UPDATE: It's HERE. Johnny Was - YouLookFab Forum

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UPDATE: It's HERE. Johnny Was

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I've been obsessing a bit over this embroidered duster from Johnny Was Biya, and I had to laugh when I went to their website today and saw, "Designer Biya Ramar’s eponymous line caters to the bohemian sophisticate..."

Anyway, this piece would be a major purchase for me, and is just a dream right now. I haven't seen it in person, and have no experience with the brand to know if it would even be a worthwhile statement purchase. Is anyone familiar with Johnny Was? They have no stores in Colorado.

UPDATE: It came. Including side and back views for total honesty, though I usually just choose to ignore those angles. It hits every one of my style descriptors: casual, rich, feminine, natural (100% cotton, exclusive of embroidery), textured. What do you all think?

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Johnny Was Biya by Black Kaleid Hooded Duster (Medium)

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83 replies

Latest reply was from Chiara

JAileen

Veteran

This is strange - a few minutes ago I was looking at Johnny Was scarves on Nordstrom’s website. I’ve never heard of the company, and have no experience with them, though. You must gotten your moniker right, because that looks like you!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Wow, it looks beautiful, and obviously, the style is made for you (given the match to your moniker), lol. I have never bought any Johnny Was pieces, but I have admired them from afar. And I had a piece that was I think a Johnny Was knockoff once. One caution is that the embroidery will catch on things pretty easily. I normally wouldn't place embroidery on the seat of a garment, because the stitching can be a bit delicate. But the jacket is so gorgeous, and I can envision it looking fabulous on you.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

That is a beautiful piece! I've owned 3 or 4 Johnny Was shirts over the past ten years, that I bought on eBay - I LOVED them. One was too big, so I eventually gave up and resold it. The other ones I kept for several years, and, you know, you get bored with something, or the color doesn't fit in with the rest of your closet anymore. So I resold them. There is a good market on eBay for secondhand Johnny Was pieces. They're also listed under JWLA and BIYA, if you do an eBay search. I look periodically, to see what people have listed.

The embroidery on the tops I had were mostly done as appliques - embroidery on patches that were sewn onto the shirt, with a little bit of embroidery right on the shirt itself. I didn't ever really have a problem with catching - but I was always very careful wearing the items.

The one thing of note, for their shirts, was that the shirt was cotton, and the embroidered appliques had polyester, so I was always concerned about the shirt shrinking and the embroidery remaining the same size. So I always hand-washed and dried them flat.

For your duster, I see it says "dry-cleaning recommended". I would definitely dry-clean it, and not hand-wash. Just to be safe.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I've seen then in stores here in central Texas - very popular but I don't have personal experience with the brand. Many are beautiful to look at.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

HAH.

Well. You need to order it, Jenn.

I know that CA store, and some of my clients swear by Johnny Was. SUPER CUTE stuff.

kkards

Veteran

I don't own anything now, but I've owned a sweater or 2 from that brand in the past....I think I got them at Bloomingdales...so it might be worth looking to see if they carry this style and stalk it to see if it goes on sale....quality was good, styles were fun and a little different

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all the great info. I do have a 20% off code, which helps. I’m leaning towards ordering, just to see. I think it might be the type of thing I’d regret not at least trying.

Firecracker, I had that snagging issue with my embroidered Anthro blouse. I think that’s a big part of why I haven’t been wearing it as much recently. Starting to look a little shabby.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Yes it's an LA brand apparently named after a reggae song! "Johnny was a good man"? It was imported here by our brand Kimberleys which is one of the major brands that went under in NZ last year. Lovely quality, I always thought very highly priced for what it was, so own none. I read an article about the brand a couple of years back. Inge has mentioned it once in a discussion on a post.
Looks gorgeous for you Jenn.

Anonymous

Beautiful duster, you should go for it. We have a JW store here, and everytime I pass it, it's all I can do not to run in and scoop up all their scarves and bags. If I make it past unscathed, I then have to pass the Kendra Scott store, arrrgh. My willpower is constantly being tested over there!

Thistle

Veteran

Beautiful duster. Looks like a statement piece, and given how drawn you are to it, I think you'd find ways to make it work in your wardrobe and wear the heck out of it.

Yeah, I'm enabling

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Y’all are wonderful enablers...and I feel like I have some karmic credit from that Sundance maxi that I didn’t buy a few months ago.

jussie

Veteran

I’ve seen it irl. I’ve always loved the pieces, beautiful, absolutely beautiful. However out of my price range I’m afraid so I’ve never actually tried anything on. I say go for it. It’s definitely bohemian sophistication

ClaraT

Veteran

I had a version of this jacket about 15 years ago by Johny Was that I bought at a sale. I wore it for about 7 years then consigned it, just because I'd worn it so much that I was tired of it. I regret that...it is timeless. My coat was *not lined* so while the embroidery was beautiful, it was also visible on the inside. I'm not sure if that is the norm for this brand of coats, it is just something to check on if you care about that.
Excuse me while I go weep for my coat that I foolishly got rid of...

Vix

Veteran

Hi Jenn --

Johnny Was definitely has a cult following and I'm one who keeps my eye out for sale or secondhand JW.

Your current object of desire is definitely along the lines of what I prefer -- sometimes things get pretty wild, ha. Looks like it would fit right in with your style. #moreenabling

Another line you may want to investigate is Citron.

I bought a silk tunic secondhand with no knowledge of the brand and that thing has earned its $40 cost. It's been a few years of heavy wear and I just handwash in cold and drip dry.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I WANT that coat!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

I currently have a JW silk kimono & a silk-velvet coat - they are two of my favourite pieces. If you have the boho gene (like I do) but still want to look like you are current & adult these pieces are fab imo. Mine are about 5 to 8 years old so I can't tell you if the current fabric/cuts are as good but worth a try for sure. Personally, I'm a little peeved that they (& Birkenstocks) now have a much larger following - no more bargains to be had

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I’m really encouraged hearing about the longevity of the pieces some of you have had! I went ahead and ordered. Fingers crossed the sizing works for me...measurements look promising.

Joy

Veteran

I'm glad that you ordered and will admire it vicariously through you, so post outfits with it often if it's a keeper. The duster is so beautiful.

Style Fan

Veteran

Looks like just your style, Jenn. I am excited to see it.

Lynn

Veteran

That is one beautiful coat Jenn. I just online to see if I could be a copycat but it appears you got the last one. Thanks for introducing me to this line- totally love it.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I ordered directly from Johnny Was, Lynn. They were down to one size when I ordered, though. Just happened to be mine.

unfrumped

Veteran

Very lovely and unusual at same time. I can’t believe “ bohemian sophisticate” coincidence! Karma indeed. Hope to see pics.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Wow, I have never hear of Johnny Was. Jacket looks so you though!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Can't wait to see it on you!

Cee

Veteran

" Johnny Was " reads like an unfinished sentence !

Jenni NZ

Veteran

That's because it is, from a song Johnny was a good man... I need to Google the song. Here's the article: https://www.mindfood.com/nz/article/easy-breezy/ that I read about it in, and here are the song lyrics.https://www.azlyrics.com/lyric.....nywas.html

Are you a Bob Marley fan, Jenn? xx

Jenni NZ

Veteran

https://youlookfab.com/welookf.....vet-kimono
This is the other thread where the brand was mentioned.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

JenniNZ, I've never been into Bob Marley, but wow, those song lyrics sure are pertinent today, aren't they? Maybe even moreso than when they were written. I smiled at the reference to the peasant shirts in your thread link, because those have never appealed to me, despite being pretty classic boho pieces.

Caro in Oz, you wrote, "f you have the boho gene (like I do) but still want to look like you are current & adult..." and I have to say that is exactly what I'm going for. I'm not in my teens or twenties and don't want to look like I'm trying to be.

Vix, your silk tunic is GORGEOUS! Citron looks like a brand where you have to find the individual pieces that speak to you, but if you do find one, it'll live in your closet for a good, long time.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Bumping with update and photos in first post.

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