Sunday 7 – The Blazer Edit

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Hello!

What a crazy-ass-long-old-week it’s been, eh?

Or was that just me?

I’m gonna try my utmost to cut the waffle and cut straight to the chase today: blazers!

Yup – going in, straight away.

I’ve been having a bit of a blazer-love-in this week, but have realised aside from a very warm navy blue woollen one and a super light-weight, thinner black one, I don’t have much variety available to me.

So… I’d basically love one of everything I’ve picked this week.

#greedybean

In reality though, I’m forever watching the pennies, eternally trying hard to be mindful of my shopping habits and so… let’s just fawn over these together, yeah?

7. River Island – Light Blue Boucle Cropped Blazer (£65)

This shade of blue doesn’t actually work on me.

But I keep seeing this pale blue, around the shops… would love to mix it with some of the lovely brown and rust tones I already have in my wardrobe…

… but, this particular jacket is sold out in my size.

I opted to include this particular pale blue jacket because it’s “cropped” so it would definitely work on us shorties.

I’m also a fan of boucle as a fabric.

In fact, although River Island isn’t my go-to place to shop… I do actually like this whole little ‘shorts’ suit.

I’m consoling myself that the sleeves of this jacket would be way too long on me and the style/fabric doesn’t really lend itself to being rolled up.

I try and avoid the ‘tuck under’ at all costs – the sleeve unravels each time you put the jacket /coat on/off and is just not worth the hassle!

{I’ve just checked and the size 6 and 8 *are* available via ASOS}

6. Topshop – Gingham Jacket (£49)

Now I do love a bit of gingham.

Vichy print as the French call it.

This is a gorgeous monochrome, lightweight spring blazer which would look great worn with mid-wash to darker shades of denim as well as pairing it with reds and yellows.

And it goes without saying, it would be perfection with an all black or all white outfit.

This blazer is only available in Topshop’s regular range at the moment, but I do think a double turn-up with white lining showing would look ok.

And likewise, if you’re taller, you’d get that holy-grail of 3/4 length sleeve which a short limbed midge like me would pretty much kill for!

Most sizes are available.

#tempting

5. ASOS – Vera Moda Petite Bright Blazer (£42)

Couldn’t resist including this bright tomato red petites blazer… it’s not my default, comfort zone colour, but something seems to happen to me every Spring, where I go through a red-obesession.

Anyway, fear not, the jacket is also available in the Tall range though apparently not in regular…?!

If I were to buy this, the reality is, it would probably get just the one, possibly two wears a year.

Which isn’t good enough, is it?

It’s a lovely bright colour though, right?

4. Other Stories – Cotton Blend Plaid Blazer (£129)

After all the bright spring vibes of my first 3 picks, I’m bringing Beany back.

My love of black and brown and all colours ‘dull’… though there’s still a hint of spring to the check… if you squint!

This boxy-oversized shape, with it’s longer-line length and nicely proportioned sleeves is *NOT* one for petites.

I mean, sure if you’re 5’2″ and under, you can of course, still wear this style…

… but I kind of think it will be verging on more ‘coat’ like in length.

In fact, an extra-petite like me would simply look like a child whose trying her dad’s jacket on.

But that’s the thing with this style: it *is* meant to be ‘dad’ style, isn’t it?

Or ‘boyfriend’ cut.

Which ever you prefer… but given ‘dad’ trainers and now ‘dad’ sandals (you know, the velcro Teva style) are all the rage… I’m sticking with Dad-style.

All that said, alas, this jacket would be too enormous for me, regardless of how much I love it.

3. Miss Selfridge – Ivory Boucle Jacket (£59)

Dreaming of Chanel, obvs.

I haven’t bought from Miss Selfridge in ages!

Just not seen much I fancied there, to be honest.

But this boucle jacket is a near perfect Spring/Summer blazer and unlike the first River Island one I’ve featured, the sleeves could be shortened relatively easily, given there are no button details etc.

Again, this would look so good with so much in my wardrobe.. in particular, jeans, of course.

Jeans and a Blazer just make for an easy, effortlessly chic outfit, don’t they?

Definitely going to think about this one.

2. Pieces – Checked Pattern Blazer (£50)

Not a brand I’ve heard of before, and so, in all honesty can’t comment on service/delivery or quality.

I came across the jacket via the ASOS feed on my instagram, although weirdly, they don’t seem to stock the jacket.

(They do stock the brand though.)

Anyway, the jacket is all sorts of lovely with it’s dark mustard gingham check.

But, again, given the cut… and that the jacket is only available in sizes S, M and L… I’m guessing it’d be a no-go in terms of fit for us petites.

#waaaaaaah

#ireallyloveitthough

1. Next – Ginger Stripe Linen Blend Blazer (£45)

Ginger.

AKA: rusty-brown.

Stripes too?

This has ‘Bean’ written all over it.

Alas, it’s only available in regular range, not Petites or Tall.

But… one I might be able to get away with.

The fabric is a linen-viscose mix, so there would be a little creasing, but no where near as much as you’d get from 100% linen.

I really like it.

Plus it’s a reasonable price.

Stinker of the Week: River Island – Petite Cropped Blazer (£35)

So! On one hand, I’m very much drawn to this cropped blazer… there’s nothing in particular wrong with it after all.

However…

On the other hand, it’s giving me all the cruise-liner waiting staff vibes.

I may have overdosed on that 70’s (or was it 80’s) daytime tv-show ‘The Love Boat’ when I was a student.

And so really, it’s for that reason only, that I’m awarding this jacket my ‘stinker of the week’ accolade.

#weak

#sorrynotsorry

Wildcard of the Week: Zara Striped Blazer (£69)

In terms of colours, this particular blazer is very me… it’s just the shape & oversized style that’s not.

I’ve always veered away from wearing anything ‘oversized’ for two reasons:

1. the piece ends up wearing me, rather than me wearing *it* and
2. I wore ill-fitting, oversized clothing for many years, simply because the smallest sizing available when I was a teen, was often a 10… size 8s were rare and size 6 didn’t exist. I hated that feeling of having to wear whatever was available, and neither was I equipped with the skills to make alternations myself (… may have driven my mum bonkers with requests though!) and honestly, I was rarely in a financial position to be forking out the extra for professional alterations.

So… as a general rule of thumb, no matter how much the uber-cool minimal street stylers may love it… ‘oversized’ just isn’t my bag.

BUT… you know I’m always up for a challenge, and styling this generous cut of blazer is making me break out in a sweat, but I’ll give it my best shot!

Look 1 – Miami Vice:

Miami Vice because, you’re gonna turn the sleeves up and scrunch them up a little to show a bit of wrist, a la Crockett & Tubbs style.

Other than that, it’s a very minimal outfit.

Wear your blazer, unbuttoned (sleeves scrunch up!) over a H&M Plain White Tee (£8.99) with your straight cut Topshop Editor Jeans £49 and Topshop Venus Sandals (£46) for a minimal vibe.

Spotted this cute little New Look Gingham Lined Basket Bag (£25.99) and had to use it in at least one look today.

Finally, you’ll be needing some sunnies if you’re “Miami-ing” it up, and these Flat Top New Look Cat Eye Sunnies (£7.99) are not full blown visor style, but they have a bit of that going on.

That said, I haven’t used any pastel shades here, so it’s…. not very… Miami, at all… is it?!

Look 2 – Shirting around:

Rubbish name, and a look that I suppose I think of this look as being a bit too ‘young’ for me nowadays… but you never know: if I ever got a decent tan on my legs, I might just go for it.

This outfit, if I wore it… would pretty much look like I was wearing the blazer & sneaks from behind… but again, it’s that whole minimal street styler thing of wearing an oversized jacket to cover the length of your mini skirt…

… and it’s *meant* to look like you’re wearing just a blazer and not much else?!

I’ve opted for this Khaki H&M Skirt (£14.99) with this Zara Light Blue Denim Shirt (£25.99) worn with the obligatory half-tuck, with the blazer worn over the top, obvs.

I’m going for the Leo Converse Hi’s (£64.99) and this simple M&S Metallic Leather Crossbody Bag (£45)

Look 3 – Skirting around:

Soz about the names of the looks this week… like I say, it’s been a long old week for me!

I couldn’t resist including my Arket Ivory Pleated Skirt £69 mainly because I love mine so much and because the colour tones in with the Zara blazer rather nicely.

Going for a half-tucked shirt again, but this time a bold striped H&M Shirt (£12.99) nicely clashing with the stripes of the blazer.

And finally, a bit of matchy-matchy for bag and shoes: these Zara Minimal (‘dad’) Sandals (£29.99) juxtaposed with the cute, and super girly Topshop Gigi Round Handle Grab Bag (£25.99.)

What do you think?

I like these looks and would wear them all in theory… if the oversized blazer were ‘proportionately’ oversized to my extra-petite frame, of course!

I’d love to hear your thoughts? Leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

AND! How’d I do on cutting down on the waffle?!

Thanks for reading,

Bx