Ask Angie: and all - Pink Zara Jacket (and Moka boots)

Angie -- I know you are very busy so there is no rush with this. I just wanted you to see it when you are able. Thank you! 

Since pink is the flavour of the day, up for review is a jacket I received yesterday from Zara. I ordered it because: 

  • I need more toppers.
  • It is a flattering colour for me but one I almost never wear. 
  • It is mostly cotton so could be a genuine year-round item for me. These are rare and precious. Items that transition well into spring are a good find. 
  • I thought I could try some of the fun colour pairings in the blog with it. 
  • Zara jackets seem to fit me astonishingly well right off the rack. 
  • I liked the low one button stance and the length -- longer than my current jackets. 
  • The price was right! 
Now that I have it, I'm just not sure. The fit's great, the fabric's good, it's surprisingly well made. So what are the problems? 

It doesn't pair well with many items in my closet. It's not exactly blush (although it works with the blush DVF sweater...I think?) It doesn't work with fuchsia or orchid or "my" reds. It does work with my Only Mine dot sweater (pink dots of the sweater are almost an exact match) and a few other tops.
I think it would look good with faded denim. It's nice with grey, winter white, etc. So I do have things to wear with it...but the pairings are not all that exciting. 

Showing it in #1 with black (and my Philip boots!) -- feeling a bit like an 80s throwback here. 

In 2, it is with navy. 

In 3 it's with black baggy pants. Oh, I love these pants -- Angie, I think they are like your Theory pants a bit. These have a touch of slouch but mostly it's just roomy fit with extra at the bottoms. Such luxe fabric. LOVE it. 

In 6-8 I am trying it with my plum skirt. Does it work or is that nuts?  I wish the colour reproduction were a bit better -- I am so sorry. The light is dismal here.  And with this colour I keep getting a "now it does work, now it doesn't" sensation. 

I am also wearing the Mazy moka boots. SO comfortable. What do we think of this colour? Tomorrow I will post more pics of these with my dresses. I don't want to be a forum hog. 

Thank you all for looking and for your thoughts! 

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This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

35 Comments

  • Astrid replied 10 years ago

    I love the jacket, Suz! When I read pink I thought bright pink, not this kind of soft antique rose. It's so lovely. And it will be great for spring... I like all the outfits shown.

    Are the boots those that were the wrong color? They look great.

  • Sarah A replied 10 years ago

    I hate to be a naysayer, but I am not feeling the color of the jacket for you. I do like it as styled in #4, and I do I like the Moka boots. Quite a lot actually! Color is a hard thing to tell on a little laptop screen though... but it sounds like you have misgivings about what it doesnt pair with as well. I think it doesnt feel quite bold enough, like something in this color would need more in the cut department to amp it up as it were. I know you have mentioned several times looking for a replacement for your fuschia knit blazer and I dont see this as it. But maybe that isnt the goal for this topper?

    Or I could just have a poison eye for this mauvey color... I had a terrible full curdoury skirt in about this shade in middle school...... yadda yadda yadda. So feel free to kindly disregard :)

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Yes, Astrid. These are the moka ones that I wanted in charcoal. I'm trying to decide if it is worth sending them back or not. I keep wavering on these, just like the jacket! 

  • Kristin SF replied 10 years ago

    I have to say, I love love love those boots. They fit SO WELL. Can't wait to see more pics because -- given how difficult it is to find boots that fit -- I'm thinking seriously keep.

    I like the jacket too. Works with black and white esp well, but also like it with the chambray and with just white too. #1 and 4 are my faves. Excellent find! I guess only you can decide if you think the combinations are exciting enough to get you to pull the jacket out of your closet and wear it. But I do like it!

  • kellygirl replied 10 years ago

    Ooh, of course I had to log in to see the boots! They actually read as charcoal on my screen. They are deliciously fab on you. The cut of the jacket is gorgeous. I'm not 100% sure on the color though. I thought you were going to show me a fuschia jacket to replace the H&M one. This is certainly more subtle but in this lighting, it's hard to know for sure. Your color pairings are fab. I'm curious to read what others think. 

  • replied 10 years ago

    Well, this is very interesting. The blazer looks like it is the perfect cut for your frame. I love the longer stance, and the fact that it's not SO long that it disturbs your carefully crafted proportions. I'll take your word on the quality and fabric since those details are hard to see.  

    Now, for the color! This is where it gets interesting. I see this functioning as a neutral for you. It's not unflattering at all, but it's not a jazzy pop-of-color jacket like your fuchsia jacket was last winter. The color is just sort of, "there" like a supporting act, for the rest of your outfit. I think it looks very, very good --excellent really--with everything you have shown. Now, are you sure that it won't go with your other reds? What will Angie say about that I wonder? Even though I'm personally a big chicken, I think it looks super edgy and modern when conventionally "clashing" colors are worn together, and that's a look I think you could pull off with aplomb.

    Now, to the boots! How do you spell Oy vey? Forget everything I said about them yesterday (yes, fickle I am). They are reading very grey on my monitor today. They look fantastic, actually. Is that the cool Northern light? Are they a greyish brown? In a way, it might be really nice to just keep them and cross that off your list, wouldn't it? So I will just ask you this. If you never knew a greyer La Canadienne boot existed, would you have been happy with these? Or are there too many things you feel they don't go with? Now that I've asked you about sixteen questions, I'll have to make sure I come back to this thread! :) 

  • Karie replied 10 years ago

    I love the boots - love, love, LOVE them! The jacket, I'm not so sure about. I'm just not loving the color. I'll be checking back to see what Angie says!

  • Caro in Oz replied 10 years ago

    Love the boots :) The jacket fits really well but looks to be at least 3 different colours depending on the photo I click on - so I don't feel able to comment on the colour - sorry Suz.

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    Suz, I hereby crown you Queen Considerate. 

    I love the blazer. I vote keep it, but do sleep on it a little more, because you have to love it too. You need a topper, this did not break the bank, and it's a hard colour to find. It works beautifully with the white and DVF sweater. 

  • viva replied 10 years ago

    I vote for the blazer too. When I saw the pictures without reading anyone's comments I was very much in favor. I love the cut on you -- why can't I ever find anything like that at Zara??? -- it really looks impeccable. And I like the color - I especially love it with the dots, it's great with the white sweater, and I think it's quite fun and unexpected with the chambray. It's actually feeling versatile; perhaps as Claire says it's a kind of neutral for you. Follow your gut but I hope you'll decide to keep it. :)

  • Nicole D replied 10 years ago

    I'm just going to say it:"Dusty rose".  At least that is how the colour looks on my screen. I can't totally get past it.  Very nice fit though.  Girl, would you please cut the tags on those Philips?  And I like the Moka, actually looks very rich especially with the black heel.  They fit beautifully!  Beautifully!  But up to you about whether they are practical.

  • catgirl replied 10 years ago

    I'm not a fan of this shade of pink - dusty rose or mauve or whatever. It's not a clear pink nor blush and I find t muddying to your lovely complexion.

    The boots however must reside with you!

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Nicole, you're right -- it IS dusty rose....they even call it that! I almost didn't get past the name to order it...but you know, it's flatttering to my complexion, what can I say? The curse of being a "cool summer." 

    And I promise to cut the tags on Philip -- he's staying! As for Moka Mazy, I just don't know. It would surely help if I could see the ACTUAL charcoal colour. Especially since I am thinking of letting my hair go grey. Charcoal would probably be wiser in that case....

    Thank you all so much for your thoughts. This same jacket, by the way, also comes in a lovely blue and a bright dark green. 

    Angie, if I am Queen Considerate, you are Queen Responsive and Kind. I think you are right, too -- I need to sleep on it. I am very lucky that these Zara jackets seem to fit me. It does give me options for fun "extras" each year. 

    Claire, thank you so much for your thought-proviking questions. I was sort of hoping it might work as a neutral. I'm just not completely sure that it does. But I need to go back to some of Joy's posts for inspiration on this, I think. She uses blush brilliantly! 

    Then again....blush is not dusty rose, and that's what this is!

    As for the boots...well...let's go into that some more tomorrow. They only read as brownish in very bright light -- that is how I got confused in the first place. You can see how it happened, right? Oy. I think maybe I will call the online store and ask how DARK the charcoal is. Maybe they can help me. On the website it looks lighter, which would actually be a really good thing for me, especially if I let my hair go natural in the next year. 

    It seems opinions on the jacket's colour are divided and I guess that makes sense of my own divided opinions. It doesn't help that it's looking different in each picture. I'm seriously going to try to get some OUTDOOR photos tomorrow. Even if it is raining again!

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    ETA: I see not all think it is flattering -- but honestly, it is. Well, I think it is. In real life, I mean. But. I will get some outdoor pics to ensure I'm not smoking something. :P

  • Marley replied 10 years ago

    I immediately thought "mauve" when I saw the jacket - and I have a major poison eye for mauve. So . . . I will exempt myself from commenting on the jacket. The boots are great!

  • Marley replied 10 years ago

    Suz - how about posting the link so we can see what the color is like on Zara's website?

  • Emily replied 10 years ago

    I love the blazer, colour and fit, especially in #1.  Yay from me!  I agree with Claire that the colour is a more interesting neutral on you.

    The boots... oh gosh.  They fit perfectly and the moka looks like a dark, warm gray on my monitor, both in your picture and on the La Canadienne website.  I think I will have to reserve comment until your post with your dresses tomorrow.  

  • replied 10 years ago

    Is it the blazer with roll up cuffs? I can't seem to find it on the site!

    I think it is a beautiful fit in an unusual colour. I agree it reads more like a neutral but I can see it with black and grey, and denim and white. I think that tone if colour is season less too which would be fantastic!

    The moka boots are gorgeous fit. They do read really grey in our lighting.

  • Tina replied 10 years ago

    I vote yay on the jacket and the boots.
    Here's my reasoning: you have black boots, charcoal could easily be very similar (maybe this is what you want). The color of these boots does not look brown brown but rather grey brown, I love the color and see it as a neutral that should work well with your cool toned clothes.
    The jacket (even though it is 'dusty' rose) is a very flattering color on you. I too have a bad taste in my mouth when I hear those words together, but... this is a bit of a clearer rose than I remember. It looks really good in the photos and will play very well in your wardrobe. It should work with clear grays, black, white, cream and taupe (right?!).

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Smart idea, Marley! Here's the link. Dusty pink, they actually call it: 

    http://www.zara.com/ca/en/woma.....47552.html

    Thanks again for all your thoughts. And yeah, I do feel relieved that I am not the only person to be deceived by the colour of those boots! Sheesh! I honestly think the SA was also deceived. She was not trying to mislead me. 

  • replied 10 years ago

    Weird, on the Zara app they are all showing as out of stock, but on the website they are showing as in stock.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    I find this shade of pink to be almost universally flattering - it always makes skin look so pretty and healthy IMHO.

    The fit of the jacket is spectacular on you. And I think the colour plays incredibly well with your wardrobe as demonstrated by these stylings. I especially like it with the polka dot Mine sweater and the plum pencil skirt.

    And didn't  Angie tell us that all shades of pink and blush would be hot for spring?

    But you need to feel comfortable with this slightly unexpected colour in your closet so totally agree with Angie's suggestion to sleep on it. But FWIW, I find it very flattering on you.

    And the boots? Swoon-worthy :)

  • DonnaF replied 10 years ago

    Oh, I LOVE this color on you, at least as it shows on my monitor.  I have a poison eye for mauve (on ME), but this is not mauve, plus I wouldn't wear it.  Of course, you would be the one wearing this. . .so does it make you feel princely enough? 

  • unfrumped replied 10 years ago

    I will leave out boot color comments--i can't tell well enough.

    The blazer is a very good cut and fit. I'd like to see a little more blue-y pink, but on my screen it is not completely dusty. So I think it's hard to make any big mistake with this, but more that you should love it and feel fun in it. If it makes a capsule, especially for a fresh spring look, that sounds great. Not fond with the berry skirt--I'd play more to your grays, whites and black for fresh looks. Not saying there aren't also some other color combos you might find as well. I can't see differences between black and navy well on my screen but if it works well with your navy--if it's not too dusty for that--then that would be another plus.

    Also, try it outdoors, in case strong light washes it out, since it has a big role as a summer topper.

    I think it'd look good over column of color, either direction--especially over dark neutrals for high contrast, or over all white/cream for a light look (could be ice-creamy, but I think you could punch it up with accessories).  I am so with you on finding nicely structured cotton or similar jackets. I bought one this past summer that was  not as good as this Zara, but I still wore a lot because I had  nothing remotely to fill that hole, and it really showed me how much more useful would be a better quality and design in a similar weight.

    So, the color has to be good and workable, but fit and fabric are as important. I've been learning not just to buy my favorite colors willy-nilly, but be sure the garment structure provides a lot of the style quotient and to really like wearing it--some jackets just feel great on, and others do not.

  • pil replied 10 years ago

    Suz, maybe the sales associate could send you a side by side picture of the moka and charcoal boots for comparison? They sure look gray to me in your photos.

    While I too am having a hard time getting past the color of the jacket (mauve and blue 1990's dining room anyone?) it does look really nice on you. How about a gray shirt with the skirt pairing?

  • Sara L. replied 10 years ago

    I think the jacket looks great on you, both the fit and color.  I like all the outfits you've put together with the jacket.  I find them interesting and not boring, but that's just me.  I think you'll have to decide for yourself whether you find the outfits boring or not.  

  • Jaime replied 10 years ago

    Suz I have not (yet) read all the comments but I totally understand your reservations. I have seen this jacket in person and it just isn't The Pink color I would have chosen. But, if you put that aside, it is a great shape, a good color and actually looks terrific on you. And the boots are super duper. Ok, I hope that relates to your questions as I was up a bit too late last night to be clear headed this morning.

  • MsLuna replied 10 years ago

    Lovely blazer, Suz! It fits you well! I find that the blazer looks best with all your pants outfits since the proportions work very well. I hate to be a bit of a downer, though, but I feel that proportionally, it doesn't work with the skirt. If it were a couple inches shorter, it would certainly make the proportions better.

    Otherwise, I find that it really works well with most of the outfits you've shown! I love the way you put them together!

  • Lisa replied 10 years ago

    I'm a yay vote for the blazer.  That's a tough color to find and an ever tougher color to wear and it is lovely on you.  I think it would look great paired with brown, the black looks a tad harsh against it.  I do like it paired with the DVF sweater, white, and light blue, all the softer colors.  Some of my blazers/jackets are more versatile than others, I think it's good to have a collection of toppers with varying degrees of mix-ability.  I'd like it with the skirt if the boots were a lighter color, the dark boots weigh down the outfit.

  • texstyle replied 10 years ago

    I kept looking at the color, reading the comments, thinking how I personally feel about the color and then going back and looking again and I have to say I just don't think it's the best choice. If it's just supposed to be a fun, occasional piece then maybe it is fine. But I guess I feel like you sort of disappear into the crowd in this color (if that makes sense). It just isn't very dynamic. With white under it, it does look better, but honestly I think that was the best pairing in all of these. Not that the outfits were bad - it's really just that color for me. The fit and style are great. Won't Zara likely have other colors before long?

    The boots look fantastic!

  • jurocha replied 10 years ago

    I will chip in too.

    I like the jacket as styled in 1-4 very much!
    The blue button-down, I'm not really a great fan of. If you would change the boots for booties in a low-contrast color to the jeans, it would maybe get a "YAY" from me too. As-is there's too many colors for my mainly colorless persona.

    The boots are also the problem for me 6-8. After seeing some combos combining reds and pinks (and red and burgundy from lovely Ingunn here), I gladly welcomed your pairing of plumb skirt and pink blazer. If you swap these mocha boots for... nude shoes (maybe?), it has potential to become a YAY too.

    Hm...after all these considerations, I guess I must add I recommend you return the boots. I like mocha, but if you plan on making them your go-to shoes, it doesn't seem like it is working... (or maybe it is for other combos? Hm... not much help here, ham?! Sorry!)

  • nancylee replied 10 years ago

    I'm another who's not a fan of this shade of pink in general, Suz, but you're really selling it!  The fit is perfect.  Proportion-wise, I like it best with the trousers and jeans, but it works with the skirt as well.  

    I know you're a little concerned about how well it plays with the rest of your closet, but you're usually so disciplined about adding items that have a lot of flexibility that I think you're allowed to stray a bit and add something that provides variety and fun.  When you have such a carefully curated wardrobe I think it's important to add a few outliers.  :)

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 10 years ago

    Suz, my first impression of the jacket was that it isn't as stylish as your usual looks. It's more classic. It looks very, very good on you; it just doesn't immediately strike me as "you." So that's not necessarily bad; the hole it fills in your wardrobe is by definition something you don't already have, right? Then I remembered the color is one I wore a LOT throughout the 90s, so I realize that association is "coloring" (ha ha) my response to the jacket as well. It is a beautiful fit on you, and the color flatters your skin.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 10 years ago

    I love both pairs of boots on you, too! I've lost track of which color these suede ones are, but they are gorgeous on you. You should have the color you really, really want, though, whichever one that is.

  • Lyn D. replied 10 years ago

    Another not 'sold' on the jacket Suz.
    It strikes me as a corporate -type jacket in a non-corporate colour, somehow.
    The boots are tricky too- they do look more grey than brown and are really lovely- I would maybe keep if the real grey is too dark .

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