my ideal jacket length? - YouLookFab Forum

One of these must-have items of mine is a sporty, structured navy blazer/jacket. I am going about it with an attitude of PPP, and the one I just bought from Zara (with pics below) I am going to return for various fit reasons, but I am still wondering whether the length on that one is good for me (or even if I should assume there is one "right" length).

I ask this because this jacket from a Sartorialist pic, cropped at hip length, has been my image of the ideal jacket. Would it be a good/better jacket length for short, short-torsoed me than what I'm actually wearing here? I have no idea. I'll add that I'm not wanting anything formal/professional and I'm going for fun and sporty, but that might not preclude a particular length, either. TIA.

http://images.thesartorialist......247Web.jpg

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12 years ago

Parsley

Veteran

I'm no expert, but I think that length looks nice on you. I don't think there's just one perfect jacket length. I imagine that you could wear a range, especially depending what you're wearing it over. For example, over a dress you could wear a more cropped, shorter length, while over skinny pants it usually looks better to cover one's derriere.

DonnaF

I like the length of the one you have on, but I think one needs to keep in mind the other factors like stance, fabric, and cut and what you will be wearing it with. A highly cropped jacket with a high stance would probably emphasize your short waistedness, but too boyfriend long would overwhelm.

amiable

I also like that length on you - But I'm no proportion expert What you're wearing looks great!

Suz

(website)

Well, this is a tough question for me, because I find proportions ultra tricky.

I do find that for myself, the best all-purpose jacket (if there is such a thing) hits around the hipbone and has some shaping at the waist. Jackets shaped like that and that length can usually be worn relatively successfully with pants or with skirts. Assuming a straight skirt; I think for wider skirts a shorter jacket is pretty much necessary.

Given my own particular shape, I find that longer, boxy boyfriend jackets are very tricky since they seem to cut me in half. And this shortens the leg line. So my solution is to wear them only in a column of colour if I wear them, or wear them open, and certainly with sleeves scrunched. But truthfully, I don't reach for them as often. I do not worry about bum coverage with skinnies.

I like how that Zara one looks on you in the first pic. But you are right, it's not as cropped as on the example. Her jacket seems quite cropped, actually -- almost shrunken. It looks cute on her, and I like the length of that type of jacket, too (my fuchsia H&M jacket is like that, and it's not dissimilar to the J. Crew boy jacket or whatever they call it, although that is not quite as cropped on me as mine.)

Oooh - Donna raises an excellent point. It's not just the length -- it is the stance, and for someone who is short waisted and generously endowed, that is all important. You can probably wear a collarless jacket really well, like Una's Theory? I wonder.

Anonymous

I like the length and I don't see any issues as to whether the style, collar stance etc, suit you. I just think Zara cuts too narrow for your frame. The jacket is too narrow. You should try the Macy's brands: Alfani or I.N.C.

Yes, Zap is right about that, too -- the fit issues you are experiencing are probably due to the overall cut, but the length is fine.

Mochi

Thanks, Suz and everyone. You're right that this jacket doesn't fit (I was so excited that I *almost* fit into something by Zara, imagine plus now that I think about it, I am willing to pay more for a really special jacket if it looks that fantastic, and this isn't the one. (ETA that the stance mention is another excellent point.)

I agree that there may be exaggerations of my short-waistedness, and probably bustiness too, if I get a more cropped jacket, but I may still try some on. I think this one from Zara somehow gives off this collegiate or professorial vibe, and I don't dislike it but I'm not truly thrilled about it.

I envy those of you, starting but certainly not ending with Janet, who can rock all sorts of jacket lengths and looks.

Suz said it so well. I'd look for something just a little shorter and with some shape or soft fabric that doesn't stand away from your body.

I'm 5' 1" but long-waisted and am learning to try jackets in both Petite and Regular versions. Since you are short-waisted and IIRC, a little taller, you may wish to do the same. Sometimes, an inch is all it takes to go from okay to fabulously flattering.

Nancy, you don't really need anything shorter because you wear pants mostly. Suz likes a more versatile length because she wears plenty of skirts too. The length of the jacket here works really well with pants, not so much with skirts. Also, this is probably the right size jacket for you. It is the cut that is narrow. Zara probably will still be too narrow for you even if you were a size XS on their stuff. Remember my issue with that coat I tried in December, where the shoulder was too wide? That had nothing to do with size, their cut was wide for me.

Listen to Zap. She knows whereof she speaks.

That is the thing. Some manufacturers work to one model, some to another. Zara's narrow. Theory's narrow. Others are cut differently.

lyn*

I concur with Zap - Most of my blazers are dress/skirt appropriate length because that's what I wear on the bottom

An aside - I love your jeans! And I love your hair! It's so curly!

Jaime

I think a length longer than the shirt you are wearing but a bit shorter than this jacket would work best on you - but you need to go try on a lot of jackets and see for yourself.

Deborah

I think the length of this jacket is very flattering Mochi. I do agree that what you are planning to wear with the jacket comes into play but this does look like a good length for you. I am not sure about going shorter, but then again what is layered under has to be considered in the proportions. One thing I know is I don't like my jackets hitting me at my widest part...

Thanks again, everyone. Deborah, my hips are narrow-ish for my body and the wide part is above them! I'll keep that in mind. Also what Zap says about the cut of an item is interesting (I'm really at such a basic level of understanding these things).

I get it about longer jackets being boxy for sure. And I'm too short for them, whereas some of the taller ladies here have more options in that regard, IMO. Fine, because I happen to like cropped jackets anyway. (I did see a lot of big jackets in my time--coming of age in the 80's!)

As for length being relative to pants and skirts, I don't wear skirts much now but I would not write them off as part of a style goal.

Anyway, I'm in no rush to buy and particularly now with the hot weather, so I guess I'll just keep playing around with different lengths in the store. Zap, I'll take a stab at those Macy's brands next time I'm in Downtown Crossing in Boston.

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