What would you buy today (if money was no object)?

[Seb Lucas]

I'm kind of like Tony/ton in that I keep buying leather but they ultimately don't satisfy me. Dozens over the years. And they just keep getting more expensive. Which only makes the pursuit seem more futile.

Given that my favourite daily wear jackets are actually Harris Tweed blazers which cost around $20 at the local thrift shop, I don't know why I bother. I'm not Idris Elba but...

 

[torfjord]

I'm kind of like Tony/ton in that I keep buying leather but they ultimately don't satisfy me. Dozens over the years. And they just keep getting more expensive. Which only makes the pursuit seem more futile.

Given that my favourite daily wear jackets are actually Harris Tweed blazers which cost around $20 at the local thrift shop, I don't know why I bother. I'm not Idris Elba but...

View attachment 197944

Apologies for going off topic but ******** that is a handsome man.

 

[navetsea]

Ideally a person have 1 or 2 leather jackets that last for life.

 

[zebedee]

If money was no object, I'd probably give two Aeros away. If I really didn't have to worry about money, I'd live a very simple life indeed. I have much less 'stuff' when I'm living in China or HK. Now that I'm temporarily back in the UK for a year, all my old stuff is accreting again. Ugh.

 

[Carlos840]

I would get a Freewheelers J-31, a Lost Worlds leathertogs, A LL Universal Racer Mk1 in veg tanned cow, a Custom length ELMC Highway Star, a Langlitz Death's head cascade, and to finish it off, a Cal LAPD.

I think that would be the end of my collection...

(actually that's a lie, i would probably also get an Eastman A1 and a Taubers racing shirt, and a vintage Cal if i can find one that fits...)

I might have a problem...

( Edit: i would also ask Freewheelers to make me a custom SanMateo that fits)

 

[ton312]

Who makes this Ton? It looks fantastic and very fitted.

Hercules leather company. Alas I heard from Tony and the pattern isn’t ready for prime time, so it’s going to be a while before these go live.

 

[Hobbes1]

Hercules leather company. Alas I heard from Tony and the pattern isn’t ready for prime time, so it’s going to be a while before these go live.

Maybe that's for the best, for me
I have been lurking here for quite a while and have been resisting the (strong) urge to buy a nice leather jacket. I have one suede leather and two cafe racer style leather jackets. Nothing too expensive or fancy and Hercules was strongly turning my head due to good designs and good looks. Maybe I can fight off that urge, knowing it's not really available.

 

[ton312]

Maybe that's for the best, for me
I have been lurking here for quite a while and have been resisting the (strong) urge to buy a nice leather jacket. I have one suede leather and two cafe racer style leather jackets. Nothing too expensive or fancy and Hercules was strongly turning my head due to good designs and good looks. Maybe I can fight off that urge, knowing it's not really available.

I think (hope) it will be after Xmas. I suppose I’ll have to wait. The price on these new is also very, very reasonable and the quality is quite good. If you are genuinely interested you simply can’t find a better jacket at this price point, in fact I’d say you can find a whole worse for a lot more money. I’ll have to fight the urge to buy something in the meantime. Honestly there’s just not much out there that really appeals to me at the moment. Same old shit, different day...

 

[Bfd70]

Today it’s this. If the thread stay up 6 more days i could make 6 more posts. That’s why i don’t scratch this itch. It’s not that i can’t afford this one, i can’t afford a landslide. It is only my realization that the happiness from buying stuff is brief that seperates me from my 12 year old son ( who basically combs the gym shoe version of TFL). I’m certainly not perfect at control, but good enough to keep out of debt.....which i suppose was the point of this thread in the first place. Ramble over.

 

[CoopDog]

ELC B-6

 

[handymike]

I still dream of something in dark green (Lewis or Thedi). But Honestly, I think I’m done. I really enjoy my Prem Highwayman, and I still get a thrill when I don my GW Imperial. Everything else is safely tucked away in the closet...

 

[Edward]

Outerwear? Well, tbh if the Big Lotto Cheque came my way today, the first thing I'd buy would be a house. Then I'd be looking at a bunch of Aeros, probably starting with a few slightly modified Shackletons (a black one, maybe goat, with drill back, for example, maybe same again in midnight blue, possibly one with a zip chest pocket....), severasl sheepskins - a redskin b3/b6, CC Irvin, pre-war Irvin, AVG jacket, maybe a nice, russet early pattern A2.... And *all* the civvy jackets I can think of - currently, I've got it down to about seven as a 'minimum'. heh.

Probably a couple of different Wested Indys just for hide and style options. A few other makers that do styles or options that catch my eye.

Custom Aero two-tone D-pocket Bootlegger. Owned by one of the members here:
View attachment 197900

Very nice indeed. I'm increasingly eyeing up the possibility of a two-tone - this one does it beautifully well.

I understand. As it turns out I’ve sold every custom made jacket I ever owned and found equal, if not better fits in second hand or vintage found oddities market. I’ll never go full boat on a custom again. Sadly they failed to bring the grail home by any means. Not even close. That’ said I don’t think such a thing exists. It’s always what’s next. Never what is. Regardless the $ or thought invested.

Grail is the enemy of the excellent jacket. In this game it's easy to get lost in the chase. There is a buzz, though, undeniably to be had in finding something excellent for very little in a second hand shop or ebay when the leather gods choose to smile upon us.

The companies Aero, Good Wear, and Eastman, to just work on my never ending wardrobe

Fantasising recently about winning that lottery prize where they give you ten grand a month, tax free, for life, I came up with the notion of paying in an annual subscription to my favourite maker in exchange for a pre-set range of options - e.g. leather jacket in Spring, two pairs trousers in September, whatever.... The ultimate 'loot box'!

Freewheelers Four Corners jacket, and I'd opt for a brown one.

$$$$$

I hope to check one of these out in person soon.

View attachment 197939

View attachment 197940

That's nice. Would look great with a collar and tie. I'm increasingly drawn to the idea of a button-front for my next jacket, though whether that's a style thing or a subconscious attempt to justify another jacket.....

Money no object, I think I'd try an ELC Devon fleece Irvin. Not certain I'd like it or wear it that much, but hey monies no object so it can just sit in the closet and look pretty.

The rising price of raw materials has certainly put sheepskin jackets way up there in cost, makes them a good option for this sort of thing.

If money was no object, I'd probably give two Aeros away. If I really didn't have to worry about money, I'd live a very simple life indeed. I have much less 'stuff' when I'm living in China or HK. Now that I'm temporarily back in the UK for a year, all my old stuff is accreting again. Ugh.

Interesting thought. I can empathise - there are things I'd love to give away to an appreciative owner who might not otherwise be able to afford, but money being what it is that's not a choice just right now. Nice angle to look at this from, though instead of just accumulating - I like how you think.

Why do you tend to find you live with less in China - do you find less temptation there, or is it something about the prevailing culture you feel you absorb, or is it that subconsciously you feel your'e not really living there full-time, that the UK is 'home', so you think of China as a temporary state and don't have the same instinct to 'nest' therE? I'm interested because, as you know, I spend a lot of time in Beijing, but never long enough in any one hop for it to feel like I've really 'lived there'. I do often think I'd buy more cool clothes there if I could find somewhere that sold Bob Dong and Bronson in fat laowai size!

 

[Monitor]

Dangerous thread from hell indeed. You guys already reminded me of three jackets that I wanted. I'd stay focused, though, and get this first.

It’s not money, but the struggle with the uncontrollable urge to purchase another jacket that I don’t really need. The conflict - unloading jackets to streamline the collection, yet rationalizing getting another new one that’s going to meet some new criterion that I'll soon forget about after the jacket arrives.

Exactly this. . . ;_;

@Superfluous , can't you get them to make you a custom Caboose, though? Or is it impossible?

 

[Carlos840]

Dangerous thread from hell indeed. You guys already reminded me of three jackets that I wanted. I'd stay focused, though, and get this first.

Exactly this. . . ;_;

@Superfluous , can't you get them to make you a custom Caboose, though? Or is it impossible?

Freewheelers answer when asked if they would do a custom:

Hello,
Thank you very much for your inquiry.

Yes, sometimes we can accept personal order. Not every time, it's depends on
the situation of factory.
Basically, when we do it,
1, We have to charge additional 'CUSTOM' fee(around 100,000JPY. Not sure).
2, When we make 1 special leather jacket, the cost will be much higher than
production model.
3, And then, we need customer to pay full amount in advance.

Can you agree to these conditions? Let us know.
If you can, we'll confirm to the factory.


We hope that these information helped you.

Best wishes; much peace,
Freewheelers & Co.

 

[scotrace]

Some tires and an oil change, frankly.

 

[ton312]

Some tires and an oil change, frankly.

I understand. I’ll be replacing my truck soon. Not looking forward to it. Haven’t had a car payment since 2012. Incredible run though. Well north of 200k on the odometer.

 

[Monitor]

Freewheelers answer when asked if they would do a custom:

Hello,
Thank you very much for your inquiry.

Yes, sometimes we can accept personal order. Not every time, it's depends on
the situation of factory.
Basically, when we do it,
1, We have to charge additional 'CUSTOM' fee(around 100,000JPY. Not sure).
2, When we make 1 special leather jacket, the cost will be much higher than
production model.
3, And then, we need customer to pay full amount in advance.

Can you agree to these conditions? Let us know.
If you can, we'll confirm to the factory.


We hope that these information helped you.

Best wishes; much peace,
Freewheelers & Co.

Is that a $1000 EXTRA on the price!? Are those people insane!??

 

[handymike]

Speaking of trucks...I’m really looking forward to this:

 

[Carlos840]

Is that a $1000 EXTRA on the price!? Are those people insane!??

In my case it was for the LaBrea, stock price was 270,000yen (2450$) and the custom fee would have been 100,000 yen, so an extra 913$.

My reaction was the same as yours, and i didn't go custom...

Actually let me rephrase, that was to increase length only, not full custom.

 

[Superfluous]

@Superfluous , can't you get them to make you a custom Caboose, though? Or is it impossible?

When I first inquired, the answer was yes, but with a $1,000 surcharge. When I followed up a year later, ready to bite the bullet, FW's position had changed and they were no longer offering custom jackets. Moreover, they added that, if they were to revive the custom offer, I would need to visit their store in Japan -- Desolation Row -- in person and be measured. Oh well.