What can I wear with a brown suede jacket?

[KristinaM]

I've been given a hand me down suede jacket by a friend. She bought it in Gap about 5 years ago, so its not exactly vintage.

Its a dark brown blazer style - revere collar, two buttons, two patch pockets, fitted with darts at front and back and vent at back.

The nearest photo I can find is this, but not purple obviously.

It looks REALLY BORING & MIDDLE AGED on me

Its exactly the same style as the two jackets I wore all summer, which were grey jersey and navy linen, so I know its not the shape.

HELP! How can I make it work???

[JackieNo]

Could you stick a leather belt round it thus?

[purplepeony]

I'd wear it with jeans and a T shirt. Maybe a tank top underneath too?

[blithedance]

Wear it with a very funky colourful scarf - not necessarily a thick one. Does it suit your body shape or is it doing you no favours?

[KristinaM]

that's what's confusing me - the shape is exactly right for me - fitted, open neck, buttons low down

don't know why i look so frumpy in it

i tried jeans and t shirt ( my standard uniform) and it looks....boring

or is brown suede just boring by definition???

off to try it with skinny belt

[KristinaM]

[reports back]

jackie - belt is a definite improvement, although can only fasten jacket over t shirt as its a size 2 and i have large norks

purplepeony - i do not own a tank top - is this sign of middle age too???

[tulpe]

I would wear it over a dress with boots.

Or tunic top, leggings and boots.

Personally, I think wearing it with jeans and tee is a bit "mum" tbh.

[tulpe]

Feel free to pass over to someone else if you don't think you will wear it

[KristinaM]

tulpe - that's just it, i HATE to look a gift horse in the mouth

so the jeans and t shirt might be the problemm rather than the jacket....[ponders]

[cherryblossoms]

I would wear it with lots of camel coloured things. And go for a sixties type outline.

eg. suede boots, camel cashmere jersey, short-ish, light brown-ish skirt.

I had a lovely suede jacket I used to wear thusly and I don't believe it looked frumpy. Alas, it was stolen and (sob) post-dc I have never, ever managed to squeeze my calves back into my lovely boots. Which were called "Kitten". So losing them to post-childbirth weight-gain made me feel very un-kitteny.

And camel is apparently the colour this season, so there will be lots of camel things in the shops.

[KristinaM]

cherry - that is a tragic boot story

and you have cheered me up... because i have a flabby mummy tummy, virtually no waist and huge norks that didn't deflate after bf BUT I STILL HAVE SLIM CALVES [gloat]

oops and wrinkles, did i mention them......

like 60s vibe idea though

[MrsBadger]

yes yes scarf

I have similar in tan cord that looks awful without a scarf and fabulous with - somethign to do with the neckline + thsirt neckline + shape of neack

[KristinaM]

ok then MrsB, what king of scarf?

BTW have you had baby yet? ( sorry if not paying attention)

[MrsBadger]

haha I wish, not due till end of Jan

oh anything - I flit between big cosy pashmina types (plain or damask) and keffir-type tassled squares (unpatterned, I have limits). Can't do skinny ones though, I look weird.

[KristinaM]

please don't suggest i wear one the these yassar arafat studenty things

i have irrational dislike of tassles on scarves and they are ubiquitous

i have one Christmas and one January baby - good time ( if there ever is one) to be hugely pg

[MrsBadger]

I think that's why it works
middle aged jacket + studenty scarf = somewhere in the middle...

[KristinaM]

but what if you have a middle aged face???

will try studenty scarf thing tomorrow as now in PJs

thank you everyone for excellent suggestions. i will report back