Thursday, September 27, 2012

Chanel-esque

I have tried on numerous Chanel-esque type jackets over the years. It is supposedly something every woman needs and J.Crew have been releasing a few every fall season. Here are some from the Holiday '12 rollout.

Size 10
Yes, this is size 10 because I could not find 8 or 6, but it actually did not seem that big.


I quite liked the fit. This surprised me, because I usually don;t do well with short, boxy jackets. It was not too boxy and draped nicely. Color is beautiful. It was soft and they did not overdo the details. I did not mind the hook and eye closures, in fact I liked it better than buttons. No band and gathering at the waist. Good.

Size 8
My VPS located size 8 for me. I don't see that much difference, but I would go with an 8.

It looks good closed and open.
So far so good. Even the price is not that bad. It is $198 but if you call the store you can get extra 25% off doing a charge send.

$198
However,  the list of ingredients reads like a recipe for witches brew:

61% acrylic, 19% poly, 10% wool, 9% cotton, 1% nylon
I will pass.One of the reasons is the fabric content. For more, keep on reading...


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Size 8
This purple number fits TTS. More boxy. Thicker tweed. Regular buttons. Also comes in orange red.

Don't like it closed
I don't like the gold buttons. .I think you can find something similar at Talbots. Or Macys. Or Goodwill. But maybe I am missing something, sorry if you love it.


Nice lining and contrast piping
Lining is poly but it felt very nice.
$258

50% wool, 37% acrylic, 9% Nylon, 4% Poly
The ingredients have different proportions. Does it make a difference? I am not sure. But these jackets seemed already fuzzy. I'd worry that they would pill and shed.

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Now, let me digress a little.

Regardless of the current J.Crew fabrications, I cannot think of a place/occasion where I would like to wear those jackets.  I have purchased them in the past. No matter how beautiful they were I never wore them.

I see many bloggers sporting those jackets worn with jeans, statement jewelry and heels, running around the city and hailing taxi cabs. It looks quite appealing and sometimes I can almost see myself in them. But then I try to remember what my day-to-day (suburban) life looks like. Most of the time I am either indoors or I am driving. And NJ weather has little time in between summer and winter.


In general, there are three categories of clothes I need and wear: 
  • office casual and, more formal/elegant but limited, school/family/church functions
  • weekend wear and even more laid back lounge/sports wear
  • date/party/girls-night-out plus more 'festive' occasions about 3-5 times a year

Hmmm. I could wear it to church maybe? In fact, I will fit right in, especially if I go to an early morning mass...  I think next time I am faced with the dilemma  of  "Oh, item x is so beautiful, but will I EVER wear it?", I should ask myself a question: "Was I ever in a situation where I wished I had x to wear?".

And to answer this question, no, I cannot remember an actual occasion in my life when I wished I had Chanel-esque type of jacket to wear. If I bought one, it would end up being one of those items that I try to come up with an occasion to wear. There is always a better alternative and if I finally do wear them, I don;t feel like myself. So I end up selling/donating/tossing out.

Then I buy another one.



***
What do you think?

Do you wear Chanel inspired tweed jackets?

Will you consider the J.Crew ones?
Please share, it would be no fun without you!!!


32 comments:

  1. All true and so funny: "then I buy another one"!

    As you know I love these types of jackets, not these ones, too much acrylic.
    I have found a good use for them: wearing them over a knit dress they add some shape and structure, belt underneath on the dress, jacket worn open.
    Thanks for the reviews, I was curious about them when I saw them in your preview pictures!
    Isn't it helpful too to recognize our ACTUAL clothes categories!

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    1. I had a feeling these are not going to interest you because of the fabrics. The lady jacket I think is double serge wool.

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  2. The first one looks very nice on you, the second one is not as good, it's too boxy. I don't own any jackets like this. They usually feel old to me. I was drawn to them anyway in J. Crew's recent offerings, they have definitely updated the concept to feel more modern (mostly - except that second one still looks old-fashioned to me). The colors and edgier details are fun. I think there was an orange-y/pink colored one that I especially liked. I know I won't wear this style though, I truly have nowhere to wear them. I am informal; these are formal; case closed :)

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    1. Ita cate, and if you are not going to wear them, it doesn't matter how pretty they are. I agree with you that the first one looks better and more modern but unfortunately is almost completely synthetic :(

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  3. I think so are they ageing but wonderful on 60 plus women. I think the alternative look with jeans is so hackneyed now, I love Chanel's other jackets but not this style.
    Loved " witches brew"!

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    1. ajc, and Tabitha, thank you for reading my mind, haha! I just don't "get" the boxy tweed jacket, which I have always called an old lady jacket.

      I often think, "I think you can find something similar at Talbots. Or Macys. Or Goodwill.", like you said. Seriously, the photo of you in the second jacket looks like an outfit a very old, non stylish grandmother would wear. Like Tabitha's 60 plus woman.

      I think it's alot of hooey that "every woman needs one", and they look ridiculous with jeans, especially light wash, boyfriend jeans. I have yet to see this type of jacket on someone and think "oh yes, she looks chic!"

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    2. Lol ! I will wait then and look forward to 60! Then I will wear them with chicken sweaters ;)

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  4. We can be sure Coco did not do acrylic. I like these and had one awhile ago,deaccessioning it when I moved to Maine. Now I wish I had one again, but in a real fabric. I don't wear heels so jeans/flats/jacket for fun.

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    1. It is becoming harder and harder to find natural fabric coupled with modern design and reasonable price. Jcrew used to be in that area burnout anymore I am afraid:(

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  5. I agree, I see those types of jackets on bloggers and wish that I could look so effortlessly chic in them, but I know that I won't. They are great in theory only.
    I do love blazers and I wish the season for wearing them was longer.

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    1. Certain looks are so common in the blogosphere that it seems like this is the way people dress but nobody around me does. When I try it myself I often feel very far from effortless, quite the opposite in fact.

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  6. might be worth it on a deep discount, but as a fellow NJ resident that wonderful window of just a great jacket/jeans is short then its north face jacket weather isn't it/

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    1. Yes, I am trying to wear as many blazers as I can before coat season starts.

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  7. Love the first one - going to see if my VPS can get the 25% on it. I have a few Crew Chanel style jackets and love them. I especially love one called Dauphin (Collection, I think) from a few years ago. I always get many compliments. I these jackets to work.
    I agree with others and you that the second one doesn't work. Too boxy and don't like the gold buttons either.

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    1. You can just call Paramus or your VPS can and get 25% off and do charge send.

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  8. i do love blazers of all kinds but they work well for my office life. on the weekends, i do wear blazers instead of jackets or a coat in the fall as well. the tweed ones are so pretty - i particularly love the first one on you!

    xox P

    phiphi's blog

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    1. It is usually too hot to wear jackets/blazers to the office but also my office is quite informal.

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  9. OMG-touche! This might as well have been me talking:) I like the first jacket but not the second.
    BTW, love that BB skirt--you must find a way to add that to your closet! It seems it would fit a multitude of situations based on your list. You can wear it more casual with denim or to work/church and out with friends! Looks great on you!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it sweetsy! That bb skirt is on my sale watch list for sure, thanks!

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  10. What a well written post! Goodwill- LOL- probably mine, because I , too buy them and never wear them. I find that is hard to match the bottom when the top is so cropped. They do look nice on you however.

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    1. You are right those jackets are made for wither matching skirt or jeans and I don't like either combinations.

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  11. Great post ajc! It's a shame they are using so much acrylic but it seems to be a common trend. I agree that the style can make one look matronly and is a bit tricky to pull off. I do wear this style of jacket with pencil skirts and I have several including J.Crew's boucle Astrid, which is 90% wool and 10% nylon, lined in acetate. I has pockets and a removable flower (removed!) with a single hook/eye closure that draws it in at the waist. I think that it works because it's not overly embellished, the look is clean and simple, like a cardigan but more structured. I would say tailoring is key.

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    1. Thank you xoxo! I think the Astrid jacket is much nicer than these. Of course you'd removed the flower!

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  12. I am actually wearing a collarless jacket today (probably inspired by this post) the safari tweed one from two years ago, which ranks probably as one of my favorite jackets. It looks really good with jeans and it is very modern. I also have the Dauphine but I wear it less because borderline matrony (it is also much heavier so it would be too warm to wear today but it can't be worn as outwear so it has truly no season here). I think the neckline is key: the buttons feel old ladish while the ones with hook-and-eye or zipper are more modern. I am sorry but I don't like any of these two, the first one reminds me of a H&M that looked actually much better.

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    1. You wear those jackets well Ema! I forgot about that sapphire jacket. This was one of my fav tweeds, I bet you looked great. Plus you actually have more of an lifestyle for it and you live in the city! Makes a difference i think. Maybe I just have to move, lol.

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  13. Great post! I agree that neither of these jackets work for you. But I personally love them. As someone a bit older than the typical JC shopper, I find I can wear them much better than a lot of their stuff. I have one from Collection that I bought in Jan and wear it all the time with white jeans. I also bought a recent one from the last rollout (sold out) and cannot wait to wear it with skinny jeans. I work from home so I don't dress for work but love Chanel jackets in general. Am waiting to try the second one you reviewed in orange red.

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    1. I can totally see that they could work great for many, I guess that's why the are such a fashion staple. The red one is pretty too, and I think there was also a pink one but maybe I am confusing it with the skirt I tried and will review tomorrow.

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  14. I hate acrylic. It feels unnatural. It doesn't do justice to color. I can spot it a mile away. It pills.
    AA

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  15. I am with you, AJC - I cannot wear these very well. I think I have one to my name now. I am also tired of the chanel jacket with jeans. I think I would prefer them with their matching skirts at this point and so will wait to be 60 as per Tabs' advice!

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    1. I think it may be our body type. I think those jackets (like so many other items) look better on pear shaped ladies, their hips balance the boxiness and shortness of the jacket. I once bought a jacket after I saw how great it looked on DinaG, but it was a disaster on me, I looked like a linebacker.

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    2. You're right, with a full bust and narrow hips, one does tend to look top heavy and short of neck in these straight little boxy jackets. I've not come across one that truly worked for me either. BTW, is that a solid version of the peplum striped top in the first 2 shots? Can we hope for a review of either peplum tops sometimes soon? :)

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  16. I bought the Confetti Tweed jacket and skirt and I LOVE them. I have really started to focus on my clothes on my days off because I wear a uniform every day and it is so depressing putting on my little jacket or sparkly tops, and even my crazy capri's makes me feel amazing. Did you see the Navy color block sweater with elbow patches that the model wore with a green sequined skirt? I loved that look but it was gone with the other Oopsies J.Crew accidentally posted.

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