What Jacket Are You Wearing Today?

[handymike]

Pecards won’t darken for the long term. It usually fades in a couple months at most. I had a pair of Redwings treated with Obenauf's twice and they kept that rich darker color for over 2 years- probably forever. Thin coats shouldn’t cause the white “blooming.”

 

[Marc mndt]

Looks great as is and that leather will probably darken quite a bit from exposing it to the elements. I'd probably just taking Carlos' approach and just starting with spraying it with water and see where that leads.

The jacket is 'second hand', I guess it must be about 15 years old. So I don't think it's going to darken any further without some extra help

 

[58panheadfan]

View attachment 305212

Ok guys I would appreciate some honest feedback. This is my latest addition. Fit is great, and the cow leather has the best character I've ever seen on a non-distressed cow leather jacket. I'm just not sure about the style in combination with the color.

Nice looking jacket, who made it?

 

[Marc mndt]

Pecards won’t darken for the long term. It usually fades in a couple months at most. I had a pair of Redwings treated with Obenauf's twice and they kept that rich darker color for over 2 years- probably forever. Thin coats shouldn’t cause the white “blooming.”

Some guy did a comparison.

 

[Imuricecreamman]

The jacket is 'second hand', I guess it must be about 15 years old. So I don't think it's going to darken any further without some extra help

Looks brand new

 

[58panheadfan]

I would be careful to treat the jacket with a conditioner to get a different color. There are enough examples that something like this can go wrong...

 

[Marc mndt]

Nice looking jacket, who made it?

Ralph Lauren. Of course they're very much overpriced when bought new today, plus quality is mediocre.

But back in the days, these RL jackets were very well made. Sometimes they even used horsehide. These 'vintage' ones are relatively cheap when found on eBay, Vinted or what have you.

 

[58panheadfan]

Ralph Lauren... But back in the days, these RL jackets were very well made. Sometimes they even used horsehide. These 'vintage' ones are relatively cheap when found on eBay, Vinted or what have you.

Cool, do they have the "made in china" or "made in usa" label?

 

[Marc mndt]

Cool, do they have the "made in china" or "made in usa" label?

This one is china-made.

Of course these aren't top-tier and they will never become collectibles. But they're much better made than any Schott I've handled (with Monitor's 60s Schott CR being the exception)

 

[Tom71]

View attachment 305212

Ok guys I would appreciate some honest feedback. This is my latest addition. Fit is great, and the cow leather has the best character I've ever seen on a non-distressed cow leather jacket. I'm just not sure about the style in combination with the color.

Honest feedback! I love it. A non-biker cross-zip can have a certain "undecided" vibe about it (although it actually is a very traditional workwear or even aviator style...). This one is perfect, not least because the color accentuates the work-heritage very nicely, IMO.

 

[ton312]

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Ok guys I would appreciate some honest feedback. This is my latest addition. Fit is great, and the cow leather has the best character I've ever seen on a non-distressed cow leather jacket. I'm just not sure about the style in combination with the color.

I had one of those! These guys damn near put my head on a pike when I posted it. LOL....mine didn't look as good as yours though, in fit or material. I like it!

 

[AeroFan_07]

Makes for a pleasent Friday - have a great start of the weekend...

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

Some guy did a comparison. View attachment 305244

Marc, most oil based conditioners will darken. Don't think you need any specific one if any specific brand is hard to come by. I was also going to mention that I like the jacket, but I think it's a shade or two too light.

You could use coconut oil, just make sure it's a good quality one so you have no issues with it going rancid. This is my go to for black jackets because it darkens the brown too much. I wouldn't use olive oil though, but I've heard good things about almond oil. It's one of the ingredients in Smiths Leather Balm and that stuff is luxurious. Definitely wouldn't use Mink Oil and Neatsfoot won't darken. But RedWings has got some stuff called "Boot Oil" that definitely darkens. I've seen enough Youtube before and after videos on it.

 

[nick123]

LW

 

[TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead]

„Route 66“ from Field Leathers.


I already startet taking it to the office, although it´s really made for a different setting.


Once again, Greg delivered. However, I have some lessons learned with some configuration choices I have made.

I ordered with two chest pockets only, as I quite like a clean look with a Café Racer. Not entirely sure if that was the right choice with this particular iteration, as indeed is now VERY reduced.

Also, I chose blue stitching, but that doesn’t come across at all as there is virtually no contrast to the black leather.

Sleeve-zipper configuration is modified in that the zipper is elongated and has a little metal pin for show at the upper end (“The Manhattan” style). I am undecided what to think about that.


Predominant issue is length. I specified the back at 25,5” as I didn’t want the jacket to run past my belt-line, but one inch more would have suited the silhouette better, IMO. It´s not that I can´t make it work as it is, the jacket would simply be more versatile with some additional body. Anyway, this is TFL not Tinder, so I am not going to lose any sleep over one inch.


Rest of the jacket is super! First moments, I wasn’t too impressed with the hide. My “Michigan” has a very grainy hide, and for this one I let Greg make the choice, only that I wanted his teacore-black. It is very smooth. I am almost sure it is the same batch as Mark´s modified Idaho. I am wearing the jacket now the third day with two outings in drizzling rain, and the leather already start to show life. I am sure this will age well!


I am really happy with the main-zipper. I went for a No. 8, as I am quite done with having to fiddle with tiny (a.k.a. “period correct”) zippers on what essentially are functional items. I believe it looks good too.


Overall fit&feel is very good. On the pictures it seems as if the shoulders are a little wide, but I don’t mind that. I am no longer after the “skintight” look, and I am quite happy that I can layer a jumper under the jacket without feeling restricted.


Pictures are just snapshots with poor lighting. If the sun is to shine ever again, I will try a little harder.


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well done, Tom. I got mine yesterday and want to wear a day or two before I post pics, but pretty much love it, but also had some similar second guessing as you're having. Nitty picky type stuff.

First off, good call on the zipper. As soon as I got it, I thought to myself "%#$* I should have asked for a bigger zipper" LOL. First time going to zip, the pin didn't go all the way down and I got myself in bind where I was like oh no, I'm about to break this zipper and it's 2 minutes old. Just need to be careful.

I also got mine with only chest pockets. No second guessing for me. But I screwed up by not asking for an inside pocket. I think without the hand warmers gives a much more sleek look for this cafe style. So it's pure fashion.

I like the wrist zipper placement and the style you choose. I whimped out and moved mine to the underside. Now wish I would have kept in a more prominent place.

I too wish I had maybe another half inch on length, but it's not bad either. I think it would help the "hour glass" shape of the design if it runs a little longer. And same with you, the length is fine, but yeah, another finger or two wouldn't hurt.

That blue stitching might come back to life once you start getting the teacore, so be patient.

Speaking of the leather, I got to say my first impression given how much hype Shinki gets is that I was a little underwhelmed. Probably weights about 1.5 kg. Love the graining obviously but was surprised at the thin/lightness of the material. But even after a couple hours of wear, I can tell it's going to evolve into something glorious. I got sleeve creasing within minutes and I too have had some drizzles, so been in and out of the house a few times to help speed things along. So all things considered, I think it's a good thing it's on the lighter side. God knows I have enough chunky CXLs and comp weights and whatever else. So this jacket will come into play on those summer evenings.

I'm getting similar creasing off the neck shooting towards the arm pit. Very typical "Aero" LOL. I'm not sure what I could have changed in my measurements but I do think it'll settle some. It's clear this pattern is very well designed with sleekness in mind. There's a pulling effect from under the arms that creates a tension. This is probably where he has designed his back to front seam. Amazingly I get this hour glass silhouette even with the jacket unzipped. And with it zipped, I have my second skin. Curious about your ptp, shoulder, waist, and hip measurements as I know we're very similar. There's maybe a .25 here and there I'd go up or down, but generally speaking I think we both did good. Mine you'll see has a bit more mid section taper that flares out at the bottom, but very subtle. Yours seems to have more the board racer style of a straight line.

Good stuff. On mine, I see a few chips here and there of the brown underneath. Something I'm really looking forward to. Like I said, I think you'll come to love that blue contrast with time.

 

[jeo]

View attachment 305212

Ok guys I would appreciate some honest feedback. This is my latest addition. Fit is great, and the cow leather has the best character I've ever seen on a non-distressed cow leather jacket. I'm just not sure about the style in combination with the color.

I think it looks great. I actually really like that color too. Yours also seems to have some really nice grain throughout. Post some more fit pics!

 

[Marc mndt]

Pecards won’t darken for the long term. It usually fades in a couple months at most. I had a pair of Redwings treated with Obenauf's twice and they kept that rich darker color for over 2 years- probably forever. Thin coats shouldn’t cause the white “blooming.”

I just ordered the Obenaufs. I think this jacket will look ten times better if I manage to make it two or three shades darker.

 

[Marc mndt]

Speaking of the leather, I got to say my first impression given how much hype Shinki gets is that I was a little underwhelmed. Probably weights about 1.5 kg.

The full aniline is considerably heavier than the pigment dyed teacore.

Can't wait to see the fit pics. Your jacket looked absolutely stunning from the photos I've seen.

 

[AeroFan_07]

I just ordered the Obenaufs. I think this jacket will look ten times better if I manage to make it two or three shades darker.

That was my thougth about your jacket there Marc. Nice pattern, a great "daily driver" but may be a little nicer on you if it was a shade or two darker.

 

[MrProper]

Thanks much!

Interesting that you should mention the stress-fold between the shoulders and the breast pockets. It´s actually a minor "Deformation" due to decades of excessive sport in younger years. I have a pretty pronounced pectoral muscle (I believe you do too...), and I had to stop buying OTR suits because of that (they would either bulge over the chest or be too wide in the shoulders). With casual jackets, I don´t mind at all. It just means that if I can zip it up over the chest, I won´t have any problems with the midsection either...

hm ... I am athletic, but don't think that's because, otherwise I would have the same with other jackets. I have identified two points where I determine that the pattern does not suit me.
1. the distance across the chest between the sleeve seams is 2-3 cm less than with other jackets, although shoulders and p2p are the same.
2. the sleeve rotation is too far forward for my posture. I.e. when my arms hang loosely, they tighten the material over the chest.
I'll look for the posting where we discussed it.