Should I purge this jacket? - YouLookFab Forum

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Should I purge this jacket?

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I need a collective YLF wisdom!

I have this grey denim jacket since 2010 (pic 3). This is a really good grey color for me but for the last couple of summers I did not wear it much. I also have a white denim jacket (pic 1) and faded blue denim biker (pic 2) and it seems that every time I consider wearing a denim jacket I reach for one of those rather than for the grey.
I like the color so is it the style which makes it hard for me to style - or is it the color itself I find hard to style even though I like it?

I am considering what I can purge to justify my recent purchases and this jacket is one of the candidates. Do you have suggestions to style it so it feels me - or should I let it go?
Thanks for your help!

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Dressing

40 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Ginkgo

Veteran

What if you changed the buttons? They seem to stand out.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

If it's in question, let it go. I like it, it looks good on you, and if there is room in your wardrobe to keep, by all means, do keep. But if it just makes you feel guilty to see it hanging there, then let it be. I think the white one fills the function of denim jacket to use as summer topper.

OTOH, if you would like to try styling it -- will it work with blush pants from the GAP? How about with the new grey linen? With white trousers/ jeans or clams? See what you come up with.

BTW, I have just donated to my stepdaughter:

1 jeans
1 t-shirt
4 cotton and/ or linen sweaters
1 cotton-modal sweater
1 sheer tank to wear as a layering piece

So. You now understand the amount of online shopping that I did this week. This donation does not even cover it. More purging to come.

Deborah

Veteran

Sveta is a lovely jacket but if you haven't reached for it for a couple of seasons I would be inclined to pass it on. The colour is nice but I feel it doesn't do for you what the white and the blue does, both of which are just gorgeous against your complexion.

Karina

It looks good, but if you are choosing other pieces instead, I vote pass it along. I rarely regret getting rid of items that aren't quite right anymore.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Ginkgo, I don't mind the buttons, they are regular metal buttons for a denim jacket.
Suz, ha-ha, great minds...and guilty consciences... I was pouring over my spreadsheet yesterday to see what can go to free room for that jCrew stuff because I decided I will keep only what I can free room for. So far i have linen boatneck tee and pants justified and now it is a turn for Zara white blazer!
Thanks for the suggestions. It does not work with grey linen pants as these shades of grey have different undertones and clash together to my eye.
Maybe I make a challenge to myself to style this jacket every day this week and see how it goes? If i feel by the end of the week that all those outfits would look better with a white or faded denim jackets that would be time to purge I guess.
OK, so blush pants / white jeans suggestions from Suz. Any more?

DonnaF

Veteran

I was thinking of the gray jacket with your blush pants, esp. if you want to wear a white top with them. Or would you reach for the blue jacket instead?

How does the gray work with more fall-ish stuff?

Can you tell I'm not a purger? And that I just bought *another* gray jacket?

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Thank you Deborah and Karina for your words of wisdom

deb

Veteran

I say let it go! the other two look so much better on you. But just for kicks, will you style it a with navy or black top? I think it needs a darker contrast.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well...let's see. We already know it goes with the dress you are wearing, although I think the white jacket looks better.

How about with your floral dress? (White jacket will look better, I am pretty sure.)

What about with a full skirt -- the one that has greys in it?

Red pencil skirt is a no-brainer.

But honestly...just because you have things you could wear with it, doesn't mean it is worth keeping. Or, at least, not in my world. Maybe that is why I have a relatively modest closet. Whenever I have something like this, that I just don't reach for, I let it go -- and truly, I have not regretted this yet! Even this winter when I let go of almost all my blazers....and I could not find any replacements until the spring and therefore had almost no toppers...even then, I didn't regret my decision.

Debbie

Veteran

If you are not reaching for it let it go. I am trying to ruthlessly purge because I too have drank the JCrew kool-aid. I needed to clean out any way.

Beth Ann

Veteran

I have items like this in my closet. They're the "I might not buy it today, but it's serviceable for now" category. Sometimes I keep an item to wear in one or two combinations in which it works better than it's replacement. Sometimes I demote it to more casual wear, particularly for events like festivals and outdoor gatherings when I think I might get dirty or sweaty. You only need a small selection of pieces for this purpose, though, and I have more of these than I need!

I love the color, and the fit it great. Even so, it's had a good run in your closet, and you should feel free to pass it on to make room for new items.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Beth Ann raises another good point.

If you paid a lot for it, actually love it, and feel you haven't perhaps given it its proper due, then it is worth hanging onto and working back into rotation.

Whereas if it didn't cost a lot in the first place, or you wore it a lot in its day and just feel tired of it, then it should be easier to say goodbye, no?

ironkurtin

Veteran

The other two are getting more wear for a reason. I say let it go.

sarah

Veteran

Before giving up on it, why don't you try one of Angie's favorite color combos - grey, white, citron? You could wear this over a column of white with your yellow oxfords... or do you have a citron tee with white jeans you could wear it with?

carter

Veteran

Love the "try it for a week" plan! Faded blue jeans, ivory slacks, muted blues, pinks and purples, faded black jeans. I love grey, taupe and ivory together, but that's not everyone's cup of tea. Hope you'll post your outfits!

Joy

Veteran

The color isn't as fab on you as the other two jackets, but how about trying it with a white top and your yellow pencil shirt? It might also work with a whole outfit of soft neutrals.

Echo

Veteran

I very much prefer the other two jackets on you, and I can see why they would be easier to style (the white in particular). IMO, it's harder to reach for grey when the white pops more visually. I'd let it go.

Gigi

Veteran

I had the same reaction as Gingko. There seems to be something about the buttons that adds a particular character to the jacket. It almost reads eighties to me, FWIW, with its tailored and preppy look.

I say, if you haven't worn it for a long time, there's probably a reason for it, and I think you should let it go. And like Suz pointed out, even though you can probably create outfits that will work well with the jacket, that doesn't mean you need to keep it. If you force yourself to wear it, you will not be wearing the jackets that you *really* want to wear, and so you won't get as much money's worth out of the latter.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oooh. I am loving the citron and yellow suggestions here...

But nonetheless. You are going to reach for the pretty new things more often.

Jeanie

Veteran

Love Sarah's idea with citron and white. It is a lovely jacket on you.

Vildy

Veteran

I think forcing ourselves to wear something for a week when we'd rather enjoy something else is kind of a bummer. Just because you can think of a use for it does not mean you have to keep it.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

The gray jacket is nice but to me doesn't stand out enough. The white jacket looks much better with the dress because it provides that pop of interest, whereas the gray blends in more. Same thing with the blue jacket - it provides a bit of contrast and interest, and the gray would just blend in.

You could try the "wear it for a week" plan, but if you find yourself each day reaching for something else, then it's time to move it along....

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Thank you ladies!
Sarah, yellow did come to my mind yesterday but unfortunately the only yellow item in my summer wardrobe is a jacket ;-( I have a yellow Tippi sweater but it is wool and this jacket is a summer topper for me (very thin denim fabric).
Joy, sadly my yellow skirt is gone - it was past its prime

This is the main problem: it works in many combinations but I prefer the white or faded blue in the same combinations more. I will still try it out this week to see if it has any saving grace so at least I don't feel guilty when I purge.

Actually it came to mind that another jacket I was struggling with was grey Gibson riding. Maybe I have a thing with grey jackets?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It may be you have a thing with grey jackets, yes. And maybe grey is not really the world's best neutral for you.

Let it go. I am with Vildy on this. If you have to force yourself to wear it for a week -- just, yuck. You have a closet full of things you enjoy.

ironkurtin

Veteran

Absolutely agree, Vildy.

lyn67

Veteran

I so can relate, Sveta!

A few years ago I had a denim pencil exactly this grey-and loved it soooo much, I collected items around it(pale rose, whites, yellows, navies, blacks, oranges, even chock browns-it seemed a great and sophisticated neutral! and I wore it to death in summer and in winter, too. Than I begun turning to brighter colors, and loved a bright white skirt better instead. And a coral one, too. Printed/patterned ones, for winter. AND even still in a good condition, never ever could reach for it again...I was really bummed. I loved and lived in that skirt soo much-but JUST. Couldn't. dress. it. anymore! And I couldn't let it go, yet-either. I just put in my holding pile-but can predict by now, will never come back to my closet, again:-).

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

High five Vildy! Let it go Sveta.

Angela K

Veteran

Sveta, My vote goes with the other toppers. IMHO they are so much more flattering to you. The white jacket just makes you glow ! The grey is nice, but if you don't love it--make room for something you do love!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

could it be the tone? Warm grey rather than cool grey like the slacks you are wearing in #2. I have this issue with some of my grey things.

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