Stylish or wearing a blanket to work? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Stylish or wearing a blanket to work?

Thistle

Veteran

I am referring to ponchos. I ordered two I very much liked and tried them on. I am 5'6" and plus sized post baby. Not tall, not thin, not statuesque.

As I tried on my new ponchos, my husband asked if I'd bought a "blanket snuggie thing" to cuddle Into this winter, not knowing what they were.

*sigh* He's the love of my life, but now my ponchos are looking like blankets.

So got me to thinking. Not looking for the blanket to work statement, especially as these aren't inexpensive, so I would like a few winters of wear out of them. Fabric is soft and the drape nice. But not sure I can shake the blanket feeling now . . .

Lauren Ralph Lauren Plus Size Colorblocked Open-Front Poncho

View Info

Top Pick

1

Lauren Ralph Lauren Striped Knit Poncho (Plus Size)

$175.00 $104.98

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

3

Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from Isabel

Elly

Veteran

Thistle-- we need pics, because ponchos can go both ways!

unfrumped

Veteran

I don't know. I can see the risk. It's a very unfitted look, and yet has drama for those that can do it. I also think they're harder for us narrower shoulder types. You might like soft jackets and cardis with some fit better. Or the "reverse structure" of cocoon styles.

catgirl

Veteran

I just bought this. I am totally okay with wearing a blanket.

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=602576002

Word Lily

Veteran

I agree with Elly, we need modeled photos. I think how it's styled in the first Find doesn't look like a blanket at all, but like a jacket/sweater.

JAileen

Veteran

I really like ponchos. Are you planning on leaving this at work and putting it on whenever it's cold inside? Anyway, I like the look of the first one.

Anonymous

I am so biased against these types of things that I cannot answer objectively. I have to defer to the wisdom of the greater Forum at large.

Thistle

Veteran

So, I have decided to return them. They may look fine, but I will never feel fabulous in them. And I suspect my coworkers would side with DH on this!

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

My DH would have said the same. And 16 years post-baby I still hear maternity top from him any time I test out a tunic look. :-/

Joy

Veteran

My DH is like UmmLila's. He will never understand ponchos and, although any baby now would be miraculous, he still doesn't like tunics

Joyce B

Veteran

Ponchos and ruanas do come from blankets. A ruana is a blanket with a hole. I love ponchos, I am just sharing a fact.
The ones in your pictures look fab to me and maybe they can work over a Winter coat but If you are not really comfortable in them you are right to return them.

Echo

Veteran

Ponchos are impossible to judge on a hanger or a model. Some of them will look fantastic and others will look like the blanket from your sofa, and a person often cannot tell which is which without trying them on. That said, they rarely work for me - so rarely, in fact, that I hardly even bother to try them anymore. Same with capes. They often make a shorter, curvier person like me look shapeless.

Style Fan

Veteran

I do find the poncho has to have some weight to it to work. If the fabric is too light it doesn't fall properly. And like most things the only way to tell if it is going to work is to try it on.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Personally, I think it's a very stylish look. And one that will look amazing on you, Thistle. Hubs will hopefully come round.

Try a poncho that does not have an opening in front, or one made of a woven fabric too.

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

3

Vince Camuto Blanket Jacquard Poncho (Regular & Petite)

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

7

Cashmere Ruana Poncho

$150.00 $105.00

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

0

Eileen Fisher Cozy Fine Gauge Wool Poncho

$278.00 $138.97

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

3

Barefoot Dreams Boatneck CozyChic Poncho

View Info

Top Pick

4

Eileen Fisher Drape Neck Merino Wool Poncho (Plus Size)

View Info

Top Pick

2

Patchwork Poncho

View Info

Top Pick

2

Glory

Veteran

I agree with Angie. I love the look - stylish and warm!

AviaMariah

Veteran

I wish you'd show us a picture before you return. I agree that this is one of those things most DH's aren't going to get. Too out of the box. But if you don't fee fab....

Nebraskim

Veteran

I love poncho/ruanas becuase of their inherent blanketedyness. (not a word but YKWIM.) I loved them for work because my offices were always way too cold, esp in summer. I do think it takes an attitude of confidence to wear them so when someone makes a blanket comment you can respond with a "thanks! I find this so amazingly comfortable." ETA maybe these just weren't the right ones for you. If the concept appeals, try on lots before deciding whether to keep or reject. I'm seeing them at all price points even here in Nebraska.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I personally love them. Are they the best, most flattering look on me? I'm sure they are not, as I am short with a small waist and larger thighs - but sometimes figure flattery is not my first concern. My DH was questioning my long sweater over leggings and skinnies looks last winter ("what's with all the long tops?") I told him I just wanted to be warm. I wear flattering outfits often enough so that everyone knows what I really look like under the "blanket"!

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I have a lot to say about ponchos. I said most of it here. Anyone who thinks it looks like a blanket should try telling that to Clint Eastwood.

In a hurry right now. Might pitch in with a generous $0.02 later.

Susie

Veteran

I have a couple ponchos and I love wearing them...and I am far from statuesque! One of mine is cashmere and has 3/4 length sleeves and I wear it like a sweater with a knit top underneath. Another is more unstructured and I wear it as a light outer layer. I added one more from NAS and that one also has sleeves to wear as a sweater. All of them are lightweight and fluid yet with some structure and I think that helps avoid the blanket look.

celia

Veteran

I like them and I just bought one this Fall.
Please model yours for us

View Info

abc

Veteran

I was so bummed when you decided to return, Thistle. But I understand. My DH doesn't even get fluid fit tops

I did take Angie's suggestion as a lightbulb moment. We have similar body shapes and sizes, so i am gonna use her tip and apply it to me if I ever do find one I like. I am gonna focus on one without a front opening. I think I would like that more anyway as I find cardigans fussy and I have an EF sweater jacket that has a front opening and it always bugs me. A lightbulb moment here thanks to you.

Anonymous

I think ponchos are a great mom-on-the-go look, as well as a good yoga to-from look (I think of this as a west coast look).
I plan on wearing mine at work, because the office is cold in the winter, and lots of women have actual blankets at their desks that they wrap around themselves...so blankets have kind of been normalized at my workplace.

Anonymous

Maybe your hubby is jealous. Since you have 2 ponchos, give him one and see if that calms him down. And you'd be a matched set!

This makes me wonder if there has ever been a guy who posted his outfits on here.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, I'd like to see them on. I do think they might take some getting used to, and I think they're the kind of thing that looks better in motion IRL than in a static photograph.

I bought a cape/poncho that I'll be interested to try styling. I think I mentioned in another thread that I felt a little like I should be in Middle Earth wearing it, especially because it has a hood and a fastener at the front, but hopefully if anyone else makes that association they'll think I look more elf-like than hobbit-like. But I liked the very simple color scheme and shape. We shall see…

LORD & TAYLOR Hooded Cape

View Info

Top Pick

1

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

My DH will never love them, but now bites his tongue or actually had grown use to them. I bought a tan ruana for this season. Will have to wait to see his reaction, lol. I love them so nothing anyone says would deter me....

approprio

(website)

Veteran

Yes to ponchos. All the time. Even when not in fashion.

I had this conversation with my sister one sunny afternoon this summer, while sitting on her oversized wrap which was at that point doubling up as a picnic blanket. We were in agreement that flat square metre of cloth is the most underrated of garments. I'm not talking about scarves, more like shawls, capes and ponchos. I've come to think of them as the sartorial equivalent of the intergalactic hitchhiker's towel. They're far more useful and versatile than you might think.

So I urge you to keep searching for your ideal blanket, and don't imagine that it has to be a branded fashion item (although now is undoubtedly a good time to buy). I guarantee you'll find many, many uses for the right one.

BethT

I love them! And they definitely can be blanketesque, but to me that is part of the charm and coziness. They can also be super chic, but I tend to like the ones that I would want to wear outside while watching a fall sporting event.

Anonymous

I haven't been able to pull off the poncho look in any fashionable way. I've always thought you needed to be at least a 6-footer to compete with the volume of the thing. Shorter people just seem to get lost in them.

Bonnie

Veteran

I bought a poncho last November and love it. I'm 5'5" and I think it looks great and would like to get another one but will wait for sales. I think a poncho would be hard to buy online - you really have to try on a lot before you find the right one.

12