A word of thanks from a newcomer

[JCSD]

Fairly new to the forum and been making my way through all of your insightful posts for the past couple of months. Just wanted to say that I’m so appreciative to have found a place to feel a camaraderie with others who share a common interest/passion/addiction. Years ago I was deeply into fine watches as I hope to be into leather jackets- graduated quickly from my Cartier to IWC to AP. It was never the ownership of these timepieces that fueled my interest in horology but more the history of the brands and specific models. I loved how some pieces would speak to me while others on the forum would find no aesthetic value and vice versa. We all had our own tastes and preferences but ultimately shared this overall hobby that brought us together.


I took a break from watches to run a business and have 2 awesome kids. Years passed by and I’ve realized that I need something for myself again. I’ve always loved leather jackets- as early as junior high I had a bomber as soon as Top Gun came out. And it never stopped- no name brands when I was younger to J. Crew/ Polo/Avirex in the nineties to more recently Vanson and Belstaff. However, after stumbling across FL my interest has been taken to a whole new level. The nuances of configurations, differences in leathers and all the different perspectives from all over the world- this is my new spot.


I’ve recently picked up a number of pieces from the forum and other spots trying to narrow down my preferences and figure out sizing. The search for the ideal jacket reminds me of the search for the perfect timepiece. It takes patience and a lot of trial and error to find what ultimately speaks to you but when you do, oh man, what a feeling.


Sorry for being a bit long winded but genuinely wanted to say thanks for providing a place for me to look forward to every day. My newest piece and fit pics to follow.

 

[MegaLARP]

Hello, I'm the resident cheapskate youngin

- Sent from my small attic without heating

 

[sweetfights]

Fairly new to the forum and been making my way through all of your insightful posts for the past couple of months. Just wanted to say that I’m so appreciative to have found a place to feel a camaraderie with others who share a common interest/passion/addiction. Years ago I was deeply into fine watches as I hope to be into leather jackets- graduated quickly from my Cartier to IWC to AP. It was never the ownership of these timepieces that fueled my interest in horology but more the history of the brands and specific models. I loved how some pieces would speak to me while others on the forum would find no aesthetic value and vice versa. We all had our own tastes and preferences but ultimately shared this overall hobby that brought us together.


I took a break from watches to run a business and have 2 awesome kids. Years passed by and I’ve realized that I need something for myself again. I’ve always loved leather jackets- as early as junior high I had a bomber as soon as Top Gun came out. And it never stopped- no name brands when I was younger to J. Crew/ Polo/Avirex in the nineties to more recently Vanson and Belstaff. However, after stumbling across FL my interest has been taken to a whole new level. The nuances of configurations, differences in leathers and all the different perspectives from all over the world- this is my new spot.


I’ve recently picked up a number of pieces from the forum and other spots trying to narrow down my preferences and figure out sizing. The search for the ideal jacket reminds me of the search for the perfect timepiece. It takes patience and a lot of trial and error to find what ultimately speaks to you but when you do, oh man, what a feeling.


Sorry for being a bit long winded but genuinely wanted to say thanks for providing a place for me to look forward to every day. My newest piece and fit pics to follow.


View attachment 195391

Welcome! You have come to the right place.
Looks like Vicenza leather- very nice looking.

 

[ton312]

Fairly new to the forum and been making my way through all of your insightful posts for the past couple of months. Just wanted to say that I’m so appreciative to have found a place to feel a camaraderie with others who share a common interest/passion/addiction. Years ago I was deeply into fine watches as I hope to be into leather jackets- graduated quickly from my Cartier to IWC to AP. It was never the ownership of these timepieces that fueled my interest in horology but more the history of the brands and specific models. I loved how some pieces would speak to me while others on the forum would find no aesthetic value and vice versa. We all had our own tastes and preferences but ultimately shared this overall hobby that brought us together.


I took a break from watches to run a business and have 2 awesome kids. Years passed by and I’ve realized that I need something for myself again. I’ve always loved leather jackets- as early as junior high I had a bomber as soon as Top Gun came out. And it never stopped- no name brands when I was younger to J. Crew/ Polo/Avirex in the nineties to more recently Vanson and Belstaff. However, after stumbling across FL my interest has been taken to a whole new level. The nuances of configurations, differences in leathers and all the different perspectives from all over the world- this is my new spot.


I’ve recently picked up a number of pieces from the forum and other spots trying to narrow down my preferences and figure out sizing. The search for the ideal jacket reminds me of the search for the perfect timepiece. It takes patience and a lot of trial and error to find what ultimately speaks to you but when you do, oh man, what a feeling.


Sorry for being a bit long winded but genuinely wanted to say thanks for providing a place for me to look forward to every day. My newest piece and fit pics to follow.


View attachment 195391

Welcome aboard! I think you’ll find, as I have, it’s the community here that makes this place so unique. The jackets are wonderful and fun but the community here really is the heart and it’s what makes this place so special. I’m not a huge social media user but I think this place is a gem among a sea of wasted time on FB and IG, which are little more than advertising vehicles. There’s a purity here. We have our dust ups but at the end of the day we sail the same direction, welcome to the blue pill!

 

[Peacoat]

Welcome to the Lounge. A word of warning though: This place can, and probably will, cost you a lot of money. I don't know which is more expensive, high end watches or high end leather jackets. I suspicion it is the former as most high end jackets top out at $1000 to $1500. I imagine high end time pieces can be lot more than that.

You have been warned; continue at your own peril.

 

[sweetfights]

Welcome to the Lounge. A word of warning though: This place can, and probably will, cost you a lot of money. I don't know which is more expensive, high end watches or high end leather jackets. I suspicion it is the former as most high end jackets top out at $1000 to $1500. I imagine high end time pieces can be lot more than that.

You have been warned; continue at your own peril.

LOL-- so very true....

 

[JCSD]

Hello, I'm the resident cheapskate youngin

- Sent from my small attic without heating

I really do feel like a novice but slowly making sense of things with the help of all of you.

 

[JCSD]

Welcome! You have come to the right place.
Looks like Vicenza leather- very nice looking.

You guessed it!

 

[JCSD]

Welcome aboard! I think you’ll find, as I have, it’s the community here that makes this place so unique. The jackets are wonderful and fun but the community here really is the heart and it’s what makes this place so special. I’m not a huge social media user but I think this place is a gem among a sea of wasted time on FB and IG, which are little more than advertising vehicles. There’s a purity here. We have our dust ups but at the end of the day we sail the same direction, welcome to the blue pill!

Key word is community. When you feel a kinship with the others in the forum that’s when it transcends material things and makes it a common passion with a sense of belonging.

 

[JCSD]

Welcome to the Lounge. A word of warning though: This place can, and probably will, cost you a lot of money. I don't know which is more expensive, high end watches or high end leather jackets. I suspicion it is the former as most high end jackets top out at $1000 to $1500. I imagine high end time pieces can be lot more than that.

You have been warned; continue at your own peril.

Long before this post I already opened up my wallet and submitted to the forum and it’s shared addiction. Watches were pretty bad at $5-15K a pop but I rarely lost money on a sale/trade I the preowned market. Leather jackets are less financially bulletproof.

 

[MegaLARP]

I really do feel like a novice but slowly making sense of things with the help of all of you.

Thing that made it easiest for me was just going into the classifieds here or looking for ebay stuff (deals thread can help there) and buying a bunch of cheaper stuff you can unload without loss to see what you like fit and style-wise

I went from having no idea what I was looking for to being pretty confident in anything I order in like a month because of this. Plus, I have most of the Christmas gifts for the men in my family covered with anything that fits them better than me

 

[JCSD]

Thing that made it easiest for me was just going into the classifieds here or looking for ebay stuff (deals thread can help there) and buying a bunch of cheaper stuff you can unload without loss to see what you like fit and style-wise

I went from having no idea what I was looking for to being pretty confident in anything I order in like a month because of this. Plus, I have most of the Christmas gifts for the men in my family covered with anything that fits them better than me

That is awesome advice!

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Welcome! Definitely a great community here. I am on many forums, but this is the one that I post on the most often. There is a good reason for that.

 

[JCSD]

Being a fellow SoCal resident I’m sure you feel my pain in trying to rotate all of your jackets on the few cold days that we have!

 

[Mattofumi]

Hey just want to echo the sentiment of the original poster. After much lurking on this forum I’ve also taken the plunge through Thurston Bros. and ended up keeping my fit jacket, a premier highwayman in blackened brown Vicenza (below) and then also ordered another premier highwayman in russet Vicenza with a couple of different details. This place was invaluable in helping me decide what style and leathers to go with.

 

[red devil]

Welcome to the forum, I would not recommend looking for "THE" jacket, but rather get a nice collection. There are so many different styles and your tastes will evolve - I am still exploring myself - so just enjoy it.

 

[sweetfights]

Long before this post I already opened up my wallet and submitted to the forum and it’s shared addiction. Watches were pretty bad at $5-15K a pop but I rarely lost money on a sale/trade I the preowned market. Leather jackets are less financially bulletproof.

The used market in leather jackets generally allows you to risk with little loss.
It’s when you buy brand new then sell that you take a hit.

 

[Imuricecreamman]

Welcome. The community here is great. I didn't even introduce myself properly at the outset and I felt welcome here right away. A word of warning though, I've bought eleven leather jackets since april, so it can be dangerous.

 

[El Marro]

Welcome to the forum, I would not recommend looking for "THE" jacket, but rather get a nice collection. There are so many different styles and your tastes will evolve - I am still exploring myself - so just enjoy it.

Very good advice. My first four or five jackets were all supposed to be “The One” and The fact is that for many of us there is no perfect jacket that ends the quest. I think it is more enjoyable if you shop with the idea that you are exploring new styles and leathers rather than hoping to get the one jacket that encompasses perfection.
Welcome to both of you!

 

[JCSD]

money

Welcome to the forum, I would not recommend looking for "THE" jacket, but rather get a nice collection. There are so many different styles and your tastes will evolve - I am still exploring myself - so just enjoy it.

Let’s be honest- labeling it as the “one” was for my wife’s benefit. We all know how the search quickly snowballs into a full closet. The hunt is the real joy.