Leather Jacket with Holes

[jchance]

If jeans can be worn with holes, why not leather jacket also? I’ve seen several celebrities wearing their leather jacket with holes (I could only find one below), and having holes (or patching them up) is not the end of life of a leather jacket. I like leather jacket for its rugged look, and a leather jacket with holes is like having battle scars. Let me hear your thoughts, or do me one better, show me fit pics of you wearing your leather jacket with holes.

I’m talking about leather jacket worn for fashion. If you ride, be safe first and foremost.

 

[mikepara]

interesting post. Each to their own, however whilst not always walking around looking like a time traveler from the golden era, the thought of wearing ripped items, be they hats, jeans or leather jackets is anathema to me. Most of the posts on this forum are of people dressing their best, even in casual circumstances, I'd be intrigued to see how many ripped items are shown.

 

[raf]

Above is ripped and torn leather, displaying abuse/neglect to my mind. Ripped Jeans far less expensive than leather jackets. Jeans are discardable items. Well-made leather items will last for decades.

 

[cbez]

Throw them in the beef jerky pile

 

[AeroFan_07]

I do not prefer it; however I've certainly worn some cross zips that exhibited road scars from sliding on pavement, and no-one ever commented negatively.

 

[Bennarion]

It all depends on the style and lifestyle

 

[TartuWolf]

If you like denim/jeans with holes then I don't see why you couldn't enjoy a leather jacket with holes. I definitely don't and therefore wouldn't.

 

[handymike]

I have no issue with a "repaired" vintage leather jacket, but wearing a torn modern jacket is something I don't do. If a couple of stitches are broken, or a seam is splitting in a inconspicuous spot, that's fine. Holes from pins or badges bum me out, but I've had little luck filling them, so I try not to stress if I love the jacket.

 

[tamoko]

I this is a to extremety in fashion trends today. Unworn clean new or trashy. I like some in between with patina this show clothes individual character.

 

[10nzin]

If jeans can be worn with holes, why not leather jacket also? I’ve seen several celebrities wearing their leather jacket with holes (I could only find one below), and having holes (or patching them up) is not the end of life of a leather jacket. I like leather jacket for its rugged look, and a leather jacket with holes is like having battle scars. Let me hear your thoughts, or do me one better, show me fit pics of you wearing your leather jacket with holes.

I’m talking about leather jacket worn for fashion. If you ride, be safe first and foremost.

View attachment 736703

Its called "distressing" and all the younger folks are into it lol, its basically just blue-collar larping

 

[TLW '90]

Its called "distressing" and all the younger folks are into it lol, its basically just blue-collar larping

I disagree with the idea that worn out holey clothing is a representation of blue collar workers. I depend on my work clothes and they can't do their job when they're torn and full of holes.

I'd be more inclined to call it " homeless larping "

 

[jchance]

Here are some examples to put your thinking into a test.

Cal’s professional repair:



Jacket I’m thinking of buying and wearing.

Jacket I would have bought if it actually fits:

 

[raf]

I disagree with the idea that worn out holey clothing is a representation of blue collar workers. I depend on my work clothes and they can't do their job when they're torn and full of holes.

I'd be more inclined to call it " homeless larping "

Concur. I worked at Electric Boat, Quonset where I had to extinguish clothing fires that the person was unaware of, due to much insulation. Mostly due to frayed cotton clothing, but sometimes from a spark landing on undamaged flammable cloth with underlying insulating layers preventing wearer from immediately noticing. They learned.

Aside from the above, holes in garments are perfect ingress points for rain; who needs that?

Besides, such tears and holes have a way of getting bigger over time; never seen a rip or a hole fix itself.

Ripped/holed Leather garments will usually require a matching color internal patch to which the edges of the rip/tear/hole are carefully sewn along with matching color, decent Poly-Cotton thread. This takes expertise not only in making the repair itself, but in removing the inner lining for access, and re-installing the lining.

I have some garments with holes/tears in them, but they are used for "rough" dirty work as they are soon to be discarded.

 

[TLW '90]

Here are some examples to put your thinking into a test.

Cal’s professional repair:

View attachment 737463

Jacket I’m thinking of buying and wearing.

View attachment 737464
View attachment 737470 View attachment 737471

Jacket I would have bought if it actually fits:

View attachment 737467 View attachment 737468

To me a leather jacket full of rips and holes looks abused and uncared for , while a jacket full of repairs looks like it has lived a long hard life with somebody who kept it in service because they cared about it.

 

[jchance]

Aside from the above, holes in garments are perfect ingress points for rain; who needs that?

Besides, such tears and holes have a way of getting bigger over time; never seen a rip or a hole fix itself.

Ripped/holed Leather garments will usually require a matching color internal patch to which the edges of the rip/tear/hole are carefully sewn along with matching color, decent Poly-Cotton thread. This takes expertise not only in making the repair itself, but in removing the inner lining for access, and re-installing the lining.

1. If you live in SoCal (like I do), there are like 2 weeks of rain in a year. Jackets don’t need to be rain-proof.

2. I disagree. Repairs can be done tastefully in different color patch leather and different color thread. It’s one’s chance to highlight the repairs, not to hide them. Wabi sabi signaling.

By the time the jacket has gotten to the need-repair stage, the lining is most likely shot. It’s easier to repair, now and in the future, if the jacket stays unlined.

 

[raf]

To me, not being a "Collector", who have their own set of rules and prices, it's about economics/practicality. Depending on the amount/type of damage to a Repro leather jacket, one can have most things repaired, for a fair price, by an Expert. For the most part, this involves replacement of zippers, woven cuffs, waistband, and perhaps woven collar. Even some worn-out, or original faux Mouton collars can be replaced by the real thing.

It's rather unusual to see pix of an Expert repair of an Original, collectable jacket. Most folks leave them as-is for what they are. Fair enough, and good practice, IMHO.

Reproduction jackets are another matter, varying on their initial cost, and current value. One needs to balance cost of repairs against the value of the Repro jacket. Some Repro jackets may be worth the cost of repair(s), some lesser-end Repros maybe not so much.

 

[raf]

1. If you live in SoCal (like I do), there are like 2 weeks of rain in a year. Jackets don’t need to be rain-proof.

2. I disagree. Repairs can be done tastefully in different color patch leather and different color thread. It’s one’s chance to highlight the repairs, not to hide them. Wabi sabi signaling.

By the time the jacket has gotten to the need-repair stage, the lining is most likely shot. It’s easier to repair, now and in the future, if the jacket stays unlined.

1) Not all of us live in SoCal, so rain ingress is a potential issue. Even in SoCal, high winds might be worth considering.
2) User's call on how the jacket is patched/repaired, but suggest there is a "correct" technique and an ad-hoc technique. Guess which will last longer?
3) Unlined jackets are always harder to don/doff than lined jackets. That's why the "smoother" lining was installed in the first place.

 

[jchance]

@raf you’re thinking too hard about this (whether the repairs last longer, using the “correct” technique and paying for expert repairs). Part of owning any clothing garment, whether it be leather or not, includes repairs. A leather jacket is already expensive, there’s no need to add more unnecessary cost. The easiest and cheapest option is DIY repairs, adding some personal touch and TLC (tender, love and care) to it. These holes are just small repair jobs that can easily be done by hand, not needing a sewing machine specialized for leather. There’s a thread on how to DIY repair, if you haven’t seen it.

Specifically on the topic of lasting longer, DIY repairs can be redone yourself without incurring additional costs. Your skills get better along the way, if you care about that sort of thing.

This applies more to vintage than repros. For repro, you prob don’t even need to think about repairs in this lifetime. Vintage jackets come with necessary repairs and replacement of hardware. Most (high quality ones) are 70+ years old and have already been through at least one person’s lifetime.

 

[cbez]

You would blend right in with the ragged out jackets at the place where I serve homeless breakfast.

 

[raf]

@raf you’re thinking too hard about this (whether the repairs last longer, using the “correct” technique and paying for expert repairs). Part of owning any clothing garment, whether it be leather or not, includes repairs. A leather jacket is already expensive, there’s no need to add more unnecessary cost. The easiest and cheapest option is DIY repairs, adding some personal touch and TLC (tender, love and care) to it. These holes are just small repair jobs that can easily be done by hand, not needing a sewing machine specialized for leather. There’s a thread on how to DIY repair, if you haven’t seen it.

Specifically on the topic of lasting longer, DIY repairs can be redone yourself without incurring additional costs. Your skills get better along the way, if you care about that sort of thing.

This applies more to vintage than repros. For repro, you prob don’t even need to think about repairs in this lifetime. Vintage jackets come with necessary repairs and replacement of hardware. Most (high quality ones) are 70+ years old and have already been through at least one person’s lifetime.

I respect your opinions, but think we are talking about different things, and different viewpoints. All Best Wishes!

Sure, DIY repairs to any garment can be done, but doing so requires the skill (and materials) do properly do so. There is a "learning process" involved, as I'm sure you will agree.

As far as "decent" Repro leather flight jackets being "expensive" just the other day received a damn near perfect Cooper 46 Tall Seal Brown Goatskin A-2 for $87. Deals can be had, even in "unusual" sizes.