Hanoi’s stylish silver-haired ladies elegantly wear quilted jackets and coordinate them with high-value designer bags (Video: Le Phuong Anh – Mai Cham).
In Hanoi’s winter weather, hand-embroidered quilted jackets are a popular choice for sophisticated middle-aged women due to their warmth and versatility.
A quilted jacket is a garment made using the “quilting” technique, which involves sewing multiple layers of fabric together with stitches that form squares, lines, or raised patterns, with a layer of cotton padding inside for warmth.
This was a traditional garment for women in the Northern region in the past, but in recent years, it has been revitalized and regained popularity. Notably, the combination of quilted jackets with velvet and silk materials, along with intricate hand-embroidered details, creates a luxurious look for the wearer.
To wear velvet or silk quilted jackets beautifully without appearing heavy or outdated, middle-aged ladies can refer to the styling tips from this street style photoshoot featuring three “models”: Thu Do, Hong Hanh, and Thoa Nguyen, members of the “Sparkling Silver Hair Club.”
Each woman has her own unique style, but all share a common spirit of minimalism, elegance, and an emphasis on quality materials.
From cropped jackets and long coats to versions made from silk or brocade, quilted jackets are paired with designer handbags, shoes, and hats, creating a harmonious overall look.
Ms. Thu Do (born 1968) appears in a black quilted dress with red velvet flared sleeves by designer Duc Hung. She pairs the dress with black high heels, a Chanel rhinestone brooch, and pearl necklace, creating a modern and elegant appearance.
Lowe sunglasses, valued at approximately 16 million VND, were chosen to enhance the sophisticated look, while a red handbag from a local Thai brand, priced around 20 million VND, completes the overall outfit.
Ms. Thu Do also presented a long, black velvet quilted coat with brown fur details and a vibrant red lining.
The ensemble is accented with a Gucci GG Marmont belt featuring a red rhinestone buckle, priced at 20 million VND, and a small tan Hermès Kelly handbag, valued at approximately 260-300 million VND or more (depending on the version), creating a captivating overall look where every detail contributes to highlighting her fashion style.
The shoulders are adorned with clusters of yellowish-brown fur along the body, creating a lively contrasting effect. Inside, she pairs a black top and wide-leg pants as a base for the jacket, resulting in a harmonious overall look.
Not afraid to break conventions, Ms. Thu Do wears a glossy leather headscarf paired with oversized sunglasses, enhancing the allure of her appearance.
With this outfit, Thu Do can also transform her look by replacing the headscarf with a Louis Vuitton leopard print scarf.
This small change brings a more luxurious feel to the outfit while maintaining its inherent cohesion and strong style.
In the image, Ms. Thoa Nguyen (born 1976) stands out in a hand-embroidered quilted jacket featuring parrot motifs by designer Duc Hung, a lively handcrafted detail that brings a unique artistic touch and acts as a focal point for the entire outfit.
Inside, Thoa Nguyen chose a red top from Eva de Eva as a lining, harmonizing with the overall color scheme of the outfit.
Additionally, Ms. Thoa Nguyen suggests a short quilted jacket, which both provides warmth and allows her to show off her legs, making the overall outfit flexible and suitable for strolls or meeting friends.
She pairs the jacket with Zara leather pants, creating a modern, dynamic feel while also accentuating her figure. A red Michael Kors handbag, priced at about 7.3 million VND, is chosen as an accessory, helping to highlight the overall outfit and create color harmony, completing the look.
With a more striking color palette, Ms. Pham Thi Hong Hanh (born 1965) wears a long, tiered red dress, paired with a black Coach women’s handbag valued at approximately 10 million VND, black boots, and a black quilted jacket.
The jacket is adorned with hand-embroidered floral motifs, creating a 3D effect on the black fabric, which emphasizes and adds a focal point to the overall outfit.
Sharing with Dân trí reporters, Ms. Hanh stated that she often styles her outfits according to two main principles: using monochromatic colors or contrasting colors to create a focal point.
In this particular outfit, she applies the contrasting principle: the striking red dress stands out against the black quilted jacket, complemented by a red scarf, while black handbags and boots help balance the overall look, preventing monotony.
In their second outfits, all three continue to wear quilted jackets, paired with wide-brimmed hats, creating a more dynamic and youthful look compared to their previous ensembles.
Ms. Thu Do chose a short-sleeved quilted jacket with brown and black polka dot patterns, paired with black pleated wide-leg pants. As a lover of designer brands, she selected a black Chanel handbag valued at approximately 70 million VND, combined with an Hermès bracelet worth about 19 million VND.
For her second outfit, Pham Thi Hong Hanh chose a cream ribbed knit dress, topped with a vibrant red short puffer jacket featuring a round collar and carp embroidery on the chest. According to Ms. Hanh, because the jacket and bag are already striking, she opted for a light cream calf-length skirt to create color harmony with the jacket.
Meanwhile, Thoa Nguyen wears a vibrant neon hand-embroidered quilted jacket, paired with dark leather pants, a black handbag, and dark leather boots. The cropped neon yellow puffer jacket with slightly padded shoulders and multi-colored dragon embroidery on the chest creates a focal point, combined with a black fedora hat and a large ring, resulting in an overall look that is both striking and modern.
“Because neon quilted jackets can be a bit challenging to combine, I prioritize dark accessories to highlight the jacket’s color and accentuate my figure. The red inner layer also helps create more depth for the outfit,” Ms. Thoa Nguyen explained.
When asked about garment care, Thu Do shared her secret to keeping clothes looking new: For quilted velvet jackets, she usually dry cleans them, avoiding water washing to prevent the lining and embroidered patterns from fading or pilling.
Accessories such as leather handbags and belts are also carefully cleaned regularly and stored in their own dust bags. Thanks to these simple yet consistent practices, each of her outfits always maintains its shape, color, and freshness, allowing her to confidently wear them repeatedly without worrying about color degradation.
Not only do they provide warmth, but these quilted outfits also reflect the unique personalities of this group of middle-aged women who confidently embrace their silver hair and dress in their own distinctive styles.
When strolling through the streets, they leave an impression with their shimmering silver hair, bright skin, and refined fashion sense. They often receive compliments, inquiries from passersby, and admiring glances.
Speaking about herself, Thoa Nguyen said that this style not only makes her feel more confident but also serves as a source of inspiration for many other women. Thanks to the tips on caring for silver hair and styling advice she shares, many people have gained confidence in growing out their silver hair and developing their own impressive personal styles, expressing their unique personalities.
“Through my style and everyday image, I want to encourage middle-aged women to be confident, to freely express their individuality through fashion, and to live authentically as themselves,” Ms. Thoa Nguyen expressed.
Photos: Nguyen Ha Nam
