blazers

[teafortwo]

My Grandad (who really knows how to dress women - the S&B laaaaydies would luff him) bought me a deep green cord blazer 12 years ago and I loved it and wore it and wore it and wore it with a passion. Last year I lost it and tbh feel a little very lost without it.

I would like a new one but can't work out what sort of thing looks nice because the fact I feel so emotional about loosing my old one is blurring my vision terribly.

Any ideas would be very welcome.

TIA

To be precise I would like a new blazer but as it is twelve years later I would like it to be different...

I tried on a few last weekend and didn't like ones with ready rolled up sleeves, puffy shoulders and was confused about length. I also have no desire to look like I am dressing up as a soldier!!!

Thoughts????

Right.

What colour do you want?
What size are you?
What's your budget?
Full or 3/4 length sleeves?
What length?

I bought one from uniqlo - not strictly a blazer, but it's the most flattering and comfortable jacket I've had for ages. Sorry am in a rush - no time to do a link. It's called the cut and sewn jacket. Dead cheap too. I liked it so much I bought two of them!

here
Maybe?

or here?

Ooooh - hello people! THANKS FOR REPLIES!!!

Sooo....tethersend...

What colour do you want?

Not black and not too flashy. I am very pasty with blonde hair. Flashy colours and black make me look like I need rushing to hospital. I like the ideas of blues.

What size are you?
size 12 for jackets sometimes 14 in trendier shops on account of 'swimmers shoulders' and having norks! The top half of my body is very V shaped. So nothing too shoulderpadded or manly looking or from the back I will look like a bloke .

What's your budget?
£100 max

Full or 3/4 length sleeves?
I dunno! Do 3/4 look serious or a bit "I wish I was 15 again"? There are lots of 15 yr olds wearing this look in my 'hood.

What length?
I dunno... lots of my tops are also dresses and fairly long and baggy at the mo. What kind of blazer should go over this style? Or do I just not wear these clothes with a blazer?

I forgot to mention - I am defo not up for the ones that look like school uniform either!

topsi and faustina - nice ideas! Thanks.

My favourite so far is this one in blue...

www.isabellaoliver.com/womens-clothing/coats-and-jackets/isabella-oliver-365-the-coco-blazer/D/30100 /P/2:600:6060/I/JK440

I saw a lady wearing somthing like that yesterday and was tempted to ask her where she got it from... what are thoughts on the white trimming though?

You know what?

There is no nicer one than the isabella oliver

I could link to a hundred other blazers and none would be as nice in that price range.

Just get it, you won't regret it, it's lovely.

I like it, it covers smart and casual

I like this from Gap.

Thanks all...

I will order the Isabella Oliver one and keep you posted!

Ooo yes let us know what it is like, what colour did you go for?

isabella oliver should offer discounts to mnetters

I prefer the green one but I think I would get more use out of the blue.

It is a real goody isn't it? - Thanks!

By they way - How goes the sizing... big? small? as you expect really?

Actually - In my mind I had confused the prices of the two IO blazers... That one is a bit steep in price for me especially as the white bits don't feel quite 100%'me'.

But... What about this one though...

www.isabellaoliver.com/vetements-pour-femmes/manteaux-et-vestes/la-veste-classique-isabella-oliver-3 65/D/30100/P/5:600:6060/I/JK410

???

I wouldn't mind some input is it nice or no?

I like the former but not the latter IO ones.

Have you tried Zara - they're normally good for blazers.

Alternatively Jigsaw or Hobbs NW3 range.

And IO often has 20% off discount codes floating around which would make the nice blazer more affordable.

Traceybath - Hmmm, interesting! TBH - Everyone on mn says Zara is great. I really want to love it to be in wiv der trendies BUT I can NEVER find anything nice in that shop!

It is always a massive jumble sale, fabrics and cuts seem to do nothing for me, the clothes seem expensive for the quality, the staff are often rude, the lighting and music gives me a headache and almost to rub salt into the wound every other woman I know is walking around loooking great in stuff I think is designer but infact is a lil' something they just casually (and probably calmly) picked up in Zara!!! My friend even gave me, as a present, a great pair of skinnies from Zara and I do really love them but in the shop everything looks blaaah including their blazers!

traceybath - Are you suggesting that if I sent dd into braved Zara and bought a blazer there it would magically transform into something wonderfully chic and delicious when I wear it on the street?

I never have any luck with Zara either so there's two of us! I also agree the clothes are expensive for what they are.

Re the blazer: My advice is to go for tropical weight or other lightweight wool. Pick something really, really classic and sharply cut. (That second IO blazer you linked to is sack-like. Sorry.) No embellishment, no rayon-poly blends, no 3/4 sleeves. It takes quite a bit of shopping to find the right one but it's worth it because you'll have it and wear it and love it for a long time. Spend a little bit more, figuring your cost per wear is the real point: if you wear it two or three times a week for the next four or five years you have done well. (Or 12 years as in the case of your corduroy blazer!)

I personally reallylike [http://www.marksandspencer.com/Autograph-Pure-Sleeve-Button-Jacket/dp/B003ADJNXY?ie=UTF8&qid=127569 6826&categoryNodeID=42967030&ref=sr12&page=&node=192500031&sr=1-2&mnSBrand=core&_encoding=UTF8&rh= this] (but it's not available in my size so I am posting it here instead of ordering it). It is silk and it is washable, and I suspect it is quite wearable in the summer heat.

It does have 3/4length sleeves though...

here, sorry

I ADORE Zara and most of my clothes come from there - was in fact going to suggest you go there for your blazer as they often have very similar to the one you linked to (which is gorgeous). But if you're not a fan...

My friend says exactly the same - she can never see anything in there, where as I walk round with armfulls. She can shop in Cos and I'm always asking her where she got her dress / trousers etc from as she looks fab! But when I look in there, I just see 'blah'.

Get the fab green jacket - it's yum!

Oh yes - that jacket is nice aarghhelp... although I feel that that cut would make me look like an American football player!

I tried the Gap one on today. I was a bit unsure about the shrunken look but found that if I went a couple of sizes up from my normal size it looked like a normal sized blazer... and quite nice but it wasn't "the one"!

cupparooibos - THAT is the thing! I really dislike the feel and look of cheap looking blazers but resent paying for a really good one (I suffer terribly from Mother's guilt)! I had an idea... Maybe if I suggest one for my birthday I will feel more zen about the situation!

Does anyone have any thoughts on the toast ones...?

www.toast.co.uk/category/coats+and+jackets/coats+and+jackets.htm

Get the IO blazer in blue. It's expensive, but it will last years and go with everything.

Ha ha ha!!! You lot are terribly passionate about that IO blazer!

Has anyone actually seen it in rl???

Does Banana Republic have anything useful in at the moment? I'm also with you on the short blazer thing -- don't like 'em.

I think this is the Platonic ideal.

Birthday idea is a good one . . . !