WIW: Thrifted military jacket & leather jacket musings

I know you are probably sick of my white jeans (yeah...the ones I thought I would dye two weeks ago and haven't taken off since...). Not to mention my taupe sweater. But hey. It is a sunny day. And I threw my thrifted denim military jacket on overtop. This is such a fun jacket. I won't wear it often (because my bottoms are mainly denim) but when I do wear it, I'll enjoy it. It's so stretchy and comfy. The sleeves are fun to scrunch and push back in different ways. And it's got an asymmetrical fastening and high collar that I just love.

In other news, still no decision on the leather jacket. I am so very torn about it. I don't know if the sleeves can be altered except at the shoulder because there is a patch at the elbow (reinforcement). Looking at it carefully, it's in TOTALLY the wrong place (way below my own elbow) which shows the sleeves are not meant to be this long. So it would need to be pulled up from the top. Still haven't been to WonderWoman East to inquire as to the cost of that.

This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

32 Comments

  • texstyle replied 11 years ago

    Love this outfit on you Suz - it seems to be perfectly YOU and perfect too.

  • krishnidoux replied 11 years ago

    Yay! You look SO fantastic here, I had to cling to my table not to fall backwards. Taupe and white! Brilliant! (Am doing it today for sure). AGAIN: where and mostly HOW did you get those boots? I want a pair.

    I am so sorry about the leather jacket's sleeves. That is a real bummer. Then it means the sleeves MUST be altered, or the item returned.

  • kellygirl replied 11 years ago

    I don't think I can tire of your white jeans. They are just so awesome on you! Love this whole outfit!

    Sorry that the moto is being so problematic. I think it's perfect in every way except for those dratted sleeves! I hope you can find a solution.

  • Mochi replied 11 years ago

    I love--no, adore--this look for so many reasons.

    I know you didn't ask for more opinions on the Z jacket. But I had already been unsure. Apart from the sleeves, the fit is so amazing, but I'm one of those who wasn't sure it was your style direction. I see you spending a bit more but getting something a little softer and in either a classic or artistic cut. Or a moto jacket in a softer color (perhaps not even leather). The search goes on, but when you find it, you'll KNOW.

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Krish - these are the Angie recommended Report booties. I actually ordered them from Nordstrom's last year - one of the few things I ordered in, paid duty on, and then paid even extra on to get a rubber sole put on the outside, which only had a slippery manmade material to begin with and was impractical for me to walk in. So they ended up being a rather expensive purchase when all is said and done, even though the original cost was not terribly high. Still, you can get them from Amazon and Shannon says that this works very well: http://www.amazon.com/Report-W.....B004ZBS9DA

    I have reviewed them on Angie's store site. Despite the cost, they have been an excellent purchase for me because they are exceptionally comfortable. They have a padded UPPER inside. So you can wear them comfortably without socks. This means they are a very good warm weather bootie, something I'd never imagined before.

    However, the downside of these booties is the gap at the ankle. It looks a bit odd on many of us and is wide enough that you cannot easily put skinnies or even straight legs over it. Works best with dresses, boot cuts, or rolled up trousers.

  • Queen Mum replied 11 years ago

    Love it! I love how you 'boyfriended" them. I may have to try that!
    i finally pulled my white jeans out the other day and wore them too. I find them hard, as I can't wear them during summer proper, and then fall hits and I feel kindof funny about it.

  • krishnidoux replied 11 years ago

    Thanks for the link! I will look into it.

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Thanks, all for your thoughts on the moto...I know. The black is a bit strong for me, although as I played around, I quite liked it. But I'll probably return simply because the quality isn't really high enough (I think) to justify the added cost of the alteration.

    I may try it on again with a few outfits and get pictures if my photographer will cooperate.

    Mochi, in terms of style direction - Angie's right. This is an iconic classic that to me would fit perfectly into my style goals. Not that I might not want ANOTHER jacket at some point, too...just that the moto style is a good "edgier" addition. I'm a bit confused/ bemused about why people are thinking it's not. To me, a moto IS artsy (in a way) AND classic, AND edgy....sort of like Docs, you know? But maybe I am misreading the signals I would send??

    Anyway...I guess my goal is not to be "arty" per se. (Ugh...heaven forfend!) My goal is to be "me." Which definitely could include a moto!

  • merwoman replied 11 years ago

    WOW! You look amazing Suz - absolutely fab outfit. This is so your colour pallette.I like the textures as well - there's a lovely softness to everything.

    I hear you about the jacket - am still curious to see what it would look like unzipped with one of your skirts.

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Krish - also these, from Aldo: http://www.aldoshoes.com/us/wo.....mandina/36

  • sarah replied 11 years ago

    Well, you might as well wear them while you can. It's just turned freezing here, and I can't bring myself to put on my white jeans any more. You look great!

  • christy replied 11 years ago

    What a great outfit! I've only been able to follow the moto jacket discussion in the most cursory manner - I'll go back and take a look!

  • Scarlet replied 11 years ago

    Love! Is there still Esprit in Canada? I popped in there yesterday and they had both some interesting looking black and blush moto leather jackets. I didn't look too closely because I am not in the market, but they sure caught my eye.

  • Carole replied 11 years ago

    It's great to see you get such great mileage out of the white jeans! I'm like you, I waited until a few weeks ago to start wearing mine, the weather was just too warm until recently! Anyway, that is one great jacket and I love the roll up on the skinnies. Another fab outfit!

  • bj1111 replied 11 years ago

    hey, suz, my two cents on the jacket elbow patches. clearly they are made for longer arms so the patches are in a different location. it could also be a design component since i've seen other (nonleather) jackets and sweaters with a similarly low placed patch. maybe the designers assume that you will scrunch up on the upper arm and the lower arm so the patch eventually winds up in an anatomically correct position.

    re your quest for an arty edgy classic...i think a moto is a definite possible for all that. the arty could come from the color or from a detail, the edgy could come in how you wear it, and as a moto, it's an iconic fashion form. hello, easy rider!

  • Mochi replied 11 years ago

    Heh. I am sorry. I really loved it with the scarf, for example, which softened it just the right amount.

    It could definitely be one of your wardrobe staples. But I agree that you may want to hold out for a higher-quality item. For me, a leather jacket would be the one item I would consider paying quite a lot for. If it were perfect, or as close as I would get.

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Hmmm. Interesting, Bj. I will take another look at those patches.

    Scarlet - great suggestion. Can you believe we used to have an Esprit STORE two blocks away? But no more. I think some of our department stores still carry the line, though. So if I get to the big city...

    Sarah, it's cool here today, too, but the sun is shining and that is good enough for me!

  • celia replied 11 years ago

    Hi Suz, this outfit is so beautiful on you. The denim jacket is perfect!

  • celia replied 11 years ago

    Hi Suz, this outfit is so beautiful on you. The denim jacket is perfect!

  • Nadya replied 11 years ago

    What a perfect transitional outfit answer ease into Fall! I may roll my white denim capris boyfriend stle and copy you :-)

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Gorgeous outfit on you Suz! I love the mix of neutrals and those jeans just look so perfect on you with the Report booties. Fab.

    BTW - The Bay is carrying a small amount of the Esprit line. When I was in there yesterday they had some lovely things.

  • JulieJohn replied 11 years ago

    Gonna get me some taupe. I haupe.

  • Jonesy replied 11 years ago

    So glad you didn't dye those white jeans :)! This is a fab outfit, Suz, just perfect.

    Sad about the elbow patches on the Zara jacket...

  • KathyL replied 11 years ago

    I love the jeans on you. Those booties have been a great addition to your wardrobe! I love how you wear them with your pants rolled.

    Sorry to hear about the jacket. I often have issues with the length of sleeves. If it's too much trouble to fix, I would say pass until you find the perfect jacket.

  • Laura replied 11 years ago

    Sorry about those sleeves, Suz. I feel your pain. Wish you could find a moto jacket in a petite ...

  • Caro in Oz replied 11 years ago

    These colours look so great on you - love the outfit. If I were you I would be waiting for the taupe + leather + petite + moto jacket that is out there somewhere! I've added the link to the one in the pic - I love the detail on the back.

    http://www.ssense.com/women/pr.....cket/59260

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    HA! Caro - that one is on my Pinterest!! Astrid also sent it to me.

    Yeah...I will probably take this one back with regret. But I'll talk to my seamstress first. She is good and charges very little and it may be worth the extra cost since the jacket itself is much cheaper than most leather jackets.

  • Deborah replied 11 years ago

    Suz this is such a great outfit. I love the jeans and don't think I will tire of seeing you in them at all. In fact I am soaking in your pics as inspiration given its almost warm enough to get my white jeans out! They are new and I have never worn white jeans before. The booties with them just look incredible. The jacket gives of a bit of a 70's vibe to me which is a nice alternative to the crop jacket.

    Oh and can I ask are your jeans straight leg?

  • lyn67 replied 11 years ago

    That jacket is a statement piece, love the bigger silver buttons, the collar and the cuffs! I'm so happy you haven't dyed your white jeans, I cannot understand why you would have done it!??!! Each of us needs a pair of white denims.
    You also inspired me pairing white with taupe for fall, as said before, I love taupe on you and I also have a complete taupe capsule, but not really paired with whites before.
    BTW, sorry for your strugglings with the leather jacket...

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    LOVE this denim-on-white-denim look. Especially the way all the collars/neck elements work together. So cool!

    Since I was one of the people bemusing you by thinking the moto didn't look like you... I think it is because a classic BLACK moto is to me very masculine and very retro-fifties-or-punk. James Dean. The Fonz. Grease. Marlon Brando in The Wild One. Steve McQueen. The Terminator... these jackets were banned from schools in the 50s!

    So it's not that I don't think these jackets are iconic or classic or artsy; it's that it is hard for me to reconcile the Black Moto Jacket Icons I grew up with as being your style icons.

  • Claudia replied 11 years ago

    Like Rae, I have to chime in that just because I didn't think that that particular moto was best on you, doesn't mean that I don't like them in general (I think they are iconic, classic, and can be worn artsy). I own and wear a classic black moto; and have three other motos: in cream, cognac, and turquoise. It's just that in my opinion that one was too harsh/hard edge for you, for whatever reason it looked to me in the photos -- and I saw the jacket way before I saw you in it.

    I definitely think you need a moto, but only that you should keep looking!

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Thanks, Rae and Claudia. I think I AM going to keep looking. Good as this one is in many ways, it's just not worth the extra $$ to alter it, I suspect. Ah well. Pennies saved now are pennies better spent later!

You need to be logged in to comment