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Monday, November 29, 2010

Colored Leather

I just finished reading The Thoughtful Dresser, by Linda Grant, thanks to my friend, Terri over at Ragz.  In it, among lots of other great stuff, was a part on a leather biker jacket being too young to be worn by an over 50 year old.  Personally, bikers are a bit too tough for me to pull off, yet I do see plenty of over 50's that look great in them.  I have feminized this look by finding colored leather jackets and wear them as blazers in the office, or as 'tween season jackets.  I love colored leathers!
 

jacket~Marshalls
skirt~thrifted
shoes~Nordtrom's the Rack

The skirt has a long history.  When I bought it at a thrift store about 15 years ago, it was one of those long, preppy skirts that was longer than a midi.  It was pretty ugly, but the fabric was gorgeous.  It is one of the softest wool challis I have ever been able to find.  I took the hem up, to about 2 inches below the knee--a good boot length.  In a few years, that looked sort of dowdy.  So last year, I took a few more inches off and whala!  I am in love with it all over again!

And just to be a little cheeky?  I did the socks and sandal thing again.  Love the monochromatic look!

Whadaya think?  Biker jackets for over 50? 


19 comments:

  1. This looks great on you! Those socks and sandals really work.....also, isn't it amazing what a few inches off a skirt will do? Gorgeous! ~Serene

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  2. Love the jacket, but then again I am not impartial, I love, love pink.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  3. Awesome jacket! I have an "artist friend," over 60, and she totally pulls off the black leather biker jacket.

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  4. This outfit is wonderful! Love the jacket and the skirt and the tights and the awesome color!
    I completely disagree with the book...I think biker jackets are great for anyone over 50 who wants to give it a try and on some women they look amazing! I wish I could wear them. You said you liked the book though, so I assume she doesn't say too many things like this!

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  5. Ok - if you can shorten a skirt twice I guess I'll set that as my standard. I have a skirt I've taken up once and the last time I wore it I was thinking it was too long again and I'd give it away.

    I think this jacket is good, particularly through the waist. Biker jackets are sometimes a little short and have a lot of detail around the bottom right where I have a muffin top that doesn't need a big buckle highlighting it.

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  6. If the jacket is a good fit I think an 85 yr old can get away with it!
    You go girl

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  7. I must have missed that rule somewhere. I've been shopping for a black one, but I want simple lines in it--nothing like a biker would wear.

    The pattern in the skirt is what I'm envious of!

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  8. LOVE the tights. Great color-- where did you get them? (I love the jacket, too, of course... but I'm fixating on smaller (cheaper?) details at the moment!)

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  9. Love the monochrome leg and shoe look. (It was the central story of the Wall Street Journal weekend style page this weekend --- it caught my eye because the section cover had a bunch of monochrome legs and shoes walking across the newsprint!)

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  10. I love this look! I love how it goes from bright to a pattern to neutral. Very unique. :)

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  11. You are one of the few, who look great in bright colors and a biker jacket- must be your great smile!
    I would not wear leather jackets/coats, except the fur ones and maybe something in suede.

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  12. Serene~I was thinking of you gf and your regulatory 6" off! I probably did a little more than that but...I'm having second thoughts on the sandal and sock thing...maybe a later post
    Sacramento~thanks and altho I love pink also, this jacket is closer to red--sorry for the bad pics; the sun is at a very low angle at this time of year-pics can be tricky!
    Lisa~I think people can pull it off; dont know what she was talking about.
    Pam~Welcome and thanks for commenting! In the book, which i did like, there is a bit where the author,Linda Grant, is horrified that her new biker jacket is deemed a piece to avoid by an esteemed Sarah Mower. So to clarify things, it wasn't the authors opinion. she does go into this whole thing of "mutton monitor". I might go into this more later....
    Rose~no rules on how many times you can take up a skirt...biker jacket? maybe some rules..
    silvergirl~I couldnt agree MORE!!!!
    Terri~I sort of thought of you with this paisley--you would love this material! oh and see my explaination above about the book--it wasnt the author's opinion.
    Anne~I got these at Marshall's and I was so excited because it is SO Hard to find a medium brown like this! Marshall's and TJ's have had a lot of stockings this year. Have you tried
    www.welovecolors.com? They have choices; just in case there are no marshalls around you.
    Vanessa~I can't believe you said that--I was going to use that page in Wed. post because I dont know if I'll wear a monochromatic leg for xmas or contrasting....us color girls got it going on!
    Thanks Flow and thanks for commetning! Welcome! I had to tone it down a bit...
    Metscan~Thanks but why no leather?

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  13. Sorry Pam, I didnt recognize the new moniker!

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  14. That leather jacket looks absolutely FABULOUS! KEEP WEARING IT! I agree that leather can be tricky to wear if one's skin looks leathery, as can happen with age, because leather can make one's skin look more leathery than it is -- but that leather jacket doesn't seem to make your skin look leathery at all -- you can pull it off! It looks FIERCE!

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  15. awesome jacket! leather is classic.
    <3mode.
    http://modestylist.blogspot.com

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  16. its really a wonderful post. I really like it. Keep it up.



    Leather Jackets,
    Men Leather Pants

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  17. just catching up on blog posts after my vacation and saw this....and LOVE the look! Every inch is perfect.

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  18. Sandals and socks is a great look for you! You should try black socks with sandals.

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