Why a Leather Jacket?

[Monitor]

Just wanna thank the Bartenders on this particular intervention.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I'll just post this photo again as to one of my whys........

 

[Will Zach]

^^
Very nice HD. You expressed in a picture what I wanted to write. That special leather jacket has better fades (patina) than any other material including denim, is cooler, and lasts about 10 times longer. That's why.

 

[Johnny Deadlifts]

I'll just post this photo again as to one of my whys........

You could take someone who was born in the jungle, who has never seen anything made outside of his village, who knows nothing of style or fine craftsmanship, and you could show him your jacket and he would say "Dam that's a nice jacket!"lol. It's almost beyond comprehension the appeal of a jacket like that.

 

[Johnny Deadlifts]

For me it started with my father being a police officer in Philadelphia wearing leather jacket which made him look cool, in control, assertive and comfortable during the winter. Then when I was in my early teens I got into rock ‘n’ roll and those four guys leaning against the wall, on the album cover, with black leather jackets and ripped leans blitzkrieged bopped and solidified my love for leather jackets. Later I discovered the versatility of the garment. It can be dressed up or down, casual or business and nothing beats leather on a motorcycle. And they last a couple of lifetimes.

I would disagree with @MrProper on the fact that leather jackets are not necessary nowadays. A down jacket or a fleece or any other “modern material” outwear cannot provide the look, comfort, versatility and functionality of a well-chosen leather jacket.

There's definately an assertive presence when an officer is wearing leather.

 

[Fifty150]

There's definately an assertive presence when an officer is wearing leather.

The leather jacket, where I worked, was issued to motorcycle riders and the people riding horses. Nobody else even wanted one. Not 1 person, ever, wore one if they weren't riding a horse or motorcycle. And a lot of the guys who were riding, didn't wear the leather. Some people thought they were too hot. A few guys said that the textiles were "warmer". And I have to admit, the modern textiles are really more comfortable. Lighter weight. Less sweaty. Just don't fall off the bike or horse, and you'll be fine.

As a guy who owns more leather jackets than I want to admit - I now wonder if it was all money wasted. Every leather jacket I own, was bought because I like it and had every intention of wearing it. It just didn't work out that way in real life. Unless I'm riding a motorcycle, there's probably less than a handful of times a year I wear leather. Which means most of my leather jackets don't get worn. It's usually too hot around here for me to wear a leather jacket. When it's cold and rainy, I also turn towards modern Gore-Tex and Thinsulate, and such.

I was with a girlfriend. I was wearing a leather jacket and boots. We went to Nordstroms to get a shoe shine. The shine guy said that he could rub some leather conditioner into the motorcycle jacket. The girlfriend said, "that would be like a massage." The shine guy said, "don't come in wearing leather pants, I won't massage you that way."

 

[zebedee]

I have several Aeros which I rotate when I travel, so two or three will go with me for 2-3 year contracts and then I'll take the other two or three on the next one. I have no reason to own any of them, really, and I could wear other jackets, overcoats, etc., instead, but I've worn a leather jacket since nineteen when I first started long-distance travelling and they're just more useful and don't need to be worried about. First bought an Aero at about age 30. Over 12 or 13 years, six or seven times 700 pounds on good jackets (I bought and sold a couple of others) is negligible in comparison to what some of my friends spent on cars and laptops in the same period, especially since I still have the first one I bought in serviceable condition and none has ever busted or needed fixing. They also make really good gifts for people - I've given some away after a few years of wear or when slightly too small.

I still think that either my goat hide Aero HB or the HH tumbled Maxwell are my most economical purchases considering how much use I've gotten out of them (and the first purchase, a Highwayman, I lived in during winters for about 4 years).

 

[willyto]

Because they're cool and I like how I look wearing them. They make me feel great when wearing them

It's that simple.

 

[Johnny Deadlifts]

I have several Aeros which I rotate when I travel, so two or three will go with me for 2-3 year contracts and then I'll take the other two or three on the next one. I have no reason to own any of them, really, and I could wear other jackets, overcoats, etc., instead, but I've worn a leather jacket since nineteen when I first started long-distance travelling and they're just more useful and don't need to be worried about. First bought an Aero at about age 30. Over 12 or 13 years, six or seven times 700 pounds on good jackets (I bought and sold a couple of others) is negligible in comparison to what some of my friends spent on cars and laptops in the same period, especially since I still have the first one I bought in serviceable condition and none has ever busted or needed fixing. They also make really good gifts for people - I've given some away after a few years of wear or when slightly too small.

I still think that either my goat hide Aero HB or the HH tumbled Maxwell are my most economical purchases considering how much use I've gotten out of them (and the first purchase, a Highwayman, I lived in during winters for about 4 years).

I don't own an Aero at this point but I'm definately leaning more towards them. Like you said I guy could spend his money on a lot of things; to me why not spend it on something you could use and wear for a lifetime.

 

[Will Zach]

I will add one thing - as a guy who owns too many leather jackets that I care to admit, I have to say that I see very few of them on the streets. Certainly very few on guys. More on girls/women, mostly Perfecto-style fashion items. We are one-percenters here guys, maybe less.

 

[handymike]

I went to a very Gen X concert the other night, and while almost everyone was in black there was only 3 leather jackets. We are indeed not in the mainstream of fashion.

 

[zebedee]

I went to a very Gen X concert the other night, and while almost everyone was in black there was only 3 leather jackets. We are indeed not in the mainstream of fashion.

That is a good thing. Be happily individual.

 

[dannyk]

I went to a very Gen X concert the other night, and while almost everyone was in black there was only 3 leather jackets. We are indeed not in the mainstream of fashion.

Like king rocker, original dancing with myself, valley of the dolls Gen X? If so how was the show? How was the lineup? Also no matter what it was probably a lot of fun.

 

[handymike]

No, not that Gen X... I’m referring to the grey/white haired ones.
My wife went to the Morrissey/Devo/Bauhaus/PIL show the other week and reported a similar thing.

 

[Rugby]

No, not that Gen X... I’m referring to the grey/white haired ones.
My wife went to the Morrissey/Devo/Bauhaus/PIL show the other week and reported a similar thing.

Well I've got a bit different experience. Last time I attended concerts was pre-lockdown, Supersuckers with Ravangers in Baltimore, Reverend Horton Heat in DC, and there were quite a few people with leather jackets on, primarily perfecto style but I caught a glimpse of hip length button down ones as well as HB kind. All and all a good showing of leather jacket appreciation. Admittedly the audience were, on average, over 35 or 40 years of age...but still

 

[Fifty150]

It all depends on your "crowd". Different social groups. I know a spot where guys are still wearing 3/4 length leather coats and turtleneck sweaters. Not to mention that if you go to a motorcycle club, then yes, everyone is wearing leather. I didn't want to be the guy to mention it, but leather is also a fetish item and there is a subculture.

There could be a revival of the leather bomber jacket with the new Top Gun film.

 

[Edward]

It all depends on your "crowd". Different social groups. I know a spot where guys are still wearing 3/4 length leather coats and turtleneck sweaters. Not to mention that if you go to a motorcycle club, then yes, everyone is wearing leather. I didn't want to be the guy to mention it, but leather is also a fetish item and there is a subculture.

There could be a revival of the leather bomber jacket with the new Top Gun film.

I've recently had facebook giving me ads for a BLUF jackets and accessories site. The trousers don't appeal (all very low waist, clearly style rather than practicality or comfort), but some of the jackets and boots look great. I'm actually very tempted by a couple of their pieces. I'm not exactly their target market, but sufficiently secure in myself not to feel threatened by that either.