Piggybacking on Darlene’s last post about the big bust dress find, I have a casual blazer to discuss. I say “casual” because it’s made of jersey fabric, so it’s not really a “work” garment. The pattern also presents an issue:
Here is the blazer from the front, back, and side (click for larger view):
I found it at the store Necessary Clothing. I’m always a sucker for stripes, and I have a thing for striped blazers in particular, though I don’t actually own one. I always try them on, but as with most blazers they’re usually very ill-fitting.
This one, as kooky as it is, actually fit perfectly! You can’t tell on the model since it’s unbuttoned, but it was nicely nipped-in at my actual waist, and the buttons closed about halfway between my boobs and my belly button. The double button mean there’s no danger of it popping open or pulling at that location. And I love the slightly skewed details—the lapel is all one piece, not two separate flaps; and the shoulder bits give it a touch of unexpected structure without the linebacker look of real shoulder pads. The subtle mix of vertical and horizontal panels (as you can see in the side view) is also neat.
And it fit perfectly!
However, much like Darlene’s dress, I’m just not sold on its usefulness. I’m no fan of the model’s outfit. Black and white and neon pink is a color combination that’s just too young and “goth princess” for my taste. So what would I wear it with?
But I’m still debating whether to go back to the store and get it purely because it fit so well (and at $27.99, it’s also so cheap). I feel like this is a trap a lot of us fall into. It’s such a hassle finding clothes that fit and flatter, that when you do find a garment that fulfills the criteria you want to snatch it up regardless of its practicality. Since a perfect fit is such a rarity, there’s a fear that you’ll never find something that fits this way ever again.
I’ve purchased a lot of items through the years simply because I was excited that they fit—only to wear them a scant few times, and finally ending up donating or selling them a couple years later. It’s a waste of money, resources, and closet space. There’s no question that if this jacket came in a solid color, I would have purchased it immediately. And even though I like striped blazers, the extra details are pushing this one into impractical territory. So do I buy it or not?
How do you decide whether to buy a garment if it fits your body, but maybe not your lifestyle?
I have a jersey blazer and let me tell you: you need one! It’s perfect for those days you just want to climb back into bed, but cold or no cold you have to get things done. It’s the only knit garment I own and it’s probably also the most versatile one as it can be dressed up or down.
Have you considered buying it as a pattern? a few years ago, I bought a jacket from JC Penney – the fit was so perfect I could not stop thinking about it but the fabric and print were UGHHHHLY. I bought the item ($25 on sale) and took to a seamstress. We picked out a lovely wool and she recreated the jacket by taking apart the original and using as a pattern (and made pencil skirt to match). I was thrilled. When you have unique figure needs – we should not pass up something that is perfect. It’s an investment. Maybe she could have recreated the jacket from a picture – but maybe not. This jacket had princess seaming and a lovely neckline I wanted exactly the same. I got it for the same cost as buying a quality suit and my usual tailoring.
What a great idea! I just found a $5 dress at a thrift store yesterday that has all the right features but the ugliest print, and I was thinking of doing the same thing. So great to hear from someone who has already done this!
I was about to suggest the same thing! It’s definitely worth getting it if a) you’ll wear it at least occasionally and b) you can use it as a pattern to make another one in a colour/print that you will get more use out of.
I was about to suggest the same thing! It’s definitely worth getting it if a) you’ll wear it at least occasionally and b) you can use it as a pattern to make another one in a colour/print that you will get more use out of.
If it is not too expensive and it fits you well, buy it!! Not only to use as a pattern, it`s black and white, you will surely find a way to wear it (with dark jeans or black trousers, black pencil skirts + a simple white or black top at least).
I fell in love with a well fitting pink suede trench coat with leopard print lining. So impractical and not my ‘lifestyle’ when I bought it. Too nice for commuting. I can’t wear it in the rain. But every weather-appropriate occasion sees that coat and it’s quite a statement piece.
If a piece fits and flatters, I usually buy it because that is such a rarity. Then I’ll edit a less well fitting garment from the closet and force the new item into rotation.
Doing this has refreshed my closet and has me dressing more stylishly. I’ve edited out the big round sweatshirts, frumpy jeans, cargo pants and every ho-hum piece, such that unless I’m working out or gardening, I don’t need to change my clothes to go to church or out for cocktails. It’s not enough to have the item I want to be wearing when running into an ex. It doesn’t do any good hanging in the closet. The point is to dress like that, all the time.