Himel "The Imperial"

[sweetfights]

Thank you I was confused by the comparison, I knew both jackets were based on the same pattern from John

I thought one was by Himel, the other Good Wear. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[Drdan]

Thanks for the nice review!

I like EVERYTHING about this jacket, and consider it one of the very best designs of all time. You nailed the fit, and the jacket has a very nice drape.

Wear it in good health, and best wishes!

 

[Tom71]

Thanks for the nice review!

I like EVERYTHING about this jacket, and consider it one of the very best designs of all time. You nailed the fit, and the jacket has a very nice drape.

Wear it in good health, and best wishes!

Thanks so much! It is maginally cooler this morning, so I was able to take the jacket with me to work.

 

[Drdan]

In the mornings where I am in Germany it's usually about 15 degrees centigrade (59 degrees F.), so a goatskin HB is seeing a lot of time this summer. Going to southern Italy soon where I'll find hot summer weather where no one in their right mind would wear any kind of leather jacket.

 

[sweetfights]

Tom71
How is the jacket breaking in?
Update photos?

 

[Cyber Lip]

I just ordered an Imperial from Himel. Really excited about it! Mine's going to have a Frobisher back style though. I've already got a similar 3 panel back on another jacket, so wanted something a little different. I was glad they were willing to do it

 

[Tom71]

Tom71
How is the jacket breaking in?
Update photos?

Hey! Thanks for asking. I attach some photos from today (same office; more or less same attire). We had quite the heatwave here, so not much jacket time lately (plus I have the blue Michigan to take care off).

The Imperial has some additional scars to the coating but not much. Still not much break-in in the traditional sense. Apart from some uncharacteritical (for me) babying of the jacket, that will be due to all the oils and waxes in the hide. Still truly, madly, deeply in love with the piece...

 

[Tom71]

 

[sweetfights]

Just a fantastic piece of art.
Thanks for the update.
Best looking jacket on you!

 

[Tom71]

Just a fantastic piece of art.
Thanks for the update.
Best looking jacket on you!

Thanks much! I certainly like it a lot!

 

[jacketjunkie]

Beautiful jacket but doesn't look worn at all. Will look so mich better when losing initial stiff- and shininess.

 

[Tom71]

Beautiful jacket but doesn't look worn at all. Will look so mich better when losing initial stiff- and shininess.

I know what you mean. It has in fact been worn quite a lot. The leather is so "rich" that it seems to spring back to the original shape after wear. I could work on that of course, but I am not a fan of artificial aging, so I just wait and see. One Thing, though: This is my only jacket that I try not to expose to rain...

 

[Marc mndt]

One Thing, though: This is my only jacket that I try not to expose to rain...

Why wouldn't you? Do you think rain will leave stains?

 

[Tom71]

An attempt to slow down natural aging, I guess. As I said in my original post: I liked the look of the hide so much from the get-go that I really doubt it can improve with age.

I believe all other hides (Horween CXL; LW Horsehide; LL horse and sheep most prominentely) look better with some aging, so ONE oddity is ok by me.

 

[Tom71]

Why wouldn't you? Do you think rain will leave stains?

Oh and: no, it doesn´t stain. It has been rained on, and I am perfectly fine with that, of course. I just don´t push it.

 

[willyto]

Wear it whatever the weather. I’m not a fan of baby cared jackets.

They are utilitarian and workwear items. To protect from the elements apart from looking cool.

The more worn it gets the better it looks. That’s why I think as much as impressive they are, most collections here make the wear of leather jackets to their coolest point just an impossible task, they always look new and that is uncool for a leather jacket in my opinion.

I am guilty of that too.

 

[sweetfights]

Once I receive my Himel Kensington made of the exact same batch of dark brown shinki used for Tom71's Imperial we will have to compare how they wear. I'll be sleeping in mine to break it in.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Once I receive my Himel Kensington made of the exact same batch of dark brown shinki used for Tom71's Imperial we will have to compare how they wear. I'll be sleeping in mine to break it in.

True to the Fedora Lounge way!

 

[Tom71]

Once I receive my Himel Kensington made of the exact same batch of dark brown shinki used for Tom71's Imperial we will have to compare how they wear. I'll be sleeping in mine to break it in.

May I suggest, you buy two and only sleep in one of them. If you don´t like the aging, you can hang on to the baby-ed one and sell the worn-in to the aging-afficionados...

 

[Tom71]

Wear it whatever the weather. I’m not a fan of baby cared jackets.

They are utilitarian and workwear items. To protect from the elements apart from looking cool.

The more worn it gets the better it looks. That’s why I think as much as impressive they are, most collections here make the wear of leather jackets to their coolest point just an impossible task, they always look new and that is uncool for a leather jacket in my opinion.

I am guilty of that too.

Not gonna happen, Willyto! I use nearly all my other jackets as daily beaters and love the worn in look. The Imperial however clearly is more of a "sports-jacket" than workwear. Besides: I love it. Why would I want it to change at all...?

Just my 2 cents, obviously…