Highwayman Virginian

[AeroFan_07]

No. Period.

 

[Monitor]

Nothing against fringe, it's a well established look, no better or worse than any other we discuss here (tho not my thing for sure) but as @Kalmer already pointed out, why copying LL's jacket to such an extreme?
Plus the fringe is too thick.

However, as for complaining about Aero's styles and whether they should change something... That's pretty much like saying that Schott should stop milking the Perfecto or that GW or Himel should start mass producing jackets in China.
What Aero does is their thing - their look, style, vibe, whatever. Bad or good, it is what it is and it's obviously working so... It's okay not to like it, plenty of other makers around.

 

[Marc mndt]

Plus the fringe is too thick.

It's not too thick, it's just next level. If you work really hard you might get nice creases. #howtobreakinyourfringe

 

[ton312]

This looks Good, Aero not so much......
View attachment 278040
View attachment 278041

Only guy that pulled it off! Bike helped.

 

[Monitor]

It's not too thick, it's just next level. If you work really hard you might get nice creases. #howtobreakinyourfringe

Next thing you know, we'll have #fringecheck.

Only guy that pulled it off! Bike helped.

I was just jealous how good the pants fit him. In all seriousness, matched with a CR, this is the best combo ever.

 

[Graemsay]

Now, if they wanted to do a Board racer in Western style- I have pictures.

@handymike, please share!

I saw a vintage café racer on the Himel site some years ago that had a fringe. It looked good.

 

[handymike]

Here you go...

 

[Graemsay]

Thanks. The one I saw was similar, but brown.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Is it just me or does the fringe look really cheap on that Aero jacket?

 

[Seb Lucas]

Is it just me or does the fringe look really cheap on that Aero jacket?

It looks every bit as lacklustre as the Lewis version - the frill is too even and the individual cuttings are too wide. But it is a specific look - not cheap so much as aesthetically unsatisfying.

 

[Marc mndt]

the frill is too even and the individual cuttings are too wide.

They are so wide, you could use them as phone number tear-offs for the ladies when visiting your local bar

 

[Seb Lucas]

That's what I was thinking too.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

It looks every bit as lacklustre as the Lewis version - the frill is too even and the individual cuttings are too wide. But it is a specific look - not cheap so much as aesthetically unsatisfying.

Yes! You explained it much better than I did. It's just not aesthetically pleasing and the fringes are cut much too wide.

 

[Tom71]

I don’t like it much either, but I am somewhat surprised about the strong reactions here. This place has taught me to be much more experimental with my jackets than I would ever have imagined.

I can easily see quite a few of TFL veterans rocking this baby and looking really cool in it.
I bet it looks much mor agreeable in say natural HH or even rust suede.

 

[handymike]

Speaking only for myself...
I suffer from Highwayman Fatigue.

 

[Kalmer]

It's not too thick, it's just next level. If you work really hard you might get nice creases. #howtobreakinyourfringe

They are so wide, you could use them as phone number tear-offs for the ladies when visiting your local bar
View attachment 278342

Oh man, I was about to nominate your first comment as comment of the year, then I saw your second comment right afterwards LMAO

So entertaining, keep it up!

 

[oneterrifichog]

Now this is my opinion but I think Aero Leathers would do a lot better to look back at some of the jackets in the 30's 40's and 50's rather than put out some of the products they have recently produced. I think they are way too colorful and like several others on here some of the designs are just remakes of the Highwayman. Frankly I really like the original Highwayman and the motorcycle version isn't bad either, however the rest of these "new" versions like the "everyman" etc really don't turn me on. I assume their Sale site is sort of a test market but honestly some of those mix of Fabric and Leather are not necessarily the best offerings. Why not look at some of the early bootlegger versions produced during the 30's or really interesing motorcycle jackets from the 40's. Now don't get me wrong experimentation in design is great and they know a heck of lot about design but I personally am not as turned on by some of their recent works as their earlier pieces.

 

[Marc mndt]

Now this is my opinion but I think Aero Leathers would do a lot better to look back at some of the jackets in the 30's 40's and 50's rather than put out some of the products they have recently produced. I think they are way too colorful and like several others on here some of the designs are just remakes of the Highwayman. Frankly I really like the original Highwayman and the motorcycle version isn't bad either, however the rest of these "new" versions like the "everyman" etc really don't turn me on. I assume their Sale site is sort of a test market but honestly some of those mix of Fabric and Leather are not necessarily the best offerings. Why not look at some of the early bootlegger versions produced during the 30's or really interesing motorcycle jackets from the 40's. Now don't get me wrong experimentation in design is great and they know a heck of lot about design but I personally am not as turned on by some of their recent works as their earlier pieces.

This is just me speculating...
But for some reason we assume Aero introduces these 'new' models like this Virginian or the Everyman because they expect these jackets to sell.

I have worked in the high end fashion industry. In this industry, it was a very common practice for fashion brands to include a couple of stand-out pieces in their collection which they knew wouldn't sell. Simply because the pieces were too much out there. They knew their regular customer base probably wouldn't buy them. But they used those pieces to attract attention to their overall collection. To complete the look, to tell a story, to make the overall collection look more interesting and to be featured in fashion magazines. Those stand-out pieces weren't expected to generate profits. The basic bread and butter pieces delivered the profits.

Maybe this jacket is just that. This is what people talk about. It keeps Aero interesting as a brand. In the end people will buy the Highwayman or the A-2 or what have you.

 

[Seb Lucas]

This is just me speculating...
But for some reason we assume Aero introduces these 'new' models like this Virginian or the Everyman because they expect these jackets to sell.

I have worked in the high end fashion industry. In this industry, it was a very common practice for fashion brands to include a couple of stand-out pieces in their collection which they knew wouldn't sell. Simply because the pieces were too much out there. They knew their regular customer base probably wouldn't buy them. But they used those pieces to attract attention to their overall collection. To complete the look, to tell a story, to make the overall collection look more interesting and to be featured in fashion magazines. Those stand-out pieces weren't expected to generate profits. The basic bread and butter pieces delivered the profits.

Maybe this jacket is just that. This is what people talk about. It keeps Aero interesting as a brand. In the end people will buy the Highwayman or the A-2 or what have you.

Possibly, although Aero as a family business may not participate is such marketing strategies. But I suspect you are close in as much as Ken likes to try out ideas because, if he is anything at all, he is a proud craftsperson who relishes tinkering with his passion. If it sells, great. But maybe at this late stage in his career, it is about keeping the passion alive in the context of a very passionate family operated enterprise. And, of course, sharing this with enthusiasts.

 

[Graemsay]

I've heard a couple of people in clothing retail say that they don't know what will prove to be popular. The style they thought would be a sure thing languishes on the shelves. And, conversely, something that they thought would be a slow seller will be cleared out immediately.

It probably wasn't a huge amount of work to create the Virginian from the existing 59er pattern: Straight front and rear yokes, and add a fringe. So a relatively low cost experiment, and since Aero is build to order, they don't have to worry about stock.