Day Forty-Two: This is So Not My Boyfriend's Jacket

Last month I bought this jacket from Walmart online:

I eagerly anticipated it. A tailored jacket is definitely on Tim Gunn's List of Ten Essentials. (You should definitely own this book, no matter what your budget.) But I found this jacket to be a little baggy, a little too boyfriend-ish. And the shawl collar? Maybe if you're Steve McQueen or Sinatra. (Though I could go for this from Barney's or this awesomeness from Alexander Wang.) So I sent it back. Norma Kamali had a regular lapel version at the Walmart in Kirkwood, MO, but the overall effect was still too baggy, too mannish. If you're tall and waif-thin, like the model above, it could be cute. My own facial features are strong enough that I don't need a polyester-fueled testosterone injection.

Tailored is much more my taste. So I was thrilled to come across this jacket at the Kirkwood Walmart:

It's called the NK Terry Pea jacket. Love the tailoring, love the fit. Because I don't have much of a waist and broad shoulders, I don't usually look good in double-breasted jackets. But this jacket is nipped in at the waist so I kind of look like I have a waist.

After Day Forty-One's ego-killer, I was delighted to be able to put together a look that approximated the one the Kim Novak Lookalike was wearing.

Here I am, doing my best Cheerful Emma Peel:

And my best Scary, Way-too-old-to-be-Emma Peel:

Ensemble:

Norma Kamali Terry Pea Jacket (black): $20; Nine West dark denim jeans: $17 (Sam's Club); To The Max blouse: $16; Earth Spirit Shoes: $30; Paisley Scarf: $5; No Boundaries red bracelet: $8; George earrings: $8   Total: $104

Just wish I could find a decent tailored jacket or blazer that wasn't terry fabric. This one will do for fun, casual wear, but I'm afraid to wash it. Though I need to, because terry fibers got all over the blouse.

**Top photo via www.walmart.com and NK Terry Pea Jacket photo via www.normakamalicollection.com.

Have a delightful Wednesday! L.

Day Nineteen: Oh, Happy Day, a Leather Jacket I Can Love!

Do you ever have those days when you just feel totally and completely fabulous? Your hair has submitted to your will, your clothes are clean, pressed and fit just right? You know that your smile will get you an extra piece of bacon on your blt at Subway--not to mention that a man at the garden center will cheerfully offer to tote your posies and dirt out to the car and seem to mean it?

Ah. I love those days. They sure don't happen very often--and I'm not having one today, darn it. In fact, they happen for me around twelve days a year. Usually on the days when I'd pass the smiley-face test with one of these:

Don't tell me if those days disappear when the whole menopause thing starts, because I'll just kill myself now!

I was delighted with everything on Saturday, hormones or no. Speaking of babies, I attended a baby shower in the late morning. Our hostess made this fabulous diaper cake (made of diapers, not cake):

I also went to a Boy Scout Car Wash, a men's clothing store, the bank, and out to lunch with my guys.

I didn't spend a lot of time planning my ensemble because I knew I wanted to wear my brand new Norma Kamali Snow Trees shirt and my new black leather jacket. VERY excited about the jacket. Butter-soft and fits well.

Do I look grumpy? I wasn't. I think this was about the 50th pic that P took of me. He's soooo patient. But he did a great job. (Thanks, honey!)

Something to notice: Style wisdom says that you should be able to measure your front look in three fairly equal sections. I did okay here. The short-waisted thing makes it awkward. And after seeing many of the other pictures, I think I would like the jeans to be an inch longer and the shoes correspondingly higher (though these were clogs--a nice, tall book would've been fab). So many things to think about.

Over the course of this blog, I'll point you in some directions for figuring out what looks good on YOU! Your first assignment--should you choose to accept it--is to watch the first couple seasons of Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. You'll learn plenty. I promise.

Kenneth Cole Black Leather Jacket: (Sam's Club) $60; Norma Kamali Snow Trees Shirt:  $12; Faded Glory Jeans: $15: George cami: $8; Earth Spirit Black Clogs: $30; Jewelry: That Damn Necklace Again (in black and silver)--$7: Earrings: $7    Total: $139

Oh, and here are the shoes. Don't know that I've posted them yet.

Very comfortable. Leather.

Hope you have a great week! Tomorrow: Bad news comes in orange.