What do you think of these puff sleeves? ETA: New pics!

I bought this jacket at the thrift store last year. It is unlined seersucker, with a large number of buttons down the front, and puff sleeves. It fits me well, and I thought of wearing it with trouser jeans and a bright tee.

I always thought I would remove the puff, and have been wondering how to go about it. But maybe I shouldn't. As a pear, puff sleeves should suit me. What do you think? Do you like these puff sleeves?

Sorry for the poor quality of the pictures, also I am completely unstyled (about to take the dogs for a walk).

ETA: new pictures starting with 4 - how I might wear this jacket, plus a selection of Coach bags for Suz, plus I'm wearing the small sausagey bfs that Angie recommended AND I'm liking them!

#4 was my inspiration. I have striped wide leg pants that I wore like this several times last summer, with a denim utility jacket and Kork-ease sandals.

#5 with trouser jeans and my new Bernardo sandals

#6 with the bfs

#7 with bfs and filthy Cons (sorry)

#8 with bfs and my new pewter oxfords - Earthies

Do you like the jacket any better?

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10 years ago

columbine(erin)

Veteran

From what I can see, I like the proportions on you.

LoriFLA

Active Member

I like the puff sleeve and I like the jacket on you. I think a dark trouser jean with a bright tee would look great.

rute

Looks great!

Dee

The puff here is cute and doesn't actually look all that puffy to me. I think dark trouser jeans sound perfect!

Windchime

It doesn't look all that puffy. Maybe you could try wear it a couple times and see how you feel about the sleeve style then.

Tina

I think the fit of the sleeve is good and I would not attempt to change it.
It would be nice to see it styled.
Now I have a confession to make (I know you didn't solicit advice on this) the small buttons are giving me pause. I'm trying to pinpoint why. I'm wondering if it was meant to be a part of a suit at some point. I may be way off here, please set me straight if you want too!

Anonymous

I love it!!

Jules

I would wear it with lighter wash rolled BFs and a pastel or cream/white tee! The puff looks totally fine (and I thought I was puff allergic until today...)

Gigi

I like this jacket! I agree that the sleeves don't look too puffy and that I would wear it out a few times to find out what you really think about it before spending time and money on alterations.

Tina mentioned the small buttons. I have no idea about the suit possibility, but I will say that the small buttons are part of what appeals to me about the jacket. :^)

Echo

It isn't so much the puff sleeves that give me pause, but the shorter, wider lapels and numerous small buttons don't read as current to my eye.

Suz

(website)

To my eye, it doesn't read as current -- it's the combination of lapels, small buttons, and the puff, which is different from the puffs shown in Angie's post.

But I also think it flatters you nicely, and could look really pretty styled with jeans and a tee, as you said.

So if having a very modern style is important to you, then no. But if wearing a jacket that is a bit different for you at a good price point is what you want -- then go for it!

Joy

Suz expressed it well. Why not play with it some more. Are you planning to wear it casually or for work?

JAileen

Thank you all for your thoughts, columbine, fastkat, rute, dee, and RosieLaRose. Windchime, that's a very good suggestion. I haven't worn it at all, probably due to the puffed sleeves. Tina, I think it's a very interesting thought, it being part of a suit. It had never occurred to me. I thought I'd treat it like a separate. Regarding the buttons, I think that's what attracted me to the jacket in the first place, and seersucker, obviously, which is awesome. Jules, thank you for your suggestion. If I feel confident to wear it (that it's not too funky) I'll want more than one option. Gigi, I think we see eye to eye - the buttons are cute! Echo, you may be right. I guess a jacket can't have too many passe elements. The lapels are a concern. Suz, thank you for your honesty. Does it look passe if it just had the lapels but not the puff sleeves? I don't know how modern I have to be, but I want to look like I know what I'm doing. That I know what's going on. Joy, I don't work so I would wear it casually. I like the idea of playing with it some.

Personally, until Angie's post today I didn't consider wearing it with the sleeves as is. Do any of you think the sum of an item's passe elements dates it, or is it just one thing that puts it over the edge?

I think it's the sum of the elements that date it a bit. But I also think that if it appeals to you, you should try it anyway, because -- as you say -- seersucker is so fun -- and really, it's just a summer topper in a different shape to wear casually. You aren't planning to wear it to Fashion Week.

How about styling it for us with your jeans and tee and one of your fantastic bags, and showing us? I have a feeling you can make it work for you.

Thank you Suz. That's good to know. I'll try to style it tomorrow.

Oops - when I added new pics it didn't bump up!

rachylou

I like it. The shoulders may be a tad wide, but I wouldn't bother with alterations. Then again, I'm RATE. I think it would be cute with a cowboy-type shirt.

Rachylou, I have a western shirt, but it's purple with khaki piping.

unfrumped

I think it could work as a casual jacket as mentioned.
I would tend not to wear it with the rolled pant look because of its short length.
So for general proportions I would try it with some straight or tapered pants worn full-length or Angie's Ankle pant look #1--to top of ankle and meeting the vamp of a shoe; or with slightly wider legged pants as you've shown. So that is where the combination gets me--I think the cropped or rolled BF look needs special topper proportions and not too girlie because rolled pants to me already have that bit of teeny-bop look.

I confess I was thinking more along the lines of an airy white shirt...

Yes, that was what I was afraid of. I love the buttons, but coupled with the puff sleeves, I thought it might look too young.

Rachylou, my western shirt is very over the top, with snaps, embroidery, etc.

I have a white linen camp shirt, though.

Liz

One of the questions I'm asking myself these days when I debate whether to add a wardrobe item is, "Does this move my style forward?" I don't think this jacket moves your style forward, but it might fill a wardrobe hole, or it might have a high happiness factor for you. If it just makes you happy when you think of getting to wear it, wear it with abandon!

In looking back at the pictures, I think I like its details better than how it looks on me, if that makes sense.

Beth Ann

I echo Suz. I like the jacket and I wouldn't remove the puff. It doesn't look like a new design to me, but I am a, pardon me, sucker, for seersucker, and if you love it you can make it work by styling it with simple, but modern silhouettes. I like it best in #6. What about wearing it over a column of white?

Beth Ann, that's an interesting idea. I don't think I have white pants. I'll look into that.

I like it even better now that I see the stylings! But did you mean to wear it in pic 8? (There is no jacket in 8.)

For me, the jacket doesn't look dated—it looks feminine instead. I think your stylings work well, because you're not pairing the jacket with anything else that is so feminine.

Gigi, thanks! Re pic 8, I think I spaced out.

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