Chasing Unicorns.

Sometimes in life we have an object we are forever chasing that we don't know if we will ever get our hands on. We start to question it's existence. I call this object "the unicorn." A couple weeks back, after years of searching, I finally caught my unicorn. No less it was at my Mecca more commonly known as the Goodwill. I had just finished up browsing the shoes when I was headed for clothing & for some reason stopped to look at the men's leather jackets. I don't know why I did. Kevin doesn't wear leather jackets & I already own my fair share so I wasn't in dyer need of another, especially with summer fast approaching. But there it was, my unicorn. Otherwise known as the leather aviator jacket. I have craved such a jacket for so long I thought it was to good to be true. To good to be true, forget that, it was better than true. While not a real pilot jacket it was however the brand I grew up wearing from the time I was around 8 years old. The brand that my Gramma once sent me a dress from a store in New York. And the t-shirt I still have of my mom's from the early 90's even though it is now ripped to shreds but is still the most important item in my wardrobe. A brand that is certainly everywhere but, not like it use to be. That brand is DKNY. And not the DKNY you now find in the teeny bopper section at Macy's. Vintage DKNY. With the square white label & bold black letters. Unicorn x Infinity with a cherry on top. But would it fit? 

Oh yea, it fit. And for the price of $29.99 the aviator & I will live happily ever after. Not even the approaching hotter days ahead will separate us. It will be perfect with all my 90's dresses & carry me right on into every other season. What's meant to be, with patience & diligence, will be. Xo.

Wearing: Thrifted/vintage DKNY aviator, thrifted/vintage L.A. Raiders crew neck, Forever 21 tank, thrifted GAP jeans, thrifted Chinese Laundry cork kitten heels, thrifted clutch.

Thrifting Tip: Leather Jackets

Now while it may be the season for bare arms & bare legs having a REAL leather jacket (I will save my detest for faux/polyurethane for another time) is a quintessential item to own. There are so many types out there & really it doesn't matter if you go with a motorcycle cut, blazer cut, etc. Leather jackets are pricey so understandably harder to obtain. I encourage you if you please to save your pennies each month until you could afford one from somewhere like Zara where you can get one for $200. But if you don't mind the search as it may not come on the first or tenth try you can find one at the thrift. Besides this aviator I've purchased at least four other leather jackets from the thrift of varying styles. I bought a beautiful Banana Republic one for $40- that is a bit bigger with zippers on the sleeves allowing me to wear it over chunky sweaters in the winter (remember leather stretches so if you sausage your sweaters into your fitted leather jacket the elbows may stretch out.) I also have a Guess one that is suede, hits at the knee with hidden buttons up the front & is great for a more formal look but still has some funk to it as it looks like someone left it in the sun for to long & has faded spots giving it a great vintage vibe. I passed up another great Guess one at Value Village recently that was a blazer cut with super soft leather. So, after this lengthy build-up (can you tell I have no friends & only talk to my boyfriend?) here are my tips to help in picking your leather jacket:

1. First, know you might not get your motorcycle jacket.

-Now while the motorcycle style of leather jacket is the most coveted, it's also the hardest to come by at a thrift. You will find it, but the chances of it being a good fit are slim. The leather is generally to thick (remember these jackets were created in case you were in an accident, had to lay your bike down, & protect your skin.) The cut is often boxy & hits at the waist. If you find the unicorn that is the perfect fit then high five to you! But know the reality is slim.

2. The softer the better.

-Softer leather gives you more flexibility. You may want to roll the sleeves or scrunch them to show of your bracelets & a stiff leather is going to make that difficult. A soft leather is more feminine & the best part of a leather jacket is when it's worn in.

3. Check the men's.

-If you are a broader shouldered gal you may try looking in the men's as vintage cuts were often still slim but might give you that extra bit of mobility in the shoulders you need.

4. Kate Moss.

-Kate Moss is known for her versatility in modeling. She can encompass multiple looks & knows how to put outfits together in her everyday life making her a style icon with reason. She wears a multitude of leather jacket styles & is great place to look for inspiration to see what kind of leather jacket style you think you might like. Now no, we aren't all the size of Kate the Great but if you are looking at a jacket that you think is cool but are afraid others will think you are a weirdo (screw those people anyways) look to Kate. Chances are she's worn one like it & if it's good enough for Kate then ya damn well bet it's good enough for you.

5. Be sure.

-While a leather jacket at the thrift will be far less than that at a department store, it still could set ya back anywhere from $25- to $50-. And trust me, I am in the boat where $50- is no small chunk of change. So it is absolutely still an investment. Make sure it is a jacket you know you will wear. Try it on in the dressing room with a couple different outfits. Try it on with a fun dress, or just with a t-shirt & jeans. While it may have not been the jacket you originally had in mind, it might just be the one you actually need. 

Happy Hunting.