Thursday: Making a Statement

I walked into Martin + Osa last weekend during my wanderings through the mall, and bumped into an old Forth & Towne co-worker who was now working at M+O. She talked me into trying on this outerwear jacket, and styled it for me as a suit jacket instead. As soon as I put it on, I was in love; it's a great midweight grey patterned wool, and it hit my leg at EXACTLY the right spot (the one I need to find a tunic to hit at). She kept talking at me, but I could see how many outfits this would go with -- with pants and a button-down for a suit look, open with a sheath dress, even with jeans and a tee on the weekend.

The one in the store was too big, so she ordered it for me online. They were having a 30% off sale on top of it being on sale, so I ended up with a $250 jacket for $150. It arrived on Wednesday, and I acknowledged when I put it into a perfect outfit within minutes -- no raiding of the closet for an hour, a miracle! -- it was worth every penny.



What's amazing to me is that on my own I would never have tried it; the breast and the hip pockets alone should be all wrong. But there is something about the placement of them, and the quality of the cut and the fabric weight, which makes them work. I can't explain it, but I love them. Thank you, Cindy, for convincing me to give it a try! (Ask for her the next time you go to the Martin + Osa at Old Orchard; you can tell her I sent you. :))



Angie over at YLF has talked several times about statement pieces and finding one's signature style. I've struggled with the concept of a signature piece, usually because I've taken it to mean an accessory of some kind, and I don't have one particular accessory I think really defines my style or sets me apart as unique. (Especially since Shopping Friend and I have all the same Coach bags, LOL.) But I do think I have a signature style: polished, professional, confident, colorful, tailored and classic. The prep-school ethos runs deep in me still even if I don't wear my pearls with my sweatshirts anymore; I prefer clean lines and traditional looks over ruffly and romantic or studded and edgy. I like mature, but not old-lady; confident but not showy.

This jacket is a statement piece for me. It will go with almost everything I already own, dressed up or dressed down. It takes even the simplest pieces in my wardrobe -- in this case black Semantiks suit pants, a gold Lands End turtleneck, a black Target leather belt and my simplest black Franco Sarto heeled loafers -- and elevates them to a killer outfit. I knew it was a winner when not only did I receive random compliments walking down the halls from just about everyone, but the two guys I eat lunch with, the ones who talk about football, snowblowers and their kids constantly, both did a double-take when they saw me. LOL!



I can't wait to wear it with something else!

++++++

In unrelated news, Shopping Friend gave me 5 BAGS of unworn suits, skirts, jackets and pants. I have to try them all on for fit and length, but some are old favorites from Forth & Towne, and I will probably have them tailored if they are a little too big. We both sighed in nostalgic fondness when we saw them! I'll post photos of the keepers later today. YAYAYAYAYAY. Guess it pays off to lament one's lack of pants and skirts publicly. :)