My Spring and Fall Jacket Collection (And How The Whole Thing Cost Me $131).

as temperature lows have been holding steady below the zero mark, with the exception of that one, freakishly warm day last week, i've been once more hit with the sad realization that it's time to put away all of my lighter jackets until march. every year, when i store my jackets and again, when i take them out, i get rid of a few pieces. i'm happy to note that, in the last two years, i've been feeling the need to purge diminish, as i have been building quite the little collection and i am very pleased with it.   the best part is, the grand total spent on these pieces was $131 plus tax. 

i bought this lovely houndstooth jacket a few months ago at the friperie renaissance, in verdun, for all of $6. it's still a bit tight around the shoulders but, given how my weight has been fluctuating, i've decided to keep it. 

i'm getting tired of animal print, in general, thanks to it having exploded in mainstream fashion over the last few years and that's too bad because a lot of my rockabilly and psychobilly clothing is now this close to actually annoying me. anyhow, i've decided to keep two of my animal print jackets (i got rid of the other three, last spring).

i got this jacket as part of a trade made at a craft fair, last fall. i met a really good friend of mine there and i believe i got this jacket in exchange for a vintage, art deco necklace i was selling. it may have been two autumns ago. (it's one of those friendships that feels like it's been a part of my life for much longer than it has and so i'm losing track of time). 

the other animal print jacket i'm keeping (although i haven't worn it in over a year and i've only worn it two or three times in all so i should reconsider this, next spring) is this one that i bought at the le chateau warehouse for $25, about 5 years ago. a part of the reason i like it so much is the detailing in the fabric, seen in the second photo. it's such a fun texture, even if i have to be careful to not hook it onto anything sharp or protruding:

i, of course, have my harrington. i keep it out all winter, though, because i sometimes wear it indoors. 

i had three aviator jackets but gave a matte, leather one to my daughter. i'm keeping this one, that i bought on sale for $15, about three or four years ago:

this warmer one, on the other hand, i will be selling as soon as i find the clearly detachable, faux lamb collar that came with it. i bought it on sale for $30 and wore it once. 

i have one blue jacket and i bought it in a large store downtown that sells a lot of hideous things and plays their techno music way too loudly. they stuck the rack in the entrance, by the sidewalk and it caught my eye as i was walking down ste-catherine west, last spring. i bought it for $15. it needs a little love (and some buttons) but i'll deal with that when i pull it out again.

i love both of my red jackets but i must admit that i have not worn this first one in a long time. i bought it a few years ago, on sale, for $15 and i put it on once or twice, last spring. this will pain me to share but i bought this one at the same store as that blue one. what?! they sell cute, $15 jackets! 

(i have the exact same on in black and that one is staying my closet for the odd, warmer day). 

this other red one i scored in july, at the "take off your clothes" swap team event i mentioned here so, i got it for free. it appears to be vintage and comes with a great little sash that always slips out, hence why it is not in the photo. (i'm going to have to find it before i store these or it will nag at me!). the sleeve length and large buttons are great for pulling off the perfect, early 60's look. it's light and pretty and i feel great in it!

my absolute favourite spring/fall jacket score of the year was bought just two weeks ago, for all of $10 at la friperie renaissance, in verdun. i can barely express how thrilled i am to have found this. it fits perfectly and i feel beautiful and confidant in it. i'm only sad that i found it so late in the season and i can't wait to wear it with some elbow-length, leather or crocheted gloves in the spring. the photo doesn't show you just how awesome it is so i'll post a photo of me wearing it, in the spring. 

my prized cape:

i want to mention two more coats in this post. firstly, a moment of silence, if you will, for what was my favourite spring/fall coat (that looks much better when on an actual person than it does on an emaciated mannequin). i wore it for years and now it is frayed, missing buttons, ripped in the shoulder... it's a mess. i will give myself one more week to decide whether or not i love it enough to unsew it and use the pieces to draft myself a pattern for a new one. a reincarnation of sorts... *sigh*

and, finally, a sneak look at a coat that deserves its own post. it's vintage (the only time i wear fur) and was given to me. this one needs to be shot outside, on me and with a fresh blanket of snow on the ground. 

i will create a similar post when it is time to put away my winter coats, in april, but for now, this is it. 

...i do also have two prefectos or leather, motorcycle jackets but i'll be painting those over the course of the next few months and i'll share the results with you when i'm done. 

Posted in: aviator jacket,cape,clothing exchange,clothing swap,fall jacket,harrington,spring jacket,style,thrift store,vintage,wardrobe