K/R: White Jacket - YouLookFab Forum

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K/R: White Jacket

E

Veteran

I'm wearing a simple summer dress today & thought this was a good time to grab some photos of another item from Suz's box of goodies (I already did a photo session w the maybes, but it was in the evening, and the lighting isn't good enough to get the best idea of colour). It's a lightweight jacket in a neat white & grey print with a little peplum & round collar, all of which I love, but I'm not sure if it's quite right for me. The white might be too bright & cool, almost ice-y, for both my colouring and to play well with all of the muted tones in my closet (the dress I'm wearing today is one of the very brightest pieces I own). And I'm not sure if the lines are too sharp or not, and if it ends in a good place for me. I can afford to be very fussy (although of course I'm terribly grateful to Suz either way!), as I've got enough summer toppers at this point that one more would be a pleasure rather than a necessity.

What do you guys think?

(At first I was leaning towards keep, but now I'm leaning towards pass it along. But is this a good general shape for me, even if this one isn't quite right?)

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29 replies

Latest reply was from E

missvee

Veteran

I really like the shape and style on you, in particular the way the crisp lines contrast with your soft flowing dress. But I can't speak to the colour. It looks very good on my screen, but IRL it might not be as flattering. You'll know best on that.

Sal

Veteran

It is a lovely jacket and so kind of Suz to send it to you.

I think it might be a tad too mature- I hope that comes across the right way. I love your style, and the jacket is great, but I am not sure if the two mix perfectly.

Alassë

Veteran

Closed, the jacket is too sharp for your style. Color is fine, and open looks fine with that dress at least. Your hair looks really pretty this way!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Try it with your grey linen pants and see how you feel. I wore it with dresses and pants, but always felt better in the pants outfits because then it didn't read as quite so "mature" (in Kiwigal's diplomatic phrase!)

If you want to see a really funky way of styling this jacket, look up some threads by forum member Jonesy. She does not post much any more but she has amazing style. Her looks and colouring and body type could not be more different from ours. She mixed this piece with some patterns you would not believe!!!!

My fave outfit with this jacket involved dark wash skinnies and a black shirt underneath. (Would have worked with navy, too.) I'll see if I an find the thread.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ack. Can't find the pic on its own, only in this thread, first outfit of mine.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA: You should not keep it if you have doubts about it working for you. Because life is short!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

The gray color works with your eyes but I'm not sure if it is right for your closet overall. It fits you and is flattering, but in a different style. I wonder if you have much navy in your closet? I could def. see if over a navy sheath for a special occasion. I agree with Suz to try it with those gray linen pants (and maybe one of your simpler tops). It is a more "modern" style than what I normally see you wearing.

So cute in pic 3 with your matching pup.

Diana

Veteran

Hmm, I'm not sure about this one. I like it, but it seems a bit as though the jacket is wearing you in some of these pics. I think it's partly that the crisp, stiff styling is at odds with what I perceive as your style, and also that the shoulders/arms look a little big and boxy on you. Could also be that the coloring is too cool or bright for you so it's overwhelming your softer natural tones.

catgirl

Veteran

I'm voting pass - it's a little too staid for your style (and Suz) even though the idea of it seems right.

Gigi

Veteran

Wonderful of Suz to send you a box of goodies! That's one of the things I like about YLF: how everyone helps everyone else.

I think that the fit is pretty good, but I think the style of the jacket is a little too streamlined and basic for your style. My take on your style is that little details are incredibly important: little pleats, textures, ruffles, lace. You also seem to prefer clothes that have a "soft" touch to them. The jacket in the photo is, on the contrary, designed with very strong lines and is very minimal. It also has a very structured shape and not a softer, more moldable one. I would vote pass simply because I don't know that it works well with your style goals and will play well with the other items in your closet.

unfrumped

Veteran

I also think it looks a little too boxy and big on you as even more important than the color. Something with softer structure would work better. You could make it work, but not as well as something that is more "you".
Say "next" and let someone else enjoy it!

E

Veteran

MissVee, my gut is telling me the colour isn’t quite right, so perhaps I should just trust that.

KiwiGal, that’s a very clever observation, thank you.

Alasse, I think I’d want the waist definition of it closed if I kept it, so I’m pretty sure it’s not quite right. Thnx about the hair: I put it up yesterday when it was still damp and then slept on it, and the hair style had a bit of pincurl effect!

Suz, I’ll try it with trousers (do you mean the loose ones? because I don’t actually have any linen ones, sadly), but I’m pretty sure it’s not going to feel quite right, even though it’s a gorgeous piece. You ROCKED it in that outfit photo & it looks so natural on you, which is confirming that it's not quite for me.

TexStyle, I have tons of navy (it’s one of my ‘core neutrals’), but I think the white & navy would be too high contrast for me. That’s a good point about it being more modern than my style.

Diana, oh! I think you put your finger on my hesitation: it feels a but like the jacket is wearing me in real life too.

Thanks AG! I think you’re right.

Gigi, I love YLF for that too. Thanks so much for the detailed analysis: you’re right, little details are very important to me, and I usually wear softer clothes. The jacket almost has a sci-fi feel vs my fairy tale preferences.

Unfrumped, now that’s interesting, because it definitely fits in the shoulders (I couldn’t size down) and it tapers at the waist, although not as much as my own waist, so I wonder why it looks too big. Hmmm.

MuseumGal

Veteran

Actually, I'd like to see with a more typical muted outfit before deciding. Maybe a muted grey or silver? Pairing with something already atypical (i.e. a bright color) is, I think, just compounding the "not me" effect.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yes...sorry, I thought the grey trousers were linen. But the soft ones, yes.

Still...I see what Gigi sees overall. It is too "crisp" for your style, too minimal, and too modern. Hmmm. This is all extremely interesting for me -- those were the aspects of it that made it WORK for me. Meanwhile, it was just very slightly on the "too feminine" side for me!

The main reason I passed it on, quite honestly, was the combination of my weather and my real life. I just didn't get enough opportunities to wear it -- even though I did love it whenever I wore it!

Oh, and one way I liked it was with a navy sheath! Texstyle nailed it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I vote pass. The armhole looks too long for the style of the jacket.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is so helpful from Angie re the fit.

Hmmm. Makes me think a bit. It was definitely a high armhole on me. So there must be some body type modifiers that affect this...wondering what????

Beth Ann

Veteran

There is such a thing as petite armholes? Who knew!

I like the print on you, and the style is doable in your wardrobe, but I agree that the color is cool on you. Fine, but not in perfect harmony. It's great to see the same items on different people. I learn so much!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Beth Ann -- here's what's interesting -- E has broad shoulders (broader than mine, I think, and "rounder" if that makes sense) -- and this is a petite sized jacket!!

Isn't it interesting to see the same item on different people? I do think there is value in it. And it might be easier to make objective assessments when it's not a "lemming" item.

E

Veteran

MG, that's a good point for future try ons! I had tried the jacket on over other outfits over the past few days but didn't care for how the brighter white looked.

Suz, no worries! They're rayon, which is surprisingly wonderful as a hot weather trouser fabric. Who knew? And yes, I can see that same elements that don't work for me would make it work for you. (Let me know if you want it back, since you love it on you, as I'm happy to package it back up.)

Angie, I often find armholes are too long for me, so that's a good point. This is a petite too, so I'm not sure why some jackets are cut differently.

Suz, there must be a modifier, because as I said to Angie, too long armholes are a big fitting issue for me. Bodies can vary so widely, it's a miracle anyone finds anything that fits! lol As you pointed out, it must be independent from shoulder breadth, as my shoulders are plenty broad (they're 36/37" around: I don't know if that's broader than yours or not). And I have fairly substantial upper arms too (for my size: sometimes a short sleeved top will fit everywhere else but is too tight in the sleeve cuff), so I don't know what's going on with that. I wonder if the armhole issue is why jackets sometimes constrict my arm movement; I always assumed it was my shoulders about to 'hulk out,' but maybe not. Hmmmm.

Beth Ann, I learned so much from this K/R discussion too! It is interesting seeing the same item on multiple people: and as Suz and I have such similar shapes and colouring, it really comes down to the finer details when it's between us.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Too long armholes! Well that is something new to consider. Wonderful to have a box of clothes to play with from Suz in any case!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

E, it could be the armhole issue. Mo has mentioned that as a problem she faces with jackets, also! It took her a while to figure out that was what was causing constriction in some jackets.

Might it have to do with having a shorter neck -- or rather, is that whole upper chest area (i.e. above the breasts) on the short side on both of you, I wonder? Hmmm. Mo is short waisted, so perhaps she is also short (relatively) in that upper area as well? I know that I am proportionately long there (as well as in the neck) and then just slightly short-waisted.

As for shoulders, mine are actually wider than yours at 38 or 39! So there you go. Meanwhile, my upper arms are on the slim side (I think) -- at any rate, they are definitely not "round" at all and sleeves are never tight.

And thanks for your offer to pack it back up -- but no thank you. I am ready to say goodbye and it will work for someone in your climate better than it ever worked for me, anyway.

E

Veteran

Shevia, too true! I need to show some more of the keepers soon.

You know, my sister & mom both have issues with too long armholes as well (which is how I learned that it was an issue, lol), so some people must just be shorter in that area! I have no clue if I'm short or long through the upper chest: it wouldn't surprise me if I'm short though, because I have a long waist & long rise & something has to give so that my legs are long enough to transport me. ;)That might also be why lower cut tops tend to be *quite* low on me & part of why I have bra fitting issues. Hmmm.

Funny that your shoulders are actually a bit broader! My torso is very elliptical, perhaps that's why you thought mine were broader (if I remember from that thread, they're 16" across). Or their extra roundness gives them more presence. We definitely have different upper arms if sleeves are never tight on you! It's one reason why I think I gave up on being fussy about fit: if by a miracle a woven shirt fit my waist & didn't pull at the bust, it was probably squishing my arms. lol

rachylou

Veteran

I love the *iciness* on you. It's ethereal. Does seem a little big... interesting about the armholes, because that must be the source of what I'm seeing. It's very hard for me to see how something of Suz's could be big...

On the other hand, it doesn't seem to do anything to weird. You could get away with it by chalking it up to waify-ness...

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I vote to pass. It's too firm/crisp for you and looks vaguely oversized (probably related to the armhole issue).

krishnidoux

Veteran

I really like it on you. Can't wait to see it paired with pants.

I don't see/understand the armhole issue that has been raised... trying to read the comments. I never thought about this issue.

The jacket does have a boxy feel to it, which would mesh well in a multi-layer outfit, or with slouchy pants, and a slight heel (for example a bootie).

As for the colour, it's true that you cannot count solely on this piece as it is indeed a bit too cool and, on its own, tends to wash you out. your I would try to use this jacket as a contrasting element, against a hue that really complements your delicate and lovely features, such as a deep teal, turquoise, or darker grey.

E

Veteran

RachyLou, now that's interesting, because when I read your comment I thought 'Gah! I don't want to be icy!'. Brought back bad memories of when we read Great Expectations in 9th grade & my classmates started calling me Estella. Hmph. I haven't thought about that in ages.

Alexandra, thanks! I'm in agreement w you.

KrishniDoux, thank you for the styling suggestions! I'm quite fussy about colour though, so I don't want to wear a topper that washes me out: I think I'll pass it along. If you've never thought about armhole fit, yours probably fit well!

DonnaF

Veteran

E, do you have very slender arms? My upper arms are thick, so I never ever have a problem with armholes being too low, at least in Petite sizes. Sleeveless regular sizes are another thing. . .

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This jacket is cut for a petite with a larger bust. That's all. Onto the next jacket.

E

Veteran

Donna, I don't have slender upper arms, compared to the rest of me.

Thanks for explaining it Angie.