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Back on the air after that break. But wait, there’s more!! Exhibits A & B and C & D

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I’ve mentioned this little cache of jackets a few times. Angie’s post this morning has gotten me to try a couple of them on.

What do we think? Are these the type of shorter jackets one wears these days, and with what?

The dark one was a hand me down from my mother 10 years ago. I had it in my mind as a Chanel-type jacket. Bzzztt—nope. But does it work with the high-waisted wide-legged cords? My dark flare jeans (& everything else) will be here in a few weeks. Maybe I’ll try it with them.

The white one—I have no idea. Got it while losing weight & it was a little tight. Not sure if I’ve worn it or not. I love that it has 3/4 sleeves, because I push my sleeves up all the time anyway. It clearly needs some attention from a steamer or iron! I’d love to start wearing it, but with what?

Your comments, ideas and opinions are humbly requested. Please note the huge difference in my mind between “not right now” and “never again”. There are many forum members who wear these so well. Jackets have never been part of my repertoire, but I’d like to learn.

ETA. Tried on two more.
The cream one is shorter than A, and much shorter than I remember, but still pretty long. Do I want to wear it oitw these days?
D is my purple boiled wool Geiger Tyrolean jacket that we got at the same time as my long navy wool coat, cause Mom figured I was done growing. I love it, but have no idea how to make it look current, not odd.

************
ETA the longer ones too.

I’ve moved onto the taking-out-the-trash portion of my evening, so am wearing long Johns & no bra. Hope that doesn’t make it too hard to tell if any of these work.

The long blue one is a silk J Petermann jacket that I thought of often while in Berlin.

The very casual one was on clearance at Soft Surroundings ages ago. Don’t think I’ve ever worn it—the pattern scared me, but it doesn’t now.

The black one is the same number size as the slubby one in the beginning, but it’s a petite.

Last 3 pix are back to A, shown fastened this time (there are little hooks, no buttons).

Are any of these going to work without gaining 20 lbs? That’s not something I’m willing to do.

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Dressing

28 replies

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April

Veteran

I like these on you, but I'm a sucker for a jacket.

The mom jacket is a tad long to be the sort Angie wrote about, but I love the length. And the peplum on the white one is totally my cuppa tea.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

April, you’re fast. That’s dopamine posting! So your vote for the dark on is set it aside for now, but hang onto it? Maybe I should try it with more fitted bottoms, like the various suggestions for this on Nordy’s site.

LIVERPOOL LOS ANGELES Plaid Fitted Open Front Knit Blazer

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Top Pick

1

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Stag, here's my 2 cents:

dark jacket looks a size a big - unless it's supposed to be worn with the front fastened. Not sure that will change the shoulder fit, though!

white jacket fits well in the torso when fastened, but I find the neck too wide for your frame.

cream jacket also looks a size big.

purple jacket is FABULOUS! Gorgeous colour on you, and interesting silhouette

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Angie, thanks for commenting with cold hard analysis.

If buttoning up A does change the shoulder fit, is that good or bad?

B and C: darn and darn! I like both of them, think they’re interesting and like that they don’t have collars. It doesn’t sound like there’s much hope for making the hole that is the neck in the white one smaller. Could the cream one work layered over something heavier? You know I’m wondering if it could be taken in.

So purple is it! So funny that the jacket from when I was in middle school is the winner. Between this, the cord skirt, and the velour top at the market last summer, I’m building up quite the purple capsule.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

That was so discouraging I’m trying again. Can you take another look please? Here are
E. Long navy silk blazer (really don’t like the way tummy looks in pic 1, hope it’s just the pose)
F. Patterned casual jacket
G. A LBJacket, in a petite size
A. Again, this time buttoned up. It feels comfy.

Any winners?

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Vildy

Veteran

I rather like 1,2,3 with your hair cascading over it. The next white one looks wonky to me. The purple boiled wool wears like a sweater, nothing wrong with that.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I would wear the Tyrolean jacket for sure! I'd pair it with wide leg cropped pants and current footwear.

The long navy silk -- I'm not sure if the size is correct. It would take some creative styling to make it work, I suspect. Feels very 90s, which could be good if you want to evoke that era. But I'm not sure how you'd bring it up to date. It pretty much has to be worn buttoned to work. So what bottoms? This is the question in my mind. How would you wear? I am a bit of a sucker for the style. But it looks large to me.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I like the blue silk because it has a definite “point of view.” Looks sharp, to my eye. Could be used for an evening occasion for sure. Or just thrown on for daytime.

I have a personal loathing for jackets without collars, so I am hating all of those, but I realize that’s just my personal taste!

Don’t love the lapel shape on the dark jacket that was your mom’s, I’m sorry to say. Somehow it strikes me as “demure” which doesn’t match with your “bold” personality!

April

Veteran

Love the first one and the look of the white, only it does seem overly big on you. Would it be practical to have it nipped in a bit?

Anonymous

None seem so huge as to be unworkable to me (but I'm on my phone so pics are v small). You could try layering some of them with thicker tops.

Dee

Veteran

My preference would be for “G” the little black jacket and I like “A” when its buttoned up and “D” the shorter purple is good too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Of the second batch, here is my next two cents:

Again, I think it's a size big! Neither sharp nor intentionally fluid here. Does it have matching pants? That could make it look more current. I DO like that shade of blue on you!

I like the fluid patterned casual jacket! That can work with your boho-esque style. A bit Cottage-Core too

the short black jacket seems severe, and not your style. Does it make you happy?

thanks for closing the fastenings on the first jacket. It's better! That said, if you were my client, we'd have sized you down. That jacket is suppose to look sharp and more fitted. It is especially big at the back. But if you like it, and want to wear it - please carry on!

rachylou

Veteran

I kinda like them all. I like options. I also see what Angie is saying, but I think you could work it going a little Hippie…

Irina

Veteran

A couple of them have potential in my opinion. But I’d like to know which one do you like the most? Which one you can’t wait to wear?

SarahD8

Veteran

I am with Irina. I am not a jacket gal so my reaction is sorta, "yep, those are some jackets!" I think I need a bit more information about the use cases (do you need a classic outfit that will enable you to "blend in" in a conservative environment? Do you want something to help project authority and distinguish you from undergrads during long days working in an academic library?) or styles (you mentioned the Chanel-esque jacket...are you aiming for a cheeky take on a ladies who lunch look? Or a high-low juxtaposition with fancy jacket and stompy boots) that you're interested in in order for me to comment more intelligently.

The one that stands out to me in the absence of further info is that vintage boiled wool number that others have mentioned. It's an interesting piece, looks high quality, and the fit is divine. I'd probably do a boho-ish short-over-long-over-lean look: cropped raw-hem jeans, a flowy dress, jacket over top.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Good thoughts and questions in this thread!

Vildly, hm, how could I play up the cascading hair/sunflower power vibe enough to outweigh the nice girl vibe?

Suz, that one has strong potential in two directions—funky cool throwback outfit or clunkelly back in time. Thinking about your wide crops suggestion: I don’t have crops, don’t think I have wide pants other than these, which are corduroy and don’t appear to work. I used to wear it with slim navy silk pants, but they are long gone and I’m not sure they were right to begin with.

Jessikams, I bet you could toss it over something as you mention & it’d be great, because you’ve got that touch. What would you throw it over? Am I crazy or is there something vaguely Manchurian to it?

April, the collar? Guess it doesn’t hurt to ask. First I need to find who to ask.

Suntiger, layering with thicker tops sounds like a cheat code!

Dee, i hear a marked preference for a certain shape.

Angie, thanks for being so generous with your professional opinions! The blue pants I had for that silk jacket weren’t an actual match. Could this jacket work paired with a slim dress? The black jacket—does it make me happy? The elastic/ruching/whatever it is that makes it so fitted takes away any stiffness. If I have to wear a black jacket (totally not my style), this would be a preferable one. The hooks on A make it clear that it’s just as you say—meant to be worn very fitted. Would it work to add buttons (and buttonholes) so the sides overlap a bit?

Rachylou, “a little hippy” is great, but how? It’s very unhippy of me, but I want instructions.

Irina, i like them all, but have no idea how to wear any of them. It’s a brand new element to my style. Once i figure out what to do with one, it will become my favorite.

Sarah, once again, you’ve got your finger on the pulse! The question is what to do with any of them. I don’t feel any need to distinguish myself around here at all. The grey hair keeps me from being confused with grad students, lol. I might eventually want to wear one/some of them for something professional, but right now, the imperative to wear them comes from wanting to do something different/never having worn jackets and wanting to know how. So I’m looking to make very casual, campus-y outfits. A sly bit of tongue in cheek or something cheeky would be true to my brand.

So the purple jacket is the clear winner! Next question: what to do with it? I don’t think I’ve ever worn it other than with a paisley Liberty skirt and a high-necked fussy blouse. As much as i like the skirt and the jacket, I think they need to be separated. I’ve just hatched a little plan for the skirt, but what do you all think could work with the purple jacket?

Irina

Veteran

Well, a jacket is a jacket, I think. You recently bought a nice, green wool jacket. And you knew how to wear that one. So, what is different here?

I like the silk one. Sorry, hard to make a full determination of the fit because it’s wrinkled but I find it interesting and unique. I would take a tailor to get an opinion, might look good if taken in a bit. I think fit is really important in a silk garment. Could be used as a dressy piece.
My second favorite is a cream jacket (follow the silk one in pictures above). Easy to style with a summer dress or anything cream underneath.

Kathie

Veteran

I'd start with F, the patterned one, if you're figuring out how these work with your style. Throw it on over jeans, perhaps some navy slacks, if you own those, and see how you like it. As for the purple one, do you have anything high-waisted?

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Yes, the navy silk definitely reads “Asian” to me…. The Nehru collar could take it into an Indian direction or it could be interpreted as a modern, loose kind of Mao jacket (even the color is right for that). Honestly I’d wear it over jeans and a tank, with some sandals and long necklaces. Easy!

The white jacket reminds me of a bed jacket. Could you use it that way? As lounge wear? I actually love a good bed jacket, hanging on my bed post for chilly mornings as I sit in bed and sip coffee. They never survive long because I always spill the coffee LOL

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I think irinas question is important. Do you LIkE these? Are you excited to wear them?

SarahD8

Veteran

I like Jessikams' idea for the silk jacket!

For the Tyrolean wool, I guess this is maybe the obvious approach, but I would try updating it through juxtaposition. Wear it with a vintagey/delicate white blouse, slouchy worn-in jeans, and your red stompy boots. Or open over a sleek black turtleneck, tucked into jeans, with a chunky belt.

ETA: I also like Irina's idea to use your new green jacket as a bit of a guide/jumping off point. Especially for the purple one. They are different cuts, but both boiled wool, no?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I like all of them! And I like the idea of wearing them. But it’s kind of like eating a dish you really like, and then trying to make it. I like saag paneer, but couldn’t make it with all the spinach and cheese curd in the world. Even following a recipe is painstaking and lacks that “swing” to make it all come together. So I’m looking at these yummy ingredients, trying to figure out how to whip up a dish.

Kathie

Veteran

I find black jackets to be quite versatile, if a bit boring. My suggestion on those is to try each of them with a bunch of different tops, so that you know which necklines work together. Once you have the jacket/underpinning combo, then try that with a range of bottoms, but without being too precious about it. I think you have some red floral silk or satin trousers? Those could be fun to pair with a white tee and one of the black jackets, for example.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I’ve been thinking through the green jacket question (which Irina might have intended rhetorically). I think the difference is in the way I see outerwear jackets vs ”indoor jackets”, that is structured toppers that are clearly not designed primarily as defense against the elements. All the toppers/jackets in this post fit this category, imo, although some as more structured than others.

A brief aside: The word “tryhard”, for video gamers, means someone who makes the game no fun because they play so hard, so seriously. It does not mean simply putting in effort and certainly is not related to skill. Some beginners are very wrapped up in wanting to improve that they forget it’s a game and some really good players suck all the fun out of it. They are tryhards. At the opposite end of the spectrum, there are people who are so good at a thing that they can joke around with it, or beginners who are just delighted with every little new thing they learn, every time they execute something properly. They might be working hard, but they aren’t tryhards.

Being a tryhard is the opposite of how I want to approach getting dressed (& it’s the opposite of how I approach most of life). Even if I do try hard to put things together, as I am here, I don’t want everything to be so perfect it squeaks. I want the end effect to be either a tongue-in-cheek, slightly cheeky take (why is it all about cheeks?) or to have plausible deniability, that “just tossed this on” look that claims things just happened to work out just right.

The green jacket works for me in both those ways. It lies on the line between outerwear and these structured toppers designed to be worn indoors. That latter category is clearly about the look. It isn’t a piece you pull on because it’s cold outside. The whole point is to wear the thing inside. The green jacket honestly does work with a huge swath of my wardrobe, and certainly with most of the bottoms of the capsule I have here now. But it also has plausible deniability. If it doesn’t happen to be just right, I can shrug my shoulders and blame that on its being an outdoor jacket, more about warmth than style. Because we all know that survival matters most, and who hasn’t been caught needing to wear something warm even if it isn’t a perfect match? That fence-sitting status makes the green jacket easy for me to wear.

But these are different. I can’t claim any of them are legit outerwear. They aren’t cardis, which are just sweaters. The fact that they are structured makes it clear that I’m trying to do *something* with them. If I get it just right, not too polished and just the right amount of cheek showing, I think I’d love the outfit. I’m perfectly happy wearing something “fashiony” as long as it seems easy, but looking like I’m reaching for a look is anathema to me, gives me chills. As my son says, they are “high risk, high reward”.

One thing I note about the fits is that my first take on the green jacket was also a size bigger. I’m happy Angie & the rest of you had me try a smaller size.

Anyway, that’s why I think I have a hard time with these, as opposed to outerwear jackets. Does it make sense & fit with things I’ve said before? Please come back at me.

Irina

Veteran

Angie once explained in details what is a blazer. Probably only a black one in your pictures is a blazer. But you are free to call your jackets any name you want
I have three blazers and I wear them as outwear, same as my jackets, for warmth.
Difference for me is the level of dressiness. For example, I might wear my jackets with pants but if I wear a blazer with pants, it would look too formal for me, so it would better work for a special occasion.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Irina, as i said in all caps at the point where I left off that message, it’s not finished yet. Ylf doesn’t have any way to save things before they post, so I had to leave it like that, even though it’s not ready for discussion yet.
But because you peeked into the dressing room and commented, when I finish writing it, i will also build up the part where I say that I used the word “blazer” to refer to any kind of jacket that is not intended as outerwear. If it us going to confuse people for me to use the word in that way, maybe I’ll replace it with “inside jacket” or something. That sounds clunky to me, but not as bad as having conversation get detailed into people debating the meaning of “blazer” (or “tryhard” for that matter). Thanks for pointing out the potential trip hazard!

Kathie

Veteran

"Topper" might be too broad for what you have in mind, but that's what I use to describe the range of items that are more structured than knitwear, but also not outerwear, that I wear over a blouse/tee/dress/trousers/skirt.

Anonymous

I like both white jackets, black blazer and short purple topper Great layering pieces for spring!