Nicole - Why is this Jacket "So 80's?" - YouLookFab Forum

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Nicole - Why is this Jacket "So 80's?"

tarzy

Veteran

Hey Nicole - could you elaborate on your comment that the jacket I posted in the "splurge" thread is "so 80's?"

http://www.ralphlauren.com/pro.....n=Division|Women&parentPage=search

To me, it's a very classic shape in a classic navy color. Is it the crest that says 80's to you? I confess to being a bit of an Anglophile (I'm half English) so I have an unnatural attraction to crests, although I do admit this particular one might be a bit over the top. I wish it didn't have the brand name on it, but I do like crests. (My dirty little secret.)

To me, the jackets in the 80's had big shoulder pads and were longer - like you borrowed your boyfriend's or father's jacket, and then wore it with rolled up jeans and a bowler hat. Maybe add some suspenders. (Oh God. I just got a cold chill.)

I really like this Lauren jacket and it doesn't look 80's to me at all, so I'm curious why it does to you!

By the way - this is all moot since I do not have $698.00 laying around for a jacket, but since the thread asked "if someone offered to buy you something tomorrow" I thought - "Why not dream a little?

General

22 replies

Latest reply was from yublocka

shiny

Veteran

I'm not sure why it's 80s, but I understand the anglophile appeal. My DH really, really, really wants one of those jackets that people on sculling teams wear in the UK. When we've been to the regatta, the alumni are all wearing them and look so great - they are striped (vertically striped) in the teams' colors, and have the school's crest. I have searched high and low on the internet to see if I could find one for him. (preferably vintage, since he doesn't like new clothing in general).

bella

(website)

Veteran

I think that jacket is fabulous. It caught my attention on the other thread as well but I didn't have time to comment. It is a simple, elegant, classic piece imo.

shana

Veteran

I don't know if it's 80's but I LOVE it!!! I am a total preppy at heart (went to a private girls prep school, wore alot of RL & Laura Ashley etc). Over the past few years, I have been trying to take my look to more of a modern classic but these preppy items always jump out at me.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I love this jacket, too. Not sure it would look great on me, but I love it. I have a white tipped black blazer from Express and I wear it often. I really like this entire preppy/traditional look.
I think the 80's were immersed in preppy styles, so maybe that's why this might appear 80's to some. I wouldn't know, I was too interested in My Little Ponies and Cabbage Patch dolls at the time.

tarzy

Veteran

Shiny - what fun! Do you mean a jacket like this:
http://www.rugby.com/shop/item.....Id=3138886

And then you could wear this one:
http://www.ralphlauren.com/pro.....age=search

And you'd be quite the couple!

Rosie

Veteran

I guess blue blazer + crest could remind people of the 80's, but it would have been paired with huge shoulder pads and a boxy, unflattering shape. I think it's the sign of a great designer to be able to take something that has essentially been around for years and years (navy blazer w/ crest for men and women) and adapt it to fit the times and trends. This is gorgeously udpated and looks really flattering.

Nicole

Veteran

Hi Tara, Yes I think a crest on any blazer is very 80's. I had several crested blazers in highschool (I graduated in 1986). And whenever I see a crested blazer, I think of Denise from the Cosby Show.

I know the jacket shape is not 80's (with shoulder pads and oversized)...but the crest is "So 80's" to me.

kbosh

The shape is great, but the gold crest + navy color does scream 80s to me. Maybe it's because I was too young during the decade to understand shape, but I knew my colors.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I graduated from prep school in Connecticut, and yeah, the crest says 80s to me too.

But then, so does most of RL's clothes. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing; most of my outfits do still have a preppy feel to them. But every once in a while a piece will be *so* reminiscent of that era, I run the other way. Crests and pearls are that for me. It took me until very recently not to see a strand of pearls and not remember wearing them with my sweatshirts while out rowing on the crew team.

tarzy

Veteran

This is so interesting! Thanks for all the great comments. This helps me so much!

I am trying to develop a personal style that is sort of "modern classics updated" - not preppy, and certainly not 80's. I love the idea of taking something classic and wearing it in a way that looks modern and current. (Like Angie and her pearls.) Obviously my fashion compass is still off, but this helps me understand how other people see things.

I am still interested in a classic navy blazer. Would J. Crew be a better place to look?

shiny

Veteran

OMG, Tarzy!!!! That's nearly perfect!!!! Unfortunately, if it doesn't come with a mothball smell, or at least a REAL crest and not a RL crest, preferably from a terribly obscure college in the UK, I'm afraid he won't go for it.

He's incredibly picky. For example, he adores rugby shirts but they have to have

1) rubber buttons
2) long sleeves
3) be loose and one size too big (none of this "slim fit" stuff - I tried, trust me!)
4) only a tiny logo - the classic RL logo is fine, as long as it's the tiny one.

I usually get him a RL polo every few years as a gift. But they never wear out, so he basically has a polo shirt in every imaginable color. I really wanted to see him in a grey one, but they only make it in slim fit/large logo version.

He also has a collection of sweatshirts from obscure, unknown colleges (the more obscure and unknown, the better), and he has a list of requirements for those as well.

Sigh....

Back to crested blazers: this reminds me of that look, where you go into the boys' department and buy one of their navy blue jackets to wear as kind of a shrunken jacket look. I always liked that idea.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Tarzy, I don't think you should necessarily give up the idea of a crest if it appeals to you; certainly you weren't even the only one in this thread who loved the jacket! And like Shiny's husband, there's nothing wrong with collecting and enjoying pieces that have emotional value to you.

Actually, I think it's a little funny that most of us who revolted away from the crest seem to have been big into the preppy look back in the day. So it's just something especially sensitive to us, but to most others it doesn't even register that way.

Nicole

Veteran

Gosh Tarzy, I certainly hope you don't take anything I say to heart. What the heck do I know about it anyway? If you like a crested blazer, then you should own a crested blazer. (though if you pay $700 for one, I might come to CA to thump you in the head).

Why don't you buy an applique crest and attach it to a reasonably priced blazer?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

All British school uniforms have blazers that look like that Tara and Shiny (both the Lauren blazers with the crest). Greg and I both wore those for our entire school career. My nephew who lives in London still wears a school blazer that looks like. So to me, these looks like timeless school blazers! That being said, I actually love the look too and have a piped shrunken version in my closet. It comes out every Spring. Go for the look, Tara.

Shiny I also meant to say that you looked beautiful in the dress that you wore to your event! I loved the pearls and the hair too. And hubby looked killer in his kilt! Do tell him that I adore his salt and pepper hair. It’s fabulous

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I just saw this and thought of you, Tarzy.
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....24*-1*-1*1

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Love that RL jacket, Tara. Maybe it's because I went to public schools and never wore a uniform, but I have no baggage, positive or negative, attached to the look.

I own a grey flannel blazer with black trim and a crest from Aqua! You'd look great in it.

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/.....sn_results

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ah! My jacket looks just like that Sarah and Laura. I really like that look with white skinnies, a striped shirt, yellow ballet flats and pearls. It’s sort of Chanel meets RL. I’m a sucker for it.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Ooh, Angie, what a fab idea! I would never in a million years have thought of pairing the jacket with white skinnies and yellow flats. Pure genius

tarzy

Veteran

Thanks, Laura. That Aqua brand certainly has some nice stuff!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Yes, Aqua does have some nice things, and I got the jacket for an additional 40% off so it was a real bargain!

shana

Veteran

Oh, now the memories are coming back...I also had a crested navy blue blazer as part of my uniform. Mine was not tipped though and I rarely wore it though. We also had regulation navy blue cardigans which is what I usually wore instead of the blazer. Skinnies and yellow flats with the cardigan sounds like a great way to update the look!

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I had a bottle green crested blazer. Took me a long time to be able to wear green again after high school!!!

Funnily enough when I visited my grandmother a few months ago I was wearing olive green pants and 2 green tops. She reminded me that I'd said I would never wear green again after high school. I couldn't even remember having said that!!!