to me it's more like it doesn't matter much when it get dirty because it already look 'dirty' from the factory.
Haven't heard of any spontaneous combustion leather jacket wearers. Maybe a new thread?. But what the heck to I know!
Alden 403 Moc Toe Boot - Brown Chromexcel - $680 The classic "Indy" style Alden Boot in the classic Horween brown Chromexcel. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - #395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Himel Bros. - The Ross Mk. 1 Leather Jacket Classic D-pocket motorcycle/aviator style jacket. I don't know, have you tried it?
I have similar memories of mom buying me an Army/Navy surplus pea coat to get me through the cold NYC winter. It din't. Have no idea what vintage it was, but pretty sure it was Govt. contract issue. It wasn't warm enough, that is all I remember. Brrrr.
Or, maybe they are good jackets?Plenty of people are still buying the Schott too, I imagine! Thing is, though, that Schott prices have been shooting up in recent years - at least, they have here in the UK. A 618 at £350 was a great deal. Now they're more or less the same price as an Aero in some places, well.... Schott in general here in the UK in my experience are now pretty much the same price as Vanson; I've always been more impressed with the Vanson quality.
Some markets do seem to attach a premium to intangible features which have nil impact on the quality of the end product itself - factors like country of origin, being "the real thing", "heritage" and so on. It can certainly be a very successful strategy, lifestyle marketing: brands like Harley have done very well out of it over the years. Seems, though, that for many people in the leather jacket niche other ideas have taken over and there isn't the same value placed on somebody having made X since Y if another company is considered to do it better. The denimhead market is probably even moreso this way than the leather crowd by now: how many serious denim people still wear regular Levis by now?
Perceived value is a difficult animal to pin down, really. With SChott beng so well known for their midmarket prices and mainstream fashion-targeted product, I don't know if they could raise their prices all that much without the market deciding it was "too much" for what they are.... it's all so subjective.
Again, though, that all comes down to what the market want. Schott aren't really chasing the same people as want an Aero or an ELC or a Freewheelers or whatever.... they're a mainstream fashion brand chasing a mainstream market, more Alpha than Aero in terms of what they want to do. The fashion market values novelty, the classic, retro crowd less so.
Oh, I'd say there's precious little objectivity involved once we get as deep as this into our niche.
Almost a dead ringer for the Aero King of the Road model (though the Aero has 'pillion pockets', which this one lacks). Is it a repop of one of the old Durable jackets? I don't have my reference material to hand, and can't recall if it was Schott or Durable who tended to make d-pockets this way - as memory serves, Buco *always* had a horizontal chest pocket over the D.... at least all those I've seen.
I've only owned one but handled many over the years. They've always felt to me like the first rung on getting a decent jacket without major compromises, but here in the UK at least there's always also been the sense that there's a significant price premium attached to the brand and the made in USA elements. It's all subjective, of course: there are those to whom those things will matter; to me, they don't.
This goes back to what I was saying about brand perception and marketability. Schott undoubtedly do some very nice stuff as well, but because the brand is also so readily associated with cheaper fashion jackets in a flimsy lamb (for example) by many, it is definitely harder for them to shake that image when trying to sell to a different, hardcore crowd. It all rather reminds me of when Toyota created the Lexus brand in order to move into a higher price-band market, because they didn't feel they could sell an "expensive Toyota" to that market. Schott are perceived by many as a mid-price brand, which is going to make it harder to sell more expensive, premium pieces. It's all marketing psychology.
All comes down to what the market is prepared to pay, in the end - whatever that market is. None of these brands would still be around if nobody was buying, so they must all be convincing somebody they're worth whatever they're charging.
RMC, no matter. This is a really great photo of real people, wearing real clothing. They are probably laughing at RMC prices, that if they are still around.Not at all. And I was wrong. 1950-something. But it's still kinda silly on RMC's blog, though...
Yeah, but the" Holy Shinki" as i calls it is still pretty cool. but, I have only bought a few used at half price from the new ones. Unfortunately, my local little old seamstress on the corner can't get a needle though them for the needed repairs of a used jacket. Even though i want to own one jacket from all the best makers, probably skip Vanson, and even LW, because I don't ride. Though am very tempted by LWs goat. Plus I have not had any dealings with Stu, but I like that in your face attitude. A bit of a hard sell, but from what i have studied he walks the talk. He's a New Yorker. Nuff said.
Excuse my terminology. I do mean this leather seems to be thick enough to be full grain roughout leather.
Yeah @HoosierDaddy, it must get frustrating for all you veterans getting silly questions from all us newbs. I have trouble searching on this forum. It doesn't seem too be too user friendly. But, that is probably user error, not the forum's search engine.Most of the listings in your rant are answered here in various threads of the past under ' Outerwear '. ' Search ' is your friend to find these answers. Many posters who have been here for years don't often care to keep answering all the same questions again every time a new member joins the FL...and some may no longer post but most of the answers are still there.
I agree with Dude ( and he says it better than I can ) " To me, fashion means trendy instead of actual style ".
There's a big difference between 'fashion' and 'style'..that's for sure..!!
No, I have never tried to apply oil on Nubuck leather since I described my reaction to that leather so wouldn't buy it in the first place.
Also try search to find other members likes and dislikes of certain maker's jackets and how their hides and finishes differ from others. ...maybe before buying them...
HD
. One more question is Horween FQHH thick leather? just kidding.@Edward you hit that one right with only a few words "Perceived value is a difficult animal to pin down".Plenty of people are still buying the Schott too, I imagine! Thing is, though, that Schott prices have been shooting up in recent years - at least, they have here in the UK. A 618 at £350 was a great deal. Now they're more or less the same price as an Aero in some places, well.... Schott in general here in the UK in my experience are now pretty much the same price as Vanson; I've always been more impressed with the Vanson quality.
Some markets do seem to attach a premium to intangible features which have nil impact on the quality of the end product itself - factors like country of origin, being "the real thing", "heritage" and so on. It can certainly be a very successful strategy, lifestyle marketing: brands like Harley have done very well out of it over the years. Seems, though, that for many people in the leather jacket niche other ideas have taken over and there isn't the same value placed on somebody having made X since Y if another company is considered to do it better. The denimhead market is probably even moreso this way than the leather crowd by now: how many serious denim people still wear regular Levis by now?
Perceived value is a difficult animal to pin down, really. With SChott beng so well known for their midmarket prices and mainstream fashion-targeted product, I don't know if they could raise their prices all that much without the market deciding it was "too much" for what they are.... it's all so subjective.
Again, though, that all comes down to what the market want. Schott aren't really chasing the same people as want an Aero or an ELC or a Freewheelers or whatever.... they're a mainstream fashion brand chasing a mainstream market, more Alpha than Aero in terms of what they want to do. The fashion market values novelty, the classic, retro crowd less so.
Oh, I'd say there's precious little objectivity involved once we get as deep as this into our niche.
Almost a dead ringer for the Aero King of the Road model (though the Aero has 'pillion pockets', which this one lacks). Is it a repop of one of the old Durable jackets? I don't have my reference material to hand, and can't recall if it was Schott or Durable who tended to make d-pockets this way - as memory serves, Buco *always* had a horizontal chest pocket over the D.... at least all those I've seen.
I've only owned one but handled many over the years. They've always felt to me like the first rung on getting a decent jacket without major compromises, but here in the UK at least there's always also been the sense that there's a significant price premium attached to the brand and the made in USA elements. It's all subjective, of course: there are those to whom those things will matter; to me, they don't.
This goes back to what I was saying about brand perception and marketability. Schott undoubtedly do some very nice stuff as well, but because the brand is also so readily associated with cheaper fashion jackets in a flimsy lamb (for example) by many, it is definitely harder for them to shake that image when trying to sell to a different, hardcore crowd. It all rather reminds me of when Toyota created the Lexus brand in order to move into a higher price-band market, because they didn't feel they could sell an "expensive Toyota" to that market. Schott are perceived by many as a mid-price brand, which is going to make it harder to sell more expensive, premium pieces. It's all marketing psychology.
All comes down to what the market is prepared to pay, in the end - whatever that market is. None of these brands would still be around if nobody was buying, so they must all be convincing somebody they're worth whatever they're charging.
