Etoile Isabel Marant Kady Leather Jacket

I consider a leather jacket to be an essential outerwear. It elevates and transforms the simplest outfit. Wear it over a simple tee and denim and voila, you're as chic as Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Personally, I can't do without mine as it's a piece of clothing that transitions well from one season to the next. The important thing is to choose one that has the right fit. I prefer mine to have narrow sleeves and a slimmer construction all around as a bulky cut will overwhelm my petite figure.

Photos courtesy of coolspotters com and edited by me

I've been hunting for the right black leather jacket for quite sometime now. I've made my fair share of mistakes. My first love would have to be Rick Owens. His leather jackets are sublime but his ever increasing price range proved to be well beyond my reach. While I would've jumped at a chance to own an Isabel Marant Keni or Sade leather jacket, once again, I could not make myself plonk down an eye watering £1520.

Photo credit: Net-a-porter

Thankfully, Isabel Marant has decided to re-introduce a hybrid version of the Keni and Sade to her Etoile line. Enter the Kady which is currently priced at £685 in the UK and €750 in France. It looks like the Sade without the belt but with the quilted paneling near the shoulders and chest like the Keni.
The Kady is made of 100% lambskin but this time, the leather has not been overly processed such as the Keni which has the shiny crinkle effect. The leather on the Kady is more matte and smooth with a slight crease effect. It is quite a substantial jacket and the material is thick enough to wear in the colder months especially if you plan to layer. The jacket itself weighs in at just slightly over a kilogram. The lining is made of 100% cotton as opposed to silk but she has chosen to line the interior of the sleeves with polyester.






I had a chance to compare the Sade with the Kady at a Isabel Marant store in Paris recently. Both the sales associate and I couldn't really see a marked difference in terms of quality though the Sade is far heavier thanks to the belt. The Sade jacket, however, is made in France whereas the Kady is manufactured in India.

The best thing about a leather jacket is that they tend to get better with age. In her book, Parisian Chic, Ines de la Fressange recommends putting the jacket under the mattress for a few nights or perhaps walking all over it to achieve an aged appearance. I haven't tried this method before but I suggest adding a few star jumps to burn more calories if you're planning to walk on the jacket. The Etoile Isabel Marant Kady is available to buy here in the US or here within the E.U.

***Update: I've received a number of emails inquiring about the sizing of the jacket. I normally wear size 2 Isabel Marant jackets from previous collections. The size 38 Kady fits me perfectly. I've worn 2 woolen jumpers (thin ones) and a t-shirt under the leather jacket. I was able to zip it up comfortably. If you're a size 0, you'll need a 34 (Bless you for being that tiny. I'm so envious), 1 = 36, 2 = 38, 3 = 40, 4 = 42. Hope this helps!



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