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Shameless Zap Copycat, and what it taught me about my other jackets

rae

(website)

Veteran

I shamelessly copied Zap's leather jacket after seeing her rock it so hard during Shoptoberfest. It's not shown in its best light with this outfit, what with the low heels and two hip-widening tops... but for today I went for a relaxed, comfortable attitude over long legs and a small waist...

The point of my story is that I didn't really know what was missing with other leather jackets until I tried on Lina's. It is way lighter in weight than anything I had tried on in stores before, including blazers. And unlike my Bebe jacket, the rib knit trim is 100% cotton. The matte "sand" color is somewhere between my old caramel trench and the cutaway blazer I wore into oblivion this year, brighter than black but still low-key. The sleeves are slim but loose enough that air flows in, so I have worn this to work with no problem.

Suddenly I see a mass jacket exodus coming.

2 - the rose gold Muubaa is sold. I LOVE it, but it is more outgoing than I am.

3-4 - the galaxy moto is sadly being returned. I just. can't. unsee. the moon-butt in the back, no matter how much I want to delude myself and keep the pretty jacket. I even ordered the two S sizes from Amazon, but no dice. Quite sad about this, but I will hug my galaxy shoes and dress extra tight tonight.

5 - I think I can finally let go of the beautiful, unbreathable, un-wear-to-work-able Bebe. Mo, should I send it to you?? Or did you end up getting the white DP moto?

6 - I am probably going to resell this jersey moto, too. The fabric is right, and it's flattering, and I love the idea, but it feels very casual when I wear it to the store. Not enough structure and yet not enough drape to add that touch of dressiness I need for most of my stretchy, no-nonsense, stair-running work bottoms (especially jeans or leggings masquerading as dress pants).

I still love the idea of a dark, non-black, classic-ish moto jacket, though. I am not allowed to buy any more draped collars! Moto is next in line. Maybe a Muubaa that fits like the rose gold but is a color more like 3 and 6.

I guess I was still going through a style experimentation phase and didn't even know it! I kind of wish the experimenting had been done on the cheap, but one thing I knew was that I had to go for better quality materials. Thank heaven for Ebay is all I can say...

Do any of you do this? As in, keep buying what you *think* you need, in different variations, until you finally find The One?

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39 replies

Latest reply was from Adelfa

catgirl

Veteran

What is the jacket?! I am on my phone - much more to add when I am home!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Una, it is Ellie Tahari off of Bluefly. Zap had the S, I got XS. Thanks for making me go to the link, it is on sale, and I just wrote in about a price adjustment! Fingers crossed...

It comes in black and brown, too.
http://www.bluefly.com/Elie-Ta.....9626702/de

Anonymous

Great jacket!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

You're ditching the Bebe??? Say it isn't so! Not even for off work, play time? I did get the DP Moto and can't wait to wear it. I've never worn a pleather jacket before. I was sorely tempted by an ivory Guess one a few seasons back but never jumped.
I can understand the gold moto being more outgoing than you And the moon butt LOL. But the Bebe?

Joy

Veteran

Yes, what is that jacket in 1? Really outstanding.

Joy

Veteran

Ah, I see it,. Cross posted

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Can't stop laughing at "moon butt" - lol!

So glad you found The One Rae. I think experimenting with different versions of an item until you find the right one is pretty common. You don't know exactly what you're looking for until you weed through the others - that's how we figure out fit and details that we like and don't like.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Rae, your newest jacket is absolutely beautiful. I love the color on you and the material looks so...sumptuous compared to some of the others. I'm sad about the galaxy jacket though. Patterns can be unfortunate sometimes.

Yes, I've gone through multiple iterations of particular items like you have here. Pumps...argh.

shedev

Veteran

Love the new jacket, Rae.

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Maybe I should wear the moon butt jacket! It would be perfect for my line of work!
Love the new jacket. Glad you found the one.
But I second Mo, you should keep the white Bebe!
I am doing this very expensive very obsessive search for the perfect blue pumps. Fingers crossed that I found the right one--the dragonfly pumps are on the way!

rachylou

Veteran

I can see why you're going with #1 and ditching the rest. It's got your vibe, the right balance of masculine and feminine, fashion-forward but not in-your-face.

I think I do the same thing often enough - buy 'til I land on the right one, and then that's it. I feel I might even have had this thought recently about something. I was just satisfied and *done*... funny, I can't quite remember what it was though.

deb

Veteran

The new jacket is beautiful! I wondered if you would keep the moon butt jacket. I would have a hard time with it also. The others, well you now have a better understanding of what you want/like and can move forward.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I totally get this. Giving up objectively nice stuff is an advanced style skill!

catgirl

Veteran

Cool! It is similar to the Spiegel, at least in look- have you been wearing that?

As sorry as I was to let go of the galaxy moto, it was seeing you in it hat made me realize I couldn't compare! And am sad about the Ella Moss. Can you keep for casual?

Maybe the right jacket is like the Brahmin - it replaces everything in its class!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Beautiful jacket. And I'm impressed with your ability to get rid of the rest, cuz they look pretty great on you too. But of course I don't know his they feel on you.

Anonymous

Are you kidding me???? Ack, I am so honored. You look amazing. That jacket is really versatile. I even layer over it, it is a great piece, if I say so myself. I hope you enjoy it for years to come.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

What a gorgeous jacket! And I love the way you've styled it.

And yes, I do this -- buy something until I find "the one." I do it with jeans, sweaters, jackets, shoes. Less so with tops, bags and other accessories.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

The jacket is lovely, Rae. Great purchase. And great decisions about your returns.

And yes. I do this for sure. Not really consciously, usually...it's just a process of refinement. Then, once I figure out the elements that will make a specific kind of piece work for me, I don't have to do it so often.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Mo, I know. I wore that thing like once a week at the office. It was perfect for the long days of arctic air conditioning. I have been trying to wear it for play, but my play so rarely involves the right mix of dressiness, low activity levels, and low temperatures. Heck, it's still around 80 degrees here, smack in the middle of November. :T

Una, it is much lighter than the Spiegel jacket. I did wear the Spiegel in Missouri, and it was great, but it's still too hot to wear that one much. It's going to have to be a coat alternative for me.

Zap, I am just bowing down to your magic eye for outerwear.

Shannon, I guess that's what it is... I had been in such a controlled bubble of an environment that I didn't have much reason to dislike anything...

Suz, I don't think I do it consciously, either. If I knew I was doing it while I was doing it, then I wouldn't do it! lol. But refinement is the word... I keep inching closer as new quibbles continue to reveal themselves.

AnnieMouse

Veteran

I'm so sad you already sold the Muubaa - I keep looking for one, thanks to your post when you picked it up. But I love that you've [finally] found a jacket that works for you!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Love this jacket Rae - and great choices all around I'd say. I notice the lining is still polyester - I guess it's more breathable than some? I ask because I have such warm weather here too that pretty much *any* leather jacket is dead of winter only - and not indoor wear ever.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Yes, texstyle, it's true. I would not have ordered it if I hadn't tried on Zap's first. The sleeves are half cotton, and the jacket is so darn lightweight it hardly holds any heat at all.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I hear you, Rae. I do this a lot myself. It's why my wardrobe churns so much.

Lisa

Veteran

Great new jacket. And yes, I have done this. Unfortunately the best way to learn is to make mistakes sometimes.

Anonymous

That jacket looks fantastic on you Rae. I think it was a great purchase. This one will be so much more versatile (comfort and stylewise) that it will be a workhorse for you. Good call to let the rose gold one go. I would also sell the Bebe as long as you have another white leather jacket (you have the Danier that Vicki and others have, right?). This new jacket has the draped collar as the Bebe and the Danier will cover your need for a white leather jacket. Great neutral color too. That Zap has great taste, doesn't she?

unfrumped

Veteran

Great jacket and great revelations.
I am quite guilty of this, and I blame lack of exposure to cool stuff--don't have enough for comparison, but I expect it's me. My "almost right " eyes have been in control for so long that I keep thinking that's the way something is supposed to look, or feel, until, whap, the real deal hits and I go, what was I thinking? Probably will post more of the same this month and have to be hit with a revelation, too.

The good thing is, it isn't always the more expensive thing, but, um, sometimes it is working out that way.

So the problem becomes, if you don't know what "great" is how do you know to wait for it and it will turn up? What's funny is, sometimes that "great" doesn't translate between clothing items except in a generic "how you feel about it" reaction.
For example, I may have a bar that shoes have to clear now, so I think I can assess shoes, but I may not be translating that into creating a similar bar for tops, or jackets, if I don't have a prototype top or jacket for reference. Unless I just envision "fabness" and try to put the item up against that.

I think that gets back to training self to leave wardrobe holes and breathing space.

cciele

Veteran

Unfrumped, you should start a new thread -- that's a great topic and has got me thinking!

rae

(website)

Veteran

Claire, I actually resold the Danier, too. Should have added that to the list of mistakes (yikes, I guess I made even more this year than I was thinking). Once again: I loved it, it looked good, the materials were right... but it was too heavy for for my activities. What a slow process of learning what an "indoor" jacket is for me!

Unfrumped, that is an interesting point about consciously leaving wardrobe holes unfilled. What determines the fill-by date, so to speak? High-level boredom? Laundry bottleneck? Wear and tear? I suppose eventually one of these things will make unhappiness reach critical-mass... but ideally one should fill the hole before then so that you don't snap and buy the next thing you see.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES. I have been preaching forever that leather jackets come in weights. I'm thrilled you've seen the light. You need a lightweight leather moto. I wore my blush moto in Santa Monica in Sept and was very comfortable.

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