How to Wear a Leather Jacket (+ Not Look Like a Jerk)

Recently a reader reached out to me on Instagram and asked for tips for wearing a leather jacket. Specifically, for wearing a leather jacket and not looking like a jerk. Which is funny and goes to show what might feel like second nature to one person may feel completely foreign to another – in life and in style. We're going deep, guys. Anyway, I've had my Schott leather jacket for three or four years now, and the thing honestly feels like second nature to me. Coming in to fall it's what I throw on over dresses and tees when there's a slight nip in the air but I don't want to wear a sweater. When winter rolls around – or at least early winter – I'll wear it with cozier sweaters (like these), hats, and scarves. I love my leather jacket, but I can also understand the possibility of making yourself feel like you're wearing a costume if you've never delved into motorcycle jacket territory. Notice I said "making yourself". When it comes to getting dressed and stepping out of our personal comfort zones, I think half the battle is within our own heads. Unless you're doing your best Danny Zuko impression, you probably don't look like a jerk in your jacket. You probably look great. Really great. BUT if you need some ideas, today I'm offering some tips for styling your leather jacket – because why let something so versatile languish, unworn, in your closet?

Quality: Keep it high

First and foremost, I can't stress quality enough. A cheap leather (or even "leather") jacket looks exactly that – cheap. Even if it's genuine leather, a stiff, poorly made jacket will take years to break in  (if it even lasts that long) and look uncomfortable. This is a piece worth investing in because frankly, it's not like you need more than one. A single leather jacket, that's all. But investing doesn't have to cost you a fortune, it can simply mean closely watching sales and monitoring sites like Poshmark (for gently used and new) or Etsy (for vintage - though do be sure to take measurements). Case in point: My Schott Perfecto, which I purchased on major sale from Urban Outfitters for under $100 (the one linked here is very similar). And for the vegans out there, don't dismay, there are some gorgeous vegan options out there, like those from Fauxgerty.

Leather jacket styling tricks

Now, when it comes to actually wearing your leather jacket? It's my opinion that simple looks best (the term 'simple' being incredibly subjective). This certainly wasn't always my opinion (I've been known to perhaps overdo it at times), but if you're just dipping your toes into leather jacket territory, erring on the side of minimal may feel more approachable. My all-time, go-to, slept-too-late combination will always be my leather jacket, vintage Levi's, sneakers or flats, simple earrings, and a basic vintage tee (basically the look above). Nothing crazy, but comfortable, cool, and laid back. I also love throwing it on over dresses to add a bit of edge, and with vintage pieces to pull a look together. See? There's no huge secret to be revealed, it just comes down to feeling confident and maybe reminding yourself that at the end of the day, it's just clothes. Have fun. Here are three easy looks to copy the next time you're standing in front of your closet, wondering "How the heck do I style my leather jacket?"

THE LOOK: LEATHER JACKET + STRIPES + LEOPARD + DISTRESSED DENIM

What is more classic than classic stripes + a leather jacket? Tell me, I'll wait. This look literally looks great on anyone (really, I've never seen it look bad!). If you're feeling especially bold, add a red lip.

THE LOOK: LEATHER JACKET + WHITE DRESS + CLASSIC SNEAKERS

Yes, you can wear white after labor day and a white dress pairs perfectly with leather and sneakers for a playful vibe. Go super girly like the dress here, so super simple – it'll look amazing either way.

THE LOOK: LEATHER JACKET + COZY SWEATER + FLOWY SKIRT + BOOTS

Another study in contrasts, try pairing your jacket with unexpected combos, like a cotton knit and/or a silk midi skirt. Add a pair of walkable boots to keep it casual.

BONUS: Most of the pieces in these outfits are either thrifted and/or have been in my closet for years (I've had those Frye boots since 2010 and that striped tee since 2014). Why is this important? Because like a classic leather jacket, investing in good-quality clothes will save you money in the long run. Especially if you thrift them! They'll last longer – notice how relatively fresh nice material looks at the thrift store compared to the cheaply made material hanging next to it? – and you'll likely love them longer. There's a reason the black leather motorcycle jacket is a classic!

Stay tuned for more posts offering tips for thrifting for the seasons and thrifting better quality items, and in the interim, let me know if there's a specific post you'd like to see on here.

Hair-Do How-To #7: The Faux Under-cut

1. As always, dirty hair works best for this. Decide of the placement of your part- a deep side part works best.
2. Using a fine-tooth rat-tail comb, make your part and comb the lower "shaved" section straight back against your scalp.
3. Smooth the combed section beneath the crown of your head, allowing some loose strands to fall over it.
4. Using bobby-pins, secure the combed section of hair so it lies tightly against your head.
5. Spray with hairspray (I spray my hand, then run it over my hair so it doesn't look shellacked).
6. Using a curling wand or curling iron, add curls to the loose section of hair, break apart and set with hairspray.

Optional: If you'd like a little more texture, rub some pomade or styling cream between your hands and sprunch through your hair, being sure not to run your fingers through (this will just weigh it down).

After this post, I received a number of requests for tips on creating a faux-half shave (or undercut). I've been wearing my hair like this a lot lately and, yes, this hairstyle is basically early-90s mall hair. No, I do not in the least feel self-conscious about this. I remember standing in front of my bathroom mirror as a kid, holding one half of my hair back and thinking it would just look so cool if it were shaved. I have no idea where on earth I could have seen this hairstyle back then, since I had very little access to any media or pop culture, but something, somewhere made an impression. So yeah, I'm all about the resurgence of undercuts and shaves. And, by the looks of the Tracy Reese SS13 runway show and the Rachel Antonoff SS13 presentation, the look will stick around a while (not that it matters, do what you want with your hair! Be free!). A faux-undercut is the perfect way to change up your hairstyle without the commitment of breaking out the razor.

Want more? Go here for more tutorials and tips and tricks for long hair. Have a how-to request? Let me know in the comments section!

Product details:
Hairspray: Tresemme
Curling wand c/o Missako

How To: Grow Out Your Bangs and Not Go Bananas

Once upon many times, I've had bangs...baby bangs, Betty Page bangs, Vampira bangs (ouch), and most recently, just long bangs...

...and just as many times as I've had them, I have grown sick and tired of them.

In February, I reached my "bangs breaking point" for this round, and decided to grow them out. In the past this process has been far from easy, but this time for some reason, it's pretty much been a breeze. I think it was just time to get rid of them, I was sick of styling them, sick of cutting them, and I was only pleased with their appearance once or twice a week. It's funny, because as soon as I pinned them back, I felt more awake and alert, it was like pulling back the curtains. While I can still look at old pictures like the one above and reminisce, I really don't miss them. If you're currently facing the arduous process of growing out your own fringe, here are a few things I've found that make the long process a little less painful...

First thing's first, when I wash my hair, I immediately pin my bangs off to the side and allow them to dry that way (I air dry my hair overnight). 85% of the time there is a bobby pin holding them down, and I always sleep with a bobby pin in so they don't get in my face and remind me of their existence.

Rule number one: pretend they don't exist, bobby pins help with this charade.

Try experimenting with different ways of pinning your fringe back, this will add variety to your routine and lessen the urge to just trim them already and be done with it. Try a center part with a messy ponytail a la Pamela Love's Fall 2012 Presentation:

Try pinning them straight back and pulling your hair into a high ponytail or bun, enjoy the sun on your forehead and the feeling of alertness that comes over you:

You can also try to work with styling your growing fringe along the way. For me, this usually results in more frustration, so I suggest you do this sparingly, as you may be tempted to snip if you get irritated. If you have the patience of a saint however, try curling them off to the side and setting with a healthy dose of hairspray:

Once they start to grow, it'll be easier to hide your bobby pins, and styling your hair as if your bangs already don't exist will become second nature (or, at least, a little easier):

On the weekends (and who am I kidding, most days), I typically wear them styled in a little twist off to the side. This is an easy style that isn't ruined if I get annoyed and throw my hair up in a bun halfway through the day (this usually happens):

Play around with how you part your hair. Sweeping some length over your fringe easily conceals the shorter pieces (and makes you feel- secretly- like Jessica Rabbit):

I also recommend playing around with different braiding techniques. I'm actually not doing this too much myself this go-round, but braids came in super handy when I was growing out a set of fringe a couple of years ago.

If you get tempted to grab the scissors- and you will, I can almost guarantee it- don't do it. Look at pictures of fringe-less ladies on Pinterest, think of how greasy bangs get so easily. 

Essentially: remind yourself constantly of why you're growing them out. 

The process is a slow one, for everyone, but if you learn how to wrangle them early on, it's easy enough to forget they even existed.

Feel free to share tips of your own for growing out your bangs in the comments section!

Hair Do How-To #6: Beachy Waves 2.0

I might own the oldest curling iron known to man, I have no idea where it came from, but it's served me well over the many years I've had it. This is a great technique for those of you looking to achieve beachy, undone waves, but want to avoid the "Shirley Temple" effect that traditional curling irons are known to cause. Unlike most of my tutorials, I recommend starting with clean hair, simply because it's easier to break apart the curls once they're set. This is my go-to hairstyle lately, if I'm running low on time in the morning- which, let's face it, is always- I can throw in a few curls in the top layer and curl the ends and I'm done. Happy styling!

How To: Care For Long Hair

Pictured: Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Shampoo & Conditioner, Paul Mitchell Brush 413, Moroccan Oil Treatment, CHI Nano Hair Drier, GHD Ceramic Flat Iron. Not pictured: Fish Oil vitamins.

As the owner of a large amount of hair, I get my fare share of hair-care and hair maintenance questions, so I thought I would share my routine with you today! I've been growing my hair out from a rather artistic (read: mullet) hairstyle since 2007, but have always treated it like my best accessory. To be honest, while insecurities about one thing or another will arise from time to time, I don't often feel bad about my hair, and it certainly comes in handy when my skin acts up: instant curtain. Just kidding. Kind of (not at all). Anyways, all true life confessions aside, here's the deal:

I wash my hair two or three times a week. I know this can be difficult for some, it's a habit that I got used to when I had super short hair in college, and it just stuck with me. The more you wash it, the more it dries out. I strongly believe in using high-quality products, lately I've been using Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger shampoo and conditioner and love it (the normal sized bottles have lasted since early October). EDIT: Sometimes I'll wash my bangs alone if I need to freshen up my hair but don't have time or energy to wash the whole thing.

When shampooing long hair, only shampoo your roots, the suds will run down and give the remaining length a good once over, but shampooing the ends will dry them out and cause splits.

Do the exact opposite with conditioner: focus on mid-hair-shaft to ends. Leave on as long as you can, and rinse. Conditioning your roots will just weigh them down and make them greasy.

Post shower, apply a quarter size amount of Moroccan Oil to hair from mid-hair-shaft to ends. My bottle of Moroccan Oil has lasted for about a year and is still going strong.

Air dry your hair as often as you can. I will typically wash mine at night, blow-drying my bangs so they don't get crazy, then allowing it to dry overnight. Heat styling dries out your hair and breaks it down, so it's best to invest in high quality hot tools- I like CHI and GHD, I usually flat iron at least my bangs and roots almost daily.

I like to use Paul Mitchell brushes as well, they're great quality (the one pictured above has lasted me since 2004) and glide through hair easily.

Coloring: I do get my hair colored, about twice a year. I know a lot of people can't wait that long, and I should probably go more often, but as I'm sure most ladies with long hair can attest to: it takes too freaking long!

A word on vitamins: I take fish oil vitamins and strongly believe in them. I can't say for sure whether they have a positive affect on my hair, but I feel like they do. However, I'm no expert, so consult your doctor before starting any new kind of vitamin regimen.

Getting your hair trimmed every six weeks will not make it grow faster, it just makes it so that there is less to cut off when you do go for a trim.

So there is my routine. Once again, I'm no expert and I'm not pretending to be. But I did work in a salon for my Mother in Law, and the above is a brief synopsis of what I learned there. Enjoy!

How To: Have Soft Winter Skin

Hey! A new post topic! I plan on introducing some simple how-to's and DIY's once a week to Orchid Grey (including hair)! Let me know what you guys think, and if there are any specific topics you'd like to see!

Pictured: Eucerin Calming Oil Wash, Ayurvedic Dry Brush, Jojoba Oil, Alba Body Lotion

The other day, my Mother informed the that it was -17 degrees at her house in Maine. That's 17 below zero, people! While I tend to think 20 degrees is chilly, nothing compares to when the weather dips below zero. Whether your winter weather hovers in the negatives or doesn't drop below thirty, there's no denying that dry winter skin can be truly miserable. This year, I feel like I finally cracked the code for relief of winter skin, and I figured I would share it with you today:

In the shower, pair a natural bristle body brush (available at Whole Foods or a natural health store) with Eucerin's Calming Shower Oil. It may seem counter-intuitive to use oil in the shower, but it works wonders. Buff all over and, once out of the shower, pat dry with a towel.

Post-shower, use a body lotion that contains alpha-hydroxy acids (which help support cellular renewal) and an SPF. I recommend Alba Botanica Very Emollient Body Lotion (Also available at Whole Foods- one big bottle should last you a year).

If you're feeling really dry, add a couple drops of jojoba oil to the body lotion before applying. I like The Jojoba Company- they're based in Maine (and yes...also available at Whole Foods)!

Do you have any products that you swear by?

Easy hair tutorial: Waves

This post is coming super late coming, I know, but I wanted to share a simple way of achieving a wavy effect on your hair. The best part is that you don't need extra long hair to do this, if you can make a little bun, you're set. I've been doing this a lot lately, it's easy and saves my hair from the scorching heat of the curling iron I usually use.

To start: This style is best achieved with freshly washed hair. Blow dry your hair until almost completely dry.

(optional): I run a flat iron over my bangs and around the crown of my head to smooth flyaways. Work some smoothing creme into locks for shine and control. I like S Factor Smoothing Lusterizor.

This next step is a little dweeby, but I swear, it's worth it:

Separate your hair like you're going to make low pig tails, starting on one side, work some texturizing paste (I like Garnier Surf Hair) into ends and twist away from your face to make a tight bun. secure with a couple of bobby pins. Repeat on the other side.

Now keep yourself busy for about 30 minutes. If I were to do this on a work day, I would spend this time getting dressed and ready. But since it wasn't a work day for me, I made lunch, did some dishes, and recited Princess Leia monologues (when in Rome, right?).

When you feel as if your hair has percolated long enough (or you get antsy), take out the buns and shake it out. your hair may be a bit chunky, gently separate but don't comb it! Spritz with hair spray, and admire yourself.

What I'm wearing: Sweater: LOFT (swapped), T-Shirts: Madewell, Necklace c/o Noble Town Vintage

Hair-Do How-to #5: Heidi Braids

Heidi braids have been my go-to style lately (as evidenced by yesterday's post). They're easy, keep my hair out of my face, and relatively painless. I did these kind of fast, they can be as messy or as sleek as you would like. For this style you will need: A comb, bobby pins, invisible hair bands, and some hairspray. Have fun and send me a link if you try this!

Hair-Do How-to #2: Le Grand Bouffant

With out further adieu, the hair post I've been procrastinating on is here! For this style you'll need: a teasing comb or brush, hairspray or surf spray, and bobby pins. Your hair can be washed or dirty, mine was freshly washed for this. Have fun!

My hair posts will now be once a month, so if you have questions on how to do a style or ideas for a future post, be sure to email me! The first how-to post can be read Here.

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Style File (plus a how-to)

I need to get better at documenting my weekends.

Dress: Thrifted (2.99)

Lace Vest: Mom's vintage (gift)

Grey Cardigan: H&M (16.90)

White Cardigan: Chris' Vintage (2.99)

Shoes: Tag Sale (2.00)

Tights: TjMaxx (4.99)

Necklaces: H&M, J.Crew, Dolly and Boy

Because I'm constantly dressed up for work during the week, I choose to spend my weekends very slouchy and comfy. This weekend was no exception. I bought this child's dress awhile ago at Salvation Army and love the grunge feel of it, this time I chose to alter the hemline by pinning it up in a couple of places. I like how the lace pattern on the dress compliments the lace of my little vest. My mom gave me this amazing vintage lace top as a christmas gift this year, it used to be hers! I really can't wait to pair it with cut offs this summer. The cardigan is Chris' and he wasn't too happy I stole it, he says my bony shoulders make marks in his sweaters, I say he's crazy and doesn't know what he's talking about!

I don't have a lot to share about what I did, but we did go see Youth in Revolt, which I loved!

And couple of you have asked me how I tie my scarves so I made a little video to show you!

San I say the words "pretty easy" any more? jeez...

Hair-do How-to #1

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was relaxing, and consequently, I really don't have much to share! I'm back in Fishkill for another week in upstate New York. I'm posting this a little early because I've got a busy day of work tomorrow. I've received a lot of questions on how I do my various hairstyles so I decided to try doing a video post to show you all! So, here it is:

So, be gentle- it's my first try! Let me know if you have any suggestions for future videos!