Vintage Appreciation

Christmas of 2012, my father -- general all-around bad ass, rock musician and former flower child -- presented me with something really quite special: a vintage leather jacket. This gift was particularly meaningful for a number of reasons. My father was in full swing during the 60s era of revolution, so to have a piece of clothing that is so reminiscent of that time (although I do not know the actual dating on my piece) was like having a piece of my dad's personal history that I could touch, like he was able to actually bring me into his world. Also, my father hates shopping and couldn't care less about clothing, so for him to have gone out of his way not only to buy me something fashion-related, but something so unique and impressively awesome, made it clear how much effort and care really went into it. Lastly, the jacket itself is just mind blowing. Take a look:

Pairing an item like this can have its difficulties. It's bound to be a focal point, yet to pair it with something completely bland undermines its artistry. The day I wore this was the first warm day in weeks, and I wanted to walk around the city taking in the fresh air. I didn't want to look overdone, but wanted more of an effortless cool. You know, the whole 60s vibe. After a lot of poor wardrobe pairings, I ended with something that actually made me quite happy.

Leather jacket of awesomeness.

Pat Benatar crop top (totally 80s but the laid back band-T quality completely worked. Plus I actually got it at one of her concerts so like...does anyone care? No, because she's epic).

Distressed jeans.

Casual brown knee-high boots.

I paired those clothing items with a messy pony, dark yet unrefined makeup (smudged eyeliner), and spiked silver earrings that said "don't worry, I've still got some punk in me," and next thing I knew I had the perfect bohemian idgaf ensemble. Here's the result:

It made me feel in complete control as I walked around town, and that's exactly what I needed in that moment. Plus that brown bag in my hand was holding precious cargo from the best bagel place in the neighborhood, so who could have any complaints, right? NO ONE, that's who.

But now I really just want to appreciate this jacket for everything it is, which is total art. Look at these details:

Let's start with the collar. I like the exaggerated points of the tips, as well as the fact that it doesn't wrap all the way around to the zipper. Then there are the three strips of leather on each shoulder (harkening to an age when patchwork was commonplace), contrasting the downward points of the collar and strengthening the shoulder line.

Then there are the pockets. Oh how I adore the pockets on this jacket. First off, the seaming. Then the simple shape of the flap is completely not attention seeking yet still different from most anything you see present day. The vertical zipper is actually one of my favorite details. I'm not sure I can pinpoint why, but it reinforces the seaming nicely and just adds a certain earthiness in terms of color and texture. The whole jackets is very graphic while still giving off the overall appearance of softness. Plus the stone button is totally giving me 60s "I like to sleep on the ground sometimes" realness!

Just look at that button.

But no matter how amazing any of the details on this jacket are, nothing can compare to the hand painted birds that flank each side of the chest. There's just so much of that fantastic Americana "I wear an American flag patterned head scarf and denim cutoffs" vibe coupled with Native American inspiration finished with a dash of phoenix born from the ashes. They're beautiful.

You cannot buy hand crafted detail like this anymore unless you want to eat ramen for a solid 3 months.

So basically, it's stunning. I loved the laid back vibe I accomplished with this look, but I'd be super interested to see how it goes being paired with something a little more feminine. I have a tight leopard print maxi dress that paired with some dark wood platforms I own and over accessorized necklaces and rings may really just do the trick. Next time I'm at my parents' house I'll grab the dress so I can try it out and post the results :)

To sum:

Love your dad.

Buy vintage.

Eat bagels.

~ Devin