SPARKLE + SHINE

It doesn’t feel like holiday season without some glitter. Black and gold are my favorite colors, so I naturally stuck with this color palette. The highlight of this look is definitely the pleated metallic skirt that I got from Goodwill. Since the skirt is high-waisted, I paired it with my Are You Am I crop top.

Unlike the skirt, which was only $6.99, the top was a major splurge. It’s actually one of the most expensive items I own. Even with a discount, it cost about $116. You probably think I’m insane for spending this much on a top, let alone a cropped one, but I had been eying it months before I bought it. I really appreciate its cut, construction, and hand-feel. The knock-offs I saw were missing that crisp square neckline and low-cut back. This top was made from a soft and cozy fiber, called modal, and the long sleeves make it more winter-friendly.

To reflect the sheen of my skirt, I kept my jewelry gold-toned. Ever since I followed Jenn Im on YouTube, she ingrained the idea in me that your metals should always match. For instance, if you choose gold earrings, then you should stay consistent with your necklace, bracelet and ring. After she demonstrated this, I couldn’t unsee it. Now I’m even anal about my purse straps. Aside from having a gold chain, I also thought that my faux fur pouch was fitting for the holidays. It just adds an oomph of class.

For extra warmth, I layered on my mom’s oversized peacoat. I wish I knew the story behind it because it has a Hong Kong address and telephone number printed on the label. Somehow, she thrifted this foreign-made coat that was tailored to petite women, like us. Not only was it well-made, but it still looks brand new. Everything down to the lining was beautifully sewn, and there are even hidden pockets on the inside.

To tie everything together, you can’t go wrong with a classic pair of black heels. They match with almost anything and can instantly elevate your style.

These days, I find it difficult to tell the worth and quality of most garments. This outfit is a prime example of how looks can be deceiving. The most lavish pieces were secondhand, while the simplest one had the highest price tag. Modern day fashion has become a guessing game, but that’s what makes it more fun.

+ Lipstick | MAC’s Hang Up

+ Necklace | Forever 21

+ Purse | Poshmark

+ Crop Top | Are You Am I

+ Skirt | Abound (Goodwill)

+ Coat | Lun Fong (hand-me-down)

+ Heels | Urban Outfitters

Photography | Adam Redfield

xx

Dana

FOR THE LOVE OF LEATHER

Everyone has that special item they've always dreamed of having one day. It could be anything from a Gucci bag to a pair of Jordans, or a Canon camera to a Tesla. Being in the fashion industry, there are MANY things that I want, but at the very top of my wishlist was a genuine leather jacket. Initially, I just wanted the perfect motorcycle jacket, regardless of the material, but after owning two pleather jackets, I wanted to try the real deal.

Disclaimer: I do have two genuine leather hand-me-downs from my mom, but they're coats. I wanted something casual that could go with more outfits. The coats are by Bebe and Frenchi, but naturally, my mom thrifted them both. It amazes me how they're still in mint condition after all these years. She owned them for over a decade, but who knows how long the previous owners had them for. In comparison to my pleather jackets, they aged much better.

The first one I had was a Silence + Noise bomber from Urban Outfitters (UO). It cost $128, which is quite expensive for faux leather. My friends, Ann and Angela, ended up splitting the price with me, for Christmas. When I wore it to high school for the first time, I felt a confusing mix of insecurity and fearlessness. It was such a statement, since no other girls were wearing leather at the time. It was a popular trend I saw on Tumblr and Lookbook, but not at my school. I received more compliments than I expected, and it quickly became one of my staple pieces. For the next five years, I wore it until it shred into pieces. 

The last one I got was a motorcycle jacket from YesStyle. Unlike the UO jacket, it was ridiculously affordable. I remember it being no more than $40 with shipping. Most leather jackets are fitted, but this one was thinner and looser. I liked how I could layer sweaters underneath it, but the silhouette was chunkier than I wanted. I didn’t wear it nearly as much as the UO one, but it was cheaper to keep than to ship back to Korea. Even with less wear, it still managed to peel at the collar.

After having two pleather jackets wear down, I asked the Internet if genuine leather has this same issue and it said “no.” Although genuine leather is easily scuffed, it doesn’t crack, as proven with my mom’s old coats. I don’t mind scratches, since they add more edginess and authenticity, but peeling will actually strip away the “leather” detail. It’s also irritating having to constantly clean up tiny black remnants. With all of this information, I convinced myself to invest in genuine leather, especially since I knew I'd wear it so much.

Before I decided to splurge on genuine leather, I already had an elaborate list of what I wanted in the jacket. Over the years, I browsed everywhere, including Asos, Zara, and Urban Outfitters, but I couldn't find any that met my standards. It frustrated me how contemporary leather jackets were mainly cropped and tight-fitted. This is the list of what I was actually looking for:

1. classic motorcycle collars

2. silver hardware

3. regular bottom length

4. regular sleeve length

5. room for a long-sleeved shirt or light sweater

6. no belt along the waist

In the genuine leather market, Acne Studios is the holy grail, but their prices are well over $1,000. The only garment I would ever spend this much on is probably my wedding dress. The next best option is AllSaints, which also has high quality and consistent branding. I've always admired their visual merchandising and dark and industrial style. Their leather jackets are mainly made from lambskin and are in the $500 range. This is about 1/3 of an Acne jacket, but is no doubt, still very expensive.

Leather jacket sizing is very unpredictable, since it heavily fluctuates, depending on the brand. Most tend to run small, but I didn't expect AllSaints to be this farfetched. I went to both their regular and outlet store to compare sizes, prices, and styles. I quickly realized that they're far from being size inclusive. Their jackets stop at size 10, which fit me like a small. I'm usually a size two, so it's insane that I had to upsize by four sizes. After trying on all of the motorcycle jackets they had, I chose the Dalby, which checked off every box on my list.

As I do before most of my purchases, I checked Poshmark to see if it had a better deal. There was only one person selling a size 10 Dalby jacket. It's listed at $450 on AllSaints, but I got this brand new one for $300.

After all these trials, you can say that I'm a tad bit leather crazy. I even have a tattoo of a girl in leather, so this more than just a trend to me. The leather jacket is a timeless design that I really value. This is the most I've spent on any clothing item, but at least it was still thrifted.

+ Lipstick | MAC’s Ruby Woo

+ Choker | Etsy

+ Bandana | Romwe

+ Leather Jacket | AllSaints (Poshmark)

+ T-Shirt | Romwe

+ Jeans | Abercrombie

+ Booties | Forever 21

Photography | Adam Redfield

xx

Dana