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Ridiculously cold-blooded and located in an air conditioned office most of the time; I put a lot of effort into building my outfits in layers. Unless it’s a hot summer, or the air conditioner is broken, my look needs to work with some kind of cover up.
This is not actually as easy as it sounds, especially in the evenings. My obsession with finding Mr. Right Jacket has continued over the years, with various options cast aside with the change of seasons and trends.
What am I looking for?
Well, what I’m not looking for is more of the deal breaker.
Overly pronounced shoulders, too many buttons and bulky fabrics, all hit the off-switch. Tricky colours which won’t go with everything, “dry clean only” labels and an overtly dominant on-trend-right-now design, also won’t win me over. Let’s not even get started on pockets, or those utterly useless faux-pockets, which just add bulk to your silhouette with no utility.
So when I spotted the new collection from South African designer Selfi at this year’s Design Indaba - my hopes rose slightly, at the sight of an interesting collarless jacket with folded lapels.
Tailoring
Neatly tailored but not overly structured, the fuss-free design has a practical versatility to it. Simplicity is not something that designers always consider, and yet it is an essential credit when considering an item to add to your wardrobe.
When thinking through a potential jacket’s wear-ability, you need to see it with the other key pieces in your wardrobe: a dress, a skirt, jeans and trousers. If the piece you are considering could work with any of these options then it’s a keeper. Case in point, my new favourite jacket from Selfi, has that slightly cropped shape, which looks great with both cocktail dresses and jeans.
Colour
When it comes to colour, think carefully about your finances. Can you afford to buy just one new jacket this season, or perhaps you can splurge on a few?
If you’re on the lean side of flush, choose a colour which will go with most other colours in your wardrobe. Black, tan or winter white are the most versatile, but if you’re feeling adventurous – royal blue and burnt orange are the season’s colour trends.
Last but not least, pay keen attention to the construction and fabrication of the item you’re planning to purchase. The durability, weight and quality of the material will have a massive impact on the visual appeal of a garment as well as how long it will last.
Good craftsmanship and a secure lining may add extra digits onto the price tag, but wear-for-wear, that will pay off. Alternatively, a clever designer can make something affordable appear equally impressive – it's all in the choice of material, and consideration in stitching it together.
So once you’ve fallen in love and made the decision to commit, own that jacket as part of your individual style.
This year, girls have fashion’s full blessing to dress like boys – so don’t be shy to wear the pants, bow-tie and brogues. Vintage ladies are loving the '40s trend, a structured dress and a shawl collared jacket encapsulate the look with ease.
The Selfi jacket is available in black & royal blue, from 36boutiques. Alexis Chaffe is the fashion editor of 36magazine – 36boutiques monthly online magazine.
Follow Women24 on Twitter.
This is not actually as easy as it sounds, especially in the evenings. My obsession with finding Mr. Right Jacket has continued over the years, with various options cast aside with the change of seasons and trends.
What am I looking for?
Well, what I’m not looking for is more of the deal breaker.
Overly pronounced shoulders, too many buttons and bulky fabrics, all hit the off-switch. Tricky colours which won’t go with everything, “dry clean only” labels and an overtly dominant on-trend-right-now design, also won’t win me over. Let’s not even get started on pockets, or those utterly useless faux-pockets, which just add bulk to your silhouette with no utility.
So when I spotted the new collection from South African designer Selfi at this year’s Design Indaba - my hopes rose slightly, at the sight of an interesting collarless jacket with folded lapels.
Tailoring
Neatly tailored but not overly structured, the fuss-free design has a practical versatility to it. Simplicity is not something that designers always consider, and yet it is an essential credit when considering an item to add to your wardrobe.
When thinking through a potential jacket’s wear-ability, you need to see it with the other key pieces in your wardrobe: a dress, a skirt, jeans and trousers. If the piece you are considering could work with any of these options then it’s a keeper. Case in point, my new favourite jacket from Selfi, has that slightly cropped shape, which looks great with both cocktail dresses and jeans.
Colour
When it comes to colour, think carefully about your finances. Can you afford to buy just one new jacket this season, or perhaps you can splurge on a few?
If you’re on the lean side of flush, choose a colour which will go with most other colours in your wardrobe. Black, tan or winter white are the most versatile, but if you’re feeling adventurous – royal blue and burnt orange are the season’s colour trends.
Last but not least, pay keen attention to the construction and fabrication of the item you’re planning to purchase. The durability, weight and quality of the material will have a massive impact on the visual appeal of a garment as well as how long it will last.
Good craftsmanship and a secure lining may add extra digits onto the price tag, but wear-for-wear, that will pay off. Alternatively, a clever designer can make something affordable appear equally impressive – it's all in the choice of material, and consideration in stitching it together.
So once you’ve fallen in love and made the decision to commit, own that jacket as part of your individual style.
This year, girls have fashion’s full blessing to dress like boys – so don’t be shy to wear the pants, bow-tie and brogues. Vintage ladies are loving the '40s trend, a structured dress and a shawl collared jacket encapsulate the look with ease.
The Selfi jacket is available in black & royal blue, from 36boutiques. Alexis Chaffe is the fashion editor of 36magazine – 36boutiques monthly online magazine.
Follow Women24 on Twitter.
