What Jacket Are You Wearing Today?

[Benny Holiday]

After spending some time with the RL crosszip...I'm defying the TFL effect this time. Keeping a jacket that's good enough for now. I will have the waist tapered to improve the fit.
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I like the different styling on the subtle D-pocket and the leather looks mighty fine. If it were mine, I'd keep it.

 

[Benny Holiday]

The latter have ways of grabbing you and not let go. They have ways, man. You don't even see it until it's too late and then it's too late.

Did you ever do any writing for Seinfeld Monitor?

 

[Monitor]

Did you ever do any writing for Seinfeld Monitor?

I think I'd have a little bit nicer collection of jackets if I did.

 

[handymike]

Not necessarily:

 

[Psant25]

I agree but really the two aren't comparable...Aero @ $1.2K and this at just over $100. No doubt the Aero is FAR superior BUT it's also worth exaactly 1/2 the purchase price once the box it's shipped in has hit your door. Which is a burden I'm tired of bearing...

johnson has a 25percent off sale grab a stock m500 crosszip have him extend the back panel that would be under half a new aero. i too had trouble coping with getting less than half for a new aero jackets i sold. where as half of a JL or vanson is a slightly smaller pill to swallow. this coming from the guy who just put an order in for a new langlitz columbia lol

 

[ton312]

johnson has a 25percent off sale grab a stock m500 crosszip have him extend the back panel that would be under half a new aero. i too had trouble coping with getting less than half for a new aero jackets i sold. where as half of a JL or vanson is a slightly smaller pill to swallow. this coming from the guy who just put an order in for a new langlitz columbia lol

Man my JL cost me more than an Aero! I'm likely not done with custom stuff but I'm certainly going to take a more measured approach. Sometimes good enough is just that. It's taken much wasted money and squandered effort to arrive at that conclusion.

 

[dannyk]

Man my JL cost me more than an Aero! I'm likely not done with custom stuff but I'm certainly going to take a more measured approach. Sometimes good enough is just that. It's taken much wasted money and squandered effort to arrive at that conclusion.

Exactly! We’re all chasing “perfect” but there’s always a new maker, new hide, new style, some tiny imperfection, something. And good creases and patina are obsessed over. But we all flip jackets and buy new ones so often half of us never put the work in. I’m all in on used, vintage, off the rack, I’ll never get perfect but decent fit, good enough maybe it’s actually good enough.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Spot on Danny. I have a list of Aeros I'd like to get and even if I'd managed to do so already, then Thedi comes along and blows my mind (and my wallet) with their designs and hides. You're never really done in this game.

 

[ton312]

Exactly! We’re all chasing “perfect” but there’s always a new maker, new hide, new style, some tiny imperfection, something. And good creases and patina are obsessed over. But we all flip jackets and buy new ones so often half of us never put the work in. I’m all in on used, vintage, off the rack, I’ll never get perfect but decent fit, good enough maybe it’s actually good enough.

I agree. I've also found that quality, craftsmanship and whatever else doesn't translate to more use or wear. That's a burden too. If I have $1.5k jacket hanging in the closet but grab a $75 beater instead...something is wrong with my appropriations. There's also the ultimate enemy of good...the hope for better.

 

[Hh121]

I agree. I've also found that quality, craftsmanship and whatever else doesn't translate to more use or wear. That's a burden too. If I have $1.5k jacket hanging in the closet but grab a $75 beater instead...something is wrong with my appropriations. There's also the ultimate enemy of good...the idea of better.

I feel the same way. I would dream just have 3 or 4 jacket, j23, model e, test and suburban will do.

 

[ProteinNerd]

I’ve been saying this for awhile @ton312 I feel we’re in the same page. Now I’m tired of full custom looks and then being ocd as we all with our jackets and finding the smallest flaw. Coming on TFL here and seeing some new leather or style and doing it all over again. I’ve decided I’m fine with used or off the rack or mixing up styles and trying whatever. way lesss cost involve and way less stressing over every detail.

I agree, after so many custom tweaked jackets have come and gone, out of the jackets I have left, the ones I am less critical of are my OTR Eastmans and Flat Head jackets. Dont get me wrong, they fit well but not "perfect" especially the Flat Head with its shortish sleeves but for whatever reason, the imperfections just don't bother me like they would if I had custom ordered them.

It must be some psychological thing where if you get to customise it, you are more demanding and less tolerant of any issues?

 

[ton312]

t must be some psychological thing where if you get to customise it, you are more demanding and less tolerant of any issues?

I think in this instance you actually seek the imperfections. As opposed to OTR or used, where such things are simply a known factor and not nearly as important.

 

[handymike]

This logic of yours is what I refer to as the "full-circle effect". I did it with denim...went crazy with selvedge brands/ gustin/ etc...
Now I'm wearing 505s at $25 each...

 

[ton312]

This logic of yours is what I refer to as the "full-circle effect". I did it with denim...went crazy with selvedge brands/ gustin/ etc...
Now I'm wearing 505s at $25 each...

Could well be. When I started collecting leather jackets I was only interested in vintage. I found the repro stuff to be horribly poseur-ish. Then I switched gears and found the vintage stuff to be just plain poorly made. Now I'm somewhere in the twilight of feeling the same about both. Maybe now is a good time to vacate the leather jacket hobby for a bit. Get my bearings and come back with a fresh and more opinionated perspective.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Could well be. When I started collecting leather jackets I was only interested in vintage. I found the repro stuff to be horribly poseur-ish. Then I switched gears and found the vintage stuff to be just plain poorly made. Now I'm somewhere in the twilight of feeling the same about both. Maybe now is a good time to vacate the leather jacket hobby for a bit. Get my bearings and come back with a fresh and more opinionated perspective.

I kind of got out. I now have two leather jackets that cost under $50 each used. They do the job and wear well. Leather is meant for working in, not fussing over or approaching with crazy reverence. I can afford to buy whole bunch of Aeros, but I can't bring myself to spend that much on any item of clothing. Or fuss over specs. It is, in the end not how I want to relate to the world or consumer goods.

 

[Guppy]

The new hat.
My warmest sweater. Clashing with the hat.
And the Simmons Bilt Statesman.

 

[Hh121]

I will not done until I finish the 6oz CXLHH project from JL.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

The new hat.
My warmest sweater. Clashing with the hat.
And the Simmons Bilt Statesman.

Ahh, #1 or 2 or were they the same? Looks good.
B

 

[Bfd70]

The new hat.
My warmest sweater. Clashing with the hat.
And the Simmons Bilt Statesman.

Good hat choice. Suits you well. Enjoy.

 

[Bfd70]

To the custom v otr + ocd discussion, imho it’s just a journey. There is no arrival. This is all a result of automation, the 40 hour week, and the internet. We could obssess over jackets, box scores, cast iron skillets, it’s all just time filler.