Do Denim Type I, II and III Jackets Look Like Cowboy / Cattle Rustler / Ranch Hand Cosplay?

[ton312]

I believe we have discussed this notion as it relates to other styles in the past. Is it cosplay for a non motorcyclist to wear an M/C jacket? A person who doesn’t fly a plane to wear an a-2? The list could go on and on for every style we ever posted in this forum.

Certain styles illicit this reaction stronger than others. I personally find the denim trucker type (whatever) to illicit this reaction in the least assertive way. It’s a style than has been adopted by almost every single type of wearer from celebrities, rock stars, bikers to mom jean wearing, mini van driving kid wranglers.

 

[nick123]

Never really saw a cowboy association with these. Depends on the rest of one's ensemble. Maybe some Robert Duvall in "Tender Mercies" but that's not a bad thing.

The real Western connotations are alive with those Schott suede fringe jackets. Again, not a bad thing. If you're dressed up in all denim with cowboy boots then you're probably replacing a wagon wheel.

 

[ton312]

Never really saw a cowboy association with these. Depends on the rest of one's ensemble. Maybe some Robert Duvall in "Tender Mercies" but that's not a bad thing.

I agree. If anything, for me, I associate them with kids who smoke in the school bathroom, have long permed hair and attach a large megadeath or Iron Maiden patch to the back. Late 70’s Camaro or Trans Am not required, but preffered.

 

[nick123]

I agree. If anything, for me, I associate them with kids who smoke in the school bathroom, have long permed hair and attach a large megadeath or Iron Maiden patch to the back. Late 70’s Camaro or Trans Am not required, but preffered.

Totally more 70s than anything. I think of wood-panelled walls and cigarettes too.

 

[Dr H]

Growing up, through the ‘70s and ‘80s most of these that I saw had Status Quo or Motörhead parches on them...

 

[Zombie_61]

Nah. By the 80s, they were everywhere.

They look totally 80s, though. At least the Type III and the 101J do.

I remember the big trend during the 80s was "acid wash" denim to give jackets and jeans that "faded/worn/lived in" look right off of the rack. The trouble was that it usually looked artificial, and before long most people could instantly identify acid washed denim at a glance. It was "a look", but not a particularly good one and any clothing made from acid washed denim now looks dated.

As usual the manufacturers took the artificial "lived in" look to an extreme, and now people with more money than brains can buy faded, torn, and patched denim clothing brand new at ridiculously marked-up prices. If you want faded/worn jeans, buy a normal pair and just wear them; they'll get faded and worn on their own.

 

[Guppy]

I remember the big trend during the 80s was "acid wash" denim to give jackets and jeans that "faded/worn/lived in" look right off of the rack. The trouble was that it usually looked artificial, and before long most people could instantly identify acid washed denim at a glance. It was "a look", but not a particularly good one and any clothing made from acid washed denim now looks dated.

As usual the manufacturers took the artificial "lived in" look to an extreme, and now people with more money than brains can buy faded, torn, and patched denim clothing brand new at ridiculously marked-up prices. If you want faded/worn jeans, buy a normal pair and just wear them; they'll get faded and worn on their own.

Acid washed jeans were a big trend in the 80s, but I don't think the intent was to simulate wear. There was stonewashed and pre-ripped jeans for that. Acid washed was a distinctive look, more akin to tie-dye. Actually, I think that there were tie-bleached jeans as well as acid-washed, now that I think of it.

 

[ksozay]

I agree. If anything, for me, I associate them with kids who smoke in the school bathroom, have long permed hair and attach a large megadeath or Iron Maiden patch to the back. Late 70’s Camaro or Trans Am not required, but preffered.

Someone mention a party? Cause I’m here for the party. Alright alright alright!


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[barnabus]

Growing up, through the ‘70s and ‘80s most of these that I saw had Status Quo or Motörhead parches on them...

I had A Stormtroopers Of Death back patch on mine :shame:

 

[ton312]

Well if it’s some real cowboy stuff the OP is after I can abide. I’ve had a few. I still have one. When I’m looking to alaman left or dosie doe I know exactly where to go.

 

[Bamaboots]

When I’m looking to alaman left or dosie doe I know exactly where to go.

That's what I want to see. You at a square dance. We'll have to get you in some proper boots and a hat. The cap won't fly.

 

[Edward]

Never had any Western connotations with them where I grew up - but then even cowboy boots in Northern Ireland in the eighties were more associated with heavy metal than Western wear among my peers. Might have been different for an older generation: there's a huge 'country and western' subculture in NI , mostly people now in their fifties and up. And yeah, the £...& westrn' is import. They're not Johny Cash fans, they people who like the most awful, cliche, over-sentimentalised tripe, line dancing, John WAyne movies, and waving the Confederate Battle Flag because, in their ignorance, they think it's just "some cowboy flag". Real, inbred backwater stuff.

Once i find a way to make dark denim stop fading halfway down the blue and not all the way to white and how to tuck in the collar into collarless look, then perhaps ill try

I wish I could find a dark selvedge that would stay 'fixed'. I don't care for fading or fades.

Definitely not in Europe. Type I and II are not mainstream but type III have been everywhere for a while and keep being in and out of fashion.

Yip. Type 3s we will always have with us; some seasons they are in, others they (and any sort of double-denim) are considered massively naff.

I agree. If anything, for me, I associate them with kids who smoke in the school bathroom, have long permed hair and attach a large megadeath or Iron Maiden patch to the back. Late 70’s Camaro or Trans Am not required, but preffered.

Yip. This - especially if the sleeves are cut off. To this day metal heads are still proud of their 'battle jackets'. AFAIK, most MCs have long (since the 70s) moved on to leather cuts (partly, I'm told, so the police can't insult them by washing them while they're in custody).

Well if it’s some real cowboy stuff the OP is after I can abide. I’ve had a few. I still have one. When I’m looking to alaman left or dosie doe I know exactly where to go.
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I guess it's location specific. I don't think I would immediately associate the top two with cowboy stuff, unless they had all the other accoutrements, especially the big hats. In which case, it's the hat that look cowboy, not the jacket....

 

[ton312]

I like to spread my wings in this hobby. There are very few styles I’d deem off limits. To a fault perhaps but I’m a born explorer. That’s what makes it fun.

 

[Bamaboots]

They're not Johny Cash fans, they people who like the most awful, cliche, over-sentimentalised tripe, line dancing, John WAyne movies, and waving the Confederate Battle Flag because, in their ignorance, they think it's just "some cowboy flag". Real, inbred backwater stuff.

Damn, Edward, are you sure you didn't grow up in LA (Lower Alabama)?

I guess it's location specific.

I don't know, I've dressed in a 'western' style most of my life, rodeoed a bit, been to a number of western events, had friends who did the same and lived through the "Urban Cowboy" crap when snakeskin cowboy boots and feather bands on cowboy hats were the norm and never saw as many I, II or III's as I did as a kid in the 60's and 70's being worn by those who didn't have a clue about cowboy culture or dress. Carhartt was the central theme among most that I knew when a jacket was called for and it's still the same. At least around here.

 

[Zombie_61]

Acid washed jeans were a big trend in the 80s, but I don't think the intent was to simulate wear. There was stonewashed and pre-ripped jeans for that. Acid washed was a distinctive look, more akin to tie-dye. Actually, I think that there were tie-bleached jeans as well as acid-washed, now that I think of it.

According to Wikipedia (so take it for what it's worth) that was exactly the intent--to give the garments a "worn-in/worn-out" look. The term "acid wash" is actually a misnomer, since no acid was used; they used pumice stones and chlorine to achieve the same effects as months of exposure to sun and salt water to simulate the jeans and jackets worn by California surfers. "Stonewashed" was essentially the same process without the chlorine (so the denim wasn't bleached as much).

That being said, I actually prefer your perspective about the acid/stone washed fabric having a somewhat unique look like tie-dyed materials. I didn't (and still don't) mind jeans and jackets that received a light treatment and looked naturally faded, but if they looked like they were acid/stonewashed they weren't for me.

 

[Edward]

Around 1988, I had a pair of bleached Wranglers that were a uniform blue so pale they were almost white.... though I'd have laughed in your face at the idea of wearing white jeans. Funny old world. I remember hen it was fashionable to have randomly bleached spots on jeans, that was hideous. What I could never understand, though - and to my eternal credit, never wore - was purposely ripped / holed jeans. That look seems to be in among ver kids in London at present, especially the girls. I'm talking huge holes, too - like virtually no cloth at all on the front of their thighs sort of thing. Each to their wn and all that, but some looks really are objectively stupid.....

Well if it’s some real cowboy stuff the OP is after I can abide. I’ve had a few. I still have one. When I’m looking to alaman left or dosie doe I know exactly where to go.
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I'd have associated the first one with Near Dark (my kind of Western!) if it was paired with a Stetson and cowboy boots, but tbh on its own I'd never think Cowboy. Probably true of most of the subtler WEstern workwear I tend to like myself.

 

[navetsea]

wear anything with collar then pair it with bolo neck tie, you'll be more western than full cladded denim guy next to you, + 300% if you grow stash

 

[trapp]

Yeah, on their own type 2 or 3 jackets have almost zero western vibe at all for me, at least in cities, unless paired with cowboy boots and or a blatantly western belt or hat or what have you.

They've been worn so much by so many different types of people in the past several decades that the connotation for me has totally vanished. I see them as a wardrobe staple and I couldn't get through a week with them. As someone mentioned, they are more or less a non-statement piece of everyday gear. It's easy to get together a smart, casual, functional look with almost any denim jacket if you choose the right pants and shoes.

Tons of young urban people on budgets wear them and wear them well as nice alternatives to mall-wear. It's not hard to steer your look away from 'western' or even 'country' with choice of footwear, fit, haircut, eyewear, even the bag you carry. For pants, you're not limited to just chinos - though a classic blue type 3 often does look good with chinos.

 

[ton312]

Yeah, on their own type 2 or 3 jackets have almost zero western vibe at all for me, at least in cities, unless paired with cowboy boots and or a blatantly western belt or hat or what have you.

They've been worn so much by so many different types of people in the past several decades that the connotation for me has totally vanished. I see them as a wardrobe staple and I couldn't get through a week with them. As someone mentioned, they are more or less a non-statement piece of everyday gear. It's easy to get together a smart, casual, functional look with almost any denim jacket if you choose the right pants and shoes.

Tons of young urban people on budgets wear them and wear them well as nice alternatives to mall-wear. It's not hard to steer your look away from 'western' or even 'country' with choice of footwear, fit, haircut, eyewear, even the bag you carry. For pants, you're not limited to just chinos - though a classic blue type 3 often does look good with chinos.

I wouldn’t have said so even 4 months ago, but at this point I can’t imagine life without my Iron Heart 526pj. I wear it more than anything that isn’t underwear or shoes.

 

[navetsea]

to be politically correct, we should say
"although nothing wrong to look western or cowboy" after each post