Schott permanently closes Chicago location

[Monitor]

I still wear black leathers now, only difference is I've broadened my tastes. When I was 15, the only leather jacket wasa "biker jacket", by which we meant a Perfecto type.

The more I've discovered, more I'm in love with the most classic, boring-ass Perfecto and it's really the only thing I would love to wear. Of course, impossible task on TFL 'cause whenever someone posts something new, I got to have it. Hence full circles. Perfecto, CR, trucker, something else, sell everything, Perfecto, CR, trucker, something else, sell everything, Perfecto et cetera.

 

[Seb Lucas]

More interesting thread than the title suggested.

As far as the increased price vs quality of Schott, we’ve seen a similar thing happen in Australia with RM Williams. As companies move to use their good reputation to increase sales and spread to be a more internationally recognized brand they often seem to have to cut corners or reduce quality of materials used to meet production demands. Meanwhile their brand desirability allows higher prices to be asked.

As for the discussion about wearing leather jackets as we get older I must admit I feel a bit self conscious at 40 years old wearing my black leather jacket and tend to wear my brown jacket more for this reason. Living in a smaller town on Easter Australia (Kiama) the main people I see wearing leather jackets are tourists visiting on the weekends. As someone above described it’s usually cheap looking, ill-fitting, leather jackets worn by older guys with convertible Porsches, Mercs or Audis. Hoping I don’t look like that wearing mine.

Anyone else tend to move away from black as they get older? Or is it all in my head?

There's probably an academic dissertation in what you've opened here.

It's not in your head. People will judge you for what you wear. Isn't that why we pay attention to clothing in the first place - to convey an image of some sort? Often this is encapsulated by what we chose not to wear.

Personally, I find an older guy in black leather jacket less odd than a 22 year-old in one. The young women at my work call leather jackets 'old guy's' gear.

In the end it's important to wear what you like and sod the others. My only pet hate is people who care about their clothes and look down on people who don't and who shop in malls. Really clothing is trivial and taste is subjective. If someone wants to wear polyester and thinks leather is dumb, good on them.

I've worn leather jackets in Australia for 35 years - in all that time walking around observing others, I've probably seen less than 10 guys in leather jackets of interest to me.

 

[navetsea]

internet tell us the 1st leather jacket must be a black one, perhaps that is a guide written for general people who don't really have passion in leather jacket, at least with black you can not be too wrong, while with brown someone can have a good or bad shades of brown.

a lot of coffee latte pigment finished "cafe racer" jacket here worn by guys, maybe they choose the color by taking cue of the popular name of the jacket style.

 

[Downunder G Man]

There's probably an academic dissertation in what you've opened here.

It's not in your head. People will judge you for what you wear. Isn't that why we pay attention to clothing in the first place - to convey an image of some sort? Often this is encapsulated by what we chose not to wear.

Personally, I find an older guy in black leather jacket less odd than a 22 year-old in one. The young women at my work call leather jackets 'old guy's' gear.

In the end it's important to wear what you like and sod the others. My only pet hate is people who care about their clothes and look down on people who don't and who shop in malls. Really clothing is trivial and taste is subjective. If someone wants to wear polyester and thinks leather is dumb, good on them.

I've worn leather jackets in Australia for 35 years - in all that time walking around observing others, I've probably seen less than 10 guys in leather jackets of interest to me.

Similarly I have been wearing leather jackets since age 16 , when I got my first road going motorcycle.
Very rarely since, and I am now 61, have I NOT had a motorcycle , sometimes I have owned 3 at one time.
At times my leathers choice of the moment (early 80's) was red leather 2 piece that I used while drag racing , and a black TT leathers 2 piece made bespoke for me in the Isle of man (late 80's) for road racing on production bikes.
Both a MUCH skinnier me (sigh!)

At work I am "leather jacket guy" by description. Would they know each day the jacket is a different one ? Probably not !
On the other hand , all of my Harley riding mates say every run " which jacket is that today ?", a wee bit "sarky" mebbe.
Well not really as several of them have PESTERED me to sell them one of my current "fleet" and I have done often.

 

[Monitor]

The young women at my work call leather jackets 'old guy's' gear.

Almost exclusively said by people who would walk around naked if there were no fashion magazines telling them what to wear.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

It doesn't have to be an age thing. I think it has more to do with the confidence you wear it with, how well the jacket fits, and how well it goes with your entire outfit.

I'm in my 20's an I get weird looks from people sometimes in my jackets, especially with my craziest one which is a black jacket. I also get compliments. You're going to get positive and negative attention. You just need to deal with it. If you're happy with how you look, who cares?

 

[Mattofumi]

It doesn't have to be an age thing. I think it has more to do with the confidence you wear it with, how well the jacket fits, and how well it goes with your entire outfit.

I'm in my 20's an I get weird looks from people sometimes in my jackets, especially with my craziest one which is a black jacket. I also get compliments. You're going to get positive and negative attention. You just need to deal with it. If you're happy with how you look, who cares?

Very true

 

[HoosierDaddy]

At my age I wear what 'I' thinks looks good on me. I've had years of experimenting and coming to conclusions of what I like and what 'I' want to wear. I observe photos here of various leather jacket brands and just choose what 'I' prefer. After several years here ( since 2006 ) I finally narrowed it down to three companies that suite me the best. I now own one black Vanson, two Thedis of washed tan and washed gray and one battered tan Aero. I moved on all the other experiments except for one lonely black Schott. Getting compliments from time to time is just icing on the cake. Again, at my age I worry very little if some may think that I am to elderly to wear a certain jacket. I wouldn't have it on if I wasn't comfortable with my choice. I have other jackets of canvass and Carhartt, but most often grab one of my leathers that I think looks not only good but great on me to me. Me is the key word.

 

[handymike]

I think you should wear what looks good on you. I thought (like you) at first that in my 40s that brown was the way to go. Now I'm 50, and my hair is grey rather than blonde. My wife says I look older than I am...so...WTF...I bought 2 black leather jackets. I like the options. I would get one of the Natural ones too, but I don't think the orange tones look right with my pasty complexion. It was this photo that made me realize you don't have to be young to wear a cool jacket:

The older I get, the less I care what others think. Somehow the freedom is very liberating.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

More interesting thread than the title suggested.

As far as the increased price vs quality of Schott, we’ve seen a similar thing happen in Australia with RM Williams. As companies move to use their good reputation to increase sales and spread to be a more internationally recognized brand they often seem to have to cut corners or reduce quality of materials used to meet production demands. Meanwhile their brand desirability allows higher prices to be asked.

As for the discussion about wearing leather jackets as we get older I must admit I feel a bit self conscious at 40 years old wearing my black leather jacket and tend to wear my brown jacket more for this reason. Living in a smaller town on Easter Australia (Kiama) the main people I see wearing leather jackets are tourists visiting on the weekends. As someone above described it’s usually cheap looking, ill-fitting, leather jackets worn by older guys with convertible Porsches, Mercs or Audis. Hoping I don’t look like that wearing mine.

Anyone else tend to move away from black as they get older? Or is it all in my head?

In what way?
Well, first, yes someone else did reference the “old guy” look earlier and that stereotype gets thrown around here from time to time and i suspect that makes the speaker feel more secure in themselves. Thankfully, old guys generally outgrew defensive insecurities and get a chuckle instead of a saber to rattle.
My “Wow” referenced, and thanks for asking, your last paragraph, not your last questions.
You are not a brand new guy but still a fairly new guy. Maybe you didn’t realize that there may be several members in leather jackets that fit into that age demographic and they could not be farther from the picture your words painted. Some have responded with much more eloquence and respect then i could.
Personally, anything in the mainstream be it cars or even jackets etc., i’ll go the other way. Always have, always will. It’s not an age thing, it’s a in your head thing. So i’ll wear my bitchin jackets, drive my Hummer and walk my walk oblivious to the masses mentality and be just fine.
Ps: concerning age.
To a 20something year old, a 40 yr old IS an old guy already.
To a 60something, a 40 yr old isn’t a kid any more and should have mastered 20something thinking.
Welcome to the lounge, i look forward to seeing your jackets.
B

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

There's probably an academic dissertation in what you've opened here.

Exactly

 

[Tom71]

I am 48. I like myself in black leather. Middle age isn’t all upside, but the fading away of insecurity and the reliance of what others think about your jackets is a big step forward for sure...

Everybody should just wear what he or she likes best. Others will notice if you feel good about yourself, and in my experience will react positive to that.

 

[Harris HTM]

View attachment 242461

I am 48. I like myself in black leather. Middle age isn’t all upside, but the fading away of insecurity and the reliance of what others think about your jackets is a big step forward for sure...

Everybody should just wear what he or she likes best. Others will notice if you feel good about yourself, and in my experience will react positive to that.

Back in Black!

 

[Tom71]

Back in Black!

I swear, the TShirt is coincidal. I only just noticed...

 

[Seb Lucas]

In what way?
Well, first, yes someone else did reference the “old guy” look earlier and that stereotype gets thrown around here from time to time and i suspect that makes the speaker feel more secure in themselves. Thankfully, old guys generally outgrew defensive insecurities and get a chuckle instead of a saber to rattle.

I'm not sure I understand this - can you elaborate on what you mean? Do you mean the young people say this to feel more secure?

 

[Seb Lucas]

Almost exclusively said by people who would walk around naked if there were no fashion magazines telling them what to wear.

Not the women I'm referring to - the ones I know activly dislike fashion.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Oh come on Seb Lucas...act you age...

 

[ProteinNerd]

Well, first, yes someone else did reference the “old guy” look earlier and that stereotype gets thrown around here from time to time and i suspect that makes the speaker feel more secure in themselves.

I'm pretty sure that was me referencing the "old guy" earlier. I think you've read too much into it @AbbaDatDeHat. It wasn't an insult, I was merely saying that around here, in Sydney, most of the guys I see wearing leather jackets are "older" guys (myself included at 47). Unless they are on a bike of course.

I know "old" is relative, perhaps I should have said I rarely see anyone under 30 wearing a leather jacket.

Thinking on it, it's actually "younger" girls (up to late 30's if they have kept in shape) and older guys. Definitely more girls wear leather jackets here than guys.

 

[red devil]

Some really nice post, so I am not going to try to be eloquent ... Skip the black go for red

 

[zebedee]

I’ll try and be more clear in what I was trying to say.

I have nothing against black leather jackets and think people of any age look great in black leather jackets. Some of the best looking jackets I’ve seen on TFL are black. I own a black Aero myself and love it.

I guess I just feel like when I wear it there’s a little voice in my head that black leather jackets suggest motorbike riders, rock n rollers, and rebels - none of which I really feel is a look that I can pull off. Probably nothing to do with age actually when I think more about it, and I might be the only one who thinks things like this. Maybe I just have to wear the black jacket more until it breaks in and feels more like me.

No offense meant to anyone here.

Yes- I don't wear black leather jackets at all now and haven't since 40. Brown, cordovan or tan colours I find more appealing and they tend to fit with my other clothing more. Some of it is about body shape - if you can stay reasonably gut-free, any jacket will look better but it's also related to what else you're wearing and where you are- you can wear a leather jacket in a Shanghai winter at any age. At almost 42, the cafe racer I have is battered brown, the Maxwell is tumbled cordovan and the Highwayman is brown FQHH and old and bashed to match. They are all knackered enough to look ok on me, because I'm old enough to look a bit worn, too. I don't wear them with formal clothes (overcoats for that) and tend to find they work well with carhartt trousers, faded chambray shirts or Hanes T-shirts and an old pair of blundstones. Almost anything looks better on people who keep themselves in some kind of shape. Cross-zip biker type jackets I could not possibly wear at 20, 40 or at all (they can look ok on others and sometimes brilliant on others, but not me) and if I were given the choice between wearing one and not owning any leather jackets, I'd not have any leather jackets. But those are just my preferences. I reckon that your casual attire should be things that you're pleased with and comfortable in.

The rule is this, though: when it comes to what other people think about what you are wearing, it only matters if they employ you or if they can hurt you in some way. You should not spend time thinking about what other people *might* be thinking about what you're wearing or to what extent the opinion might be negative. In terms of age, unless people go on about it (in which case I will believe that they are unhappy as opposed to ancient) I don't tend think of age when I see people, being happy in yourself is probably more important, though everyone struggles with it some of the time.