CocoLion

52 Comments

• Jenni NZ replied 3 years ago

  This is so difficult. It looks gorgeous on you. I am sorry your employee made you feel bad last time you bought a printed jacket.
  For me, something I have learned from YLF is that I don’t need to own every pretty thing I see online or in store. I can just admire and not own. But I am not sure the size of your wardrobe or how much you try to wear things. I thought you mainly wore black at the restaurants but could be wrong.
  I know when one of my staff called me Imelda Marcos at one stage I wasn’t very happy and they all denied it- but a patient had told me they did say that!
  I tried then to make sure the shoes I chose would get good wear. Am doing better.
  If you keep it just for love, well you are entitled to! Earned honestly, right?
  Sorry I am no help!

• Minaminu replied 3 years ago

  I think your employee was pretty rude, I don't think I'll ever understand why people enjoy laughing at someone instead of with...

  Now, the blazer! The sleeves should be shortened, the colour is lovely on you and the material looks great for a night out! I wonder if the pattern works well for you. Maybe it's due to the shiny material, but to me the pattern looks too busy. I might be wrong!!!

• CocoLion replied 3 years ago

  Thanks Jenni and I too am sorry about the Imelda Marcos comment.  My brother called me that in the past but he routinely insults me so it doesn't effect me like an employee's comment.

  I wear nothing but black at work, and have no where to go so I predict this would be an orphan.  I usually have one occasion I can think of for a K/R candidate but no, not now.  Last time I posted a K/R was in May or June and those pieces got worn exactly once since then.

• CocoLion replied 3 years ago

  Good point Minaminu, about the pattern.

• JAileen replied 3 years ago

  Wow - I really like the jacket.  The pattern, color, and fit, except for sleeve length.  I think you should keep it.  

  
  
  My husband doesn’t say anything about my wardrobe...he is into photography.  

• CocoLion replied 3 years ago

  JAileen, thanks for the good laugh!  My SO is into baseball and he never dares comment about my clothes ... except when to say he thinks I look particularly fetching.

• nemosmom replied 3 years ago

  hmmm... I think it looks great on you, but you have to decide if a rarely-worn piece has earned a spot in your closet.  For me, when I am looking at new pieces that may be a 'special' piece I ask:

  If a situation arose that you needed to create an outfit for, would you reach for this jacket in lieu of one you already own? If yes, then I would keep.  If not, and you already have an item for that potential occasion, I would let it go.

• Roberta replied 3 years ago

  I just love the print. I think you would know if you really wanted to keep it, though, rude coworker be damned. I find the shine of the satin a little limiting. Takes it from luxe to fancy, in my eyes.

  I have all kinds of mean comebacks for your colleague.

• Jaime replied 3 years ago

  It looks pretty great on you, but will you wear it? Do you wear shiny clothes with ease? I am into paisley so I am disqualifying myself for bias.

• Joy replied 3 years ago

  I love it on you but, if you are going to end up wearing it two or three times, I would pass. What else might you wear on these occasions? Would you wear it multiple times? Think of the probable cost per wear.
  The black pants are stunning on you.

• nuancedream replied 3 years ago

  Paisley is one of my favorite patterns and I think you look jaw drop stunning in the jacket. Echoing what has already been said, the cost per wear might be excessively high if the jacket were to be worn only a few times. TBH, I stopped listening to and caring about unwanted opinions regarding what I choose to wear a long time ago.

• rachylou replied 3 years ago

  I love this. This is High Fashion. Admittedly, that means there's nowhere to wear it right now... although I hear Santa Clara county is getting the green light to open its museums, so... yeah, I personally would keep it.

• rachylou replied 3 years ago

  Oh also: High Fashion always makes people laugh, makes ‘em nervous. Which makes me laugh. Revel in it I say, hehe ;)

• Sal replied 3 years ago

  You look fantastic!!

  Sometimes it is fun to just get a piece because you love it....and that is okay.  So I would sit on it and decide if this is worth buying for that reason. But I do agree it is not likely to get lots of wear in the short term.

  But it is a jacket you could wear at any age....

• Aquamarine replied 3 years ago

  I think you look smashing! Alas, 2020. Not much going on. However, if you are hopeful of a future full of occasions and places to go, I’d certainly consider keeping it. It’s a statement piece for sure. Ignore dummy co-worker. You’re allowed to wear clothing beyond black and white or whatever your uniform is at work.

• CocoLion replied 3 years ago

  Thanks for all of your often humorous and therapeutic comments!

• kellygirl replied 3 years ago

  Not reading the other comments but I have to say the color makes you glow and the style so cool. I don't know whether you need it but it certainly suits you and looks like a fun piece to play with! It's gorgeous and so unique. 

• Brooklyn replied 3 years ago

  I think you look wonderful, especially in the last photo.

  I think it’s ok to buy clothing as a morale booster, even if you know it will only be worn occasionally. As long as you are truly excited about it and happy to limit the number of morale boosters that you buy. Do you think this is “the one”? If you buy this will you stop looking at jackets or be tempted to look some more? Those are the questions I’d ask myself.
  (And disregard what your colleagues might say!)

• slim cat replied 3 years ago

  If it makes you happy, if it lightens your mood, it you love wearing it even for a short time - consider keeping it. We need some fun things in life ( the jacket does look smashing on you, especially with sleeves pushed up  ;) ).

• bella replied 3 years ago

  My concern is that if you truly have no occasion to wear it in the next year or so, will you still be happy to wear it in a year? Will it still make your heart sing then or will it be a waste of money? For my part, I cannot usually predict that ahead of time, so I would pass. 

• bella replied 3 years ago

  And if you decide to keep, the sleeve length will need to be adjusted, which given that the jacket looks lined could be somewhat expensive. Also, I cannot judge the sleeve width, are they a bit too wide for you?

• Minaminu replied 3 years ago

  CocoLion, I wouldn't worry too much about the unworn pieces for now. The last 6 months have been an exceptional time and hopefully you'll be able to wear the unworn pieces at fab occasions sometimes soon!

• Runcarla replied 3 years ago

  This is a maximal jacket.  Colour, pattern, texture, and shine.  It screams S/S (apple blossom, cherry blossom season.) I would style it with a pink or white T and white jeans, or a white T and super faded pale blue jeans, and sneakers.  Also, a cerise dress - sheath, or flowing midi.  Wear open, and scrunch the sleeves (like #4).  Maybe a crisp white button down and the dark wash skinny’s (I think that is what you are wearing (?) in your pics.). That said, the jacket looks to be too big, or at least the sleeves are overlong.

  
  
  It seems a departure from your regular style, though the colour (pink) is in your wheelhouse.  Is it indicative of a new direction you want to pursue?  I would vote to ‘return’,but I would put some thought into identifying what it is about the piece that you love so much and explore that some more.
  

  
  

  
  

• gryffin replied 3 years ago

  Cocolion - I apologize I have not read any of the comments.  But I just had to say spectacular!!  Run around the block howing in agony spectacular!  I would chew off an arm (ok maybe just a finger because losing an arm would ruin the line of a blazer) for a jacket that looked so amazing.  There are few items that could transition better from casual to formal than this.  Add distressed jeans, scrunch the sleeves and you are the best dressed for a market or coffee run.  Add velvet pants or lace skirt and you are black tie ready.  Leather pants a great bootie and you are swinging on the edge.  You've got to love blazers and feel comfortable in the style, but it looks amazing on you and the potential for versatility of wear is very high IMHO.  I'm one of those people who needs to feel covered for all ocassions and this is the mother of all blazers to do that.  I'd be hard pressed to pack that baby back up.  Anyway, that's my 2 cents FWIW!!  You look fab!!

• Star replied 3 years ago

  Wise observations Runcarla!  Good idea to identify what it is you love about it and maybe find that in a piece that will get more wear.  Gorgeous but the sleeves are a bit too long.  

• Janet replied 3 years ago

  Great to see you, Denise!

  Ok, I said “wow” when I looked at the pics. I think it’s stunning and you look great in it. This is a weird year for purchases like that, but hey, I bought a crazy blue sequin blazer back in February (I think?) that still has tags on because who knows when I’ll ever get to wear it? Fortunately it was deeply discounted.

  I think this is the kind of thing that has to be considered in the context of your wardrobe, and how much do you love it? It’s a wild card. I have some wild card pieces like this that may only get worn a couple of times a year, but they’re not the kind of item that looks dated after a couple of years, they’re more signature to me and my style, and I look forward to having — or making — occasions to wear them. So I think this blazer is really an emotional check. How do you feel in it? Can you not wait to wear it? Does it add something that doesn’t otherwise exist in your closet?

  I hope you keep it but I have a sugar eye for good paisley, and I think this looks terrific on you. If it were a shorter, more fitted style it wouldn’t feel right, but this really suits you and looks like it would be great to dress down with faded jeans and a tee too.

• Bijou replied 3 years ago

  I have to echo others on how good this looks on you. However, if it is not your style, may cause those with whom you are likely to wear it around give you snarky comments, languish unworn in your closet, then I am a no vote.

  I 100% agree with Brooklyn that it is perfectly acceptable to have rarely worn items in your wardrobe because you love them and feel amazing when wearing or using them. I am like this with my formal wear. But, you really have to love the item for it to deserve that special wardrobe status. I love the styling option Gryffin has recommended to make it versatile. The question is, would you want to wear it?

• Murph11 replied 3 years ago

  Keep it and wear it to grab coffee! I’d cross the street to tell you how fabulous you look (keeping my distance, of course)

• unfrumped replied 3 years ago

  I’m not sure( not that I Kant, anyway!), but I can so relate.
  Pandemic or not, I do some buying for imaginary lifestyle and that ends up bloating wardrobe.
  Also I relay to how luscious colors make me feel so good tgst I might buy something because of how it looks in the mirror, but then not end up spending much time outside of the house in it!
  The blazer is beautiful but is a tad roomy and need sleeve alterations. Tgat is not a dealbreaker for a goo item, though.
  But for me the shiny part would be limiting- I would find if far to make it a daytime piece. Don’t know if that is the same for you. Though yes it goes with denim, dress pants, different shoes. Whereas some other fabrications, even in bright colors or prints, I might be able to do the daytime-to-dinner dress up.

  My most similar situation right now is that I live blazers and have been buying some in pandemic despite being retired and having no social events! So the test I’m trying to use criteria have been that they can be worn on routine errands and go with a lot of wardrobe items and are easy enough to toss on that I could see myself reaching for them as an easy topper and u could change things up by what I wear with them.
  But that is not the same as a fabulous special occasion piece!

• DonnaF replied 3 years ago

  Oh, wow. For this jacket, it’s worth making occasions — which will have to be down the road. I can’t imagine the opera actually disappearing. Maybe a future cruise with your SO in memory of your mom? Hold a Chadwick Bozeman tribute party? That man had the most amazing collection of blazers. Sit in your restaurant incognito with dark glasses so tourists who wander in can wonder about the identity of the celebrity before their eyes. Hard decision in the context of life these days and how we see the future.

• unfrumped replied 3 years ago

  Chiming in again because of my own pat and current experiences with “special“ wardrobe items and some of the very good comments by others.

  It seems to me there are a group of related, but not exactly the same, types of clothing purchase. decisions. One is a “ spendy “ type buy on an item that’s smack- on for lifestyle- perfejesns for jeans- wearers, brilliant handbag, long- lived trench coat, blazer that goes with everything best boots ever- these wouldn’t have to be neutral or conservative but definitely lifestyle mainstays but a big budget commitment. Another is, “ this is the perfect LBD ( or little navy dress, or little burgundy dress) I’d wear once or twice a year and feel perfectly dressed. Bother is statement item that can’t be worn often but you know you have at least some occasions post- pandemic - “ this is what I’d wear out to dinner, to movies, theater”. Cost fits into all of course, not just a CPU, but what else has to be not- bought and is that ok and whether having something hanging and seldom- worn feels ok, good, “ secure” vs. a reproach.

  I know these are all things I’ve thought about in pandemic- retirement- finding new directions life.

• CocoLion replied 3 years ago

  Thank you for the comments, I am still undecided about the jacket because of imaginary lifestyle issues.  Plus the tailoring it will require, although I could wear the sleeves scrunched.  There are no tailors in my county any more although I could try harder to find someone on CraigsList or drive a couple hours to find one.

  I do appreciate the styling suggestions from so many of you!  Especially to wear lighter denim rather than dark.  These are Rag & Bone ankle Ninas which I was trying on for size.  I am confident I'm keeping them but not sure what size yet.

  PS -- The jacket looks beautiful in motion.

  PPS - It is on sale at 60% off at $238 which is about what it seems worth.  It's from the brand Cinq a Sept which specializes in cocktail attire.  This is my first time with this brand.

• UmmLila (Lisa) replied 3 years ago

  I think it's beautiful. The colors are great on you. And at that price, too!

  I'm all about imaginary lifestyles: Be the tree falling in the woods on its own with no-one there to see it, if it makes you happy.

• Angie replied 3 years ago

  Denise, the blazer looks ABSOLUTELY KILLER. You have been through soooo much this year. This makes you happy - keep it. Treat yourself!

  We don't need to be practical all the time. You will wear it. It shan't date. Doggies and Dan will admire it too :)

• MsMary replied 3 years ago

  OMG YOU SUPER NEED IT!! Srsly it was made for you.

  TREAT YOSELF!!!

• DonnaF replied 3 years ago

  Okay, at that price keep it assuming it is reasonably well made. And wear it while watching online opera or at least Hamilton. But you can wear jeans in the bottom.

• Helena replied 3 years ago

  I think it is ABSOLUTELY stunning on you tbh. If you think you would wear it - even if only for special occasions - and the financial math works for you, then I am supportive of you keeping it!

  In fact, I think you should wear it to work just to annoy your employee! :D

• MsMary replied 3 years ago

  Coming back to say that if you don't buy it, at some point in the future you will have the exact perfect occasion for it, and you will kick yourself for passing it by...

  Just sayin.

• Janet replied 3 years ago

  MsMary, LOL at TREAT YOSELF! My stepson’s wife’s favorite phrase. Along with YAAAAS. :-D

  I think that is a goos price for such a gorgeous jacket too. I know that sale prices are not a sole reason for a purchase, but it sure does help when it’s as fabulous as this jacket.

• RobinF replied 3 years ago

  I love it! Can you picture wearing it during a "normal" year? You might be surprised at the chances to wear it.

• DonnaF replied 3 years ago

  What does your SO think of the jacket? You absolutely do not need his approval, but if he hates the jacket you will probably be less apt to wear it, at least when you are together.

• Echo replied 3 years ago

  Wow. This is a fabulous jacket, really lovely. And while the pattern and colors make it spring-like, the fabric would take it through fall and winter, too. It is just gorgeous and the fit is fantastic, too. I know how terrible it is to buy something that gets almost no wear, but I think I'd make an occasion to wear this jacket!

• lyn67 replied 3 years ago

  Great to see you, Coco!:-) Who cares what people say??? (I know, I know...I also care some...but not that much anymore...:-)). Love your last look(I always scrunch sleeves on blazers!) for a dressy Xmass or other event & you could  try it with some white jeans, too! Then you have to love it dearly to keep it in your closet for so long and wear so seldomly.

• replied 3 years ago

  Looks great on you! BC19 though, is this something you wouldv'e worn enough to justify buying? Or- would you feel that since it's a statement that you wouldn't want to wear it too often? And, does it work for your climate/ feel comfortable to layer a coat over?

• Suz replied 3 years ago

  I am late and I haven't read what everyone has said, but I am hoping you hang onto this because it is SUCH a glorious mood lifter, looks spectacular, will never date, and will always make you happy. Please keep! You look beautiful in it. Honestly. And it also feels so "you." I remember some early photos (I mean when I first joined the forum) and I think you had a glam velvet jacket with paisley...I might be wrong but I know the pattern speaks to you and works well in your closet. Please keep! 

• Gaylene replied 3 years ago

  I rarely comment on these types of “should I buy it” threads because I don’t like being an enabler BUT I’m making an exception here, Denise.  BUY IT!  

  
  
  Like MsMary and Suz point out, this jacket fits your style like the proverbial glove. Scrunch the sleeves if you can’t get to the tailor—or roll up cuff if you’re feeling insouciant—and wear the jacket knowing you are the rare woman who can own this look!

• DJP replied 3 years ago

  Please buy it....you look truly amazing and the price is right. 

  Last minute shopping for a special occasion is just so dreadful, often we end up settling for something that is just OK. Think how happy you will be when you just open your closet and slip into your beautiful jacket. 
  

• merwoman replied 3 years ago

  Yes!

• replied 3 years ago

  The thumbnail caught my eye when scrolling to the end of the home page....sorry I missed the post when it happened. This is an outstanding jacket, and enhances your natural prettiness. Who knows when and where one would wear it, but ...
  And - I don't know how you do your outfit selfies and with what equipment, but I'm in envy of your skill . The blank slate of the bedroom you are in (?) is beautiful itself.

• viva replied 3 years ago

  Just chiming in here to add my voice to the chorus: I hope you keep! it's beautiful on you, and beauty is so important these days.

  Also, what color are the walls in your bedroom? They remind me of the kitchen in my old house (painted a color called Plantain). I adore it. (And it's amazing with that jacket!)

• Preppy Pear replied 3 years ago

  So late to this party, but unless you think you would never wear it, I’d go for it if it makes your heart sing! Looking at you in it makes my heart sing...I like Rachylou’s comments especially.

• Firecracker (Sharan) replied 3 years ago

  I love it how you are wearing it in this try-on, especially open, where we see the long line of the jeans. Such a gorgeous jacket on you! What a hard decision. Lots of great comments here. From the start, I was leaning "keep." You wouldn't need to shorten the sleeves before wearing it; they look great scrunched and rolled.