Anyone at SkyWest care to share their opinion on the leather jacket or the blazer? Is the leather jacket worth the $400 bucks as a poor flight instructor?
The leather is nice, it's warm, especially with the liner, and is an easy all encompassing uniform piece. It can look good, depending on how you carry it off. Pros: It is easy care, can serve as a warm coat on a layover if you peel the Velcro jewelry off, it doesn't wrinkle, no need for hat/long coat combo, and doesn't look stupid with your faded black Ross/Marshalls/TJMaxx slacks you acquired for $12. you insist on passing off as uniform pants. Cons: I'm not the Fonz, it's heavy, it can be stupid warm, makes you look like a guy waiting on his trans am on a layover at the bar, especially with the gold jewelry peeled off, it's seriously like a mobile sauna when wearing it anywhere but outside, on the ramp, in Detroit, did I mention, it gets heavy?
I like the blazer look, even though I have the leather. The blazer pros: it's how an airline pilot should look, I think....it's lighter, and is easily layered. Looks good over the sweater, if you must brave prolonged deice activities in Rhinelander. Cons: It wrinkles, takes a modicum of care to look "sharp", and can fade, usually slower than the Ross/Marshalls/TJMaxx slacks you acquired for $12. you insist on passing off as uniform pants.
I like the leather, and would get it again as my first coat if I could only have one. The blazer, if you get cold, requires the overcoat, which in turn requires the hat. Great look, but I liked carrying just the leather when I was based in MSP and commuting. Kind of nice to just rip off the name tag and epaulets after a long week, throw it over my stealth and be more incognito on my commute home. Also, keep in mind this first order is the only payroll deduct opportunity if I remember correctly, so if you have any interest in the leather this might be the easiest time to do it.
Hehe, hope that helped.