Hmm, Angie, I hear you. The problem is that ideally I want it to be good both open and halfway zipped (I will never wear it all the way up). The shoulders and arms fit right on these, and I know they'll be too boxy if I size up, esp if worn open. I have had jackets that fit like that and they all became orphans because I hate a boxy fit.

Anyway, I am wondering if I should return both... I actually think some of the perceived tightness is because they're both too long in the waist. My black moto actually feels tighter but doesn't crease as much because it's two inches shorter. I am beginning to think I just need to look for "cropped" motos exclusively.

You had me at teal. LOL I love the first one on you. I think the detail on the second one almost overwhelms you and the cleaner lines on the first are nicer.

Diana, in #1, you've half zipped the jacket - at least that is my understanding. It's still too snug over the bust and upper arm. #5 shows the upper arm snugness with the jacket open. The back is bunching because it's too snug and too long for your short torso when zipped up at all.

I hear you on a size up probably being too big on the shoulders.

FWIW, that's my I think. You are free to do as you wish

Hmm, I wonder if this is my weird bust size thing coming out again. I always have problems with bras because my back is essentially a 32 band but my front rib cage is a 36, so I have to look for 34 band bras with really wide cups. I see what you mean about the bust looking too tight but it actually does not feel at all tight. Same with the arms. I think maybe the front is too small and the back too wide, hence the extra bunching at the back. This would also make the armholes be in the wrong place, am I correct?

Does this make sense at all?

If you'll excuse my bluntness, the peplum's just making you look far more short in the waist/torso than you actually are when closed, and not doing your trim waist any justice at all (the first does, certainly from the front views of both)---and it's losing its peplum-ness when unzipped, which makes it kinda pointless. Sorry!

I think the moto is definitely the way to go. Quirky enough to belong to you with that colour and that asymmetry, without overwhelming you with its own stylistic and fit idiosyncracies.

OK, I am definitely returning the peplum one. Am still considering the classic moto. I added some more, clearer photos to the original post to see if we can figure out what is going on with the back. Basically almost all the creasing vanishes when I lift my arms even a little bit. This makes me wonder if it needs to be there for me to be able to move my arms. What do you think?

I think the creasing is a sign that it's too tight, sadly - lifting your arms fixing it because you are pulling the wrinkles upward. This often happens to me in the shoulder area. In fact, I can spot jackets that were worn too tight by the wrinkle pattern around the back shoulder seams. I'm glad you posted better pictures, but sorry you're not getting the 100% keep feedback!

Diana, I know previously I agreed with you that the moto would stretch and it would work, but now I'm not so sure. The new pictures make it pretty clear that this jacket simply isn't doing you justice. Sizing up would cause other fit issues, which means your quest for teal moto isn't over. So sorry!

Thanks, Una and Atlantia. I think you're right and the fit is just off somehow in the back. I think I was just sort of blinded by the fact that this jacket is teal. It will be going back, and I will keep looking. PPP, right?

So I was curious and took a photo of my black moto (which is a couple of years old) from the back (photo attached)... and guess what? No creasing or bunchy material! The funny thing is that the black moto actually feels tighter, but it is also 2 inches shorter, which makes me think the big problem with these teal ones is that they are too long. So... anyone seen a 20" long teal moto jacket???? I think I am going to start by perusing Nanette Lepore's options, since her blazers are cut super short and thus fit me really well.

Diana, I sympathize, since this is a common fit issue for me too! Although part of me selfishly wonders if I have maybe a couple of extra inches in the torso to take that jacket off your hands. Its a gorgeous jacket, and I agree that otherwise, this would be the one I'd pick for you. But the fit is not perfect. NL is a good idea -- I have a couple of her cropped length blazers and they certainly are cut shorter. I'll keep an eye out for you too, although it would be a dangerous thing for me to start trying on teal leather jackets!

Thanks for taking the extra pics, Diana.

The moto does not fit well when zipped up no matter what. It fits much better when left open - which is a look I like much more actually! More modern and refreshing somehow. I never zip up my own motos, apart from the style that is belted. I still think it's a dash tight on the crown of the sleeves, but you have to wear it and not me, so go with your gut there

If you are happy wearing the moto open - my thumbs are up.

Thanks for chiming back in, Angie. For me, leather jackets are outerwear so it's completely impractical if I can never close it. You're right that the fit when closed is just off, most likely because it's too long. (I remember Mo had a similar problem with a jacket looking too tight in the bust and arms because the armholes were too deep, so I think this might be a similar issue.) Especially after comparing it to my existing moto, it's clear that the back fit is terrible. It's getting returned.