Style/purge this jacket (ETA photos at end) - YouLookFab Forum

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Style/purge this jacket (ETA photos at end)

Cerinda

Veteran

I'm in need of ideas, please. I'm clearing out my closet, and I may NOT want to get rid of this after all.

This jacket has hardly been worn lately (maybe most recently to the YLF Ingefest meet up?), but I've never stopped loving it. Cut like an old-school denim jacket, pretty much straight up and down; soft, drapey leather, just enough evidence of happy wear. It's a peculiar shade, maybe warmer than I think: it looks pretty dull with black, charcoal, and ink, but with these (relatively) light denim flares, I'm having second thoughts.

My questions for you: Pair it with dark, mid-range, or light neutrals? Warm colors or cool ones? What jeans or trousers can you see this with? Let your imagination run riot! Alternatively, it would be fine to suggest I demote it to dog walking, beach combing, and walking in the woods.

Thanks for your help!

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Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Cerinda

Anonymous

I like the taupe, orange and burgundy combo you've got.
I think the colour is a good neutral that works well with denim, so I think the jacket is worth keeping.

I might switch out the shirt for something that has more contrast with the jacket.
I might also pair this with dark, dark denim.
There is no better combo for fall that dark denim and orange!
With the orange bag I think you'd want to keep everything warm.

But without it, I think you could do a taupe/ heather grey/light blue jeans/ and light booties for a very soft look.

LaPed

Veteran

Oh, I like it with that olive shirt! I think you could do a full-on tonal look with a pair of pants that are either a shade darker (a darker olive or an earth brown) or a shade lighter (ivory).

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Nice jacket. No wonder you've been fond of it for so long. Can you try a darker top underneath? Navy or dark rust maybe? Or a darker shade of the jacket? Maybe a tone to match the rust bag?

I can see a scarf with the mid-blue tones, darker green and the beige mix.
Like this? http://www.luulla.com/product/.....ian-patter

What do you think of making the blue balanced out by moving something brighter up towards your face. The blue denim, at least in the photo, is very bright and kind of overwhelms the same-shade neutrals of the top, the jacket and your (lovely) hair.

shedev

Veteran

navy, white and shades brown and olive

kerlyn

Veteran

Nice jacket! I think it would look great with dark denim and a dark shirt, navy or burgundy.

Zibbets

Veteran

Great jacket! I like it with these pieces.

I would also try it with a column of dark color (skirt/top, dress, dark jeans/top or slacks/top) and a patterned scarf in bright colors.

I have a similar jacket that plays well with a gray turtleneck and plaid pants.

Jennifer

I echo what Smittie said! I like the color of denim and footwear you have paired with the jacket right now. Maybe swap the color of shirt for something charcoal, navy or burgundy?

Sally

Veteran

I love it with the denim jeans like you're wearing so I vote keep. I think the shirt goes well. I think cream would go with it and dark denim also.

tulle

Veteran

I would love to see this jacket with white jeans or trousers and a white t-shirt. Ditto black pants & tee. To me, this shade of taupe looks super rich with defined neutrals. I would also play with the sleeves a bit, cuffing, rolling or scrunching for casual dash. And finally, I'd loop a loose, lightweight scarf (in the same taupe/white/black palette, maybe with a touch of metallic) at the neck. It's a cool jacket!

kkards

Veteran

nodding my head to the wear with white suggestions! what about trying it with a tee the color of your shoe?

unfrumped

Veteran

For fall- winter especially, dark neutrals that are more muted-- I think the denim there is " brighter " blue than complements the taupe. Including near- neutrals like burgundy. Try different colors thaf look good on you.
Also like the flip side, trying with white and pale neutrals for late winter / spring( not that you're limited to seasons, but if you like seasonal color shifts. Anyway play in your closet to see which of several combinations you might have.
It is also a good, and fairly easy, color to pick up in a print such as a top or scarf and give cohesion to combined neutrals.

Cerinda

Veteran

Thanks for the input! Your suggestions increased my options exponentially. I’ve kept accessories to a minimum to highlight color and
proportion.

#1: dark denim, column of navy, tonal (with photo bombers), this
may be the winner.
#2, 3: higher contrast top, lighter neutrals
#4: column of black

As you suggested, I also tried the column of cream, shades of taupe, and tonal boots and tee (with pieces dues to be purged or returned, no photos); all three looks work well (so maybe better-fitting replacements
will show up soon).

However, I’m still uncertain whether the jacket belongs in my current closet. I’m far more likely to opt for #5 or #6 than #7. As fits trend toward more tailored options, I wonder if the straight-up-and-down cut will just
feel too classic and insufficiently modern. Any thoughts?

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tulle

Veteran

You know, Cerinda, looking at these pictures, I'm not sure that the jacket's shape is the problem (there are a lot of slightly-to-majorly-oversized denim & bomber jackets out there this season.) I think it's the color. With your fair skin & hair, the taupe may be making you feel washed out. I covered up the taupe in pic #1, and wow--that deep blue was SO much more flattering! So your impulse to purge is probably right after all. Could you consign it, and look for an ink blue leather blazer or moto?

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like the taupe jacket best with darker colors--with the darker denim top and bottoms, and with the black outfit and print scarf. I also like it with the burgundy and jeans, but I like the black jacket so much better over that top--and I love your black jacket so much on you, period-- that I tend to agree with tulle. I don't know when I would prefer the taupe jacket over your other options. So I would lean toward consigning it.

Anonymous

I really like how the sweater picks up the glasses color in 5.

I see you say you've never stopped loving the jacket, but you seem very uncertain about keeping it. Has it been in a holding zone? Would you like it there to see if you miss it? If it's gotten little wear lately, do you feel this classic silhouette will feel like you in the future, or are you moving away from that aesthetic?

amiable

Veteran

This is a gorgeous jacket, and I love it in the second round of photos!

Cerinda

Veteran

Ooh, now I'm thinking I've misidentified the problem with the jacket! Perhaps it has to do with its place in larger style shifts.

I DO feel washed out in it, tulle. I bought it when I had dark red "statement hair" and was't so scrupulous about wearing sunscreen. So long ago that a MOTG in leather seemed pretty edgy, so the classic cut felt appropriate, delurked. The jacket is hard for me to style, Sharan, so it doesn't suit my ready-for-anything aesthetic and throw-on-and-go lifestyle. I think I'd rather put that energy into styling the asymmetric battleship grey leather I bought last year (which --as another mid-tone neutral-- may pose the same challenge. Another day, another post.).

But no more guilt! The jacket is too worn for my regular consignment shop to be interested, so it's leaving my closet for the holding zone; I don't need to see and touch it daily. Maybe it will appeal to me again when my hair gets all the way to white, maybe not. Thanks for your help.

JAileen

Veteran

I know what you mean about hair color. My hair is grey and it seems like grey is a color and so I wear grey and silver to go with it. I've seen the future, though, and know that my hair will be white eventually, and then I think I'll feel like adding in other colors.

The other thought I had, is that if I have to go to a lot of trouble to make something work, that maybe it's just not worth it in the long run.

Cerinda

Veteran

You nailed it, JAileen. I see fashion as a hobby, not another job.