The TFL Effect

[Monitor]

I think the effect lasted for me until I realized that despite having twenty leather jackets hanging in the closet, I had nothing to wear once it got cold. Nearly freezing to death puts things into perspective. I used to be all about CR's and Perfectos but either winters keep getting harsher or I'm getting older... But I just can't stand being cold anymore. Since I became a member here, each year I'd be all ready for the winter with another brand new, custom made jacket but come late October, out goes the Gap sherpa trucker over layers upon layers of fleece. And the Classifieds gets another thread...

Recently, this made me skip on many jackets I would've bought without blinking a few years ago. But I'm not cured, no. Far from it. God forbid, even! I'm just more focused. Just one more, one that does everything!

I still can't resist cheapos, though.

 

[willyto]

Hey now, you should wait until I have also 7 years of TFL under my belt to make that call. After reading this thread I realized how small my addic.. prob... I mean collection is, I have ordered three jackets more. Now if I only could figure out where could I make that jacket pile without upsetting my wife....

I think you might own the record of number of jackets bought in the shorter period of time!

 

[Benny Holiday]

I think you might own the record of number of jackets bought in the shorter period of time!

Kind of like a Man Of The Match award, or Most Improved! lol

 

[Bobby Peru]

During my four and a half years on TFL, I have seen it play out countless times. While searching the internet for information on a particular jacket or jacket related issue, new member stumbles upon TFL (aka the Asylum / Crack House). New member innocently joins TFL with the best of intentions. New member becomes captivated and spellbound by the jackets discussed here, spends an inordinate amount of time studying the pages of TFL, and quickly absorbs a colossal amount of information. New member goes on a shopping spree and, within a few months of joining TFL, new member purchases a dizzying array of new jackets. New member’s jacket collection grows from 2 to 22 overnight, and new member has jackets crammed in every closet throughout the house. The TFL Effect.

IMHO, the “sign-up” page for TFL should include a comprehensive disclosure of the potential consequences of joining the forum, so that new members can proceed with full knowledge of the risks of membership.

Warning: Joining this forum may, or is likely to, result in a hypnotic compulsion to study outerwear, hats and/or vintage items that will consume thousands of hours and divert your attention from other aspects of your life.

Warning: Joining this forum may, or is likely to, result in the expenditure of thousands of dollars on outerwear, hats, and/or vintage items.

Warning: Joining this forum may, or is likely to, cause a profound addiction to outerwear, hats and/or vintage items, and/or to exacerbate any preexisting conditions.

Warning: Currently, there is no cure for The TFL Effect. Therefore, proceed at your own peril. You have been warned!

There is no denying The TFL Effect. It is palpable and reaffirmed here on a regular basis.

Does a ‘relapse' count?

I have been a jackethead for a long time. Owned almost every brand you can think of, and gladly fed the obsession embarrassing amounts of money in seeking the elusive ‘perfect’ jacket for every scenario I could invent. Original A-2s? Yes, those too.
I was a regular poster in the old VLJ forum and even here a while back. We’re talking a while back…as in my last postings being around ~2007-2008 under a different handle. Long gap there. For reasons I’m still trying to understand (and some that I did figure out) I just stopped posting.

Yes, a ‘relapse.’ I’ll call it that!

 

[handymike]

Welcome back, Bobby.

 

[HawaiiShrimp]

Sounds like you are talking about me.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Ha! I echo so much of what has been said here! Great thread topic by the way.

Let's just say that VERY few people outside this forum have any idea of this little fetish of mine. At least in this place, people understand it and each other. Oh, folks figure it out "per se" but they never "fully" get it. I have found you have to approach the topic gently. V E R Y gently. Just seems some folks get nerved up as they do not fully understand it.

I would say that 3 times if the past year, I've noticed a co-worker wearing a leather motorcycle jacket while coming in from their bike. In 2 of those instances, I asked quickly about it, and it was a short "That's just for the bike" type of response. So I've simply quit asking anyone about their jackets, unless it's obvious that it it a vintage, or clearly an heirloom type of jacket. (Not often seen in Iowa)

On the positive side, I have had a few people ask me about my jackets as I've worn them, even this summer. Seems some of our interns have an interest in historic items. Wish I saw more of that, but I'll sure take it!

 

[Bobby Peru]

Welcome back, Bobby.

Thank you, Mike!

 

[Bobby Peru]

Ha! I echo so much of what has been said here! Great thread topic by the way.

Let's just say that VERY few people outside this forum have any idea of this little fetish of mine. At least in this place, people understand it and each other. Oh, folks figure it out "per se" but they never "fully" get it. I have found you have to approach the topic gently. V E R Y gently. Just seems some folks get nerved up as they do not fully understand it.

I would say that 3 times if the past year, I've noticed a co-worker wearing a leather motorcycle jacket while coming in from their bike. In 2 of those instances, I asked quickly about it, and it was a short "That's just for the bike" type of response. So I've simply quit asking anyone about their jackets, unless it's obvious that it it a vintage, or clearly an heirloom type of jacket. (Not often seen in Iowa)

On the positive side, I have had a few people ask me about my jackets as I've worn them, even this summer. Seems some of our interns have an interest in historic items. Wish I saw more of that, but I'll sure take it!

We can easily replace the word ‘jacket’ with ‘wristwatch’ and your observation would be exactly the same. Another focus of mine are watches. I’ve stopped initiating conversations over an intriguing jacket / watch due to too many resulting awkward interactions.

 

[Superfluous]

Did someone mention watches?

 

[willyto]

At least leather jackets are "cheaper".

I used to buy vintage pre 40s watches but always put a limit of 100$ without shipping. I only bought 4-5 before I realised I wear one daily and another for special occasions. Got 2 with brown wrist leather bands another green and another with a black one.

Once I saw the Dirty Dozen I said ti myself that was a rabbit hole that wasn't for me. I cured myself, haven't bothered to buy more and I don't need to.

Leather jackets... it's another topic. Vintage ones don't need breaking in to look cool and have patina so you never have too many. Always hunting bargains.

With new ones I don't want to have more than 1-2 or otherwise you never get to enjoy them and break them in.

 

[GregGale]

There are more expensive things to collect though...I'm a member of an acoustic guitar forum, where a lot of the members have 5-10 guitars each worth well over a thousand buck, sometimes 2-3000.

I've never been a collector in this sense. I'm more like do your research, find the ONE, and use the hell out of it for the rest of your life. But then, I become obsessed with making sure it's really THE ONE. This is where such forums become a great source of information. With guitars I found the one, never looked back, never wanted another one. With jackets...I'm on my way, but you need several, depending on the weather - can't replace an Irvin by an A-2 ,can you? Still, I'm trying to keep the numbers as low as possible to make sure I can justify owning them.

 

[dubpynchon]

There are more expensive things to collect though...I'm a member of an acoustic guitar forum, where a lot of the members have 5-10 guitars each worth well over a thousand buck, sometimes 2-3000.

I've never been a collector in this sense. I'm more like do your research, find the ONE, and use the hell out of it for the rest of your life. But then, I become obsessed with making sure it's really THE ONE. This is where such forums become a great source of information. With guitars I found the one, never looked back, never wanted another one. With jackets...I'm on my way, but you need several, depending on the weather - can't replace an Irvin by an A-2 ,can you? Still, I'm trying to keep the numbers as low as possible to make sure I can justify owning them.

I've found the idea of there being the one to be an illusion. For me the next jacket is always the one, and it's because of this that I have fifteen or so leather and sheepskin jackets. I had a look at the first good jacket I bought, a Highwayman from Aero, and now I see I could have stopped there, but then I wanted a cafe racer... a longer leather jacket... then a Vanson or two... then sheepskin jackets...
I am impressed that you could find the one guitar and stop there.

 

[GregGale]

I see your point, but you'll always like one jacket better than the other one. And then, why not keep only that one? Of course one can play around with the definition of "interchangeable" - Is it OK to have a sheepskin jacket and an A-2? They're meant for different temperatures. But then, why wouldn't it be OK to have a seal and a russet A-2? They go well with different outfits for different occasions. We can always find a reason why he next one is not just another one of the same kind, and I'm guilty too. Still, I always try to lay down some ground rules for myself to keep my wardrobe reasonably lean. I guess the question I ask myself before deciding to buy a jacket is this: Would buying this jacket make any of my other jackets redundant?

 

[Camaro1967]

What cracks me up with The TFL Effect is that it's akin to a playboy that just can't ever settle for one.

I find myself browsing TFL, eBay, various other forums, etc., probably drooling over every update or social media post one of my favorite makers shares, only to find myself stuck in this perpetual cycle of wanting another jacket... even though I have no good reason to add another one in my closet beyond telling my wife, "but baby, doesn't it look f-ing awesome?!"

Meanwhile, she just gives me that disapproving glance as she walks away, wondering what the hell she got herself into with this marriage.

But I also find myself deleting my browser history or taking discrete phone calls from the mailman for a package pickup, just because I know if my wife sees or hears all the details of this obsession, even if I showed her Mysterio's stacked jacket picture to retort, "but I'm not as crazy as this, dude!", she will surely have me committed.

On the bright side, though, I will still have a closet full of awesome jackets. =o)

 

[Benny Holiday]

I don't gamble, smoke, do drugs and very rarely have the odd drink; I pay my taxes and bills on time, keep my mortgage up to date, and live a responsible life. Still, in spite of all that, at times the guilts can get you, like you feel bad for wanting or, when possible, buying that special jacket you want, that sings to you. Then I dig all you guys who share my enjoyment of these jackets and I realise I'm not abnormal or crazy for having an interest in, well, dressing well in cool jackets. I see Ton and Dude and Carlos and Guppy and three dozen other regulars and I just think, darn straight those guys look cool in their jackets. We could all get around looking like rejects from Walmart (yeah we see those pics here in Oz as well!) but instead we have an interest in acquiring, wearing and enjoying cool stuff. So here's to us, riding the latest wave of the TFL Effect!

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I just sold a watch in order to buy a jacket simply because @Carlos840 reminded me how much I wanted a Freewheelers jacket.

If that isn't the TFL effect in effect, I don't know what is

 

[Fanch]

Did someone mention watches?

A far greater black hole than the jacket conundrum is the WATCH addiction. My therapist has declared me officially cured from buying any more jackets but said my watch addiction still needs a great deal of work.

 

[red devil]

A far greater black hole than the jacket conundrum is the WATCH addiction. My therapist has declared me officially cured from buying any more jackets but said my watch addiction still needs a great deal of work.

I don't think I could live without a few addictions

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

I always say..”We’re all Bozos on this bus”!
Long as it doesn’t get in the way of life...you’re ok.
B