The coat and not much else

I may be known as the queen of layering (or layered mess to some but doing the pared-down thing is not something I deter from either.  Yes, the t-shirt and jeans thing doesn’t come easy to me but I also know when things can fly solo without too much fuss.  When I saw this oversized vintage Lanvin wool jacket on eBay, I had this odd idea of wearing it as a dress with opaque black tights and not much else.  The sloping, structured shoulders of the jacket nods towards the current season as does the cerise pink.  But as an overcoat, it would have added too much 80’s bulk.  So buttoned up, it’s an easy dresscoat with nothing much needed except some killer shoes.

(Excuse the glum face and awful hair…this should really be worn with a angular expression and a high-as-can-be pony tail….not when you’ve just got up at 5 to leg it for a flight)

In this case, they really are killer int he sense that if I had ninja skills and hi-kicked somebody in the face, that would not be a pretty sight.  Yes, they are those Victoria Secrets hoof boots that are most delectable when on but i’ll be honest and say that my feet are pretty much shattered if I walk down the high street.  They’re for those times when I can afford Addison Lee (cab company) and going somewhere with hopefully a couch.

41 comments

  1. Not used to see you with that much of bare skin. Funny, cause usually most of the girls that you see on the streets show off a lot more. The colour is great
    juliet xxx

  2. what the shoes! these are totally amazing!
    what i’ve been thinking for a pretty long time is how you actually keep the distance between the readers and yourself. you’re like ‘guys, i’m opening my world to you, but be nice, behave yourself and don’t criticize me. because i know everything i need to know about myself’. i don’t mean it’s bad, i just find it curious how you’re being able to keep it public yet private. it’s like you’re shy and a bit self-uncofident person trying to stay true to yourself. i find it wonderful.
    anyway, i love to stay in touch with your blog. love, DBP

  6. oh no, are the shoes really uncomfortable? i’ve been pondering on those for awhile…

  7. O my gosh that looks so good! you are so clever!
    I think your hair looks fine! A high pony would be good too, but it would put a totally different spin on the outfit, you know? Right now I think the hair down makes it really fun[ky]…it’s fantastic ^ _ ^ (especially the way the boots balance the volume of the coat)

  9. You look perfect! I mean, this jacket is lovely, and with THOSE BOOTS. I love your hair like that too. Thank you!

  11. Wow, the colour of that coat is gorgeous! It looks really good with the black tights. And those shoes are possibly the best things I’ve ever seen…

  13. lovely. but it¬¥s true what you say. it can easily be to much if you¬¥d accesorize too much. it¬¥s perfectly fine as it is. i¬¥m thinking of buying them shoes but i can¬¥t decide. there¬¥s another pair i like as well….

  14. God the shoes look amazing. I was thinking of buying but I dont know….how much wear I will get out of them. I dont really go out much…They look super hot Susie!

  19. I have these shoes too, and I love them, but after five minutes walking in them I’m in searing pain! Have you learned any tips on how to survive in them a little longer (other than taking cabs :P).

  20. Just adding to my comment – I didn’t realise that my foot would be at such extreme angles in these shoes. I don’t know how MKA does it.
    I love the whole outfit, by the way. Pared-down yet bold 🙂 The colour’s great on you.

  21. you look so adorable. the thing i like best about you and your outfits is that you look absolutely confident and true to your style. and you wear the clothes, they don’t wear you. keep it up!
    and i’m still so jealous of all your crazy finds on ebay. hurr!

  22. Hi I just stumbled onto your site… and I absolutely love your style. I saw that you had commented on the declining topshop quality. I saw a few things but not sure if I ought to get them (I live in the states).
    If you’ve seen these items, could you opine about the quality?
    http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=85549&parent_category_rn=&productId=497141&langId=-1
    vintage coat
    http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=58915&parent_category_rn=58914&productId=481277&langId=-1 pencil dress by boutique
    thanks a bunch!
    Lisa

  23. I’m currently suffering for a pair of shoes as well. I find it helps to wear them to places where you know you will be having a few drinks 😉
    I actually wore them to a party recently and ended up DANCING all night in them, an idea that would have been ludicrous about 3 drinks earlier.
    The outfit is fab, as are the shoes!

  24. those shoes are fierce, props on the outfit too. I’d never try that combination but it looks great on you

  25. those shoes are fierce, props on the outfit too. I’d never try that combination but it looks great on you

  28. First of all, once again it’s nice to see your face make an appearance on your blog. I think you should take a note from your Facehunter picks and just stare that camera down! Fierce.
    Second, that coat is definitely a dress. Well done.
    Third, I can’t look at those boots without thinking about Daryl Hannah in Blade Runner…not sure if there’s any connection.

  30. btw, if getting into personally rating things is something you’d prefer to avoid, I understand.

  31. hi susie,
    i also buy from ebay quite a lot – out of curiosity, what percentage of your clothing purchases would you say are good and how many are disappointing?
    have you got any tips? i understand if you don’t wanna share your tips, though! 🙂
    thanks!
    love those shoes!

  32. oooh i’ve been wanting these boots for a while now, i’m counting down the days til my student loan comes in so i can get my hands on them! but how does the size run?

  35. First off, thanks for all the comments on the coat and the shoes. I do apologise for the lack of reply but my internet connection is a little shaky in my hotel in Miami.
    Juliet: Ooh… I’m getting in touch with my racy side…
    Dudblankpathetic: Interesting analysis of my persona on the blog! I can’t say I disagree….me sharing my world is not about being an exhibitionist but rather an exchange of ideas…
    Jae: Yes… but as I said, if you take cabs all the time… they’re still a worthy buy as they have SUPERB visual impact.
    Colorcast: Ah…you like the messy hair? Guess it saves me bothering with a ponytail (I’m pretty lazy when it comes to hair…)
    Pamela: Thanks…;)
    Lina: VS shoes are better than I thought….
    Emma Rea: Those boots aren’t made for walking…but for the price, going out once or twice a month in them..they’re still worth it!
    Murdoch: Alas… I’m afraid not! I tried putting gel pads in them but it is the acute angle of the wedge and platform that makes them painful. I tend to put all my weight onto one foot and switch every now and again to make them less painful to stand in.
    Lisa: Topshop quality in general is pretty good. I’ve never had any major problems with the quality as long as you don’t have HIGH HIGH expectations for them.
    Angie Montreal: Drinking does lessen the pain…. : )
    Thomas: Daryl Hannah – Blade Runner! Lol… nice connection!
    MGW: Pleasantly surprised I think! They’re not made by VS directly but by another designer so I think that might have something to do with it. The stitching is all good. The buckles etc are also not bad. The padding inside the shoe could have been better but you can adjust that with shoe inserts… maybe 7 out of 10?
    Sticky: I think I will do an eBay tips post separately…. as for percentage of good/bad items…I would say 95% of eBay goods have been excellent! It’s a lower percentage for others but I don’t take too much of a risk as I tend to bid for items with detailed photos.
    Carly: I was scared about sizing because of the UK-US size conversion. I wear a UK5 and got a US8.5 and they’re just right. So the size may run a little smaller as really I should be a US8. I had to wait 3 weeks for them but that was because the Royal Mail is really slow.

  37. It’s really a perfect combination. I’ve not tried this type of combination. It’s really looking good. I’ll also try this once.

  38. those shoes are great! i saw them on the vs catalogue and i’ve been thinking about them since. i know if i get them it’ll be a pair of sit-down shoes, meaning i won’t be able to wear them if i plan on walking much that day, but just sit and look pretty :p

  39. I didn’t know anyone knocked off the balenciaga boots. Thanks for the tip off

  40. thanks so much susie! that’s a high percentage! an ebay tips post would be amazing!!! xxx

  41. love the shoes! i just got the same pair! they look fantastic paired with that jacket!

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