lot shorter though, if you look at the back views. That is the style, it's cut shorter in back (Sveta noted this too in her post); I'm not 100% sure I like that. On the other hand, I think the shorter back does pull the side up somehow which helps the stance sit better on me. The one-button curves down slightly to be longer in back.

Beth Ann, you make a good point about the one button having a cleaner line. I worry that it might be overwhelming on me though. I don't really want an overtly feminine blazer to be honest, I'd rather have something slightly androgynous and more assertive looking. I also have a grey Nanette Lepore blazer, which I could use to make a mismatched suit with the black pants, and that one is extremely feminine (it has a peplum) so I think I have that angle covered.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm here, Diana. Thanks for getting the other jacket so that we can compare silhouettes.

I like the two button open - it does not work buttoned up. Pulls too much.

I still really like the one button because it looks more modern to me.

Truly, I think you can go either way. The two button fits you a hair better judging from the photos - although it's hard to determine fit on black items in photos and I could be imagining that. But the one button is super snazzy.

So Diana, which do you prefer?

Diana

Veteran

Thanks for weighing in, Angie. As to which I prefer, truly I am not sure! I have to think about this a bit more and maybe see if the buttons can be moved over slightly. Here is my list of pros and cons. Feel free to add if I missed anything!

One-button:
pros: cleaner, more modern line; slightly better when buttoned (although I don't really like either one buttoned to be honest); was cheaper (because on sale)
cons: may be too overwhelming on my frame, or too boxy; stance is really low on me; single back vent may hang funny on my butt once it's cut.

Two-button:
pros: a more streamlined fit, with a little more shape/less boxy; higher stance; has a double vent which I know sits better on my shelf butt
cons: pulls a bit when closed, more expensive

Things I am not sure about:
--What do you think of the higher vs. lower back on the two- vs. the one- button jackets? Do you have a preference?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Bumping for you, Diana.

I can see advantages and disadvantages, too. I truly wish we could see better, and you have done everything you can to lighten the photos, I know. Grrr.

I will have a suit post tomorrow or the next day, too. I bought the two button and the straight trousers but am not 100% sure it is my suit. I did get the whole thing on sale, so that is something. I am worried that the 2 button jacket isn't modern enough.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Diana, I have no preference either way with the back lengths. I do prefer the one button from the side though. Looks more chic somehow.

My suggestion is play around with styling and go with the jacket that feels and looks better to you during this process.

unfrumped

Veteran

How do you tell when these very dilemmas about fit mean that the jackets themselves don't "get you" ? Do you need to look for another maker?

When I look at the photos I keep thinking, like this but more that; more of this, less of that.

Trouble is, if I do that enough myself, I end up with nothing to wear. I do not know enough about your suit saga to know if you're already worn out from looking and this is the most likely to work.

Diana

Veteran

Unfrumped, I wanted to start with BR because a)I know the martin pants fit (and pants fit can be difficult for me), b)their suits are wool and lined, including the pants, which is key (I don't like poly, and I especially don't like unlined poly pants), and c)I think they're a really good value.

But if anyone has suggestions for other brands that fit these criteria please let me know. Someone will probably suggest J Crew but they do NOT cut to fit a curvy body at all. And I love Theory jackets but after asking around here I think most people concur with my assessment that they don't make pants big enough for my butt. I adore Nanette Lepore jackets and they fit me like a dream, but I find their suits a little too va-va-voom lately to be honest - that said, I do have a couple of saved ebay searches for the nanette pants/skirt that match my grey pinstripe jacket.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's sort of ironic that the item you usually fit so easily (jackets) in this case has created the contention! But if it were another maker, it would be the pants creating the difficulties. Alas.

At the sale price, the BR suit is a pretty darned good deal. As I was saying to Sveta, it is also pretty much cross seasonal in our climate. And remarkably wrinkle resistant. I had it in a (damp) suitcase for a weekend and wrinkles fell right out! (Suitcase was damp because I was caught in a downpour.)

Diana -- what about another option -- going unmatched? I.e. if this jacket doesn't do it for you, how about getting another jacket (possibly even from BR) that does, and then waiting until their next year's version comes out. Maybe the jacket style will work better on your frame?

Diana

Veteran

Suz, I was thinking I should try the pants with my grey Nanette jacket for an unmatched suit. I'd want to do that anyway. However, I don't want to do unmatched black fabrics. I think it defeats the purpose of having a formal, conservative suit in that case.

I probably can get away with unmatched for most situations; however, being my usual worrywart self, I just worry that something will come up for which I need a real suit and then I won't have one.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yup. I get that. And I understand the need for matched fabrics. It isn't the same if it doesn't match.

unfrumped

Veteran

I totally hear you on JCrew. Their clothes do not get me at all.

AT pants fit me, but their jackets have proven too curvy! I had to ditch some & now have only 1 suit and it's perhaps on its way out. So I've got AT pants and BR jackets, a suit of which I do not make!

And I think BR reads younger and more hip than AT, so it is indeed a good place to be looking.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Diana, I like you in a suit! Would you really button up the jacket much?mi wear suit jackets almost every day and never button them.