A jacket fit for sweaty Florida in fall

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SEPTEMBER 01, 2010

I kind of feel like Newton, when the apple fell on his head. Or... something.

We've been talking about the Florida Fall Conundrum -- maintaining fall style when it's still 98 degrees (did anyone else just start singing I Do Cherish You? Totally caught you). Anyway, I made a small gain in the struggle this weekend when I picked up this black crepe jacket at Charlotte Russe, only $24.

It's kind of 80s-tastic, right? A little slouchy, a little shiny. Reminds me of Big Business with Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin (did anyone just start singing Higher Love? Totally caught you). Maybe it's the pockets, or the way it lays, but it feels very now to me. I didn't think I'd like it, but it clicked as soon as I put it on. At the counter, the sales girl squealed and said she had the same jacket.

The best part is the fabric. It's about as weighty as a silk nightgown, and just as comfortable. It has all the look of a fall piece, with the breezy wearability needed here in Armpit Sweat, Florida, population YOU. I recommend.

Now, can someone talk me out of buying this? I really want it, but $54.50 seems pretty steep. Recessions kill dreams.

Deal Diva Stephanie

Photos: Charlotte Russe

Posted by stephaniehayes at 11:00:42 am on September 01, 2010 | Permalink | Comments |

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THE AUTHORS

Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.

As a sullen teenager, Emily Nipps refused to wear anything but black, olive green or burgundy, preferably ripped. She has since added color to her life but still experiments with her dark streak. A product junkie, she has tried tons of overpriced face creams and hair products but loves drugstore brands that work the same. She's an Aries and a bassist in a punk band. She has a pet pig, seven chickens, three cats and a rabbit. And just as many lip glosses. She can be reached at (727) 893-8452 or nipps@tampabay.com.

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.

Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.

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