What if it's not "love", can it still be a smart buy? EDIT - keeping! - YouLookFab Forum

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What if it's not "love", can it still be a smart buy? EDIT - keeping!

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I was sharing on a Facebook board of mine this morning about my Allsaints leather jacket:

"I unveiled my winter shearling leather coat last night to lukewarm reviews lol. He doesn't love it or hate it - it 'just looks like a coat, of which you have like seven' was the official response. He said what's important is if I like it. You know, I do like it. Not sure I LOVE it. Hmmm. It would be great to finally have a winter leather jacket (bought one once 10 years ago that never really fit right so I never wore it). But am I just getting it because it's such a deal and I know we can afford it now, and likely won't be able to in the future? Will have to think on that."

I do wonder . . . when is it just cold feet over a 'big' purchase and when is it a flag that maybe this isn't true love and should maybe go back? And, if it's not 'the one', can it be "the one until I find the one" a few years down the road? Or am I better off without?
I rate this at about a 9 on the happiness scale. I really like it. But, by comparison, I rate my crop blush MuuBaa at a solid 10. True love.
What say you?

And I may be having flashbacks to the True Religion BF jeans that I was on the fence on and now regret returning.

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25 replies

Latest reply was from Mo

Sylvie

Veteran

That's a tough one. It looks like a 10 to me. If it's filling a hole, I'd keep it. If it's just a nice extra...then maybe it needs to go.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Sylvie, it very well could just be the sticker shock. I tend to get overly picky when the price tag soars. It does fill the winter leather jacket hole I've had for a decade now.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Wow, it does look fantastic on you Mo. I would keep it and try it on with a few different things over the next couple of days before making any final decisions. Sometimes you just need to sit on a purchase for a bit.

Sara L.

Veteran

It looks great on you. What's keeping you from rating it a 10? Do you see yourself getting a lot of wear out of it or would it end up a wardrobe orphan?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I really love it on you. But if you're not feeling that love...I guess one question is, can you judge that while you are living in a place where it would feel incongruous to wear it?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Suz - ding ding ding. I think having no boots, sweaters, just this one pair of bootcut jeans to try it with might be what's going on here.
That and my fear that I'm not spending my wardrobe dollars on all perfect 10's. But can we realistically expect every big purchase to be a 10? Hmm.

(and truth be told, I *am* sitting here in a bikini after lying by the river for a while in the sun lol)

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I think it's a great jacket. It will a long time to maybe never when you'll get a deal like this on shearling.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Great point, Anna. And I could be having the same issue I did with the BF jeans - not having anything to compare it to, since it's the first in my wardrobe.

cciele

Veteran

I love that jacket on you Mo, but you have to love it too If you can afford it, I think you should keep it. Also, I don't think it's realistic to have only 10s in our wardrobes. Or what might happen is something is a 10 now, but not be a 10 later because your style is evolving. I'd go for what you need (and love) now and not worry too much about the future

rachylou

Veteran

That's a high-style jacket, Mo. Get it on the street in a sea of other black jackets, and you will know your black jacket from the others.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Off to my interview but it occurred to me that you might even be able to sell it for a profit if/when you find one u like better.

Kate

Veteran

It's a beautiful jacket and fits you perfectly, Mo. Aside from price, can you pinpoint any one thing actually about the jacket that keeps it from being a 10 in your mind? If not, then I'm thinking it's a keeper.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Plus Mo, I've noticed you're not really adventurous in your clothing choices. You like a little twist, a little edge. This has a lot of edge.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Rae, that occurred to me! I do think I am just having cold feet. I actually now recall I was wanting to try the size down in the Muubaa but couldn't because of final sale, and return policies and whatnot. Now I totally love it with no hesitation. Working through this here helps me come to these kinds of realizations.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Anna, I think you're absolutely right! I still would die if I spent good $$ on something that didn't work out. So I have a fear of expensive failure lol. My style I aspire to and what I wear definitely are *not* the same, and that's kinda silly, really.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I think it is a 10 too. The fit, cut, and length all look great. It is neutral and will work with a lot. Not sure why you are not jumping for joy after seeing the pics.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Well if you all think it looks that fab, and I can't really pinpoint what is holding me back, I'd have to just say its fear. Fear that I may be misplacing my wardrobe dollars. Fear that there is a different, better, coat out there that I'll miss by getting this one. Fear that the BF thinks I'm squandering our cash. Maybe still that deep lurking feeling that I'm not worth spending on in this way?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You are totally worth it.

Just tell the BF that you got a great deal recently on a LBD!!!

Seriously, if you had your winter things I think you would see how well this will play with them, and how special it is. I can't try on winter stuff when it's bikini heat, no matter how I try. Everything just seems lumpen and indistinguishable and all I can think of is finding a way to keep cool.

DonnaF

Veteran

This looks super on you. How do you like it open (if you would ever wear it open)? Would it be comfy if you wore something heavier underneath? It looks loose enough to be comfy plus would stretch if it is slightly snug. How do you feel about the value for the money, including the quality of the lining, smoothness of the zippers, etc.? Is this too dark for your current color palette? I'm trying to remember the Tahoe clothes which are probably darker than the Florida ones.

IMHO, big ticket items should be 10s. However, just like people/boyfriends, the gems may not reveal themselves immediately! How long do you have to make a final decision?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Donna, all good questions. I think the jacket is a winner, I was simply getting cold feet (ironic in the heat ha ha). I believe it's a 30 day return period, so well before I would be back home to wear it. I just have to go on faith with this one! (It has already gotten the okay, if somewhat unenthusiastic okay, from the BF - so that's a big step in the process I was going through mentally.)

Dashrashi

Veteran

I guess my calculus is different. My major problem right now is that I have far, far, far too much stuff for the amount of space I have. I try to live by the Tim Gunn closet cleaning mantra as far as K/Rs as well: "If you have to ask, you know what the answer is." I try, now, to only keep things that I can quickly say that I unabashedly love, since even if I regret returning something, it's not like I'll be walking around unclothed because of it.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

That makes sense, Dashrashi. I have actually been purging quite a lot, but space isn't my issue. Money always is. I kind of have to 'strike while the iron is hot'. We make good $$$ here in FL, but when we move back to CA, we have to start looking for work and when we find it, it's restaurant wages. Fine, but not big money by any means. We actually were both without work for several months this spring. No unemployment - just no money coming in, period. Not the time to be looking for leather jackets, let's just say It was actually a time of SYC, quite rightly!

Oh, and since I've never really had a leather jacket (failed attempt about 15 years ago that never fit) I'm thinking this will tide me over for the next 5+ years in that department.

bj1111

Veteran

let me reiterate suz...YOU ARE WORTH IT. your so's reaction is framed by more things than just how he feels about how good you look in the coat. only PART of it is his perception that you shop a lot. much of it is his stuff he has to work thru. i don't know him at all and ths is my 2 cents (which is what it's worth)...he's in his 50s. you've commented that some of the youngbloods at previous workplaces treat him like the old guy. he may be thinking how long can he do what he's doing to earn a living and how can he continue to provide for you. so naturally, he may focus on reducing spending, of which your purchases are a part. that may be playing into your fear of keeping an ecoensive object, regardless of how great it fits you, how big a hole it fits, and how big of a bargain it is.

i say keep.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I hope you keep it too. It's an 11 out of ten from an outside observers eye.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all the insightful advice, and jacket love!
I think BJ, he and I *both* have issues about my spending money on clothing lol. You are dead right that now in his 50's his mindset has really changed. I'm 10 years younger, so I am not in the same place, although I think I can empathize.
Angie, thanks very much for the 'outsiders view' rating! I am keeping the jacket, and I know once I get it home to the cold, it is going to be an integral part of my winter wardrobe. I just needed to get over this mental hurdle I think. Thank you all for helping me to 'see'.