Wearing leather handbags with leather jackets - YouLookFab Forum

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Wearing leather handbags with leather jackets

Sylvie

Veteran

Since there's a veritable fever of leather jacket discussion on the forum, tell me, do you think it looks weird to wear leather handbags with leather jackets?

To my eye, a smooth leather jacket looks better with a suede, textured or fabric handbag. I feel weird wearing my dark green smooth leather crossbody with my black smooth leather jacket.

Add in tall leather boots and I get even more concerned there might be too much leather in the outfit.

Over to you - what bags do you pair with your leather jackets?

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Diana

Anonymous

I'm kind of the same way. Last year I got Monty (my python bag) primarily to wear with my taupe moto. The pattern of the snake and the suede-like texture look good with the smooth jacket, IMO.

san

Veteran

I feel the same way. I think we need to switch up textures and colors. I like to wear a leather jacket, a leather purse, and leather boots but it just seems like too much leather.

shiny

Veteran

I have no problem wearing a leather handbag with leather jacket, as long as the colors don't match. So no black leather bag with black leather/pleather jacket. No cream with cream. Etc.

But this is a most excellent question and I totally understand where you are coming from, because I have similar fret but not about jacket/purse... about new consignment find leather pencil skirt! I worry that the skirt somehow needs suede on my feet. And definitely NO animal print anywhere, even the belt... because it's too ... I dunno.. cave woman?

However my eye adjusted to leather bag with leather coat... so who knows.. will watch your thread for wisdom!

shiny

Veteran

You know it is funny because there was a time-- for thousands of years -- we wore nothing but leather, head to toe...

Gaylene

Veteran

I'd say it depends on your style preferences. I've worn a black leather cross body bag with my black leather jacket and a pair of black leather short boots and felt just fine. (Although I'd probably leave off the leather pants and corset--LOL)

I think it depends on the style of the bag and boots. In my case, my jacket was the statement piece, and both the bag and boots were quite streamlined and unobtrusive. Oddly enough, I don't think I'd have done this with a color other than black, nor would I have done it with suede, or if my jeans were tucked into tall boots. I also dislike mixing solid leather colors in the same outfit, so a solid green leather bag with a solid tan leather jacket just wouldn't work for me. So I guess I do have some "rules".

Diana

Veteran

I can't actually say that I've ever even considered this! Obviously it does not bother me, which is funny because denim on denim (even in different colors) bugs me because it's too much of the same texture. I have worn black leather jacket, black leather boots, and black leather bag all at once, as well as different colors of leathers (i.e. black jacket, cognac boots, teal bag).

JAileen

Veteran

I have a dark green suede jacket and like to wear it with my smooth brown boots and bag. I don't tuck my pants into the boots so it doesn't look like a lot of leather to me. The truth is I couldn't match it if I wanted to since I don't have anything else in green suede!

K. Period.

Veteran

Wow, interesting question! I've never considered this either. I don't mind smooth leather with smooth leather at all, but I love sleep minimalist styles, so I think that makes sense. And just like that, a new consideration for when I get dressed!

Carole

Veteran

Great question and I'm so glad you asked it. I've been wondering about my dark chocolate color leather moto style jacket....I have a hard time figuring out what to wear with it. It's so dark it almost looks black until I put black next to it then it looks like I was trying to match but didn't get it right..hmmm...guess I need to post my own question...but I will be following this post with interest.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm glad you asked this, Sylvie. I still don't have the leather jacket (as you know) but I was wondering the same thing.

bj1111

Veteran

depends on the leather jacket.

my blue moto jacket says "i'm ready to hop on a cycle and cruise into the sunset." not "let me get my bag, i'll be right with you." so with a moto, i put cash, a credit card, and id in my back pocket. if i have a dress or no pockets, then i go for a small clutch in leather--usually orange croc or navy blue tweed.

my black blazer says "i'm a little buttoned up right now, but catch me after 5." so here i would wear any structured bag, even leather. so a navy blue shoulder bag, a brown textured bucket bag, or maroon satchel are all bags i've worn with a black leather blazer as well as a grey blazer.

now, how about leather jackets and waxed leather-look jeans. too much????

merwoman

Veteran

Well I was wondering if my new jacket needed a new bag!
Similar to Gaylene - I am fine with wearing black leather purse and black leather moto.
But I sure wouldn't want a bag that matches the colour of my new jacket which is a tan/"luggage" colour. There is a lot of "texture" in my jacket, as well as colour variation so I am ok with putting a leather bag to it - safe choices will be black and brown leather bags. The style of the bag will depend on the rest of the outfit.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I don't have a problem with leather on leather, but I do like to make sure the leathers are not the same color. I DO like the effect of suede or calf hair bags with leather jackets, too.

Kristin L

Veteran

I like the leather on leather look. If you add leather pants to the mix, that may be a bit much.

@clearlyclaire - I love that you named your python bag Monty. Does it love spam?

jayne

Veteran

I am for going to back to the day (ref Shiny) where we wore leather head to toe! I worry about this too, and wearing pleather with leather, leather with waxed demin (looks a little leathery) and so on....but I am going to combine them all (well not pleather) this weekend and see how it feels

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Great question. I don't like too much leather on leather either unless there is a big difference in the textures.

Sylvie

Veteran

There was quite the range of responses! And it helped me realize something. I think a lot of you carry "normal size" by hand or on the shoulder. I am either wearing a dark colored cross body or a gigantic shoulder bag that holds my laptop. I was considering buying a black leather tote to hold my laptop, etc, and obviously it would be overwhelming right *next* to the black leather jacket.

Claire: Monty is the perfect bag to wear with your moto - the pattern/texture contrast makes perfect sense (and I'm ashamed to admit I didn't realize why you picked the name Monty until now)

San: I agree. It's the leather boots that put it over the top for me.

Shiny: I know - I don't want to feel too biker or too cave woman. Wearing different colors of leather is a great solution.

Gaylene: Your rules are the opposite of Shiny's but it makes perfect sense why they work for you. Wearing an unobtrusive bag with a statement jacket is very sensible.

Diana: Aha, a rebel! I will have to pay more attention to the leather components of your outfits.

JAileen: Dark green suede + smooth brown leather gives you enough contrast in my book.

k can shop: No, no, I don't mean to add another item to your checklist

Carole: Post a photo of your jacket with your purse. I for one, would love to see it.

Suz: I know once you have your leather jacket, you'll do a brilliant job of pairing it with the right bag.

BJ111: Thank you for sharing your specific handbag+jacket pairings. That is really helpful! Agree on waxed leather look jeans + leather jacket being a bit much unless you're going for the biker look.

Merwoman: I agree that I can't see matching the color of the bag to the jacket unless it's black. I usually prefer contrasting colors.

Rae: Calf hair - now there's a good idea! (I have a bag with calf hair detail on order)

Kristin: I didn't get Claire's bag reference until your comment, so thank you!

Jayne: I demand outfit photos.

Caro: Another vote for the textured side. Now I really do think I want a suede bag.

Diana

Veteran

Hee, Sylvie, I should add that I often forget to photograph my bag with my outfit. And sometimes I don't even bother to match it since I'm too lazy to switch bags every day anyway.