Why a Longline Coat or Blazer is Your Wardrobe’s Best Friend (& I Chopped My Hair) #iwillwearwhatilike

Before I talk about how a longline coat is your wardrobe’s best friend, I’ll just point out the fact that yes – I cut off my long hair AGAIN.

After just growing out the last bob.

I started growing my hair again just over a year ago when I felt like a change after having had the long bob for a while. I also grew out the fringe, then promptly had it cut back in again at the end of last year.

Then last time I was at the hairdressers they handed me a book they’d had made up of all their Instagram posts (it was a whopper of a coffee table read) and there it was, a picture of my newly trimmed and coloured long bob they posted back in April 2016. And I fell in love with that cut again.

So I thought I’d keep my hair long over the summer, make the most of the milkmaid braids I’d been working towards, then cut it off in the autumn.

Did I make it that far? No, of course not. I asked for it to be chopped in my very next appointment (impatient, much??).

 

Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links which means if you click through and buy I may receive a small commission at no cost to you (click here for my full disclosure). Any items listed as* were gifted within the last 12 months.

 

SHOP THE LOOK:

 

What I love about this cut is that it takes MUCH less effort to make it look good in the morning. I grew my hair with grand plans to have it beautifully curled at the ends every day, and what happens in reality (i.e. the real life of someone who DOESN’T have a beautiful #InstagramPerfect life, who has to walk the dog, empty the dishwasher and sit on a computer at home for much of the day) is that it looks like a bird’s nest most of the time. I ended up always putting it in plaits or bunches and leaving it like that till I next washed it.

(And the less said about how long I left it between washes – because #Can’tBeArsed – the better.)

Talking of washing hair, it’s SUCH an ordeal when it gets long. I know some people who have long hair and wash it every day – I am not that person! So off it came. (The fringe is back to stay too.) I just have a feeling that that was the last time I’ll ever really grow grow my hair – it just wasn’t that much fun this time around.

Never say never though, eh?!

Shall we talk about the outfit now…?

 

Ignoring the fact that I’m in orange again (you can’t say I’m not dedicated to The Art of Wearing Orange), the longline coat or blazer has become my absolute best friend in my wardrobe. My closet BFF, if you like.

Some of you may know my longline camel blazer well has been worn countless times on the blog (see here, here and here for example), and I’m rather keen on the same style in a winter wool coat.

I have to admit I thought this orange coat (by New Look, I got it through Amazon interestingly) was a lighter fabric like my longline camel blazer. It’s perfect for the current milder weather we’re having, though when the sun comes out it’s actually TOO warm. If you went for a similar style in either a neutral (camel, stone, navy, brown, etc.) or your favourite bright colour (or one of each?!), then you’ll find it works with so many outfits as the perfect thrown-on.

I’ve worn my camel one with cropped jeans with a raw hem, over a vintage evening gown, over a preppy stripey dress and with navy culottes (ooh look there’s the same scarf again).

It’s just the right length to wear over just about anything, and the long length is flattering and, er, lengthening. It hides big bum days, no waist days, and food baby days. Now that it’s taken me THIS long (how many years?!) to realise how incredibly versatile it is, I’m going to find it hard to not buy one in every one of my favourite colours this year.

Now, I’m off to search “yellow longline blazer”, “coral longline blazer”, “pink longline blazer” – wish my wallet luck…

Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my bi-monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!

WHAT NEUTRAL COLOUR AND WHAT BRIGHT COLOUR WOULD YOU CHOOSE IF YOU COULD ONLY CHOOSE ONE COAT IN EACH? COMMENT BELOW…!

Coat: New Look (similar in a rust colour)
Scarf: Asos (love this one)
Trousers: Winser (similar)
Shoes: Finery (LOVE these)
Sweater: Unknown (similar)
Bag: Brenda McLeod (LOVE this one – use FREE25 for 25% off, though I don’t know the expiry date so hurry!)
Earrings: River Island
Sunglasses: Asos (old, love these)

 

LIKE MY SOFT JERSEY WIDE LEG TROUSERS? HERE ARE SOME OTHER WIDE LEG TROUSERS YOU MIGHT LIKE…

 

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Thank you for joining the #iwillwearwhatilike link up! This started as a campaign on Instagram in August 2015 where women over 30 wore everything on a journalist’s list of “inappropriate” items for 30+ women (including leopard print, short dresses and oversized sunglasses. Yes, really). It was so popular that I decided to carry it on weekly where women of all ages link up their fabulous style, never mind what anyone tells them not to wear!

The link up goes live every Tuesday at around 3pm UK time and will stay open for a week. Whilst the original article was of course aimed at the 30+, you can be ANY age to link up. The only prerequisite is that you’re wearing whatever you damn well like!

Click here to receive an email reminder for the next #iwillwearwhatilike link up as soon as it’s live!

Linking up etiquette…

CLICK HERE to read the rules of linking up (and to grab the #iwillwearwhatilike button). Basically it’s just good manners to link back to here – to leave a comment is even nicer!

PLEASE NOTE: This is for linking up WHAT YOU’VE BEEN WEARING ONLY. Non-outfit links will be removed and you might be blocked if you turn out to be a repeat “offender” (and no one wants that, do they…)!