Uh oh, I've been thrifting again - YouLookFab Forum

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Uh oh, I've been thrifting again

JAileen

Veteran

I just bought these three items: white cotton EF jacket and pants, and JCrew pink wool jacket.

I bought the EF jacket to wear with dresses. My white denim jacket is kind of big. Does the jacket look weird with the pants? They came together. The pants seem to fit. Do you think these should be worn separately? I feel like a baker.

I think the JCrew jacket mostly fits, except for the sleeves. They are way, way too long, and the buttonholes are cut, so it can't be altered at the cuff. I read about alterations at the shoulder, and that seems risky. For casual, does it look okay with the sleeves rolled up? I would probably wear the jacket with jeans.

Please be honest. Thanks!

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Jenni NZ

Joy

Veteran

You SCORED. I love the white jacket and the pants look much like modern cropped flares. I like them together but mixing it up is more the trend right now. Maybe wear a black or navy top under the jacket with the bottom peeking out below the jacket breaking up the white?
Love the idea of the pink jacket with faded jeans.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Like a baker? I was thinking karate class, haha. All three pieces are good individually and look like they fit you fine, but agree that all together is too much. I'm not short, so I don't have the sensitivity to things rolled up that some people do, but I think the sleeves on the jacket can be rolled or scrunched.

Laura G

Veteran

You did score! The jacket and pants together do have a "work uniform"--i.e. no particular fit--look, but are great pieces separately. Love the pink jacket. With that lining, the sleeves look like they were meant to be rolled.

Joyce B

Veteran

I like the jacket and the pants, but they are best not worn together imho.
The pink jacket looks good for casual with the sleeves folded up but the back of the fold looks a little bulky, I would try stitching the back to see if it works, otherwise it may need to be altered.

The Cat

Veteran

I think the white items suit you perfectly. And I actually like the look of #1 best of all the pictures. I would admit, though, that it looks a bit like a white version of the traditional Chinese work outfit. However, that impression would easily change if the white suit is styled with a coloured scarf and/or top and coloured shoes. And of course, the jacket and the pants will also look great worn separately.

To me, the pink jacket looks too big. Though the sleeves are rolled up, there seems to be too much fabric there ...

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I also like the white pieces together - with shoes and some accessories you will feel less like a baker! You could shorten the sleeves on the pink jacket and sacrifice the button detail, or try scrunching them up higher. The cuff seems too bulky at the bottom of your arm if that makes sense.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I think you scored, especially on the white jacket and pants. I like Joy's idea for possibly wearing them together--have a top peeking out and breaking up the white. I'm undecided on the blazer. I think the sleeves would look good rolled, if they weren't looking pretty close to full length with them rolled. Also, I wonder about the gold buttons, and the style just doesn't seem like you. Too preppy or classic, perhaps? Other than the sleeve length, the fit looks good to me.

Gigi

Veteran

I think the items look OK for fit. I would wear the two white pieces separately, though. I liked how you said you felt like a baker.

But...you said in another thread that a couple of years ago, you donated seven garbage bags of clothing, almost all of it thrifted. Which leads me to ask: Do you need these pieces? Do they really make you excited? Would you reach for these pieces over others that you already have in your wardrobe?

Traci

Veteran

If you love the pink jacket, I'd get the sleeves altered, even if it means you lose a detail. You could also try folding the excess sleeve fabric under. Depending on the fit and fabrication of the jacket, I find this holds surprisingly well sometimes. I really like the rest of the jacket, but I don't love the heavy cuff with it folded back.

JAileen

Veteran

So much to think about here. The pink jacket can't be altered at cuff because the buttonholes are cut. If they weren't I think it would be very simple.

Joy, thank you! I really bought the white jacket, and got white pants as a bonus. I'll try your idea and post more pictures.

Fashiontern, yes, karate! Scrunching is a good idea. Thanks.

Laura, thank you! I thought the striped lining was nice.

Joyce, good idea about tacking it down. I'll look into that.

The Cat, I will try the white outfit styled. Thank you.

Shevia, thank you. I understand the problem with the bulky cuff, but I can't alter it at the cuff. I may look into altering at the shoulder, but it would require a skilled person, and I'm not sure there's anyone here who could do it.

Firecracker, I know the gold buttons are wrong for me, and I might change them, but it's small on this compared to Sgt Pepper. Right now I'm trying to make the sleeves work, and maybe they won't. It's funny you think preppy/classic doesn't seem like me. I thought that was my style, but I do mix in a lot of western and boho, both of which feel like me, too.

Gigi, you're absolutely right! But then I kept things that didn't work, and if the pink jacket doesn't work, I'll redonate it. The white jacket fits nicely, and the white pants were a bonus. In fact, I didn't try on the pants until I got home!

Traci, thank you. I'll fiddle with the cuff a little before I try to find someone who can alter the sleeve at the shoulder.

Sheryl

It can be altered at the cuff, and the buttonholes can be redone, but it is a more expensive alteration than without the buttonholes. I've had it done a few times as I have broad shoulders and short arms.

JAileen

Veteran

Sheryl, you've altered at the cuff with cut buttonholes?

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Joy

Veteran

Could you still have the sleeves shortened for less bulk and leave the buttonholes, then roll the sleeves ( a good look with jeans)?

Jane

Veteran

Or try Angie's tip with shirts on the jacket, where the sleeves are fastened up in a slightly pushed up look with safety pins....may be too bulky...

JAileen

Veteran

Here's how long the sleeve is. And here it is with scrunched sleeves. Is this better?

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Sheryl

I have paid to have it done before, yes. I haven't done it myself.

RobinF

Veteran

Could the sleeves of the pink jacket be shortened to a bracelet length if the whole button portion was cut off? Then it could just have a flat hem. I think it's pretty and looks like it fits well, except for the sleeves.

JAileen

Veteran

Here it is with all of the buttonholes tucked under. I think the length isn't bad. What do you think?

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Jenni NZ

Veteran

I'm with Firecracker, Janet. I'm just not feeling this pink jacket for you in any of its iterations you've shown. You have so many lovely clothes that you look great in, I'm not understanding this batch of 3. I can maybe see the white jacket, and the pants are OK if separate. Together I think you do look like a baker or maybe a chef. Rachylou may have an opinion on that! Sorry to throw cold water and if you love the pink blazer then please discard my opinion

JAileen

Veteran

Jenni, I value your opinion and your honesty. I just think it's so funny that you and Firecracker both think preppy/classic isn't my style. I guess I've been successful at fighting it! If anything, I would have thought people would have objected to the color, insisting that it's not my color. I haven't bought anything pink ever. I had a pale pink room as a child. It was inevitable as I was the only girl. My mother may have wanted a girly girl. I failed her. She's come to terms with this, though.

DonnaF

Veteran

I like it with the buttonholes all tucked up, better than the other iterations IMHO.

My big question is whether you would wear a true BLAZER in your current life? I absolutely love the look of a blazer, but I know the formality it projects, even with jeans, would look odd within the context of my own particular life.

BTW, I'm not a pink wearer either, but that pink looks GREAT and would great with gray (hair) and your other grays.

JAileen

Veteran

Donna, thanks. I think I would dress it down - wear it with a graphic tee, for instance. And with Sheryl's insistance that it's doable, I think I've figured out how it can be shortened at the cuff. So I'm going to try it. I'm going to have to post some pictures as to what length to hem the sleeves to, though.

jill58

Veteran

I never find things like this when thrifting. Those EF pieces are great!

karen13

Veteran

Late to comment, but my two cents. I like both white pieces, but not together. I actually really like the color pink of the blazer and I think it fits well everywhere but sleeve length. If you have a place for it in your wardrobe AND it goes with existing items AND if you can shorten the sleeves inexpensively, it is worth a go. But think hard about whether you are getting caught up in the thrill of the thrift find.

It was nice to see you Janet!

JAileen

Veteran

Jill, thanks! You can't be looking for something. You'll never find it that way. If you're looking for an EF jacket, you'll find a cool ice bucket instead. That's the way of thrifting.

Karen, it was nice to see you too! Re pink jacket: I'm going to try to shorten the sleeves myself. I'm planning to wear it with jeans, and a tee maybe, very casually. I might change the buttons, though.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

JAileen, I do see classic as part of your style. Preppy is a different vibe, and I think this blazer just looks a bit more like a prep-uniform cut than I would have pictured you in. It's very pretty, and I don't know your entire closet. But with your taste for Eileen Fisher and the like, I would see you in something less school-ish and more like the Find below, for example.
And I may just be off in my interpretation.
All of that said, I like the look of the sleeve turned under. Perhaps you could get the sleeves hemmed (is it possible to hem it in a way that preserves one or two of the vent buttons?), and also wear the sleeves turned up. Or turn the sleeves up once more? I do like the lining, and I think it lends itself to rolling the sleeves for a casual look. It just looked odd to me with the sleeves at full length while also turned up.

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JAileen

Veteran

Firecracker, I see what you mean. My style is pretty eclectic, I guess. I was attracted to the color and the quality of the jacket. I had been looking for a pink jacket or coat for awhile, and even considered buying one in NAS, but decided I was going too crazy, ordering things. I saw this one and it was in new condition and fit well except for the sleeves. So it wasn't really as impulsive as it seems.

I think I can hem the sleeves. The buttons won't be operable, but I think a couple might show. I'll have to figure out the best length. I think I'll probably change the buttons, to either pink or silver.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I hear you--a sister Eclectic here! It's a good find, and definitely a nice color for you. The pink will go so well with your silvers and grays, among other things.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Well I'm an Eclectic too! So that's fine. Enjoy the pink! I thought I wasn't that much of a girly girl either ( tend to dislike ruffles and bows) but looking at my collection of florals on Sal's thread I think I must have a healthy dose of it after all x