Sveta's Blog

Ask Angie et al: K/R this utility vest?

January 9, 2015

I have no utility clothing in my wardrobe and was never really attracted to them for my style. However when I spotted this coated military vest on BR website somehow it attracted me enough to order it.
It came today and I am surprised myself how much I like it. The color is a dark navy bordering on ink, there is some crinkle texture to it as well so it is not flat. It also has a hidden tie so you can change the style from loose (like in my pictures) to waist defined (like in the stock picture).
I have never had coated clothing before so I was not sure if I like it but I do. It does not have that plastic feel to it I was afraid of. The inside is indigo cotton so nice to the skin. Flap pockets on the chest do not bother me as I have no chest to speak of and they even add some substance there :-)
And at last (but not the least at all)  - the length, the length!
What I am not sure about is how it will fit into my style. Did I tell you I have never had utility and military clothing at all? Is it too casual for me? Does it fit the Urban Prince persona (I hope I still live in that domain)?
Even on sale it was not very cheap (for me anyway) so I would not want to get an orphan. Is this my first wild card of 2015 or am I losing my sanity here?

pics 1-3 - open, pics 4-6 - closed.

And if the verdict is to keep - what about the size? Is this the right size for me or should I size up to Large?
Thanks in advance for your help!

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Posted in the Shopping category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

23 Comments

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Well! Look at that!! I really like it, and feel some of the same surprise that you seem to feel. I like the way you have styled it just so! I am not sure how it will look or feel over a knit, but that is another option of course. Particularly a turtleneck. 

    It feels like a nice blend...you have always been able to wear denim jackets easily and this is dressier than that. It is also extremely cross seasonal from what I can tell, so quite practical, although it is not going to keep you warm, obviously. 

    I don't think you need to size up in it. You probably would not wear it closed anyway, right? Although it looks good that way to my eye with the stand collar. 

    One question -- will it wrinkle a lot? That might be annoying if it happens. 

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    I really like it and am not a utility jacket person usually. I like the fit and don't think that you need to size up. This looks like a year round piece. I can see it over a sleeveless top or tank for summer to add some style. Have you tried it with a skirt or dress ?

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Suz, he-he. Why it does not surprise me that you feel the same...:-)
    I also thought about a parallel with a denim jacket. Looks like yours with coated sleeves worked well for you - that what I was thinking.
    I does wrinkle a bit if I squeeze it very hard but seems to recover - and anyway the texture is kind of already crinkled so it is not really noticeable.
    And yes, it does not add a lot of warmth but still warmer than without it :-)

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Joy, I have to played with it yet - did not have time. I want to try it with my patterned dress, I think it may work well - I like it with the dress in the stock picture.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    I like what Joy says about using it in summer. Although in frigid air con that is maybe not an option. 

    My denim jacket has actual leather sleeves. I think Angie has a version with the coated sleeves. I really love mine -- the leather is super soft. I only wear it in the fall/ winter months, though, for some reason. 

    In some ways a coated vest might be better and more comfortable than a coated jacket. I did have a (very cheap H&M) moto jacket briefly, and did not like the way the sleeves felt on it. I think I might have liked it better as a vest. 

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    At first glance it looked like it was leather. I love the texture and how it looks on you. From that perspective is say it was a keeper:)

  • Elly replied 9 years ago

    I really like it on the model-- I don't know if I like the "crinkle" effect and I don't know if it will stay like that or release over time.

  • CocoLion replied 9 years ago

    I like it on you a lot.  This size looks more fitted; the size up will be more oversized and possibly a touch longer.  I think the size depends on how you want to wear it and your plans for outer layers.

  • catgirl replied 9 years ago

    I'm going to be a spanner - I don't know about the material and fit. It looks a little plasticky to my eye. I think it suits your height though. I want to love it because it's a UTILITY VEST!

  • Inge replied 9 years ago

    I love it, Sveta: the colour, the fit, the coated material, the crinkled effect. And I already see it fit into your style, the way you styled it here is beautiful. I can also see it with culottes, pencil skirt, dresses, jeans, dressy trackpants...
    It looks modern, interesting - with a touch of avant-garde - and very elegant at the same time.

    P.S. I really like it closed too.

  • crutcher replied 9 years ago

    I am the Queen of Loving Vests and I so wanted to be excited over this one but I second what AG said..Maybe it is the light but this one looks cheap to me...Sorry for being a spammer...I have a Leith vest I found at NOrdies and I absolutely love it..It is a utility vest and let me tell you I get stopped everytime I wear it...My absolute all time favorite vest...If for any reason this one doesn't work, keep looking...These little sweeties are just so versatile..

  • lyn67 replied 9 years ago

    Real gem, esp the length! I would keep it for sure. It's a great texture, color, and versatile for all season's!  The dark neutral color, and the shiny coating makes it dressier than the common (olive) utility ones, so will fit for a smart casual office wear AND travelling, too:-).

  • replied 9 years ago

    I like everything about it, Sveta. Especially how it looks on you!  I think it could be a very useful piece, and because of the fabric and colour, could skew dressier on occasion (like with your dress, as you mentioned).  Length and size look perfect to me.

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    Oh, so good to see this!  I've had it sitting in my shopping cart for a bit, trying to be less impulsive on hitting the buy button - plus waiting for a 40% off sale :).  I've been lusting after the olive ones for a while, but olive isn't a colour I wear.  Finding one in one of MY colours is a treat.  So it's great to see it modeled on you.  I love it for you, and think this size is perfect.

    Is the fabric photographing shinier than it is?  Or would you say it's pretty accurate?  I was wondering.

  • texstyle replied 9 years ago

    I think I'm undecided - I like it better with low contrast I think - so seeing it with your dress would help a lot. I might try it over some other items with less contrast too (just a personal thought). I'd love to see it in a summer outfit rendition too - like over a sleeveless tank with shorts or jeans...and dark sandals.

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Thumbs up. Looks great. A wild card. Why not. Enjoy. xo

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Thank you all for your help.
    This morning the vest did not look as wrinkled - I think it was mostly from the packaging. It can also be ironed from the inside - I may try to do it to see how it looks.
    It has a slight sheen  - like leather - but not too mush so. Interestingly I don't feel it as being plastic-y. If you remember Suz I could not stand that plastic feel of Mural bomber and that cool faux leather vest during last year NAS even though I really liked the styles on me. I am pretty sensitive to this cheap faux leather feel but I don't get it here at all.
    I am going to mull it over and play with it in my closet before I decide. My Trouve long gilet showed me how useful a longer vest is for my wardrobe so I need to decide if this one is as useful.
    On the downside: I was supposed to fill holes in my business wear and dance wear capsules this year and this vest is neither. Bad girl Sveta, bad girl!!!

  • rae replied 9 years ago

    I really do love it. Bad to the bone. ;)

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    I hereby challenge you to come up with a dancewear outfit that includes the vest. If you can do that, you can keep. :) 

    (No...you can keep it anyway....)

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    Sveta, I've been wondering what you decided to do with this vest...l

  • Karie replied 9 years ago

    I like it! I like the texture - in the photos it looks like leather. Such a fun piece!

  • Sveta replied 9 years ago

    Elizabeth - kept it! Love it! :-)
    The wrinkles iron quite well through the cloth on a low setting.

  • Tanya replied 9 years ago

    So glad you kept it.  I am swooning over it.  Can't wait to see it in action!

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