Thrift Store Style: You Too Can Rock a Formal Mumsy Jacket!
What do you wear on a day that’s juuuust cool enough for a light jacket?
Today’s thrifty outfit consists of an ancient grey T-shirt dress layered under a $6 secondhand hi-low cotton T. But what really makes this outfit is the jacket.
Here’s a better look:
This jacket may look pretty mumsy and dated on the hanger, but look at the details!
It originally had some pretty large shoulder pads in it, but those were easy to remove. For $1, I think it’s a pretty swell statement piece. And when paired with my $2 thrifted 80’s necklace and my green suede boots (sadly, new), I think a pretty swell outfit.
I wore my green, black, and gold to Keg Cowboy after work for some tasty noms with my good pal, Dan. Many cheeses were consumed.
The cost of today’s outfit is:
Grey Dress: $10 new years and years ago. 🙁
Black T: $6 from Sid & Nancy (secondhand shop)
Mumsy Jacket: $1 (thrifted)
Necklace: $2 (thrifted)
Total: $19
Cheers!
34 Comments
Cindi
What came first–the boots or the jacket? They are a perfect pairing to the whole outfit. Looking good!
Mary Piero Carey
OMG! those boots! What a match! Though, on my monitor, what you are calling green is showing as deep turquoise in both boots and jacket.
Elsa
Love the boots too.
estoualexis
Love it! It’s classy yet fun!
Pepi
I looooove the boots!!!!
Nancy
I agree with Karin; you are glowing!
Fantastic outfit.
Karin from Birmingham
I don’t know if you’re happy or what you’re up to these days, but You. Look. Mahvelous. Seriously. Loving your hair these days, but overall you just look especially swell!
judy ross
I agree with everyone. Those boots really accent that top.
TEMA
Love the jacket with the beads… so cool! I just found a gray tweedy number at our local thrift store. Loved the it fit and has some gorgeous machine embroider on one side of the front. Very stylish.. $5.00
Melanie Lindner
This is exactly the type of thing I often walk straight past in my op shop for being too ‘mumsy’ or ‘daggy’ or ‘omg, did we REALLY used to dress like that?’ LOL But after this post I may just have to rethink things. You have a great eye for fashion and design details that I just don’t seem to have – will need to work on that! And learn to sew, beyond buttons and minor repairs at least 😉 Thanks for the continued inspiration.
Laura
BTW, the new hairdo is adorable. Love the bangs.
Lori Nevin
Jillian – By the way, I have been shopping in my husbands closet and refashioning his things: A stripped button down shirt made me a nice tunic to wear with leggins. A suit vest was adorable with a long striped tee over leggings with heels. He has a kimono wrap that I’m trying to decide what to do with next. Today is another example of layering pieces that otherwise wouldn’t do by themselves. I’m going shopping in my own closet with this in mind.
Sheila Lacy Goodell
Love this outfit!! And those boots…WHERE did you get those amazing boots?!
Yona
I love it! Looks like brocade. I recently moved to Bronx, NY and searching for a real thrift shop w/great prices, but, the only ones I found are insanely overpriced – like I could do better on a name brand store sale…. any suggestions?
Oksana
Absolutely love to how you paired this “mumsy numba” with plain cotton! Great job!!!
Kimberly Wollmer
My favorite outfit so far! Those boots are the shiznitz.
Jane
Very cute. A stellar combo with the boots and necklace.
Cassandra
One of my favorite outfits ever!! you look ADORABLE <3
Wendylowther
Love the jacket and suits the ordinary clothes you wear with it! You are one stylish lady! Like everyone else I adore your boots! Will be a great investment for the future!
Juli
Okay, I’ve read every post you’ve ever made on this blog and T H I S O U T F I T. is the best. ever. That is all.
Catherine
I love those boots!
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Bridget Kirke
Love the detail in the jacket and you look fab in it! Where did you get those boots? I LOVE them and that is my colour!! 🙂
Melody
The only adjustments you had to do were to remove the dated shoulder pads? Wow!! That’s my kind of refashioning!!
Love your way of “thunking”!!
Nalan
Jacket looks really nice with the modern dress. You don’t see such nice gilded print or beading in today’s outfits. I love your sense of fashion.
Michalea
This is SOOOO cute! Love it!
Pam
I have two knee length jacket weight coats that I took the sleeves off and wear as long vests. I can wear them over leggings. One I had in high school, I really liked it but it was to small. Once I took the sleeves off it fit. Love them.
Adventures of Making
I don’t know why, but whenever I am in thrift shops, I always have a huge crush on things that are a bit mumsy or fussy.. jackets, pencil skirts, old-fashioned dresses… They are just irresistible! I’m not sure what makes me buy them.. maybe my spirit animal is just a rocking, 80 year-old granny?
Sarah
I don’t think it’s sad at all your shoes are new! Quality shoes are important and if you’re going to invest in something, make it shoes and bras! Because support 🙂
GirlFriday
I freakin love those boots! What brand are they? Also, what did you do to the jacket (other than remove the shoulder pads)?
Natalie Jacoba
I think it’s easy to get down on ourselves when we buy new items, but if they’re pieces we’re going to have for years and years, then it’s ok to make that investment from time to time (besides, those boots are fab!)
Murielle
Tres chic!
blissinger
LOVE that jacket! The fabric is really unique. And those green boots are wonderful, I don’t care if they ARE new. Great outfit.
Becky Pitt
I love it! I could totally rock this! Thanks for the inspiration and the boots are the bees knees…I can see why you fell for them….
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Michelle Van Ellis
I know this post wasn’t about your boots but I used to have a great fringe jacket that same exact color in the 80s. Gaah, I wish I still had it although it wouldn’t fit. Just have a picture for the memories now.
Great styling of the jacket!