I originally envisioned this post being a love letter to the piece I was most excited to try in this year’s Nordstrom Anniversary Sale: this gorgeous Ink Blue Leather Bomber from Avec Les Filles.
And it’s good. See?
leather bomber (s) | distressed jeans (TTS) | similar vibe bag
This Avec Les Filles Bomber Was My Surprise NSale Favorite
But instead, I fell even harder for the jacket I assumed would be its runner-up: this similarly-proportioned and yet way more wearable (and affordable!) denim bomber, also from Avec Les Filles.
denim bomber (s) | jeans (size up one) | similar vibe bag
Turns out, in person both pieces are truly beautiful and very good, but for my personal style, the denim bomber is far and away the winner.
So now, what follows is more of a photo diary on what is, without hyperbole, perhaps the single most exciting thing I’ve ever bought during an NSale.
It’s cool, comfortable, statement-making. And most importantly, it’s a piece I can actually see myself reaching for all the time, without strategy or big leaps outside of my comfort zone.
The Two Pieces I Wore With Everything
Before I fully launch into my love affair with this Avec Les Filles Denim Bomber Jacket, a quick moment for two notable pieces you’ll see featured repeatedly below.
1. Levi’s Ribcage High Waist Wide Leg Jeans
Holy hell. These Levi’s Ribcage High Waist Wide Leg Jeans are buttery soft thanks to my favorite fabrication of cotton and lyocell, with a high, comfortable fit that almost feels like stretch. Great drape, super easy to dress up or down. Trousery but also…just a great pair of jeans?
Annoyingly, they’re almost sold out in the sale, but worth bookmarking or wishlisting in case they’re restocked. Fit is true to size (if a little generous).
jeans (TTS) | black tank (s) | similar vibe bag
2. Ariat Heritage Western Boots
So, these Ariat Heritage Western Boots are gorgeous – with the prettiest, buffed tobacco hue. They make almost every outfit more interesting without looking too try-hard, and the shaft is the ideal height and width for fitting over jeans, under jeans, pairing with dresses and skirts, etc. Excellent price point (just over $100) for a full leather Western boot. True to size and very comfortable.
denim bomber (s) | similar gingham dress | similar sweater | boots (TTS)
A caveat, though. They’re warm. As in, the leather upper wears warm, almost like it’s synthetic (I had to check the label to be sure). So as cute as they are with shorter pieces, they might be too warm for hot summer days (think: festival situations).
Why I’m Obsessed With This Avec Les Filles Denim Bomber
This Avec Les Filles Denim Bomber looks promising on the model, but the biggest, most pleasant surprise is that it’s actually so much more impactful – and so much more comfortable than it looks! – in person. It’s softer, lighter and more voluminous than I was expecting, and the result is a piece that adds so much character and interest to the most basic of outfits without the stiffness or bulk of some denim jackets. All for what feels like a really fair price point at $119 (on sale).
denim bomber (s) | distressed jeans (TTS) | hat
I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I think the key to this jacket’s greatness is the cotton/poly blend. I know. I love the look of 100% rigid cotton, and I especially love the feel of a cotton/lyocell blend, but something about this 60/40 cotton/poly blend allows it to have the look of rigid denim — therefore being able to stand up to fall’s heavier fabrics and chunkier knits — while being thinner and less bulky overall.
And where cotton/lyocell blends are buttery soft and drapey (see those jeans I mentioned, above), this cotton/poly situation allows for so much softness and movement while still maintaining structure, so you get the high impact of the voluminous shape and oversized proportions without it all just literally falling flat.
Of course, I’m no expert on these things, and maybe I just made all that up, but from my personal experience as a hardcore jeans girl, I’m convinced the fabrication is at least part of the magic.
denim bomber (s) | jeans (TTS) | boots (TTS)
The rest of the magic is its versatility, which I’m going to say is thanks to its thrifted, borrowed-from-the-boys vibe. It feels like a piece you’d naturally grab as a topper versus a trendy item you need to plan outfits around. For my personal style, that makes it very, very easy to wear.
In fact, I can’t think of a single outfit I plan to wear this fall that wouldn’t be improved with the addition of this jacket.
denim bomber (s) | black tank (s) | jeans (TTS)
Importantly, it looks cool worn both open (easy, oversized, slouchy) and fully zipped (chic, high-impact).
And the brown hue works with everything, from light wash denim…
denim bomber (s) | black tank (s) | jeans (TTS) | boots (TTS)
…to dark wash denim.
denim bomber (s) | jeans (TTS) | similar vibe bag
And it goes beyond my usual jeans and a tee, too. It played well with dresses…
denim bomber (s) | similar dress | black boots (similar) | similar gingham dress ) | brown boots (TTS)
And fully dressed up (good lord, this skirt and I haven’t tangoed in ages…)
denim bomber (s) | similar tank | similar skirt | similar heels | similar vibe bag
…and dressed all the way down.
denim bomber (s) | distressed jeans (TTS) | hat
Obviously it was a sure thing for something kinda in between. (This is about as Date Night-y as it gets around here.)
denim bomber (s) | black tank (s) | jeans (TTS) | similar vibe bag
And because of the generous proportions and that great fabrication, it fits over — and doesn’t look at odds with — thicker fall knits, so it’s perfect for layering.
denim bomber (s) | similar sweater | similar gingham dress | distressed jeans (TTS) | striped sweater (s) | boots (TTS)
It’s also the ideal weight as a layer that you actually intend to wear indoors. So you don’t have to hang the most intriguing part of your outfit at the door when you enter the office or step into the restaurant. (I get into it below, but this is one of the things that bugs me about the Avec Les Filles Leather Bomber.)
denim bomber (s) | jeans (size up one) | similar vibe bag
And the details? So good. I don’t always love the harsh silhouette of a jacket with epaulettes, but on this oversized bomber, they’re just soft enough. And in the brown hue, the whole effect is really, truly classic bomber, but without the heft of all that, ya know, leather and shearling.
As it applies to my style and wardrobe, it’s an undeniable workhorse that I can’t wait to wear for years to come.
Also Great, But Not For Me: Avec Les Filles Leather Bomber
Excellent in concept, and still so lovely in execution, but this Avec Les Filles Leather Bomber didn’t check quite as many boxes as I’d hoped.
leather bomber (s) | jeans (TTS)
For better or worse (and for cold climates this could certainly be for the better!), the leather is on the thicker side. It’s still soft and supple (ew, sorry), but it felt more parka versus jacket, and it’s definitely more of a piece I’d don as outerwear. Meaning, I’d be removing it for almost every indoor endeavor. A bummer since it’s such a high-impact piece.
It also reads a little sportier than I was expecting. Maybe because of the weight, maybe because of the color. And I know the bomber style is inherently androgynous (and is actually why I love the denim version so much), but this one didn’t have that cool, understated elegance I was hoping for.
leather bomber (s) | distressed jeans (TTS) | boots (TTS)
And with the collar up — which is easily the chicest version of the jacket — it’s a little restricting. While the rest of the jacket is oversized in proportion, the collar isn’t the most generously cut, so it’s borderline claustrophobic when fully zipped. Another bummer because I love the look.
leather bomber (s) | jeans (TTS)
And finally, the ink color — while such a pretty departure from black or brown — felt a little trickier to pair with other shades of blue. I mean, it’s fine with both the dark and light shades shown here, but as a denim girly, I don’t want to overthink which jacket to pair with which jeans. Obviously there is some intentionality and energy required when it comes to getting dressed, but that’s the unanticipated beauty of the denim bomber. It looks, uhhh, bomb, with more or less everything.
Could the solution be the same leather bomber in the available Pecan color?! Just maybe. But I’m afraid the heavier weight would still be a deal-breaker for me.
leather bomber (s) | distressed jeans (TTS) | similar vibe bag | flats (TTS)
As for price, while it’s 3x more than the price of the denim bomber, I’d actually be willing to make the investment if I thought I’d reach for it with the same frequency. The quality is great, and if you’re in the market for a standout, winter-worthy, leather jacket that’s more interesting than your average black bomber, it could be just the ticket.
In sum! If you’re in the market to be pleasantly surprised by one of the more high-impact, wearable, affordable(ish) gems of the NSale, the Avec Les Filles Denim Bomber is absolutely worth a try.
*add to cart*
Happy shopping, gang!
Em
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