Would you wear a moto jacket to work?

Tricia

I was planning my outfit for tomorrow - a charcoal gray sweater dress, maroon tights, and my lace-up black boots - and was thinking it looked a little boring. The belts I tried didn't look right, and then I thought of my new black moto. I like the way it looks, but I feel a little weird wearing it to work. (It's lightweight, so I'd be wearing it more like a blazer.)

My office is, not casual exactly, but fairly laid back. The executives wear shirts and ties, no jackets, but other than that there's a pretty big range. I feel comfortable wearing smart jeans, for example. Do you think a moto is too "edgy"?

15 years ago

Dressing

13 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Kari

Veteran

Tricia, I wear both my white pleather and denim moto jackets to work. I wear one or the other at least once a week. My office dress code sounds a little more casual than yours, but still, I think your moto jacket could work with slightly smarter/dressed up pieces. I think wearing yours over a sweaterdress sounds cute!

15 years ago

Beth

Veteran

If it was fairly simple with not too many zippers and snaps, then yes I would.

15 years ago

Maya

Veteran

I wear mine to work. Never even thought of it being inappropriate...but I do have a lot of freedom. It sounds fine in your office if you wear jeans.

15 years ago

MNsara

Veteran

Not knowing your office, I would generally think that if your other pieces aren't too casual then the moto jacket would work as a casual blazer substitute. (Would you wear a denim jacket to work? The moto seems dressier to me than a denim jacket.)

15 years ago

Jen

Active Member

I think it depends on the jacket. If it is plain then yes it would be fine. I don't think I would wear one with too much metal on it to work. I do wear moto boots with a lot of metal but they are sortof elegant looking, and I only wear them if the rest of my outfit is pretty classic. My office is mediurm dressy.

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Where in Angie's business casual quadrant model would you place your office http://youlookfab.com/2010/01/.....ss-casual/
My hunch would be a moto would be appropriate for the creative offices but probably not the conservative ones.

15 years ago

Louise

Veteran

It sounds like the rest of your outfit is fairly smart so i'd say it's ok to wear. You've got me thinking there i'd be more comfortable wearing a moto jacket to work than jeans x

15 years ago

stringy

Veteran

I'm on the hunt for a moto jacket on purpose to wear it to work! Nothing yet, I think the weather here is still too warm for jackets to show up in the shops. But I'm in the creative/casual quadrant, and at least 2 people in my office brought in ponchos to keep warm last winter, so I think I've got more leeway than some offices would give

15 years ago

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Yes, definitely. Especially if it was a moto more suited to be worn as a blazer would be worn and your workplace falls in the more creative quantrant as Julie suggested.

15 years ago

Tricia

Veteran

Well, I work for an engineering company, so probably overall on the conservative-casual side of things, but I work in corporate communications, which is a bit more creative. To give you an idea, one of the designers down the hall has a long ponytail (he's a guy), wears jeans every day, and has punk-band posters in his office. But next to his office is my manager's office, and he wears a plain shirt and tie most days.

I don't see clients, so I think there's a lot I could "get away with." In the end, I decided I didn't love the moto with this outfit after all, but I think I could wear it here and be OK. Thanks for all the input!

For reference, this is the jacket:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Go.....9408100530

15 years ago