Yay, Angie weighed in too! I was hoping for that. Thanks, Angie, and everyone! You all are really helping me think through this the right way -- and providing some much-needed validation. It's one thing to make an impulsive purchase of $20, and quite another when you're talking about the price of that jacket.
This morning, when I got dressed and ready to leave the house to do some errands and shopping, I tried switching out the jacket I had on (a navy blue Theory moto jacket) for this one. I liked how it looked, and was really tempted to rip off the tags and go for it! But I wanted to gather some more feedback and think about it some more, and also get my husband's opinion -- he's been out of town but gets home tonight, and I trust his eye.
I think my unease was mainly due to the combination of price (this would be an investment piece) and the fact that it *is* a departure for me. But it's a departure in a good way -- it aligns with my style goals and evolution. I don't need another polished jacket in my wardrobe to toughen up with jeans and boots -- it's time to try a rougher, RATE, and rock'n'roll topper!
