The peplum has made one of its periodic comebacks as a fashion trend.
Actress Anna Faris in a Moschino peplum dress, via Stylelist. Click for source.
The look brings back fond memories of a structured black cotton jacket with a peplum that I wore in the early ’90s. I had a few tailored pieces by Teenflo for work back then and the jacket might have been one of them. I wore the peplum jacket outside the office too as part of my off-duty uniform. I liked that the combination of shoulder pads and peplum made my waist look very small.
I wore that jacket till it fell apart. That’s how you know you’ve literally done a trend to death. As a result, I wasn’t planning on running out and buying any peplum pieces. Good thing, because I already had one in my closet: a vintage leather and patent jacket that I bought on eBay last November. From the photos, I thought it had a nice hourglass shape but nothing extreme.
The jacket's photo from eBay.
A photo of the back of the jacket, from eBay.
When I tried it on, it had a very pronounced peplum, which surprised me a little. I also needed to have the sleeves shortened. So I put it in the closet and ignored it for a while. I took it out in the spring, had the sleeves done and have been wearing the jacket constantly this fall. I never seem to get great pictures of it. After wearing the jacket to a friend’s birthday party last night, I figured I better share the photos regardless of a monsoon’s impact on my hair because soon it will be too cold to wear the jacket.
Front view.
Side view.
What Wendy Wore
Jacket: Vintage, from eBay
Dress: Versace (2004 or 2005)
Shoes: Prada (2010)
Ring: My own Diana design
From what I can tell, the jacket is from a fall/winter 1992-1993 collection. In other words, it was probably produced at the same time as my old cotton peplum jacket. This is why I don’t like to purge of my closet of anything that’s still in good condition and that still fits. You just end up buying it back on eBay!
Great looking jacket! That peplum is downright sassy.
Ooh spooky. I had a black jersey peplum jacket I wore all the time in the late eighties and am not planning on replacing it – though I might have a quick peak at eBay.
I like a good peplum. Accentuates the ass region in a good way.
How about a bustle?
I was going to say the same thing. Its like a non-invasive butt lift.
That jacket is so cool!!!
THANK YOU! I’ve been using the term “peplum” for about 3 months, and always have to describe it to people. Their reaction usually goes from: “that’s not a word” to “well, it’ll never come back”. But I bought a peplum dress in July, for a wedding that is coming up this weekend. I decided to play it safe and borrowed a couple other dresses (assuming animal print can be considered playing it safe), but now, damn it, I think I have to wear it!!
You MUST wear the peplum dress…and take pictures!
You look adorable. For some reason Versace is coming up around me recently. Have not purchase anything from the brand for years…. Is this a sign?? : )
Definitely a sign!
I love the shiny panels, they make the waist even more pronounced!
I love your jacket, I want. It’s fucking fabulous! How do you find these things? What do you search for? I have an 80s, black, linen peplum jacket with enormous shoulders tucked away somewhere.
Get that jacket out! It might work. You can always replace the shoulder pads with a smaller size.
Awesome! So gorgeous on you. And I love to say “peplum”.
i loooooove peplum! such a classic.
OK so I’ve been obsessed with peplum this season. So I tried and failed–I’m not liking mine at all.( you can see it on my blog) BUT I LOVE YOURS!
I have always loved peplum jackets, and I’ve been wearing both of mine for years already! Guess I’m circling the trends? LOL
To my mind, peplums are never out of style (pepli: Latin plural? ;-]). And how I regret giving up my Vakko drop-waist leather peplum jacket with assymetrical hidden zip and massive shoulder pads. But it was, truth be told, utterly worn out, out of pep, even.
A pepless peplum is sad indeed!
I adore the look of peplum jackets! My grad dress in high school (1985) had a peplum ruffle around it, and I used to borrow a hugely-shoulder-padded jacket of my Mom’s back in my night-clubbing days of the late 80s.
I have a plaid fitted jacket that I love wearing – it’s got a very steampunk look – but this jacket! Eee! Wendy, it’s amazing and you look absolutely stunning in it.
Thank you XOXO
Omg, that jacket is perfection, and looks wonderful on you. I love peplums, especially on a jacket.
Thanks!
I love the exaggerated look of peplum. Your jacket adds just the right amount of flare too (I always worry that too much will really call attention to the booty)
I thought it was a bit extreme at first but my eye adjusted to it!
Ahhh, the peplum. You look great in the jacket. I have several in my inventory; some from the 40’s. If I can wear something once every 20 years it’s a keeper.
I like that policy!
This is so chic! I love the jacket, Wendy!
I totally agree, if you can keep a piece until you love it again it’s a treasure that you can rediscover (and not have to pay for twice…) I remember having a dress in the same cut with ginormous yellow flowers on it. Not quite as lovely as the jacket but focused some attention on my butt in a nice way. 🙂
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
That jacket is very flattering on you. You are very smart to keep things that are in good condition and that you enjoy wearing. The trends come and go.
Oh God I love sassy peplums and that one looks great on you. Good for you for holding on to things.
So crazy how things look too “pronounced” or whatever at one moment and then rock your socks later. I got a red peplum wool jacket on eBay a long time ago, put it on and felt the same way, then forgot about it for years. Found it again and it felt so right! It looks great on you!
Gorgeous dress and jacket!
love the patent details!
I\’m dying to get my hands on a peplum piece. I think it can be a very feminine look. You look positively spiffy in your jacket!
That skirt is awesome!
What a beautiful jacket. I would wear it all the time if I had one like it. It is just stunning with the patent leather accent. It looks great on you.
This is gorgeous, so feminine! I love your skirt too 🙂
I love peplums! I think they are so flattering. And this one looks great on you. You are way ahead of the curve for Spring 2012.
You look gorgeous! I am going for more elegant and feminine looks this fall as well 🙂