Oldies but goodies Archives

Oldies But Goodies Part II

I just noticed how most of the items I photographed for this particular subject were bought around 2010. That was about the time I started with the 5 Piece French Wardrobe and decided to invest in quality clothing and accessories. Surprisingly enough though, this blazer isn’t from some fancy, expensive designer brand but from good old H&M. I don’t buy a lot of stuff at H&M, for obvious reasons. The only exception is the Trend collection, recognizable by its pink label. Like the name suggests, it’s more trend driven but also made from higher quality materials (think silk, cashmere etc.) and usually has a much nicer fit. If you’re lucky, you’ll find the occassional timeless piece of clothing there as well.

What attracted me to this blazer were the long narrow lapels and the skinny sleeves. I’m sure we all know that I can be extremely picky so it will come as no surprise that wide sleeves are a deal breaker for me. I don’t know, it instantly ruins the whole look. But anyway, this blazer is awesome. For the past 8 years people have come up to me to ask me where it’s from. Clearly, you can still stand out with a simple black blazer if the design and fit are just right.

The only downside to this blazer? It’s 8 years old and I wear it too often. Not that I mind, on the contrary, but any garment will only last so long when worn on a regular basis. I don’t want to start looking for a replacement just yet but I definitely need one when the time comes to say goodbye (the drama, LOL). For me, it is one of my most important and most worn wardrobe staples. I even considered bringing it to a tailor and ask them if it’s possible to replicate it but I fear it just won’t be the same. Does anyone have any experiences with such a request?

For now, I will enjoy it as much as I can. The cost per wear must be down to 5 cents per wear or maybe even less. Without a doubt one of my best purchases of the last 10 years.

To read more about my old and well-loved wardrobe staples:
Oldies but Goodies Part I

Oldies But Goodies Part I

I thought it would be nice to write more about my wardrobe. Not the new purchases but the old tried and loved items that I have had for years. This jacket is one of them. I bought it through Ebay in 2010, just before the Isabel Marant craze started. At the time, the brand was hard to find here in the Netherlands so I had to try my luck in other countries or on Ebay. They probably sell for less than €100 on Vestiaire Collective right now but I bought it for a good price anyway. It was as good as new.

Back in 2010 I used to be a museum docent and felt so awkward whenever a student was wearing the same garment. So my mission was to find clothing that looked sharp but not overdone and also not so common. It turned out more versatile than I expected and it’s a great alternative for the traditional blazer. I suppose it’s a hybrid between a blazer and a cardigan? I’m able to dress it up and/or down, for day and night. I’m pretty sure I even went to a hardcore punk show in this jacket once LOL.

As I hate doing outfits photos, here’s an old picture of me wearing it. The strong shoulders are something I look for in any jacket or blazer. My hips are a little wider than my shoulders (yep, I’m a pear), so this balances everything out. What I especially like though, is the length of the sleeves. Usually they’re much too long on me but these fit perfectly. I know I have written before that you should buy and keep clothes for the body that you have right now but I’m happy that I held onto this jacket when I gained some weight. It took me a while to lose it but I can finally wear it again.

Isabel Marant jacket, Topshop straight jeans, H&M t-shirt, G.H. Bass Weejun loafers, Balenciaga City bag

It’s funny that I mostly wear it the same way as I did when I first received it 8 years ago. With a pair of black jeans and a white t-shirt to keep it somewhat casual. Otherwise it feels too formal for my taste. I’m quite particular about which t-shirt I wear underneath because of the neckline of the jacket. It shouldn’t be visible if I wear the jacket closed. Also, it’s needs to be a solid white. The jacket already has structure and different hues so the rest of the outfit needs to stay simple. On trend? Probably not. But it makes me feel put together and comfortable and that’s all I need.

What’s the oldest piece of clothing in your wardrobe?

I was getting tired of writing about new purchases and wish lists all the time so I wanted to try something different and focus more on the things that I already own and appreciate. I hope you enjoy reading about this as well.