Club Obi Wan

We have a little discussion over in the German Indy Fan Forum about Indy´s gear. The following question came up: When you put on your (authentic) Indygear do you wear a costume or are you just dressed normaly? I´d like to hear some of your opinions.

Depends on what point you're at in the 'dress'.

In my opinion, you're in normal dress with hat, jacket, shirt, trousers and boots, and for many, the bag.

It becomes 'costume' when you add the gun belt and whip, unless you're in the field and are using them as actual tools.

Regards! Michaelson

I have been dressing in Indy type clothing and hats years before ROLA. About the only difference is now I am wearing what I consider a better quality and cooler looking version now. Especially the Fedora and Jacket.

Michaelson wrote:Depends on what point you're at in the 'dress'.

In my opinion, you're in normal dress with hat, jacket, shirt, trousers and boots, and for many, the bag.

It becomes 'costume' when you add the gun belt and whip, unless you're in the field and are using them as actual tools.

Regards! Michaelson

That sounds like the correct delineation point between clothing and costume.

Most of it is clothing that you CAN wear, it is functional, and not laughably out of fashion (debates aside).

But if you've got no USE for the weapons, then wearing them does stand out as contrived - a costume, as it were. If you are in some milieu in which you can use them (hike, ranch, witchhunt, etc.), then they are appropriate gear, and not a costume.

J

G-MANN wrote:I have been dressing in Indy type clothing and hats years before ROLA. About the only difference is now I am wearing what I consider a better quality and cooler looking version now. Especially the Fedora and Jacket.

Same here, G-MANN! Sounds like we're cut from the same cloth.......what would that be...burlap?

HIGH regards!

Michaelson

Jacket, and bag are regular clothing for me, same as the hat though I only wear it on special ocassions not as often as the jacket and bag which i wear every day.

So for me its not a costume unless im wearing my whip, etc...

@Michealson: Your post is actually the same as the one I posted in the German Forum!

Michaelson wrote:
Same here, G-MANN! Sounds like we're cut from the same cloth.......what would that be...burlap?

HIGH regards!

Michaelson

Burlap sounds about right And not only that but I go through about 8 to 12 HUGE cups of joe every day too
Cheers,
G-MANN

OK, how about that: When you are wearing a police officer´s uniform although you are not a police officer, is the uniform now a costume for you?

Last Crusader wrote:OK, how about that: When you are wearing a police officer´s uniform although you are not a police officer, is the uniform now a costume for you?

No. It is called a crime, impersonating a police officer. Just kidding.

I think it's all about context.

I agree that if you genuinely use the hat for shade, the jacket for protection, the bag for utility, and the gun for... whatever it is you need a gun for, ditto the whip, then you can legitimately call full Indy gear perfectly normal work wear.

I submit that if you were to walk down J Street in downtown Sacramento (where I work) wearing khakis, hat, jacket, and bag, not even with the whip and gunbelt, any person who is a fan of the movies (to the extent that he/she sees them on a periodic basis) will likely see you and think, "He is wearing an Indiana Jones costume. Cool, yet odd. I wonder if there is convention I didn't know about?" It's a fine line. I wear the jacket. I don't wear the hat, though some (usually *ahem* older gentlemen) wear fedoras or fedora-like hats, apparently with impunity. I feel the combo gets more costumelike, even moreso when you add components, like the bag. I carry a messenger bag; without the lid, it would be a reach for somebody to go "Hey, Indy!" With the lid... getting closer.

Take a third scenario: you are in the middle of serious BFE, somewhere (however rare) where very few people have seen Raiders. (I recognize the likelihood that a Gearhead would not miss the chance to wear his gear in such a situation!) Nobody is going to "recognize" you. It is therefore up to you whether you consider yourself to be wearing a costume... nobody else knows any better.

Whether there is a judgement to be made on the costumeness of Indygear I leave to a different post.

Cordially,
Lord Clarence

P.S. I should note, I myself, when I see someone wearing a non-accurate jacket and a non-accurate lid, initally think, "Nice try, dude." Then I chide myself and remember that not everyone in a leather jacket is trying to look like Indiana Jones. It's possible far fewer people make the connection than we think do.

Michaelson wrote:Depends on what point you're at in the 'dress'.

In my opinion, you're in normal dress with hat, jacket, shirt, trousers and boots, and for many, the bag.

It becomes 'costume' when you add the gun belt and whip, unless you're in the field and are using them as actual tools.

Regards! Michaelson

That's my reply as well. Wow, great minds DO think alike!

Seriously, it's clothing until I'm going to a Convention, Parade, Summit etc and then add the gunbelt, holster, and whip. I also use my Keppler fedora for the "costume" as it's coated with Fuller's Earth, and my other fedoras are kept clean for the daily wear look.

Bufflehead Jones wrote: No. It is called a crime, impersonating a police officer.

As for me... till i wear Jacket, Pants and Shirt i don't feel like wearing a costume... but when i add the hat i've started recently to feel a bit uncomfortable. Till few months ago i didnt have pants, shirt and jacket (not screen accurate) and i just wore the hat with matching clothes... now i really feel like impersonating a character.. and i still have to get used to it.

...anyway i'm lucky because here very few people, nearly no one, could recognize the indy gear also if it would walk in front of them (sad i know but at least i dont hear voices from behind shouting HEY INDY!) except some "looks" from the American tourists, Florence is crowded of you guys!


So well... i agree with Michaelson anyway: hat, jacket, pants, aldens, shirt and even bag is still a normal "dress". If you add gun and whip it really becomes a costume.

Same here, G-MANN! Sounds like we're cut from the same cloth.......what would that be...burlap?

Cheese cloth!

Serial Hero wrote:

Same here, G-MANN! Sounds like we're cut from the same cloth.......what would that be...burlap?

Cheese cloth!

Or perhaps used coffee filters

I see the difference between costume and normal clothes as one of intent. If you intend to play a character of Indiana Jones, then it is a costume. If you have tanscended that and it is simply how you dress, then it is clothes.

If you have transcended that and it is simply how you dress, then it is clothes.

Some people are just in a higher state if Indy consciousness than others. Do not look down on those who are not, or make jest, but instead bring them into the light and show them the way of the gear.

Serial Hero wrote:Some people are just in a higher state if Indy consciousness than others. Do not look down on those who are not, or make jest, but instead bring them into the light and show them the way of the gear.

Well, let me clarify. What I meant was, if you are able to put on a set of clothes that are identified with a fictional character without thinking of that character, then you have "transcended" those associations. There was no value judgement made, nor any pejorative intended. Now let me go back to my meditations.

I look at it this way:

Hat + jacket + shoulder bag does not equal costume.

Hat + jacket + shoulder bag + khaki pants does not equal costume.

Hat + jacket + shoulder bag + khaki pants + adventure shirt + sweater does not equal costume in wintertime.

Hat + jacket + shoulder bag + khaki pants + adventure shirt + location is at a ComiCon = costume. Fun, though.

I think I'm pretty much in line with the general attitude here. The clothes (although I do often wear a pair of Cabela's pants with cargo pockets) are practical for what I do and where I do it. Personally, I could no longer live without what my sister refers to as a "man purse". Even the gun belt has found use in my life! I've attached an old swedish ammo pouch to it and use it to store my flight gloves and charts. When I don't need 'em, I just toss the whole belt. So for me, holster and whip would make it the costume.

So far, very few people have actually commented that it looks Indyish, although I did have a girl with a very serious Harrison Ford fetish propose to me in a Starbuck's on my way from work once.

I wear the jacket, pants and boots all the time as part of my everyday wear, but as soon as the hat goes on with the jacket its "Hey Indy/Indiana Jones/Dr Jones! (in Short Round voice)" all day long and that , to me, feels like a costume so I don't do it. I agree with Michaelson's definition, but unfortunately I just can't pull it off without attracting attention and thats just not me. I mostly wear the hat with a different type of jacket and/or on my outdoor adventures and the only thing I get is "cool hat".

I blame Steve and Peter for making such authentic products.

I think we are all kidding ourselves if we think that simply because we wear the gear everyday or that nobody yells "Hey Indy!" at us that we are not wearing a costume. There is a difference between nobody making the connection and the gear not being considered a costume.

I only own one jacket that is not leather, and I only bring that one when I am hiking because it is light weight. When I wear any other leather jacket with any other style hat,I do ot consider it a costume, (although the general public will see virtually any leather jacket with a fedora as Indy).

The fact that I bought a jacket of the same material and design as a jacket that I have admired from the movies - from the original maker (Wested is considered a costumier), I would say yes, it is a costume jacket. A very well-made, and reasonably priced one, but made to replicate the jacket in a movie. It is still the coolest looking jacket out there.

The same with the fedora. We all love the hat because of the Indiana Jones movies. I wear one daily, but it is a replica of a movie hat. I also wear a Crocodile Dundee hat from time to time. You cannot mistake that hat for anything but a replica of the movie hat. Sure it is functional, but so is a straw hat. It is just not as cool.

Any time we buy gear that is painstakingly chosen to achieve the look of the Indy movies, whether it was from Noel Howard or if it is from Indy Magnoli it is copying a costume from a fictional character. Even the "good-enough" gear from L.L. Bean or the local pawn shop can be considered a costume as far as I am concerned, if it was not a part of your life before you discovered Indy Gear.

Most of the members here seem to think that as long as you do not cross a certain line like wearing a whip or holster, and the gear can be worn daily withough attracting attention, it is not considered a costume. That is cool and I can respect your opinion. I am not trying to change it, but to justify my reasoning.

How many of us would have chosen the MK-VII Gas Mask bag without it being an Indy bag? Because it is functional does not change the fact that it was purchased because Harrison Ford carried one around in the Indy movies. Especially if you have changed the strap to a leather strap. How can you say that is not part of a costume?

People are making their own belts from scratch trying to get one that looks like Indy's gun belt. The belt from one store, the buckle from another and the metal keeper from a third. There are plenty of high quality and fully functional belts in today's world where you do not need to make your own. Yet we do. Why?

I own many of Peter's jackets, 5 NH shirts, a pair of NH pants and have about 12 fedoras. All are very well made and can easily function as normal "non-costume" clothing. But because we are knowingly buying this clothing to establish the look of a movie character, I feel it is a costume.

I also own three holsters (when I do not even own a real gun!), 4 or 5 MK VII bags (with leather straps), a great kangaroo whip as well as a nylon whip. I cannot count the amount of props I have - even some that I picked up that are not from the movies, but I thought looked cool alongside the Idol or the Grail Diary.

I wear a leather jacket every day and my trusty fedora each day as well. I am fully aware of how my attire looks to others. Sure they associate it with the way I dress now, but I will never lose fact that it is based on a movie costume that I thought looked pretty bad-###. That is how I can wear the gear with confidence.

How many of us wore our daily "non-costume" Indiana Jones replicas on Halloween? I do. Is it only a costume for one day, then it changes back to normal clothing magically?

I guess this is one thing I've never been able to understand about fashion trends in this country.

Why is it that clothing styles from the 60's , 70's and to some extent the 80's can comeback into fashion but an era that actually had some class like the 30's and 40's is completely ignored?

If you look at the current trends the tweens and the college set have embraced they all look like poor slobs that look like they got into their mommy and daddy's old clothes from the late 60's / early 70's.

What really gets me is that I can wear my fedora out in public and someone with 20 facial piercings and wearing a goth outfit can give me a look like I'm the one that's out of place.


PITFALL

I actually wore gray fedoras and other fedoras (more modeled after gangster movies) and became known as the "guy with the fedoras" before I got my Indy gear, so the indy fedora on me (to those who know me, is not instantly "costumeish..." I concure that when I when I wear it in everyday life, its clothes, but when I wear it to an event, with the specific intent of actually looking like indiana jones rather than being inspired to dress similarly, I am in a "costume"

philosophically I like to think of everyone's clothes as a costume though (those who know a bit about me may know I dress a tad excentrically) and I like to pose this question: How do you costume yourself? As an action hero? Pirate? or and extra?

anyway, I also have fun with my indy and misc. adventure gear creating costumes for other indy-like characters...

rick, I understand your point but I can´t completely agree.
I own the same suit James Bond wears in Goldfinger. When I wear it nobody would say that I´m wearing a Bond costume even when he/she should indentify the suit as the one from the movie.
All the Indy clothes have been existing before Raiders as normal clothes. Of course they have been modified for the movie but I don´t call them parts of a costume. Indy is just the most famous leather jacket and fedora wearing person but who knows if someone wasn´t really dressed like Indy before Raiders came out.

Just to add two cents here. If you Distress the gear to make it screen accurate, then you are turning every day wear into a costume.

My wife calls my "gear" a costume. I feel funny, if you will, wearing too many items from my gear at one time. Of course, I don't wear the gun belt and all the goodies.
I wear the jacket and Aldens, plus one of my adventure shirts (lately, photojournalist types) often. No comments. Put on the fedora or fedora and bag and the funny feeling comes back. I don't like to be "called out" in a crowd. I'm not the least bit shy, but I don't do well being made fun of.
Thus, I think of many of the articles being a costume and some as regular clothing. A costume if people make fun of me and regular clothing when they don't.

Best regards,

Prof. Ed

I agree with Michaelson and Hem on this, however, I have to add that does it really matter if the gear is a costume or not? I don't care –and enjoy wearing all combinations of the gear– and if anyone else does care, tough. This is an interesting topic that has brought on some insightful comments, but for me the most important part of wearing the gear is that I like it, and it's, usually, practical attire.

Last Crusader wrote:rick, I understand your point but I can´t completely agree.
I own the same suit James Bond wears in Goldfinger. When I wear it nobody would say that I´m wearing a Bond costume even when he/she should indentify the suit as the one from the movie.

Again, because it is not recognized as a Bond costume, does not change the fact that it is the same one Bond wore. Don't get me wrong, I think it is great. But would you have bought that particular suit if not for Bond? I do not mean, would you consider it a suit worthy of owning, but if you did not know it was a replica of a movie suit, would you have chosen that particular one from all the other choices, or did you want it because it was the same suit James Bond wears in Goldfinger?

Last Crusader wrote:All the Indy clothes have been existing before Raiders as normal clothes. Of course they have been modified for the movie but I don´t call them parts of a costume. Indy is just the most famous leather jacket and fedora wearing person but who knows if someone wasn´t really dressed like Indy before Raiders came out.

That is my point. There are examples of other people wearing similar combinations of leather jackets and fedora. But when you go through the trouble to get the closest thing you can get to an exact copy of a particular jacket - that was only worn in the movies - then it is a costume. Peter makes A-2 jackets. Are these costume jackets? Well, they did exist in both military and civilian versions and they are everywhere, so I would say they are NOT costumes. But as soon as Peter slaps the "Memphis Belle" artwork on them, you have a movie costume.

I wear the jacket and Aldens, plus one of my adventure shirts (lately, photojournalist types) often.

I forgot about the Alden 405's. How many members are wearing these shoes? (I have a pair. ) Now, how many of the members wearing them need to wear orthopedic shoes? I don't. I bought the shoes because they were Indiana Jones shoes. Would I ever have done so otherwise? Nope. I never even would have known about them.

Prof. Ed wrote:Thus, I think of many of the articles being a costume and some as regular clothing. A costume if people make fun of me and regular clothing when they don't.

Even though this is pretty funny, it is actually the way some of us justify wearing our gear.

Here is another test:
Wear a t-shirt and jeans while walking down the street by yourself. Now, hang out with ten of your friends who are also wearing a t-shirt and jeans. No big deal, right?

Now wear a Wested and a fedora while walking down the street by yourself. Not too bad, right? A few comments, maybe. Could be good comments, could be people goofing on you. Now get a group of ten people walking down the street all wearing a fedora and a Wested and tell me you do not feel a little conspicuous - or like you are wearing a costume now.

It is all good gear. Leather jackets are timeless. Fedoras are the coolest hats.

Pitfall Harry wrote:What really gets me is that I can wear my fedora out in public and someone with 20 facial piercings and wearing a goth outfit can give me a look like I'm the one that's out of place.


PITFALL

Hahahahahaha! I couldn't agree with you more Pitfall!

rick5150 wrote: Here is another test:
Wear a t-shirt and jeans while walking down the street by yourself. Now, hang out with ten of your friends who are also wearing a t-shirt and jeans. No big deal, right?

Rick, I agree with you that I would feel conspicuous wearing full gear with a group of gearheads doing the same. I think your test would be more accurate though if everyone was wearing the exact same T-shirt, pair of jeans, and maybe baseball caps. Of course, then people would just think they were a sports team. I guess everyone will think we are the infamous Flying Indys!

Capt_Zak wrote:

Pitfall Harry wrote:What really gets me is that I can wear my fedora out in public and someone with 20 facial piercings and wearing a goth outfit can give me a look like I'm the one that's out of place.


PITFALL

Hahahahahaha! I couldn't agree with you more Pitfall!

hah, indeed, but as much as they'll hate to admit it, it probably takes more guts to wear a fedora and gear or other "vintage clothes" (bowtie, suspenders) in public than to prance around with a tin man face... for theirs is a definite and 'accepted' archetype of style...

I occasionally get flack, but I wear mostly pre 1960's clothes anyway so I'm used to it... once I was hanging out with a friend in front of a gas station (Sheets, so its not a 'normal' gas station) and this guy and his buddy (who both looked kinda like ½ gothic ½ Abercrombie and Eaglepostle) got out of their Hummer and he goes, "Nice hat, f##" and I was like "Thank you?" After the guy went inside this other kid that was hanging out (hadn’t met him before) asked if I wanted him to help me beat the dude up, I just said I don’t think it'll take both of us... (Hummer boy and his sidekick left in a hurry and without a fuss in after a couple minutes)

heh another time at the same gas station these kids kept looking over and laughing, and they were trying to get my friend to give them some of his cigarettes... one goes "what's the whip for" (I cant even remember why I had it, but) I just looked at my friend, then said "Its a s## thing..." and I winked at the guy... I didnt get bothered by him or his buddies again...

I agree with Rick. We all bought this stuff because it was a costume in a cool movie. A lot of people will not recognize it as a costume until you put together a combination of the hat, jacket, and bag.

There are exceptions. Like the time that I have written about here on COW previously, when I was shopping at BJs Wholesale Warehouse (it's like Sam's Club) and a thirteen year old girl noticed my AB fedora. The hat was the only item of Indy gear that I had on. But, she instantly recognized it as the costume hat from the Indy movies and began following me around the store humming the Raiders March at the top of her lungs.

If folks want to rationalize that since it functions as everyday clothes and they can say that they just enjoy dressing in a retro fashion, that is fine. I could decide that Spiderman's suit would be very functional for everyday wear and decide to wear that because it is very aerodynamic like a speed skater. But, just because I started wearing it everyday, does not mean that it is not a costume.

Others will argue that Indy's outfit was comon place wear for all men in a certain bygone era. While that is true, "normal" people today do not wear that. If you had never heard of the Indiana Jones movies and just happened to put together a similar outfit, then I would say that it was not a costume. But, that didn't happen. The bottom line reason that any of us bought this stuff was because it was in a movie and it is a cool costume.

Movies have had a big impact on fashion. People see something in a movie and think that it is cool and want to buy something like it for themselves. After a short while, that fad usually passes. We at IndyGear, have decided to carry on that fad and perpetuate the wearing of Indiana Jones' costume. We just prefer to call it gear.

Some folks are more inspired by sports than by movies. These are the ones that walk around wearing their favorite sports hero's jersey with the hero's name and number on it. Or, wear jackets with all the decals and name and numbers to make their jacket resemble their favorite Nascar driver's protective nomex suit.

I don't know why, one is more accepted than the other. Do they look at it that the sports star is based on a real person, and thus is okay. The movie character is not real, and thus is a type of fantasy, and look at the wearer as weird.

Isn't it just as big of a fantasy that someone would walk down the street with Michael Jordan's jersey or Dale Ernhardt's jacket? They certainly are not that sports star anymore than I am Indiana Jones.

Do they think that it is more acceptable because they are the fan of some big sports jock, and thus wearing that jersey is more "manly"? Indiana Jones was a man's man. But, wear his "gear" and a lot of folks will make fun of you. I personally find it funny, when the guy that is laughing at me because I am dressed as Indiana Jones, is standing there wearing his Dale Earnhardt jacket, ball cap, "official wrist watch", and his black pickup truck has a big number 3 and a bunch of racing decals on it.

But as soon as Peter slaps the "Memphis Belle" artwork on them, you have a movie costume.

But the the Memphis Belle crew actually wore their A-2 with the Memphis Belle nose-art on it. The jackets appearing in the movie are authentic replicas of existing jackets. I think you cannot call all clothes that are seen in movies a costume when they existed before.

Capt_Zak wrote:

Pitfall Harry wrote:What really gets me is that I can wear my fedora out in public and someone with 20 facial piercings and wearing a goth outfit can give me a look like I'm the one that's out of place.


PITFALL

Hahahahahaha! I couldn't agree with you more Pitfall!

Yeah, I just don't get it.

Society in general has no class or manners anymore, especially the younger generation. Because of this I'm made to feel foolish for wearing something that has some class to it.

I don't think the gear is really a costume unless you've got all of it on at once. Adding the whip , holster and gunbelt will really get people's attention.

I think the bag can go either way. I see a lot of college kids walking around with shoulder bags similar to Indy's that they carry their books and stuff in.


You have to be pratical about it. Indy wouldn't go everywhere with his whip and gun on. He only put the "gear" on when he was traveling and headed off into danger.

Wearing the hat, shirt , jacket , pants and boots will only get a slight glance from someone who will probably think your dressing retro.

Now after the 4th film comes out and people get re-aquainted with Indy then it might be a whole other story.


PITFALL

Okay. If you are a member of the Memphis Belle crew and are wearing the jacket, it is not a costume. But, if you are not, then it is a costume.

When I wear an A-2 with the Memphis Belle logo an the back I would do it to honor the crew and maybe to keep it in good memory. I believe it has to do with your intention why you wear these clothes. I think nobody wears such a jacket to impersonate one of the crew members but because its part of history.

The jacket, shirt, trousers, boots, web belt and bag all together would still look ok in the British highstreet. There's many people wearing army surplus. Web belts and pistol belts are currently in fashion. Canvas satchels of various types are in fashion too.

Once you add the hat, you will get looks (If you are over 45 you can sometimes get away with this). But add the gunbelt, holster and whip, it's definately a costume, you have to be under 12 to get away with that!

I get funny looks wearing the hat and I'm over 50. I just keep walking around saying, "it's okay, I'm an old guy!" Maybe it would help if I had one of those sayings from the baseball caps put on my fedora that says, "Old Fart".

I was just thinking....

With all the complaing about how there is a higher risk of skin cancer these days because of sun exposure I would think larger brimmed hats like the fedora's would come back into style. I would think they'd give you some protection.

I just can't figure out how the baseball cap could replace something like a fedora as far as normal head wear goes.



PITFALL

My take is that it IS and always will be a costume, but it's just so accessible that you can wear it in daily life.
I doubt the actual movie stuff was even thought about lasting in daily wear because it was simply made to be a costume in a movie. However, over the years some of the costume has been altered for everyday use so we can enjoy the best of both worlds if we want to. I pretty much only wear my Wested and Aldens on a regular basis. I'm not much of a khaki or button-up kinda guy so I never wear the pants and shirt outside of wearing the entire costume.

My biggest ? on this whole thing is how some people expect the gear to be as tough as it appears to be onscreen. I guess some people just don't have a clue of what goes on behind the scenes of making a movie...the unreality of it all. It's only a movie and this stuff is only really expected to last as long as it takes them to get the shots they need. It was not intended to be used again and again and again as we do our stuff. However, it does seem as though most of the Indygear for the film was made well.
Luckily we've adapted even further.

rick 5150 , thanks for pulling everyone back to earth .You hit it right on the nose.
I wear my fedora as much as I can and sometimes my jacket. I know exactly why I'm wearing it because I thought Indy looked cool in it. Hey life is to short to care what anyone thinks about me wearing my big hat
( as it's called by many ). heck I might die before finishing this posting..................................................

rick5150 wrote:Is it only a costume for one day, then it changes back to normal clothing magically?

Yes. You understand correctly. (Got a problem w/ magic, buddy? )

The difference is intent. Let's go a little more mainstream. If you wear a khaki shirt and pants - non Indy - and some boots, is it a costume, or clothing? Let's assume you said clothing. Now, it's the exact same clothes that a character in a movie wore. That makes it a costume?

Yes, if you were TRYING to look like him. No, if you were NOT trying to look like him.

On Halloween, I was trying to look like Indy. Today, I'm not, I'm wearing my hat because it's going to rain here!

If I'm wearing and using the stuff because it is all functional and useful - I freely admit it is all Indy-inspired, and that is what showed me the usefullness of it all - but I am not trying to look like Indy today. It's just a byproduct.

So yes, magically, it is not a costume today. If I intentionally wear it when not warranted by normal life - then it magically became a costume.

What I REALLY find amusing in reading all this is that I was wearing a fedora and leather jacket YEARS before Indy ever hit the screen. What I had worn on a daily basis suddenly became a 'costume' in 1981, based on what I'm reading above. Go figure!
I will admit the old A-2 became a Wested/FS, but the style fedora I wear is exactly the same...just the maker has changed over the years. I still rotate an A-2 through the week, as there's no reason for me to change that.

My 405's were prescribed for me by a doctor, so rick, yes, I am one of the few who received mine through a doctor's advice rather than just because it was Indy related. No way I could justify the cost otherwise. That's why I have never owned an actual Indy 'roo whip by any maker. That's 'costume' to me, unless I used it all the time for target work, which I wouldn't.

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson, you have always been an exception to the rule.

That's a polite way of putting it.....thanks Buff!

High regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:What I REALLY find amusing in reading all this is that I was wearing a fedora and leather jacket YEARS before Indy ever hit the screen. What I had worn on a daily basis suddenly became a 'costume' in 1981, based on what I'm reading above.

As I mentioned, the style has been around for a while. But when you trade in your A-2 jacket (or any other leather jacket) for a Wested Indy jacket, or upgrade your field shirt for a NH shirt because you have to have the front pleats, then it crosses the line into costume-land.

Keep in mind, these are the lines that I have drawn in my imagination. In your case, you are wearing a copy of a replica since the filmakers borrowed your look for the movie and then you borrowed parts of it back from them. If Indiana Jones 4 is made and Indy is wearing a blue flannel shirt, I will know they have consulted you once again

Bufflehead, I still can't the vision of you walking around wearing a Spiderman costume out of my head.

Points well taken, Rick. Oh, and I also do not own a pleated Indy shirt either....why bother....blue checked is the way to go!!!

EDIT: In thinking about what Rick said, to clarify my thoughts on the subject....I don't think anymore about my Wested or FS being a 'costume' jacket than I do when I'm wearing my A-2 as dressing up in a piece of Air Force uniform, or 'playing' military.

A leather jacket is a leather jacket....it's just whatever YOU want to make it out to be at any given time, I suppose..

Regards! Michaelson

Agreed, I can accept your points, Rick. Makes me feel a bit better about it, too...since I was originally looking for a bomber jacket, couldn't decide which...and figured something 'like' Indy's was approx what I was looking for.

rick5150 wrote:Bufflehead, I still can't the vision of you walking around wearing a Spiderman costume out of my head.

I am so happy to hear that. I guess this means that you guys aren't going to throw me out of COW? They sure did throw me out of the Safeway!