The leather jacket and the mid-life crisis
Soka
Posts: 23MI6 Agent
A question I keep returning to:
Does a leather jacket (any style) scream mid-life crisis for those of us in our 40s and beyond?
In truth, I'm a little conflicted on this. Apart from Daniel Craig up until Skyfall (and only just), I think it looks increasingly difficult to pull off. It's certainly not your classic Bond look. I can't imagine Connery's Bond wearing a leather jacket or Roger Moore (if he did, he'd look terrible) though I'm happy to be corrected on this. Not sure about Brosnan.
But seriously, I'm really curious to hear your views on this.
TIA
Comments
I am 48 and still wear my suede jackets frequently. I feel comfortable and at home in them. :)
I think it all depends on the styling of the jacket... There are plenty of leather / suede jackets with timeless appeal and classic style... However, if you're in your 40's and up trying to pull off a rock star / biker look - when in reality you're nowhere near that persona in real life - well yeah, folks may think you're shifting into a slight panic over your hair loss.. LOL
You can look good in leather at any age...after all Connery was 44 when Zardoz came out! 😁🍻
This is RM in View to a Kill. It just looks completely off. It's a textbook example of a mid-life crisis and what not to wear. Thoughts?
I've had a leather jacket since I was about 15 years old, different styles and colours, but it has always been a staple. I am a wee bit older now and currently have two that I wear when weather and occasion permits. You need to find one that fits, that feels right to you...and then wear it with confidence regardless of age.
PB looks amazing here on screen. But in real life (on a high street) it looks like a costume. It's not understated British elegance.
You may find this a bit cringe worthy but it does make some good points
That said it comes down to this if you feel good in it then wear it.
I have been through exactly the same feelings . (Suede is considered acceptable for older blokes if you worry about such things ) .
I had an Indiana Jones Jacket and periodically I really want to get another . The trouble is in my opinion with the exception of a lucky few , leather and the over 50s don’t mix .
Stick to suede but….like I say …if you think you can pull it off then go for it
Bikers seem to be able to pull it off, beer bellies and all. Maybe it has to do with the tats and the facial hair.
There's all kinds of crap on YouTube saying that guys over 40 shouldn't wear leather jackets or even jeans!
But like everything it comes down to what kind of shape you're in and how you style the entire outfit. What makes Garyorange's meme so scathing is that the old guy is 1.) fat 2.) wearing distressed black leather, with 3) a tucked-in button down, with 4.) jeans. It's a mid-life mishmash.
If he was wearing a dapper suede jacket over a jumper and gabardine trousers (everything color-coordinated), he would still be fat, but he wouldn't necessarily look like an ass.
Interesting video. A bit too generic. Theroux looks very cool. Totally pulls it off. It depends a lot on your physique and vibe, but I don't know if DC always gets it right, e.g. here with dad jeans:
Or here. It looks off to me. Screams mid-life crisis.
As others have said, it boils down to style and physique IMO.
A Members Only or similarly-styled “mall” jacket will always look cheesy regardless of wearer. At the same time, a dad bod will always look like a dad bod regardless of wardrobe.
The “X” factor is the comfort zone and attitude of the wearer. Guitarist Brian Setzer will look at home in a motorcycle jacket until his last breath. A middle-aged guy trying to portray an image that has never aligned with his personality will never convincingly pull off the look.
I’ve been wearing aviator and Indy-style jackets most of my life. You’re never going to convince me the classics are no longer age-appropriate.
If you're worried about wearing a leather jacket, and people can see you're worried about wearing a leather jacket, you shouldn't be wearing a leather jacket.
Should we be engaging with style videos from 2019 with people dressed as Julian Casablancas from 1999?
Great point. But surely only true to an extent. One thing is how you look in your mind; another is if you're able to zoom out and look at yourself from a distance. Take David Brent. In his mind, he looks seriously hot. But of course, Gervais knows he looks like a dog's dinner. :)
To paraphrase Vesper Lynd, there are leather jackets and there are leather jackets. You need to have an eye for style and what to pair the jacket with.
In general though I agree with Canoe2. You need to be comfortable in what you wear.
I think you're trying to make "style" an objective thing. Personally, I think it's very subjective. What looks bad to you can be a killer look to someone else. For example, I really like that leather jacket Craig wore during the Knives Out press tour. I doubt I could pull it off effectively. But I can appreciate the style on him.
And that's the key word: doubt. As soon as you're doubting how you look, all potential to be "stylish" goes out the window. I don't remember who said it, but there's that old quote: You're not wearing that hat; that hat's wearing you.
I know a few guys in their 40s, 50s and 60s that can definitely rock a black double rider. Am I one of them? No, because it's a jacket style I never felt comfortable wearing. I would have looked like a poser in one in my 20s, nevermind my 50s. But I have plenty of other leather and suede jackets (mostly cafe racer or trucker styles) that I'll throw on without hesitation.
TL;DR: Style is 90% confidence. So wear what makes you feel good.
I’ve got several leather jackets and wear them regularly. As others have said if you feel good then it probably is good 👍
Perhaps I should have said, you need to have an eye for style which suits you. Knowingly how to pair things helps. A shirt and tie rarely looks good with a leather jacket; Ricky Gervais would look better if the jacket was teamed with a casual shirt or t-shirt which toned with the tan colour of the jacket.
This question is a different sort of thing in an era where almost no one wears suits, and jeans and sneakers are some sort of conformist uniform. Put on anything from the Craig era - even his most casual pieces - and you're going to stand out, and possibly look a little "try hard."
Almost no one wears the items we obsess over on here. Grown men write blog posts about how neckties should become extinct. $600 shoes, $300 sunglasses would get us judged harshly by friends and acquaintances if they knew the price.
You'll always find a consensus of people who don't share your priorities telling you yours are bad. Even on this forum :P
+1
+1 as well. I rarely post links to my website outside of the dedicated thread here, but I had a really fun talk with Jeremy Kirkland about this topic: how we're approaching "luxury" today and how different demographics don't even acknowledge the same luxury brands. We may think of Tom Ford or C&J or whatever as being luxury. Some other guy is thinking a limited edition Supreme t-shirt or a rare Nike colorway is luxury. They would never spend $250 on tie or $4000 on a suit. But they'll drop $700 on a pair of sneakers or $400 on some artisinal Japanese selvedge jeans. As you say, different priorities.
Jeans and sneakers are definitely part of the uniform today. But to be "in fashion" you still have to be wearing the "right" jeans and the "right" sneakers. Even with basic things like that, there is a level of luxury we're supposed to pursue. And someone else is always determined to you what the "right" thing is (or perhaps it's better to say they won't hesitate to tell you when it's the "wrong" thing).
This is kind of drifting off the topic of Soka's original question. But I guess it all relates back to what everyone has been advocating so far: wear what makes you feel good.
Just watched the video posted above - IMO if you're in good shape you can be 40+ and look great in a leather jacket. Can you honestly tell me its more appropriate and looks better on a fat 25yr old in a leather jacket...who looks better then, the "old" guy or the youngster??? Age is not the differentiating factor. Its physique and confidence. If you are in good shape and fit you are likely to be more confident as the clothing will fit better, so again that will come across to others.
Brosnan is one of the best looking men of all time, especially back then. When you're that level of handsome you can pretty much pull off anything style related.
Am I outing myself by asking what’s wrong with DC’s jeans? :D
I don't think DC's jeans work: the fit, colour, the bunched up fabric in part because of the massive belt. A darker more fitted pair ala QoS is the benchmark.
BWT, do you guys have a view on his orange jacket? For me, it's hideous. :) It's very David Brent worthy.
I'm with you guys, the jeans and whole outfit looks absolutely fine to me. Opposed to Justin Theroux who looks really try hard with his super tight jeans.
I’m not a fan of the russet-colored leathers either. DC pulls it off as a 60’s throwback look, but the color alone paints the jacket into a fashion corner IMO.
Daniel Craig and his fondness for prominent belts and buckles is rather well known.
The jacket DC is wearing isn't orange. It's brown.
I personally do not like the jacket because of the cuffs. Otherwise it's fine.
Some fantastic comments and points everyone.
The point about how you feel in a jacket is so important. Maybe THE most important factor , even more than your physique and the style of the jacket.
Ive had a couple of goes at wearing the RGT. It’s a cracking jacket. I just don’t personally feel that it suits me so felt very self conscious - ie it was wearing me.
The Cuba jacket though - I pull it on a feel great even though in the community it’s probably not been seen as one of NTTD better outfits.
i think following a few rules isn’t a bad thing but they are guidelines not the law.
Pull on those leather jackets guys.
That's interesting - I've got some Bond jackets that border on too "showy" but the RGT is to me the least ostentatious of the bunch!
It’s a great jacket…can’t make it work for me but comes back to we’ve all said .
it’s all in the head !
what would we call the ‘showy’ jackets?