Looks like you will need to buy some new black shoes and boots!
Good day, everyone. I must have read this post over a dozen of times this past year when I found myself sitting on the fence as to whether or not to fork over a grand for Mister Freedom's Campus Leather Jacket. Well, I finally pulled the trigger just last week and I must say that it has instantly become the front runner in my personal leather jacket collection.Ok I don't normally write reviews but I can't pass up doing so on this one. Further, this is by no means the first or most comprehensive overview of this particular model (John at VEB has done an incredibly thorough assessment of his, as I'm sure many of you already know), but I haven't been this excited for a jacket in a long while- and I've had my paws on a pretty sizable amount of jackets.
I was thankful to recently take possession of this lightly used Mister Freedom Campus Jacket. As a longtime fan of A1 style civvy jackets, I was was excited for this one from the day Christophe first started showing the prototype off in the interwebs a few years ago.
All I can say is wow. The fit, construction, details, just wow.
The jacket is made out of a 2-3oz veg tanned natural cowhide. It's unlined (which is what first attracted me to it), fitted with natural ivory cat eye buttons with pearly white French backing buttons, and has khaki corduroy cuff and collar facings.
The tagged sizing is a bit strange and the measurements are a bit deceiving.
This particular jacket is tagged sz 40 which in this model is considered a Large. It has a 22" pit to pit on the dot and the back measurement is just around 23" from the collar seam to base of hem. I would normally never get a jacket with these specs to fit at all comfortably on me but due to the low sitting collar and modestly wide arm hole openings, it's not tight or short in the slightest bit. In fact it may be my best fitting jacket at the moment.
And the hide. Love it and I think it's perfect for this style jacket. It's buttery soft yet sturdy and you can tell can stand up to abuse. It IS NOT for the person who fusses over scuffs and imperfections. You will go crazy if you can't handle a stain here or there (or everywhere!), as this hide is all but certain to mark up and look abused with normal wear. But that's the point.
(You won't find me eating a plate of wings or ribs while wearing it anytime soon though lol). And as far as wearability, it reminds me of a grab and go jacket similar to a denim jacket. Not sure if it's a result of the hide or the cut or both, but it wears much "easier" than the others in my heard. I can tell I'll be going to this jacket a lot more than others.
I am really looking forward to seeing this jacket evolve and gain its own character. And I would strongly recommend this jacket to anyone asking me about it.
Now for some pics
This is a fantastic jacket. I bought one earlier this year and put it through a rigorous break in regimen along with conditioning it with a number of different applications.....ranging from coconut oil to Bicks 4. It has also had many of outside tanning sessions throughout the spring and summer months. Lastly, I decided to take a big step and apply Fiebold's Russet Leather Dye. I could not be happier with the results. Check out the photos. Thanks!
