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Ask Angie & others: K/R leather jacket? ETA new pics

Jonesy

Veteran

I frequently love outfit pics I see with leather jackets, but have been ambivalent about them for my own style for various reasons. But, this one was on sale at asos.com and I bit.

Pros: I love the color (a deep oxblood), the sleeves are long enough, the fit is pretty good
Cons: I run really hot, so I'm thinking the idea of wearing it like a blazer would not be practical, which leaves using it as outerwear--will I get much wear out of it? Shape: Too cropped, too boxy? I don't bat for Team Figure Flattering, so I'm not talking about that really, just more the overall silhouette--does it make my proportions look odd?

I tried it with a few different casual looks, to see what you all think. I have really wavered on this: yesterday, I had it bagged up and ready to return, but then I pulled it out last night and styled it and liked it. Then today, with the pics, I am back to being ambivalent. Maybe that's my answer!

#1: I like it best like this: paired with monochromatic longer top and skinnies, but that seems sort of limiting, no?
#2: jacket in the sunlight, so you can see the details a bit
#3: with a checked flannel shirt and baggy jeans

I think the shape would work with dresses/skirts, but since I'm thinking I won't be able to wear it like I would a blazer (only as outerwear for casual outings), I'm going with those sorts of looks. It's roomy enough to get a sweatshirt or sweater underneath, but it was so darn hot when I tried those that I couldn't bear to take pics (sweat was dripping!).

Thoughts? At this point I'm leaning heavily toward returning, but I wanted to get your input :).

ETA: new pics of it zipped closed, though I would never wear it closed--just for fit. It's snug through the chest but there is lots of room at the bottom. From the back it's loose through the body (I couldn't handle my panty lines in the pics, so am not posting a rearview :).

#4, front view, with maroon top and slouchy trousers, zipped
#5, side view of it zipped
#6, how I would typically wear it as outerwear, with a scarf and left open
#7, with a sweater (semi-tucked) and a pencil skirt and booties

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52 replies

Latest reply was from Jonesy

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmmm. I'm not entirely sure.

I don't own a leather jacket, for exactly the reasons you mention. So please take my advice with many grains of salt. I hope Sveta and Janet and other leather jacket lovers will weigh in with their thoughts.

FWIW, if you are going to wear it mainly with casual trouser outfits, why not one that is more moto influenced, a little less boxy and a little longer? I don't think this makes your proportions look odd, by any means, but as you said, it might be a bit limiting, whereas a moto jacket might give you more options?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

KILLER

I love it!! That burgundy colour is sublime on you.

I find this leather jacket VERY flattering in that new modern way. Colour, silhouette, length and vibe. You do bat for Team Figure Flattery in my book, it's just that your figure flattering proprieties are different :). Hope that makes sense.

I love both outfits - high and low colour contrast. I can see this leather jacket with your wide leg trousers, patterned trousers, skirts and dresses too. Cut off jeans and booties. I see a bus load of possibilities!

You will have to be the judge of the heat factor. Remember that it is hot now. You could change your mind in Autumn!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

psssttt...I tried to bust out my new blush moto jacket (NAS purchase) last night, but it was even too hot for me, although our heatwave has passed. I ended up wearing my citron Summer blazer.

Autumn will come soon enough!

Anonymous

Haha, your story reminds me of my Fryes fiasco... I had them packed for return and changed my mind, posted pictures and the rest is history.
Angie said it all. That jacket is awesome. 100% keep.
Is that a GAP shirt, the plaid one? I have the same one

MsMary

Veteran

I think it looks fab! I bat for Team Wear a Blazer to Work, Take it Off, and Leave it on the Coat Rack All Day, so that's how I deal with wearing leather as a blazer. YMMV

Inge

(website)

This leather jacket is perfect for your style, Jonesy. Like Angie I love the modern feel of it, and that colour is just so fantastic on you. Please keep!

Vildy

Veteran

I have nothing new to add, just to echo how flattering it is to you. Very rich looking and really elevates a top/shirt and jeans. I think you lucked out with this jacket.

Jonesy

Veteran

Thanks, Suz, for your frank assessment! I appreciate it! Maybe the details aren't clear, but the jacket is moto-inspired (zippers on the wrists, reinforced stitching on the elbows, the collar/neckline, shorter cut). I agree that a longer one might make more sense, but it was the color of this one that drew me in, and the price ($185).

Thanks, Angie! I really appreciate your comments--I value your opinion so much! Your comments definitely add to the Pros column :). I feel really good in it when I'm wearing it, but then the pics make me second-guess...

Thanks, Zap! I'm glad I'm not the only one who bags things up then thinks twice! I did it before, with some sparkly pants, and now I love them...Food for thought...Yep, the plaid shirt is from the Gap--twins!

ETA: Thanks, MaryK, Inge, and Vildy (you posted while I was typing!). MaryK, I like that idea, though that would mean I couldn't wear a sleeveless top, which is my inclination in the winter months :). Inge, since you are a leather jacket owner/wearer, I appreciate your thoughts, and I'm happy that it looks modern to your eye. Vildy, thanks for chiming in--your "elevation" comment certainly is one for the Pros column!

Anonymous

Question, you are not planning on closing it, right?

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I LOVE it open Jonesy but if this is going to be worn as outerwear I feel the need to see the jacket worn closed to fully judge the merit of the piece.

I do really like the fit of the shoulders, the slim long sleeves and the muddied burgundy colour.

Jonesy

Veteran

Zap, I wouldn't wear it closed, but it looks fine closed. Were you wondering about fit?

ETA: to Jules' point (thanks for chiming in!), I can take a pic of it zipped.

Anonymous

Yep, I was concerned the waist would be too tight, but I trust your eye more than mine, when you said it looks good closed.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Yes, I was curious about the fit closed if being worn as outerwear. If you plan to wear this item open I am 100% on team keep!

Anonymous

It looks short to me, but I am no expert in the world of leather so I'll leave it to others in the know...;)

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

The color is sensational on you. I really like the fit. But only you can judge the wearability.

Jonesy

Veteran

Thanks, Shabbychick! I appreciate your thoughts about its shortness.

Thanks, Anna! Yes, the wearability issue...I *do* love the color, that's for sure.

Inge

(website)

Jonesy: are you sure you wouldn't be able to wear it inside, e.g. just with a very lightweight shirt or something?
(can you tell I really want you to have this jacket:-)

P.S. I can't even explain why, but for me there is just something about a fab leather jacket. Every time I wear mine, I immediately feel extra stylish, confident and very me. They can be very simple (I love strong, simple, sleek silhouettes best), yet elevate an outfit in oh so many ways.

jayne

Veteran

I hope you are keeping..all the outfits sang to me....except the last. I think the curved skirt didn't play well with the cut of the jacket.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Okay -I blew the pics up to get the detail - sorry, I was looking on my laptop. I love it with your new stylings and the fact that you can come up with so many at a minute's notice suggests it might have more wearability than you'd feared.

It is really tough to judge your tolerance for wearing indoors when it is so hot right now. The thought of wearing it at ALL is probably faintly amazing. But when it is 20 degrees cooler you might feel quite different. And it looks great!

Scarlet

Veteran

Well I often wear my leather jacket only in the morning because in my place of work it often warms up by the afternoon. But I am always running hot and cold and am accustomed to adding and subtracting throughout the day (yet another reason I love scarves). I like the detailing and color of the jacket and I like several stylings here, but the length is unusual, so I need to think about it more. Proportion-wise 1, 6 & 7 all look good to my eye. 3 throws me a bit.

MsMary

Veteran

Love love love!

Keep keep keep!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I love everything about it but the length. I think if it was an inch or two longer is would be absolutely perfect.

Anonymous

I'm with Inge in hoping you can wear it inside. Especially since the sleeves have zippers, so you could wear them turned back or scrunched up. And you mentioned wearing it with sleeveless tops, so would that help you not get too warm wearing it indoors? I'm in menopause, so I sure understand not wanting to get too warm, but I have several leather jackets & I wear them indoors a lot. (But then I'm in the Seattle area, where we need layers.)

Megan

Echo

Veteran

Love, love, LOVE this jacket on you! It is very flattering to my eye, and it looks great with the outfits you have posted. And the brown/oxblood colour is so flattering and I love how it is just slightly less expected in the moto style. This is a 100% KEEP in my book.

Anonymous

A big fat keep from me. The styling with the pencil skirt is amazing...

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I like the proportions with the untucked top, and I think it's most sensational with a skirt. I love the color...I vote keep (I personally own 5 leather jackets at this point...I wear mind as both outerwear in spring/fall and as blazers in the winter).

Kyle

Veteran

J: You've had so many wonderful comments, and I keep going back to look and relook to try and figure out why I don't LOVE this on you. I like it and you look great as you always do, so that is not an issue. The best explanation I have is that, to me, this jacket does not look 100% true to you and your style, as I see them.

shiny

Veteran

6 and 7 are sublime. This is totally "cheeky" length and I'd wear the heck out of it with dresses and skirts in particular.

As for being tight in the chest, no worries, real leather eases and stretches a bit. I think the color works well on you. I really hope you keep this. I think if you are not in love with it now, you will fall in love with it.

Also bear in mind real leather does "breathe" -- it will be cooler than you can imagine right now in the heat. If it was pleather and you were worried about it being too hot, then I might agree. But leather? Nope.

Diana

Veteran

I love it. I find this shorter length and moto style super versatile and I think it would go great with your style. I love mine over longer tops/tunics with jeans but my favorite look for a cropped moto is over a dress. The fit looks good to me - I like my leather jackets to fit tight as I think they relax and conform over time.

FWIW, I wear my leather jackets solely as outerwear and they still get a ton of use. I don't like leather as indoor wear because it's not only very hot (I also run hot) but because it does limit arm mobility unless it's super thin and unlined, which neither of my jackets are.

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