K/R: BR white leather moto vest - YouLookFab Forum

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K/R: BR white leather moto vest

Elizabeth P

Veteran

So my resolve to not shop in August got blown out of the water when I got a "no exclusion" sale code for BR... and this leather moto vest had been sitting in my basket waiting for one basically since it was first introduced. Go big or stay home!

This is still expensive, so it needs to be a 10. I have to admit, it was harder to style than I thought... but it's also too hot to get too carried away with trying clothes on and off and on and off.... Hmm, just realized I didn't pick anything with colour!

So, I'd love your thoughts. I can't do this up, so it needs to be worn open. Which is totally fine by me. I did order two sizes, and the larger one is a definite no - it's very sloppy looking. Not even worth showing you, that's how sure I am about the size.

Here are a few really quickly chosen options. Not all the best, but is it enough to see if I this works for me, and if I can work it into my wardrobe?

ETA: Snapped some quick shots of the larger size (Photos 8-9) #7 (sorry about it being OOF) added just so you can see what the smaller size looks like with the same clothes (my late night clothes ). I like how it hangs in #9 a lot better... that was after a bit of "arranging", which MIGHT become more "normal" after the vest softens up a bit.

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30 replies

Latest reply was from Elizabeth P

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Woohoo for the patience paying off!

I would like to see a bigger size though. This one look too small to my eye - I think this vest is supposed to be more fluid (or at least this is how my fits )
Size aside my favorites here are with the white tops - ##2 and 3, followed by 4 and 5. I prefer simpler players with this vest - white tops or column of color. I have not been too adventurous with mine yet as you can see...

Meow

Veteran

I really like it! A very interesting versital piece. Kind of toughens up an outfit a little "Tough lite" . Interesting you said it's hard to style - I would have thought you could throw this on over everything.

Tania

Veteran

I like this piece, and from what I've seen, it seems like it would play well with your wardrobe. I agree with Sveta about the sizing though.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Sveta, I'll get some photos of the bigger one and post them ... might be a day or two though. Thanks for the feedback. I did go back through your WIW's to see what you've been doing, and I see yours gets a lot of wear with your tunic

Sarah I think the issue was more that putting on my fall/winter clothes was so painful. It's pretty muggy here.... which made me think it's not great for summer and I needed to go after my "cooler" clothes. A lot of them are packed away. So maybe it was more my attitude!

Peri

Veteran

I like 1 and 4 the best...I think I like the color contrast. With the other versions I don't think the vest adds much to the outfit...I think I would like them better without it. I know what you mean...I am in the same place with my skirt...the things I would really wear it with are packed away and a major unpacking isn't happening right now! So it's hard to tell what the vest can really do for you. It isn't my favorite thing you've shown, but when you put it with fall and winter things I may completely change my mind. Right now I feel neutral about it, sorry! Can you hang on to it long enough to check it out in cooler weather?

Eliza

Veteran

Elizabeth- nice that you could give the vest a go. I like it on you and I can see it working with your wardrobe, yet understand how such items can offer styling challenges. Like Sveta, I wonder how the lines of the vest would shift with a larger size, though you may be smack in between sizes. For me, these styles can be tricky, as my eye is thrown by the inverted "V" formed by the zipper lines. A right side up V or a narrower inverted "V" are less challenging for me to style. Some of these cuts work on me, and others I can't picture myself wearing it, so back it goes. Sorry to be on the fence; a lot of it is personal preference. I'll be following along as I have the same questions about similar items.

Anonymous

Not reading anything else posted until I write this: I really like 2, 3 , 4 and 6. I really think it's nice on you , and it's just the cap sleeve in #1 that's bothering my eye. I agree with it not mattering about whether it doesn't work closed - it looks great. Have you ever had white leather before though? I had one jacket and found it a PITRA (royal) . Always picking up colour from one thing or another. Other than that .....if the price was right - go for it! Now off to read others' comments

Sal

Veteran

I am not sure sorry, I don't think it is a 10.

I have two reasons:

1) I think you may suit a longer vest brilliantly, a more flowy type one, either summer or winter fabrications. It looks fine, but I did not "wow" over it. I am not sure I think this is your best shape. Not when I have seen you wear so many wonderful looks.

2) I wonder when you would wear it. It would be too hot for summer, too cold for winter, and not a cosy item for spring or fall nights. And vests to my eye need either sleeveless underneath or long sleeves, which again restricts the use.

Sorry to be the bearer of such news

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Ha Peri, 1 and 4 are my favourites as well (except for the cap sleeve tee in 1, but that can be switched). It's the angles, they feel very me.

Eliza, you are bang on with the inverted "v". With some items it was really emphasized, with others not so much. I didn't post everything I tried...

Thanks Lisa, agree totally on the cap sleeve. It looked ok on, but I didn't like the photo so much, but I have other black tops so I know I can do the same look, but different. And yes, I have a white leather jacket, which I wear about twice as much as my black one. I haven't had any issue with it whatsoever, although I am very careful when I have a coloured bag, so the shoulders don't get colour rubbing off on them.

Kiwigal, don't apologize! I really appreciate your honesty, that's the kind of feedback that makes me do some soul searching for whether this will be come an orphan or not. I would probably wear it quite a bit in spring/early summer... and again in Sept/Oct. It's really only late July and August that gets hot here, and even then it's not consistent. So there are definitely days that are summer, but not "stinking hot" that something a little heavier would be fine.

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

How about over the white floral sweater? I like it, but you need to be sure.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I like it, especially in 2, 3 and 4. I do think it adds to the outfit in each case - that third piece thing. And it's a great colour on you. I wouldn't size up - it's good open. I would have the same concerns as kiwigal about wearability but only you can decide that!

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I just added some shots of the larger size. Sveta, did you find yours has "softened up" with wear?

Dashielle, will try with the sweater, great idea!

Thanks Brooklyn. Definitely need to give the "wearability" more thought.

I think I can ponder the K/R thing for a while, but I'd at least like to decide on size very quickly, so I can return one on the same Visa bill!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I like the bigger size better - it does fit similarly to mine.
I have attached 2 pictures showing how my fits. As for the softening part - see pic 2. I can wear it moto style with lapels out by folding the collar on the back. 2 for the price of one! Interestingly I don't find that it requires softening at all...
He-he, these pictures are from June and July and wore it today with the same shirt - I guess this is my favorite combination now

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Elly

Veteran

I don't love it--

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

And I have to disagree on the wearability of this vest! I wear mine in summer to work in A/C environment and it is perfect weight for that. I think Elizabeth's summers are not as hot as ours being on the coast (but I may be mistaken here). I find vests EXTREMELY versatile in winter. Often I need a topper for the shirt or thin sweater and jacket may be either too hot or too much or compete with the sleeves. Vest works brilliantly! I have got my first one last summer and since added 3 more - including this one.

Eliza

Veteran

I like the larger size better for this style of vest. Also, fun to re-visit Sveta's vest worn 2 ways. I often play with the collar to make things work.

Deborah

Veteran

I know you have had your eye on this for some time:) I like it. I prefer the smaller size. To my eye, to be perfectly honest, the larger size adds too much width to your frame. The smaller size seems to fit well (I know it doesn't do up but I really don't think you would wear it that way) and doesn't wear you:) I would keep.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

For me, vests are perfect for summer. And I live in India where temperatures go up to 42 degrees!

Like Deborah, I like the smaller size. I don't like my vests closed at all, they add uncessary bulk to my already large upper body. I size down for vests and wear them open to add visual interest. In my case, they aren't worn for warmth, but do have a function - coverage or camouflage for times when:

1) I'm wearing something sleeveless that is cut too low under the arm and I need to cover up

2) When I'm wearing something tight and it shows lumps and bumps on my midsection that I'd rather not put on display

3) When I'm wearing something that is too bright and colourful for my comfort and I need to ground the look a bit.

You can certainly wear this vest in mild winter. It will look stunning layered over a thin wool sweater in black or cobalt, and a warm scarf.

An example is attached. My vests cannot close at all. But they offer great shaping, and I think the smaller size does that for you, Elizabeth. I love all outfit options you've created with them....they all look very You

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

I'm not sure its my favorite thing on you, and I think it's because of the line it creates with the "flaps" falling in toward your body, rather than away, forming that inverted V that Eliza mentions. If you can sort of train it to lie more open, I would like it more -- the way it's starting to lie in #9.

JAileen

Veteran

I really like it. In my climate I couldn't wear it in summer, but it looks perfect for spring. I like your outfits, especially 1, 4, 5 and 6.

AviaMariah

Veteran

Without reading other's I'm going to say it's not a 10. I think it seems to boxy to me. I wish it fell back against your body a little more. Maybe the leather would soften up with wear. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great piece but just not a 10 since that's what you asked.

Jeweled

Veteran

I've so enjoyed your recent WIW's with outfits that are really fantastic on you - very inspiring!

That's partly why I feel this vest is not a 10 . . . for 4 reasons:

- Flattering-wise, it doesn't come near to your other recent outfits I've seen.

- The inverted-V effect - which I saw before I actually saw the entire vest.

- It looks as though the vest may be a bit more stiff than soft, which would wind up making me miserable after wearing it all day.

- You mentioned that it's not as easy to style as you thought it would be. That might mean it would spend a lot of time in the closet.

I'd suggest that you return both vests and splurge that money on some other special piece that would look and feel more fab on you!

viva

Veteran

I'm sorry but it's not a 10 to me and I really hate not to support an item someone loves. Im not sure it's the best shape for you. I prefer the smaller size, but the smaller looks cut too trim under the arms. I don't know, I'm not sold. It doesn't have the ease I wish it had.

Anonymous

This piece is not working well for you. I think you can do better. Keep looking.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

You guys are awesome. Love all this honest feedback.

I didn't have much time yesterday, as I spent the afternoon and evening at a friends cottage, but I did manage to try both on with some other clothing options, and got some photos.

But I have to say, at this point I'm thinking I'm going to send it back. The smaller one fits and feels much better, but I don't like the way it hangs. I do like the way the larger one hangs, but it feels like too much fabric across my chest, which when you are dealing with leather, just feels bulky. I'm going to get an opinion from a IRL friend tonight, but that's where I'm at at the moment. As someone said earlier, I seem to be right between sizes on this one. And I'm fine with that, just because something looks good on a model, and on Sveta (which is almost the same thing ) doesn't mean it's good on me!

It was worth the try.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Elizabeth - I'm late to the party but glad you're sending this vest back. It's not great enough for your killer style. I will say that I don't think the issue is with the size but rather the style itself. It just doesn't sit right.

Marilyn

Veteran

I tried this vest as well and it didn't work for me either. It's a gorgeous piece but something about it was wrong on me. It just goes back to what looks amazing on one person doesn't necessarily work on another.
I don't love it on you. But definitely have your IRL friend check it out as pictures can be deceiving.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think you're making the right choice. Because you never know what Danier might have in store for us all this autumn or next spring, Hehehe......

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I vote return too, for the reasons you mentioned. Onto the next 10.

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