How to Style a Vintage Jacket
...and how to thrift one
I often joke with my boyfriend about “jeans, heels and a going-out top,” which was a go-to outfit for many millennial women in their late teens and early 20s. For me, it has evolved into an outfit formula that I turn to again and again:
Utilitarian pant + slender shoes (sexy heel or a slim flat) + simple tank/bodysuit/bustier (something that fits close to the body) + vintage jacket
What do I mean by utilitarian? I mean a pant that is tailored, but skews masculine: a wide-legged cargo with a high waist, a baggy jean with a cinched ankle. Nothing skinny, and nothing too perfect. The point of this look is juxtaposition. You want tension between all the elements. A sexy shoe (something with a pointed or an open toe) will contrast with the pant. As will a more fitted tee or tank.
A great pair of utilitarian pants is a worthy investment, IMO. Any time I splurge on a pair of pants that fits really well, I wear them at least once a week, for like 5 years, until they are falling apart at the seams (see: the Nili Lotan Shon pant, which I purchased five years ago and still wear at least three times per week, and I am not exaggerating in the slightest).
But you could easily thrift a utilitarian pant. Just look for brands like Dickies and Carhartt and then take them to a tailor. A tailor will charge you probably less than $40 to take in the waist and get the hem right, and this will be money well-spent, trust me.
The vintage jacket is the icing on the proverbial cake. It should be feminine. Tailored (nothing too oversized or it will compete with the pant). Perhaps shrunken or at the very least fitted to the body. It can be colorful—or not, if you’re not into that.
Below, I’ve rounded up some outfit options that strike the balance between feminine and masculine/sexy and sweet. Plus, some tips for sourcing designer vintage jackets, and a handful of my faves (plus, what I paid for them—because if you’re gonna wear expensive cargo pants, it should probably be with a $5 jacket).
Black cargo jeans (these are tapered, so the fit is insane and very flattering) // vintage Ungaro striped blazer // black scoop neck bodysuit // gold and pearl earrings for under $30 // metallic leather pumps // raffia striped bucket bag // Dirty Coconut perfume
Slit jeans (these are very similar to the Margiela jeans I have and am asked about all the time) // White racerback bodysuit // Simple black loafer // vintage Victor Costa jacket // Ear cuff // Lip creme // Bow clutch bag
wide-legged cargos (insanely expensive but I promise you are going to see these everywhere in street style photos soon) // vintage puff-sleeved jacket // tweed corset top // cream blush (new by goop! it’s more skincare than blush so super natural) // coin pendant necklace // metallic heels // frog clutch (because if you’re wearing a bustier, how better to tone down the sexy?)
Other great pants that I personally own and wear as part of this outfit formula: Cropped cargo jeans // Nili Lotan Shon pant
Brands to look for when thrifting jackets:
Christian Dior is a well-known luxury label (duh) but I have found a TON of it while thrifting, so it’s not all picked over. Look in the suit section (women wore a lot of pant- and skirt-suits in the 1990s and the look has evolved, so they’ve all been donated!).
Emanuel Ungaro is my all-time favorite degree for a vintage jacket. I love stumbling upon Ungaro in the wild, it always feels so special. His pieces were hyper-feminine and the stuff from the ‘80s and ‘90s is just pure gold.
Victor Costa. Oh, my heart. Some of my very favorite finds are by Victor Costa, a designer who knows how to do drama. Look in the blouse and jacket section for these (some Costa jackets were short-sleeved, but you can still wear them with this formula). Also, I once found the most incredible Costa opera jacket in the Halloween section at a Goodwill so… yea. Look everywhere.
Rapid Fire
A show I’m watching: Love is Blind season 5. Remember when this show was wholesome and cute and we all watched it together during the pandemic? The new season is messy and everyone is manipulative but I am admittedly still watching.
An article I read: A woman found an Andrew Wyeth painting at a thrift store and it sold for $191,000 at auction.
A recipe I made: The viral frozen yogurt cup. I have made this many times and I really enjoy it as a little treat. I use Culina yogurt and add chocolate protein powder (not a whole scoop but maybe 1/4-1/2 of a scoop), then pour one small square of melted dark chocolate on top. I finish with chopped nuts (whatever I have on hand, usually hazelnuts or almonds) and flaky sea salt.
Psst: Next week’s newsletter is a good one. On the first Sunday of every month, I send out my paid-subscriber-only email (free subscribers will see a preview, but if you’re a paid subscriber, you’ll have access to the entire thing). The first paid issue was part one of my favorite places to thrift in Jax (really narrowing in on one part of town, but I’ll get to the all the others, don’t you worry). The next one is an unveiling of one of my secret spots.
and I’ll leave you with this…