The Dilemma of a Leather Jacket

Friday 22 May 2020


A leather jacket I ordered arrived in the post today and I'm not sure how I feel about it. It's currently on the end of my bed half in the plastic it came in and half on the tissue paper that was used to wrap it. I think the dilemma is more because once I put the jacket on I realised I didn't look like Bella Hadid as opposed to the issue coming from the jacket itself, which has committed no fault. I bought it in a size 10 under the guise that it would be slightly bigger than me so I could wear hoodies and jumpers underneath it in winter. This isn't the case and the shape is slightly more fitted than I was hoping for. My flatmate Jules has assured me that this is because I've never worn a leather jacket before, so I took a nap in the afternoon and tried it on again afterwards. The feeling remains. 

Outerwear, for me, has always been a struggle. I have a long wool coat that fits too tightly under the armpits, an XL puffer jacket that looks like someone has jumped on it and a slightly oversized suede piece from Carharrt that I'm either in love or completely loathe, day dependent. I can never hit the fit perfectly. I blame this on my own laziness, which predates Coronavirus, and meant that I told myself that I never had time to go instore to try anything on. Number one: why would I ever do that when I can shop online? That's it, that's the line of excuses and now my own stupidity has led me to become the proud owner of three (I'm not including the leather jacket yet as she has one sleeve on the returns pile) ill-fitting pieces of outerwear. 

A rule of thumb to use when measuring the effectiveness and functionality of outerwear is its ability to withstand layering, and by that I mean, can you wear multiple items underneath said jacket in the winter and the piece still hold up? This is pretty much the only thing I look for when buying a coat. I'm talking a turtle neck, a t-shirt, a hoodie, a scarf, gloves and finally, the jacket on top to complete that day's fashion pièce de résistance. This leather jacket I have purchased is not really like that and has the feel and shape of a shirt, but I will take you through some positive points: the leather is very soft, it hangs nicely and has a popper close down the front which I like. I will even dare to say that this jacket COULD be worn without a top underneath, but I will never do that. 



Before I carefully refolded the leather jacket to put back into its original packaging (does anyone else do this to make it look like they never opened the parcel when it gets back to the depot? No? Just me, okay) I FaceTimed with my friend in LA to get her verdict. I jumped into a pair of black jeans that just about fit me and tried to work the jacket with a cropped turtle neck. This was not the look. Next, I grabbed a black satin dress from my wardrobe and tried it with a pair of strappy mules I have. I was so pleased with this outfit that I became immediately sad that I was single/would never feel bold enough to wear this outside/had absolutely nowhere to go. 

I'm keeping the jacket based on this one epic outfit. 

Black Leather Jacket - £169 £135!

Other bits: 
I've finally bought a workout mat after doing stretches and press-ups against a wooden floor. My knee is in excruciating pain and I do not recommend this. 
I made my own mango ice cream and I cannot/will not shut up about it. 

Happy Friday, I'm going to have some wine now 

Lauren x

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