…… such as the brown velvet jacket, retrieved from deep in my wardrobe archives. It’s like discovering treasure, or wads of money in a forgotten pocket! Over the past 20 or so years, it has been worn minimally, probably due to the outdated look of the high, square shoulder. I hung on to it because I love the materials and general autumn-ish look — but could not look past the big-ish shoulders.
Why retrieve it and why now? Because while it hung for many years, forlornly, along with some other things I couldn’t let go of, my eye slowly got accustomed to the higher shoulders trending again in 2026, and I found new love for this jacket. Enough love to wear it in the autumn and winter of 2026. Isn’t it funny how the same obsolete thing begins to look really good a few years down the road? Just proves that fashion is mostly cyclic.
The details:
The original inspiration was a jacket pictured in a magazine editorial in the exact same brown velvet and satin collar and lapels. Something clicked, and before i knew it, I had copied that magazine picture to the best of my ability. All materials were already in my stash at the time.
The fabrics used are 100% cotton velvet, printed silk habutai lining, rayon satin lapels and covered buttons.
It is simply tailored and not quite haute couture. Do bound buttonholes count as haute couture? Buttons are covered in the same rayon satin as the collar and lapels. But, I think a change of buttons in 2026 might be a good idea.
Kapow. The lining (below) is a “shock and awe” element which should not be hidden. But it is.
The Simplicity pattern cannot be located; it must have gone to recycled paper heaven.
What should I have done differently, if anything? Maybe made the under pinnings of the lapels a tad more substantial to tally with the visual weight of the velvet. My memory is not cooperating regarding the interfacing used in the collar and lapels. Oh well. I’m now mulling over how to wear it. An informal styling option is appealing to me, thereby reducing the formality inherent in the formal classic lines of a tailored jacket.
Guys, how about some input on styling it, so it looks put together but effortless? Comment away.
Samina
I love the lining! And IMHO bound buttonholes on velvet qualifies as couture. Velvet is not the easiest to work with in the best of circumstances, let alone something so small and fiddly as bound buttonholes. Isn’t there also usually a pleat or fold to allow for movement in the arm as well?
I agree the buttons need…something. Perhaps wear it with something slightly less casual than jeans, or over a fun print dress? Long skinny scarf under the collar? A large not-serious pin or necklace?
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The sleeve might accommodate a vertical pleat but usually (that I have seen) the slack at the sleeve hem lining, also called a “jump hem” is sufficient for movement purposes. You’ve given me a prompt for a future blog post — thank you!!
I love all your ideas for styling it, especially the long skinny scarf. Will try all of them 🙂 .
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I would like similar inspiration for blazers now that I’m retired. Can they become vests or something casual now that I’m retired?
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Yes, Jean, they can become vests! I once removed the sleeves of my navy blazer (which I had lovingly made in my first tailoring class). I loved that blazer but got so much more use out of it once it became a vest.
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Everything old is new again. Too bad that doesn’t work for us as well.
If we just hang onto everything we made, it will come back in style. Just don’t go full 80s with the shoulder pads.
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