She wore(old)black velvet. - YouLookFab Forum

Continuing with the theme of owning up to old clothes in one s wardrobe that Katerina so kindly started with her oldies challenge,here is a black velvet jacket from a company called Monsoon.It s a British company,mid range high street ,selling smart/smart casual clothes with a faintly bohemian feel to them.(British fabbers feel free to chip in if you think I ve not described Monsoon well)
I bought it approximately 20 years ago and I still wear it today ,usually for evenings out in the winter. I don’t wear black much any more as a general rule as I find it makes me look tired and I have to wear a lot more makeup ,brighter lipstick and pearls to overcome this.Of course none of this was a consideration when I was younger and Black was THE colour to wear for nights out!
Do you still favour black for a night out or prefer something more colourful?and if you do wear black .do you have any tips for making it face friendly?

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7 years ago

Katerina

Veteran

What a beatiful velvet blazer - LOVE IT. It looks wonderful with the pearls. You look very very chic. You have really great pieces in your wardrobe, Cardiff girl, and you style them perfectly.

Black is still one of my favorite colours and I use colourful scarfs, pearls and red lipstick to brighten up my face.

delurked

Wow. You look amazing. A great look on you. Agree with Katerina on brightening black.

Anonymous

It's beautiful and while I feel the same way about black, this almost looks luminous which makes me think some blacks may be more wearable for longer

The Cat

Your jacket is beautiful and elegant, and your styling is very fab.

I had many more black clothes years ago, when my hair was dark. I still wear some black, in particular in winter, when black items somehow looks and feels more natural to me than in the other seasons.

However, now that my hair is silver grey, I prefer to soften the black around my face. And I no longer wear solid black high necks, glasses or hats--I find them too harsh and severe. When wearing black items (including crew necks etc.) I will usually add some pink, red, blue, white or silver grey near my face. (These colours kind of echo my personal colouring and therefore create a soft, harmonious bridge between my face and the black clothing.) The non-black additions could be a beautiful scarf, sparkling pieces of jewellery or a topper or top.

Cardiff girl

Katerina ,thank you so much for your kind comments,I m not surprised that you wear black as you have the colouring to carry it off and it suits you so well.
Delurked,thank you for kind words.
Isabel,thank you ,I think being photographed in front of a white wall helped!
The cat,Thank you and I agree with you .I think black is easiest to wear if you have dark hair.

Sara L.

What a beautiful jacket! It fits you perfectly and I like how you styled it with the white shirt and pearls.

Cardiff girl, just wanted to say that the pictures are really great. High fashion. The sunglasses are fantastic too. What a great job your fashion photographer DD did and you are a great model.

Jane

Another classic! Monsoon is good, especially for classics. I love the texture of velvet and I think the pearls set it off beautifully.

You must be thanking your younger self for excellent wardrobe choices!

I don't tend to be overly concerned about wearing black, but would be careful with make up, although may be if it were an outside evening event in the summer I might take more care. Candle light / soft lighting is my preference rather than stop wearing black!

Sara L. -thank you,I think I need the light reflecting qualities of white these days.
Katerina,that’s so sweet of you and I will pass the complement onto my photographer!
Jane-thank you.I m a big fan of candle light these days as well!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

HAH. Good old Monsoon. It's a fab store with a global integrity. Always worth a look.

Vintage and gorgeous, Cardiff Girl. Fab with the pearls. Off to Brighton you go....

Thank you Angie ,thought you d approve of the pearls.

Bonnie

The velvet jacket looks timeless and perfect for evenings out. The white top and pearls are a nice touch and you look beautiful.

Cardiff- Wow Wow Wow- you look great. You do black well and oldies super well!
To answer your question: Since getting older I have had to move to gray and navy to appear less washed out

Sal

You look great here!! I think you have had the tips for making black easier to wear. And nice big sunglasses:)

Jenn

That jacket makes such a great hourglass shape on you. Classic.

Amy Isabella

What a beautiful jacket - chic timeless tailored elegance. I think you've nailed the way to soften black and make it wearable perfectly.

Suz

It's a beautiful jacket and you wear it well! Absolutely a keeper for evenings out. I feel much as you do about black for my own colouring but black velvet is different. It has a luminosity, as others here have said, that works to make it more flattering than flat black in my opinion.

Brooklyn

Great jacket. I can see why you kept it. It looks fab on you.

I used to love Monsoon. They had a store here for a while but it shut down about 10 years ago. I think their style has changed a bit since then, but I remember I got some lovely elevated boho-ish embroidered pieces from them in the 90s. I kind of wish I still had them now!

Bonnie ,efbgen,sal,Jenn,Amy Isabella and Suz,thank you all for your very kind comments ,I really appreciate it.
Brooklyn,thank you,and yes that is the dilemma of wardrobe culls isn’t it?

Mirjana

The black velvet blazer is excellent, suits you perfect and you look so elegant and very chic. I am familiar with Monsoon, have some items in my closet . I wear black, but always lightened with white or cream, or some color-red , light pink, light blue or others.

rachylou

Gorgeous. I’d wear it with a deep rust silk for a night out. Reflect some colour up to the face and for drama...

Sisi

You look fab! That jacket has a wonderful fit. I adore velvet jackets. I do not wear much black but when I do I use your tricks: white top (if the black item is a jacket), sparkly "statement" necklace and bright lipstick.

Mainelady

You are gorgeous and that black velvet jacket is worthy of a space in your wardrobe. The wonderful thing about black is that it responds well to lighter colors and bolder makeup. Lovely!

krishnidoux

Breathtaking.
Cardif girl, in these you do have a Grace-from-Grace-And-Frankie air, only younger! (Grace being played by Jane Fonda, no less). It's classic and timeless, and black suits you so well! You have a terrific figure. But what I like most about this outfit is the clever use of pearls! Very inspiring.

Bijou

Cardiff Girl - This looks wonderful on you, black velvet is so rich. I am moving away from black for the same reasons as you. For nights out I have a favourite little black dress, but I also have some coloured dresses and pieces too. However, your pearls really do the trick, you look beautiful in this!

Thank you Mirjana ,another Monsoon fan,great!
Rachylou,Mainelady,krishndoux,Sisi and Bijou,thank you so much for your kind thoughts and lovely words of encouragement.Krishnidoux,l have no idea what you are referencing so that’s my homework tonight to go and look it up !

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