Tuesday, July 8, 2014

A Bit of Americana


Denim is surely the most American of all American things style-wise, and has become a wardrobe staple for millions worldwide. Yet I somehow managed to get my very first dark blue jeans when I was in my mid-30s, and my very first denim jacket in my 40s. This is another quite unique jean jacket from my growing denim family which I wore for certainly the most American of all American holidays - 4th of July.



I simply threw it over my shoulders to complete an easy outfit for a very relaxed and windy day. I thought it looked pretty good paired with a striped shirt made of thin breezy linen over the boyfriend jeans (which are my favorite kind of jeans).

The jacket is definitely a statement piece, another great creation by Chico's. It is an inspired whimsical mix of prints made with a fading tie dye kind of effect, heavily embroidered with beads and some sequins, no wonder that it was originally a very expensive item priced at $189. I actually snapped it for under $25 on sale (it is still available online for a fraction of the original price).




I told you a little bit about the style of my beloved man in my last post (find more by clicking the label Justin's Style), and here is another piece. As fun and creative as Justin is, he works in the business field for many years, and his haircut was for most of the time, sort of by default, very businessy. He let his hair grow longer than usual a few times, and I always liked it. His hair became this gorgeous shades of silver with years, and is always so silky soft. But only recently Justin decided to play with different hairstyles to express his creative side. When he told David, his stylist, about it, the guy got very excited. This is what David came up with - an asymmetrical cut with longer side which can be brushed back in a way that looks totally symmetrical too. I really liked it. The best part is, Justin actually thought of asymmetry and I thought of a longer length, but we didn't discuss it much with each other nor with Justin's master (who is actually the owner of the best barber shop in town called Gents).




The photos were taken by the fishing pier near our home, just a few feet down the hill. It is one of many precious places around the Puget Sound with small beach house communities (we used to live in another one, just one or two miles north of this one).


Do you love denim? What is your favorite denim item?

Linking up with darling Sacramento and her talented partners for Share-in-Style: Denim. Come over to see what other fun ways bloggers wear denim, and please share!

Denim jacket - Chico's on sale
Linen shirt - thrifted (Ralph Loren via Goodwill, $7.99)
The rest - remixed from my closet

32 comments:

  1. Dearest Natalia, I am sooooooooooooo glad you could join in your wonderful denim by the sea. You are a dear friend and part of the Share family indeed.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    1. I am so happy to be a part of your family - even if only in style, dearest Sacramento! xxxxx

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  2. you rock your pretty denim jacket!!, it's a fabulous piece, love the shades and embroidered details, it looks like a mosaic motif printed on denim, such an original idea!
    besos

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    1. It's so wonderful to hear it from you!!! :) xxxxx

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  3. you both such a lovely couple!!!!!
    justin looks great in his new haircut - handsome man!
    your denim outfit seem so right for some fun time at the beach. comfy pants, breezy shirt in a fresh color and the jacket for some sparkle.
    i love the sea, especially when its wild and windy :-) denim got not much worn by me. from time to time i had one beloved denim piece, but never a jacket or a whole look. blue used to be not my favorite color. in the last few years i only have a pair of hotpants, very old and faded and worn for beach vacation. even for sewing is denim not what i would look for.....and i have no idea why :-)
    hugses!!!!

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    1. Thank you, dear Beate (I hope you read, Justin!!!).

      There is plenty of wild and windy here - please come, we'll enjoy together! xxxxxxx

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  4. What a great bargain and a fabulous jacket!! And, yes, I love denim; jackets especially. I have six plus a couple of other non-denim jeans jackets. It's a bit of an obsession. I wear them as outerwear on cooler summer evenings and indoor wear in the winter instead of a cardigan.

    I know a lot of folks are quite snotty about Chico's but I really like their prints and their accessories are great too. I have a sequinned scarf I've been wearing for over a decade and I never get tired of it.

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    1. I know about denim jackets - once you've discovered them, there is no way back, only forward to more jackets! I have three already, and it's just beginning. :)))

      When I first discovered Chico's, I was in my late 20s and had a very different preference in style. I was not impressed - bright colors, sequins... not lady-like at all! :) Now I adore Chico's designs - and I like how their clothes fit me. Their accessories are very fun too, I agree! I am glad that I started meeting other appreciators of this brand! :)

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  5. I used to live in my jeans I mean LIVE in my jeans now I think it has been almost 2 years since I have wore them, but I do still love my jean shorts and my denim jackets are precious to me. This jacket is fab on you! I also must say good for Justin for getting to wear his hair the way he wants it. I have dated and finally married a long hair boy and I am kinda smitten with long hair on guys, Justin looks handsome!
    Enjoy this beautiful week honey!
    XXOOO

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    1. I was rather fond of boys with short hair, but with Justin... well I just like him, whatever he decides to be. Long hair can be very sexy on men, I know what you mean. :))

      I was quite opposite, believe it or not - I never wore blue jeans till probably 35 or 36!!! I never owned anything in denim, except 1 pair of light grayish jeans in my 20s (almost white really) and 1 pair of my brother jeans which I tie-dyed when I was a teenager! That is all. :) Now I have a skirt, a shirt, three jackets and a vest! :) And pants of course. :)))

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  6. Your embellished denim jacket is a great version of a classic design, and you look fabulous, staring wistfully out to sea! I am a denim jacket lover, I wear mine all the time, but jeans, never. I haven't ever found a pair that fit or flatter, and skirts and dresses are much better for my shape.
    Justin looks so handsome!
    I love being by the sea, just look at those waves - beautiful. xxx

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    1. I can see you in a wonderfully long A-shape denim skirt or dress - that would be very you, I think! Especially if there is embroidery on it, mmm... :) xxx

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  7. Natalia, it looks cold in your area. Is this so? Oh my goodness, I couldn't bare clouds during the summer. Besides the weather, the community looks lovely.

    Denim is the quintessential attire for the American lifestyle. The shade of blue of yours looks pretty against the blue/gray sky and sea. The pop of chartreuse green is perfect to bring in a bit of brightness!

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    1. It is around 80 F this week and sunny, but in general, living in the PNW, you better be ready for clouds any day. :) Though I heard the rumors that it used to be here 3 months without clouds at all during summers, but things change.
      Summer is really very mild here, I suppose for a SoCal girl it would feel rather cool! :)

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  8. That is a fantastic denim jacket! I love the designs on it and the fact that it pairs so easily with more denim and yet doesn't give the Canadian Tuxedo look. I do love denim and my teacher wardrobe was heavy on denim skirts and dresses. Like you I really love the boyfriend jeans. I resisted them for awhile and didn't think I would like them. I am not yet sold on the highly distressed version but at least I know that if I happen to fall down and tear them it will be quite stylish.

    Justin's funky new hair style looks great and really suits him. He looks happy and like he feels himself with that haircut. That's really important, I think. Just got mine cut today so I'm nearly as good looking as Justin now! ;-)
    xoxoxoxo

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    1. Shawna, you are funny as always. :)) I bet you look the cutest version of you - I'll come over to your blog to check out your new haircut soon. :)

      I have only today learned the expression "Canadian tuxedo"! xxx

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  9. That is a super cool unique jacket! I've had denim jackets in the past but for some reason they make me do damaging things to them. Like cutting the sleeves off and adding marker, paint, trim, etc....so when they don't turn out I'm stuck without a denim jacket again! Dare I buy another one??
    I also love the look of short over long like you have with the crisp spring green shirt. Nice choice!

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    1. Thanks, Joni! Just get another jacket or two in your shop! :) I have just seen a very cool basic denim jacket by Chico's in a consignment shop on Bainbridge, though way too small for me. Probably would fit you like a glove! :)

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  10. Am I too old, that what is called boyfriend jeans looks like normal jeans to me...just not skinny jeans?
    Anyway, I adore that denim jacket! How cute is that, with all the details! A great find.
    You and Justin look lovely and relaxed by the sea. Your outfit isn't overdone, but just perfectly styled without being too grungy. And Justin's hair is perfectly styled too! He is lucky to have enough hair to play with. Bushy is veeeery thin on top (ssh) but he makes up for it with his beard! It all migrated downwards on his face. I shouldn't be talking about him. Naughty!
    How fun to have a partner who loves to be creative with his looks too. Bushy loves to dress up with unusual pieces like capes, and vests and necklaces.
    Love,
    JJ

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    1. I am a rooky at fashion slang, and everything is new to me - skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans... I only remember "jeans" and "bananas" from my early days. What did you guys call those very wide on top and narrow on bottom jeans? We called them bananas in Russia. :)

      Justin would love to play more with his wardrobe, but there is somehow never enough dough to do it so far. We have to work on it!

      Cape? Necklaces? Beard? I want to see Bushy! Do not hide this stylish man!

      Much love to you too! xxx

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    2. we called that to jeans "carrots" in GDR :-)

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  11. You look stunning, wistfully gazing out to sea in your fabulously quirky denim jacket! I love a denim waistcoat but haven't worn jeans in years even though I love them on other people.
    Justin's hair looks great, you are a fine looking couple. xxxx

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  12. A perfecrt elaxed outfit for a relaxed day. I think the boyfriend jeans is a good option for most women (as opposed to the ubiquitous horrible skinny jeans...), you can dress them up or down.
    The beach looks lovely, too, seems like a great place to live.

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  13. You are so right, it's quite an identity the jean. Your jacket is perfect! Happy 4th!

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  14. This is certainly a great print denim jacket, love it over the longer shirt and with the boyfriend jeans. What a wonderful place to live! Thank you for your encouraging comments.

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  15. Wow, your jacket is gorgeous, and you look fab in it too.

    x

    Louisa
    https://styleover60.wordpress.com/

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  16. I really like the outfit and the jeans fit you so so so well! I think the reason I personally struggle with denim sometimes is because I have curves and am on a shorter side, which makes it extremely difficult to pick a pair that fits like a glove and doesn't drug along the ground if I chose to wear flats :) :) :)
    And what a handsome man you have!
    x

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  17. The jacket is wonderful -- love the trim and seed beads! Yes, I like denim a lot -- I cannot live without my jeans/shorts. I wear them almost every day, i.e., when I'm running errands, or grocery shopping.
    Your husband got a great haircut! His stylist did an excellent job.
    Enjoy your week!

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  18. Natalia , this is fabulous on you mad this is no ordinary denim jacket! I love the print and details and the blouse adds a lively contrast! The Sound is a Lovely backdrop for this outfit post , how lucky to live nearby!
    XX, Elle
    http://mydailycostume.com

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  19. P.S.
    I love Justin's haircut !
    XX, Elle
    http://mydailycostume.com

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  20. You look amazing! I know I say it a lot but your mixes of patterns and textures is always a triumph and so effortless and how wonderful to be by the sea, the photo's are beautiful - my cut off denim jeggings are actually the only denim pants I have, but I am very fond of them! Justin's haircut is awesome, you have a very handsome chap there! x x x

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  21. Allo Natalia,

    What a beautifuil place you live in, i envy i would love to live near the water-
    I love the haircut of your hubby, it made me smile when his hairstylist got excited when your beloved decided to explore his creative side - Hairstylists love to have carte blanche when it comes to cutting hair
    Love your outfit, don't wear denim much but i do have some, i might consider wearing some when we travel abroad at the end of the summer, so much easier -
    Tks for your wonderful comment Natalia - I'm taking it easy, every morning my hubby to be tells me before he leaves for work - Have fun today and i do!

    Hugs

    Arianexo

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