Shiny - Leather Jacket review

I had fun at the mall today - and tried on leather jackets. But I already own three, so it's hard for me to justify buying a fourth. Especially since last year I barely wore any of these, opting instead for a blazer.

Here are my 3 jackets. They were acquired over time, mostly during the time in which I never wore jeans. Let me know what you think - please apply CRS (cuz maybe that will help me justify culling and making room for a new one.

(My head is completely blanked out because I got caught in a rain storm tonight and my hair went totally frizz-city on me.)

1. Black leather jacket, Ann Taylor, two views:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....otostream/

... something's been bugging me about this one lately. I think it looks fine when my hands are in the pockets - not so sure if maybe it's a tad too big without hands in pockets?

2. Brown leather jacket, also Ann Taylor, two views:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....otostream/

This is the oldest one I own (has to be over 5 years old). Initially got a lot of use w/work outfits. Then I went through a long period when I never wore it because it never seemed right. But last year I did bring it back out and wore it a few times.

3. BR jacket - not sure what you call this color - butter?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2.....otostream/

This is the newest one in my closet. The outfit I'm wearing with this jacket doesn't really do it justice. When I got this a few years back, I wore it constantly with white cords. This was before I got into jeans; I can see this working now with white jeans. But, you tell me!

For real leather coats, my theory is spend good money if it's going to be a classic piece. Even if you don't wear it for a season or two, if it's classic enough to come back around again, it's worth the price. So that is a key question - are these long-term keepers, even if they may not be in style right this moment? And if fit is slightly off but not *terribly* off... I may consider keeping just because I'm realistic enough to know my weight may go back up a size or two as I hit menopausal years.

17 years ago

Tanya

Veteran

Shiny, I really like them all (9's) and I think they are classic and keepers. The black one might be a tad boxy, but it still looks good on you. I really like the brown and cream ones, they make your waist look so tiny.

p.s. I was at the mall too and got cought in the storm as well. Where did you go? Maybe we should coordinate next time

Amanda

Active Member

I agree that the black jacket looks a bit boxy, maybe an 8. I really like the butter one -- you could wear it with black as well as white jeans/pants -- a 9. I'm not sure about the brown one -- I personally have a hard time matching that reddish-brown color so I'm not a good one to give an opinion.

Sihaya

Shiny - great jackets. Black lower than brown and cream. Probably a bit boxy around the waist and also because it's completely sleek and plain? Wonder if you could amp it up with a scarf or statement purse?

Nicole

I love love love the medium brown jacket because it's NOT black. It's so unique. The butter (good choice of wording) jacket is also beautiful. I'm not a big fan of black leather jackets, I think they are too mainstream. I agree that it looks better when your hands are in the pockets, and the leather looks very soft.

Black --7
Brown--10
Cream 9.5

Dani

Shiny, my favorite is the butter jacket. I really love the color. Definitely a 10. I like the style and color of the cognac jacket. It's a 9.5. The black is fine, probably an 8. If you find one that's killer and a classic, I would say replace this one (but the leather does look soft and comfy )

Alecia

I love the medium brown jacket, too. Super flattering. The black is too boxy. I think that if I saw it alone, not compared to the others that it would be ok. But the brown jacket so accentuates your great figure that it raises the bar for the others. The creams is nice, but the pockets are distracting to me. So the brown is a 10. Cream is an 8. Black is a 7.

shana

I think they are all classics and worth keeping. The black one does seem a bit boxy - how does it look unzipped? The good thing about a jacket not being too fitted is that you can wear a sweater or layers underneath without it looking too bulky! The brown one is gorgeous - the vertical lines combined with the three buttons shows off your figure beautifully. I agree with Nicole - the color is so pretty and looks great with jeans. The cream one is also very a very versatile color - it's hard to tell with just one button done but it also seems a bit boxy? I don't know, maybe it just pales in comparison to the brown one which is just a perfect fit!

Antje

Shiny, I think you could treat yourself to a new black leather jacket (I think you did want to get some encouragement, didn't you ;-))
Love the brown and butter ones, very warm colors, and yes, they are classic and fit you well.
I find the black one a big boxy, and the sleeves look kinda big/wide as well. It's a fine jacket but lacks a bit of oomph. I'd look for a more tailored little black jacket, a modified biker jacket (not too many zippers and stuff) which is totally classic and which you'll wear for years to come.

shiny

Interesting feedback! (I love this group).

Seems everyone loves the brown one the most; the interesting thing to me is that for years I steered away from this one, thinking it was somehow too boring. It was only last year that I suddenly rediscovered its potential, and had fun wearing it.

The butter one I was drawn to because of the unique color, more than anything else.

The black one - I believe it may not really be boxy, but rather, simply a size too big... I bought it during the time I had suddenly gained 20 lbs. I do think it looks a lot better with fuller, wider pants (like dress slacks or flared/bootcut jeans, rather than the straight legs). But yes... trying on biker jackets today... this older one just seemed "off"in comparison.... however, the leather is sumptious and supple and I do like the simple lines.

What I can't tell ... maybe if I hold on to it a few years, it'll be perfectly in style... which is trend vs classic. I guess that's my question!

My gut tells me that the butter jacket is more trend than classic - compared to the others. But I could be wrong....

P.s to Tanya: I was considering calling you to have you meet me to shop, but with the weather being sketchy, and the fact I was totally fried from this past week, I was craving time to shop alone today! I am about to post a long mall-trip report... but I did often think "gee wish Tanya was with me"...

Maya

Count me in the I-was-at-the-mall-and-got-poured-on camp. I stepped into a huge puddle and filled my shoe with water!

i have nothing constructive to add to what has been said, but I just wanted to offer my sympathies.

I am looking forward to your report Shiny!

Don't worry about the shopping, we could always do it some other time. I know about wanting to be alone, I feel like that pretty often as well.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I LOVE the butter jacket! It gets a 9.5. I like the way it creates a softness around your shoulders. Very pretty. Leather jackets can look really hard.

I love the colour of the chestnut jacket and how it fits your torso. But it makes your shoulders look broader than they are. Do you get that impression?

You have my full support to purchase a new black leather jacket

Thanks Angie - yes, I do get the impression the chestnut jacket makes my shoulders look broader. It's hard to remember, but I think I was one size larger when I bought it. It is a 4p - but this was before AT vanity sized everything, so hard to say if it's today's equivalent of a 2p. I'm always debating about whether the 2p vs the 0p fits best. The two jackets I bought yesterday are 0p's.

(But also - yesterday in AT I was fitting in some 00p and xxsp's, so I'm afraid that they have vanity sized *yet* again... sigh).

With either the brown or black jacket, I do seem to recall going back and forth between two sizes, and the sales lady explaining that with leather you should always go with the smaller size, since leather does stretch over time.

The chestnut jacket does seem to work better when balanced out with wider leg pants, which give the illusion of curvier hips than I actually have. Does that make sense?

As for the black jacket, I'm certain it was purchased during my 20 lb weight gain blip. Do you think it's okay to hold on to it for future probably inevitable menopausal weight gain? Or I should just let it go?

Okay - new black leather jacket is on my list! But it's going to be tough to find one. I really loved the faux biker jacket at AT - would've bought it in a heartbeat if the sleeves could've been shortened, but it had zippers on the sleeves so I just knew there was no way....

Makes perfect sense Shiny. Let’s see the chestnut jacket with bootcuts at some point.

I say pass on the black leather jacket.

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