All my Favourite Go-To Brands for Basics, Foundation Pieces and Style: Blazers, Toppers, Leather Jackets

I’ve been asked for my favourite brands, and all my previous posts on all my favourite Go To Brands can be found here.

A BIT OF BODY HISTORY

I’m an inverted triangle, am usually a US 4 for fitted clothing, but with US 6 shoulders. I’m about 5’6″ and fairly slender. Barely any hips or bum or chest to speak of, but in the past year, I’ve noticed I have gotten a little curvier around the bum and hips (age? hormones? who knows), and I’ve embraced it, but no one can feel it but me… (and my partner 😉 ).

As of late, I have had very little patience wearing anything too tight or fitted, and now take everything in a US 6 if I find it is even an eensy bit too tight (not just tops or jackets for my shoulders, bottoms too).

For instance, I fit into Lululemon pants US 4, but prefer to buy US 6, and will even go up to a US 8 as they are tight. I’ll be sure to make size / style notes below as well.

GENERAL SHOPPING TIPS

A lot of what I do is shopping online, I even wrote a post: How to shop online. Sometimes I get some hits, sometimes they are misses, but after a few times, I get a good idea from just pictures, fabrication and description where it works or not.

That said….

• Go into the store first and try on all of their bras to know what size you actually are so shopping online is easier
• Sign up for an online coupon (a newsletter tends to always give a percentage off)
• Wait for days like Black Friday before buying anything — major sales abound!
• Buy a whole bunch at once if you can to save on shipping and duties — mostly for us Canadians
• BE SURE it is something you want/need before you hit “buy”, and do LOTS AND LOTS OF RESEARCH online
• Don’t be afraid of eBay either, I have found insanely good deals on there with New with Tags (NWT) items

TOPPERS

I love me a good blazer, and these are my picks if I had to do it all over again in each category.

STRUCTURED BLAZERS

MASSIMO DUTTI SLIM FIT BLAZERS

I take them in a Size 6 but the body fits like a Size 4, which is perfect for me, an inverted triangle.

I own this exact cut in light linen, oatmeal wool, a grey wool felt, pinstriped navy, and white and wear them to death.

The wool is not itchy (which is why I love it), it’s lined, and slightly stretchy for the perfect ease and fit in the arms (especially with my shoulders).

Here are some shots of the actual blazers in action from my Instagram.

Oatmeal wool

Linen

Grey felted wool

Pinstriped Navy Wool

SHAWL-STYLE BLAZERS

ARTIZIA CHEVALIER BLAZERS

I wish they would bring back the Petit Chevalier blazers because I’d snap up all the good colours, but for now, it IS a staple at Aritzia that they have the Chevalier blazer style.

This is the Petit Chevalier (small Chevalier) which I own in Ivory and Cobalt Blue:

And here is the longer Chevalier which I own in Tuxedo Bone and Black:

I love this blazer the best for its ease, its flow, its cut. It doesn’t feel formal, I throw it on like a sweater, and it has nice deep pockets.

CASHMERE SHAWL BLAZER

MEL EN STEL KATE JACKET

She made such an amazing Kate Jacket but I don’t think she sells the style any more.

REAL LEATHER JACKETS

ALL SAINTS BALFERN STYLE SUEDE JACKET

Their suede is my favourite, their “regular” leather feels terrible to me. I own two of their jackets and the dark grey is hands down my favourite and the most versatile:

 

Shop: All Saints Balfern-style Suede Jacket

The Balfern style is my favourite in their moto. I don’t like cropped versions of jackets. I took the US 6 in this jacket and love it.

M0851 ANILINE SMOOTH LEATHER JACKETS

They take some time to break in, but once they do, they’re buttery soft and look great.

I took a US 4 in this jacket above long before I realized I am actually a US 6 in the shoulders and 4 everywhere else.

Today, it fits like a GLOVE. A literal glove, but I should have bought it in a US 6.

FAUX LEATHER JACKETS

ZARA SUEDE JACKETS

They come as motos, as just toppers like the style I bought below, but their suede is surprisingly good. It feels comfortable, good to the touch and looks believable for a faux version.

I don’t even know if they make them any more, they sure looked like a staple, but I bought it in black, cognac and taupe. Surprisingly, taupe was the most versatile of all colours for me.

BLANKNYC FAUX SUEDE JACKETS

I don’t own any (yet) but I did touch quite a few of them and was impressed with how suede-like they felt for being faux. They of course, cost much more (in the $200 USD range), but look unbelievably good for the price.

All my posts on all my favourite Go To Brands can be found here.