Wested HH Natural Distressing Photos?

[Road Warrior]

Well, with temps. in the high 80's and climbing, there's still not much of an opportunity to wear my new Wested Raiders HH, other than just wearing it around in the house with the AC cranked-up. It's bringing out some grain, and it's already draping better.

But that's not the purpose of this post. I can see tons of photos of jackets in various stages of distress, but very few in horsehide. I was wondering if anybody out there who's had a Wested in horse who can post some photos showing the natural distressing that's occured.

To each his own I guess, but I'm firmly in the camp of no sandpaper, acetone, rolling around on the driveway, etc., to accelerate the distressing process. Wear just happens. Some of the examples of artificial distressing I've seen posted here are just laughable, or perhaps more appropriately, sad. I equate it to guys wearing a hairpiece. 99% of the time, on halfway close examination, you're not fooling anybody, and they're probably laughing behind your back.

So how about it?? Anybody have any photos of their naturally-distressed Wested horsehide?

[Raider S]

Wow, rough post. So what's really on your mind?

[Road Warrior]

What do you mean "rough"? Did I touch a nerve about jackets, or do you have a hairpiece? I'm looking for photos of naturally distressed Wested horsehide jackets.

Everybody has opinions here. My opinion is that most artificially distressed jackets look just that -- artificial. So sue me. I just don't see the point of spending hundreds of dollars on a new leather jacket, taking it home and rubbing it down with acetone and sandpaper to make it look like I've been on a bunch of adventures that I haven't really been on.

But come on, without naming names some of the jacket photos posted here don't even look close to realistic.

I also realize that there's plenty of people here that think waiting for an Indy jacket to distress naturally to the point of "coolness" takes way too long. That's why I say to each his own.

[Raider S]

Yes, I wear two hairpieces - at the same time. I wear them when I go to anger management therapy. Actually, I think we go to the same therapist, right?

I doubt people are laughing behind the backs of people who choose to distress a jacket. It's just a fashion choice. I don't care to do it, but I like the looks of many of the distressed jackets I see. Some go too far but it doesn't bother me.

The original movie jackets were aged. I think they look cool.

[Raider S]

You did read where I said I like the look of distressed jackets, correct?

And you could say I do some distressing as my new USW goat I wore in the shower and tumbled in a no-heat dryer for a day. I love that thing.

[Road Warrior]

No doubt the Indy MOVIE jackets were/are cool.

However, they had the advantage of:

1. HUGE budgets, piles of jackets, time, people, and experience to get it right.
2. Most importantly, the camera is very myopic, plus throw in expert and expensive lighting, filters, angles, digital editing, etc. Looking realistic on screen is totally different than real life. That's why when you visit a movie studio and see sets up close they often just look cheesy and phony compared to on screen.

My point: Almost anything can be made to look great on screen with enough time, money and people thrown at it. Standing 3 feet away in person is a whole different situation.

Good. Neither of you distress your jackets. Go ahead and start posting those pics for us.

My Wested is brand-new. What's to show?

I doubt people are laughing behind the backs of people who choose to distress a jacket. It's just a fashion choice. I don't care to do it, but I like the looks of many of the distressed jackets I see. Some go too far but it doesn't bother me.

Ok, I will give you that people may not laugh (much) at even some of the more ridiculous examples of artificial distressing. I don't care what they do with their jacket, but I'm just calling it like I see it. But they they DO laugh at hairpieces. Sorry rug-wearers, you ain't fooling anybody!

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/allpolit ... cinich.jpg

[Michaelson]

Looks real to me. 8-[

Regards! Michaelson

[jacksdad]

Just an FYI, I know you want posts of an Indy horsehide jacket,but I have a Wings Horsehide A-2 and let me tell you it's tuff and hard to scratch for the first year wearing it nothing could scratch it, but wearing it hard on the second year,I've got wear in the usual areas,pockets zippers and sleeves,but it's minmal. Horsehide is tuff and will last a life time. I have a wested goat and look forward to seeing how it distress this winter for me.

[Road Warrior]

Just an FYI, I know you want posts of an Indy horsehide jacket,but I have a Wings Horsehide A-2 and let me tell you it's tuff and hard to scratch for the first year wearing it nothing could scratch it, but wearing it hard on the second year,I've got wear in the usual areas,pockets zippers and sleeves,but it's minmal. Horsehide is tuff and will last a life time. I have a wested goat and look forward to seeing how it distress this winter for me.

Oh, I know about horsehide. I own two front quarter horsehide Aero's, which are far heavier than the Wested. My black Aero shows almost no wear after about 2 years, but my brown jacket shows a lot more after less than a year. I think it's due to the color, not the weight or tanning process, because they're both 4 oz. chrome tanned hides.

I was just wondering if the hides used by Wested started showing distress early on or not. The finish is definitely different looking than the Aero's, but I know they source their hides from different vendors. Aero gets theirs from Horween in Chicago, and I think Wested gets theirs from Italy. Probably different tanning and finish processes.

Whatever. It'll just do what it does, and I'll get what I get.