What Do They All Think Of Your Vintage?

[CBI]

Just for fun. What do family, friends, significant others, co-workers, acquaintances think of you wearing vintage style leather jackets, clothes, etc.? As long as we like it, "who cares?" but I am getting the distinct impression that all who know me are making a concerted and coordinated effort to make me stop with the jackets and vintage jeans! Every time I wear traditional day-to-day clothes, family and friends say, "Oh, that looks so nice on you. You look really good in this." "You know, you really look better wearing a longer jacket and not those waist length jackets." Many other quotes........................

Funny, but I have to say, the older I get, I can see their points!!!!!

Yikes!

I know this has been discussed before................lay it out there!

 

[bretron]

Love it. I get harassed/poked at all the damn time. A barista recently called me Woody from Toy Story when I was wearing an Open Road. Not long ago, I was asked if I was playing dress up while wearing an A2 with some chinos and a frogskin cap.

Oh well lol. Haters gone hate. Be yourself

 

[Sloan1874]

Nobody ever notices the denim - no idea why, given the amount I own! - but the vintage jackets are 'Craig's thing' and they're cool about it (even if they're happy with their Goretex jackets). If somebody asks about the cost, I always point out that I don't have many vices: don't smoke, don't drink much, so a splurge on a jacket once a year or so isn't a massive deal. Also, people don't know what an A-2 or a half-belt is; the only thing they pick up is either the weight of them (my hairdresser is always moaning about that) or the smell of them - which they love. I have to say, not even my Irvin hasn't attracted 'Where's your spitfire?' comments - it's a stylish and cool jacket.

 

[scottyrocks]

My very STBX hated my vintagey clothing. She hated my hats. She hated that I'd wear collared shirts when everyone else was in T's. She hated that I'd tuck my collared shirt in when all the other men wore them untucked. She hated that I loved wearing waistcoats and ties. And jackets. And wingtips when the other guys were in sneakers.

But no worries now. She is my STBX.

 

[Ralph_Phillips]

As far as clothing goes the only "vintage" looking stuff I've got is some safari shirts, a couple of leather flight jackets, and a couple of Akubras that look nothing like fedoras but most people mistake them for fedoras. To the few people who have ever commented on any of it in person, a leather A2 is just a leather jacket, they don't even think "flight jacket" at all... the Akubras get mistaken for Indiana Jones' hat... and the safari shirts they think are military surplus or Steve Irwin shirts or something, assuming they even recognize them at all.

 

[Seb Lucas]

People don't really notice vintage at all unless you wear funny looking stuff like spats or bow ties. A vintage leather jacket is largely invisible as are jeans. I wear a hat but only in the sun - sometimes I get cluelessly compared to a Mountie or a cowboy.

 

[Ralph_Phillips]

People don't really notice vintage at all unless you wear funny looking stuff like spats or bow ties. A vintage leather jacket is largely invisible as are jeans. I wear a hat but only in the sun - sometimes I get cluelessly compared to a Mountie or a cowboy.

In major cities where there is a goth population walking around dressed like vampires and bats, there is probably no need to be concerned what anyone else thinks you're wearing.

 

[Superfluous]

People don't really notice vintage at all unless you wear funny looking stuff like spats or bow ties.

This is my experience. My wife doesn't like the feel/rigidity of my HH jackets, but she doesn't notice the vintage styling.

 

[Seb Lucas]

In major cities where there is a goth population walking around dressed like vampires and bats, there is probably no need to be concerned what anyone else thinks you're wearing.

Not sure what you mean RP.

Are there still Goths?

 

[ChiTownScion]

I almost slapped a professional colleague I've known for over 30 years when she referred to my Homburg as a "derby," but other than that, I've had no adverse reactions.

 

[mr_lits]

I have a high level of client interaction, one in particular always refers to my jackets as looking "snappy". But hey, it's easy to overdress for business here in Alaska. We're not really known for our style.....

 

[zebedee]

Anything a person wears constantly, unless a totally conformist item, will probably be seen as an affectation or in some way ostentatious. Leather jackets have additional associations with military/biker culture which may or may not be positive. It comes down to how much you care what other people think in everyday situations and/or whether something like dress style might put you at a disadvantage in a professional environment. I tend to find that if other people wear leather jackets all the time I assume that they're a bit deluded as to how well they suit them, although I never think this of myself .

I try and vary it up by wearing an overcoat or other jacket occasionally even though I prefer the highwayman. For one thing, I never worry about damaging or staining an Aero, which does bother me with wool coats, etc.

 

[Steve S.]

I probably get more positive comments & people taking notice of my 'Elmer Fudd" hat that anything else. It's an original civvy lid loosely based on a B-2 cap, but has a leather shell vs. all shearling. The Mrs hates it, but its really fun when strangers say they like it within earshot of her. Right now I have a holly band on it with a bow for Christmas & usually get 3-4 comments each time we're out. She doesn't complain much, as I constantly remind her every time we see these kids running around with their britches "sagging" down & their drawers hanging out that "I could probably pull off that look". She tolerates my wardrobe out of fear of "what could be!!!"

 

[Marv]

My main vintage clothing are military jackets so A2s, G1s, M41s, Tankers, N1s, Irvins etc. also boots mainly roughouts & boondockers and so forth but I do own a 5 button jumper and mechanic's jumper plus one officer field shirt and that's about it.

Not many negative comments from others but my wife does tend to make jibes about my numerous brown leather jackets that all look the same though, however I did get a positive comment from a bystander on my 2nd pattern Tanker to which my wife was quite surprised.

So all in all pretty good until a new jacket appears in the wardrobe to which my wife seems to be able to instantly indentify which is remarkable as to her all my jackets look the same

 

[scottyrocks]

I will add that I get complimented on my fedoras quite often.

Also, when I'm wearing an actual Indiana Jones styled hat, I get cowboy comments. When I'm wearing a smaller, say 2" brimmed hat, often not even brown, I get IJ comments. Go figya! haha

 

[nick123]

I was wearing that Windward (see avatar) at an airport where I begin chatting with a retired airline pilot wearing a cracking Gibson & Barnes ANJ-3 (Fanch is right, that jacket is great). He remarked "nice A-2" but eh.

That said, the majority of the public would probably prefer an H&M jacket to a Buzz Rickson. Call it the "Super Bowl Half-Time Show Syndrome" where fashion is now a means to an end (bedroom) rather than a platonic tribute to the past. It's that bad. Wow that was conceited.

Don't let the current state of the 21st century bring us down. We're the chosen ones whose mission is to keep the torch of the past lit, despite the ever-increasing winds...

 

[Peacoat]

Never had any comments about my leather jackets, but every now and then while wearing a peacoat, I will get a comment such as, "Where is your ship, Captain?" My standard answer is a haughty, "It isn't a ship, it's a boat, a submarine, and it is in the Cumberland River awaiting my return." That usually terminates the conversation.

 

[GHT]

I have to say, not even my Irvin hasn't attracted 'Where's your spitfire?' comments - it's a stylish and cool jacket.

It's much the same with my floral/tropical/topical shirts. People are so used to seeing me wearing them that they rarely illicit a comment. Vintage suits and a fedora will get the 'gangster' remark, but one part of my attire that's always complimented are my shoes. Two tone spectators seem to strike a chord, even with youngsters.

 

[bn1966]

Don't think I wear anything that could be deemed 'modern' other than sports-wear when I'm teaching physical stuff at work. Folk must be used to me dressing 'old style', the only person that really passes comment is my Father who asks when will I grow up and stop trying to imitate Air-force personnel from the 40's to the 60's..that's coming from an old London Teddy Boy now more into Barbour but retaining a passion for waist-coats.

 

[Skyhawk]

My EX used to hate the smell of vintage Goatskin. She would comment all the time about it. A real problem because at the time I had nearly every model of G-1. M-422 / AN - AN-J through the 50's, 60's, 70's to the present day. That's a lot of goat to be herding into the closet. Every time I donned one thinking I was looking good she would cringe and complain about it.

It's all good though, my new girlfriend loves the smell of vintage leather and compliments me on how I look in my vintage G-1s.

Generally I don't get comments. Some positive looks but generally not much notice. I do remember one guy that complimented me on my 1965 Star Sportswear C-series G-1 though. He said "Hey that's a really nice G-1!" It was nice chatting about it with him.

I have yet to have the dreaded "Top Gun" or "Maverick" comment.