Schott Perfecto Motorcycle Jacket: Is It Worth It?
the Schott Perfecto is the definitive example of an American motorcycle jacket, and one of the most famous articles of mid-20th century men’s fashion. It’s adored by rockstars, bikers, and many men worldwide–and it’s often counterfeited! So, is the genuine article worth splurging on? We’ve got the answers!
In many ways, the Schott Perfecto is in a class all on its own. After all, what menswear article of clothing is more classically cool than one made famous by the likes of Marlon Brando or Bruce Springsteen? And, of course, we can’t forget Lou Reed.
But what if you aren’t a motorcycle rider, a rocker, or even a movie star–could the Schott Perfecto still be the right jacket for you? Well, in this installment of our ongoing Is It Worth It? review series, we’re going to find out.
In case you missed it, we’ve covered similar jackets before, including offerings from Barbour and Belstaff. If you need ideas on how to style your motorcycle or other casual jackets, we have some outfit ideas, too!
History of the Schott Perfecto
Shortly after the invention of the motorcycle in the late 19th Century, unfortunate riders quickly invented something else: their first motorcycle crashes. To protect their torsos and arms from road rash, riders would wear durable jackets and coats, and these coats were made from heavy canvas, leather, and wool.
So, in many ways, the original motorcycle jacket was not intended to be a style icon. These jackets are practical and essential pieces of protective gear. And then, the Schott Perfecto entered the market in 1928, the first purpose-built motorcycle jacket intended to be practical and stylish.
The jacket was designed by Russian-American garment maker Irving Schott who, along with his brother Jack, owned Schott NYC. Schott NYC was founded in New York City by the brothers in 1913 and is often credited as being the first company to sew zippers onto jackets, but it was the Perfecto that made Schott famous.
The jacket was intentionally designed with the needs of motorcycle riders in mind. Made from heavy, tight-grained horsehide for added protection, with wool lining, and an asymmetrical front with snap closure lapels to help keep out the cold when riding, and with zippered and snap pockets to ensure that the rider didn’t lose anything when tearing down the highway at those high speeds.
The Schott Perfecto also had a lancer front, essentially an overlapping double-breast construction. This was intended for improved insulation, and reminiscent of the uniform jackets worn by lancers. The lancers were a type of cavalry unit most active in the 18th into the mid-19th Century.
The military connotation may have inspired the famous shoulder straps often called epaulettes, seen on the original Schott Perfecto.
When coming up with a name for his new jacket, Irving Schott allegedly got the name from his favorite cigar roll type – the Perfecto. These consisted of a rounded head roll, closed on both ends with a bulge in the middle.
The original run of Schott Perfecto jackets were sold at Harley-Davidson stores for about five dollars and fifty cents, or about seventy-five dollars in today’s money. Most buyers were regular or professional motorcycle riders, so the Schott Perfecto remained largely a practical garment.
During World War II, the manufacturing of the Schott Perfecto was paused. This was done so that the company could focus on making leather jackets for the United States military, but in the late 1940s, Schott introduced the Perfecto 613, known as the “One Star” for the eponymous star added to each of the shoulder straps.
In the early 1950s, the Perfecto 618 was introduced nearly identical to the 613, but this time with no decorative stars.
