I know it’s summer but Anthropologie already wants us to think about jackets and blazers. Perhaps you work in an office with full-blast air conditioning or maybe the climate you live in is a little bit cooler. Maybe you need something to keep the chill off. Or maybe you’re in the Southern hemisphere. Whatever the reason I’ve given in and picked out several options for this reviews set.
Here’s a shot from the back. The crochet is obviously see-through but a nice feminine detail which I appreciate. This jacket is pretty much sold through in regular sizes online yet I’m holding out for sale anyway. If you’re looking for some outfit ideas for the Openwork Army Jacket ($148) Melina from The Caffeinated Closet recently posted two wonderful OOTDs featuring it here and here.
The top underneath the jacket is the Ruffled Racerback ($78) which I reviewed in this post. You can also check out an OOTD on my tumblr.
I love jacket that have a funnelneck collar that can be opened up, portrait-style. Anthropologie comes out with at least one of these jackets each year it seems. Last year it was the Scarborough Jacket (jog your memory here) and this year it’s the Double Back Jacket ($148). This double-buttoned down jacket wants to be a trench but isn’t waterproof. It wouldn’t matter anyway because the back is a double-tulip layer of mesh. I can’t help but think of moths for some reason, whether it’s because the mesh reminds me of those moth lanterns people use to zap bugs on their deck or if it’s just straight up due to Arthur from The Tick. Spoon! (I know it’s not the first time I’ve mentioned this either. Was someone at Anthropologie an active Fox TV Kids watcher like I was in the 90s?)
Whatever the reason what’s most important is that this jacket is great. Practical? Perhaps not. But modern and fun with that little Anthro twist. The buttons are time-consuming. I’d hoped to slip the jacket on pullover style but that wasn’t happening. As you can see I gave up about midway for the review photos. I am not a big fan of the half-cuffs on this jacket; I wish they were longer. But otherwise I like it quite a lot, and the only thing that stopped me from buying it immediately was the temperature outside.
How does the jacket look from the back?
Something like this. The panels don’t even fully cover your back. I do like the look however and Anthropologie’s interpretation of the trend is much less expensive then the designer versions I lust after. I expect this one to end up in my closet soon. I’m happy I chose the khaki version of the Scarborough over the beige last year, because it leaves room in my wardrobe for this jacket. For now: wishlisted!
The shirt underneath is the Trina Slub Pullover (now $40), which I reviewed in this post.
★★★☆☆
The Striped Spinnaker Blazer ($98) was both a victory and a defeat for me. Primarily a win though. I keep thinking striped blazers are dunzo only to see cute new versions continue to roll out. Anthropologie has been down this road before with the Hello Sunday Blazer from 2010 (reviewed here). This time around the blazer is a cropped silhouette with thinner stripes and collar set on the bias. The sleeves are set to almost match the body — good effort, Anthro.
I am usually a 10 in blazers and that’s what I took here. I found the sleeves to be roomy, especially at the elbow. The blazer didn’t strain over my bust which was nice but there’s no denying that the button placement is tough for me. It nips the waist perfectly but sits right under my chest, and it felt a little uncomfortable. But while I didn’t love the blazer when closed…
…it totally rocks when left open. It emphasizes my waist perfectly and flatters my shape nicely. I do wish this blazer came in a solid rather than stripes but I see the potential here. Wishlisted!
The shirt underneath is the Trina Slub Pullover (now $40), which I reviewed in this post.
I can’t say that I’ve been searching for a lace bomber jacket, but when I saw the Soutache Lace Bomber Jacket (now $90) I was intrigued. The familiar floral lacework (also seen in black on the Dilated Lace Skirt ($148, reviewed here)) spreads like a vine around a base of navy cotton. But unlike the Dilated Lace the Soutache Lace Bomber has no lining under the floral making this less of a jacket and more of a solarium for your shoulders and arms. Could you imagine the tan lines from this jacket? The mental image is not pretty. A front zip is classic bomber styling.
I tried my usual size 10. The jacket is very narrow at the bottom and didn’t want to cover my hips. The sleeves are very roomy and billow around the upper arms. Overall the shape is really boxy. Here’s why that boxiness works on the Openwork Army Jacket from the top of the post and not here: length. The Soutache Lace Bomber is a good two or three inches shorter, so the result of the boxiness is that I feel wider. Not the look I’m going for. This jacket is certainly a pass.
The top underneath is the Urubamba Tank ($78) in neutral motif. I reviewed the red version of the tank in this post.
This blazer has a nice lean, tailored shape. The arms and shoulders are cut close so if you’re broad across the back I recommend you size up. A dainty coin pocket in front has a contrast brown trim that I love, and the jacket is paneled to nip in nicely at the waist. For people like me with larger chests the narrow but deep v-neck opening in front is incredibly flattering. The two front buttons allow for a better fit across my tummy. I’m so happy to see a piece like this at Anthropologie! The attention paid to the design and fit details is exactly what I’ve missed.
The only bummer for me is again the dots. They’re very intense white off a dark navy. Maybe if they were only on parts of the blazer I’d like it better. Fitwise I found a 10 to be impeccable. I am not-so-secretly hoping this jacket comes out in a second solid variation. (Maybe tweed?)