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In the beginning, most of us purchased jackets based on some notion of “need.” We had a good black leather jacket, but we had a “need” for a brown jacket. We had an A-2, but we had a “need” for a civilian jacket. We had a half-belt, but we had a “need” for a moto jacket. In all of these instances, the new jacket being contemplated was materially different from anything that we presently owned, such that we could legitimize a “need” for the new jacket based on a genuine gap in our existing jackets.
Many eventually reach a point where it becomes increasingly difficult to articulate a legitimate “need” for a new leather jacket. The distinctions, if any, between the contemplated new jacket and our existing jackets become more and more attenuated, such that we are essentially purchasing duplicates of existing jackets. Sure, there might be slight differences, but nothing sufficiently material to justify a genuine “need” for the new jacket. Nevertheless, we continue to craft imaginative distinctions to rationalize new purchases. My existing dark brown HH café racer has matching stitching, but the contemplated new dark brown HH café racer has contrasting stitching. My existing black steer half belt has a single point back yoke, but the contemplated new black steer half belt has a smooth curved yoke. The Waldes zipper is completely different from the Talon zipper. Etc. To be clear, I am not talking about buying a new jacket that you prefer over an existing jacket, and selling the existing jacket. Rather, I am addressing the addition of a new, nearly identical jacket, and retention of both.
Of course, some distinctions are genuine and meaningful for some, but not others. One person may consider the presence of zippers on hand warmer pockets a profound difference between two otherwise identical jackets, whereas someone else might consider that singular distinction irrelevant. The same holds true for different leathers – the exact same jacket in a different hide might be profoundly different for one person, by largely identical to someone else. In other words, the notion of when someone “needs” another jacket, as opposed to when someone is merely duplicating an existing jacket, is entirely subjective.
When “need” can no longer justify a purchase, the fallback is “want.” There is nothing wrong with purchasing a jacket in the complete absence of a “need,” and based solely on a “want.” In fact, I suspect that the majority of TFL member purchases are driven by wants rather than needs (mine certainly are). This is part and parcel of The TFL Effect: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-tfl-effect.94299/ .
Many here have abandoned all concept of “need,” and are motivated almost exclusively by wants. Others here retain some semblance of need, even as their assemblage of jackets reaches staggering proportions. And still others are spectacularly disciplined and continue to place great emphasis on need when contemplating new jacket purchases. Some institute a hard ceiling and/or apply the “one in, one out” philosophy, whereby they will not purchase a new jacket without selling an existing jacket. The spectrum of approaches is broad and diverse.
Where are you on the need/want spectrum? Does “need” even enter the equation? To what extent do you consider need? What differences between jackets are sufficiently material to justify a need? Have you abandoned need? Why? Are you primarily driven by wants? Do you have duplicate jackets? Why?
Many eventually reach a point where it becomes increasingly difficult to articulate a legitimate “need” for a new leather jacket. The distinctions, if any, between the contemplated new jacket and our existing jackets become more and more attenuated, such that we are essentially purchasing duplicates of existing jackets. Sure, there might be slight differences, but nothing sufficiently material to justify a genuine “need” for the new jacket. Nevertheless, we continue to craft imaginative distinctions to rationalize new purchases. My existing dark brown HH café racer has matching stitching, but the contemplated new dark brown HH café racer has contrasting stitching. My existing black steer half belt has a single point back yoke, but the contemplated new black steer half belt has a smooth curved yoke. The Waldes zipper is completely different from the Talon zipper. Etc. To be clear, I am not talking about buying a new jacket that you prefer over an existing jacket, and selling the existing jacket. Rather, I am addressing the addition of a new, nearly identical jacket, and retention of both.
Of course, some distinctions are genuine and meaningful for some, but not others. One person may consider the presence of zippers on hand warmer pockets a profound difference between two otherwise identical jackets, whereas someone else might consider that singular distinction irrelevant. The same holds true for different leathers – the exact same jacket in a different hide might be profoundly different for one person, by largely identical to someone else. In other words, the notion of when someone “needs” another jacket, as opposed to when someone is merely duplicating an existing jacket, is entirely subjective.
When “need” can no longer justify a purchase, the fallback is “want.” There is nothing wrong with purchasing a jacket in the complete absence of a “need,” and based solely on a “want.” In fact, I suspect that the majority of TFL member purchases are driven by wants rather than needs (mine certainly are). This is part and parcel of The TFL Effect: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-tfl-effect.94299/ .
Many here have abandoned all concept of “need,” and are motivated almost exclusively by wants. Others here retain some semblance of need, even as their assemblage of jackets reaches staggering proportions. And still others are spectacularly disciplined and continue to place great emphasis on need when contemplating new jacket purchases. Some institute a hard ceiling and/or apply the “one in, one out” philosophy, whereby they will not purchase a new jacket without selling an existing jacket. The spectrum of approaches is broad and diverse.
Where are you on the need/want spectrum? Does “need” even enter the equation? To what extent do you consider need? What differences between jackets are sufficiently material to justify a need? Have you abandoned need? Why? Are you primarily driven by wants? Do you have duplicate jackets? Why?
