How many new jackets do you have coming (and how many potential ones)?

[Superfluous]

I specifically make sure my shirts (casual button downs or T’s are not too long to require such a thing).

I have shortened many a shirt so that it is suitable to be worn untucked. OCD is my friend.

 

[El Marro]

I’m sitting here reading this and shaking my head, t shirt tucked in:

 

[Superfluous]

I’m sitting here reading this and shaking my head, t shirt tucked in

 

[jonesy86]

Full TFL Uniform
Boots
Jeans
Belt
Tucked shirt
Jacket
Hat

 

[jonesy86]

Hey Jonesy , "get back in the kitchen" haha...

AND that endless horizon view is just so '"meh meh"...( NOT !)

If I had a nickel for every time someone told me that...
I spent a lot of years in the kitchen, and no way am I ever going to go back. I suppose I could still wear the hat though.

Oops, wrong thread.

 

[ABCD]

OK, can we compromise?
Outside photo...check
No flip flops...check
No over long sleeves...check
View attachment 252966

Beautiful cossack... Check

 

[jonesy86]

You have quietly become my hero sir. I mean that. If I wore a hat I’d tip it but please accept my salute.
Do you ever get to Makapu’u beach? I have fond memories there.

Thanks Ton, I also tip my hat to your jacket adventures, especially the recent original maker vintage trend. I am too big and/or long for true vintage jackets.
I have not been to O'ahu since moving here, and with recent covid spikes and renewed travel restrictions probably won't be going soon. I did some body surfing at Makapu'u Beach in 2016 and hurt my shoulder when a wave picked me up and slammed me down on the bottom, Ooops. Makapu'u is a beautiful beach! I just hang out at Keália Beach just down the hill and along the coastal path from my apartment.

 

[Edward]

Do you really think that people will look that closely at your zipper pulls? Seriously..??

I would tend to agree that it's highly unlikely anyone would ever notice. I used to have a leather trenchcoat I loved wearing with a suit, but I would avoid it if I was head up round Highgate and other parts of North London, given that for anyone over a certain age (interestingly, kids under thirty just used to shout "Oi, Matrix!") there remains a strong stereotype of "Germany's WWII-era leadership Gestapo" about that particular look. Zipper pulls, well.... while I'd avoid a deliberately "racist zipper", something coinciental like this which is such a tiny detail and where it is completely coincidental, I find it hard to imagine it being spotted. I just woyuldn't wear it somewhere that someone who *might* have an issue with the coincidence might get offended.

Whoever stamped those zips and ok’d them for production was a straight up dumb *** idiot. It had to be a production line mistake but they never should’ve been installed. I’d throw that one back in the goodwill bin. Not worth the effort for an excelled jacket to replace the pulls.

Either that or they just live in another part of the world where these things simply don't have the same symbolism as they do in the US. KKK Zippers Inc was founded in India in 1975 by Ashok Shah; presumably the name was intended to be a close mimic to the mark of the YKK Group, founded in Japan in 1934, at a time when India was fast becoming a major manufactuing cente for fashion clothing sold into the West. 1970s India was not a place where many would have heard of the Klan, and it's a very different culture with its symbolism - even today you can still find Hindu temples festooned with the ********, and it doesn't have the same meaning as we would jump to in the West.

https://www.indiamart.com/kkk-zippers/about-us.html

If the jackets were made in the US, it would seem an odd detail to miss (it being the company name, rather than just inscribed to make a lookalike product for the YKK zips), but if they were made in India there's a high chance the entire product came to completion from people who'd never heard of the Klan.

I had to take a chance on this Schott 118J. Hope it works out.

View attachment 250279 View attachment 250280

Very nice. Saw something similar in LE from Schott a couple of years ago where the length was too muich and killed it, but this looks to be cut to the standard 118 25" back, and all the bette for it. Look forward to seeing fit pics.

View attachment 251429

Looks like Vanson's version of Brando's Durable. Nice positioning of the stars closer the middle of the epaulett than the outside edge, correct to Brando's jacket (as distinct from a 613).

Danny, it shouldn't be difficult to attach the stars yourself, though it's usually done with a kick press machine but other than that, they aren't really made in any special way. I think they'd tell you the same and would probably charge you a lot for sending you the stars while there are a lot of options on eBay, just gotta make sure to buy the metal ones (Vanson seems to be using those Russian stars). Other than that, they all attach the same.

Yip, steady have and a hole punch...

View attachment 251449 View attachment 251450 View attachment 251452 View attachment 251453 Not a jacket. A leather vest by Addict Clothes arrived today. I am thinking it is too long.

I would tend to agree. I suspect the length has been exaggerated to account for modern, low-waisted jeans and ensure full coverage of the lower back in a forward leaning, racing bike type, crouched riding position. It does rather throw the proportions off, though. On me, I'd be looking for a back length somewhere between 25" and 26" - perhaps as much as 27" if sizing it to fit over another jacket. At the right length, it could be a really nice alternative to a jaket in warmer weather - especially with a few pockets added.

It is too long considering the style. The side buckles are down to my ****. Length would be fine if it is a WW2 Jerkin but sadly it is not.

Yeah, I'd want those sdie buckles probably around level with my trouser belt.

I like the look of cuff strap, just have it a lil bit higher up I guess, would look good if the buckle or cinch is the smaller version but the same style with your side buckles

A nice detail, though risky if you plag on playing chicken any time soon.

I almost feel like the number of choices we have these days can be a bad thing. You can be paralyzed by the number of options.

It definitely requires a level of confidence in your own choices, as well as a mindset which says "I don't need to have one of *everything*". Esier said than done sometimes.

I personally think people's boredom with jackets as you describe it is probably more about control and consumerism than it is about the jackets.

To an extent, I'd agree. I wonder too if the nature of the web and buying online doesn't also come into play, as disticnt from the old dayswhen you might walk into a shop, try on a few and pick the one that worked for you. It's much easier nowadays to get the point point of having spent hundreds at a distance befoe you look in the mirror and think.... "Nah...".

Great looking jacket! That Racer made an impact back in the days, I remember how huge it was when Schott released a repro, and it was great looking one. Restoration dude was ahead of the time.

That Restoration/Schott jacket was controversial to say the least in these parts when it was first announced, but the idea of an unlined, utilitarian jacket in just the right hide does have an appeal to me. Just got to be sure the dye won't transfer, and it could prove a good 'warme weather' option.

For once, instead of getting another leather jacket I'll look to replace a week later, figured I'd try something new. How much will I wear them, I don't know but I always wanted these Aero's 60's trousers so... Why not.

Very nice. Similar look to the Lewis 935s that were worn by James Caan et al in the original Rollerball film, but with a few tweaks that make them very classically Aero, such as the American-style buckle. These look like they would be criacking for riding in. Did you order them direct from Aero? Couldn't find leather trews on the website recently, I wondered if they'd either stopped doing them or just revampling that part of the site.

Thanks, My only concern is when the Mrs reads the credit card statement I will need to do some fancy dancing

That's the tricky bit. At least with a vintage jacket with some nice wear on it itself you an always play the "what, this old thing, no it's been around forever..."

I’m sitting here reading this and shaking my head, t shirt tucked in:
View attachment 252977

Cracking belt - I'd love to see a thread about that in the "General Attire and Accountements" room!

 

[Edward]

Separately, "style" is entirely subjective and your attempt to mandate your personal style -- e.g., all shirts must be tucked -- is inappropriate. Frankly, I think the "style" you advocate is, in certain respects, unstylish

I'm not going to disagree.....I should not have brought my own preferences into this. That was boorish of me and I apologise. But I'll stick with the broader point that fit pics are worth taking a little care and forethought over. Certainly out of the box pictures are just that.....they are a different thing all together. I'll get my coat.....

THere's always something of a tension between differing expectations here that seems to root often in two diffetrent camps of what brings people here. Many of us gravitated here per the original TFL concept of being interested in a wider vintage look, or at least some part thereof; on the other hand, this has also now become known as a forum for high end leather jackets out of any vintage context, so will inevitably bring folks who cross over, whose fashion norms are otherwise very modern. TFL wants to be a welcoming environment for all comers; we welcome those who are interested maybe only in one specific aspect of vintage, though we do reasonably expect that is a two-way street. I personally don't care for the occasional critter who turns up and openly poo-poos the idea of anything other than modern fashion norms. In a place like this that quickly becomes trolling. Suffice it to say, there are lots of different opinions in these parts as to what works.

Personally, I find a tucked-in shirt can be a helpful thing when folks ask for opinions on things **** as jacket length; it's also very useful information fo those among us who might be considering a similar purchase. It means we can tell if a jacket meets a higher, vintage style waistband, for instance, or a lower, modern one. Helpful information for anyone whichever of those they prefer.

I know I'm repeating myself..but an untucked shirt under a leather jacket only looks sloppy IMO although it seems to be the 'fad' now for some.

I'd say it's gone way past fad to "moden fashion norm" since the 90s, though my personal preference aligns with your own. I think one of the reasons I started tucking a shirt as standard (the only exception for me is an Eloha shirt, which of course was originally designed to be worn that way) was when I got into shorter jackets and didn't care for the contrasting "vallance" of shirt poking out beneath. I'm not a divan bed. I think I also had recently gotten a very cool Harely belt buckle at the time (I must have been maybe sixteen, seventeen) which I was keen to show off... These days it's a part of the overall look I go for (pre 1959 - once men's trousers get narrower from 1958ish and then waistbands start to drop into the sixties, I largely lose interest). I got rid of a couple of supposedly 'dress' shirts over the years because they were cut too short to stay tucked in - presumably the intent was that they would be worn untucked.

 

[ABCD]

the only exception for me is an Eloha shirt, which of course was originally designed to be worn that way)

There's one more formal shirt which is designed to wear untucked. It's the Cuban guayabera.

 

[Monitor]

Very nice. Similar look to the Lewis 935s that were worn by James Caan et al in the original Rollerball film, but with a few tweaks that make them very classically Aero, such as the American-style buckle. These look like they would be criacking for riding in. Did you order them direct from Aero? Couldn't find leather trews on the website recently, I wondered if they'd either stopped doing them or just revampling that part of the site.

Thanks! Yeah, got 'em directly from Aero. They're the 60's UK styled jeans, same as LL or Belstaff was making in the 60's. I think they go perfectly with Ken's 60's policy and Aero has reproduced them perfectly.

But yeah, sadly, they're no longer making leather trews - or rather, they are but only for returning customers who know exactly what size works for them as there's been a lot of returns. Enough to scrape them off the site. But I can see why as buying leather pants would be a lot trickier than jackets and not only 'cause of the fit issues but also, many people think it's a great idea until the trousers arrive and then they realize oh my God what have I done...

Anyway, these were a return as well, a 32/34, already made and all so got 'em for a good deal. If I had to wait, don't think I would've went through with it but it just happened a pair in my size was lying around so I got them. They're fantastic, insanely heavy (seriously, heavier than most jackets) and fit great. The problem is I want classic jeans now, too.

 

[jonbuilder]

Full TFL Uniform
Boots
Jeans
Belt
Tucked shirt
Jacket
Hat
View attachment 252984

Even the hand in the pocket pose, good job

 

[jonbuilder]

Full TFL Uniform
Boots
Jeans
Belt
Tucked shirt
Jacket
Hat
View attachment 252984

I think the mods should add a hat requirement with fit pictures lol

 

[Edward]

Monitor, those look great. I wonder when the Lewis ones were designed. A lot of their classic "60s" designs, like the Lightning, originated around 1958, thought they were very popular into the 60s. I know Ken's very firm on the "nothing after 1959" for the Aero brand now, so that could be anotehr reason theyr'e not on the website if they are really a 60s design. In which case, when the off-shoot 60s brand comes on stream... I can imagine they're a lot more hassle than a jacket with fit and returns issues, of course, especially if few Aero customers actually ride these days. Interestingly, Lewis don't have any mc trousers on thei website now either (just 15oz selvedge jeans), pehaps a tacit recognition that they sell more to non-riders nowadays?

There's one more formal shirt which is designed to wear untucked. It's the Cuban guayabera. View attachment 253007

Good call. Planning to pick up a couple of those next Summer for the office. Was gonig to this year, but I've ended up primarily working from home, sweating it out in an undershirt and wishing for rain...

 

[jonbuilder]

I always tucked my shirts in including T-shirts until 5 years ago when my colon was removed. Now my bowels protrude out my abdomen and I attach a bag to collect waste which creates a bulge. In addition to the bag, I have a pocket of blood and fat between my skin and abdomen wall that protects my bowels where they protrude from the wall, further increasing the bulge. I was once asked if I was carrying a *** by a teller at &-Eleven. Now I only tug a shirt if I am wearing my jacket zipped and even them the tugged shirt interferes with the bag. This is the only place my wearing my shirt not tucked has ever been questioned. I have considered having the pocket of blood and fat removed by cosmetic surgery, but there are health and safety concerns. I have explained my condition here once prior after another member commented on my shirt not being tugged in? I do not let my condition slow me down, I am seventy and this weekend I raced my forty-foot sailboat overnight out in the open Pacific ocean in 30 note winds and high confused seas. When I was not wearing a foul weather jacket, I was wearing a leather G1 jacket

 

[Downunder G Man]

Well done Sir. Kudos to you.

A very good friend of mine , passed away just a year ago at 76 , was a "bowel cancer" survivor , like yourself on a colostomy bag. Un-tucked shirt or T shirt all the time , wore his Brando style leather jacket to ride his 2003 Harley V-Rod.
He was quite a "spirited" rider and we all used to laugh at his portable GPS telling us the "true story" when we pulled up for coffee

He was an Australian Vietnam veteran , avionics and helicopter man. NEVER complained , toured the US several times in recent years. Drove a 2 seater convertible Mazda Miata sports car on inclement days.

Sadly missed , Vale Brian Mahoney

 

[jonbuilder]

I forgot about riding, I wear my Aero and Vanson sport rider high waisted riding trousers over my shirt they ride high enough to cover my ostomy bag. I wear the aeros over my boots the sport riders inside my boots, I have not noticed any proposed FL requirements on pants inside/over boots.

 

[torfjord]

I’m sitting here reading this and shaking my head, t shirt tucked in:
View attachment 252977

With a nice belt like that, it should be criminal to wear untucked shirt/t-shirt. That needs to be visible!

I started tucking maybe 10 years ago when I bought a nice looking belt. Liked it a lot and didn’t want to hide.

 

[Edward]

I always tucked my shirts in including T-shirts until 5 years ago when my colon was removed. Now my bowels protrude out my abdomen and I attach a bag to collect waste which creates a bulge. In addition to the bag, I have a pocket of blood and fat between my skin and abdomen wall that protects my bowels where they protrude from the wall, further increasing the bulge. I was once asked if I was carrying a *** by a teller at &-Eleven. Now I only tug a shirt if I am wearing my jacket zipped and even them the tugged shirt interferes with the bag. This is the only place my wearing my shirt not tucked has ever been questioned. I have considered having the pocket of blood and fat removed by cosmetic surgery, but there are health and safety concerns. I have explained my condition here once prior after another member commented on my shirt not being tugged in? I do not let my condition slow me down, I am seventy and this weekend I raced my forty-foot sailboat overnight out in the open Pacific ocean in 30 note winds and high confused seas. When I was not wearing a foul weather jacket, I was wearing a leather G1 jacket

I'm not surprised this is the first place that tyou found raised the issue oftucking / not tucking - we're kind of unique neighbourhood in that way... Though you raise a very valid point that people may well have reasons for wearing clothes in a certain way other than being a style choice, and we should all tread carefully before commenting. I recall a story about a DJ who, angered by his friend having offered two girls he'd picked up at the club a lift home (it was actually the DJs car, DJ was driving, it was a bit out of his way.....) relented on sole condition they helped him carry his gear out. So then he sees one of these girls carrying just a couple of discs and, in a snmit, says "what's the matter with you, only got one F***ing arm?" At which point the young lady calmly set dow the records, and in one fluid movement turned round, unclipped, and reached him her prosthetic arm....

Good to see you're not letting it hold you back - keep on sailing!

I forgot about riding, I wear my Aero and Vanson sport rider high waisted riding trousers over my shirt they ride high enough to cover my ostomy bag. I wear the aeros over my boots the sport riders inside my boots, I have not noticed any proposed FL requirements on pants inside/over boots.

Interesting point. I think it's something of a time and place thing, and thus there being historical precedents for each. Cowboys (and, for all I know, bikers in the right part of the US) found tucking their trews into their boots kept the rattlers out... I In the forties / early fifties, while it may have been a style choice for Brando, like many American bikers of the era, to wear their wide-leg jeans over their engineer boots, it's no laughing matter to try to tuck that much denim into one, I can tell you from experience! A less hoodlum bike wearing riding britches in those days wouldl ikely still have worn their boots out over them. By the time the Ace Cafe rocker scene had its heyday in England in 61-64, jeans and leather bike trousers were narrow enough below the knee to slide even those neater-fitting, zip-up Aviakit/Lewis boots on over (as well as the seaboot socks, which then tucked over the top of the boot itself). Across both periods and on both sides of the Atlantic, there were the bikers who wore gear either designed originally for horseback or developed from gear so designed, in wihch case boots over some form of johdpur was not exactly a major evolutionary leap.... The Ace Cafe set back in the early sixties, well - they may look like cute retro-Grease types now, but back in the day that was a seriously scary place for the uninitiated. Father Bill Shergold, who started the 59 Club, rode past it back and foth more than once after he'd determined to reach out to the biker kids in there on behlaf of the church before he felt courageous enough to go in there. Had he not, the famous 59 Club would never have existed...

 

[jonbuilder]

I know we got off-topic of incoming jackets, but one of the things that make TFL interesting to me is diversity. I know what my jackets and my vintage brimmed hats look like and how I wear my jackets and hats. If ever one else was wearing the same jackets and the same hats as me and wearing them the same way I do, how boring that would be, why bother wasting time on TFL? The same holds true with boots, I have a triple inflection.