Warning: long explanatory post ahead! Sorry to be so wordy, but this was an interesting choice for me between two similar but very different jackets, and it really required me to make a thoughtful choice. Angie, I'm sorry I didn't actually get to post true "styled" photos of these jackets, but I'd love to hear what you have to say about the final verdict.

As many of you know, I ordered two bomber jackets in a quest to expand my jacket horizon beyond moto styles. Here are the two that really appealed to me as statement pieces:

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....er-arrived

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....rrived-too

I have had a crazy couple of weeks and have not had a chance to play with stylings and take pictures, but I did get some spousal input. My husband came home from a business trip and I tried on each one of the jackets for him (I happened to be wearing the mixed media black pencil skirt and denim shirt from my WIW the other day -- http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ncil-skirt ).

Hub's opinion was that he far and away preferred the Leitmotiv jacket on me. As I've said in the past, he is not a fan of oversized styles, for one. Even so, I thought the design of the Zara might win him over because we both love Japanese and Asian prints and motifs. However, in addition to the cut, he didn't love the shiny satiny fabric of the Zara -- he felt like it was just a little "much" for me and didn't quite hit the mark of sophisticated ease I am aiming for.

It's interesting how well he knows me, because he managed to articulate a hesitation I had about that jacket, even though I like it. He liked the embroidered design, but wished it were on leather, which made me laugh since the point is NOT to add more leather to my wardrobe!

He didn't love the Leitmotiv at first glance, but once I scrunched the sleeves and showed him how I would wear it, he warmed to it quickly. He liked that the print was interesting but not so "in your face."

So the verdict is in favor of the Leitmotiv. I think I will find it easier to style and work into my outfits. The Zara one is such a big statement, I feel like it would be easier to go wrong in styling it, and I also feel like it may date quicker.

I also like that the Leitmotiv is so thin and lightweight, I will be able to wear it in summer, which I cannot say of 90% of my jackets. And yet, it is roomy enough that I can wear a couple of layers under it and wear it even now, while it's 50 degrees outside.

I really appreciate the great feedback you all gave when I posted those original threads! I know I didn't get to respond to all the remarks, but I did pay attention and your comments were VERY helpful.

Funny postscript: Yesterday I had an errand that took me closer to a Zara than I usually get (it's about an hour away), so I took the Zara bomber to return it. While I was there, I tried on a few things, including a very casual, neutral-toned bomber style jacket that has a tone-on-tone Japanese medallion motif on the back. It's like a way more casual, toned-down, less oversized version of the one I returned. It was also less than half the price, so I bought it to try it out. It's not on their website, so I'll have to post pictures later. I could justify keeping both this and the Leitmotiv because they are so different in style and function. The new Zara one is something I could wear on my photo trips, etc., and is a nice nod to the trend that won't overpower an outfit.