Leather Jackets: Post Pictures of the Best You've Seen/Owned?

[Leonard Leroy]

Just bought myself an Undercover Ethnic Rider. A black one. I need to lose weight before it'll look good on me; I bought it for the sake of collection, always wanted one, and I got a good deal on it.

I think the design on it is world class. In my possession, the sleeves feel hand knit, and I'm tempted to boil the wool to tighten, maybe get the knit to cling together.

 

[dieworkwear]

I like these little embroideries Savas puts into their leather jackets. These are just two random ones; they can do any design.

 

[Kaplan]

For when you're afraid you might forget to pick up a Sassicaia on the way home...

 

[OccultaVexillum]

That's cool. Details like that are cool. I actually like that second jacket and usually think DRs are awful.

 

[paborden]

So, I'm thinking about building a quiver of leather jackets, since to this point I've owned all of none.

Debating between makers and such, curious what you all think. In general, I need to fine makers who can adjust arm and torso length given my height

1) A-1

I love this photo, apparently it's Eastman

That said Aero makes something similar

At least during my talks with Aero they have expressed that they can modify length and such. No idea about the quality of Aero vs Eastman. Aero is cheaper.

2) Motorcycle Jacket

I love the Armoury / Real McCoy's collab but needed a 46 if I were to wear it with knitwear, so that wasn't happening.

Aero makes this which looks pretty awesome

3) Shearling

And then there's shearling. Debating between the Aero D-1

And the Schott

The latter of which people seem to love. Probably because it's cut not in an era appropriate way but a more modern one.

Curious to everyone's thoughts ...

 

[dieworkwear]

I think it depends on the look you want to go for. The DR is going to be the most visually aggressive of the three. The shearling is going to fit kind of big, but I think that looks suitable for the style. Some guys like slimmer clothing though. And shearling wears warm.

The A-1 is either going to look Fedora Loungey or Inspiration LA workwear. It's a fine line. I'm personally less into that repro workwear type stuff these days, but to the degree I think that look works, I think it's better when it's more directional and not "middle aged dad who saw a movie about aviators and wanted to get this jacket to spec." If you're going to wear it like Ethan, I think it could look good. But if you're going to do something more conservative, I think you'd be better off with a Valstarino.

 

[PME Legend]

So, I'm thinking about building a quiver of leather jackets, since to this point I've owned all of none.

Debating between makers and such, curious what you all think. In general, I need to fine makers who can adjust arm and torso length given my height

1) A-1

I love this photo, apparently it's Eastman

That said Aero makes something similar

At least during my talks with Aero they have expressed that they can modify length and such. No idea about the quality of Aero vs Eastman. Aero is cheaper.

2) Motorcycle Jacket

I love the Armoury / Real McCoy's collab but needed a 46 if I were to wear it with knitwear, so that wasn't happening.

Aero makes this which looks pretty awesome

3) Shearling

And then there's shearling. Debating between the Aero D-1

And the Schott

The latter of which people seem to love. Probably because it's cut not in an era appropriate way but a more modern one.

Curious to everyone's thoughts ...

FWIW, and IMHO;
The A1 i personally don't like at all, not the aero nor the eastman but it's just not my style.

The perfecto is awesome!!! I actually tried one one myself this week, one from Daytona73, french brand and muuuuuuch cheaper than your aero i'm sure. I'm now thinking of getting a schott 618 perfecto.

For the lammy i'd prefer the schott...

 

[paborden]

To be clear, I'm not deciding between styles but within them. I'll probably get a D1/B3 and a motorcycle for sure, though it is indeed a good point that a Valstarino may be better than the A-1. Then again, I can't really do a Valstarino because of the sleeves but could go Anglo Italian

 

[dhoff10]

So, I'm thinking about building a quiver of leather jackets, since to this point I've owned all of none.

Debating between makers and such, curious what you all think. In general, I need to fine makers who can adjust arm and torso length given my height

1) A-1

I love this photo, apparently it's Eastman

That said Aero makes something similar

At least during my talks with Aero they have expressed that they can modify length and such. No idea about the quality of Aero vs Eastman. Aero is cheaper.

2) Motorcycle Jacket

I love the Armoury / Real McCoy's collab but needed a 46 if I were to wear it with knitwear, so that wasn't happening.

Aero makes this which looks pretty awesome

3) Shearling

And then there's shearling. Debating between the Aero D-1

And the Schott

The latter of which people seem to love. Probably because it's cut not in an era appropriate way but a more modern one.

Curious to everyone's thoughts ...

My 2 cents on your motorcycle DR concept is it's a difficult look to pull off and you're going to want a perfect fit. I would include Langlitz and Himel in my search as they consistently nail the fit.

 

[Backhand]

I inherited a large # of deer hides and am having a jacket mtm from them (1 hide was from the first buck I took as a teenager aeons ago... not something I do anymore but Id like to use these in a meaningful way). My first mtm actually. It will be a ruddy saddle colored buckskin as a half belted delivery style coat kinda like this: http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=2214

Im working out how long I want it to be as I prefer slightly longer jackets (I already have a water buffalo car coat and a burgundy goat blazer). Id like it to be like this without the fuzzy collar: https://www.schottnyc.com/products/leather-car-coat.htm?color=1&catID=5

I am thinking somewhere between 30 and 31 inches long from the collar edge to coat bottom. It seems like mid length coats are rare but the are my go to. Should I just make it slightly longer than most of my casual blazers that I live in (they hover at 30 inches). Anything to worrry about with buckskin stretching more than most other leathers? Any favorite mid length and delivery coats out there?

 

[hoodog]

I think it depends on the look you want to go for. The DR is going to be the most visually aggressive of the three. The shearling is going to fit kind of big, but I think that looks suitable for the style. Some guys like slimmer clothing though. And shearling wears warm.

The A-1 is either going to look Fedora Loungey or Inspiration LA workwear. It's a fine line. I'm personally less into that repro workwear type stuff these days, but to the degree I think that look works, I think it's better when it's more directional and not "middle aged dad who saw a movie about aviators and wanted to get this jacket to spec." If you're going to wear it like Ethan, I think it could look good. But if you're going to do something more conservative, I think you'd be better off with a Valstarino.

What does "directional" mean in this context? Serious question.

 

[dieworkwear]

What does "directional" mean in this context? Serious question.

Basically weird, avant-garde, designer, etc.

I generally think of leather jackets as being one of three types.

There's workwear. This is basically RRL, Aero, Buzz Rickson, Schott, etc.

Then there's contemporary or classic-contemporary. This can be anything from ToJ to Valstarino to Ralph Lauren. Basically, stuff that takes inspiration from workwear jackets, but softens them up a little for people who don't want to look overly rugged. They want to look modern.

Then there's directional, avant-garde type jackets, which is like Rick Owens, Zamb, Margiela, etc. This isn't workwear (rugged) but it's also more intentional than contemporary, which often feels like it's designed for guys who don't want to stick out too much (Sando is a perfect example of that kind of thing).

These aren't exclusive categories. Sometimes Margiela is very contemporary. Sometimes guys can wear Schott in a more contemporary way. I just think of them as being broad categories.

Sometimes guys think leather jackets aren't for them because they don't want to look overly rugged, so then maybe contemporary is better for them. Or when you look at Fedora Lounge guys, they'll poo poo contemporary and directional cause it's not rugged enough (what they mean when they say "quality"). Or sometimes guys look at directional stuff and think it's too fashion-y, so maybe they'd prefer classic/ rugged stuff. When choosing a leather jacket, I generally think it's good to start with what kind of look you're trying to create, rather than get caught up in ideas about quality or value, which can be very dependent on the aesthetic.

 

[hoodog]

Basically weird, avant-garde, designer, etc.

I generally think of leather jackets as being one of three types.

There's workwear. This is basically RRL, Aero, Buzz Rickson, Schott, etc.

Then there's contemporary or classic-contemporary. This can be anything from ToJ to Valstarino to Ralph Lauren. Basically, stuff that takes inspiration from workwear jackets, but softens them up a little for people who don't want to look overly rugged. They want to look modern.

Then there's directional, avant-garde type jackets, which is like Rick Owens, Zamb, Margiela, etc. This isn't workwear (rugged) but it's also more intentional than contemporary, which often feels like it's designed for guys who don't want to stick out too much (Sando is a perfect example of that kind of thing).

These aren't exclusive categories. Sometimes Margiela is very contemporary. Sometimes guys can wear Schott in a more contemporary way. I just think of them as being broad categories.

Sometimes guys think leather jackets aren't for them because they don't want to look overly rugged, so then maybe contemporary is better for them. Or when you look at Fedora Lounge guys, they'll poo poo contemporary and directional cause it's not rugged enough (what they mean when they say "quality"). Or sometimes guys look at directional stuff and think it's too fashion-y, so maybe they'd prefer classic/ rugged stuff. When choosing a leather jacket, I generally think it's good to start with what kind of look you're trying to create, rather than get caught up in ideas about quality or value, which can be very dependent on the aesthetic.

But... I kinda like repro jackets like RMC and Buzz. Does that make me a middle aged dad (actually, I am) who wants to be an aviator? Say it ain't so.

 

[dieworkwear]

But... I kinda like repro jackets like RMC and Buzz. Does that make me a middle aged dad (actually, I am) who wants to be an aviator? Say it ain't so.

I like that stuff too! Just personally not into that Fedora Lounge look.

I don't know what separates Fedora Lounge from other repro-styled looks. Sometimes that stuff works and sometimes it feels kind of musty.

 

[hoodog]

I like that stuff too! Just personally not into that Fedora Lounge look.

I don't know what separates Fedora Lounge from other repro-styled looks. Sometimes that stuff works and sometimes it feels kind of musty.

Oh, I thought you just said you didn't? And that you preferred more directional stuff?

Anyway, my go to uniform during autumn and winter is Viberg side zips or Viberg engineers, orslow 105 or 316 SLs, some kind of shirt (probably chambray) and then flannel shirt/chore jacket/work shirt/sweatshirt/etc with M65/Pea Coat/Parka/J-100 on top. If that's a middle aged dad then so be it. I'll pull out the ol' black 5zip to make things a bit more directional now and again. ?