Friday, June 14, 2013

The White Jacket

What is it with white jackets - they are really incredibly hard to pull off.  The vision is Bianca Jagger, and so why do I think Big Ang in Mob Wives when I try them on?


I bought a dress for Jackson's graduation - I loved the pattern and the colour. The sales woman in the store said a white cardigan would look good with it. I agreed but I don't have a white cardigan. This was disobeying my first rule of shopping: don't buy an item which necessitates buying something else...finding the something else will drive you crazy.

Then a friend said: a white jacket and because I'm so suggestible I spent an hour looking for a white jackets here and here.  I neglected of course to take the dress because that would be too easy. Hey friends...come along on this roller coaster ride and see how I drove myself crazy, as noted above. There was the Alice and Olivia's sparkly ironic take on the "Ladies Who Lunch" jacket, but I just looked like a wanna-be lady who lunches.

Alice and Olivia

There was the Theory one; well cut but too much jacket...As you can see I always shop without makeup and wearing jandals or UGG boots and scruffy hair. Not a pretty sight. Note to clothes in shops - if you can get past the ugly, you're a keeper.

Theory

Then there was a little pointy guy which was kind of waitery. I liked it but they didn't have my size.

Pointy guy. The photo doesn't show this but I also started doing ballet feet positions, not a good sign.
Then I tipped over the edge...

Alice and Olivia's peach jacket. Ok, time to go home, you were looking for white jackets

Then I found the linen one in the top photo which I know I will wear again and I won't feel like hospital-restaurant-dental office staff. (I gave away a white trench last year after everyone kept profering me their wrists)

But the dress under it didn't sit right and I kept fiddling with it all day long. My fault I'm sure rather than the dress: I'm freakishly long waisted. I think I'll have to take in the top of it.

Not quite right


Oh brother.





42 comments:

  1. I like the pointy guy too. I hate when that kind of thing happens. A strict policy in my shopping adventures is "no closet orphans". I fall in love with pieces and then spend forever trying to find them a home. Fortunately - just about everything goes with jeans so I'm usually safe. Glad you found a good solution.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do think white jackets go best with casual and jeans. Julie - just read your post today - what about taking a break and come back to blogging refreshed??

      Delete
  2. Umm my expertise here is null and void
    But white jackets seem to make one paranoid

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh Lord - I think I look AWFUL in a white jacket. But maybe I need to try on a dozen to see the difference? I love the dress and I like the jacket you got very much! I do not think I look great in jackets - too much shoulder and breast-age I think? I need a Well Styled Life or Fabulous Florida Mommy to sort me out!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't own a white sports coat... or would I... but I have several linen jackets that I love. They go great with just about everything.

    I love your choice of jackets... and if you bought that dress in the lower photo, good for you! You look great!!

    ~shoes~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there-I always appreciate the humor. I just donated a jacket that looked exactly like the ladies who lunch Alice and Olivia. With blondes like us maybe a bit of cream in the white is the answer. I think the blue dress looks fab on you-forget the long waist-I'll take the legs. Sorry you had to fuss (hate that-by the way never do a body suit spanx-you don't need it-a world of hurt when it comes to the ladies room-really?)
      Happy Weekend lovely!
      xx, Heather

      Delete
  5. Jody, you actually great in every single shot although your commentary makes me laugh. I was serious about the white jacket thing for going on a year, but the only one I've seen that I want is like $700+ at JCrew {where have I been? when did jcrew start charging these kind of prices?} so...probably no white jacket for me this summer.

    Hope you're having fun up in sonoma {I saw your pics on fb--looks great!}

    xo Mary Jo

    ReplyDelete
  6. White jackets can be hard to pull off....and in fact as we live in a land-o-grey-cloud we are still wearing jumpers and light macs here......but you look lovely in yours...and I like the peach one on you too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hmmmmm.... Don't buy an item which necessitates buying something else... I might borrow that from you. The line, not the jacket ;)

    I love shopping for clothes. Usually takes me about 15 minutes. I once bought two suits in exactly one minute. No joke. I was so fast I didn't have time to take picture...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pretty dress! I think it is too unstructured for a jacket though. I think it really does want a cardigan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Totally agree now I look at it. Also because of the side tie, a jacket bunches, whereas a short cardy would be better

      Delete
  9. I just love white jsckets .. love them!! I think the one you bought is fab and I have to admit to kinda' loving the 'ladies who lunch' one as well. 'Never could resist a bit of sparkle!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Uggh... I know what you mean about white jackets. I was all set on getting a sort of boyfriend-y type white blazer, but then everyone I tried on just looked ridiculous! I like the one you ended up with--- well done! I would (have) given up for the time being...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Like Helen, I would have bought the 'Ladies who lunch' one! Can I just say the dress is AWESOME and although I love the rule of not buying anything that requires something else to work, I'm afraid this dress is an exception. Stunning cut and pattern and you look amazing in it! And LOL LOL at the Note to Clothes - get past the ugly and you're in! Brilliant. Though you look very beautiful in your changing room photos. Fab post - totally cheered up my rainy cold Saturday afternoon xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thanks, now really am not sure about the flounciness of the dress, though at first I was attracted by its petal-ness.

      Delete
  12. Big Ang...hahaha good one!

    I haven't tried the white blazer thing yet, mostly because I'm afraid of getting it dirty and spilling wine on it. Or accidently brushing up against a dusty car...ugh.

    I'm long-waisted too, so I know how fussy it is to buy proper fitting clothes! Especially tops and jackets.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have to buy Huuuge swimsuits so they fit in the body and don't ride up the whazoo!

      Delete
  13. You look VERY tired in those photos!!!!!!!!!!!
    Hope you have some good vacation plans.............!
    xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's me without make-up - tres scary. and a bad light

      Delete
  14. I've had to take in almost every dress by a US designer in the top, so I can sympathise with your dilemma.
    Like the linen jacket - laughing at your assessment of all the others.... agree that white is tricky! My husband bought me a jacket from J Crew while in the US a while ago, he was buying me things I'd ordered from him, and threw it in as it was on the sale rack and was incredibly cheap. For a reason. It made me feel like I was wearing a lab coat, or alternatively that I was a white belt in jujitsu. Wore it once or twice maybe? Then it quietly disappeared to the charity store. xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. As a world class klutz, I am guaranteed to spill something on a white jacket!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think you look lovely, jacket or no jacket! I liked the ladies who lunch jacket too!

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's such a lovely dress in terms of style and colour that it seems a shame to cover it up but the linen jacket is a versatile one. Buying one item which then necessitates another - I know that all too well!
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  18. I agree with the last comment I like the dress most without anything. I would just bring a shawl in case I got cold (but then I am in Ireland). I like the theory jacket the best. Have a great week

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow what a pretty dress! I think it looks really great on its own.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Gorgeous dress and I like the jacket. I hardly have anything white, it wouldn't stay that colour with my two girls, haha :) x

    ReplyDelete
  21. I can't do whites. At all. Every time I wear a light colored anything, dirt marks magically appears on them. I love that pointy blazer on you. Actually, get the peach leather jacket too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Okeydoke! Yes and it was so comfy, most leather jackets feel quite constraining.

      Delete
  22. I think you look cute in all of them, but maybe I just like your personality? But seriously, you are so right about the perils of the White Jacket. I think Issac, the Bartender on the LoveBoat wrecked the concept for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Isaac, now he definitely did the pointy jacket!

      Delete
  23. Anyone of those white jackets would have been marked before I got the dress on. The dog would have jumped, husband would have dropped the surprise cup of tea I was in the mood for or one of the children would have needed a hug at that very moment.
    Think the coral would have been perfect. Love the dress. White demin would have been great too!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love how you look in your dress, Jody. White jackets, that's a tricky business. I have a white denim jacket that looks great with summer dresses and black skinny jeans, but when it comes to white blazers, that's a different story. No matter how much I would love one and how good one looks on Emmanuelle Alt, I'm not sure I could pull it off.
    Ada

    ReplyDelete
  25. a white jacket is a bit like a pair of jeans. a "classic" but you have to try on about 20 others to find the one for you! Having said that I do have a white jacket that I got bc I felt I should have one but never wear it...

    ReplyDelete
  26. You are so right about WJs. I've had one for over a year - still hanging in its polythene bag.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Jody your jacket and dress are so chic. I agree about the white jackets. I have one that is linen by DKNY and never wear it. Every time I clean out the closet, I think I'm gong to pitch it, then I try it on and love it. Somehow though it never actually gets worn!

    Sorry I'm just catching up on my blogs! Happy summer! xxKim

    ReplyDelete
  28. Random question: Would that lamb be good baked? Or is grilled the way to go?

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love that line about "don't buy when you need other necessities" So true. My whole darn closet is like that.

    ReplyDelete
  30. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Such a nice post, We loved it a great deal!I am a china tour lover,You can learn more: China travel | private China tours | China Tourist Attractions

    ReplyDelete