Top dollar jacket: does it look like it's worth it?

Background: One huge wardrobe gap I never filled was a versatile black blazer that I could throw on over everything from businessy sheaths to jeans. That gap became urgent for a variety of reasons, many of which are sad. I have to attend and sing in a memorial on Sunday for a former choir-mate and friend who died of cancer at age 30. My aunt is also terminal and doesn't have much longer, so there will be another funeral. On other fronts, jackets may be necessary on a couple of different job-related fronts in the near future, plus I like pairing them with jeans. So yeah, I needed one.

Accordingly I went shopping today, armed with a black and cream sheath I recently acquired on sale that fits me like a dream. I wanted to find something that would look good with it specifically, figuring if it worked there then it would fly in other ensembles too.
I started out with a jacket that was on sale for an insane $40 (shown in pics 1 and 2). I liked it, but didn't love it...and I feared the fabric simply wouldn't work with some of my dressier pieces.
So then I tried on a jacket that was...well, a whole huge hell of a lot more than $40. :p And fell in love. The drape was amazing. The tailoring and multiple princess-seam placement felt incredible. I loved the shape and feel of the buttons. It fit a size down from what I was expecting. Even the subtle ruffle-like detail seemed to add dimention rather than bore me. I even liked the length better. The only thing not to love, for me, was the price tag...so I held my breath and went for the expensive jacket. And it is expensive.

Now...does it look like it fits as well as I described? Does it strike you as the answer to my jacket woes, or are you shaking your head wondering what in the world would compell anyone to pay good money for it?

If you like the jacket, how do you like it paired with the dress? If this is a go, I plan to wear this to the funeral with black hose, black pumps, a semi-wide gold chain and pearl and gold stud earrings.

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14 years ago

Kari

Veteran

Michelle, from what I can see, I think your assessment is pretty accurate.

#1 is a good blazer and looks like it fits you well. It's very classic, and doesn't really stand out - but that's not a bad thing. It would work well for business attire, and I think you would be able to dress it down with jeans - but it might look kind of staid with dresses or fancier pieces if you *aren't* wearing it for business purposes only.

The jacket in #3, from what I can see, has a gorgeous drape and looks like it nips in at the sides a bit more, emphasizing the waist without pulling. It's hard to see the ruffle detail in the picture, but it looks like it's almost a *subtle* military vibe with the standout buttons and the slight vertical ruffle. The shoulders look like they are slightly sharp but not exaggerated, and I personally like this one MUCH better paired with the dress you're wearing here than I do the first blazer. It just looks a little more ladylike and a bit more fun without going overboard into trendiness. And yet, I think that the blazer would work well for funeral/memorial wear, and even interview attire with the right outfit.

I hope that helps you make your decision. Knowing what I do of your style, and your discernment in holding out for the right pieces rather than having a wardrobe cluttered with "just okay" items, I'm leaning towards the second/expensive blazer - but I don't think the first one would be a bad buy either if you decide that the price of the second is just too steep.

I am so very sorry to hear about your friend's passing and your aunt's illness. Not a fun occasion to need to buy new clothing by any means, but I do think that you need a jacket that could fulfill some major functions in your professional and social life too.

Anonymous

The photos just show the top half of your dress and jackets, so it's hard to judge. What I see of both jackets looks fine with the dress but we aren't seeing the proportions.
Since the jacket will be able to be worn in many ways and situations, I'd say you should get the expensive one that feels amazing. You'll probably have a low cost-per-wear eventually and will feel fabulous whenever you wear it.
I'm sorry that this is a sad time for you. Many hugs.

san

Black is so hard to photograph. From the pictures I see jacket #1 as fitting better but I would not trust that judgement unless I saw these jackets on you in person or with more detailed photographs. Sorry no help at all. The fact that you fell for the second one says alot though.

Marley

Although we can't see your full outfit (from head to foot) in order to know about the proportions, I definitely go along with the other women who are voting for the 2nd jacket. It appears to have just a little bit of "fun" in its design that you don't see in the 1st jacket. It seems to accentuate your waist perfectly - giving you a really nice shape - and I think the cut of the shoulders are much more contemporary - and will easily translate to both dresses and jeans.

Michelle

(website)

Sorry ladies...I didn't realize these were truncated shots. I'll be sure to get a more complete outfit picture tomorrow when my photog wakes up .

Suz

I will really look forward to more pics tomorrow. I just couldn't tell from these photos, Michelle. The second jacket appears to be a richer black if that makes any sense. I might be responding to a sense of its fabrication because you mentioned that it feels beautiful. The details are very difficult to discern. However, knowing your good judgement, I suspect that if you feel the more expensive one is better, you are right! You don't make purchases lightly and this is the kind of item you can wear for several years, so it's probably well worth it.

I'm so sorry about the immediate reasons for your shopping trip. It is very hard when someone so young dies of cancer. And I am sorry about your aunt as well.

Carole

So sorry about the circumstances you are facing.

It is hard to tell from the pictures as we aren't seeing the whole jacket, but from what I can see, they both look very nice on you and versatile as well. I vote for the one that feels fantastic, especially in a jacket or blazer that is so important, almost as important as how it "looks" on.

Looking forward to additional photos if thats possible.

Debora

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, Michelle. Echoing what the others said about fit. I'll watch for the additional photos.

HeleenH

Hi Michelle, does you photographer have a camera in wich you can tell it to over- and underexpose? A -1 or -1.5 would probably give us a better idea of the jacket and dress, even though your face might be a little overexposed. From these pictures it seems both jackets pull a little from where the lapel ends on the shoulderline to your armpit.

sarah

I'll wait to weigh in with the new pics. But Heleen has a great suggestion - if Cory can lighten up the pics in photoshop, that would help, since black is really hard to see in pics.

Lynne

Michelle, I am sorry to hear about your friend...so sad.

Just chiming in to say that if the jacket fits and drapes well, I would absolutely consider digging deep for it. A black or dark grey blazer can take so many outfits from fine to fab,. If you wear it with jeans, try scrunching or rolling the sleeves up to mid-forearm for a more casual look, too. I hope Angie chimes in on the fit; I know I can't really tell from these pics but the second looks slightly big on you, to me? Did you try the size down?

cjh

Also waiting to see new photos. Hopefully one of these will be the wonder-jacket we all look for. You are a discerning shopper, and know you'll choose the right one and enjoy it.

My sympathies on the loss of your young friend, and also sorry that your aunt is ill and failing. A tough time to go through. (((hugs)))

Vildy

I'd like to see better photos, too. From these, I agree that there seems to be a fit
problem in the front chest in front of the armhole and beneath the shoulder. If that's
all, though, it's an easy fix with the adjusting of the inner padding. I move my own
shoulder pads all the time. I do like the first one's multiple seaming on the side there.

missvee

Without seeing your full length shots, I think that the better quality blazer is the right choice here. It's one of those wardrobe basics and you'll wear it dressy and casual, so get the best quality you can afford.

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