What To Wear When You're Bored of Your Oversized Blazer
Plus some preloved jacket inspo
Looking at my closet I clearly love a jacket, which has come in handy since we’ve been in a perennial blazer season for the last four years. My current rotation is feeling a bit stale and I’m reaching less for my ultra-oversized blazers that came out of the comfort dressing days of the early pandemic and more for jackets with a cropped, boxy silhouette.
But what I’m most excited about is the curved jacket silhouette that’s been on my radar for the past year. As Liana Satenstein writes, the cinched waist is rising from the need to step away from the onslaught of microtrends, creating a sense of control and purpose. I first noticed this as oversized blazers being cinched in with belts (love how
is doing it here - her styling is No Buy 365 goals) and now it’s emerging as a true sculpted silhouette.Vogue predicted last fall that the cinched jacket could be the next iteration of the oversized blazer, which echoes the changes we’re seeing in denim as a wider leg is giving way to a barrel shape. The barrel leg is a polarizing love it or hate it (I love it) and it’s been fascinating to see the discourse around it. I just read The Cut’s Yes, Barrel-Leg Jeans Are Universally Flattering post and thought everyone looked so chic, but couldn’t stop laughing at the comment section (“did a pair of barrel jeans write this”, “seems like something a barrel leg pair of jeans would say”).
Personally, I’ve been window shopping the Frankie Shop Colette Hourglass Blazer for the past couple of years and watched it on a loop of selling out, going to waitlist, and getting replenished multiple times before being offered in two new colorways. From my ex-buyer perspective, it’s a clear sign that we’re ready for something different and it’s especially interesting coming from a brand that popularized the oversized jacket aesthetic.
The Jackets On My Wishlist
By now you probably know that I have a slight obsession with The RealReal…although in brand terms I like to think of myself as a loyal customer. I’m always adding to my wishlist and looking back at my past six months of TRR hearts, it’s been mostly cropped and cinched jackets. I’ve had these jackets in a holding pattern while I’m being more intentional about what I buy and some have sold out because I rolled the dice and waited too long (Colette Blazer), but some of these jackets are still up for grabs for anyone who’s looking to refresh their wardrobe.
My Favorite Jackets That Aren’t Oversized
While I still love an oversized blazer and don’t plan to stop wearing mine anytime soon, I’ve felt more excited to put on something that’s cropped, cinched, or has an interesting detail. Sharing a few of my favorite jackets below that have been my most-worn pieces lately (all secondhand) and some similar preloved styles on TRR that can be yours.
#1: The Fringe Jacket
#2: The Cropped Jacket
#3: The Cinched Jacket
Side Note: Why Are So Many Jackets Made From Synthetic Fabrics?
The plastic in our clothing keeps rising with synthetic materials making up 69% of textile production today and this is projected to reach 73% by 2030. Why? Because oil-based fabrics are substantially less expensive, with polyester at half the cost of cotton. Fast fashion is a huge driver of synthetics with almost 70% of their apparel made up of materials like polyester, nylon, and acrylic. You may have also noticed luxury brands with synthetics creep into their assortments as they produce more collections each year. Not only that, but companies are backsliding on past initiatives: the Changing Markets Foundation Plastic report found that four brands with pledges to decrease their synthetic production in 2022 have actually increased their volume over the past two years.
There’s hope that next-gen plant-based materials can eventually replace synthetics, but it’s off to a slow start since many fashion brands are unwilling to invest in the infrastructure and cost associated with these new materials. It’s already led one key textile startup to file for bankruptcy in February and get acquired in June, changing its name from Renewcell to Circulose in the process. These companies are now shifting towards the furniture and automotive industries to gain traction in the meantime. Until plant-based fabrics become mainstream, I’m planning to buy the bulk of my synthetics secondhand.
So what can you do about it?
Reduce or eliminate firsthand fast fashion purchases since they’re primarily made of synthetics
Buy clothing made out of natural fibers and mono materials, which are easier to recycle than clothing made out of textile blends
Shop secondhand first to help keep the clothing that’s already in existence in rotation longer
Contact your favorite brands to ask them to reduce their plastic production
Thanks for reading and let me know if you have any questions or tips for shopping secondhand jackets in the comments. See you next week!
Thanks for the lovely mention Tina x