Links

Home     About     Contact     Press     Yellow Skirt     SKETCHES

Tuesday 23 October 2018

How to wear a men's oversized jacket

Leaves' last hurrah. These beautiful autumnal colours are also, unfortunately, harbingers of the scourge of urban existence - the dreaded leaf blower. Rakes, rakes! More rakes, please - the kind with prongs, not wastrel womanizers.

Mel Kobayashi, men's oversized suit jacket, Bag and a Beret, autumn leaves

This oversized men's jacket is not a Marc Jacob's artful, oversized men's Power Suit $$$ for women, as sported by Lady Gaga recently, with much fanfare, at a Women in Hollywood event. No, this is simply an oversized men's jacket, a gift from a good friend.

Handmade in Italy from a cashmere/wool blend and luxurious silky-smooth lining, this jacket also boasts an impressive nine pockets cleverly concealed in the design. Pockets in pockets in pockets - it could be a Dr. Seuss book.

It's difficult enough trying to find things in a single handbag, so I can't imagine trying to remember where I put things in nine pockets.

Mel Kobayashi, men's oversized suit jacket, Bag and a Beret, autumn leaves

Leaves were wafting down all around me. So beautiful.

With the jacket I am wearing a luxury oversized men's tuxedo shirt - from the same kind friend - which I farked by adding a monster truck image on the front and other things you can't see here. And that's a men's vest snatched from O's wardrobe. Heh.

Mel Kobayashi, men's oversized suit jacket, Bag and a Beret, autumn leaves

The jeans I farked by adding the embroidered eyes on the knees. Then men's (maybe) cowboy-style booties. Of course there's the loupe O made me and his ring too, which is hidden by the super-long sleeves.

Mel Kobayashi, men's oversized suit jacket, Bag and a Beret, jeans

Dick, my tripod, worked diligently this morning. The first shoot was right in the middle of the sidewalk and I had to move my setup aside when people were coming. Thankfully, there was no fear of traffic at this woodsy location.

Mel Kobayashi, men's oversized suit jacket, Bag and a Beret

That's a huge honkin' maple leaf below. Canadian, eh? Except it's golden, not red like the one on our flag, which, incidentally, has recently been toppled from the apex of Canadian leaf royalty by another similarly-shaped leaf.

Mel Kobayashi, men's oversized suit jacket, Bag and a Beret, with maple leaf

And preparing for my fan dance using maples leaves instead of fans in true Canadian style. That'll be the day. Hahaha!!

Mel Kobayashi, men's oversized suit jacket, Bag and a Beret

I love this outfit. Any ill-fitting garment suddenly feels fitting for any occasion when it's made from luxurious fabric.

That's all this time. I'll link up to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style and Catherine's #iwillwearwhatilike at Not Dressed as Lamb.

Thanks for stopping by!!! We are all in seasons of change right now. I hope you are getting the fortifications needed to combat the storms that seem to be wreaking havoc on our barometric pressures on a daily basis. Hang on!


30 comments:

  1. Look out David Byrne! Melanie is the new frontsperson of Talking Heads. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, you stir my rock-star dreams, Vix. Hahaha!

      Delete
  2. woww, what a fabulously cool outfit, you totally rock this jacket and oversized style, so 80's and so fabulous!, love the pattern, love your jeans and boots, love that you look so elegant!
    Gorgeous!
    besos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I felt wonderfully slouchy-elegant in this. Nothing beats a good fabric and an '80s vibe. Besos!!

      Delete
  3. I saw that Talking Heads suit on Lady Gaga.

    Love the photo with the red leaves. So Vancouver. Now if you could just send me some of that beautiful pine scented mountain air I'd be right there with you.

    Those leaves are massive! I could totally see a fan dance happening with them. You might need to switch out your suit with some feather boas though.

    Knees with eyes. I think that Guillermo Del Toro would love that. Did I tell you that he was at the last Toronto Vintage Clothing show? The one I didn't go to? : ( . One of the other vendors is doing more costuming with him for his next feature film. Apparently she provided some of the pieces for The Shape of Water.

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to take some big whiffs of air today and think of you, Suzanne. But the construction noise kind of lowers the clean-living impact. The big leaves are what I first noticed when I moved here long ago. I felt like I had lived a stunted childhood until then.

      I can't believe you missed Guillermo Del Toro!!! Bummer!!! Auch, as Jamie would say. You could provide clothing for movies too, ya know. If you wanted to.

      Delete
  4. Oh yes, love the enormous jacket, paired with your jeans-that-have eyes! The falling leaves make me want to be there rightnow. You're looking fab as always, xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to love love love playing in leaves until Lyme disease became a thing. Hahaha. Thankfully I've seen some quieter leaf blowers this year too. Thanks, Patti.

      Delete
  5. I was thinking Talking Heads, but it seems I'm not the only one! I loved David Byrne in that suit, but this look suits you even better. Especially with the fans/leaves! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My dear friend donated this suit jacket to me. I couldn't believe - NINE pockets!! So deceptive. Thanks for your comment!

      Delete
  6. All of your scrambling to keep your tripod clear of sidewalk traffic was SO worth it Melanie! Those red leaded trees are spectacular! The yellow ones are gigundous!!

    Your suit is less than gigundus but groovy. Are those the classic evil eye(s) that offer protection is have you got leafy talismans in all those pockets?
    Love, Jude

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gigundous, thank you for that new wonderful word!
      There were on a couple times I had to make way for pedestrians. So tedious. Don't they know the sidewalk is my studio!!?? Hahaha. The jewel tones of the leaves are intoxicating.

      I don't know what the eyes are, all-seeing, all-knowing I suppose, warding off evil. The jacket was such a wonderful gift from a dear friend. I was going to fark it but decided to keep my hands off. It's already done. Thanks, Jude. xo

      Delete
  7. One of my pocket-less outfits wants to borrow a couple of the pockets from your jacket. I have some ginormous Canadian leaves to store for a future fan dance with my pal Mel. Here's the song I'm thinking:

    "Sisters...sisters... There were never such devoted sisters...."
    Skip to the best part....
    "Lord help the mister that come between me and my sister
    And Lord help the sister that come between me and my man!"

    We end on jazz hands, shaking our massive leaves before they dry up and crumble to the ground. This is where things get a little racy, depending on where we're doing our fan dance and for whom, and whether we have a 9-pocket, oversized jacket on under those giant leaves.

    Thanks for the giggles and the opportunity to play in another universe, Mel! Your posts are definitely a fortification against the storms wreaking havoc on my barometric pressures.

    Big Ol' Hugs,
    Sherry
    http://www.petiteover40.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha! I LOVE that song from "White Christmas." Jazz hands. Hahaha!! That would be so much fun. Like Vix's bikini from VOGOFF, made from leaves, totally organic, shrivels up and dies at the end of the fashion season.

      I'm glad my post is an umbrella against the storms in your barometric pressure. Heh. xox

      Delete
  8. I was waiting for the puns. "Knee'd eye say more?"

    Love the oversized jacket - I used to do that look in ~1986, wearing my dad's suit jackets. Something about that has always worked for me. You can carry this whole look off, but nope, not me - I would look like the kid in "Big" after he shrunk out of Tom Hanks' clothes.

    I am jealous of your maple leaves. The ones in my 'hood are most unsatisfactory!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brilliant pun! I heard another one, knee-capped. Pretty good, but can't beat this one.

      Hahaha, I did in fact feel a bit like the Hanks kid in the grown-up suit, but I felt sleuthy too, in an awkward Pink Panther kind of way.

      I thought all maple leaves in BC were like this. I hate to think what would be causing our leaves to grow this large...

      Delete
  9. It's great to see Canada in the Fall. My husband yearns to see all the beautiful colours of your country at this time of year, but I fancy this is the nearest he'll get. Those leaves are rather showy aren't they - perfect for snapshot for posterity.
    The masculine ensemble only serves to highlight your delicate frame and features - totally adorable Mel! So sorry for coming over all girl crush today, 'scuse me!
    Anna x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The leaves are just coming out of their full glory downtown now, but the scenes in rural Canada can be stunning. The scent of earth and the crunch and rustle of leaves, so very good.

      I can wrap this suit jacket almost all the way around. I thought of farking it but changed my mind - I love this look. Thanks, Anna! xo

      Delete
  10. Dick the tripod?šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚ The leaves here are still green. What a stunning colours there with you, wow. Love the blazer look.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dick does double duty as a tripod and a remote control, heh.
      Is that usual to still have green there? But I should not be surprised, everything is changing. I love autumn more every year. The colours, the aromas, the changing weather. Thanks for your comment!! xo

      Delete
  11. What can I say? You can wear anything and it looks good. It looks meant to be. It looks art and design.
    I cannot pull this trick. I would look as if I am wearing something ill-fitted haha.
    Really nice photo's, smashing outfit. And I think you should show O's ring better and more in close-up. Don't be so modest.
    Greetje

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, you don't wear slouchy style so this would not be for you. Heh. I tried to get photos in a more interesting place than usual. These were not too difficult once I made the effort, like commenting. Hahaha!!

      Yes, O's ring needs more exposure.

      Thanks for your comments, Greetje!!! xoxo

      Delete
    2. Replies!!! YAY! And I do wear slouchy style, just differently.

      Delete
  12. I used to wear oversized men's jackets in the 80's like Sheila. I also had oversized men's overcoats that fit over the over-sized jackets. I must have looked like I was shrinking. I like your outfit sooooo much more than the one Lady Gaga wore. I love Sheri's idea of the two of you "Leaf-dancing" to the song "Sisters" from White Christmas (they use large feather fans in the movie).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hahaha, yes, that song is great. We would have a blast doing that. They had feather fans but also clothes underneath. Whew.

      I think we all did the big jacket thing in the '80s. What a comeback that trend has been making lately. I was surprised that Lady Gaga's suit was actually a real designer suit tailored for a woman, and a bit disappointed that she hadn't farked a real man's suit. I can't believe the flack she got for wearing it too. ???!!! xo

      Delete
  13. You wear men's items so well. I'm always fascinated by how feminine wearing men's item can feel. Has it got anything to do with contrasting? Is it the joy of the unexpected? I don't know but I love stealing clothes from hubby.

    That oversize jacket is gorgeous! I love both the print and the cut...Nine pockets as well? How dreamy. The jacket works so well with the oversize gifted shirt and a vest stolen from significant other. It's an oversize perfection!

    The DIY element to the jeans is so much fun. I love adding DIY elements to jeans as well.

    That golden maple leaf is so pretty...and the other one as well. Perfect to take photos with. Autumn is such a gorgeous season, I'd love to see what it looks like in Canada some day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do think you're right - the contrast, the unexpected. The breaking of stereotypes is always refreshing. You are really a pro at DIY too, Ivana. I have often gotten ideas from you. I'd love to see what autumn looks like in Croatia as well!

      Delete
  14. Lady Gaga has nothing on you my starlet friend! This fabulous jacket is absolutely stunning and I would love it even if it did not have nine packets. How cool that you embellished the denim with eyeballs. Only you!
    Those maple leaves sure look like plants on steroids!
    Yes, autumn... a season of slumber and a prelude to quiet icy winters .
    ❤️❤️❤️
    Elle
    https://theellediaries.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wished that Lady Gaga had worn a real men's jacket, but it's biz.

      When I first moved to Vancouver the leaves left me gob-smacked by their gigantism. I still marvel over them. I love the jewel tones of autumn - your phrase is so eloquent. Thanks, Elle.

      Delete
  15. I really love wearing custom made jackets which are oversize. I usually pick them from men's collection.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...