With the weather changing, it’s time to think about transitional pieces and layering – even if all you have planned is to go to the grocery store and drive through the neighborhood Taco Bell (pictured here – seriously. Those are my Taco Bell bags). It’s that perfect spring weather where you can get away with wearing a crop top, jeans, and a boyish oversized jacket comfortably. It’s some kind of fashion triple-point where your midriff stays warm, your arms stay cool, and you can play with some fun proportions.
I had this outfit planned for awhile, even obsessing over all the different textures it offers. Silk! Wool! Denim! And all in shades of BLUE! What could be better?
Wearing it out of the house, for one. I had planned on wearing it to the post office, but ended up procrastinating and didn’t go last week, so it got relegated to Easter Sunday. Of course, Easter this year didn’t feel much like Easter, what with the quarantine and stay-at-home orders. I spent the day with my dad, getting groceries and garden supplies, and I even treated him to a fancy lunch. I called it “le crunchée tacquois suprème” with diablo sauce (aka the crunchy three-taco combo … with diablo sauce).
Yup, I treated my long-suffering dad to Taco Bell for our Easter feast. We brought it home and ate it on the sofa before watching The Great British Bake-Off. Not bad, right?
What’s with the “blue bandit” look?
I am in the middle of a large mask-making project, and I plan on making some for us as well as plenty to donate (Joann Fabrics has a donation program right now). That being said, while I’ve collected all the supplies – which proved much more difficult that I could have dreamed in non-pandemic times – I haven’t actually gotten around to making any. Yikes, I know. With all this free time, you’d think I’d have more … free time. Between gardening, work, and tuning up the backend of the blog, it all got eaten up somehow.
All of that is to say why I look like a monochrome bandit. I grabbed the nearest square of fabric, one that happily coordinated with my look, and went full Zorro with the thing. While it’s effectiveness is up for debate, it did feel right to cover my mouth in public spaces, just to make sure that I had my bases covered. And my mucous membranes. Or whatever.
How to Wear Your Oversized Jacket
Of course, the RIGHT advice is, “however you want to wear it, wear it and love it.” That’s the most important advice and the only one that matters. Now, if you’re asking me how I’d do it, I’d say this:
- Find your jacket – preferably a rugged, trucker-type with (traditionally) masculine lines. We’re talking loose jackets here, not winter coats, not blazers, as those are another post entirely (see examples below for what I mean). I’ve shopped around and included jackets at a bunch of different price points below!
- Pull colors from it. Since you’re playing with big shapes, I’d keep the colors monotone and mellow, otherwise you’ll look like a sandwich board. Find other pieces that share the general color you’re going for. They don’t have to match perfectly, just be in the same ballpark.
- Keep your bottoms high-waisted, as this counteracts the shortening-effect of the big jacket. You could wear almost any bottoms, but I’d advise against a maxi skirt with this one; it’d be too much fabric. For a day look, a looser jean is fine, while for night I’d go with something more fitted.
- Keep your top slim and make sure your waist is defined. You can do a crop top, like I did, or a bodysuit. Either way, you want your slinky AF bod to make some SHAPE under your coat. Va va voooooooom.
- Sleek shoes, preferably a heel. You want to elongate the leg as much as possible! I went with kitten heels because I was running errands at a garden supply, but for night I’d reach for high stilettos.
- Don’t you dare button that jacket. No, girl. Just leave that thing OPEN so you can feel that spring breeze as you walk from your front door to your car. You deserve it. You deserve to strut.
Another perk? Ripping off your grownup pants when you get home and swapping them for sweats. Instant lounge look, am I wrong?
Love,
Stig
PS. For more oversized looks, check out this post that I don’t remember writing but is all about this same jacket, this post, and this post!
Shop the Post
Off the Runway
On the Street
