14 ~ Sundzy, May 20, 1993

Mee A

FASHION STATEMENTS

DESPITE REPORTS that
the leather biker jacket has
finally burned itself out and
is on its way to motorcycle
heaven, designers interna-
tionally are still showing the
shape in febrics and sum-
mer-weight skins this
season, and they have al-
ready added it to next fall
and winter’s collections.

The phenomenal popularity of
the black leather bomber is due in
part to its tough Marlon Brando
trademark image, which has
followed it since the actor ap-
peared in The Wild One in 1954.

The distinctive apparel of
revolt, it was worn by rebels both
with and without a cause. For
more than 30 years, polite society
wilted at the sight of the anti-
establishment, non-conformist
garb and the aura of defiance and
disregard that surrounded it.

The jacket was not only favored
by rebellious idols including James
Dean and Elvis Presley, it soon
became the recognized trademark
of the Hell’s Angels.

its popularity today can, in
part, be credited to European men
and women, particularly the
French, who adopted the jacket as

a wardrobe staple in the early
"80s.

The buckled and zipped piece of
outer wear appeared on France’s
streets as a sign of true, and not
tourist, culture and sophistication.

Several years later, Parisian de-
signers finally picked up the item,
and Karl Lagerfeld used it for an
element of street shock value in
his traditionally classic Chanel
collection.

Over subsequent seasons, the
jacket melted into the mainstream,
to be replaced by a trendy design-
er one.

Its success also stems from the
fact that certain creative circles,
particularly the fashien, movie,
music and fine arts industries in
North America, pay homage to
the jacket.

It is the uniform of members of
the elitest club. For groupies, no
matter where you travel, you are
almost immediately accepted if
you carry the right code of ethics
on your back.

For many less financially estab-
lished members, the status-symbol
biker jacket may be the only item
in their wardrobe for which they
saved to buy and would never
take off in a public place for fear
of loss or theft.

It is worn throughout Van-
couver’s temperate summers, for
nightly outings to those
establishments which feature a sea
of black bikers, though most have
never owned a motorcycle.

A black biker jacket count was
recently taken at some of the ci-
ty’s hottest nightspots.

Cappuccino bars, dance clubs,
pool halls (the current craze), art
gallery openings and fashionable
restaurants revealed the jacket
outnumbered any other single
garment at most locations.

The best places in Vancouver to
tally up the Brando look include
Automotive, Soho Cafe, The Bar-
tacuda Club, Bar None, The
Fringe, Benny’s Bagels Cafe, Luy
Affair, Graceland, The Funky
Armadillo, The Bread Garden and
Joe’s Cafe.

&4 The distinctive apparel
of revolt, it was worn by
rebels both with and
without a cause. 9F

Where did it originate?

The unlikely creator of the
jacket was a shy young Harley
Davidson mechanic in Portland,
Oregon, named Ross Langlitz.

He rode a Harley bike for most
of his life, despite the fact that he
had lost a leg during a motorcycle
accident at the age of 17.

The motorcycle gear used by
Langlitz and others included an
aviator’s jacket to protect against
weather and contact with the
pavement. The flyer’s jacket did
not offer sufficient protection for
riding a motorcycle, however,
because it had loose collar, cuffs
and waistband, was too bulky and
leaked in the rain.

Langlitz became frustrated
enough to do something about it.
Working in his basement, he
put zippers on the sleeves and di-

agonaily across the front to keep
the wind out and not let it pucker.
He made a jacket better designed
for a riding position than sitting
in acockpit, with the arms more
forward and longer in the sleeves
and back for better coverage when
the rider leans forward. He used a
heavy leather for its durability and
dyed it black because it best hid
the dirt.

For motorcyclists, Langlitz’s
jacket became popular not
because it looked tough, but
because it was practical.

You can still buy hand-crafted
jackets with the Langlitz label in
Portland. Prices start at US$350.

Langlitz Leathers Inc. is located
at 2443 S.E. Division, Portland,
Oregon. Phone (503) 235-0959 for
more information.

Famous designer jewels now available

GLAMOROUS COSTUME jewel-
ty is showcased at a new Van-
couver store called Kenneth Jay
Lane, which sells designs worn by
the world’s rich and famous.

Photo submitted

DESIGNER KENNETH day Lane shmoozes with one of his famous

jewelry wearers.

Kenneth Jay Lane boutique
opened on the prestigious Burrard
Street block at 725 Burrard St.,
replacing the Nina Ricci designer
shop.

The store features the jewelry of
designer Kenneth Lane, who was
described by Time magazine as
“the undisputed king of costume
jewelry.’'

The store features the current
full line of the well-known
costume jeweler, and includes
Pieces worn by Elizabeth Taylor
and Ivana Trump.

Lane is a long-time jeweler to
First Ladies such as Jacqueline
Onassis and Barbara Bush, who
made Lane’s triple-strand pearls
her trademark.

Lane’s saxophone pin has
recently become a symbol of the
Bill Clinton administration and is
worn by both men and women.

The quickly expanding retailer
now has four stores in Canada,
and plans to open three to five
new locations every year for the
next five years worldwide. Ken-
neth Jay Lane currently has 21
locations including New York,
Los Angeles, Paris, London and
Vienna.

Photo submittod

YANCOUVER’S NETO Leather shows black biker feather with @
fashionable twist. Neto is located at 347 Water St. in Gastown.

LIONS GATE HOSPITAL
A Caring Community —

Notice of

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
North and West Vancouver Hospital Society

Wednesday, June 16, 1993 at 7:00 p.m.
Lions Gate Hospital Auditorium

The Chair will call the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Please have
your current membership and identification available. The slate of
nominees as presented by the Board of Directors has not been
contested, therefore they will be elected by acclamation. They are

as follows:

District of West Vancouver
City of North Vancouver
District of North Vancouver
Director at Large

Robert J. Smith, Secretary

Patricia Boname
Jay McPherson
Richard Baker
Norman Stark

North and West Vancouver Hospital Society