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Hi new here. Is wearing a leather jacket basically an invitation for trouble?

Nykwil

One of the Regulars
Messages
175
Location
Cyberspace
No one is looking to fight you on a daily basis with or without a leather jacket.
If you're finding yourself in settings where you think people want to fight you, you can remove yourself from the situation, or maybe consider better places/people to hang out at/with.

I wear a leather jacket, I live in a major city, and I find myself at dive bars all the time where you would expect questionable people, but majority of the time, people don't care what you're wearing let along want to fight you for it.

If your mindset is looking for a fight then it will find it, but it's not actively looking for you unless you're acting in a way that it does.

Project a positive attitude and people will act accordingly. Same thing if you're a jerk to people.
 

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,725
Location
Iowa
I have been wearing cross-zip motorcycle jackets for decades. I have yet to ever face anyone even slightly angry, disturbed, enraged, or deranged by the sight of any of my jackets on me. some family members initially gave me a slight bit of a hard time about some of them, but now they even just really like these jackets - on me. Maybe try wearing a bit more upscale clothes under the jacket? Such as this...(I only rarely wear a tie these days)
DSC_0632.JPG


One thing I do is intentionally up the "positive" nature just a little when I have a leather jacket on. For example, insuring that I do indeed hold the door for anyone coming behind me. Or making sure to thank a casher at the store, and by name if that is possible. If you would like some other suggestions, maybe give this book a try:
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/207500
 
Last edited:

MattieXMoto

One of the Regulars
Messages
291
Location
NYC
Speaking of Perfecto, I wear my 519 as much as I can and no one has ever tried to mess with me so far.

PS I am slouching in this pic.

Mind you this jacket has seen not only 2 seasons in NYC each yr, it has traveled with me intl to:

London
Paris
Lisbon
Italy
Japan
Hong kong
S Korea
Singapore
Vancouver
Montreal
Amsterdam
Screenshot_20231128_232035_Gallery.jpg
 

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,868
Location
East Java
I walk around in bell bottoms and 70’s wide collar polyester polos. The only comments made to my face are typically from women and usually very complimentary, though I’ve no doubt their boyfriends think otherwise, but they certainly don’t make it known. Schott perfecto is essentially a north face or finance bro vest by comparison.

I wouldn’t worry about it. That said, if you are, you’ll never wear it anyway.
2023-11-29 11_37_59-2 fast 2 furious enrique - Google Search.jpg
 

Madhouse27

One of the Regulars
Messages
208
This sounds silly, but I think my second jacket choice is whichever one Tom Welling wore in season 6 episode of Smallville, where he fought WWE alumni Kane. It's a Schott racer style jacket with the large single back panel, and gussets. It's a 141 or 641. I think this should be easier to pull off.

Whichever style, whether Schott Perfecto model or racer, I would likely wear in black, BUT I will try to act my regular self in my regular self. Confident but not angry or walking like I want to punch somebody.

My worry is if I wear perfecto, I would consciously or unconsciously change my mannerisms and behavior in order to look like I can wear the jacket or be "tough enough". I am now leaning more towards Schott racer
The Schott 141/641 might be a good entry point style-wise. Should be easy to score a good deal on a used one, plus having a jacket that looks a little broken in might also help ease you into the whole experience. Wearing a stiff, squeaky brand new jacket might just add to any self-conscious feelings you might be having in the early going. My first three jackets were all pre-owned.

BTW, welcome to the club. In a few years you’ll have closet full of leather jackets.
 

Peacoat

*
Bartender
Messages
6,454
Location
South of Nashville
The Schott 141/641 might be a good entry point style-wise. Should be easy to score a good deal on a used one, plus having a jacket that looks a little broken in might also help ease you into the whole experience. Wearing a stiff, squeaky brand new jacket might just add to any self-conscious feelings you might be having in the early going. My first three jackets were all pre-owned.

BTW, welcome to the club. In a few years you’ll have closet full of leather jackets.
If he survives those bar fights.
 

dudewuttheheck

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,422
Not a problem at all. The bigger issue would be if you wore a motorcycle vest aka a kutte with a symbol or logo on it. That can get you beat up or much worse. A plain leather jacket, even if it's a motorcycle jacket is not even slightly an issue.

I see motorcycle club members, including outlaw club members where I am and you basically don't see them wearing full leather jackets anyway. Their vests/kuttes are the important thing. So you're fine with any plain leather jacket no matter the type.
 

torfjord

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,792
Location
Sweden
Speaking of Perfecto, I wear my 519 as much as I can and no one has ever tried to mess with me so far.

PS I am slouching in this pic.

Mind you this jacket has seen not only 2 seasons in NYC each yr, it has traveled with me intl to:

London
Paris
Lisbon
Italy
Japan
Hong kong
S Korea
Singapore
Vancouver
Montreal
Amsterdam
View attachment 564814

So you are basically fighting around the world?

 

torfjord

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,792
Location
Sweden
The only trouble I envision is having a good comeback to the question: "Where is your bike"?

do you have a good comeback? People have asked me that several times. I just say something along the lines of “I don’t have one, I just like the style.”
But I’d like to say something fun and snappy
 

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