Boxy silk jacket over shift dress

I 'm posting this early for my 30x30 WIWs because the jacket reminds me of Angie's blog post today, although not a kimono. Yesterday I wore an old and well-loved Oriental style silk jacket over an EF shift dress for church, both in my 30x30. I wear this jacket with pencil skirts and jeans with black, chambray blue or aqua top under it. Now I want to wear it with my black wide crops. It has a button front and can be buttoned up to be worn as a blouse. Perfect for travel and layering.
My question is do you like the outfit best with or without the belt? A different style belt? I'd love any suggestions for styling and comments you have. I included 3/4 so you could see the shape of the dress. Does the jacket work with this dress? Better with a more fitted dress like a sheath?

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Custom Find

by Joy

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Nordstrom

Eileen Fisher Jewel Neck Sleeveless Jersey Dress (Regular & Petite)

$178.00 $88.98

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Custom Find

by Joy

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6 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(Psssst. My dear Joy, cute jacket - but it is not a kimono topper. It's a boxy jacket with a mandarin collar).

Gorgeous look, the way you are wearing it in #2.

Anonymous

You SLAYED it, Joy. Your 30 x 30 capsule is amazing.

I agree with Angie. This appears to have set-in sleeves. That would make it a jacket in my vocabulary. Despite this, you are breathtaking in the red/black combination.

Inge

Moderator

You do Arty Glam so well, Joy!! I love the outfit both with and without the statement belt (lovely). The pretty, dainty pumps are super fun with this look too.

What a beautiful jacket, and fab that it's so versatile.

Joy

Veteran

Oops, lost my reply. This is a jacket with set in sleeves. Angie, I amended the title of this thread. Sterling, I put the jacket and the dress in the capsule because both can be worn different ways. I'm sure that you will see the dress under the black linen dress and silk jacket with jeans

Thank you, Inge. I must have a streak of the dramatic, because I love arty glam but am too small to pull it off most of the time.

You always make it work beautifully in the outfits you've posted on YLF, Joy! Love it!

Liz A.

Without the belt would be my preference. Makes it more dressy though.

Inge, you are a YLF Treasure.
Liz, I don't know what possessed me to wear that belt. I have to confess that it is not part of my 30x30 capsule. I had only a white web belt, needed to hold up my white jeans. That did not work at all with the dress outfit. In my next outfit post for the 30x30 challenge, I will explain that those white cropped jeans are no longer part of my wardrobe and a substitution has been made.

The belt is an accessory. It makes the outfit.

Jane

Ohh! lovely deep rich colours, and I like it with and without the belt.

Mirjana

The jacket is so, so beautiful and look amazing on you with that dress. I like the outfit with belt, jacket is boxy and the belt give the structure and makes the outfit polished.

Emily K

The jacket with wide black crops sounds like a fantastic idea!

Dianna

Everything Inge said. Love, love, love.

Suz

Joy, you look great, whatever you call the jacket!

Thank you all for your lovely comments. Emily, the black crops are not part of my 30x30...yet, but I want to wear the heck out of them yet this summer. Mirjana, I think that you have hit upon why I felt that I needed a belt...structure. When it is really hot, I let the dress flow and be airy but this was a very cool morning that almost needed another topper.

Brooklyn

This is so beautiful on you. Love it with the belt.

JAileen

Great outfit, gorgeous, gorgeous jacket.

MsMaven

Beautiful, chic outfit. I wasn't sure about the belt until I saw the dress without it. Definitely better with--it's kind of an unexpected touch. You look wonderful.

Apparently not going to be on the majority side of this one. I like the anchoring effect of the belt, but I like it better without ONLY because I think the style and proportions of the buckle are not harmonious with the shoes.
I love the jacket, the intensity of the color and drama of the pattern looks great with your hair.

Brooklyn, JAileen, MsMaven, Isabel, thank you for looking and for your comments. It sounds like the dress is best with a belt. Are there any tykes that you would suggest? I do have a black leather and suede obi belt but many of my other belts did not make the move as I intend to update. Maybe this dress could use a less bulky belt.

Jaime

Gorgeous! You kill that dress and shoe combo and the jacket is icing on the cake.

Jenni NZ

Like both with and without the belt Joy. You can just mix it up depending on mood. Think this outfit is the favourite thing I've EVER seen you wear. Stunning jacket, great dress, and those are my fave shoes of yours, I love them every time you wear them .

Carole

What a great statement piece, Joy! I love it most in the example without the belt...beautiful outfit!

The Cat

Your jacket & dress combo looks fab both with and without a belt. However, the belt buckle looks big compared to your own proportions, so how about trying a belt with a smaller buckle?

Nice shoes, by the way. They look great on you.

skylurker

Well, minimalist me would wear the dress without belt, without jacket, lol.
Ok, seriously, I like the belt, it adds spunk and make the outfit less conservative.

rachylou

Oh the belt, definitely the belt. With the strappy shoes, the belt, the ornate jacket - wonderfully opulent. Just the jacket, feels like something is missing to me after seeing the belt.

Skylurker and Rachylou, thank you for addressing the belt. Very helpful.

karen13

I really like the belt. While the buckle is large, it is sleek. I think it balance the fancy (and lovely) jacket very nicely. Plus if you take off the jacket the belt give the outfit extra oomph.

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