The Reformation surplus leather jacket | size small (I bought it over the summer on sale)
6397 Shorty jeans
James Perse casual tee
Chan Luu scarf (via credits at Garmentory*)
Vince Blair sneakers (mine are the oldest, platform style in haircalf)
So…yesterday it was “nicer” out (low 60’s, sun shining sometimes) and I decided to try out my Reformation leather jacket. I bought it months ago during their summer sale for a relative steal. I wasn’t going to buy a “new” leather jacket, but wanted one, so I jumped on this one made of surplus leather. I love to buy from The Reformation because the company is more sustainable, ethical & eco-friendly than most, but their styles definitely skew “young.”
My thoughts on the jacket/outfit:
- Leather is not very warm. I was okay, because this Chan Luu scarf is crazy warm and lightweight, an amazing combination, but I’d have been more comfortable if it was 65-70 degrees and the sun was out.
- The leather stretched a little with wear, but I am not able to comfortably wear a long sleeve tee or heavier sweater with this jacket. I knew that when I bought the small, that it would be rather snug, but more importantly than being able to layer it, I wanted the jacket to be the right length on me – perfectly cropped – which it is.
- No, I can’t zip it up.
- It came with a belt, but I removed it because it just flaps around aimlessly, but I wonder if it looks funny without it…
- I mostly love this jacket with my James Perse dresses/skirts and something more fitted on the bottom, but it’s been too cold to wear it like that.
- I was comfortable, generally, and liked the look overall, so I think I will keep the jacket and try to wear it more.
A leather jacket is another one of those things I always love/admire on others, but have never really thought I could pull off very well. I had a Veda leather jacket years ago, and I did wear it (I loved it), but it should have been much shorter on me – the length makes SUCH A BIG Difference on my body type, so I sold it. Then, last year at a Nordstrom event I saw a woman wearing a slim black dress, a cropped leather moto jacket and Freda Salvador oxfords and I became OBSESSED again with finding a good cropped leather jacket. Et Voila!
Do you have a leather jacket? When/how do you wear it?
*use my referral link at Garmentory and receive a $20 account credit when you sign up
I wonder if a leather tailor or shoe guy could take off the belt straps? I have a jacket that looks exactly like yours and had a 1″ belt low around the waist, which was not working for me, as it belted at my widest point. I took a seam ripper {to clarify, it was a light pink moto fake-leather jacket from Forever 21, but way cute and an excellent fit} to the loops. Rubbing the fabric took care of any remaining needle holes. Of course, a trusted professional would have to look at yours. Great look…love it!
oh, excellent suggestion! the belt loop at my lower back was really annoying when i sat down yesterday…
i will look into removing them.
I didn’t notice the belt straps and I think it looks great! I’ve never bought anything from Reformation even though I like their concept because due to the models they use I have trouble imagining what the clothing would look like on me. I wish they would use models with more diverse body types.
I love your jacket! I have a burgundy suede cropped one from Blank NYC I requested and received from Stitch Fix in January when I was rebuilding my wardrobe postpartum. I love the idea but don’t wear it very much. Of course, I’m also pregnant again, and that’s as much a reason as anything else! I plan to try it a few more years and decide. I think it works. I just need to think of it more often! This will be our last kiddo so I can think of my wardrobe more permanently beginning next fall.
Very classic look – love it on you! I am not a leather clothing person. I do have a suede car coat, years old. Haven’t worn the past few years but haven’t gotten rid of it either…..Wonder if I should? (yes, I *should*. Wonder if I can/will 😉
I have a rick owens bomber in the blistered leather that I wear all them. It’s pretty warm (it’s also lined in cotton) and I can wear it into the high 40’s with a sweater underneath. I usually wear it with jeans and a plain top or occasionally a dress.
Yours look good and I actually like it better with the belt removed. I’ve been looking into more classic moto-style leather jackets (like yours) and one of the requirements is definitely to /not/ have a belt, or at least a removable one.
I really love that jacket on you. You look like a chic, tough biker chick! I have a brown leather jacket by Vince that I’ve owned for a good 7+ years now. It’s super lightweight and I do wear it often. It keeps me warm “enough” as I live in So CA and the weather is mostly mild (except for this week where it’s freezing cold!) The leather is really supple and has softened up over time.
thanks – i do like it without the belt, the buckle is just huge and in the way.
i’m hoping the sleeves will stretch enough i can wear it more comfortably with a lightweight sweater underneath. i’d like to be able to wear it more often, i think.
my veda jacket was pretty warm actually, but it was similar to the rick owens’ one in that it was lined and the sleeves were heavy and half ribbed…
LOVE this on you, it looks amazing! I think removing the belt loops makes sense… I am vegan but still own a leather jacket that I rarely wear simply because for us in Seattle it’s tough figuring out the timing! I agree, they aren’t warm but are certainly stylish…
I like that idea. It makes it more streamlined! This is a really great outfit on you!!! Another big “thumbs up” from me. :-). (And a reminder that I have to get a Chan Luu scarf…<3 )
Love this outfit! I have a very similar looking jacket by Muubaa. Also cropped so the perfect length for me. Sleeves are slightly long but totally short enough to be passable. Only thing I don’t like is the red lining (I’m just not a red person, I don’t understand why they didn’t just do black lining). I also prefer to wear mine without the belt, I feel it looks more elegant that way. There are definitely different weight leather jackets. I’ve had quite a few leather jackets by Mike & Chris that could easily be worn indoors in AC (movie theatre, office, etc) or at higher elevations (upcountry Maui can go down to 60 degrees at this time of year) in Hawaii. I think of those as “LA” leather jackets, light enough to be worn in moderate climates.
I adore leather jackets on women, and think you look great in yours. I own a few leather jackets as I live in San Francisco and they’re pretty much a staple for us here. (So apologies in advance for the long post, I am a leather aficionado!)
1) WATERFALL JACKET:I bought from Asos by the brand Warehouse maybe 5+ years ago that is still going strong and wear on milder days when we actually get warm (usually April or Oct). Also great for bringing to places that have real summers or have serious A/C–I’ve brought it to wear on planes and in destinations like Las Vegas and Tulum, Mexico.
2) 3/4 SLEEVE BIKER STYLE, CROPPED JACKET: From Rebecca Minkoff. The sleeves are elastic backed, and the full back is perforated and the rest is leather and biker style. I’ve worn this a bunch for A/C , summer concerts when the temperature drops. I love it because I have freedom of movement due to the lambskin. I just wished it went to my wrists rather than 3/4
3) PEBBLED TEXTURE BIKER: Just bought this year during the Friends & Family Shopbop event in October, by Joe’s Jeans in the “Rene” style. Wore it as a topper mostly over dresses but since it’s so new, it needs at least 1 year of wear to get everything more soft and malleable. It’s just a little too stiff and VERY heavy. It’s lined, and I wonder about its warmth too. I’m pregnant, so I haven’t been able to enjoy it as much as I’ve wanted to but when I wore it out, people loved the texture and I love that it has black matte hardware, so I can wear it with gold AND silver. That was a sticking point
4) FAUX MOTO: Finally I have a faux moto, collarless jacket by Topshop that is somewhere in between the weight of the Minkoff and the Joe’s jackets, and one I reach for the most since it’s faux and has lots of movement in the arms. Also layer-able.
That does it. In general I think biker jackets are that 3rd piece that lend edge to my outfits, which tend to be basic, minimal and sometimes preppy. Wearing one takes some nonchalance!
I bet that jacket would look amazing with a baby bump!
Grechen, I love this look on you! It’s so…cool. I can find no better word so there it is. Cool.
Hi Grechen-
It fits you perfectly. Leave the jacket alone, is my 2 cents- it looks great as is and is not supposed to be so perfect. I just got a new black leather – I like motto’s on other people but not on me. I like a smooth look without as many details. I bought the Eileen Fisher stand up collar leather jacket this past fall and love it, it skims the body, is great quality, made here and the only nod to the motto is the shape (not cropped) and the zippers in black, at the wrists. I’ll wear it w dresses, skirts, jeans, trousers over workout gear, so basically everything. I would layer it over a jean jacket, sweater or blazer.
Mama V- Ha! Come to think of it I havent been hot in years as well- too funny – it used to take me 20 minutes to get dressed with 2 of everything on a cold day-my husband calls our bedroom, ‘the tomb’.
Ps love the way your hair looks in yesterdays pic!
Gena
Agreed. #letsbringbacksexytopregnancy 😉
Haha! My husband shivers at night because I turn the heat off and open the window. Meanwhile, I’ve got the night sweats.
I agree! I especially like those unused belt loops…..so funky. But maybe take off the one at the back if you are uncomfortable? Here it is too hot to wear leather in the summer, and it rains in the fall and spring, so I mostly wear leather jackets UNDER my parkas (yes, plural),