@Autorotate right on, brother. Congrats. The weather is slowly changing here and this shirt will get heavy rotation probably Apr - May. I keep waiting for it to soften up, but I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon. The Pecards helped a lot with the touch feel, but the leather doesn't drape much. But color evo has been spectacular. Here's my IG stuff on it from a few weeks back:

@Autorotate I wouldn't apply pecards and then get wet. Pecards is pretty much vaseline with some extra oils. So that will repel water. Not totally waterproof, but definitely make it harder to fully absorb. Which brings me to my next point. If you get it wet, make sure it is fully wet and soaked all over. Don't try spot treatment and that kind of thing. Whatever evolution is going to happen, you want it all over to make it look more natural and even.

You probably read some of my posts on TFL. I go by "Toomanyhatsonlyonehead" over there. I've washed many, many leather jackets, put in dryer full blast, etc. I haven't had a "ruin" yet, but I definitely can see ways it could go wrong. The biggest issue with doing with jackets is the zipper. It will cause waves since the zipper doesn't shrink with the leather.

Also, I wouldn't try the wet and dry method with the pale rider unless it's at least a size too big. I don't think this shirt will wear comfortable skin tight. The shirt pocket, placket, etc. adds a lot of thickness, and some of the edges almost feel sharp if that makes sense. I'd be curious to know more about the kind of tanning they did to the leather. It doesn't feel like veg tan to me. It has more CXL type qualities, so maybe it's a combo, or maybe it's veg tan, but there's some sort of top coat, pigment finish, etc. Anyway, I'm really curious to see the journey over the next couple years with lots of wears. I think those wearing on motorcycles are going to speed up that process with the exposure to elements, all that motion, etc. vs someone just wearing around the house like me.

If not here, I give up lol

I had to give it a wash after this beat down. Got a lot more sweaty than I thought LOL. I'm starting to think this leather is indestructible.

@louisbosco you looking for darker color or don't like the fit of yours? The color will come with time. hang in the sun once we get to warmer temps and it literally will change overnight. A good 4-5 hours on each side is enough to get it going.

the fit is tricky, I won't lie. We'll see how it turns out after a couple good wearing seasons. If it softens up to what I'm used to with most veg tan leathers, I think it'll be top 10 things ever LOL. But right now, it's very turtle shell like. There's very little room for margin between too tight, just right, and too big. Compared to some of my UHF where the ptp can vary by a full inch and I'm good, this has got like maybe .5 inch max range to fit right.

@Autorotate dedication right here. Did you take before measurements? Curious to see if you get any opening up in actual numbers or if it just "feels" better. I'd take either tbh as I'm on the edge of it being too tight, but it's more of a comfort issue for me.

I'm in same boat as you. Going to try assuming there's no shrinkage. I literally cannot afford .1 inch anywhere or shirt will be destined to wear open only and I'll end up like one of those "after I lose 5-10 lbs, I'll be good" LOL.

I had to give it a wash after this beat down. Got a lot more sweaty than I thought LOL. I'm starting to think this leather is indestructible.

@goosehd here's what I determined after a whole bunch of experiments. I think oil only is best for this particular leather. Anything with beeswax or vaseline type stuff is going to make the leather rubbery. This tanning formula is really odd to me. I've handled over 50 leather jackets and I still can't figure it out. I think it's a veg tanned CXL combo or is veg tanned with thick top coat.

I gave my shirt another hand wash but this time didn't do any conditioner, and so far it's the softest it's ever been. Maybe it's just a combo of all the wears and work so far, but I think it's more about the conditioner unnecessarily adding more to the top coat. think this leather needs to breath and get exposed to the elements to really come to life.

If not here, I give up lol

Funny how we're all getting different results. Very cool actually. I was nervous about going full blown soak, so I kind of cheated and did a very wet wipe down with a rag. The shirt definitely got wet but not all the way through to the rough out side. Wore it dry, about 6 hours, although under the arm pits it was a little wet for a few more hours. Hit it with my fav conditioner Skidmores once again. While I got some puckering and waves in the placket, nowhere near to the level Auto got. So I'm guessing the more wet it gets, the higher the likelihood you'll get some tightening up. Anyway, I'll post some pics tomorrow when I can take some proper shots in the sunlight.

Overall results, still pretty rigid although there was a moment there when it was wet I really had hope LOL. But there was a kind of "opening up" that Auto describes making the shirt a little bit more wearable. I'm not getting much drape, but a sort of settling down if that makes sense. And probably some expansion in the shoulders which is where I needed the most help. Still getting snap pops though on the middle snap and above. I got a feeling I may have permanently blown out the cupping effect because they were popping so violently before. Or maybe I'm just crazy LOL. But they do seem to pop much more easier now so that kind of sucks. I might mess around with some pliers next.

@Autorotate that is pretty epic before and after. you eliminated the "turtle shell" sort of aspect of it and how it just sort of hangs off you like a halo. It does seem like you got some shrinkage, but I guess if you gained some pliability, it's sort of a net net. If the leather gives some (i.e. like denim or cotton), then you can afford to get it a little more snug. I'm just worried I'm going to get tighter and still stiff and then, IDK won't be long till you see it on classifieds lol.

What would you say the comfort level is now vs before?

@Autorotate dedication right here. Did you take before measurements? Curious to see if you get any opening up in actual numbers or if it just "feels" better. I'd take either tbh as I'm on the edge of it being too tight, but it's more of a comfort issue for me.

I'm in same boat as you. Going to try assuming there's no shrinkage. I literally cannot afford .1 inch anywhere or shirt will be destined to wear open only and I'll end up like one of those "after I lose 5-10 lbs, I'll be good" LOL.

@the246guy wipe down the collar every few months with damp rag. After apply conditioner if you're wearing and or sweating a lot. The lexol cleaner is good call too if it's like extreme wearing or maybe just once a year kind of thing.

I need these snap hacks. Still popping buttons since I gained a few over the holidays. In meantime, shirt getting wears.

@Autorotate I wouldn't apply pecards and then get wet. Pecards is pretty much vaseline with some extra oils. So that will repel water. Not totally waterproof, but definitely make it harder to fully absorb. Which brings me to my next point. If you get it wet, make sure it is fully wet and soaked all over. Don't try spot treatment and that kind of thing. Whatever evolution is going to happen, you want it all over to make it look more natural and even.

You probably read some of my posts on TFL. I go by "Toomanyhatsonlyonehead" over there. I've washed many, many leather jackets, put in dryer full blast, etc. I haven't had a "ruin" yet, but I definitely can see ways it could go wrong. The biggest issue with doing with jackets is the zipper. It will cause waves since the zipper doesn't shrink with the leather.

Also, I wouldn't try the wet and dry method with the pale rider unless it's at least a size too big. I don't think this shirt will wear comfortable skin tight. The shirt pocket, placket, etc. adds a lot of thickness, and some of the edges almost feel sharp if that makes sense. I'd be curious to know more about the kind of tanning they did to the leather. It doesn't feel like veg tan to me. It has more CXL type qualities, so maybe it's a combo, or maybe it's veg tan, but there's some sort of top coat, pigment finish, etc. Anyway, I'm really curious to see the journey over the next couple years with lots of wears. I think those wearing on motorcycles are going to speed up that process with the exposure to elements, all that motion, etc. vs someone just wearing around the house like me.

@louisbosco you looking for darker color or don't like the fit of yours? The color will come with time. hang in the sun once we get to warmer temps and it literally will change overnight. A good 4-5 hours on each side is enough to get it going.

the fit is tricky, I won't lie. We'll see how it turns out after a couple good wearing seasons. If it softens up to what I'm used to with most veg tan leathers, I think it'll be top 10 things ever LOL. But right now, it's very turtle shell like. There's very little room for margin between too tight, just right, and too big. Compared to some of my UHF where the ptp can vary by a full inch and I'm good, this has got like maybe .5 inch max range to fit right.