10 ways to style a denim jacket
I still remember my first denim jacket. A classic, mid blue, which I often wore with a pink and white striped tee, and pink shorts. Even as a kid, I was partial to this wardrobe “classic”, the transitional weight jacket that has this uncanny ability to chill out even the most dressed up outfits. Tulle and taffeta? Dial it down with denim. Casual to its core. So off the back of a new series on Instagram, where I take a single item and style it 10 ways, I thought I’d immortalise those outfits here, while expanding a little on the styling concepts I leaned on. Basically, the idea is to become besties with the items we already own (if you aren’t already). Because it’s half the equation to finding wardrobe nirvana. There’s a few details I personally tend to seek out in a denim jacket. As someone with a longer torso, I tend to prefer a style that hits me just below the hip. The denim must be reasonably soft (though a rigid denim does work, the style needs to be quite oversized to compensate). And I want a medium blue; nothing too aged or faded out. No distressing. Any button style will do. A curved hemline is preferred as it creates a softer silhouette, but straight across is fine too as long as it meets my other criteria. The one featured here is Ceres Life (sold out but love this one they do). My wardrobe is mostly neutrals, so with the exception of the blue monochromatic look, I decided to lean in on that, as I wanted to highlight the jacket as the focal piece. The blue wash acts as something of a neutral – the great thing about this wardrobe hero – and it actually looks fantastic when paired with a vibrant red, or soft pastels. You could easily repurpose these proportions using a more vibrant colour mix or swap out the blue denim jacket for one in white or black denim (if that’s what you have in your wardrobe). Looking back on the outfits I pulled together, I can see that I favoured a higher neckline. And reflecting on this, you can see that the crew-neckline tops allowed the jacket to be the focus. Probably my favourite look, has to be the first double denim outfit. Or, pairing it with the white denim, which allows the blue to really pop. I think when doing double denim, what you want to do is aim to match with a jean that is as close as possible in colour to the jacket. An exact match isn’t a must, but it does make it feel much more intentional. You can see here in action, how a denim jacket is a great tool to use to dial down the formality level of dressier pieces in your closet. It makes full skirts or heeled looks feel more “chill”, by adding in that good friction. Finally, you can really play around with the styling. When doing double denim, break up the colour with a contrasting tee, or button it from the collar to get a monochromatic moment. Wear it like a shirt or a jacket. Throw a knit over the top for another layered piece. Before we get into the outfits, it’s worth also highlighting that as you remix your wardrobe, you’ll start to see a solid through line. Variations on styles that you find work best for you – something that comes with playing around with what you have in your wardrobe. Not all of these outfits will look wildly different, but instead allow you to see commonalities in items you own (and sometimes even lesser worn pieces!). OUTFIT 1 | Wearing Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Assembly Label straight leg jeans, Edward Meller heels, Quince woven pouch OUTFIT 2 | Wearing COS t-shirt, Blanca skirt, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Edward Meller heels, Oroton bag OUTFIT 3 | Wearing Assembly Label stripe top, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Everlane linen shorts, Onitsuka Tiger sneakers, Oroton bag, Vieux Eyewear sunglasses OUTFIT 4 | Wearing Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Wynn Hamlyn skirt (old but similar), Tony Bianco heels, Quince pouch bag OUTFIT 5 | Wearing Everlane stripe shirt, COS trousers, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Onitsuka Tiger sneakers, Edward Meller bag OUTFIT 6 | Oroton wool vest, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Nothing Written jeans (10% off with MADEMOISELLE10), About Arianne ballerinas, Edward Meller bag OUTFIT 7 | Assembly Label blue tee, Sezane slip skirt, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Loeffler Randall woven flats, Madewell bag OUTFIT 8 | Everlane strapless dress, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), YSL slides, Quince woven pouch OUTFIT 9 | Grana cashmere vest, Levi’s ribcage jeans, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Bared boots, Edward Meller bag OUTFIT 10 | Ceres Life t-shirt, DISSH trousers, Ceres Life denim jacket (old but this is similar), Vaneli two tone pumps, Oroton bag
Best ten pieces to buy from Goelia this June
If you’ve been keeping track of my most worn, then you’ve probably seen the brand Goelia pop up. They’ve become something of a “go-to” for me, when I want that classic Parisian girl look. Or when I’m after a solid wardrobe staple in a quality fabric. Some of my favourite pieces include this little striped wool jacket, in addition to this split hem trouser skirt. Simple, but chic. And easily repeatable.  And, they’ve nailed the French girl look. As well as the pretty, romantic dress, the ladylike tweed jacket, and the effortless cashmere coat.  So let’s talk about the best ten pieces to buy from Goelia this month, along with sizing and actual item measurements. And of course, if you have any other questions, drop them down in the comments below. Oh! And the code JAMIE10 will snag you an additional 10% off existing promotional offers. 1 | Goelia Tencel-Acetate Blend Cut-Out Women Tank Top Starting off with the basic that’s not really basic at all, but the epitome of an elevated basic. One the surface, it sounds simple. A black ribbed tank. But up close, you can really appreciate the details. It hugs the body beautifully, and has this subtle contrasting directional ribbed texture. Vertical at the top and bottom, and diagonal across the waist. Perhaps what I love most though, is the slit on the right shoulder. Not at all visible on the hanger and even when worn this doesn’t immediately jump out at you. But it’s a nice way to reveal a touch extra skin, adding balance to an otherwise modest tank. WEARING: Size Small (fits TTS). Measures 36cm underarm to underarm unstretched and 51cm long. 2 | Goelia Triacetate Lapel Mid-Length Women Vest When I was browsing the new arrivals, this sleeveless blazer immediately caught my eye. It’s relatively thick and robust, which gives a nice weight to the fabric (aka the good drape). I have something similar in black, and my personal favourite way to wear it is fully done up, worn with trousers in a similar tone. Chic, sophisticated, effortless without any of the work. Also is great as that third piece worn with a singlet and shorts during the warmer months. WEARING: Size Medium (size up one, especially if taller). Measures 46cm underarm to underarm and is 75cm long 3 | Goelia Straight Pleated Women Pants With Leather Belt Goelia does a lot of white fluid drape trousers. But what sets these ones apart, is the way the belt loops are incorporated into the draped design. It feels elegant, elevated. Truly special, while still having all the other hallmarks of an otherwise classic piece. I paired these with the vest from before, and I just love the look. These are a slightly thinner fabric but have this real silky quality which allows them to flow nicely over the legs. On me (172cm), these fall just to the ground. Perfect. Recommend wearing with a skin toned knicker. WEARING: Size 27 (sized up one for an eased out fit). Measures 35cm across the waistband laid flat, 102cm long, 36cm rise and 70.5cm inseam 4 | Goelia 16 Momme Mulberry Silk Polka Dots Printed Midi Dress I’ve always been a bit fan of Goelia silk pieces. They feel luxe, yet quite ethereal; one of those fabrications which always has a decent amount of movement to it. This dress is no exception. The a-line silhouette, which looks great both worn loose or cinched at the waist with matching belt, means that there’s a lot of fabric which gracefully seems to “catch air” as you move around. It comes with a matching slip for modesty (the lighter weight of the fabric means it isn’t fully opaque, though I’ve not noticed any issues with it feeling/looking see through), in addition to a matching belt and clip on rose silk flower. The great thing about the belt is that there are two belt loops, which means you can adjust the height so it best suits you.  WEARING: Size S (fits true to size). Measures 47cm underarm to underarm and is 117cm long 5 | Goelia Contrast Trim Straight Women Pants With Elastic Waistband I have seen a lot of these sorts of trousers out there of late. But the best I think I’ve come across, have been these from Goelia. I love the almost silky nature of the fabric, which gives them that good drape I keep talking about. They have the “taping”, or stripe down the sides, which I like as it adds in contrast, while also creating a lengthening visual line. Then the split at the hem allows the trouser to splay cleanly over your shoes. Mostly, I just like that these are an easy to wear pant, which have an inherently sporty feel. Something you can simply counterbalance with more dressed up wardrobe staples. WEARING: Size M (I think the S would also be fine so stick TTS for a regular fit, or go up one for a more relaxed fit. Measures 38cm across the waistband laid flat, 104cm long, 32cm rise and 76cm inseam. 6 | Goelia 19 Momme Mulberry Silk Twist Waist Top Elegance is in the DNA of this pretty stretch-silk twist top. I tend to look at most items through the lens of how their styling can be maximised, and this instantly struck me as a sophisticated evening option, or alternatively a top you could wear to the office, as you have ample coverage at the top of the arm. The twist effect is subtle, but effective, and the v-neck reveals a little skin, but still feels modest. For the office, I’d recommend pairing it with a fitted black tank underneath as I found even with high waisted trousers, you can accidentally end up flashing a little bit of midriff. It’s smocked at the back, though I find that this is a tad relaxed on me. If you really want to “snatch” your waist, then I’d size down. WEARING: Size S (but size down one if you want a snug fit at the waist). Measures 54cm underarm to underarm, 55cm long (at back), and 33cm across waistband unstretched. 7 | Goelia Triacetate Reversible Cape-Style Women Top Another really elegant top which gives you plenty of styling options. Worn loose, tucked, and it’s also reversible – though personally, I think it looks best with the split detail at the back. The fabric is hefty, which I think lends itself well to the caped design. This is nice worn layered over the top of a thin merino knit – a simple way to transition from S/S to A/W. A great piece to have on rotation for those days where you’re going from desk to dinner. WEARING: Size S (it’s generously cut). Measures 47cm underarm to underarm and is 63cm long. 8 | Goelia Silk Blend Straight Women Velvet Pants I call these my fancy pants. The plush velvet adds this sense of luxury, and they are oh so soft, which is likely down to the mulberry silk blend. Perfect for adding texture to an outfit, and for those in the Northern Hemisphere, a great option for festive season dressing that doesn’t feel “obvious”. Comfort is king and I like that these have an elasticised back (good stretch – perfect if you’re someone who bloats a little, like me!), and the velvet has some weight to it so they fall very nicely. Not cut too wide through the leg either, making these a good option for petites. And, for that subtle little detailing, there’s a woven ladder trim down the side seams. WEARING: Size 26 (fits true to size). Measures 34cm across waistband laid flat, 102cm long, 28cm rise and 74cm inseam. 9 | Goelia Wool Blend Stand Collar Single-Breasted Women Jacket These chic, ladylike jackets are something of a Goelia signature, and while I’ll always opt for one in an easy neutral, I love that there’s a full spectrum of colours (pastels, brights etc). I was drawn to this particular style because of the stand collar, the champagne textured buttons, and the H-cut shape, which is equal in width at the shoulders and the hips (great for most body types). It’s very subtle on the website, but in real life the wool tweed has a fine silver thread running throughout, which catches the light brilliantly. This gives the jacket an air of formality, and it’s probably no surprise that my favourite way to style this is with a cream silk maxi (and heels!). WEARING: Size M (I often size up in Goelia jackets). Measures 48cm underarm to underarm and is 52cm long. 10 | Goelia Acetate Knitted Striped Pullover Ending on a high note, with one of Goelia’s striped pieces. This is one of the areas where the brand well and truly shines. An easy tank, elevated by the details. A slightly capped sleeve, fitted through the body, and the cable knitted pattern adding that ever important textural component. This is more of a regular/cropped style, so an excellent choice for petites or those with a shorter torso (on me, a long torso gal, it just meets the waistband of most of my high waisted pants). This has a lot of stretch to it, which makes it a really comfortable piece to wear. WEARING: Size S (fits true to size for a slim fit). Measures 39cm underarm to underarm unstretched and is 49cm long.