Why a Grey Biker Jacket is More Versatile Than Black #iwillwearwhatilike

Smart but comfy autumnal dressing: Grey leather biker jacket millennial pink sweater brown check wide leg pants pink snakeskin shoes | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style

A grey biker jacket adds a softness to an outfit that a black biker jacket can’t. Don’t get me wrong, I love my black biker jacket – but sometimes a solid lump of black just adds too much heaviness.

Grey is a very ‘pretty’ neutral that looks so lovely with the warm tones of brown and pink in this outfit – plus grey goes with everything, it looks as good with white as it does with black. This is what I wore to travel down to Cornwall – we took a few photos when we got there but to be honest I wasn’t feeling it (read that as “got stressed because we couldn’t find the key to the holiday house we let”). So I wore it again to get my hair done last weekend (yes, even I repeat outfits!) and we did a reshoot.

I’m glad because the colours have come out much better in these photos: These are my favourite kind of neutrals to wear – warm mid tones rather than blacks and navy. I still love my wide leg check trousers (similar) and was glad that the season was the right one again to wear them – as much as #iwillwearwhatilike, I still FEEL better in clothes that are season-appropriate to some extent.

A brown Prince of Wales check is very autumnal, if you ask me. Plus pair it with pink snakeskin shoes and I’m absolutely made up.

You’ll see I also posed with our new car (excuse the fact that it was already dirty) – it was ‘born’ only a few days before our holiday. While it may not be the most exciting model or colour, it was the next size up from our little “looks like a red toy car” Aygo. And one of the main reasons we got a bigger car was because of Riley… yes, we bought a bigger car for our dog. The Aygo had almost zero boot space so we couldn’t have fitted in a large dog AND our weekends bags plus food and essentials for the week, so we ordered a new car in time for our holiday.

The things we do for our pets, eh? (To be fair we would have been changing our car in March anyway – we just brought the purchase forward by six months.) He now has a ton of space in his hammock on the back seat, it’s so lovely to see him all stretched out.

Which neatly brings me onto my weekend bag:

Smart but comfy autumnal dressing: Grey leather biker jacket millennial pink sweater brown check wide leg pants pink snakeskin shoes | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style

I wanted to highlight the beautiful weekend bag I took away with me: It’s by the truly wonderful ARTHOUSE Meath, a collective of artists with complex epilepsy or learning disabilities. Together with instructors they create pieces of art that are used on designer products for sale… isn’t my “Swim With Whales” overnight bag just wonderful?! It’s fully lined (in bright orange, that alone sold me), is ethically produced (read more about it here) and features a composite image by several artists.

Thank you to the lovely people at ARTHOUSE Meath for gifting it to me – I adore it!

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(100% of sales revenue sustains the enterprise btw. Just so inspiring.)

A quick one this week due to me being in Amsterdam for this scary conference.

Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured next week!

I WORE PRINCE OF WALES CHECK WITH SNAKESKIN – WHAT MORE UNUSUAL PATTERN MIXES ARE YOU FOND OF? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS!

Smart but comfy autumnal dressing: Grey leather biker jacket millennial pink sweater brown check wide leg pants pink snakeskin shoes | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
Smart but comfy autumnal dressing: Grey leather biker jacket millennial pink sweater brown check wide leg pants pink snakeskin shoes | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
Smart but comfy autumnal dressing: Grey leather biker jacket millennial pink sweater brown check wide leg pants pink snakeskin shoes | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
Smart but comfy autumnal dressing: Grey leather biker jacket millennial pink sweater brown check wide leg pants pink snakeskin shoes | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
Smart but comfy autumnal dressing: Grey leather biker jacket millennial pink sweater brown check wide leg pants pink snakeskin shoes | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
Smart but comfy autumnal dressing: Grey leather biker jacket millennial pink sweater brown check wide leg pants pink snakeskin shoes | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style
Smart but comfy autumnal dressing: Grey leather biker jacket millennial pink sweater brown check wide leg pants pink snakeskin shoes | Not Dressed As Lamb, over 40 style

Weekend bag: ARTHOUSE Meath c/o
(Check out more of their wonderful products here, they have so many great gifts for Christmas including cards and mugs to clothing and original artwork. The designs are absolutely charming)
Biker jacket: JD Williams c/o
Sweater: Dorothy Perkins (I like this one)
Trousers: Marks & Spencer (similar)
Shoes: Finery c/o (try these pink snakeskin loafers)
Bag: House of Fraser (similar)
Sunglasses: Asos (similar)

 

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The #iwillwearwhatilike link up with Not Dressed As Lamb

Thank you for joining the #iwillwearwhatilike link up! This started as a campaign on Instagram in August 2015 where women over 30 wore everything on a journalist’s list of “inappropriate” items for 30+ women (including leopard print, short dresses and oversized sunglasses. Yes, really). It was so popular that I decided to carry it on weekly where women of all ages link up their fabulous style, never mind what anyone tells them not to wear!

The link up goes live every Monday at 3pm UK time and will stay open for a week. Whilst the original article was of course aimed at the 30+, you can be ANY age to link up. The only criteria is that you’re wearing whatever you damn well like!

An InLinkz Link-up


Linking up etiquette…

CLICK HERE to read the rules of linking up (and to grab the #iwillwearwhatilike button). Basically it’s just good manners to link back to here – to leave a comment is even nicer!

Featured favourites

No featured favourites this week – having a super busy week so they’ll be back next week!

To get yourself featured next week, make sure you’ve included a link back to Not Dressed As Lamb or my button in your post/sidebar!

25 Comments

  1. 6 October 2017 / 1:01 pm

    That cool toned grey really works to bring out warmth in cool-toned skins. A great alternative to black for lighter skin tones too. Love the look. Susan x

  2. 5 October 2017 / 6:54 pm

    What a beautiful jacket! And I love that bag, it makes me want to take a vacation!

  3. 4 October 2017 / 9:12 pm

    These neutrals all work beautifully together Catherine, done like a pro! I'm swooning over those shoes most of all though – so cool. Thanks again for the link up party.

    Have a fab week.
    Anna x

  4. 4 October 2017 / 4:21 pm

    This is a very well balanced outfit. I like it a lot and I agree with your view on the grey jacket. LOVE the little brown bag.
    Greetje

  5. 4 October 2017 / 11:58 am

    The soft hues are really pretty on you Catherine. And I like all sorts of biker jackets. Heavily invested this fall 🙂 Thanks for the link-up and have a wonderful week. xo Sabina

  6. 4 October 2017 / 9:54 am

    The grey looks fab with the warm tones Catherine! I love my black biker jacket but I wear my khaki one more, the colour is more flattering and it's fabric so it's ideal for this time of year. I'm looking for a red one too. Your bag is lovely, great that it supports such a good cause too.

    Emma xxx
    http://www.style-splash.com

  7. 3 October 2017 / 12:59 pm

    I have those trousers!! My husband got them for me recently from a community shop, still with tags on for £3. I haven't worn them yet, so it's great to see this post from you and get some styling inspiration. The pinky tones in the shoes and top look great with it and then the grey jacket on top. I wonder what I'll come up with?!
    I really love that bag too, what a charming print. x

  8. 3 October 2017 / 5:33 am

    The grey works beautifully on you and is so good with your Autumn tones. I had to chuckle about replacing cars for Riley, sounds so familiar to me. Many thanks for the link up.

  9. 3 October 2017 / 2:31 am

    I like the grey moto jacket, yes, much softer than black. Today I wore a white one, but my post is a different outfit this time. You're going to ace your Amsterdam talk! Thanks for the linkup!

  10. 3 October 2017 / 1:20 am

    Catherine, a gray biker jacket is a must, but then so is a black and a brown, and a purple and a….ha, ha. Yes my biker jackets are similar to my sweaters! Love this outfit. I love the more muted tones. Just lovely. Nice car too! – Amy
    http://stylingrannymama.com/

  11. 2 October 2017 / 8:57 pm

    Whoa! So much to comment on here! First, that bag is gorgeous; it reminds me of Japanese woodblock prints of ocean waves. So pretty. I love the outfit (I mean, those shoes make you look so totally cool and badass; divine with the trews). And my heart is warmed by the Riley-mobile. Yes, the things we do for love of our furry creatures! xx

  12. 2 October 2017 / 6:33 pm

    Love this grey jacket, but I'm still hankering after a black one. I nearly bought a cute red one in Venice, but changed my mind and bought a blouse instead. Thanks for the link-up Hun. x Jacqui
    mummabstylish

  13. 2 October 2017 / 6:04 pm

    This whole look is stunning. I love a print mix and if grey suited me, I'd be all over that jacket. It looks amazing on you and grey will see you to the spring too but grey washes my olive skin out and as much as I love it, it's unrequited x

  14. 2 October 2017 / 5:03 pm

    Those plaid trousers are fabulous, especially with those snakeskin shoes. Great combo. The gray jacket is a really nice option when you're not in the mood for a black moto, which can sometimes seem too harsh. I never wear much gray, but am liking it so much on others, I think I may have to look for a shade that suits me.

    Theresa
    http://www.vintagestylefiles.com

  15. 2 October 2017 / 3:27 pm

    I'm so with you on the colour! I'm always admiring women in Black Bikers. As soon as I try one on, it's just not working! This Grey looks fabulous on xx

  16. 2 October 2017 / 3:10 pm

    I love that all the tones of your outfit go so well together.

  17. 2 October 2017 / 3:09 pm

    That grey jacket is fabulous! I've been wanting a leather jacket in a different colour… grey is a great option!
    Suzy xx
    http://www.suzyturner.com

  18. 2 October 2017 / 2:27 pm

    Even being the big fan of black than I am, I totally agree that grey makes a wonderfully "softer" alternative, dearest Catherine. And this grey moto jacket of yours is truly fabuloso!! As is your new overnight bag; I've had a soft spot for marine mammals for as long as I can remember (my lunch tote features all kinds sea creatures!) and the blue and orange is lovely next to the neutral palette of your travel outfit!! And speaking of travel…good luck in Amsterdam!! XOXO P.S. Riley is one lucky hound!! 😉

    http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.com

  19. 2 October 2017 / 2:21 pm

    This is so true, I feel the same ay about my taupe biker jacket. I almost bought greay actually but when I saw the taupe was on sale I figured it would serve the same purpose. Both neutrals after all. And yes your bag is is very cool indeed! xx

  20. 2 October 2017 / 2:17 pm

    That's a great idea. I often feel like a biker chick or a rebel of some sort when I wear my black moto jacket. I think grey might be better color for me! You look fabulous!

  21. 2 October 2017 / 2:13 pm

    I will totally agree with you Catherine, but it could be because I have a grey jacket and not a black one—ha ha!! But they both serve their purpose!!!
    I chuckled at what we do for our pets….it's amazing how they become such a huge part of our families (as I sit here typing with a kitty on my lap….) When we first got her she had kidney issues, so we took her to the vet 2X a week for subq treatments. Never in my right mind did I ever think we'd spend that kind of time and money on a pet……
    XOXO
    Jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

  22. 2 October 2017 / 2:04 pm

    Catherine, this gray is so pretty on you. I love the softness of the tones in this outfit. And I am a huge fan of tan plaid anything for fall. The shoes are amazing, too. Such a beautiful autumn look, for sure. Thanks for the link up and for all the inspiration!

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

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