Few things annoy me as much as suggesting I wear a Bolero jacket. I disagree that the longer jackets I wear “hide my shape.” Or, more specifically, I am untroubled by my shape being hidden. I often think boleros do more to show off our most unflattering aspects, especially if you’re like me and generally won’t wear shapewear.
That said, in some circumstances I will make an exception – like in this case, where the design has a semi-Victorian feel. I could wear my spaghetti strap black dress and make like I’m Morticia. For customing, I’d enjoy it.
The fact is this: there is no one single jacket suitable to all occasions and styles. Even the blazer, a near-universal thanks to corporate dress codes, does not fit in every situation, though every few years a bunch of us get squirrely and wear it with jeans and Converse.
This is one of many situations where you “dress for the life you have.” My life has blazers, not Boleros – and I can find blazers frequently enough in my size at local thrift and consignment stores. Heck, in spring especially I’m more likely to wear my denim jacket I bought at Dots ten years ago. Some days – shhhhh – I even still wear a Wal-Mart hoodie!
It comes down to where you live, how you live, and what you have to do on a daily basis. I’m an artist and blogger – since I blog on plus fashion I do take some care, and a jacket still dresses up any look. But as I discovered in Hawaii, you go in the wrong place too dressed up and someone will think you work there!
Still hunting for THE jacket? Find it on Fat Chic Clothing Search!
