How has your taste in leather jackets changed over the years?

[BB1239]

It would be nice to hear from some of you, how your taste in leather jackets has changed over time. Have you broadened your horizons and come to love styles, brands and colors of jackets you formerly didn't? Or have you narrowed your focus to a specific style or brand?

 

[Guppy]

It hasn't changed really. What I liked 20 years ago, I still like now. I just have broadened and deepened my knowledge of the different styles of jackets that exist and the history of how they changed over decades. So there's things I didn't know existed back in the day that I would have liked had I known about them, that I like now. And I have a better eye for quality and fit than I did. I guess that's about it.

 

[BB1239]

It hasn't changed really. What I liked 20 years ago, I still like now. I just have broadened and deepened my knowledge of the different styles of jackets that exist and the history of how they changed over decades. So there's things I didn't know existed back in the day that I would have liked had I known about them, that I like now. And I have a better eye for quality and fit than I did. I guess that's about it.

It's been great so far, learning on this forum about what makes a quality jacket and a good fit. My eye has changed, and likely still will, I'm relatively new to this compared to many of you. Very valuable resource here, definitely grateful for it. Formerly, I would have only wanted a black leather straight zip jacket. Now I find myself appreciating cross zips more, even searching for an Octagon leather, a color I had no taste for previously. My love of leather as a protective motorcycle garment brought me here. I stayed for the style, and am being corrupted. Willingly of course.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Good topic for a thread!

I would say to some extent similar to Guppy, what drew my eyes back when this all started, still does today. However I have greatly broadened my interest, and nowadays the Pattern, Materials & Maker Reputation matter a whole lot more to me than the many other details.

- Quality should be observable, experiential and tangible.
- Details such as color of hardware, stitching and even the lining all factor into the experience of the jacket.
- Get what "you" want - not what someone else thinks you need or want.
- I have also learned that as much as I love the color, I just will not wear cordovan leather jackets.
- A next step for me is something more in the dark-brown, or natural brown leathers...just not sure what jacket or design that will be...

 

[BB1239]

Good topic for a thread!

I would say to some extent similar to Guppy, what drew my eyes back when this all started, still does today. However I have greatly broadened my interest, and nowadays the Pattern, Materials & Maker Reputation matter a whole lot more to me than the many other details.

- Quality should be observable, experiential and tangible.
- Details such as color of hardware, stitching and even the lining all factor into the experience of the jacket.
- Get what "you" want - not what someone else thinks you need or want.
- I have also learned that as much as I love the color, I just will not wear cordovan leather jackets.
- A next step for me is something more in the dark-brown, or natural brown leathers...just not sure what jacket or design that will be...

That makes a whole lot of sense! On the topic of hardware color...not long ago I gravitated toward silver hardware on a black jacket, now I much prefer brass.

"Quality should be observable, experiential and tangible" - very well said. I've grown to love 30 day return policies.
Someone on this forum said "doubt always leads to sale", and that stuck with me.

I also love dark brown leather jackets and wish there were more made, without another tint or hue added. Mostly because it would be easier for me to match it with other clothes and hats lol.

 

[Bawheid]

My leather jacket style has actually stayed the same since 1989

Black, collared straight zipped jackets, wearable to work even with zipper sleeves

I have had ( and still have some)

Eastman Luftwaffe

Aero Highwayman

Simmons Bilt Nebraska

And a plethora more have come and gone, all straight zipped and collared.

I started with a red leather 2 piece suit when racing motorcycles.

40+ years and 22kg ago haha...

 

[MrProper]

Not much has changed for me.
I still like the leather jackets that I used to like.
CrossFit has been added as a style. I thought I might like Cossack, but after trying it I know I don't like it. Same with flight jackets with patch pockets.
And I prefer zips to buttons on leather jackets.

 

[TartuWolf]

I joined TFL 2 years ago. Before joining I knew something about leather, but almost nothing about leather jackets.
Learned a lot along the way, thank you TFL crew!
So I'd say my taste developed rather than changed.
Rather than broadening I rather really narrowed it down to what I like and what I want.
After I sell a few more I will have narrowed my own collection down to 2 leather jackets which I'm very happy with!
Next potentially on the list : Rugged West D-Pocket in their 4oz black bison decked out with brass hardware.
Dream jacket that will likely never happen : Y2 eco horse N1 deck jacket.

 

[newtojackets]

1. Started liking shorter jackets (by short I mean 24 inches)

2. Started appreciating brown leather more (as well as colours)

3. Stopped liking super stiff leathers e.g. CXL and super restrictive patterns e.g. Aero BR / japanese style narrow arms

 

[newtojackets]

I joined TFL 2 years ago. Before joining I knew something about leather, but almost nothing about leather jackets.
Learned a lot along the way, thank you TFL crew!
So I'd say my taste developed rather than changed.
Rather than broadening I rather really narrowed it down to what I like and what I want.
After I sell a few more I will have narrowed my own collection down to 2 leather jackets which I'm very happy with!
Next potentially on the list : Rugged West D-Pocket in their 4oz black bison decked out with brass hardware.
Dream jacket that will likely never happen : Y2 eco horse N1 deck jacket.

how you can do 2 jackets is beyond me, but well done!

 

[Al 916]

better fitting...

 

[Monitor]

Initially, I didn't have that much of a taste for leather jackets, I just wanted to look cool. Also, what primarily ignited my interest in leather (jackets) was so that I could fight back against getting scammed by fast fashion.

Didn't take long until I realized how much fun fashion is, once I stepped out of my comfort zone and began experimenting with clothes. However, catching up for all the lost time, I would switch between look too quickly to ever complete one so I never did set on a style.
That's why I admire those guys who fully leaned into that pseudo-50's look.

Eventually, though, it became apparent to me that I was using clothes, especially leather clothes, as a crutch and how much influence it hold over how I felt & thus who I was. It all became too burdensome. So I no longer wear it. but the love still remains, of course.