I’ve been lurking around here for a bit, reading pretty much all the posts in every forum, and have finally decided to get around to acquiring some gear. Now, I’m very much in the “close enough” camp when it comes to Indy gear, and most of my stuff reflects that; I like to bring my own style to the table, so that I don’t feel like I’m just wearing a costume. I’m not looking for a whip or gunbelt/holster, for example, but rather practical everyday Indy-wear.
My first piece of equipment was the MKVII satchel and oiled leather strap from Indy Magnoli that I ordered a couple of weeks ago; this is very nice indeed, and I routinely wear it around town and university. Earlier this week I bought four cheap, original MKVII bags from a guy here in NZ who was selling them purely as militaria, and who was a little confused as to why I wanted so many of that particular model. He sold one of them to me much cheaper than the others because it didn’t have a strap - naturally I didn’t complain!
For the shirts I went to my local op shop (thrift shop) and for NZ$22 (which is practically nothing) picked up six assorted long-sleeved, collared, button-down shirts in a variety of materials and colours (tan, khaki, stone, and sand), each one of which I believe plays the part rather nicely. I’m quite fond of the linen Eddie Bauer shirt, as it just has the rough feel of something a classic adventurer might wear. The other good thing is that I’m able to wear the shirts in a rotation and always have that adventurer look/feel, without getting strange looks from people thinking I’m wearing the same thing every day.
The pants and shoes I’m not bothered with; I always wear black dress pants and black dress shoes in urban settings, and have good hiking boots for my offroad travels; this will remain unchanged (famous last words).
As for the jacket, I’d spent a long time reading through the forums and doing research: trying to figure out which jacket I wanted, which material, which manufacturer, even what size I am supposed to be. I’m aware of how picky some people around here can be, so it might cause some to recoil in horror knowing that my previous “close enough” lambskin jacket had buttons instead of a zip, side-entry pockets only (no cargo pockets, no flaps), no side straps, no pleats - but was otherwise exactly like the movie jacket.
Up until a couple of days ago I’d managed to persuade myself to stop mucking around and pick up an off-the-rack Wested in goat, but then I realised that it would just be easier to break into Indy Magnoli’s house and steal his old 40R G&B goatskin Expedition, so I did that instead (alternatively, I bought it from him through the Cairo Bazaar, but if it’s fact you’re interested in, Dr. Jones’ archaeology class is right down the hall).
Now I have an Expedition circa 2001, which has been very nicely Magnoli-Distressed™, and which I think should satisfy me for the foreseeable future; it fits as if I’d ordered it personally using my own measurements. That’s right, just like everybody else, I’m never going to buy another Indy jacket…
>.>
<.<
Never!
Maybe a Wested denim.
Now, about a fedora... I know I probably won’t wear one all that much, but I still feel the need to have one just in case. Is this wrong?
And yes, I know the general consensus is that threads, sans illustration, lack value, but I’ll try getting some photos up in the near future.
