Keep/purge classic blazers? ETA again for more

Janet

I keep holding on to these two blazers even though I haven't worn them in years. I know they don't look current, but are they classic enough to keep and try to work with? Or should I just give them up? They were great when I worked in an office...

Both Tahari. 1-4 black pinstripe; 5-7 brown velvet. The high stance gives me pause, but I never wore them buttoned...

Please ignore lack of hair, makeup, or actual styling. Just threw on with jeans and a tee so you can see fit.

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11 years ago

General

32 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

carter

Veteran

The pinstripe blazer doesn't feel like "you" at all to me. I do think you might be able to Janet-ize the brown velvet one, though. Can you make it work with some Fall/Winter outfits?

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Carter, I was looking at the pics after I posted and was realizing I'm not at all excited to wear the pinstripe. It actually looks a little bulky in the shoulder too. I can't think of any outfit for which I'd choose that over one of my fab newer black jackets. It's already in the purge pile.

The brown I feel a little more attached to. Maybe with a chambray shirt or something to roughen it up?

11 years ago

carter

Veteran

Boots and jeans!

11 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

Honestly, you haven't worn them for years. You aren't reaching for them. You don't love them.

I vote purge. If you need a classic jacket, you will find one more you as you are now.

11 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I'd purge them, unless you are still in love with them and want to put the effort into using them in new outfits. You have some gorgeous newer items that you ought to wear more often, and, from the sounds of it, you haven't reached for these jackets for quite a while. Slapping the label classic on something isn't a reason enough to keep it, in my opinion.

11 years ago

Anonymous

I don't know, would you buy either of them all over again, today? Yes they fit well and flatter, but I don't see you needing to look classic or corporate any time in the near future. Unless you can think of an event like a funeral where your more edgy items would feel out of place, I'd sell them or pass them along to Dress For Success . So many women hang onto things (unworn!) for 20 years before donating them, and by then, even the classic items are outdated, and it's no fun for the recipient.
And just so I don't sound mean-spirited, you look amazing in that first blazer, and if I didn't know your style, I'd say you were crazy to purge it. The brown velvet doesn't look like it fits quite as well in the bust, and those close together buttons look a tad dated to my eye. You have so many truly INCREDIBLE jackets to choose from that it doesn't surprise me that you haven't been wearing these.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

"Slapping the label classic on something isn't a reason enough to keep it, in my opinion."

You're right! I have a few "classic" things that I don't reach for but balk at getting rid of.

11 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

I vote pass, too.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

No, Claire, it's not mean at all! I tend to keep things "just in case." I have a dress I mainly keep in case I need to go to a funeral. It's too conservative for me otherwise. But you know what? The last time I went to a funeral, I put together an outfit from other pieces I love more, and didn't even reach for that dress. Another one for the purge pile.

Thank you! I need other people to get tough on me sometimes!

11 years ago

(website)

Veteran

Right off the bat I'm going to say that just about any fitted blazer is going to look fabulous with your hourglass shape. So you need to decide if these blazers are up to par with other ones you have and do wear right now.
I'm also an hourglass, not nearly as pronounced as you, but once I first found a blazer I was like, woah, this rocks. Had a good number of the then current shrunken, fitted ones. I purged most last year. Had to remember that most blazers are going to flatter, and I didn't need to hold on to those ones.

11 years ago

carter

Veteran

See...I can enable you as easily as I can enable myself! This is why I can't see the light at the end of my purge. What Gaylene and Claire say makes so much sense!

11 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

That brown velvet jacket is SO Tweeds catalog circa early 90's. And I don't see it coming back anytime soon.

11 years ago

crutcher

Veteran

So long classic blazers...Time to make way for the new guys...

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Love the wisdom here. I knew the answer, didn't I? Just needed validation.

11 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Comparing these to the fab new vest wildcard you just got makes me want to go and purge nearly every single blazer I own. sigh. But the brown velvet could work but it seems a bit fitted for "now." Truth is I rarely wear most of my blazers at all - the only ones I actually kind of love are inexpensive knit versions that fit comfortably and look a better on me than a cardigan (at least better than my cardigans).

Note to self - I need to stick with moto styles and similar style jackets moving forward. I may try a bomber style of some sort if the right one comes along. I prefer a higher neckline, sort of collar on a bomber.

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Texstyle, it's weird, I barely have any blazers anymore. At least compared to what I had 5 years ago. I'm much more comfortable in motos and bombers.

And even though I don't normally count, i just did and came up with 40 jacket type toppers (some also double as outerwear):
1 long jacket (BCBG from Boston meetup)
1 drapey long cardigan
9 blazers -- and that's a loose term includes the NAS EF jacket, an unstructured DVF, 2 knit Gibson riding jackets, and two velvet blazers also on the chopping block
16 motos (!) in a variety of fabrications
3 bombers
5 denim jackets
And assorted other toppers that defy these categorizations (vintage leather jacket, etc)

Interesting to actually count. I'd say the proportions are not bad -- clearly, I wear motos more than other jackets, and the numbers reflect that. But looking at the numbers, I'm not feeling keen to add a blazer to my closet unless one or two leave.

11 years ago

shedev

Veteran

I love blazers in theory, but I never actually wear them. I finally came to the realization that a moto is my blazer. I've never been happier.

11 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

A corporate cut + corporate color blazer is so not you in this leg of your style journey, so I'm glad you are purging these. If you ever consider buying a *classically cut* blazer, please get it in leather. Really. Your life does not require wearing a corporate *uniform* so why try to force it? [So says the attorney who is SO unsuited to Big Law.]

11 years ago

deb

Veteran

Good call!

11 years ago

trendin1234

Active Member

you should purge them.. and its a good call ..!!

11 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I also have a hard time with the perfectly good, perfectly flattering piece that has no place in my life. Great decision to purge!

11 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

*wild applause*

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

OK, while I'm at it, there are two more velvet blazers in my closet. Slightly newer (within the last 5 years), and I think the color gives them more personality than the others, but I'm still on the fence.

The first is a Tahari (again!) and a pretty, deep teal color -- the color NEVER photographs true. The second one is Esprit and a slightly purplish cobalt blue. I just threw on over my gear before I went for a hot sweaty walk, so pardon the complete lack of styling and really awful hair!

I'm also agonizing over my two Halogen seamed pencil skirts. One is black, one is cobalt. You don't get much more classic. But I hardly ever reach for them, and they're slightly snug on me at the moment. In fact, the last time I tried to wear the blue one, I posted it here and changed my mind about the entire outfit, I felt so uncomfortable. If I lose 5 lbs, I'd be fine (although I'm not sure my waist is going to go back down much more, after the hysterectomy), but I'm not sure it's worth hanging on to them. What do you think? Sell 'em? I bet someone here could make great use of them!

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11 years ago

deb

Veteran

Those look like they have a higher stance also. They look lovely but if you are not wearing them and have plenty of other jackets, I say purge.

11 years ago

Laurie

Veteran

Being a Halogen skirt collector, I'll put my 2 cents in. I would maybe keep them for 6 more months, see how the fit is. If they are still snug, purge.
If they fit, play with them with those 16 moto jackets! I mean, you look amazing in a straight skirt and have so many awesome toppers of all shapes and flows, and that boot collection to die for! My guess is that you'll be buying a pencil skirt again in months/years to come.
But I hear you. There is not much worse than a pencil skirt that is just a little bit too tight. I was complaining about that this spring when I had to suddenly stop my running regime, but regular biking this summer has helped me get back to normal, so I - even as I type this - can still wear my skirts.

11 years ago

JenA

Veteran

I bet both of those blazer look great on you in person. I find it hard to purge flattering pieces.

FWIW, right now I'm really into velvet blazers, so I think you should hold onto them through this winter and see if you wear them. I've kind of been looking for a blue one. I can see a velvet blazer with very destructed jeans as a cool juxtaposition. If you don't wear then you can re-think and purge them in the spring.

As for the skirts, I think you should let them go. Not comfy + not working for your style + "not new" = purge.

Good luck!
Jen

11 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Good thoughts, deb, Laurie and Jen! Jen, I like that idea of the blazer with my ripped BF jeans so maybe I'll give that a try before letting them go. The key really seems to be to dress them down. Layered chambray shirt and a tee or hoodie underneath, etc. These are a little roomier than the old ones too, so layering might be easier. I may give the blazers one more season...

The skirts, well...I haven't given up on the 5 lbs. I just haven't been vigilant about my eating habits, and that is probably the key, because I'm certainly active enough. But it might be that my body will be hanging onto that little extra bit around my midsection now. I wouldn't wear those skirts until the fall/winter anyway, but they don't excite me. In fact they make me feel a little guilty.

I do have a black mixed media ponte/leather pencil skirt, and a black stretchy lace pencil skirt, both of which are more comfortable. Plus the black VC tube skirt. So maybe I've got the black skirt thing covered enough without the Halogen one...

11 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Well, they both look good on you, no surprise there, but I'm getting the feeling that you are a similar situation to mine a few years ago. I had a closet full of beautiful, classic (there's that word again!) items that sat there because I never reached for them, even in situations when they would have been appropriate. They reminded me too much of my former workplace uniform--classic trousers, pencil skirts, and blazers--compared to my newer things. Purging them seemed scary because I couldn't shake the idea that I might need to wear that uniform again.

I finally decided to put together one tiny capsule of a skirt, blazer, and trouser to allay my fears and then put the rest into a storage bag where I could retrieve them if needed. A few months down the road made me realize (1) I didn't have any situations where I actually NEEDED that uniform, and (2) more importantly, I never WANTED to wear that uniform.

Well-fitting, quality classics that look good on you are hard to purge because so much seems right about them, but, if they aren't what you reach for, they are really in the same category as any other style--miniskirts, super skinny jeans, snug tops--you've grown away from. We hang on to them because of the IDEA, not the reality or the functionality.

11 years ago

Anonymous

Gaylene is so wise!
Janet, you're such a good sport. I had a funeral this past year and I didn't end up wearing my "funeral dress" either! It wasn't a dress that I felt good in to start, and the funerals around here are shockingly casual. There was one couple dressed up, and they were extended family from the east coast. Even the husband of the deceased was in jeans. Anyway, when I realized I wouldn't even wear my funeral dress to a funeral, I knew it was time to give it away.

It sounds like you have the black pencil skirt category covered. I'm for getting rid of anything that's guilt tripping you. I'd put the second two blazers in the same category as the first. They fit and flatter, but they make me think, who are you, and that have you done with the Janet I know?

11 years ago

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