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Your position on patina

Messages
15,563
Location
East Central Indiana
img_1281.jpg


Relined older Aero Highwayman.
 

A-1

One Too Many
Messages
1,095
Location
Germany
Maybe I’m alone here but I don’t like new jackets on me. On others they’re OK, not on me.
I love patina, love it!!! Every kind of it, except for mold and reek. Patina is great! And if it’s your own patina, even holes are fine. To me the whole point of leather is that it shows usage and wear. Patina is what brought me here in the first place. I wanted things to make my own through wear. Not by abusing them but simply using them everyday.

I cannot state this often enough: I would love to see more members picking two or three of their faves and wearing them so we can see the true beauty of those jackets.

Patina to me is True Beauty/The Beauty Beneath
 

Seb Lucas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,562
Location
Australia
I hate the look of a shiny new leather jacket and won't wear one in public. It generally appears like you really haven't earned the look and you are a suit on your day off trying to look cool. But that's my subjective take on it. Patina? Depends on what you mean - wear, cracks, stains, fades, wrinkles, scuffs, smudges, scrapes - some look good, some don't - depends on the jacket, depends on the markings. It's easy to cross over from worn in to ruin. I like a jacket that has decent creasing and some light fading.
 

Dav

One Too Many
Messages
1,706
Location
Somerset, England
I cannot state this often enough: I would love to see more members picking two or three of their faves and wearing them so we can see the true beauty of those jackets

One of the main reasons I don't own more jackets, I have six but stick to four regularly, is that every new one just takes the wear away from the old one. I'd like a better fitting HWM, but having put seven years wear into it I don't want to start again.
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,775
Location
New Forest
View attachment 110621

Relined older Aero Highwayman.
This old A2 of mine has been around the block a few times, I prefer to keep it maintained with the use of an oil based polish, (not shoe polish,) carefully rubbed in using a circular motion. The jacket is so old that Nelson had is other eye when it was new. As other's have said, it's a matter of taste, I just don't like my jackets to look shabby.
IMG_0228.JPG
 

Peter Bowden

Practically Family
Messages
606
Location
united kingdom
Lots of good replies to this thread thus far. It seems there is a general consensus that legitimate "patina" is something a jacket earns over time. It's not faked and doesn't come through deliberate premeditated abuse.

Unacceptable patina may mean the jacket has reached a stage where it's in danger of being damaged simply by being worn (flaking leather or weak stitching, for example).

I personally wouldn't want to distress a jacket to create an illusion of patina or aging. To me, the best kind of patina comes only through repeated wearing, when a jacket is subjected to various conditions and use over time. Patina shows a jacket has had a life filled with experiences. It tells its story through every scar, scuff and blemish.

But some may disagree.

Let me present the example of my vintage Lesco cafe racer again with additional photos. Do you consider this an example of an acceptable level of patina? Is it just a dirty jacket that didn't receive proper care? Something in between? (I have no idea what the spots are on the back, by the way. Oil splatter?)

Of course, there are no right/wrong answers, just individual viewpoints.

Lesco_011.JPG

Lesco_012.JPG

Lesco_013.JPG

Over-grease your chain and go for a blast - instant patina
 

dan_t

Practically Family
Messages
950
Location
Sydney, Australia
Patina. Wear. Character. A mythical concept.

Or rather when I think about my jackets at least, it’s about as real as this unicorn.

38A65B7C-8549-4BBA-9B0D-0ECDD10761FF.jpeg


Australian climates & wardrobes full of options, do not lead to anywhere near enough wear to put a dent in goat, horsehide or heavy steer.
 

Dickie Teenie

A-List Customer
Messages
367
Location
Iowa now Athens Gr.
A jacket without patina looks like the jacket owns the owner not the other way around. It took two years of almost daily wear weather permitting, before it felt and looked that way to me.
I don't care for Aero's battered leathers, the Vanson Octogon or similar types, they look like they're trying to be something they're not. Aged.
 

bn1966

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,108
Location
UK
The only thing I dislike about goat is the length of time it takes to get 'patina'.

Considering a pre 'patina-ed' shearling next Fall :) 'ELC' 50 Cal
 

willyto

One Too Many
Messages
1,616
Location
Barcelona
I would call this patina on my riding gloves. Never been conditioned, never cleaned and this is an old pic. They look even better now! The use of the clutch, checking tire pressure, changing tire, rain, sun... you name it.

n6lqtO4.jpg

Only achieved with real use and abuse.
 

Gamma68

One Too Many
Messages
1,936
Location
Detroit, MI
I would call this patina on my riding gloves. Never been conditioned, never cleaned and this is an old pic. They look even better now! The use of the clutch, checking tire pressure, changing tire, rain, sun... you name it.

n6lqtO4.jpg

Only achieved with real use and abuse.

Those would go well with my Lesco.
 
Messages
16,803
How long has that jacket been for sale? Seems like I've seen it on eBay for years at various prices. Great looking jacket but didn't it start out at 3999 for asking price?

Now that you mention it, I did see this jacket a few times before...

As far as wear goes... I always thought this is just a perfect amount of patina.
T2e_C16_RHJGw_E9n_y_TT7s_BQYm_Ic788_Q_60_57.jpg

KGr_Hq_ZHJBQFBE9_B_Ic_BQYm_I7_CE9g_60_57.jpg
 

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