Hot Vintage Men: May 2015

Friday, May 8, 2015

Marlon Brando in Black Leather

“I was surprised as anyone when T-shirts, jeans and leather jackets suddenly became symbols of rebellion. In the film there was a scene in which somebody asked my character, Johnny, what I was rebelling against, and I answered 'Whaddya got?' But none of us involved in the picture ever imagined that it would instigate or encourage youthful rebellion.”

Marlon Brando speaking about the film The Wild.

Marlon Brando wore a Perfecto 618 Leather Motorcycle Jacket in The Wild.

Perfecto’s style of “lancer fronted” jackets were designed by Irving Schott and manufactured by Schott NYC.

Their first Perfecto jacket was introduced in 1928, the first leather motorcycle jacket of the style now called a Motorcycle Jacket.

James Dean attended a class taught by Marlon Brandon. He stayed after the class to meet Brando, which lead to a sexual affair that lasted for several months and a friendship that lasted much longer. Dean annoyed Brando by copping his leather jacketed bad boy style.

In 1950 the 618 model is introduced. It instantly became popular with young men all over the world thanks to its appearance in The Wild One.

Perfecto's Leather Motorcycle Jacket was banned in many parts of the England and USA in the 1950's because it was a symbol of rebellious youth, all thanks to Marlon Brando!