I think it is fabulous. The only outfit I do not like is #1/10, and I think the only reason is because the dark shirt line under the jacket - at least at the spot it is hitting in the photos - doesn't work to my eye. I like the sleeves long with the trouser outfit, but I far prefer them scrunched with dresses. Outfit 4/5 looks far better than 2/3, and it is ONLY because the sleeves are scrunched. Somehow the long sleeves throw the proportions off with a dress, IMO.

I think it's great! I vote "keep!"

How's this for a vote of confidence: just snagged one off ebay for myself! Between you and Una, two gals I always, always want to copycat, it seemed only right. Tried it on at work and, loved the fit, but you showed off the versatility.

Rae, you won't regret it - and Shannon I think this will work for you too. Waiting to hear what Angie says. Sleeve scrunching is my MO, so you will notice I never wear this jacket unscrunched.

Shannon, you look beautiful in these pics. I love the strong line of the blazer --- very contemporary and minimal. The openness of the neckline is terrific on you. I'm not loving its long structure with 6 or 7, but I adore it in 4 and 8, particularly.

As for the fit. The front length and waist issue doesn't bother me at all. I think it works. I'm not wild on the wrinkle in the back, although it's hard to see in the photo. Could this area be taken up slightly without too much cost or difficulty? Is it less noticeable IRL than in photos?

As for K/R:

Will buying this jacket move you forward in your style goals? I think you'll definitely have a creative burst styling it, since it represents a new silhouette, and that's a good thing.

Does this purchase come at a steep price that it will keep you from filling important holes, or is it a quality item that will elevate what's already in your closet? I think a well-curated wardrobe is always best, but I try to not put too much on any one item. That said, I have 5 black jackets, when I would probably have done better to purchase, say, 3 10's instead of 5 7's.

I have no clue whether it looks good on you or not Shannon - because I am very, very biased about this jacket/style in general (I love it/want it - but the style does not love me back! - and that makes me soooo sad!) I bought this jacket at the NAS and held onto it for a month before I finally faced reality that the style doesn't work on my body-type and I very sadly returned it. Then, this last weekend when Angie was with us, I tried it on at Bloomies to show Angie (secretly hoping that she would tell me that I was wrong, that the jacket was absolutely perfect for me and how could I have ever possibly returned the jacket?!?!?!?!?!) But (sob) that was not her reaction at all. It was more like "Marley, take that jacket off right now - it doesn't work on your body - move on - that style doesn't work for you, blah, blah, blah" So, there ya' go. I think in general terms, this jacket should work for your body-type - in the first couple of pics it looks a little big on you - but then in later pictures it doesn't - so, yep, I'm not helping, am I?

Wow, Marley - I can't imagine anything not looking amazing on you... I guess my one style fits all idea of this jacket may be off. I'm curious to know why! Once again, I'm clueless!

Una - I think it had to do with my flat chest - nothing to fill out the jacket and it just made it hang really funny - and it bunched around the armholes - really weird-like. What was even weirder is that the jacket didn't work on Vicki either (and she's definitely not flat-chested!) But Angie also told her that it didn't work on her either - and she picked out for both of us a different style of Theory jacket that she said worked on us. I didn't like it near as well as the Lanai - in fact, when she told me that it was "my" jacket I threw a little temper tantrum in the store, because it just wasn't near as fun as the Lanai. Angie told me to move on - but, I'm still in mourning!

[Warning: Threadjack]

Una, what Marley says is the same thing that Angie has been telling me. Remember when she told me to pass on trying that gorgeous leather jacket you found for me last year? It was a similar style (except with drape, which would make it eve LESS likely to work on me.) She has also told me to steer clear of Lanai but finally gave me permission to order it simply because she knows I have to see it to believe it; otherwise I will continue to lust after it.

I have a small bust (well, duh...) and I'm very unlikely to fill out the top of the jacket. So it will do similar things on me as it does on Marley. In Vicki's case I am speculating, but for her I wonder if her shoulders are so dainty that they don't hold it back (despite having the front real estate to fill it) and/ or if she is just too tiny for it overall. (This may be somewhat true of Marley, too -- and will also be true of me, if that's the case.)

It's never true that one item will look great on all bodies. Angie warned me against the gorgeous Halogen jacket that Mochi ordered, too. Similar styling to the Lanai.

The one reason that I, personally, continued to hope about the Lanai is that -- as I mentioned to Shannon -- it is actually quite similar in shape to our leather Danier (she has it in black and I have it in taupe). So...

But Shannon, it occurs to me that the Danier, precisely because it is leather, has more built in structure than the fabric Lanai. Especially with those overlapping leather panels on the front. So it doesn't "collapse" in that front area but holds its shape perfectly. Maybe that is one reason it works on us so well.

I honestly think that if you love this jacket, it will love you back. In many of these outfits it looks stellar. But it doesn't fit you as it fits Una, so if that is the look you are aiming for, you don't quite get it with this jacket, IMO.

Marley, if you pop back in here, do you remember which style of Theory Angie recommended to you? I am pretty sure I will be seeking them out after my own Lanai experience this weekend!

ok, late to the party, but i think that this looks fab on you. i like the way it fits, to my eye the cut clearly emphasis your shape. i'm putting this on my copycat list.

So did some more thinking about the jacket and came to some conclusions.

1. First, thank you ALL so much for your input - both positive and negative. I always learn so much from these K/R posts and would never want anyone to say what they didn't honestly think.

2. Styling an items makes ALL the difference in a K/R post. If someone doesn't like how you're wearing an item, it can make the person think they do not like the particular item, when in fact that's not really the case. The outfit with the white contrast collar in particular was not a good way to try and showcase the jacket.

3. Items can look significantly different IRL than in photos.

4. I believe Una's jacket may be a different fabrication than this one? The Lanai does come in different fabrics which can alter how it lays obviously.

5. Probably 90% of my blazers have that wrinkle in the back. I tried on my Danier black leather blazer, new RW & Co blazer, and red Gap blazer last night for comparison and they ALL have that wrinkle. I have a significant indent in the small of my back that coupled with my short-waistedness results in this. I noticed that even my CM floral moto does this. It's just the way I'm built.

6. Like Una, I wear my blazer sleeves scrunched most of the time. I do find the scrunching helps in giving a bit more structure to any jacket.

7. Sweet Una absolutely ROCKS her Lanai jacket and I wish I could look that good in mine - but I'm not going to and I'm ok with that.

8. As for whether this jacket elevates my style (as to Beth Ann's point), it is exactly the direction I'm wanting to go. I have been on the hunt for a navy blazer since last year with no success. I love button-less blazers because I have often found that finding one to do up often means it is much too large elsewhere in order to have the waist accommodate my mid section. I also prefer a jacket with a strong shoulder line since I have very sloping shoulders. A strong shoulder jacket gives my upper body more presence and helps provide overall balance IMHO.

So what does this all mean? I've decided to keep the jacket. I love the construction, the color, the fabric, etc.and will work on styling it in the best ways possible

Shannon, are you sure the pockets aren't just sewn closed? That's how my version came - I would be kind of annoyed at fake pockets at this price point.

And because I love seeing the same thing on different people, here's mine:

Fetching with tank and shorts, no? Just what I was wearing this morning.

Could be CF - to be honest, I didn't really check that closely - too tired last night.

I am so late to this thread - the forum moves at such a speed. I am a yes vote for this blazer. I think you rock it and already have some great outfits planned.

I like Shannon! And (gasp!) I actually liked it with the light collar short too. I am not in a serious wondering how this jacket would work on my body type. Hmmm hmmm hmmm.... Cant wait to see this beauty in action!

That's great, Shannon. You will enjoy it! And I will envy it and enjoy it vicariously, no doubt....

PS: check the back fit on the model. I think sometimes this is just the nature of a 2-D woven fabric curved onto a 4-D shape (4 Ds since we move around over time!)

#1 8 & 9 are my favorites! I like how you've styled it especially with the sleeves scrunched. I adore how the jacket suggests a narrow waist by how the front of the jacket is cut. I especially love the sharp shoulders. I think it's a fabulous jacket. I've not read other's responses but I think this jacket is yours. Furthermore i am inspired by #1's combination of masculine and feminine elements. I need to copy.