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Too much for work?

Alecia

Veteran

I LOVE this jacket. It's soft and warm. The colors are happy. I'm smitten. However, I really need to be disciplined about updating my professional wardrobe. I can only keep this if it checks that box. I'm pretty sure I could convince myself that it does but come to my senses after I get the tags off. Wouldn't be the first time. What do you think? Is it just too much for the office?

Halogen Halogen Raw Edge Tweed Jacket (Regular & Petite) | Nordstrom

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11

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25 replies

Latest reply was from The Cat

marianna

Veteran

I could see this worn at my office, no problem.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Alecia, do you tend to wear very sleek, almost strict looking clothes to work? Do you tend to wear one color only, and slim silhouettes in sturdier materials or materials that don't ride up/crinkle/bunch and that fall back into place after you move? Do you own many simple white tees? If so, then go for it. If not, and if you are on a tight budget, hold off.

Of course you can wear this with anything, but the reason why I invoke the strict silhouette is that I think this jacket would be a workhorse for someone who needs busy details to alleviate a look that could pass as stern or plain otherwise.

This jacket would look fantastic with denim. Are you allowed denim at work?

I also notice the frizzle on breasts. If your bust is not on the smaller side, you might want to take this in consideration.

Kathie

Veteran

It’s super cute. I try to visualize pieces like this in my office environment. Would I wear this in a meeting with my colleagues? With my boss? At an evening work event? If you would, then keep it. If not, back it goes.

gryffin

Veteran

Alecia - you are now speaking with blazer girl!! I wear a jacket to work every single day and on weekends but with jeans or more casual pants. It my version. This is an incredible swing piece, the Iro is not lined so if feels like the nicest cardigan ever but wears like a blazer. Because the jacket is such a statement I would keep it with quiet pieces but definitely super work piece and conversation starter if you have conferences, presentations - memorable but in a good way. Also it's terrific for smart dressy casual and I mine with jeans for the weekend. But you need to feel it. I'd walk around the house with it. Style it up and style it down. But those are the pieces that I find I reach for a lot. So many uses - but just make sure this is a love and not fantasy purchase. It took forever to find my tweed blazer because at 58yo structured tweed reads "old lady" in a bad way. I needed young and hip - elegant lady with an attitude vibe!! But I love it FWIW.

IRO IRO Fringe Trim Open Jacket | Nordstrom

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Thistle

Veteran

I think it depends on your workplace.

I am an accountant, in the Midwest, at a traditional manufacturer. Yes, there are more conservative places, but you get the point.

This would NOT work there.

It sounds like you're having some doubts. So, I'd ask yourself, really ask yourself, how comfortable you'll actually be wearing it to the office. If you wear it once, will you wear it a second and third time to make it worth the purchase?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think it depends on your particular work environment, but I could see this working nicely in any number of offices (I mostly worked in creative fields, but would have worn it even in my broadcasting and education jobs).

jmwolf

One thought, and it may depend on the jacket, but I've heard of people trimming the fringe a bit on their tweedy jackets. Perhaps a little trim might make the jacket a bit more streamlined, if that's the fix you're after. A good tailor could do it easily or it may be fit for DIY if you have the skills and supplies!

kkards

Veteran

Alecia --i went back and read your note from 5 months ago, about your promotion and finding your style now...and i'm going back to how you said the men in the office dress....and based on that, i'd say YES this can work in your office...it's all about the styling. i'd wear it with a more conservative cut pair of pants and top and shoe,. personally i'd go with a column of color so that the jacket is the standout...

RobinF

Veteran

Love this jacket! I agree with the advice you’ve already gotten. If paired with simple items it could stand out in a great way, not over the top. But you have to be comfortable with the look or you won’t reach for it.

Beth

Veteran

I think yes, particularly if you keep the basic silhouette simple. I work in education and ordered this jacket yesterday. I plan to wear it to work with black pants and on the weekend with white or blue denim.

I also like Jmwolf's idea of trimming the fringe if it feels too much.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It's a great jacket. As for wearing it to work -- it depends on your workplace and your comfort level. Styling it with smooth, simple, more conservative pieces, as others have said, should do the trick.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Alecia, NOT ANT MORE. Maybe 5 years ago - the jacket would have been too much in your line of work. But dress codes have relaxed A LOT. I vote try it.

unfrumped

Veteran

I agree if looks kind something that begs for a column of color for pants and top or skirt and top or a solid sheath dress. Also agree that trying it out at home helps a lot. Then decide if it works with some outfits, will you be comfortable with repeating, and his often, or can you wear it fit different roles with different support act-/ work, church, weekend— wher you will be with different people.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Is the big fringe the main question here? I’ve seen lots of jackets similar to this one, in various colors, with less fringe—shorter along the edges, and no double row at the cuffs. If it’s the overall looks that makes your heart sing, and not the fringe in particular, you might want to look for one of them.

bj1111

Veteran

alecia,

what are your career aspirations? i work in a conservative field in a conservative institution. for advancement to real leadership positions, this jacket is conveys a lack of seriousness. the most senior institutional leader, a woman, was fired for a variety of reasons. however, one of the criticisms remained that she "dressed funny. i didn't get what that was about." her dress translated to lack of relatability and then lack of credibility.

only you can balance your desire to be hip and fashionable with your desire for credibility and bigger positions. i would look at the more senior women and dress aspirationally.

Alecia

Veteran

Thank you all for your responses.

If I keep it, I'd definitely do what many of you suggest - pair it with classic pieces. I'll try it with the options I have before I decide.

As kkards alluded, I'm on a bit of a style reassessment at the moment and am trying to figure out where I'll land. I really love color and patterns. Strict conservative dress doesn't really feel like me or my office, even. At the same time, there's a limit.

Bj1111, you raise an interesting question/point. I have been in my profession for a long time and have a large body of work that I can point to. I'm in a leadership position. There are no women above me in my company to whom I can look for inspiration. As I've mentioned before, the other executives (all men) in my office are fairly fashion forward, too. But since they are all men, it's really hard to benchmark my clothes against theirs. Between the positions we hold and our work experience, it'd be nice if those alone afforded women in high level leadership positions the ability to set the standard. But there's more that factors into it all, isn't there? Lots of food for thought.

Sal

Veteran

I like this a lot - gorgeous over a pair of ankle pants or a fitted dress. I can see it with jeans and tees too.

Anonymous

Definitely appropriate for work or play. Cool addition to any wardrobe.

Berkeley Girl

It's such a fun, stylish and versatile jacket. I hope you're able to make it work!

Echo

Veteran

Perhaps it depends on the line of work. I am normally VERY conservative in terms of what is "acceptable" for work. Where I live, no hose and skirts well above the knee simply would not fly in areas like law, accounting or banking. Bright colours would be questionable unless one was already established. However, I see no issue with this jacket.

Only you can decide if it is right for you, in your part of the country and in your line of work. But it would fly in the most conservative lines of work in one of the most conservative areas of the country from my perspective.

Lucy

Veteran

I'd wear this to work in a heart beat As others say, if the rest of the outfit is fairly simple, it will look fab but not too much.

Mel

Wow, that is a gorgeous jacket!! The fact that it is tweed makes it classic and the fringes are like an update. I agree that pairing it with structured, simple pieces will keep it tame. Sure hope you keep it!

Echo- interesting comment on the bright colors. Can you expand on that? I wouldn't have thought that bright colors send such a strong message but maybe they do.

3style

Veteran

I tend towards the general opinion that: “if you have to ask, you just aren’t feeling comfortable enough with that item right now .” I think that this jacket just isn’t that versatile. It’s too heavy looking to pair well with any spring and summer clothing. It’s too much going on to wear with statement jewelry. It’s too much going on with any interesting shoes or bag.

I think that the black Iro Jacket above is much more versatile, and therefore has a lot more wardrobe longevity. Therefore I think that the question is would you get enough wear from the Halogen jacket it in the near future. Would you be happy wearing it weekly for the next six months? If not, you don’t need it.

Gretchen

Veteran

Alecia: You mention that the men in your office are fashion forward, but there aren't any women so it's hard to benchmark. IMO, this means YOU get to set the standard for women. So, if you like the blazer, I'd say keep it and make colorful blazers the new norm for your office.

If you want to benchmark, I'd suggest you find a visible working woman exec (in your field or not) and see what they are wearing at conferences, on TV, in the courthouse... whatever makes sense to you. Good luck!

The Cat

Veteran

I can hardly see how this jacket could be "too much", but if in doubt, choose to "tame" it by styling it with classic items with simple lines and in neutral colours.