(ETA photos) Fit Lab: 'Grace Jones' Jacket & Trouser Jeans (+ Blondo Mady boot review) - YouLookFab Forum

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(ETA photos) Fit Lab: 'Grace Jones' Jacket & Trouser Jeans (+ Blondo Mady boot review)

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Per 'my 2021 Goals' post, I've been culling my wardrobe but have been in two minds about the following 2 items - what do you think?

1) Chocolate leather jacket:
I custom ordered this (with gold zippers, 5 *functional* pockets(!) & a cropped length) but the end result feels a little boxy (despite being made to my measurements, the shoulders feel a little wide & the hem reaches a couple inches past my natural waist).

My DH told me I look like 'Grace Jones' in it, but I honestly feel more like a rugby player than 'tall willowy model' in it - can't tell if I'm just not used to the silhouette or if it will soften with wear? Does it honestly read more as slightly oversized, or like I'm wearing menswear?

PS - The black hood underneath is actually a removable dickie, not part of the jacket - just added it to give an idea of how the jacket hangs with layers underneath.
+
Edit: Some more photos of the jacket paired with: 1) slimmer trousers & a tunic top, and 2) a high-waisted skirt & tucked-in top (so no competing waistlines). Better silhouette?

2) Trouser Jeans:
I had these tailored to fit 10+ years ago - they're naturally a mid-rise but I think the trend is for higher-rise these days? I've pulled them up a little with a belt, but am still unsure of the fit - am I just better off with my high-waisted, straight leg jeans (posted here earlier in the year)? I'm worried they look dated but, as we all know, *trouser* jeans are so hard to find at retail anymore!

I'm also unsure about the colour - is this blue still neutral yet flattering enough for my Deep Autumn colour palette? Denim is always so hard to get right, arghh!

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(PS - Underneath the jeans are my new Blondo Mady waterproof lace-up boots. I know I said I'd review them in here, but wanted to try them out first:
https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....--worth-it
So far so good for the first few wears! They're comfortable without insoles, & one size up works well for my slightly wide forefoot (yet narrow heeled), high instep feet. They're far away enough from the jacket that I'm not too worried about an *exact* dark brown colour match, but they do seem to be a similar shade of warm chocolate. They're already scuffed on the toes but I suspect that's due to my clumsy gait, lol):

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Thanks a lot for your gentle honesty in answering, as always - it's much appreciated

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Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from Zaeobi

rachylou

Veteran

Is that you, Zaeobi? Lol, don’t know why, but you’re looking very different to me. Anyways, I love the jacket! I think it’s great. I do think I’d prefer it with a higher rise trouser or a longer top/sweater under the jacket. The two waistlines seem mismatched to me. I wouldn’t necessarily get rid of the trousers tho.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I like the jacket on you. I think perhaps with the trouser jeans it looks less feminine than we are used to seeing on you? It would seem a shame to get rid of a jacket you had tailored to you, with the right hardware and the right pockets… is your husband paying you a compliment there? I can mainly remember Grace Jones as a villain in a Bond movie! ( I know she is a musician really but don’t remember the music).

Synne

Veteran

Grace Jones!! Adore her. Saw her performing live in the olden days of pre-2019.

What a surprise and how cool to see you in jeans and a leather jacket! You rock! With that said, I would tweak this look a bit, to be at the level you usually dress (to me you always dress with a almost royal flare, dramatic, feminine, striking).

The pants and jacket looks great, but maybe not together? The jacket is short enough to warrant a higher rise. Could also be a skirt or a dress. And a dramatic hair updo!

Sally

Veteran

I guess it is the broadness of the shoulders in the jacket that he is seeing as slightly Grace Jones, but I don't think they are anywhere near as pronounced as hers were and she was very cool anyway. I like the outfit and think the rise looks fine. I guess a higher rise would look good too. As others have suggested, that jacket would be very versatile with skirts and dresses as well. The jeans are a nice colour and fit too. Great to put a face to a name as we have interacted on the forum but I never knew what you looked like.

kkards

Veteran

Omg how 2021 is this….love love love the mask!! Is it from masklab?

kkards

Veteran

Ok the jacket….I like it, a lot. I think maybe one of the issues you are having is that I think of you as wearing colors, especially brights, and this outfit is,well dark. What does this jacket look like, how do you feel about this jacket when it’s worn with brights? For example how does it look over the orange dress you wore a couple of months ago.

I’m on the fence on the jeans. I almost think they look to big….and to short or not short enough for the boots. I’d think about a sneaker, or wondering is you could take an inch or 2 off the length and make them cropped. And somewhere recently I saw a trouser jean, now just need to remember where.

JamC

Veteran

I really like your new jacket! But agree with others that I would like to see it over something bright or light. The two waist seem to be competing for the same space. Using a belt to pull up the pants creates some puckers which make them look too big (maybe they are too big). I like kkards suggestion to play with the leg length, not the waist.
Oh, and the boots and jacket are a great pairing!

Staysfit

Veteran

I like the boots with the jacket. I really like the color of the jacket, it’s a beautiful rich chocolate that’s hard to find. Definitely try to style it in some other ways before making a decision. I agree with what others have said about the waistline of the jeans competing with the jacket.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Im with Synne and kkards — I love the jacket and would love to see you play with styling it with your colorful skirts and dresses.

The jeans are a little less of a slam dunk — the length seems a bit awkward to me but perhaps with other footwear? There is nothing outdated about trouser jeans but I think again these need to be styled differently, say with a patterned blouse.

cat2

Veteran

Love the jacket, would try it over dresses, skirts, and any wide leg swooshy pants you have.

pirouette

Love the jacket. It’s nice to see a brown leather jacket it’s a lovely shade of brown. Not sure about the jeans but I am not very current when it comes to jeans and can’t wear high rise as I am too short so I will leave the jeans to the fibbers who know a lot more.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ooh, the colour of the jacket is great! I would keep and work with the jacket. As to whether it will change in size -- if snug anywhere, it will loosen a bit with wear as the leather molds to your shape more. (If oversized, this won't happen).

SarahD8

Veteran

I agree with others -- the jacket looks great on you, wonder if it might feel more "you" in combination with more colorful, soft, and drapey elements.

Also agree that where the jacket hits wars with the waistband of the jeans a bit -- but I think the jeans have potential paired with something else. Maybe a longer top with a welted hem, sort of a 40s look?

Anonymous

I'd like to see both of these with softer elements- like the jeans with a bow blouse or the jacket with a skirt.

Runcarla

Veteran

Beautiful leather jacket, and looks like they bookend perfectly with your boots! Try the jacket as a topper with your brighter, autumn coloured items.

Bijou

Veteran

I like the jacket too and like the strong shoulders, which gives it a 1980’s vibe. To pretty it up, I would wear it with skirts and dresses, but then that is how I usually wear my leather jackets. It would be very cute with brocade pants.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I think the suggestions above are great - try pairing it with pretty skirts and dresses. Jacket has huge potential. I like the trouser jeans and I like the boots a lot!

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@rachylou @Jenni NZ @Synne @suntiger @shevia:
Thank you for the feedback - I'm relieved to hear that the jacket doesn't look as bad as I thought it did, since it wasn't too expensive for custom but it wasn't cheap either! The main fit issues are that the waist & shoulders are ~1 inch longer than my natural ones - I'm wondering whether this is obvious to others or just visible to me?
! I've added some new photos to the OP (original post), of the jacket paired with 1) my straight leg corduroys / a tunic dress top & 2) a long skirt - see what you think of those silhouettes instead (apologies for the 'candid' shots, that was my DH as photographer lol...).

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@rachylou:
Haha I think it might be the angle of the mirror that's making me look different (it's unfortunately fixed to the wall in our new place, so I can't move it further back).

@Jenni NZ:
I think it was intended as a compliment haha - it confused me too because, whilst I have nothing against Grace Jones, I just know that I don't look *anything* like her (to also quote DH 'there's nothing angular about [me]' - charming!) I think @Sally & @Bijou are right that his perception is likely due to the strong shoulders, but we'll likely never know since he says he 'doesn't know *why* it looks like Grace Jones, it just does'. Very helpful, lol

@Synne @Janet @kkards @JamC:
Looking back at the photos, I agree with the fit issues & am leaning towards donating the trouser jeans - but will try them again on a dry day with one of my silk pussybow blouses first, to see how that feels. In the meanwhile, I took some photos above with a long tunic & slimmer pants instead - does that help any with the jacket?

@Sally:
It's been nice to 'see' you too! I don't usually show my face in the forum, but sometimes I feel (temporarily) brave

@kkards:
Yes it is - I believe MaskLab is a HK company! Can you buy them in person there too? I hope looking '2021' is a good thing, lol! I wonder what looking '2022' will look like?

@Staysfit @piroutte @SarahD8 @Suz @runcarla:
Thank you - the colour is part of the reason why I took the plunge for a custom order (it's been surprisingly hard to find dark brown leather at retail here - I see a lot of black, cognac & whiskey, but not warm chocolate). I am working on it being my main neutral, but it's been slow going due to this scarcity

Star

Veteran

Great jacket! Love it with the long skirt, not so much with the tunic.

Synne

Veteran

Is the jacket a gift? Or are you thinking about letting go of it? Just asking to understand better where you're coming from

I think the colour is great, goes perfectly with your warm colorful palette. I also like the cropped length, but I would be very picky about the right silhouette with this. To my eyes, a cropped topper looks best over a long, flowy column of colour.

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slim cat

Veteran

Love the last addition of outfit photos in your fab colorful skirt - great look! The jacket is pretty and fits well!

rachylou

Veteran

The long skirt and jacket is an amazing outfit… and you’re back to looking like you I think the long top one… I think the jacket needs a slim fit top, the one here is bunching with the jacket zipped up.

kkards

Veteran

Seeing it out and about, especially with the long skirt makes me really really love it.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@Star @kkards @slim cat:
Thanks - I think long skirts are probably my signature silhouette/ FFBO outfit formula at this point, lol.

@Synne:
I saved up to buy the jacket myself, looking for an easy 'throw on & go' piece to help dress down my otherwise fairly dressy style (long skirts, fitted tops etc). If it doesn't work, I'll probably have to donate it - so am trying to make it work in order to justify the cost to myself lol (am currently part-time).
The weather's a bit too cold for dresses (FINALLY, lol!) but will try it with a similar coloured top & bottoms. Thanks for the idea!

@rachylou:
Good eye! Will see if I have any slimmer tunics for it (or maybe long tank tops). I've been in HK too long - looks like I've already forgotten the basic principles of layering, lol...

missvee

Veteran

I love the jacket on you - it’s a very “sharp” silhouette that plays well against your flowy pieces. Sometimes you just need to start wearing something new, and it will soon feel comfortable and familiar.

rachylou

Veteran

Actually, you know what… IRL, after a second look, it’s probably not noticeable… the bunching. I like the dark teal and brown

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

More love for the brown leather jacket! It's gorgeous with your hair and flowing skirts and dresses.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@missvee True - I'm not used to dressing in obviously 'casual' pieces, so might just need to wear it more for it to feel like 'me'.

@rachylou Glad you can see it's a dark teal/ green - wasn't sure if it photographed too dark to tell. It's actually the matching pyjama top for the green velvet trousers I wore on the YLF forum last Christmas, lol!

@Angie Welcome back - hope you had a good break Thanks - now that I think about it, it seems the 'slightly longer' crop (past the natural waist) actually works better for a jacket (since I wear the inner layers at my 'true' waist anyway).

Thanks for the help, everyone - the trouser jeans are sitting in the donation pile as we speak They had a good run, but I rarely wear jeans so I think the dark wash ones I bought earlier in the year should suffice. I'm going to embrace truly high-waisted bottoms on myself from here on out (only a few seasons too late, lol). Here's hoping I can find some in my colours in 2022!