Yellowy-Brown, Long-Torsoed, Wide-legged Steampunk + UWP Epiphany - YouLookFab Forum

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Yellowy-Brown, Long-Torsoed, Wide-legged Steampunk + UWP Epiphany

rae

(website)

Veteran

It was a warm-ish morning today to go out to the chiropractor and get some breakfast, so I wore my steampunk leather jacket, bought while I still worked at the office. For a pop of color, I let my citron sweater peek out the bottom, which ended up lengthening the torso more than usual. I suppose skinnies would have been a better choice for creating a long, lean leg line to go with my long torso, but the wide-legged jeans called out to be paired with the fitted jacket, and here we are.

It seems like epiphanies are going around this month - Shannon and her floral pants, Suz and her shopping strategies. Out and about, I also had a sudden realization -- one that sorta kinda flies in the face of previous UWP doctrine: I don't particularly like wearing leather jackets.

I KNOW!

I can't quite put my finger on it... are they too posh? too pretty? not tactical/gear-ish/manly enough? not sporty enough? I can't say. But I do know that I don't get that heck-yeah-I-can-conquer-the-world feeling that I get in my Zella and Barbour at the moment... weird.

Don't get me wrong - I do love this jacket! And I will definitely be keeping it for it's retro/steampunk fabulosity, which I adore. But I don't think I'll be looking to add any additional leather jackets, swoon as I might over the beautiful finishes at MuuBaa and Danier.

How's that for some progress in a self-professed jacket addict?

Is there anyone else out there who isn't head-over-heels for leather? And I mean vegan and money issues aside... pure style here. Am I the only one who would gladly taker her zippers and pockets and utility/steampunk details in a knit, canvas, or fleece construction?

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29 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

Anonymous

Heh, I think I came to that realisation without realising it -- you know I have been dithering on a couple leather jackets but never able to just buy one. I think it is the same...canvas or waxed cotton or oilcloth or something like that, please!

Raisin

Veteran

Great jacket! I love the fitted top with wider bottoms. I myself love leather but usually as accents. I have a few tops and pants that have leather accents. I do absolutely love my leather jacket though, I always feel fab in it!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Wow, you look long and lean in this outfit Rae! That pop of citron underneath the jacket is great and I really like the fit of those jeans on you. I think they're a really nice change from the skinnies.

I gotta admit - I'm kind of surprised at your epiphany about not loving leather jackets. But when I read further about you needing more of the zippers and pockets, etc. I can understand what you're referring to.

Would you feel the same way with something like Anna's deconstructed leather jacket?

Diana

Veteran

Well, for me they are strictly outdoor only jackets, since they're too hot and constricting IMO for indoors. This does limit their utility - ie the underlayer has to function as a complete outfit on its own. Plus the leather jacket then has to practical as outerwear, so it needs to work open and closed and with scarves. That said, I do like mine but don't feel the need to have a million.

I wonder if you might have some of the same feelings, particularly about the leather being too constricting or restrictive of motion...

rae

(website)

Veteran

Ceit, that is highly interesting to me, seeing as how our styles are pretty similar.

Shannon, that is a great question, and thanks for helping me dig into this a little deeper. No one was more shocked than I was, trust me! lol.

Anna's deconstructed jacket isn't my style, but I see what you are getting at. Maybe if I found the jacket equivalent of the Gidigio boots - thick, substantial hide that looks as though it'd actually protect the skin in a bike accident; super worked and distressed leather that still feels soft and moves easily; hardware that looks positively ancient and moldered; a sleek fit that feels made for me; a sporty, non-moto style... yeah, I'd consider one of those.

It's not that I *dislike* leather jackets, I think. I think the crux of the issue is that I don't feel like leather necessarily projects my style any *better* than other fabrications and may for the most part detract from it. If that makes sense at all.

Kristin L

Veteran

I like the pop of color from the sweater!

I like leather in certain things, like shoes, jackets and purses. I feel like they last longer. But I'm having a harder time with pants, tops and skirt made of leather. I've tried them, but I just don't feel like me in them. Does that make sense?

kellygirl

Veteran

Wow! I am in a rush but you look stunning and so cool in this silhouette! I love it. Will read the words later.

Tina.b

Veteran

Despite it being difficult to wear, you wear leather beautifully. Love the yellow poking out and the balance you achieved with the flared jeans.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Well, if you ever change your mind about that jacket, I'll gladly take it off your hands...

Isabel

Veteran

I am so happy that you came to that and feel good about it !

Let me raise my hand to your question regarding feeling the same way. I LOVE to see leather on others, but I am not much of a leather jacket lover for myself. I feel that I should be ( and I was sooning over Aida's blush one in OC C. I always feel a bit "stiff", no matter how supple the leather. I live in fear of getting ink on it or rubbing it on something......

catgirl

Veteran

My thoughts on this: leather is SUCH a broad category... there are uber-femme/classis leather pieces as well as UWP styles. And leather jackets are surprisingly challenging to wear as they walk that indoor/outdoor line. My Muubaa jacket is what I consider a perfect UWP leather item - grey, cropped, shredded, and comfortable. But not every leather jacket is going to fit the bill by any means!

I'm also going to go out on a limb here and say you have a more conservative side that leans toward classic, the same way I have a retro/mod side sometimes.

Check this, which I think walks the line between classic, edgy, and retro, and actually seems totally Rae to me:

http://us.burberry.com/store/w.....WT.tsrc=sm

or this:

http://us.burberry.com/store/w.....WT.tsrc=sm

vs.

this:

http://www.net-a-porter.com/am.....G8i.fItAPw

No reason you have to wear everything in the UWP lexicon!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I personally prefer non-leather jackets because I feel too constricted and warm in leather for the most part - unless it's really cold (which it isn't very often here). It's still an outdoor only option to me. I also like that I can buy so many variations in other lighter weight jackets and get much more use from them. I think if I lived in a very cold climate I might wear leather more often but the one I have I only seem use maybe 4-8 times a year.

Astrid

Veteran

I love the wide legged jeans, it's such a fresh look after all the skinnies everywhere. The pairing with the leather jacket looks great! I'm not head-over-heels for leather jackets either. I can see myself wearing something soft and drapey, like the one in the picture, but I'm not sure about a tailored leather jacket.

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rae

(website)

Veteran

Una, you are definitely onto something, as I still love my suede trench coat and feel right as rain in it. And I really love the color of the first Burberry you linked to... maybe I will try dying my $5 beige leather jacket that color, distress it like crazy, and see how it feels?

Diana and Isabel, you both also touched on something in regards to comfort - mental and physical. I think I generally want to feel like my clothes can "get down" and take whatever comes... bar fight, hunting trip, robot/zombie warfare... can't worry about stretching, ripping, or staining the jacket.

deb

Veteran

Rae, you look great in this pic. Did this epiphany come about because of your 'jacket month'?

rae

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, I can see you in that jacket, too! With one of your cozy skirts.

cciele

Veteran

Your epiphany really resonated with me Rae! I can begin to see why you are not into leather jackets -- and why I don't own any leather jackets or clothing (besides accessories) either

Love the wide-legged jeans. Great substitution for the ubiquitous skinny.

catgirl

Veteran

That's funny, Rae - because I think of leather as tough compared to my gear. Thus, I'm always worried about burning a hole in my down or fleece when we are camping, or the dog jumping up and tearing a hole in it with her claws, or washing the waterproofing away - because it won't function if it's not intact. Whereas with leather, I feel like the more I ruin it the better it looks and feels. (Note that this is not my Theory leather blazer, but for other leather items.)

rae

(website)

Veteran

Hm, good point. I feel that way about boots, for sure. The weight of the leather may have something to do with it.

catgirl

Veteran

Yes! The Muubaa jacket is really light - it almost feels fake. Did you try it on when I was there? Anyway, epiphanies are good! More money for boots!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

KILLER outfit!

Personally, I think LA is just not conducive to leather jackets unless they are very lightweight.

AND! Too much leather. You wear a lot of leather on your legs. Adding a leather jacket can be too much of a good thing.

rachylou

Veteran

I was just going to say, leather is thick and heavy. I take a pass on it most of the time because of that.

Mochi

Veteran

(have skipped over other comments)

Maybe it's the shine? Now you're after a worn, matte look?

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My first thought was that your climate isn't as conducive to leather jackets as many others would be, so in a practical way, it makes sense to me.

I probably have enough leather jackets for all of us, and I love and wear the heck out of them.

Anonymous

Yes! I'm a fellow jacket addict. Of all kinds...utility, blazers, trenches, cropped, denim...but not leather. I love them on others but I just don't like the feel, style, or texture on myself. I'm sometimes tempted by aviators with cool finishes or cropped moto styles, but as soon as I put them on I remember why I don't like them.

Hard for me to pinpoint exactly what it is too...

Angie might be on to something because I love and wear leather boots and booties almost every day.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Mochi, it isn't really shiny IRL, just photographs that way for some reason. It is a matte leather with a bit of distressing.

I'm intrigued by the fact that there are others who feel the same way - tough nut to crack!

The weight is no issue; I've never felt too hot in my leather jackets or coat. And I didn't at all mind downplaying my boots in this outfit today - I really like the look! Now I'm getting more confused... lol.

Hmmm... now I'm wondering if maybe the stores out here simply don't *sell* the heavy leathers that you all are talking about. It would make sense since I've worn all my leather jackets basically as blazers inside the office and often still felt cold. If this is the case, then it might also explain why I feel a little too precious in them.

catgirl

Veteran

Rae, remind me of your leather jacket collection again - is there anything distressed or RATE in there? Maybe that would help take away the "precious" factor. Suede feels more RATE to me by nature, so that may explain why suede is easier for you to handle.

rae

(website)

Veteran

This one I'm wearing today is lightly distressed. My Allsaints is not distressed, but... well, it's Allsaints. I purged my black one, which was also not RATE. And then there is the rust suede, not distressed. And the white Bebe. And the brown suede trench.

Hm. You just shook loose another thought, which is that I bought all of these while working at the office, with the idea that they needed to be work appropriate.

Come to think of it, too, I don't know if I've SEEN a RATE, non-moto, classic leather jacket. Muubaa is TDF in terms of rate-ness, but most are motos and the others are draped.

catgirl

Veteran

That was my thought too... triggered by you saying this was bought when you were working at the office. I would never have bought the Theory leather blazer if I didn't work in an office setting. Nothing cheap here but inspiration:

http://www.peruvianconnection......rom=Search

http://www.sundancecatalog.com.....e/33693.do

http://pinterest.com/pin/233061349437084507/

http://pinterest.com/pin/88594317640106475/

http://www.freepeople.com/Mili.....-_-Primary

http://www.farfetch.com/shoppi.....89611.aspx

Not that you have to wear leather! Just following a tangential thought process...