Bikers vs. Motorcyclists, Barbour vs. Belstaff and Steve

Yesterday's post dealing with my affinity towards red motorcyclist jackets contained a few inaccuracies.  Thankfully I have readers much more knowledgeable than myself and I was able to clear up a lot of stuff and fill in a few holes.

First, I must make the distinction between "bikers" and "motorcyclists".  While both are surely rebel characters in many respects, the latter of the two should be distinguished for his elegant sportsmanship.  This "distinct breed" of gent was an athlete whose thirst for danger and competition set him apart.  When talking specifically about motorcyclist jackets, such as the Trialmaster and who wore them, we are talking about motorcyclists.

Next, it should be noted that when I made the assertion that Barbour was for "the hunter and the outdoorsman" I failed to mention their own motorcyclist jacket, the International.  In fact, in the iconic picture (see below) of Steve McQueen at the 1964 International 6 Day Trials he wears a Barbour International and not a Belstaff Trialmaster.  Despite this documentation of McQueen in Barbour his feelings on Belstaff were actually quite fond.

It has been said that despite McQueen wearing the International at the '64 Trials in Germany, he actually preferred a Belstaff and wore that whenever he, himself, biked.  In 2007, Belstaff even released a special edition Trialmaster (see below) as a "Steve McQueen Celebration." 

 

I hope that sufficiently takes care of everything and serves as a kind of mini history lesson. Thanks to all the readers who helped me get my facts straight and who participated in the initial discussion.  When Sart Inc is "getting its forum on" I couldn't be happier.

-L.A.S

Lusting After: Little Red Riding Jacket

[Pictured: Steve McQueen in his motorcyclist jacket.]

The Belstaff Trialmaster is a classic cool guy item.  While Barbour coats were for the hunter and the outdoorsman, Belstaff was for the biker and the badass.  The now Italian based company (in an effort to save the brand, Belstaff moved from England in the 1960's) doesn't peddle its wears for cheap though and a new jacket easily runs north of $500.  Aside from the standard issue nylon and waxed jackets available in an "everyday" color palette, it is the rare red Trialmaster that I currently have my eye on.  Unfortunately even a Belstaff sale is out of my price range, but that's where J. Crew comes in.

J. Crew has been selling the original Belstaff models for a while now, but they also offer their own ripoff of the very same coat, and it just so happens that the ripoff is in the much coveted red colorway. For $200 this is a pretty good bargain.  It is unlikely you are going to find a knock off with as good of an attention to detail while still keeping the price manageable.  I realize that this isn't the most practical jacket in the world, but it doesn't hurt to have that once piece that can be your stylistic middle finger to the world.  A red nylon racer jacket like this says a lot and I'm blindly agreeing with all of it.  If you do happen to currently be swimming in a pool of gold coins, ala Scrooge McDuck, then these are probably more your speed.

 

 

 

-L.A.S