newtojackets is no longer new to jackets: sharing my leather jacket collection

[TartuWolf]

Holy **** that Vanson CR looks good on you. Don't know if it's just the shot/photo or not, but head and shoulders above everything else apart from maybe the two tone Flathead.

 

[newtojackets]

AFAIK, lamb was extremely common on pre-1950 British jackets (and a reason why so few survive). Sheepskin was indeed fairly standard post-1950 up to 1970ish, based on everything I've handled, for motorcycle jackets. A *lot* of Sixties Lewises were sheep. Best as I can make out, cow became gradually more dominant after 1970, likely heavier hides being preferred as bikes got bigger and faster over time. Perhaps also due to heavier leathers being perceived to offer enhanced safety. Helmets (still the only legally obligated PPE in the UK) were first mandated here by law on 1 June 1973, so motorcycle safety was a much-debated thing by that point. (When that law was passed, it was estimated 80% of motorcyclists already opted to wear a helmet; Parliamentary debate largely focussed on whether the remaining 20% should be at liberty to make their own choices, or protected by law from their own choices, as well as from unnecessarily draining particular NHS resources.)



I'm very fond of this petrol blue colour. I remember it being particularly popular (probably next only to black, though a long way behind black at that) for riders in the north of Ireland in the late 70s / early 80s. Most commonly by then on jackets with a lancer front and a mandarin collar, like the Super Monza, though you did still often see this sort of more classic collar. Schott style epaulettes were somewhat less common a sight in that time and place than plain shoulders like a Lightning, or quilted shoulders (a forerunner of foam jacket armour, of course).

Interesting, didn’t know about lamb. I read one of the reasons the uk switched to cow was become international trade become easier, so cowhide was imported (whereas the uk has a large amount of sheep, but not cow)

 

[newtojackets]

Holy **** that Vanson CR looks good on you. Don't know if it's just the shot/photo or not, but head and shoulders above everything else apart from maybe the two tone Flathead.

Thank you! It seems like you’re a fan of the slim waist and wide shoulder look (both the vanson and the flat head are the most extreme version of that). And the leather on the vanson is something else, honestly nicer than most of the Shinki I have handled.

Personally I think the blue one is the best fitting on me, but that because I’m increasingly gravitating towards wider more athletic cuts, rather than slim

 

[jacketjunkie]

And last but certainly not least,

Colours:

Lost Worlds Two-tone Trojan:



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Crowtree-leathers:

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Schott 618 white:
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Vintage blue English leather jacket (my newest and current favourite):
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Ortov Red Cross zip:


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Four speed green leather jacket:

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Unknown red cafe racer (similar to brooks):

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Vintage interstate leather jacket:

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Burberry shrunken sheep leather:

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The Flat Head Two-Tone D-pocket:

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Many great jackets in black and brown, but funnily enough, the ones I wouldnt have looked at twice 10 years ago, the bold, colored ones, are the ones I keep looking at these days. The green one is looking great and the LW will look fantastic once the cream horsehide darkens..

 

[newtojackets]

Many great jackets in black and brown, but funnily enough, the ones I wouldnt have looked at twice 10 years ago, the bold, colored ones, are the ones I keep looking at these days. The green one is looking great and the LW will look fantastic once the cream horsehide darkens..

I think after a while you get used to the black and brown ones, and the coloured ones have the novelty factor

 

[newtojackets]

If I had to downsize some pieces, which would you suggest?