A Little Experimentation
After I posted yesterday about that fantastic Anthropologie coat, I started thinking more about my own vintage coat collection, which has been sorely neglected for over a year now. [Pause. Indulge in small pity party. Okay, moving on.]
I actually have a black wool vintage coat that's incredibly similar to the Anthropolgie coat and I've worn it once. (I have refused to part with if only because of its amazing collar and buttons [above].) It always has had so much promise, but every time I went to put it on, I felt like unattractive, enormous bear. Or something else that's big and cumbersome. On the hanger, it looked retro-chic. On me, it looked awkward.
But then I was looking at the Antropologie coat yesterday and thought, "maybe all I need is to crop the sleeves!" And so, some test photos below. Now, in hindsight, yes, I wish the pictures were less blurry, and yes, I probably should have done a better (or at least more even) job when tucking up the sleeves. But I was in a hurry and the gist is there. Er, right? I'm actually really loving the cropped sleeve thing already; I think it really gives some balance to the volume of the coat. Now I just need a good tailor.
posted by ms. spinach at 10:35 AM
9 comments
9 Comments:
yeah. looks like you're wearing your father's overcoat in the first one. but the second one, very betsy!
Hmmm...so 3 ideas from my unqualified opinion--if you have a good tailor:
1) take out some length from the bottom as well as shorten the sleeves.
2) add some highlight silky piping around the collar (grey, icy blue, turqoise-y neutral color, slate, maybe a print?...maybe white? but white might make it a little sailor girlish?). The navy color doesn't allow for the play of light and shadow that gives the Anthro coat shape and definitition. This will help create a focal point and draw eyes to your face. (If you really want to invest in it and detail it out--line the interior with the same fabric as the piping.)
3)Perhaps add that 4th button. It will help the coat stay closed in the wind if you end up shortening the length and it no longer has the weight of the extra fabric to make it stay closed.
Just ideas from a detail obsessed architect.
Mwah!
wow, what a difference!
ooh yes! crop them!
it's a great coat to begin with, but you're right about the cropped sleeves balancing it out a bit.
now i want to go through my coats!
That is a super fantastic idea! I love the cropped sleeves, it definitely takes the coat to another level...great job
do the sleeves ... it's fabulous!
loved all of urbanistas recommendations. I have a navy vintage coat with cropped sleaves and red piping, and while it is quite salior girl, it works. I call it my Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band coat.
I love the 3/4 length look, but I've always been stumped by cropped sleeves! What do you would wear underneath -- something with short sleeves? Maybe I'm being too practical, but if it's cold enough to wear a wool coat, perhaps short sleeves are no longer appropriate??
P.S. Love dipping into your blog, every entry is totally charming! :-)
i had some cropping-practicality issues myself, but my cousin jill helpfully pointed out that cropped coat sleeves are ideal with very long gloves, and i have to agree with her!
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