094/ What I'm Wearing: Weeks 14 - 16
Beyond the classic trench: seven jackets for this shoulder season!
What I’m Wearing is a series where I share all of the outfits I’ve worn over a given week (or two), along with styling notes, links and related thoughts. If you see an outfit you like on my Instagram, you’ll find it here.
TGIF, dear readers,
I hadn’t planned on writing a spring jacket newsletter, but this week’s outfits ended up writing one for me! Today, I’ll be sharing seven outerwear options to carry you through shoulder season.
1) The Heavyweight Blazer
We’re firmly into jacket season here in Toronto, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves — the weather is still demanding fall/winter base layers. Here, I’m wearing Herskind’s Alice coat (which reads as a blazer), but any heavier wool or tweed blazer will do!
2) The Utility Jacket
My trusty utility jacket, and the outfit that inspired last week’s newsletter:
Over on Instagram, there was a lot of interest in these Zara suede lace-ups which I ended up returning because they didn’t stand up to the Five Questions I Ask Myself Before I Buy Anything:
Simply swapping your footwear can change the feel and stylistic direction of an outfit entirely, and in that respect, I appreciate the vibe-shifting ability of these moccasin-desert boot hybrids. Ultimately, however, I’m at a stage of wardrobe building (advanced!) where only what I love makes the cut. These shoes are a tool I *like* but don’t *love*, and I’d probably wear them as often as I do my Wallabees (rarely). Return!
Two more utility jacket outfits…
In last week’s newsletter, I explored wearing the jacket as a top (akin to a belting a blazer):
And early this week, I saw this photo from Vogue Korea’s March 2024 issue…
…which inspired me to wear the jacket with my Awake Mode circle skirt:
Last year, I double-side taped two layers of circles to shorten it, and it’s been holding up well ever since!
3) The Suede (Or Leather) Jacket
Oh man, this suede jacket! When I talked about *love* above, this is what I was referring to. Although to be more accurate, it’s one shade of what I was referring to — akin to languages with many words to describe the different nuances of love. (Please drop your favourite words for love in the comments!)
“Fringed, suede blazer” was not on my wishlist, but its quality, construction, fit and overall esprit took hold of me — it was a Had To Have per the Tibictionary:
You know it when you see it; the gratification is instant. A Have-to-Have is best equated to the garment or accessory that induces goosebumps while simultaneously tugging at your heart strings. Although not wearable for every facet of life, it occupies a coveted spot in our closests, appealing to our emotions and reminding us why we fell in love with style.
Or, as a French friend simply described it, “c’est canon”!
I found this jacket listed on other resale sites at prices WAY higher than what I paid for it, but if you’re curious, you can find it here (literally 10x what I paid?!), here (in tan) and here. Similar Dior vintage. For reference, the jacket sold at auction here for a more reasonable figure.
On the topic of woven shoes, oh my, these Awake Mode woven clogs!!! The picture below doesn’t do them justice, so click on the link for the side view. Two other shoes caught my eye on AM’s site: these silver mules (and, eek, these Sam Edelman dupes) and these silver or gold ball flats!!!
And because I was craving a new sunglass shape, I picked up a new pair this week:
4) The Denim Jacket
Are any loyal readers confused as to why I’m wearing a denim jacket? In Part 3 of How To Build A Foundational Wardrobe, denim tops made my Will Not Wear list (inspired by
’s post here).Will Not Wear: Denim pieces, e.g. jackets, shirts, shackets, jumpsuits.
Why Not? I’ve tried and tried, and no matter how interesting they are, they just don’t feel like me. Denim skirts/shorts and even jeans themselves, while in my wardrobe, are a relatively small component. I’ve seen denim outfits that were just fire, loved them on others, and would be open to styling clients in them if it was right for them.
The jacket was kindly sent to me by Icon Denim. In a previous newsletter,1 I wrote that I accept gifts if the product is of interest to me and/or my readers and private clients. I have yet to accept a gift where I’m required to post about it, so if a gifted item ends up in this newsletter, it’s because I have notes on it that are relevant to you.
In the case of this Icon jacket, it reminds me of Attico’s denim jacket, the cut and proportions of which I love (for some of you, not necessarily for me!), but at a more accessible price point. For reference, I’m wearing an XS.
P.S. I feel good in this outfit! Never say never.
5) The Parka-Trench Hybrid
6) The Oversized Fleece Zip-Up
7) The Bomber Jacket
Rounding up this spring jacket newsletter are three more jacket styles I didn’t wear this week (well, I did, but didn’t photograph), but are also reliable shoulder season outerwear:
The parka-trench hybrid blends together characteristics of the classic tan cotton trench and the nylon waterproof parka (I touched upon it in a recent Ask Me Anything newsletter). The Essentials fleece is a staple in my wardrobe and at US$87, was a cost-effective option when Tibi’s cozy fleece was out of budget. Finally, if you have a bomber jacket lying around, now is a great time to wear it!
Until next time,
Irene
I’m in Florida meaning minimal jacket use. Usually a long sleeve shirt and thicker sweater is our coldest weather.
Would love a round-up like this for summer shorts. I love your styling of your shorts and would like more ideas. Also- ? You don’t wear denim shorts? Or Bermuda jean shorts? In our prolonged warm weather- we wear shorts much longer than the rest of you I think. And elevated styling for them is rare to see.
*sees Irene’s newsletter and IMMEDIATELY opens*
My first and defining thought reading this is WOW THAT JACKET, I MUST HAVE! Ha! I’ve been on the hunt for a fringe suede jacket but I’m taking the search slow to find one that fits me as well as that fits you.
Also, I loved hearing your thoughts on the Zara lace up booties. I was initially interested but knew they were too causal for my lifestyle. I am grateful for your transparency on what you keep!