US Caste System and Leather Jackets

[Biff42]

Listen young man, your friend was absolutely right. Haven't your schoolteachers shown you the film Reefer Madness? Leather jackets are the popular look among greasers, junkies, communists, and *******uals. It's even possible that a "beatnik" street gang could mistake you for a member when they spot you wearing a leather jacket... and look out- if they discover you're not, they're liable to call you a "square" and stab you with the switchblade knives they carry. So come on, son. Why don't you get on the right team, helping to bring it home for the big win? Counter-culture "trends" are never the answer when it comes to looking your best!

Exactly right. Studies have shown the averge leather jacket owner visiting the FL looks like these guys::

 

[MrProper]

Exactly right. Studies have shown the averge leather jacket owner visiting the FL looks like these guys::

View attachment 638713

Ah I watched this movie dozens of times in my younger years. Great

 

[Trouser Bark]

I'll take esoteric references for $20, Alex.

 

[Bender]

Exactly right. Studies have shown the averge leather jacket owner visiting the FL looks like these guys::

View attachment 638713

(clink-clink-clink-clink)
Fedora loungers...
(clink-clink)
Come out to play-ee-ayyyyy...

 

[Worf]

Very interesting and amusing thread. Thanks, best laugh I've had in days. I personally LIKE the look of fear/dread I often get when wrapped in leather. When attired I only have to worry about drunks and fools.

Worf

 

[VansonRider]

Me too!!

 

[Biff42]

View attachment 638845

Me too!!

Gray Vanson H?

 

[theeprimitivesound]

I enjoy wearing utility and m/c oriented leather jackets and have a thick hide of my own when it comes to other people's opinion of what I happen to like.

In conversation w/ a business associate recently he made an unusual remark that I'd never pondered before. Specifically he referred to something akin to caste and implied that wearing a leather jacket was an outward indication that the wearer was somehow of lesser social status than he and apparently others.

I've never noticed that before and don't see the world in that way (I'm in the US and so is he) but I wonder... have you noticed anything similar?

He sounds like an A Hole.

 

[Trouser Bark]

He sounds like an A Hole.

I'm 100% certain that a lot of people think he is. He's loud, talks over the top of everyone about whatever stream of consciousness flies out of his head next, redirects conversations and ruffles feathers more often than most.

I've met a ton of ******es though and he's not one. Nice guy really he just looks at the same things you or I do from a different perspective and then shares his view absent polish or sugar.

There are a lot of things in his wake that need to be revisited, worded differently or fixed and there's a thicker layer of relationship fires in his vicinity. ******es are like that intentionally and that's not his thing. Smart, too. Just have to be careful about how you interpret some of his comments and delicate little flowers may get the wrong end of that bee.

 

[VansonRider]

Gray Vanson H?

Good eye!

 

[jchance]

This is just are leather jackets asking for trouble round 2.

insert popcorn emoji

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

I'm 100% certain that a lot of people think he is. He's loud, talks over the top of everyone about whatever stream of consciousness flies out of his head next, redirects conversations and ruffles feathers more often than most.

I've met a ton of ******es though and he's not one. Nice guy really he just looks at the same things you or I do from a different perspective and then shares his view absent polish or sugar.

There are a lot of things in his wake that need to be revisited, worded differently or fixed and there's a thicker layer of relationship fires in his vicinity. ******es are like that intentionally and that's not his thing. Smart, too. Just have to be careful about how you interpret some of his comments and delicate little flowers may get the wrong end of that bee.

Makes me think of the old adage... if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck...

 

[Trouser Bark]

Makes me think of the old adage... if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck...

Many think he's a duck but they use a different vowel.

 

[jchance]

There’s some truth to what your elder colleague was saying, but his 65-year-old view is really ancient. Leather jacket, like jeans, was not uncommon among the working class in the 1930s. If you browse the workwear pics, you’d see:

https://www.instagram.com/theworkwearyears

https://vintagedancer.com/1930s/1930s-mens-workwear/

These days, leather jackets are considered luxury (eg crocodile skin, mouton collar), but the vintage worn ones can come off rugged.

 

[Doctor Death]

By today's standards, just about any kind of leather jacket is an expensive luxury and indicates, if anything, high caste.

Since the Covid pandemic, I've aimed for the dead biker look, with motorcycle jacket, skull death mask, black or mirrored sunglasses, steel chain wallet, black boots, black riding gloves. It has the advantage of saving on costume spending for Halloween, since I already look like the Prince of Darkness. Also haven't been mugged since sporting this look. Although I've been hoping that someone would be stupid enough to try. (After the second time some decades ago, I swore I'd never get mugged again. I will give it to him to the hilt or drag him to hell with me. We'll shout at the devil together!)

 

[Doctor Death]

That office idiot probably never wore a leather jacket in his life. As Elvis sang, "you ain't never worn leather, you ain't no friend of mine".