While I plan to do my big fall wardrobe closet review in the first week of September, when I am going to take a whole week of work and stay home (yay!), I am starting a bit early doing small bits and pieces. My main goal is to do a thorough analysis of the colors, shapes etc, that are trending in the fall, pick what I like the best, see what of that I already have in my closet and figure out the best way to wear those pieces. Also, to purge lots of stuff from the holding zone that looks like it might never get worn again.

So, one of the main trends for the fall is supposed to be velvet: pants, jackets, shoes, etc. I have these two blazers in my holding zone, one teal (photo #1) and the other eggplant (photo #2). They are both fairly old, but in excellent condition since they have not been been worn much. I am trying to figure out if I could wear either of them this season or donate. Finds 1-3 show some new and current velvet blazer shapes. As you can see, they are longer, have lower stances and 1-2 buttons. Mine are shorter, more fitted and shrunken. The teal is a classic schoolboy shape with 2 buttons; the eggplant is sort-of 70's with three patch pockets, higher stance and three buttons. So, what do you think, are they hopelessly dated or could they worked with modern supporting act cropped jeans, booties etc.? I want brutal honesty, I won't be bothered at all if you tell me to get rid of them, as the goal is to either wear with confidence or donate.

On the positive side, I have matching eggplant flare pants too (photo #3). They are in excellent condition as I never wore them much despite loving them as they were only long enough for flats and in those days you always wore dressy flare pants with heels. So they are one of the pairs that will be taken to the tailored and hacked into uber-trendy crop kick flares ( excuse my bad hem folding in the photo). I have already noticed a couple of different crop kick flares in velvet showing up in the higher end stores ( Find #4)