Buy and Hold: The jacket in the closet

 Mr. Buffet returns, to give us counsel: "Inflation swindles the person who keeps their cash under their mattress. It swindles almost everybody." 

Even Iris, long on first-name basis with the Prada sales staff, says, "The price of clothes is just crazy!"  In light of that, the seasonal closet rotation changes. The deliberation to keep or replace is more closely-considered when buying power is melting like a popsicle. Avoid short-lived trends, high-maintenance fabrics, and brands that market their goods as 'minimalist' but in fact what is minimal is quality. (Looking at you, Everlame.)

In the face of inflation, a non-'"officy" jacket that can be worn as light outerwear and also indoors is a good bet to buy, or if you own one, to view with renewed appreciation. 

Women are chary of buying jackets now, given a few years of housebound dressing.  Therefore, they are seriously on sale at various price points. Those in today's windows may be s/o given such reductions, but can serve as examples. 

If you're heading into a seasonal closet review, they also illustrate the keepers.

Idea #1: A tailored non-blazer

Nili Lotan cotton-blend twill jacket in sand, on The Outnet; sale price (very limited sizes) $US 292, which is 55% off. 

Idea #2: Supple, citified corduroy

Helmet Lang's forest green corduroy jacket is another stellar example; look at that sleeve! Also on The Outnet; price, $US 238, a 55% reduction. 

Idea #3: A shirt-jacket with character

The Madewell Branner shirt-jacket of double-faced waffle cotton (cool-cycle washable, hang to dry) in a hickory windowpane check. This is versatile but not obdurately generic (and the pickets match!),  a suggestion for a commenter who wondered what to wear when newly-retired.  The price was $US 44, a 50% reduction.  

"I already have a good blazer!"

What do you do with a classic blazer that fits you neatly? The secondhand racks are stuffed with them, but reflexively pitching yours could be rash. Often, a stored jacket only needs professional pressing. (Wire hangers are the worst; they impart the dreaded 'store shoulder' bump. You can find shoulder-shaper hangers at Ikea, online vendors, and thrifts. Some high-end dry cleaners send jackets back on them.)

In the window below, two versions of the classic menswear piece: J. Crew wool Regent blazer in camel and Arket dark beige wool hopsack blazer. 

The J. Crew stylist introduces a a scoopneck tee to soften the jacket; at Arket, right, two lime greens provide arresting contrast.  

A fresh look for a navy blazer: one in jersey, like White Stuff's at Marks & Spencer, more casual than wool, and washable.

You probably already have the blouse or tee, fresher than a traditional oxford-cloth.  

Left: trèsnormale "Toyko" tee

Top right, Part Two blue square print cotton tee  

Bottom right: J. Crew zebra stripe cotton gathered scoopneck  

Sometimes, though, the answer really is to get rid of a jacket. If you have dropped sizes, the tailoring required may not be worth the price. And time may have changed your needs; women whose lives will not be office-centric may have way too many than they need now.

Once prices rise, they don't go down again. Most of us wonder, When will we actively resist higher prices?  Shoppers are already sending the message, "Right about now", as jobbers' warehouses overflow with a glut of merchandise.

It's time to benefit from the "hold" part of "Buy and Hold".