I had sworn off black blazers or jackets but have not yet found other options despite looking for (and ordering/returning) various colors in leather, other fabrics. And I’ve been finding it a kind of wardrobe hole even though I don’t need a true blazer or jacket every day. it’s difficult to match a jacket to varied bottoms—black is just so universal.

I haven’t found my alternative color yet. Haven’t found a good fit, or what I think looks good, in several blazer types. I am feeling that most all blazers look dowdy with my other tailored items but I may just not have found “my” brand. Knit motos have great color & texture options but are not made for my shape; leather in some style is still an option but hard to find, as most seem to “wear me”, so haven’t found my “Rae jacket”.

I recently brought home a black leather jacket from WHBM. It was a good fit for me, not bulky, was short-ish but not cropped, and with some waist fitting, but I decided I would get tired of the ruffled lapels, and that black leather was just too harsh for the investment.

So I returned it and then came home with 2 more black jackets!

#1 is kind of a glorified windbreaker ( rayon-y with knit panel) but it’s a great weight for indoors & layering and is good with skirts—gives a more off-beat vibe. So I’m going to keep as kind of a sporty cardigan-alternative.

#2 -4 is a ponte blazer. Now seeing Angie's Net-a-Porter outfit , and also gryffin ‘s post on "mistakes"—if I cut the tags I might immediately say, what was I thinking?

I like it when I put it on, because the slight fitted structure doesn’t overwhelm me, the ponte fabric is stretchy and layers over several sweater weights, and thedouble-row buttons seems to add balance. Kind of a “jacket” and not a blazer. But one lapel is a ruffle (I thought I could live with that) and for sure this is not the “trending” long straight blazer shown in Angie’s post today. It does have the advantage of working with both pants and skirts.

When I am in WHBM I like some of their things, but then once outside it’s all so identifiable. Then I have an idea of how I want a jacket to look, but so far all the ones I've tried, even ones that are working for other people, have not worked. Unless there is some shaping, it is hard to fit at both the shoulder and the hip

So, is my jacket desperation at play here, and this style is nowheres-ville? Or could fit into the jacket capsule.

I am stumped on what to try, even as to ordering. But maybe should be more patient.