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WIW 4.12 spring color, and seeking bomber advice

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hi all, a quick WIW first. I am trying to get in some wears of my button-front shirts and blouses, since there are many I don't seem to wear often. Collars are problematic under jacket lapels, etc. In fact, over the last two days, two shirts have gone into the donate bag, and two more fitted button-downs went into my holding zone, but they may be heading out the door. I have kept them for years without wearing them, and I can't figure out how to style then to make them feel more "me" even though the fit and color are nice on me. Sometimes that's just not enough, especially when you have lots of other fab things you choos to wear instead.

So I landed on this coral silk shirt, which I like even though the color is an outlier for me. I tried on a few different jackets and liked my white moto with it the best.

Same jeans as yesterday, plus my Clergerie oxfords -- getting some wear in before the weather turns hot! And the tri-tone Madewell bag seemed to work best with this. Comments & suggestions always welcome.

Now for the item I need help with -- pics 3-4. I want to wear this very lightweight bomber I got a couple of years ago, but I struggle to style it. It's quite cropped, and the black band at the hem makes it look even shorter -- I fear the overall effect might emphasize my shortwaistedness, but I still want to try to work with this piece. I wasn't crazy about this pairing, probably because of the high contrast between the shirt and the jacket. Which leads me to a solution of a black shirt, but that seems so 1) not-springy and 2) predictable.

I have worn this jacket with a black sleeveless jersey dress in the past, so I think it will work nicely with the one from WH/BM, but I'd like to have other options. Any suggestions?

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29 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

catgirl

Veteran

On the jacket, scrunch the sleeves! Bare arms makes a big difference on how cropped items read visually for me.

Love your first look - it's grownup cool.

Runcarla

Veteran

While reading your dilemma with the bomber, I was thinking 'black dress', but you've already figured that out. So, how about a column of colour (black) which would make the black band invisible? You could also highlight the 'shrunken' aspect of the bomber jacket with a high contrast column of colour like white t and white jeans and a legs-for-miles look. You could break up the leg line by going for cropped pants if it seemed like too much. Do you have olive bottoms?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Una, I did think it looked better with the arms scrunched, so thank you for that!

Carla, good ideas, thank you! I don't have olive bottoms anymore, but I would actually like some. Those Anthro Pilcro crops and chinos I just got come in olive, I think. I wonder if I should check the chinos out in olive instead of the blue I defaulted to… Hmmm.

Wait, I do have sort of olive-y joggers from last summer (the ones my husband confessed he doesn't love). I'm not sure that joggers with a bomber are what I want to do though -- I feel like this jacket needs some structure in the supporting act.

Anonymous

Based on what I've been reading regarding this Golden Rule of proportion in dressing, there is technically nothing wrong with the bomber ensemble. The shirt colour works too, and I think the only thing throwing it off is the fact that it's a shirt , period. The bottom of the shirt being unbuttoned draws the eye down there..and just adds another thing to look at (the shirt being "split open" at the hem) . If it were just a plain top of that colour and that same length, I think it would look a lot different .

I'm not a button -up wearer myself, but the first outfit with the ivory jacket is really nice!

Sal

Veteran

Full disclosure- not a shirt wearer either.

I think 1 works just great. I love the shoes!

I think 2 works, I think you look tall and slim, but I agree a tee or blouse without the tails might streamline the look as Lisa suggested.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Do you have any simple black sleeveless tops Janet? I used to have one nice black tank that was such a workhorse I still miss it (it got worn to death). It seems that having one would make the bomber instantly more wearable with whatever bottoms you like. Or also with a colorblocked top with black at the bottom. Over a simple black tee as well...

I like the first outfit with the coral color - it's fresh and lively.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Oh, boy do I have sleeveless black tops. Yes, I have at least 3, and a couple of short-sleeved tees as well. Most of my black summer-appropriate tops are tees/knits, and maybe that's where I'm getting stuck. I tried on a V-neck black tee with this jacket, and somehow the neckline felt wrong, but I'll take a closer look in my closet for other black tops. I do have that sweet drapey Helmut Lang sleeveless top, which might look really good under this in a more unexpected way. Thanks for getting the wheels turning, texstyle!

Chris987

Veteran

The bright color of the shirt seems distracting to me more than it's shape...so maybe a top and pants in closer colors (column of color) in denim, olive, black, grey..any one of the neutrals in the jacket color scheme. That would make the pattern on the jacket become more of the focal point and the black band fade into the background a bit more.

Joyce B

Veteran

I love number 1, you have such great style.

Bonnie

Veteran

I'm really interested in this bomber question because I have a denim jacket that fits me the same way. The only thing I can think of is a dress and I don't have one that works, so I may have to shop for the right dress to support the jacket. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. #1 looks great.

rabbit

Veteran

Love outfit #1, that jacket/shoes/bag are magic together and as individual pieces and I think the shape of the coral shirt works well under the shape of the white jacket.

For #2 my tendency would be a column of color with matching shirt and pants. Along with black, white and pearl gray could also look good if you have the ingredients. Or a top that is tucked with high-rise jeans or a tube/pencil skirt that comes up high on the belly. I have a short blush moto jacket which I wear mostly with dresses, columns of color or tucked/high rise combos because of the length.

Anonymous

I like the large blocks of colour in #1. This is really nice!
For the bomber, you could try pairing it with a breton top.
I think the proportions are just fine, and don't make you look short waisted (I can't really see you're waist).

rabbit

Veteran

Also along with tucked tops I wear 'skirt tops' (for example a more cropped length or with a defined bottom-- gather, welt, at the waist-line) with my short moto and jeans sometimes.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like the column of color idea -- maybe grey or mid blue, or even cream or white if I lose a few pounds and can get back into my white jeans more comfortably.

I'd love to do the tucked top thing but I really don't look good in a high rise and tucked top -- the short waist becomes very apparent then.

Windchime

Veteran

The coral blouse looks wonderful on you, and I love your outfit with the white jacket. Your oxfords are giving me Shoe Envy; they are fab.

I'm reading with interest the responses about how to style your bomber jacket. The column of color idea makes a lot of sense.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

#1 is amazing, Janet! I think the bag is what really makes the outfit....perfectly color blocked (though I love the shoes here too).

As for your bomber, I can see the problem here. I know just what you mean, because I'm curvy plus short waisted myself. I have a purple jacket much like this one, and I tried ALOT of combinations to make it work. Here is my advice from that experience. I haven't read what others have written above, so I'm hoping I'm not just giving you advice you've already gotten!

1) Wear it with dresses. It's fail proof...black, beige, olive - any solid dress would look great.
2) Wear with skirts. I can picture it looking quite nice with your new denim skirt and a simple tee/blouse. However, I'd still create low contrast between the jacket and blouse so that it doesn't shorten my waist. Do you have any A-line skirts? The jacket would look great with one.
3) Create a column of black when wearing with pants/jeans. I can imagine it feeling 'heavy' when you're craving Spring style, so choose a floaty/sheer black top instead. Or a drapey tee? With the floral print of your bomber, a summery black top with look more intentional. A dark wash jeans will be good enough if you don't want to wear black, but I'm picturing olive pants too here.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

#1 is terrific - fantastic shoes. I like the suggestion of a column of color with the bomber.

Joy

Veteran

Yet another suggestion of using a column of color with the bomber...denim, grey, black or blush, maybe. You could also wear a black top under the jacket that is longer and gives a long waisted look. Then any color pants could work.

JAileen

Veteran

I like a dress with the bomber. It seems natural since it's so short. I just thought, what about your new raw edge denim skirt? It might look cute with that.

I like the first outfit - what great shoes.

harmonica

Veteran

Love #1! The three whites (jacket, bag, shoes) bind the outfit together in a very clever and subtle way. Yay! So good you edited your closet after some button-up wears too. Feels good to let go, right?

For the bomber I like the idea of a column of colour. Black is great, but how about a shade of green? I think it might would go well with the lighter colours on the bomber.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Harmonica, I like the idea of green. Considering some of these responses, it got me thinking about what is so problematic about this jacket, as much as I like it.

For one, the print is comprised of mainly soft, pastel-ish tones on black. I don't really wear much in the way of pastels. I also don't generally like to do head-to-toe non-neutral color -- I like my colors to be grounded with neutrals like grey, black or white. That leads me to the neutral column-of-color treatment, which is good, but this is a lightweight jacket, and if I warm up over the day and want to take the jacket off, I'm possibly left with a rather blah monotone outfit underneath without the interest of the jacket. So you see why styling this jacket is not so easy for me.

Nonetheless, you all have given me some great ideas. It's not the kind of thing I can just pull on and go -- I have to decide to wear it and then create the supporting outfit around it. Some things are just like that!

Colette

Veteran

Janet, both of the outfits look great. I have to say I love the bomber. I would wear it with that black dress for sure. Did you try it, are the proportions right? I'm wondering if a metallic T-shirt would work? I saw some at JCrew and I think BR. Maybe substitute it for the denim jacket in Angie's casual pants and denim jacket ensemble?

nancylee

Veteran

I have the same problem as you with shirt collars + jacket lapels, Janet. It was probably wise to get rid of those shirts that haven't been working for you.

As for the bomber, I really like Colette's idea of a metallic tee.

I LOVE that ivory jacket in photo #1. Can you tell me the brand? (I'm on the hunt for one just like that!)

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Hi Nancylee! The jacket was from Nordstrom, by Truth & Pride -- I now have two of their jackets (the other is grey), and they've become my favorites, along with the blue IRO moto. I have almost abandoned black motos in favor of the ivory and grey ones. They go with everything and help lighten and brighten my outfits, which is really helpful in spring. It's lightweight and just roomy enough that I can layer underneath, so it spans the seasons really well.

nancylee

Veteran

Thanks Janet! I'm not familiar with that brand but now I'll keep an eye out. I found some old reviews of this jacket on the Nordstrom website and some say the sleeves in this brand run long. Is that your opinion?

I agree that ivory and light grey are great neutrals for spring. They're becoming my go-to colors as well.

April

Veteran

My first thought was SCRUNCH but I see you've received that advice already.

I would say that a cropped jacket probably works better on we short-waisted ladies than on our long-waisted sisters, because for us it's proportional, while if you're long-waisted, a cropped jacket exposes all that waist.

I admit I have not read each and every response above, so someone else may have already suggested this, but in addition to scrunching the sleeves, I would go with a more form-fitting top beneath the bomber, with the intention of keeping the bomber on as part of the outfit, rather than wearing the bomber as a traditional piece of outerwear.

Chris987

Veteran

Love the idea of going with lighter colored leather jackets rather than darker ones. I'm still looking for one that fits but was thinking black and am now rethinking. In my climate a leather jacket is much more of a spring/fall item as an outer layer because it won't be warm enough for the dead of winter, at least not for me even with a heavy sweater under it. Your comments Janet have helped me clarify that, thanks Plus you are right that a lighter color can make an outfit so more interesting than basic black. Great discussion!!!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You look Killer Smashing in the first outfit, Janet. You also look wonderful in coral and should wear it more often. And pretty ankles.

LOVE the pattern of the bomber. It's great with a skirt first of all. Second, create a LOW contrast under the jacket to offset the short length when wearing jeans.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Nancylee, I guess the sleeves might run a little long, depending on the style, but I'd rather my sleeves be a little long than short anyway. Their sizing can be a little on the generous side -- I have one of their jackets in a S and it's still big enough to layer underneath.