REALIZE Style: Rockin' the Moto Jacket

You're never too old to throw one on..
Ken Locker ©2015

Once again, Realize takes style matters into our own hands.  Moto jackets are all the rage… but Hello; we’ve been sporting them forever!  So we asked our contributors to girl up and get themselves photographed in their leather jackets: vintage, brand new or borrowed from boys.  There are as many ways to wear them as there are adaptations of them.  Get wild, ladies!  (The slide show is below...)

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Contributor Sue Houfek, a comedienne, Stanford MBA and model in training, got serious with a photographer friend and put together the most dolled up get up of all.

Ken Locker ©2015

 

Lora Fremont, writer, world traveler,  and jewelry designer (see our last style shoot for some of her LorNa designs) bravely submitted to joining me on this romp and wound up with the star beauty shot.

Ken Locker ©2015

 

Your Editrix and Lora cruise West 3rd Street in LA, sporting our moto jackets. (Mine is at least 20 years old, bought on sale at Bergdorf.)

 

We’re chilling at a local hang, Doughboys, where the Red Velvet cupcakes rock.

 

Sue picked up a dude with a dog and an Airstream. She is inimitable.

 

We didn’t get the full story on what happened next…

Ken Locker ©2015

 

Lora and I discovered we had more or less matching coats, and so even though they’re not moto inspired, we decided to take them on a romp.  This is an amazing paint company called Portola, run by two brothers who have a fabulous way with color and paint finishes.

Ken Locker ©2015

 

We couldn’t stop playing. Surprisingly their paint is only a tad more pricey than standard fare. Well worth it.

Ken Locker ©2015

Okay, I just repainted my living room, but there’s still the kitchen.  Except all my money is going into my magazine!

Ken Locker ©2015

 

I’m wearing an old Gap distressed leather jacket here as we goof around at the best arty gift shop in town. Called OK. 

Ken Locker ©2015

 

I love this jacket from a Canadian company called M0851, named after the owner’s birthday - a fellow baby boomer. Amazing finishes and colors.  Goorin brothers hat.

Ken Locker ©2015

 

 On the way out I spotted this lady’s awesome glasses and lipstick to match. We traded cards.

 

Stylist and retailer Carol Zelles in a genuine motorcycle jacket given to her by an old beau. The jacket survived his racing in the Paris - Dakar rally.

Bob Bonow ©2015

 

Pat Hitchens, journalist, singer, storyteller and one of our funniest contributors, asked her cardiologist husband, who just happens to be a hot photographer, to capture her puckish charm.  "The jacket cost me $50; an obnoxious saleslady twisted my arm. And I thought it was real leather!  Sequel : I get more compliments on it than anything else I own."

 

Trisha Ricketts, our daring and most literary contributor. Comparisons to Emmylou Harris never caused her any pain.

 

Trisha turns out to be a singer/songwriter as well. Here with her cigar box guitar "Her name is Bete Noir. There's something about guitars and leather. Resonant both."

 

Sue Houfek channeling a punk Mary Poppins nearly gets airborne on the streets of Berkeley.

Ken Locker ©2015

 

We wind up at the end of an unseasonably hot day, exhausted and happy we’re not real models.  Btw, one of the boys from Portola was trying to sell this custom motorcycle jacket from Japan on eBay. I got an awesome deal!

Ken Locker ©2015

 

At LACMA, one of my favorite LA hangs, I'm in the most crowd pleasing installations on earth - by Chris Burden - where everyone gets artistic with their shooting.