Wear & Tear : Levi’s Jean Jacket w/All Plaid Out
Let me start off by saying that Max of All Plaid Out is a huge reason why this blog exists. He’s been a constant source encouragement and really helped SWT get off the ground. I remember running some ideas by him about things a year or so ago, and Max really hit me get my ducks in a row. I’m quite proud and happy to present Max’s post on his father’s Levi’s Jean jacket.
My dad gave me his denim jacket when I was in high school.
“I’ve had this since I was your age.”
I wore it to an 80s dance, “Everybody Have Fun Tonight.” Red bandana tight around my forehead, I wore that thing proud, pumping my fingerless-driving-gloved fist in the air. Those really were “Glory Days.”
I asked him about it the other day.
“Bought it at Sears. Wore the hell out of that thing. See those dark-thread repairs in the arms? I got attacked by a dog. Chewed up the jacket. Repaired it myself.”
I made the mistake of wearing it into a Double RL store, and one of the shop clerks went nuts. “Dude, Capital E!” I watched as he examined the thing inside and out. He said you can really tell its quality by the waistband. And what did he think of mine?
“This thing was really made well.”
He suggested I try Denim Doctors in Los Angeles to do a “historically correct repair” to the arm’s seams which are busted.
As with most things, I don’t like clothes that are pre-worn or pre-washed. My dad assured me this thing was bulletproof when he bought it. “Stiff as a board.”
Let me do it. It makes for a much better story. My dad’s stories of this jacket are hilarious. That dog? My dad blinded it for life with a squirt gun and a little bleach.
Let that be a lesson to dogs everywhere. You attack a Wastler’s Levi’s, be prepared to live your remaining days in the dark.
How Does It Hold Up? 10/10
Quality 10/10
I’d give this a solid 10, and worth the price. As for My dad graduated from high school in 1970. The jacket is more than 40 years old.
Thanks a lot Max!
Everyone be sure All Plaid Out is on your RSS Reader or Bookmarked! This guy knows his stuff.
Thanks, JK. Great job putting this project together.
an absolute must have. handwarmer pockets are for wimps. if you are cold get a blanket lined edition… good stuff.
Blinding a dog because it bit your jacket? That is terrible with a capital T. Have an animal put down because it attacks someone is one thing, blinding it is cruel and unusual punishment.
andrew,
i’m sure it was a joke.
max is a kidder and a friend to everyone. manners of which i’m sure were instilled to him by his father.
Yeah, sorry, I’m pretty crazy about animals. It does seem pretty out of step with Max’s blog/writing (which I really enjoy).
That was a joke Drew.
Great story and amazing jacket.
I don’t know, I met up with Max for drinks a while back and he totally blinded me.
Hyperbole is a cruel devil. Pardon the extravagance, gentlemen. And Jon, blame the drinking. Oberon Day, you get me like nobody gets me!
I can forgive anything for Oberon Day.
Can’t wait ’til RL puts out his own version complete with vintage dog bite repairs. Better yet, maybe it will come with a sewing kit in one pocket and a mini swiss army knife in the other so someone can make their own “dog bite” repairs. Then again why would someone do for themselves what they can pay someone else to do for them. “Dude, capital E,” probably made his career pitching that up the line, “Ralph, you’ll never believe the jean jacket I saw the other day…it was oozing authenticity, here’s my idea for how we can sell it. Well if you’re not interested I’m sure J.Crew will be.”
Did you get the historically correct repair?