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WIW - something is off

anchie

Veteran

What do you think about this outfit? Is it dated? I have been trying to wear more of my older items that I kind of neglected in favor of the newer things.
Older meaning 2019 and older. But is it mistake to wear 3 of the older items in one outfit? Only new thing is the sweater which is not even that visible. Or is it maybe because both top and bottom are kind of fitted and classic?
Do you have ideas how to bring this outfit to 2023? Boots could still be fine since snipped toes are still in. But not so sure about this J.Crew jacket and Escada pants? Is it time to pass them on? Or just combine them differently? Colors are more accurate in second photo. This jacket is my only black item, but because of the different colors in pattern it survived big black purge

P.S. Smudge is on the mirror, not on the pants, sorry about that.

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29 replies

Latest reply was from The Cat

jussie

Veteran

Personally, I think the garments themselves are still fine, I just might consider remixing each of them with something newer and loose-fit or oversized. Those colours look amazing on you. Of course I’m not an expert- just my humble opinion.
I think it’s worth experimenting more.
I think the Chanel jackets are a tricky one to style, but I can see it working with a wide leg blue Jean and white trainers. I think the white boots could easily work with a wider leg jean or pant, or a dress/skirt.
The blue trousers I might consider wearing with an oversized architectural white shirt and some white platform trainers?
I have a similar pair of pants, I absolutely love the colour. They’re a bit difficult to style though but it’s worth it for that bright blue!
Just brainstorming here….

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Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

I think it looks nice! But the 'dated' feeling might be from the silhouettes (classic fitted, as you said) & also the colours (black with brights) - could the blue work better tonally (with other blue items)?

The white boots & clear glasses feel modern to me, though! Maybe with a similar bag (either clear or cream?) Have you seen the 'vanilla TikTok girl' trend? I guess it's trendy to wear lots of light neutrals together in 2023.

slim cat

Veteran

Wider pants or jeans ( dark wash, flare or wide leg ) could be more "now" look I guess. I love your jacket and that style is current and classic at the same time.
I'd wear those fab pants with the sweater with slightly oversized feel - with the same boots ( perfect complement to your hair ).

Sally

Veteran

I actually think the outfit looks nice. As Jussie has pointed it out the jacket could look good with wide leg jeans/pants and the same boots for a more current look. Those pants are a great colour and yes ditto a white shirt would set them off nicely. I like the boots with them.

Star

Veteran

What Jussie said. You do look classically fab though.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Oh goodness I never care! I was considering doing a post about how half my wardrobe is over 5 years old.
But then I am not into trying to look “on trend” and don’t care if my silhouettes are not the most current. If I still like the clothes, I just wear them.
I think everything looks fab, but do appreciate that might not help you.

bella

(website)

Veteran

I actually like this outfit. That said, I have an open-front Chanel-esque blazer as well. I like it and was looking for ideas on how to style it on Pinterest. I realized unfortunately that they are not around that much, even though it is a classic style. There are a lot of double-breasted blazers with gold buttons. For my part, I think I will pair it with balloon jeans for an updated look. And the pants would look good with a longer jacket or a cropped voluminous sweater.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Just found an article:
https://www.vogue.fr/fashion/g.....cket/51020
6,7,8, and 11 look contemporary to my eye.

kkards

Veteran

Nodding along with Jussie. As is the outfit is good, but if you want to make each piece feel more current, I’d break it up. That Chanel jacket is fab, and I’d love to see it with wide legs pants, or cropped pants or a midi skirt. The pants would update well with a longer jacket or cardigan

Indigoprint

Veteran

A Chanel jacket is always an on-trend classic. Just yesterday I admired a woman at the grocery store. She wore a column of black with fluid pants and a Chanel jacket, two gold chains and the most fabulous kitten heels I have ever seen. I just had to compliment her.
Do you have a blue topper that would provide that column under your jacket?

Irina

Veteran

I’m joining the suggestion to try the jacket with wider pants. I don’t know if you have roomier, slouchy cream sweater to wear with pants. Or an oversized vest plus a fitted top/shirt.

anchie

Veteran

You are all absolutely right! Some wider pants with jacket, and some less classic top for the pants.
I must say I am not the trendiest dresser. My wardrobe is mostly classic and I don’t have many oversized items. But sometimes I am not sure when classic becomes dated looking and needs little refresh or tweaking. I don’t want to invest more to make this two items more wearable, but thinking hard if I already have something along lines of your suggestions.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This is super cute! Nothing off about it, anchie

As kkards and Jussie mentioned - break up the items if you need an on trend refresh. Remix them with fluidity.

Wear the jacket with wide crops, full length wide legs, barrel legs carrot pants, lantern pants, baggy cargo pants, BF jeans, flared skirt or flared dress.

Wear the pants with something less fitted and more fluid. Could be a refined jumper too.

Irina

Veteran

Anchie, if you have a wardrobe full of classics, then maybe adding a couple of trendier items will make it more wearable and refreshed?

Runcarla

Veteran

What Jussie wrote. FWIW, I’ve been working my way through the S/S 2023 runway shows via Vogue (shown in October 2022) and the resort and pre-fall shows as they drop in order to get a fix on trending silouhettes. Pant silouhettes range from full length wide (Max Mara) to leggings (Raf Simons) and everything in between (Ralph Lauren, Hermes, etc.) What seems ‘hottest’ or ‘trendiest’ at the moment are lower waists and cargo pants (lots of pockets) - however not necessarily work appropriate for a conservative office. Jacquemus 2022 did a lot of looks with the exact blue colour of your pants. Pants with this slimmer silouhette under long tunics or dresses was a ‘thing’ again in the shows.

Channel always recycles their classic jacket, and styled it with wide leg pants in their F/W 2022 show. Interestingly, Givenchy showed that exact jacket silouhette in their S/S 2023 show.

I’m no where near finished with the shows, and would defer to Angie vis a vis what is hot at the moment, however I would suggest you keep the jacket and bottoms, and experiment some more.

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Dee

Veteran

Yes I agree with the suggestion of pairing it with a wider trouser either full length or cropped, just like in last week’s post about wide pants and short jackets.
All your pieces on their own are really fab and could be recombined in the different ways others have suggested already.

RobinF

Veteran

Don't get rid of them! Great pieces! I agree with the suggestions for mixing them up but also think they look nice as you have them. The boots and glasses make it look very modern to me.

rachylou

Veteran

Very interesting about fluidity. I do see how wide-leg trousers would spice things up. Or maybe a longer sweater so the top half of the outfit isn’t so separate from the bottom half. I think for me the key thing is the jacket hides the sweater a lot, so that the boots are kinda out there on their own.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I haven’t read the responses so l can give my unbiased opinion.l think that the jacket is very current.l see these coming through in retail for spring as they do every year,a Chanel style jacket is always in fashion.Because it’s cropped l think you need to balance your silhouette with a wider leg trouser or a longer skirt,think midi.Then think about some fashionable footwear and you are sorted!
l really like the blue trousers but l would put them with a longer line jacket that’s not too fitted.l think the modern style is fluidly fitted nothing too tight and contrast between the volume on top and below but you probably already know this!

Anonymous

I like the outfit, but also the pieces are definitely worth a remix with fluid ones. Love the color of the pants!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Colours are gorgeous on you! Love! And I suggest what Jussie, kkards, and Angie said!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

You said you’d rather pull from what you have than get new things. How about these? You could try the cropped powder blue boucle jacket with the print blouse & the pants, but idk if the blues work together

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anchie

Veteran

I will try all your suggestions and post ‘improved’ outfits for your feedback maybe next week.
I am also thinking that I may need some silhouette refresh. All my sweaters are mostly classic, and I don’t have any wide leg full length pants. My blazers are also classic and not oversized but that I am not sure that I can pull off. I am trying not to shop at the moment but when I do I will keep in mind to look for something more current. I never have problem wearing the loudest colors but I am slow adopter of new silhouettes and some I have completely skipped in the past. I never wore long over lean, leggings or skinnies, mini skirts, any of previous iterations of oversized or architectural styles. I may feel more like myself in bright lime pant suit in classic silhouette then in a white pussy bow blouse.

lyn67

Veteran

I see what you are concerned about, to start off I find the bouclé blazer a bit short for using with pants in general (for my liking) but maybe try higher waisted wider legs like other suggested? Or, you can insert a longer crisp (cotton) or flowy silk white shirt peaking out from under the jacket and see what feels like to the blue pants? Otherwise great colors and particluar items worth to work with them around a bit more!

lyn67

Veteran

Oh Anchie, and you can always try that jacket to some more voluminous say pleated midi skirt- that is how I like to update my shorter jackets right now, but great inspo in the Vogue, too!

Column

Veteran

Anchie,

Do NOT get rid of these lovely, expensive trousers! With a turquoise shell or tee, you can create a column of color and wear with the very same jacket you show.

Also: Don't you have a matching jacket? The matched suit is all the rage, with white, black, or other matching support acts (like your citron top and footwear). Some lines are showing more cropped tapered trousers with blazers, but ankle-length can also be found. And color-blocking the bright pant with a different solid color on top (matching jacket and shell in a color different from the pant) is also current, as is column of color underneath with contrasting jacket on top. See the following images:
https://www.nordstrom.com/s/jo.....rsonalized

https://www.anntaylor.com/cat5.....ng_SeptBOM

https://www.anntaylor.com/the-.....38;default

https://www.the-sun.com/lifest.....y-clothes/

Anne

As most have said, none of the pieces themselves need to be discarded, just not worn together. With this outfit, I'd simply swap out the pants with cropped, wide denim, or anything less structured than the jacket (a fluid skirt is a brilliant idea). You need to mix the jacket with less fitted pieces to attain a fresh look.

Bijou

Veteran

I really like this look, which is a classic with a touch of 1960's mod in the mix.

The Cat

Veteran

Love the colours. And they are gorgeous on you. As others have said, keep all these items and try remixing them with more "fluid" items.