Style 911: “What Can I Do With A Vintage Chanel Suit?”

“My aunt just passed her old Chanel suit down to me, and obviously, I’m stoked. It fits like a glove and it’s lilac, which is kind of a fun color, but I just have one problem: As a 29-year-old, do I wear it without looking too matronly or worse, costumey, like I’m dressing up as Jackie O. for Halloween?”—Anabelle

Ah, this is a tricky one. We solve our reader’s most serious fashion crisis, after the jump!

Congrats on the suit. Seriously, what a score. Then again, you’ve got quite a conundrum on your hands missy. (All dressed up in a Chanel suit with no place to go!) There are actually a few directions you could take this, and because this is such an advanced styling situation, I consulted my most fashionable friends on the matter. All but one of them suggested separating the pieces. The jacket could be paired with a t-shirt, khaki shorts and some cool sandals, and the tweedy skirt could be really cool with an oversized sweater and boots come fall. But if you want to go full-on, consider the way a more mature (or conservative) lady might wear it. Instead of an ivory silk blouse, pearls and matchy shoes, try making it edgier by wearing it with a dressy-casual black tank, knock-off Loeffler Randall platforms, fun ghost ear studs and a punchy bag. Good luck out there!

Have a fashion or beauty dilemma on your hands? Email your queries to style@thefrisky.com with the subject line, “Style 911,” and we’ll do our best to help sort you out.