K/R Theory Lanai - YouLookFab Forum

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K/R Theory Lanai

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Last week I posted about whether or not the Theory Lanai jacket would work for me (http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ect-jacket) and I ordered a brand new one from a lovely seller on eBay. It arrived today and I promptly threw it on over my outfit from work and then quickly tried a few stylings...."yes, dinner is coming....just one more quick picture".....

I'm not going to say too much about the jacket until after reading your thoughts but I will say that the quality is obvious...this jacket is beautifully made and the fabric is gorgeous and substantial. Plus the colour is the exact navy/dark blue I've been looking for.

The last photo is from the back and I realize the fit is not absolutely perfect. I will say however that blazers rarely fit me perfectly in the small of my back because I have a very prominent indent there. This is not a deal breaker for me as I am NOT on Team Back View.

So over to you...is THIS my navy blazer???

Gonna go feed the family before there's a revolt on - will check back with you in a bit

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47 replies

Latest reply was from Day Vies

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ooh! Excited that yours came! (Mine is waiting at my US address but I can't pick it up until the weekend...)

So. It seems to me that you really love this jacket, no? As you know, I have a soft spot for it, too, and on the whole I think it looks really good on you. Plus, clearly you can make good use of a navy blazer. So styling is not an issue.

Now, to get down to the nitty gritty picky stuff because that's what these threads are all about.

My first impression was: FAB!

My next impression was: Darn, why is it so hard to photograph dark items -- I really can't make out enough detail here.

My third impression (looking at first photo) was: Hmmm. Is it a bit long for her perhaps and wide in the shoulder? Something seems a wee bit off.

But I didn't think so looking at the next pic. So...could be a trick of the camera, or an issue of proportion/

Liked it BEST in #4 with scrunched sleeves.

Liked it less with the Magic dress.

Did not like it much with that open collar shirt in 7, but might if it were not a contrasting collar.

Did like it with the tee neck.

Felt some qualms about the back fit.

SO -- dying to know YOUR thoughts!

Anonymous

I like it. I thought photo 1-3 was of a bigger size, I don't know why it looks bigger in those pics. Then I got to phote 4 and I really liked it. Maybe it was the scrunching of the sleeves. So I like 4 thru rest. The shoulders do look wide but not bad. I thinking from your smile that it's a keeper.

Diana

Veteran

I really like it with the dresses (all of them) and with the tee/BF jeans outfit. I think the fit looks good in the shoulders. As you mention, the lower back fit is slightly too long or something but since you seem OK with that I don't think it's a dealbreaker.

The only outfit I don't like is with the tube skirt, since it looks somehow too long, but I'm guessing that's a proportion thing with the skirt as it looks fine with all the other outfits. I do want to see the back view with something other than the skirt because I'm not liking it but I think it might just be because I don't like it with the skirt.

Anonymous

My first impression is that it seems too big -- not the back view only, but something in the shoulder or the sides of it.

I like it best in 4 -- scrunching the sleeves seems to change the shape of the armholes or something to help with the drape of the front.

My second favourite is the BF jeans and T look.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I love the tee/BF jeans outfit - that is one of your best!

I am not sure if I like the proportions of this blazer with some of the dresses though; although the longer line is in again, apparently ... haha; who knows!!!

How do you feel about it?

Mia

Veteran

Love the boyfriend jean outfit. Looks perfect. Not so sure about with the dresses and it is so hard to judge dark colours in photos.

Honestly, this is why I have way too many dark blazers. I just can't find a "do all". I don't really want to either because I love all my "children".

Interested to see what you decide. Now i have to go and produce dinner

Deborah

Veteran

Have read the other comments and I must say I am not seeing it as too big. Solid coloured dark jackets like this look "heavier" than what you have been wearing over Spring /Summer and I wonder if that is affecting our collective eye? I particularly love the jacket in the corporate pants ensemble (7 & 9). I think the jacket works best with pants, jeans and knee length skirts. I don't think it looks bad with the midi length but I do think the proportions are better with knee length. Shannon, I may have mentioned I have a very similar jacket and I love it. It's a nice blend of tailored with interest. I'm voting keep:)

DonnaF

Veteran

I like this blazer best with jeans and trousers. Sorry to be a spanner, but IMHO, it looks only okay with dresses, but I don't feel that it really *elevates* them IYKWIM -- and at this price point, if it were me, I would want it to do so. This jacket with Theory trousers on you would probably have me fainting, however.

catgirl

Veteran

I need to see these on my computer but it is so interesting to see one of my workhorses on someone else! More later when I can offer an informed opinion.

K. Period.

Veteran

Ok, so maybe I'm crazy, but I LOOOOOOVE IT! I don't see anything wrong with the shoulders. It looks like a good shoulder fit to me. If I'm seeing it right, it has a strong shoulder line, then you see just the absolute slightest hint of the outside of your deltoid bumping the uppermost sleeve out, right? The end of the shoulder is just at or maybe a tiny bit over your shoulder's end? I think that is perfect. This looks like a total winner to me. (But with all that gushing, I reserve the right to change my mind if Angie chimes in and points out anything that I've missed. You know. 'Cause I'm dependable like that. A rock. Except when the tide comes in.)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

To clarify my observations -- I don't think it looks too big in the shoulder (from what I can see, anyway). I think the proportions look wrong with the midi for some reason.

I really prefer it with scrunched sleeves for some reason. Is this my terminal love of scrunching, or something based in reality? Who knows.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Well...I must admit I'm quite surprised at the responses 'cause I absolutely love the jacket.

I have measured the shoulders and waist and they are EXACTLY the same as the RW&Co blazer I wore yesterday which everyone thought was a great fit.

The shoulder seams hit me pretty much at the edge of my shoulders. The blazer does have a strong shoulder.

I do prefer the sleeves scrunched as I do with most of my blazers.

An item can be "sold" with the right styling and maybe some of these outfits don't do the blazer justice.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

The shoulders seem good, but it does seem like its a bit long on your torso. Even if the waist is hitting at the right spot, the pocket welts draw my eye lower. Don't get me wrong, I love the jacket. I'm just nit-picking as sort of a devils advocate.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think that's my observation, too, Shannon. Not that the jacket is too long for you, per se. That it might be a tad too long for this jacket. But careful styling can make up for that.

What I mean is that the designer probably didn't intend for this particular jacket to be quite this long. But as a petite short waisted woman I think you are quite used to that situation. The Lanai has somewhat similar lines to "our" Danier jacket. And you wear the Danier to perfection. Technically, it is longer on you than what the designer probably intended. (Same is true for me by the way, even though I'm a couple of inches taller.) But there are ways of styling it so it looks grand. And you do that every time you wear it.

I do think the scrunching gives it the structure you need. That's true for the Danier, too. Luckily the sleeves on that one stay up easily. Would that also be true here?

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I think it is a good blazer for you Shannon - both in style and fit. I do prefer it with to the knee pencils and BF jeans but it does not look too bad with black trousers either. My least favorites are #1 and 6 - it seems too long proportionally for those skirts - but hey, who said every jacket should go with ALL things in your closet? If it goes with half it is good enough in my book:-)
Suz, I cannot wait to see it on you!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

It does have similar lines to our Danier jacket which is indeed technically too long for me and actually fits me the same way in the back. It's because the waist of the jacket doesn't hit me precisely at my waist. You're also right that I am used to that.

I'm on my phone so can't add the pictures but I quickly looked at a couple of Una's outfits with her Lanai jacket and to my untrained eye it looks about the same length on her with the pocket welts in the same spot.

I do know that my RW&Co jacket is 1.5 inches shorter on the body and that's probably why it looks better overall.

I do apologize if I sound defensive but I'm trying to understand why I don't see the same issues as those being pointed out.

Still love it.

catgirl

Veteran

Shannon, I think the difference is that my shoulders and bust take up more room inside the jacket, and that brings it up a bit. It falls a bit differently on me in the mid-section. I am stymied as to what else could account for that slight roominess and illusion of length on you. It's like I want to hike the jacket shoulder back on you a bit.

It is really hard for me to judge this on you because I am so biased and in love with it as a workhorse item. I will say that I am about to purge my grey Theory blazer (not a Lanai) because the cut on me just doesn't fall as I'd like.

My Lanai does not have pockets - does yours?

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

I don't think I've ever seen that jacket on Una without the sleeves scrunched or rolled. The other issue may be that Una might not be as short waisted. So the "points" of that jacket appear to be pointing towards her approximate real waist (even though her real waist is probably a bit higher).

But Shannon - notice Una's wearing it with a knee length dress here. That may be its best partner (apart from pants) because that's how it looks best on you, too.

Very interesting.

catgirl

Veteran

I don't think I' m short-waisted, but then again I don't think I have a waist.

Vildy

Veteran

I'm one who loves it best on you in the pants outfits. Meaning I like it fine with the skirted outfits but I think it's particularly wonderful with the pants.

Anonymous

I was imprecise in my terminology -- the breadth of the shoulder looks ok to me, I get it is a strong shoulder blazer. Where I mean is from the armhole to the front/sides. With sleeves down it seems to hang as if it is too long for your upper torso. When you scrunch, it kind of pushes that part into place and then it seems to fit much better.

I am sorry I commented because you seem to really love it, and that is the most important thing!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Suz & Una - you know I love you guys and how you are helping me figure this out right?

Una - you said something which has really caught my attention in that you want to pull the shoulders back on me. Maybe I need to adjust the jacket onus body a bit? BTW my jacket doesn't have pockets but rather a welt seam for faux pockets.

Maybe I'm trying too hard to compare how the jacket looks on me compared to how it looks on Una. It's not going to look the same because we're not the same.

pil

Veteran

I'm getting a similar vibe with the size too, it must be an optical illusion of some sort. My styling preferences are toward the banded dresses and the slacks and jeans.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ceit don't ever apologize for giving your honest opinion. I'm a big girl and people's comments always make me learn something and think . Fab feedback has kept me from making a lot of mistakes.

But I do love the jacket and might have to fight for it - lol!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I really don't think it's optical illusion. I think Ceit might be onto something about the armhole issue.

Although in a way I feel as if I'm stabbing in the dark here because it's so darn hard to see. RATS!! I wish we had a fix for this. The only trick seems to be taking pics outside in broad daylight! Is it going to be nice in your neck of the woods tomorrow, Shannon?

And yes, you and Una are different - it won't look the same. It just needs to look fab!

Think how different the same BR jacket looked on me, Sveta, and Diana. Comparison to those threads would be interesting. Different bodies, different look -- can be an equally good (but different) look, or an equally bad look, or spectacular on one and "meh" on another.

And you will see the Lanai on me on the weekend. I am not holding out a lot of hope for it, to be honest. Angie has warned me against it...

catgirl

Veteran

I think Ceit is saying what I'm saying, in a different way - I take up more upper space in the jacket, therefore the jacket sits back on me, and more forward on you. Almost like you need to shrug it back. That would also account for the back being off a bit. Perhaps a tailoring tweak?

rae

(website)

Veteran

Huh, I'm surprised at the responses, too - I think it's freakin' gorgeous on you. There isn't a single outfit option I don't like.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, well it took all my willpower not to open ebay and check if they have this in my size - does that tell you anything? I love it with the tee and bfs (#8) but I also think it works with the dresses and skirt. Really the only thing that gave me pause was the collar outside the jacket. But I am just 1/2 through my first cup of coffee so bear that in mind.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Well, I for one really love it on you! I'm not as crazy about the stylings in 6 and with the high-contrast collared shirt, but otherwise I think it's fab on you. The color is great too.

As someone else who has difficulty with a perfect back fit (darn wonky spine), I don't see that as a deal breaker.

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