Opions Aero's latest offering

[Mark]

Hi guys

What do you think of Aero's newest offering, a 1950's college jacket in suede? I like the simple design. Looks to be a nice easy wear jacket for the warmer months. I have never owned a suede jacket and wonder how it might wear with time. What about staining? I believe/imagine it to be a problem with suede. Think I would want to see a sample before committing, colour seems a little bright on the web page.

 

[Mark]

oops sorry about the bad spelling, should have checked first before posting, I am tired and had a couple of beers earlier, that my excuse anyway.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Unfortunately true suede will get to looking dingy around the wear areas and you certainly don't want to spill anything on it since it will soak it up. If dark suede..it will also pick up lint quite easily. I bought my Wife a rather expensive tan-ish suede coat years ago that she kept brushed (with a suede brush)..but,even with that,after a few years the coat picked up a somewhat grimy patina (?) at the contact areas.
HD

 

[ykurtz]

I own a beige/cream suede jacket and use a spray to keep it water and stain repellent. That said I only wear it on semi formal occasions and not to BBQs and packed bars and the like.

 

[pawineguy]

I'll give my answer in 2 parts:

1. I think it looks great, very classic and nicely rendered in the suede.

2. I am one of those people that will agree that suede is tougher than people give it credit for being, but... it's just so damn hard to keep it from staining, looking beat up, etc... I own a couple of pairs of suede shoes and while I like the look, I spend so much time trying to keep them clean, stressing about spilling on them, cleaning up said spills, that I rarely wear them. Especially in the color shown on their website, I agree with the above posters, it would be the type of jacket that I would wear so infrequently that I would never pull the trigger on it.

 

[LouisBailie]

Much like old old letter man jackets. Spray the suede with Kiwi protector and it will shed water and debris easily. I have a jacket from late 70s that is still in good shape.

 

[bn1966]

I have an early 70's suede Jacket that's seen a lot of wear but still looks good and draws compliments.

 

[AdeeC]

I have a suede Schott Rancher dating from the mid sixties like Dennis Hopper's jacket in EASY RIDER. Was a bit grimy when I bought it. It came up very nice after being dry cleaned. I have applied suede protector to it and use a brass wire brush to keep it looking good.

 

[IXL]

I had a suede "jeans" jacket when in my teens. As I remember, the collar became quite stained and had a bit of a shine to it. The rest of the jacket had all manner of stains and patina. And I, punk kid that I was, couldn't have cared less.
Sure wish that jacket was around now......

 

[Don Tomaso]

I have several shoes made from suede (velour, to be precise), with the right maintenance they don't stain at all. I use a simple impregnation-spray and occasionally go over them with a special suede-brush (contains thin brass-brushes) and the shoes looks perfect after some years of wear. Actually, I would say they hold up easier and better than other shoes I have which are of the same hide (calf) and from the same maker.

PS: Beautiful jacket, btw.

 

[Edward]

It's not a jacket I can fully imagine myself wearing, but it's a style that is popular and I think can look great on folks. I'm instinctively wary of suede; one reason I like leather so much is its relative ease of upkeep.... though there are protectants and ways the worst of things can be avoided. Definitely a jacket cut that I think looks better in suede than all-over black leather. Also a more flexible style than a letterman jacket (nice as those can be, they're a bit 'young' for me...).

 

[Mark]

Seems general consensus is no then. I remember having a pair of Hush Puppies in suede that tended to loose it's suedeness and turn shiny and leather like with wear. Shame as the design is one that appeals to me but not the colour I must say. Thanks for your input, was not expecting as many replies on this particular jacket.

 

[Edward]

You'd probably get more positive replies on a fifties-and-later board, I think.... it's a bit "modern" a style for a lot of us, no? But yeah, the things that many of us prize about leather - such as how great it can look when a bit 'beaten up' aren't so much applicable to suede. For me, it's simply a case of rain and suded not being an ideal mix, and it rains rather a lot where i'm from....

 

[dh66]

I like it.

It looks a lot like the one Elvis is wearing in this photo.......therefore it is awesome.

 

[dh66]

You'd probably get more positive replies on a fifties-and-later board, I think.... it's a bit "modern" a style for a lot of us, no? But yeah, the things that many of us prize about leather - such as how great it can look when a bit 'beaten up' aren't so much applicable to suede. For me, it's simply a case of rain and suded not being an ideal mix, and it rains rather a lot where i'm from....

Are there any 50s boards? A lot of my interests: music, style, cars, architecture....are of this era.

 

[simonc]

I think it looks great!

 

[resortes805]

I'm not wild about it, but it certainly rounds out their offerings of more sportier jackets.

Personally, I think the cool factor of suede outweighs downsides people have mentioned in this thread.

 

[triple-d]

I like it.

It looks a lot like the one Elvis is wearing in this photo.......therefore it is awesome.

Some horsepower in that photo.........Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis, and Johnny Cash. I like the looks of the new suede jacket.

 

[HPA Rep]

I agree with the positive opinions here that are pro suede. Suede can indeed be protected with treatments, and it can be either dry cleaned or steam cleaned (by those who know what they are doing) to brilliant condition, eliminating stains, dirt, and those shiny wear marks (except where the suede has been worn off completely). I own a few pairs of suede shoes purchased from Alden of Washington, D. C. and the manager, Kathy (sp?), provides a steam cleaning for customers that is amazing, so please don't let the problems commonly associated with suede put you off a purchase if that item is something you're passionate about. Overall durability of suede is another matter - it isn't as durable as a leather with the hair side out (suede is the rough side out, except for nubuck), because it's the inner side of the animal's skin; otherwise, it's good stuff if you like it. Go for what you want, but it's good to ask questions to see if what you want makes sense for you. Good luck!

 

[Don Tomaso]

Well, I would consider buying this jacket even if it is a bit "style for middle-aged-men" - heck, I'm 50 - and the overall square looks, but then I just bought a jacket and there's no room for another one. I like it, though.