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WIB recently that I now dislike ETA AT try ons in comments

Christina F.

Veteran

I bought this blazer about two months ago. I thought I needed a knit blazer for my kinda casual lifestyle, and my old navy blazer no longer fit well. The first knit blazer I tried was terrible. I decided this one was acceptable and wore it once.

Then, I tried it again today and haaaaaated it. Apparently,
knit blazers aren’t crisp enough for me, even though I wanted something “relaxed.” This one just looks sloppy. Maybe if I ironed it, but I hate to iron....

I’ve posted the blazer I did wear today instead, for comparison with something that I think did work.

I guess I was so desperate to fill this “hole” that I settled. I’m just distressed that I made this mistake when I was actively posting here! I could have asked you all for guidance! Be maybe I’m crazy, and it’s not as bad as all that?

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Caslon Knit One-Button Blazer

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37 replies

Latest reply was from Debbie

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Not what you are asking about but I LOVE the heart top.

Marilyn

Veteran

Hmmm....perhaps you just need a better quality knit blazer?? I like to look crisp as well and my black knit blazer that I got at Banana Republic several years ago is one of my favourites. I reach for it a lot. I DO see the difference in your last photo.....looks great! I think you can get what you're looking for in a knit blazer if you hold out for one with a more substantial and wrinkle free fabric so that it hangs better.

Don't beat yourself up too much about mistakes. We all make them.

Christina F.

Veteran

Barbara Diane, so do I! I am happy with how the outfit came out with the other blazer.

Marilyn, you’re right. This one is unlined, which I think is the problem. I ordered one from J Crew that’s closer in fabric to the grey one I wore today, though.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You should have kept the Boden blazer you sent back because it was too crisp!

Agreed, Christina. Knit blazers can look overly casual, and not hang in a sharp and crisp way. That said the AT knit blazer below is very sharp and crisp. I could barely believe it was a knit....

Striped Pearlized Trim Blazer

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

A lined one might work better for you, or one made of ponte instead of a soft cotton jersey.

As for making mistakes after joining the forum, oh wow. I must have made 300 (and I'm not joking! Luckily most were consignment buys.) Some people are quick learners and some are embody slow fashion in another way than Angie's blog post. I was one of the latter!

JAileen

Veteran

Oh mistakes. Yeah, I’ve made a few.

I’ve thought about that very jacket, as an alternative to my denim jacket. And I never noticed before, but the lighter colors on Nordstrom website look really wrinkled! So thanks for saving me from myself.

Christina F.

Veteran

Angie, I thought today about the fact that I’d sent that back! It really did feel too formal, but maybe I needed to try it with different casual items to see if it remained too formal formal. I think m I have a better idea now, two or so months later, of what I need. I have my eye on that AT blazer, for sure. I’ve been enjoying reintegrating blazers into my style and that one caught my eye.

Suz, it’s not that I expect to stop making mistakes. It’s just that I had such a visceral hatred of this item two months
after buying it. And it was *visceral* hatred. Usually, if I make a mistake, I don’t realize until a year or so of trying to make something work. I guess my eye has evolved quickly! I am trying to be much more discerning. I suspect consignment purchases would be as difficult for me as they were for you. I th to stay away from that stuff unless there is something I absolutely coveted that I missed in retail.

Jaileen, I’m glad I could at least save you from this purchase. I did have it hanging in my closet, and it’s still kind of shapeless and blah. We can both do better

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

HAH, Christina. To Suz's point, lining helps. The AT knit blazer is fully lined - case in point. Ponte blazers can be VERY crisp looking too. There is one at J.Crew in navy at the moment.

AND I sense a style shift. You are looking for a sharper and more structured sensibility to accompany your relaxed looks. Look at Boden blazers again - and you might be ready for them now...

Suz, you are a fast learner.

Going-out blazer

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Elizabeth Ponte Blazer

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Christina F.

Veteran

That JC blazer is in fact just what I’ve ordered. I saw it in the store today but ordered a petite size online afterwards,
as my local store didn’t have petites. Boden is also always an option. I have in fact had a style shift of sorts. I let things get too relaxed but am looking to pull it back a bit.

I bet that Suz is a fast learner - her style is fab!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Angie, thank you...not always true. I did learn some things quickly, and I guess it's only by experimenting and making mistakes that we do figure things out. My budget was very tight the first 2 years I was here, also. Slowed me down a bit.

Christina, I love the options you and Angie have noted here. I'll be they work a whole lot better for you. They combine more structure with some softness. Also, don't completely give up on the Caslon one yet. Because it is unlined, it might work better in warmer temps when you need something for AC over a sleeveless shell top -- and make the top dressier than a tee. That might give you the juxtaposition you like.

Isn't that visceral hatred the weirdest feeling? I have indeed had it for purchases I thought I loved. Sometimes it's a fit issue that I didn't recognize at first, and sometimes I just can't style it as I'd like or it doesn't "feel" right-- scratchy, sticky, off somehow.

Anonymous

Yah, I think you and I both need something crisp, Christina. I wonder if we could get the softness via the fabric type. I personally find ponte too formal.
I like the second blazer you’re wearing.

SarahD8

Veteran

Christina, have you tried the knit blazer with a crisp woven shirt? I can see how there’s no contrast with the knit heart top (which is super cute). The woven blazer + heart top does give you that texture contrast. Maybe knit blazer + woven to would have the same effect and be just the right amount of crisp?

Christina F.

Veteran

Suz, you make a great point. Unlined blazer may be just the thing in the summer. Since it’s a recent purchase, it’s worth putting in holding for now.

Smittie, I didn’t usually think of ponte as formal because I wear ponte leggings rather informally. That might have been a point of confusion. The second blazer is by Laundry and it’s a few years old. It’s partially lined and is a poly, rayon, and spandex blend.

Zibbets

Veteran

Oh bummer. I made a similar mistake and realization with a knit blazer, but mine was inexpensively bought at a consignment shop so donating it didn't bother me. Mine seemed quite dated as well as not crisp enough. Yours looks like it could be salvaged. I hope you can find a way to make it work, perhaps if not for work then for casual?

Debbie

Veteran

Too me and I could be wrong but it looks big. I have seen the AT blazer beautifully made.

Sisi

Veteran

I am late and without reading the other comments, I think this blazer looks too big on you. That said, if you are used to the crispness of more traditional materials, a knit can make you feel "off". But I am sure that if you continue to experiment you will find the right knit blazer. They do exist. Mistakes? Don't make me thing about mine ....

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Well I don't hate it at all! I like it, the sleeves are a great length and it looks relaxed in a good way to me, kind of like my soft knit black jacket from 2016 which has had 88 wears. I'm sad for it that you feel visceral hatred for it! I want to give it a hug!

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Style Fan

Veteran

I love the T-shirt and jeans you have on. Super cute. The last photo is better but unfortunately, we do make mistakes.

After years of knowing that certain colours work and certain styles work for me, I threw all caution to the wind and bought a fairly expensive cardigan in November that was everything that I knew would not work for me. And I bought it when my friend and Mr SF were with me. That cardigan is now part of my lounge capsule.

Gigi

Veteran

I ordered this blazer (in a different color) maybe three years ago, and I was on the fence about it but finally sent it back for the reasons you mentioned. Deep down, although I am a pretty casual dresser, I like my blazers to be crisp.

About two years ago, I started wondering whether it was the color that was the problem, and so I ordered the same blazer in a different color. It again went back.

I am off to check out the links that Angie has posted.

WHBM and Anthro often have in-between blazers that are more casual than a typical blazer but more structured than a knit. They are sometimes even machine washable.

The important thing is to be gentle with yourself over having made a mistake. We all make them, and sometimes it takes a while for them to surface. I have had visceral hatred of items too. I used to have a few items from Urban Outfitters that I loved, but now I can't stand anything from UO, no matter what it is.

Anonymous

I've seen the blazer in question in person. I am not surprised that you feel a visceral hatred for it today.

I can only commiserate regarding settling when filling wardrobe holes. I have done it countless times and always came to regret the purchase soon thereafter. I don't know of a real solution because I never know when I am settling until afterward. Afterward it is all so clear to me. Good luck on your blazer hunt.

Mainelady

Veteran

I don’t think the blazer looks bad, but I agree that it is not as crisp as shown in your last photo. I agree that it may have to do with the weight of the fabric, or that it is unlined. Hang on to the blazer and see how you like it in spring and summer over a dress, or a dressier top. Sometimes the structure and shape of other garments can change how much we like an outfit.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Wow,a blazer that provokes”visceral hatred”!some one somewhere is going to want that blazer!.Seriously though I think the problem ,from the photos is,the navy blazer is not fitting correctly across the shoulders and is a little too long for you as well, compared to the fit if the blazer that you do like.As many people have said not having a lining doesn’t help and the fabric hasn’t got enough structure in itself to support the design of the blazer.If you want to keep it I would perhaps see what shoulder pads did for the shoulder line,they are inexpensive and easy to sew in.However if you do get rid don’t feel too bad we all make mistakes buying clothes and this blazers value may have been in what it’s taught you rather than what it’s added to your wardrobe.

kkards

Veteran

i'm with Sisi & Cardiff girl..i think the blazers in the 1st pictures looks to big..wondering how much that is part of the problem...
and just want to add, i think we have all been there re buying something and then a later looking at it and wondering what the h*ll was i thinking, i have a pair of boots that are currently driving me mad becasue i look at them and wonder what possessed me to buy them....

Aurore

Veteran

I had the same issues with jersey blazers: wonderfully confortable, but not structured enough. I agree with what Suz said among the first answers : lining could help (for good quality items), and a thicker knit like ponte definitely adds more structure.

Diana

Veteran

Ha I have this same blazer (or maybe last season’s version) and feel the same about it. I do wear mine sometimes but basically treat it as a cardigan. IMO it just doesn’t work as a blazer... I do have a different knit blazer that is more versatile, so it’s somsthing about this particular one that is an issue.

Also, I had to size way down on mine, and it still reads as slightly too big/sloppy.

Eta: thinking more about this, my knit blazers that DO work all have some additional structured element. I added shoulder pads to one, and the other two are lined. I think that helps. I wonder if our problematic Caslon blazer would be improved by the addition of shoulder pads...

RobinF

Veteran

I like knit blazers for the reasons that you don't - I tend to like less structure I wonder if this would be better with shorter sleeves, like bracelet or three quarter? But since you really don't like it at all it might not be worth trying to force.

Christina F.

Veteran

SarahDB: I have trouble layering long sleeves over long sleeves - I guess my arms are a bit plump relative to the size of my torso? Or so manufacturers think. I can't always fit the fabric over the other fabric, though neither item is too tight on its own. I don't have too many crisp short sleeved or sleeveless crisp tops, at least not for this season. I do suspect that tee shirt was the wrong choice for that blazer, as I was just trying my blazers to see which was best for it. That alone would have been fine, but I also had that horrible reaction to putting the blazer on at all.

Zibbets, Mainelady - yes, I might see if it can be used casually in warmer weather. My workplace is not that formal, though, which is why I wanted it. But I think I'd ultimately probably rather wear a more formal looking jacket to work that I dress down in other ways, like the final outfit I wore.

Debbie, Sisi, Cardiff girl, kkards - I'm becoming much more attuned to fit. I think this looked fine to me before, but I can see now that the arms are too long. I also have slight shoulders, which is likely why sometimes blazers are hard to find. I know I often need to buy petite sizes in fitted things like button down tops and jackets, but maybe I thought this was less structured so it didn't matter. Of course, it barely buttons, so it's also too small in that respect, but i don't really need it to button.

Jenni, perhaps its time will come in a few months. If not, I will pass it on so it can find someone who will want to hug it.

Style Fan, a few of my mistakes have definitely made it into my lounge capsule, as well!

Gigi, Sterling, Aurore- yes, something may be off about the blazer. The knit is not heavy enough to provide enough shape, maybe. I'm not really that upset with myself, Gigi, never fear. It's almost funny how much I hated it when I tried it yesterday.

Christina F.

Veteran

Diana, I probably just have to look for at least one structural element in the future. I could treat this like a cardigan, but I have better cardigans that fit the bill, such as this peacoat shaped one in this find. It's a heavier material and hangs better.

Robin I doubt I'll have I've this altered, but it is possible to scrunch up the sleeves like the stock photo. It's probably worth trying that way.

Chris987

Veteran

sometimes a mistake can be thought of as an item intended to teach you something. So perhaps the purpose of this knit blazer in your life was to be a lesson in how much structure you prefer in a jacket ....along the lines of the philosophy of “everything happens for a reason” .

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