Your thoughts on leather jackets, please

I'm thinking of replacing a pre-YLF brown leather jacket (Pendelton) that still works OK over heavier layers. It fits through the shoulders but is quite boxy.
I'm not sure what type would suit me best as an investment piece, and the selections at NAS overwhelm me.
I'm a 5'4" (or maybe shorter if I've shrunk) small busted rectangle who is a bit short waisted too. I'm also wondering if I would be best off with brown, black, or grey (if I can find it) leather. My eyes are dark brown, hair taupey grey.

Here's what I'm thinking:

This style appeals to me, but I'm concerned about the "distressed" part. Is it going to be classic enough? The color is close to the one I'm replacing.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....rchresults
Caslon® Distressed Leather Jacket

This one has some interesting details, is a bit longer and has a collar.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....rchresults
Jones New York Croc Texture Leather Jacket

This one looks classic, also comes in black, but is it too boring?
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....rchresults
Jones New York Leather Blazer

This one is very tempting in the dove grey. I like the lines but wonder if they are better on a bustier woman. I also have doubts about the emphasis on the shoulders since mine are wide, and the zip pockets.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....rchresults

This is lovely and much like the jacket I'm replacing in shape, but it's more expensive and I'm not sure I like the hazelnut color for me. Black might work. It also looks boxier and is more expensive.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....rchresults

At that price, maybe I should consider these longer lengths, but are they too long for me:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....rchresults
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....rchresults

Your thoughts are appreciated. What will best serve an older woman for smart casual wear?

16 years ago

judy

Veteran

That dove grey Bernardo one is great, Joy! That would be my first pick for you based on the pics. The model doesn't look busty to me, and it looks great on her. I do like the distressed Caslon one too. I like the narrow sleeves on both of these and the seam detailing, both flattering, and I think would look gorgeous on you. I guess it depends on the coat, but I find long leather ones on my petite frame kind of drown me. Remember Nordstrom's forgiving return policy if you can afford to try more than one, it might help your selection process.

Vani

Joy, I brought home the Caslon distressed moto jacket after my DH almost insisted buy it and a few of the SAs who walked past said they really like it on me. I have been meaning to post pictures and will do so asap this evening. The Bernardo jacket is what I intended to try on in the first place but they did not have it in store and I'm still debating if I should order it. I love the mandarin collar on the Bernardo jacket but I have the same concerns as you do about wide shoulders.

greenglove

(website)

Hi Joy,
Great that you are trying a leather jacket. I have been having a really hard time finding one that I like enough. I did not see anything at the NAS that tempted me which does not mean there were not some beautiful jackets.. I need to look closer at the ones that you posted. The distressed one is not in any way distressed like you might think (in a trendy way). I think a shorter more fitted style would be better than a blazer for your frame. You could wear almost anything with your great figure. I ordered this one and was disappointed in the color, it is not cognac like I had imagined but a really nice style. It is still on sale. Would you wear a style like that? I will go back and look at your posts later, I am editing now and can not see them.
Well somehow my link did not go through.

Ok, now that I saw them, I like the Bernardo in a soft grey. Any of the shorter ones would be lovely on you!

Anonymous

Judy, Niva, and Jean, you've given me some great insights. I can get to Nordies tomorrow and your suggestions will help me to focus, especially on shorter lengths. I am very drawn to the grey color as the best one for me and hope that jacket is available locally to see in r/l. I hope to see the "distressed" one too.

medusa

Joy - I looked through your links before reading the other comments and I was also immediately drawn to the Caslon and the Bernardo. They are really cute.

Also - have you thought about having your old jacket altered? If it fits well through the shoulders it should be possible to make it more shaped in the body. I'm not an expert on leather alterations though.

shana

Joy, I agree that the Bernardo jacket in grey would probably be lovely on you. A shorter/hip length jacket would probably look the best on your figure and will be a classic.

I bought the Caslon jacket last week during pre-sale - hopefully I'll have time to post pics after I get my kids to bed tonight. It's really not "distressed" at all as far as I can tell. I am not thrilled with it however - it looks a little blah on me. There was unfortunately not too much selection on petite jackets in store.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

LOVE the Caslon and the Bernado for you too. But if you're thinking of a longer leather jacket, the Kenneth Cole is the way to go (in brown).

Thank you for your replies. I'll see if I can locate the Caslon and the Bernado today. A shorter jacket is probably more versatile than the longer coat, but I may have to seek out the Kenneth Cole too in order to compare.

Kristen

Well, the Kenneth Cole is the one I got, and I love it like crazy. I won't stop you from trying it!

But for you, I instantly loved the Caslon and the grey Bernado. Your instincts were right on the others, too plain or boxy or just "meh".

Joy, if you haven't made it to the store yet, I was able to take a few minutes to take pictures of the Caslon jacket this morning. I have been meaning to post them anyways to get everybody's opinions

Whole album: http://s273.photobucket.com/al.....mpics/nas/
password: ylf2009

Individual pictures:
Worn Open
Worn half zipped
Worn Zipped all the way
Worn Zipped all the way - closeup
In natural light
Closeup of distressing and hardware
Another closeup of distressing and hardware
Neckline and shoulder detail
Sleeve and cuff

Hope this helps!

Niva, thank you for posting your pictures. They have been helpful to see the shape better. That jacket is so fab on you! I may order one. It doesn't look at all like it emphasizes the shoulders.
Well, I went to Nordies today especially wanting the dove grey Bernado. It is sold out in grey and only available in L and XL in the brown. Big disappointment.
I tried on the Caslon, or so I thought, and didn't care for the wide collar and rather rough texture. (Had so many jackets in my mind I forgot what it looked like. The jacket I tried was Caslon brand) Now that I see the jacket again on Niva, I'm realizing it's not the same jacket! They must not have had the moto style or I would have seen it. I looked at everything. Niva, how do the sizes run? I'd rather have the grey Bernado, but may order the moto Caslon.
I tried the Kenneth Cole long jacket and am between sizes. It's beautiful, soft and light weight for a longer leather coat, but the XS seems to pull a bit and the S is quite boxy and the bottom on the S stands out from my body in a strange way that reminds me of a hoop skirt. *sigh* What to do. I'm afraid I may also have the same between size problem with the Caslon.

They ordered the Caslon jacket for me. It looked like some stores had it in stock in petite small, so I may or may not actually get it. Fingers crossed.

Medusa, I think my old jacket would be too difficult to alter in the armhole area, but it's a good idea. I'll have to take a closer look. I can always pass it on to my sister who is loving getting a new wardrobe of all my old stuff.

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