Most of mine are in Finds below. Blue velvet Scotch & Soda — I adore the color and fabrication but struggle to style it a little bit because of the shape. But when I make a little effort, I enjoy it.
The patterned Ted Baker was a deeply discounted piece impulse buy — again, not exactly a workhorse, but I enjoy it when I do wear it.
I have the same black embroidered Zara bomber that Carla had. It was a workhorse for a few years and has since fallen out of rotation, but I keep it because it’s still in good shape and I love the pattern. I feel like it may have another go in my rotation at some point, so it stays. It’s a remarkably well-made piece for the price.
The metallic Zara is another really nice piece for the price, but it’s been in and out of my holding zone. For some reason, when I go to wear it, it feels too maximal. I’m drawn to these metallic jackets and then don’t wear them. What’s up with that?
I have another floral one by Leitmotiv that’s very lightweight and very cropped and only works with a few outfits but it’s perfect with them, and I love the pattern so it stays. It gets worn in warm weather with jumpsuits or a column of black underneath.
So, none of my bombers are workhorses. Not the way my utility, denim, or moto jackets have been. They are, however, fun for a change of pace when I want that color or pattern. For a basic solid jacket, I’m far more inclined to choose a different shape that’s easier for me to work with — a tailored jacket or blazer. Bombers are always a little tough for me because I prefer to wear jackets open, and a lot of bombers sort of poof around the midsection when worn that way, because of the elastic waist. Or if I close them, the elastic inches up on my body because of my wide hips. The Ted Baker jacket here does that the least, so it tends to get worn more than the others.
