I look ridiculous in a biker jacket!

[fedupandfifty]

Been meaning to get one for ages, but now gutted as they seem to look daft on me. I'm short(5'4ish) with biggish arms. I normally wear a 12 on top.

Every biker I've tried is too tight on the arms, but flappy at the front. I look overwhelmed by the fabric in a 12, so a 14 would be even more ludicrous, right? A 10 is out of the question as the arms would bevway too tight.

Where am I going wrong?

Not everything suits everyone. I hanker for a blazer but they look awful on me.

There is t much difference between a 12 and 14, why don't you try it? Or go to a shop like Evans as they will be cut bigger on the arms .

This one looks looser round arms.

www.superdry.com/womens/leather-jackets/details/41377/premium-classic-jacket

If you really really want one go into a shop with a few (like Super Dry) and try on loads.

You may find vintage shops do a wider range of styles and I'd even try on a men's one as that may be looser.

I have a superdry leather jacket , loose on the arms it isn't !

i also have a superdry leather jacket and it's not the roomiest of armspaces.

Cherrypie32 me too - I thought a blazer was the missing element from my wardrobe until I tried one on and realised it's just not me at all!

Get a cashmere one from Brora I so want one of these, but it would blow most of my clothes budget for the summer.

I have this leather jacket from Monsoon. It suits me much better than the type with the wide collar.

If you want the angled zip you could try the shape in a cardigan, as already suggested, like this.

Thanks all. I love the Mint Velvet one particularly. I've actually bought, this vrry morning, and angled-buttoned biker cardi very much like it!

I think it may be the stiffness of the leather putting me off, not just the flappiness.

Jigsaw do a lovely cashmere biker cardigan in a few colours. I LOVE mine. here

Watching with interest as I have been given a leather biker jacket and have no idea what to wear it with!

I've never had one before. Its black and looks nice, but is it for jeans? I'm worried about looking well hard:)

lavender I know what you mean about looking well hard! Especially in black!

I think they look nice over tunics, opaques and boots. Or over something very feminine and flowery if you can pull it off.

I think I prefer the ones that are more like Chanel jackets.

Thanks- I'll have to have a look through my things and see what looks ok, though it might feel odd wearing a leather jacket with a pretty dress:) I'll be way outside my comfort zone!

lavenderI was thinking skinnies or leggings, tunic-y top or long vest plus biker jacket. I don't like fuss. And boots, but not sure about biker boots!

I thought I'd look ok in a biker jacket, but can't handle the flappiness. Watching with interest to see what others are coming up with.

I was thinking maybe heeled ankle boots, tights, tube skirt, layers, and the jacket. With my hair down and barely there makeup.

I can't wear leggings, and if I put something too much up top, I feel like Jeremy fisher:)

Sounds good. I can't wear ankle boots as my legs are short and chunky. Who's Jeremy Fisher?

Wind in the willows:) the frog - all bulky up top with long skinny legs:)

I have a tiny waist and large boobs, so I am always aware of looking a bit racy. I've struggled for years tbh with my figure- its hourglass, I've always been slim as well, and I am very shy, so people looking and telling me how nice I look, and men always being interested has made me dress in a dowdy fashion to stop it. I'm not being up myself btw.!!!

I often deliberately look like shit as I can't cope. Low self esteem, and mistaking sexual desire for love:)

But now I am older I have the confidence to ignore and enjoy looking nice without looking like I'm trying too hard, iyswim. My dm used to say when I put make up on I was looking too keen, and my df used to say, be careful love, the wrong sort of bloke will notice you!!!

I feel more comfortable with a ring on, like it repels boarders, but as I have recently spilt from my dh, I feel very vulnerable all over again.

Perhaps the biker jacket will help, making me look a bit mean, and not taking any shit:)

lavender I can't get the image of a frog in a biker jacket out of my head!

I'm sure that this image does not apply to you, though.

Seriously, I think you should really go for it. Contrary to what your dm and df say, I think makeup makes you come across as less vulnerable, not more so. I never go anywhere without mine, but to me, wearing makeup is like a mask I use to defend myself: it gives me strength.

If you are getting lots of unwarranted attention perhaps you are coming across as vulnerable without realising? I always remember Marilyn Monroe and how vulnerable she looked without makeup and props. With slap and dressed up, however, she looked far less so (even though she obviously was, underneath.)

The point I think I'm making is that, imo, women who "make an effort" are likely to be perceived differently from those who don't bother. To me, at least, they look as though they value themselves enough to invest time and energy in looking good, which gives them an air of confidence. Confident-looking people are less likely to be messed with, imo.

Coming back to biker jackets, yes, I think it is quite a ballsy, no-nonsense look. Go for it!

I don't think it's for me, though. I think I'd end up looking like Suzi Quattro' s fat sister.

Thanks - I remember once getting dressed up for an evening art exhibition and deliberately taking my scruffy old handbag. I knew it looked wrong but I felt if I took the beautiful one in papier-mâché roses I would look great but I seemed to be determined to sabotage myself!

I'm sorry about the frog vision:)

When do you wear leather jackets? Its too cold now, surely?

You've got a point about leather jackets, I think. It IS too cold really. And they're short. I think I've given up on the idea, personally.

I get what you mean by self-sabotage. I used to do it at work. I was very conscientious and fairly good at my job, and people resented it, because it showed them up (they were a bunch of lazy-arses). So I'd make a mistake, or miss a deadline, sometimes deliberately, but quite often subconsciously. It was as if being better than everyone else was embarrassing and made me stand out. Furthermore, if I was then rejected for a promotion, I could tell myself "I can do better than that" so it made dealing with the disappointment easier.

Could you be doing the same sort of thing? You take your scruffy bag instead of the nice one partly to not look nicer than everyone else (and drawing attention to yourself in the process); and, also, if George Clooney was there and DIDN'T pay you any attention you could convince yourself "if I'd had my nicer bag, he would have chatted me up, not her".

So the scruffy bag sort of helps you to deal with potential rejection?

I think I may be talking gibberish , now!

Fedup, its more I don't want to look like I'm trying to hard. Its very odd. Its almost like giving people a reason to think less of me ( what is she doing with that awful bag?) than them thinking - oh, look at her, all done up, and trying too hard.

I don't think that when I see others though, I just think " ooh, she looks lovely"

I'm on the lookout for some ankle boots now, did a bit of shopping today:) they need to be in my wardrobe.

I'm not used to the jacket, its quite heavy, and just different to anything I have ever worn. Perhaps I'll wear it round the house first:)

Have you tried topshop? I have bigger arms than body (muscles, honest!) and mine is from there.

I struggle with shoes too - I feel a bit too butch with knee high boots and too young with a dress I'm 35. How old are others on here if you don't mind sharing?

Sorry op, I derailed your thread a bit.

I think you just have to try loads on. Topshop is a good suggestion, they have quite a few different styles.

I'll try Top Shop. lavender I don't feel derailed at all.

I'd go with ankle boots but my legs are too stumpy, with fat ankles. I'm better in calf-length.