Leather Jacket Thread

[Dropbear]

Who said vintage was always tasteful? Here is a very well made relics of Marlon Brando’s other jacket, made by Johnson Leathers of San Francisco:

 

[Grand Potentate]

Who said vintage was always tasteful? Here is a very well made relics of Marlon Brando’s other jacket, made by Johnson Leathers of San Francisco:

View attachment 43931View attachment 43932View attachment 43933View attachment 43934View attachment 43935

do we know it was actually royal blue?

 

[Dropbear]

do we know it was actually royal blue?

I doubt it, but I don’t know what colour it really was.

 

[Thruth]

 

[Barking Pugilist]

A couple of Vanson jackets I’ve acquired over the last few years for motorcycling use. This one’s almost smart enough to make the grade for casual wear, but I don’t like to go out at night wearing black leather.

This one is a police jacket which is apparently used by a number of US police departments. It’s quilted so better for colder weather and has flaps at the side so I could easily draw my .357 Magnum - if I had one.

Bell Bullit full face helmet and Chippewa boots complete the riding clobber.

 

[Dropbear]

^
Nice! Vanson are known for using good hides and a pattern that allows for excellent range of movement and ergonomics. Not a fashion jacket, but a really good workhorse.

The top one is based off a 1940s Sears Hercules model:

 

[Barking Pugilist]

^
Nice! Vanson are known for using good hides and a pattern that allows for excellent range of movement and ergonomics. Not a fashion jacket, but a really good workhorse.

The top one is based off a 1940s Sears Hercules model:

Thanks. I had a FQXL horsehide Aero Leathers highwayman style jacket for a few years, but the damn thing never really broke in. It looked good but it was so heavy , stiff and uncomfortable that wearing it started to feel like a chore and it was almost a relief to take it off. Eventually I sold it - and got most of my money back. The idea of it was better than the reality and I concluded that nothing equals a good quality calf or cow leather.

 

[Dropbear]

Thanks. I had a FQXL horsehide Aero Leathers highwayman style jacket for a few years, but the damn thing never really broke in. It looked good but it was so heavy , stiff and uncomfortable that wearing it started to feel like a chore and it was almost a relief to take it off. Eventually I sold it - and got most of my money back. The idea of it was better than the reality and I concluded that nothing equals a good quality calf or cow leather.

Aero are really known for their Horween CXL, which is a very thick and heavy, chrome-tanned and oil-stuffed horse and steer hide. A lot of guys getting their first made to order jacket are attracted to that thick suit of armor feel, but it’s not for everyone.

There are plenty of other hides that are still fairly heavy but far more comfortable and with some interesting grains, like this:

Aero Premier Highwayman, sz 38, Seal Vicenza Horsehide – Thurston Bros Rough Wear LLC

A gorgeous custom jacket from Thurston Bros. Rough Wear! This is an Aero Premier Highwayman in Seal Vicenza horsehide, size 38. Extra features make this a distinctly custom jacket: Olive Drab contrast stitching, nickel Talon front zipper (Sunburst box), nickel looped ball and chain pull on...

www.thurston-bros.com

 

[Barking Pugilist]

There are plenty of other hides that are still fairly heavy but far more comfortable and with some interesting grains, like this:

Aero Premier Highwayman, sz 38, Seal Vicenza Horsehide – Thurston Bros Rough Wear LLC

A gorgeous custom jacket from Thurston Bros. Rough Wear! This is an Aero Premier Highwayman in Seal Vicenza horsehide, size 38. Extra features make this a distinctly custom jacket: Olive Drab contrast stitching, nickel Talon front zipper (Sunburst box), nickel looped ball and chain pull on...

www.thurston-bros.com

That’s a good bet if you’re in the market for a casual jacket. Me, I wear leather when I’m movin’ on the Queen’s highway lookin’ like a streak of lightnin’ …. motorbikin’

 

[Dropbear]

Really digging the Aero Rockafella lately. If I don’t replace the AC unit this year …

 

[Dropbear]

Here it is, in a soft Intalian Vicenza horse hide:

 

[Great White Snark]

No. Just no!

 

[Barking Pugilist]

Really digging the Aero Rockafella lately. If I don’t replace the AC unit this year …

View attachment 44034

.
Replace the aircon unit. Tailored leather is never right, somebody somewhere will be thinking about whether they could wear that with a collar and tie.

 

[Dropbear]

.
Replace the aircon unit. Tailored leather is never right, somebody somewhere will be thinking about whether they could wear that with a collar and tie.

Definitely not a collar and tie jacket. The design is a 1940s half-belt that was originally made by Levis.

 

[Dropbear]

Vintage sleeve zippers:



Mostly vintage sleeve button cuffs:

 

[Dropbear]

RL shop displaying a vintage Buco 50s J100 ‘cafe racer’ in v. Good condition that would probably fetch $1100-$1400 on eBay.

 

[Dropbear]

There is very little design innovation in the world of quality leather jacket makers - for the most part they are all doing variations of vintage patters from the 1920s to the 1950s. Aero, Goodwear, Langlitz, Freewheelers, Simmons-Bilt, Mr Freedom, Fields, Eastman, Schott, Real McCoy’s, Y2, Fine Creek, Himel Bro’s, Bill Kelso, etc. Lewis Leathers stay true to their own heritage patterns dating up to the 70s.

For the most part, that’s a good thing - the vintage patterns cover about anything that would look good and the innovation goes into perfecting the hides and construction craftsmanship. We can leave the whacky ‘modern designs’ to the fashion brands.

The one exception is Theodore’s Pampoukous, who runs Thedi Leathers in Greece. This family business have done an admirable job of playing with with vintage patterns to come up with something genuinely new without drifting too far. The cut and design appear to be top notch and the style, not always something one would opt for, nevertheless is commendable. His veg-tanned steerhide has a pretty unique look, that he worked for decades with a local tannery to achieve. The leather and canvas pieces are definitely unique.

Here are a few pics from the Internet I found that capture what Thedi are doing well:

 

[Sammy Ambrose]

.
Replace the aircon unit. Tailored leather is never right, somebody somewhere will be thinking about whether they could wear that with a collar and tie.

I have one tailored leather jacket that I have never worn and perhaps one reason is that I too have not been able to make my mind up regarding the rest of the kit to wear with it.

 

[Dropbear]

I have one tailored leather jacket that I have never worn and perhaps one reason is that I too have not been able to make my mind up regarding the rest of the kit to wear with it.

When you say tailored, do you mean it’s something intended to be worn more formally? Like a leather sports coat or something?

 

[Sammy Ambrose]

I have done a lot of 9 hour flights in Economy and I have used leather jackets that can just be rolled up and put under the seat with my shoes and end up looking no worse for the ill-treatment.

I also have this smarter Geography teacher Azzaro espresso coloured jacket View attachment 39812that I would not use for that purpose and has never had a wear. I need to be brave and find clothes that go with it.

This is the tailored leather jacket that I have in mind.

 

[Sammy Ambrose]

When you say tailored, do you mean it’s something intended to be worn more formally? Like a leather sports coat or something?

See my post above.

 

[Johnny]

one of

pers fav

 

[Dropbear]

Great fit on that TRMC:

 

[Dropbear]

Aero FINALLY have a functioning and informative website for online ordering! And a 10% sale (offsetting another price rise).

Aero Leather Clothing | Handmade Leather Jackets

Real leather jackets from world-famous UK manufacturers Aero Leather Clothing. Based in Scotland, we specialise in handmade leather jackets. Order online today!

www.aeroleatherclothing.com

 

[Dropbear]

 

[Dropbear]

 

[Dropbear]

Fresh out of the box:

 

[belinmad]

Fresh out of the box:View attachment 44808View attachment 44809View attachment 44810

Looks fucking awesome!

 

[Grand Potentate]

Fresh out of the box:View attachment 44808View attachment 44809View attachment 44810

oooooooh that looks sharp.

 

[Dropbear]

Really happy with the fit. I could get ocd and say maybe I should have come in a little more at the bottom hem, but it’s still a winner. It does look better done up, something I rarely if ever do with my jackets.

 

[belinmad]

Badass. Love it

 

[Grand Potentate]

Really happy with the fit. I could get ocd and say maybe I should have come in a little more at the bottom hem, but it’s still a winner. It does look better done up, something I rarely if ever do with my jackets.

View attachment 44815View attachment 44816View attachment 44817View attachment 44818

What’s wrong with the way it sits open?

 

[Dropbear]

What’s wrong with the way it sits open?

Nothing wrong, I just think it looks better fastened. Maybe as it breaks-in it will drape a little better.

 

[Grand Potentate]

Nothing wrong, I just think it looks better fastened. Maybe as it breaks-in it will drape a little better.

View attachment 44822

Honestly think you’re nitpicking this one. It looks perfect. I wish I could find one that fit that well.

 

[Dropbear]

Honestly think you’re nitpicking this one. It looks perfect.

Absolutely nit picking. Yeh, I’m very happy with how this turned out. I came close to narrowing the shoulders, which wouldn’t have worked. Still a few measurements that could be further tweaked a quarter inch or so but I’m thrilled with how it came out. Aero give all their most complex jackets to Julie Leitch, who is a stitching legend. She is also on Insta, so it was nice being able to communicate directly with the person making my jacket and not just the production rep (who was also knowledgeable and helpful).

I went for a blackened brown Vicenza horse hide, which is veg tanned, mid-weight hide that will fade nicely with repeated wear. It’s not as supple as goat when new, but should break-in really nicely and develop some real character.

I wish I could find one that fit that well.

MTO is your friend. Aero are running a 10% off deal to launch the new website, not that they are your only option.

 

[Dropbear]

Not for me, but Ken (Aero founder) and Hiro make leather waistcoats look cool:

 

[Dropbear]

Old guy in old jacket ftw:

 

[Sammy Ambrose]

Old guy in old jacket ftw:

View attachment 44880

Eh! I thought Woof had deserted and gone back to Talk Ivy.

 

[Dropbear]

Two weeks left on the Aero sitewide 10% sale, coupled with a pound spiralling the drain and a lead-time short enough to get your order before Xmas.

 

[Pimpernel Smith]

Eh! I thought Woof had deserted and gone back to Talk Ivy.

All the Brits eventually get run out of this forum, banned or end up giving the finger to this little play-pen of Lou Reed middle aged leather-clad drag Antifa-IRA in the Ukraine wannabees, with some tweedy stuff thrown in from the land of snows. Take No Prisoners, or Acadian Drifwood this is not.

In this case, I do sincerely hope this post falls into the ''dogshit'' category mein host accuses me of.

Anyone who won't immediately get rid of dogshit, is a prick. You've left me for over a day nearly.

Would anyone sane leave dogshit on their shoes?

It's time gentlemen, it's time.