[Gunner]

I love leather jackets but sometimes I'm afraid of damaging them, does rain damage them the same as shoes? How do you make sure that they last as long as possible?

[sand]

Honestly, a good jacket will run you 2-3 thousand USD.

Your best option would be to buy used which us still expensive. Search Rick Owens on eBay. It's an investment piece. The greatest cheaper leather jackets are temple of jawnz.


The one in the picture that everyone asks about retails for a little over 5k but even if you have the cash it's rare.

[sand]

Gunner, there is treated and untreated leather. Treated can get rained on and lasts longer but gives the leather a less "raw" look.

[weambulance]

I don't know what you consider a "good" leather jacket, but no way you need to drop $2-3k on one. With leather, in my experience you're best off buying something that's supposed to be functional that happens to look good, rather than paying for some designer leather that's 95% name, 5% quality.

Fox Creek Leather makes great stuff. They're a motorcycle gear company. I don't have one of their jackets, but I have some smaller stuff like gloves and a fork bag and it's all very high quality. Their jackets run 350-500 bucks and because they're built to survive all weather riding and motorcycle crashes they're hardly going to fall apart in a little rain or with regular wear. Hell, even my $200 Cortech jacket is practically flawless once I clean the bugs off and it's had a hard life over the last 5 years. I'm going to upgrade to a Fox Creek Vented Bomber when I am done cutting weight next spring.

Without actually handling their jackets, the Aero stuff looks pretty good, but it certainly seems expensive. By the time you're paying $1000 for a leather jacket, you would do better to have it custom made, even in the US.

I mean, you can get a full suit of custom race leathers for under $2000 and that's a lot harder to make properly than a simple jacket. And as Messer said, if you happen to be overseas you could probably get a bespoke jacket for less than $500.

Non-suede leather isn't nearly as fragile as people think unless it's shit to begin with. Properly oiled/sealed leather will keep water out, and as long as you don't do something stupid like dry it with direct heat it'll be fine. I have a pair of White's Smokejumpers that I've worn for three seasons in muddy, nasty, extremely wet conditions day in, day out and they look good as new once I clean the mud off and oil them. It's pretty common for people to ask if I'm wearing new boots when I wear them after a cleaning/oiling. A little rain is nothing to good leather.

[BoiBoi]

Thanks for the input. Those are my favorites so far. Not too much going on, just a clean and simple look. You guys seem to prefer black, while I like brown, though.





One problem is that I'm tall, athletic with long arms. Hence, size L fits usually everywhere but the sleeves run short. XL has the right sleeve length, but the rest is too wide, especially around the waist.

[EasyMoney]

I shop a lot, and frankly you don't have to spend 2-3 K to get a nice leather jacket that will last. That 2-3K is being charged because of the label of the designer and the low volume of production. Sure, a Ralph Lauren Purple Label jacket or a Maison Martin Margiela jacket is cool - but its no different than a jacket from a bigger fashion label in the 750 range. It just has a label that wankers think gives you magical powers when you put it on.

Even Zara and HM occasionally offer real leather, (usually lambskin), jackets for about 200 bucks USD.

The John Varvatos USA line offers really cool leather jackets every fall season for about 600-700 bucks and they always look great. I have a great one that was part of their "luxe" line and I get compliments on it all the time. Sturdy jacket, fully canvas lined, great style.

Buy a bottle of leather conditioner from the local shoe or leather repair store and rub it in every month. It will soften it up and give it that really nice sheen look and fit great.

[B00G3r]

(07-21-2014 01:24 AM)sand Wrote:  

Honestly, a good jacket will run you 2-3 thousand USD.

Your best option would be to buy used which us still expensive. Search Rick Owens on eBay. It's an investment piece. The greatest cheaper leather jackets are temple of jawnz.


The one in the picture that everyone asks about retails for a little over 5k but even if you have the cash it's rare.

I second rick owens or temple of jawnz (TOJ).

http://toj-gallery.com/main.php

[Atlantic]

Can you get leather jackets tailored. I bought one that I really like but the fit is a little loose.

Has anyone any experience with this.

[weambulance]

(07-21-2014 05:02 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  

Can you get leather jackets tailored. I bought one that I really like but the fit is a little loose.

Has anyone any experience with this.

You can, but I've never done it. You're not going to go to a regular tailor, you'd need someone experienced with leather. A regular tailor won't have the right equipment anyway.

A lot depends on exactly what you want done. Sleeve shortening, sure. If it's fine in the shoulders and too loose in the belly, that's not too hard, downright easy depending on the jacket design. Too broad in the shoulders? Might be possible, and even reasonably priced, again depending on the jacket design. On the other hand, it might cost so much you might as well just buy a new jacket.

My advice is find someone who deals with motorcycle gear alterations and get a quote. For example.

[cmrocks]

I've wanted a Belstaff leather jacket for years but I'm not ready to drop $1,500 on one. Instead, I have a cheap one by Mantique that's okay but it's a bit glossy for my liking.

[monster]

summers the time to buy leather jackets cause they're all on sale

check out these diesels, most are 50% off! http://shop.diesel.com/mens/jackets/leather-jackets/

[Atlantic]

(07-21-2014 06:40 PM)weambulance Wrote:  

(07-21-2014 05:02 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  

Can you get leather jackets tailored. I bought one that I really like but the fit is a little loose.

Has anyone any experience with this.

You can, but I've never done it. You're not going to go to a regular tailor, you'd need someone experienced with leather. A regular tailor won't have the right equipment anyway.

A lot depends on exactly what you want done. Sleeve shortening, sure. If it's fine in the shoulders and too loose in the belly, that's not too hard, downright easy depending on the jacket design. Too broad in the shoulders? Might be possible, and even reasonably priced, again depending on the jacket design. On the other hand, it might cost so much you might as well just buy a new jacket.

My advice is find someone who deals with motorcycle gear alterations and get a quote. For example.

Thanks man.

Ya I got wide shoulders and a narrow waist so its the belly that needs to be taken in. Ill try that.

[unbowed]

(07-20-2014 11:24 AM)pants Wrote:  

I looked some more on that pic. Its actually just a basic leather jacket style thats been around for ages. Thigns that makes is cool its mostle that its been heavily worn, the guy is fit/good looking. And he has great accesories. And the way he rock it is cool, arms roled up, jacket unzipped.

Yep looks like the thing actually took a beating.

I'm in the market for a leather jacket as well. My buddy rocks the Lemmy look, can't get more "r-selected" than Lemmy:



I'm leaning towards a WWII era brown bomber jacket:

American:










British (sheared collar, the Brits flew in style):

[mastauser]

Goosecraft (Dutch) makes nice leather jackers. I have to say that I guard them closely with regards to rain and all that.

[MY DETROIT PLAYAS]

This thread has got me about to cop a brand new leather for the fall/winter months here up north

[BoiBoi]

Found a nice BOSS lambskin jacket. The leather is really soft and it has sleeves long enough for my ape arms. Maybe I let a tailor bring it in on the sides, but the rest fits perfectly.

[Gustavo]

A quality leather jacket is an investment. You'll want lambskin, which is going to cost some coin. The distressed look is achieved by washing and tumbling the leather, and of course natural aging with wear. I personally like these.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/blk-dnm-leat...et/3446401

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/diesel-l-sed...ic/3778415

All Saints has great looking jackets that are more reasonable. Might pick up this one.

http://www.us.allsaints.com/men/leathers...category=9

[weambulance]

^

Or you could pay half that price for the real thing, made of good old fashioned cow that isn't ridiculously delicate.

If I saw a guy with a wolf graphic on the back of his "biker" jacket, this is all I'd be thinking:

[BadWolf]

Bomber jackets are absolutely wicked, I have a 50's style bomber with arm patches from Area 51, love it. Also have a Harley Davidson riding jacket that is fantastic and about 5 other coats that I bought from Value Village, all of them look great. You can goto value village one day a season and everything is reduced to like 50% to 75% off. My bomber cost me about $400 and the biker cost around $200 but I love both of them.. I even feel like a bad ass in them, something about leather makes you look dangerous.

[Nemausus]

I saw this one at H&M this week.

What do you guys think?

[B00G3r]

(09-23-2014 12:39 PM)Nemausus Wrote:  

I saw this one at H&M this week.

What do you guys think?

I bet that thing is made of polyurethane.

[Surreyman]

(09-23-2014 01:00 PM)B00G3r Wrote:  

(09-23-2014 12:39 PM)Nemausus Wrote:  

I saw this one at H&M this week.

What do you guys think?

I bet that thing is made of polyurethane.

You get what you pay for is my opinion.

Women wear cheap gear made of plastic (yes, that's what it basically is) because they want huge numbers of clothes, and don't mind replacing them all the time.

Men wear gear that lasts.

Spend a bit more, buy leather. Even if you can only afford second hand.

[Carlos100]

If you want to wear a leather jacket, spend the $1-2k and get one that fits you to a T, such as a Schott, tailor-made A2 jacket or a primo jacket if you actually ride a motorcycle. Then, wear it with the attitude it deserves. Otherwise, don't bother with it.

http://www.schottnyc.com/customsizing.cfm

[lovejoy]

Dropping over a grand for a jacket is nuts, they are nearly all being made now in the same 3rd. world hellhole factories as Wallmarts. Hell, I get mine at Value Village for less than $75.00, must have a dozen now. Many of them are brand names that retailed for $800.00 + . A few of them I've bought didn't even appear to have ever been worn, and I don't worry much about wear, rain or theft.

[mastauser]

Look for the brands: Goosecraft (Dutch calf leather), Arma, maybe Oakwood.