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The biker jacket conundrum

— by Alyson Walsh

I have a birthday coming up. It’s a big one and although I can’t quite believe I’m THAT old, I’m not scared. I spent my 39th year in a miserable state, but if this blog has taught me one thing, it’s to view getting older as getting better. Anyhow. Earlier this year, realising he might have to start saving, Mr That’s Not My Age very kindly asked me what I’d like. Initially, I thought it would be good to mark this special occasion with a watch. Something to keep forever and stop me checking my smart phone over 150 times a day. Mind you, that’s largely because of my Social Networking Addiction; Instagram has taken over from Twitter, and taken over my life. Everything –  including a pair of socks warming on the radiator – has become a potential filter-ready picture. My attention span is shot to pieces and there’s barely any time left to blog. Oh just to glance at my wrist, avoid the bottom of the bag rummage and not get sucked in by social media. How simple my life would be.

But then I spotted this washed leather, Isabel Marant Etoile jacket. Having toyed with, and dismissed, the idea of the leather biker a couple of years ago (I tried one on in a second-hand shop, looked ridiculous and decided there was no going back), I was quite taken by this pared-down style. It doesn’t look too try-hard, the leather is super-soft and the length is just right. I know, I tried one on in the new Isabel Marant London
store. But the best thing is, that it comes in navy too. As I can no longer wear black and would rather look chic than cadaverous, this could be the deciding factor. So, what to do? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity: midlife crisis jacket or keep forever watch?

Addicted to social networking and hankering after a biker jacket, I feel like the oldest teenager in town.

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I have a birthday coming up. It’s a big one and although I can’t quite believe I’m THAT old, I’m not scared.