Budget Styling a Quilted Jacket the Ralph Lauren Way
When the weather is frosty, stay nice and toasty with a quilted jacket, upstyle the look with textured layers to create your own Ralph Lauren style.
Ralph Lauren is my favorite designer. I call him the fashion LOVE man because I love how he uses rich textures and layers to create looks that tell their own story, no one does it like him, his vintage ads are still stylish and show his beautiful pieces still gorgeous decades later. Ralph's signature style does not come cheap, they are investment pieces since the quality and style will last a long time. I am always on the lookout for them when I thrift, especially vintage blazers and jackets, since they hold their value very well.
I found this like new Ralph Lauren quilted jacket at Goowill for $17.50, such a steal considering similar jackets on the RL site retail for around $200, but are on sale right now.
Since textures are a big part of the look, I chose a cowl neck cable knit sweater, also thrifted for $7. Amazon has a lighter weight version here.
Add a vintage brown wool cabbie hat and over the knee boots as a base, it looks great when you take the jacket off.
Starting the layers, a vintage chocolate brown leather vest by Liz Clairborne gives the look a more woodsy feel. It doesn't have to be leather, but the rich brown does match the suede patches on the shoulder and elbows. Faux suede would work well too like this one on Amazon.
Adding a different vintage cabbie hat in greens and browns, a plaid scarf around the neck tucked into the sweater, creates that distinct Ralph look. He would normally have one more layer, a button down under the sweater and then the scarf, but it's too warm for me to wear that many layers. I don't want to feel like Randy in the Christmas story lol.
I opted for a riding boot instead of the over the knee boots with this look, it captured the style better.
Cinching the belt is always a little tricky with a quilted jackets, it is easy for it to look too bulky, especially with layers, so I tend to wear it open.
The original look without the vest and a brown wool cabbie hat and the otk boots.
You don't have to spend a lot to get the Ralph style, it's a classic look you wear for many years to come.
Blessings,
Eden
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You often find these items with *broken zippers*,.or the zipper pulls missing. On eBay & other sites you can find replacement pull tabs that lock over.the round place.where the original.pull tab was.attached. These come in various metal tones and.sizes, if you thrift a lot get a package.with a.range to have on hand when needed. I replaced the pull on a gorgeous Ralph Lauren leather jacket that had been tossed because of the MIA pull tab, an antique bronze tab matched perfectly. Super simple to slide.the new one on & snap.closed. If the zipper is off the track there are several ways to fix them, or take it to a leather repair place where it is about a $5 and 5 minute fix.
Leather repair or shoe repair shops have all sorts of items or.techniques to replace or repair vintage or new items. Well worth it to replace.zippers, etc considering.the value of these.timeless.pieces.
Jo-ann Fabrics sells zipper repair kits that also allow you to open the tab at the bottom of the zipper to replace a broken zipper part that no longer can attach to a pull- the metal or plastic shears off sometimes - but these kits allow for that level of repairs too