Will this finally be the year..

... that I fall in love with a biker jacket? 

Ok I should probably rephrase that, as it's not that I don't love them.  It's that they don't love me.  Or I should say, I'm not really too sure how to wear them.  I'll fess up.  It's the Danny Zuko thing.  I just feel vaguely knobbish in one.  

I love them on other people.  In my head, I can arrange a gazillion outfits with them that all look amazing.  But when I go to put them on, I feel like a tool. 

I've probably spent way too much time thinking about this but I *think* I've finally worked out why. 

I've been looking at the wrong sort.  So those who know me well, will be starting to smell a rat here and maybe start to guess that this is the start of an elaborate plan to justify the purchase of my perfect leather jacket.   This dilemma has not been helped by the (blasted) Selfridges MUST HAVE list, which of course, lists my ideal jacket as The one to have.  Therefore it's not my fault.

Do not shoot the messenger boy...

I've been looking at the wrong types of biker jackets.  I really really want to love the All Saints ones.  A couple of my really good friends have them and they look so amazing in them.  I like to think that I don't actually look like one but I certainly feel like an ever so slightly too butch tranny on a night out.  Which isn't up there on any "ideal look" list.

So I've had a long think (insomnia's a pig but it's great for mental research.  Some of my best ideas, I've had at 3am.  When we say "best" we usually mean "expensive") and I think the solution is a leather jacket that's softer.  

Something more fluid, still fitted but with less of the bulk and hardware of your more typical "biker jacket" (Zuko stylee...). 

I basically mean a Rick Owens jacket.  But that's silly money.  Seriously, you could buy a car for the price of one of these so my mission for today is to find some that are more budget friendly. 

But you already have one, I hear you cry.  Now I do (not a Rick Owens jacket by the way.. In. My. Dreams) but a rather good tribute that was the ridiculously eye wateringly expensive sum of £24.50.   ASOS Tall last Summer and I love it.  I have actually worn it loads, as opposed to a chocolate All Saints jacket that I have probably worn less and I've had it for five years.  But my ASOS bargain isn't fitted.  It's fine with trousers but I really think, over a skirt, midi dress, or culottes (which is what I'm planning on wearing it with) it needs to be the more fitted variety.

And here in, lies my dilemma.  I need one that does up.  One that I can wear with my midi skirt from LK Bennett (I kept the 12), ankle boots and a fitted jumper (that I also don't own.. details schmetails).  For lunch next Friday.  

So what are we looking to emulate?

These utter beauties. 

Rick Owens Tail back leather biker jacket £1145  Although that has a dipped hem at the back and I'm not sure about it... And let's face it - for that sort of money it needs to be perfect (ideally it would make tea as well).

Or this one..

Rick Owens Classic Leather Biker Jacket £1090



And I'm not sure if this is the same?  I'm thinking it probably is.  I have to say I am super drawn towards the extra long arms (I'm assuming the models don't have extra short arms..) 

Rick Owens Draped Collar £1089




Or there's this in the charcoal at Net a Porter in the sale but only in an 8.  Which, alas, I could not shoehorn myself into.  If I though I could and wouldn't look like a spray painted sausage, then I'd try it.  But I tried a not great, thin version on in Zara today and the Medium was too small....

Rick Owens Washed leather in grey was £1395 now £698



And now they're merging all into one.  And frankly, the more you look at them, the more - utterly ridiculously - £1000 as opposed to £1800 seems reasonable.  Must. Stop.  Bonkers money and surely there must be some other options on the high street we can look at.

The best that I've found as a tribute is this which I absolutely love but I really want a leather alternative.  As in a suede, or brushed leather or something that's leather but not a shinyish leather.  Which I appreciate doesn't make sense.  Basically I just want the Rick Owens one.  Darn it.

Having said that - for the money, surely this has got to be worth a look?

mbyM Valentine leather jacket £230





And another leather version from Freaky Nation. 

Blow up Leather Jacket was £150 now £120



And that's pretty much it.  Hmm. So we move onto the drape front style ones which I can't remotely justify as I have the ASOS one which, although it's pleather, serves the same purpose.  

If you haven't got one and don't want one to ever do up, then these are marvellous.  I LOVE mine.  It's just not great with a skirt..

ASOS Leather Jacket in Grey was £130 now £91




And a version in black leather.

YAS Yascastro Leather jacket £130



Warehouse also do a real leather version with a detachable faux fur collar.  Love this one.  They say it's fitted and buttery soft which sounds divine. 

Faux Fur Collar Leather Drape Jacket from Oasis £160









And then there are some other options of the more traditional variety but I've tried to look at them in slightly less stiff leather (as in my head they scream ZUKO). 

A washed leather is a great alternative. 

Tall Washed leather jacket from Topshop £165




But if we're looking at non leather or suede, than have I managed to find some bargains. 

Black leather look suedette trim jacket from New Look £29.99





And a similar version but with some zips. 

Black Suedette Contrasted Bonded Waterfall Jacket £29.99





All in suedette at Oasis.  This one I think is perfect if you're more used to wearing blazers.. it's just a blazer with a little edge. 

Suedette Waterfall Jacket £48 from Oasis




And a slightly different version at Warehouse - a suedette with a leatherette collar.  The reverse of the usual.   They do this every year and I tried it on years ago.   I would have got so so much wear out of it, had I bough tit.  To be honest, it's nicer than my ASOS one but I love the longer sleeves on the Tall version I snagged.  

Zip Detail Waterfall Jacket from Warehouse £50


So I am just contemplating how much wear I'll get out of the actual Rick Owens one. (OUCH).  But that (along with a Givenchy Nightingale...) is the one thing I have wanted for years.  And maybe I should just bite the bullet and get one for my birthday this week.  We're off to Bicester on Tuesday so I should probably see what there is on offer there (I was looking for sandals but I'm more than happy I think with my black trusty Burberrys and the super cheap Zara leopard print ones that I got in the sale two years ago).  

Will I get enough wear out of it...  hmmmmmmm. 

Outfit from yesterday - lovely lovely treat day.  Breakfast out for a friend's birthday and then round to another friend's for lunch.  Before the rat race of three lots of swimming and cubs (football apparently wasn't on) and then a lovely glass of wine and a movie with the kids.  The poor husband was working late so we had more left over party food from the freezer when he got home.  I'm not sure what we're going to do when we run out.. It certainly isn't going to make us through till next Christmas.  Do they do their special ranges at Easter?

Navy straight cropped trousers - Me+Em (in the sale online) 
Navy polo neck - Zara
Camel coat - Zara
Grey Air Force 1s - Nike
Whisky Medium Marcie Satchel - Chloe

So I was up at the crack of dawn taking the boys to football and the dog to the park (her weekly date with her brother) having had only my two glasses of wine last night (about which I am very smug).   And then thought it would be a great idea to take the 11yr old and her friend to Bluewater.  That would be a no.   What an utterly hideous place to be on a Saturday.  Truly truly unpleasant (and I'm hugely sorry if I made your trip any more grim if you were anywhere near me in the variety of queues I had to stand in, snarling and growling like a grumpy old woman).  Returning the variety of stuff I had ordered the week before last when I was home with a houseful of sick children.  I have only myself to blame.  

I did decide though to keep the 12 in the LK Bennett skirt as opposed to the 10 (so I can breathe.  Which is always handy).  It looks so good with my sandals that I have (therefore I don't need anymore .. drat) but I do definitely definitely need a top to go with it.  It's not even a "need", it's a proper need.  Which, I'll be frank, I can't usually say about a lot.  

And I have a cunning plan...