Searching for vintage leather
Vintage leather. A great find.
Leather jackets, boots, trousers, skirts, dresses, and unique second-hand pieces. Johnny helps you find what suits you.
Asking a question does not commit you to anything.
What are you looking for?
Something from stock
If you buy directly from Your Johnny, then Your Johnny is your seller. Do we already have the item in stock? Then you won’t pay any separate search fees.
A targeted find
Send a photo, size, color, and maximum budget. Johnny searches across multiple sales channels, suppliers, and makers, and discusses what is realistic beforehand.
A perfect outfit
Start with what you already own. Sometimes a single accessory or a second-hand piece makes all the difference. Not everything has to be new.
What can Johnny look for on your behalf?
Johnny searches based on your specific needs and budget. Only categories falling within the scope of Your Johnny are included:
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Leather jackets and outerwear
The most requested item. Primarily vintage jackets, but also newer pieces and lightweight styles.
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Trousers
Ranging from simple designs to bold styles in leather or suede.
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Skirts and dresses
Categories where the selection is more limited, meaning the search may take longer.
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Boots & Footwear
Pay attention to labeled sizes: they vary by brand, country, and era. Actual measurements are more useful than just the size label.
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Harnesses, collars, and leather accessories
Partly sourced from the broader range offered by Steeltoys. Custom-made items follow a separate process via Custom Made.
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Unique or hard-to-find pieces
A specific cut, a rare color, or a brand sold only abroad. This is where Johnny excels at knowing exactly where to look.
What do you provide, and what does Johnny do?
You provide
- The type of garment.
- Your size—or preferably, a well-fitting size or a saved favorite to use as a reference.
- Color, shade, and any preferences regarding patina.
- Your product budget: the funds for the item itself.
- A photo or example of what you are looking for.
- Whether you have an item you want to complement with this new piece.
Nothing else is required. A photo and a size are often enough to get started.
Johnny does four things:
- Search — focused on your size, material, style and budget.
- Select — only pieces that come close in terms of shape, size, and budget, so you don’t have to sift through a long list.
- Assess — evaluate photos, descriptions, and listed measurements as accurately as possible, including any uncertainties and the known condition.
- Advise — identify what is realistic, what is unrealistic, and which approach is the best fit.
Please note: Johnny has not always physically handled the second-hand item. Any assessment based on photos and information remains an estimate.
What does it cost?
Targeted searches and advice are subject to a pre-agreed rate and time budget.
Personal Sourcing & Advice
€49.00 per hour, including VAT.
Time block: we agree the maximum time budget beforehand. We discuss any extra time first.
Looking for a distinctive vintage leather jacket, trousers, boots or something more specific?
Your Johnny provides personal sourcing assistance through an international network of traders, collectors and specialist makers.
We discuss your wishes, budget and the work involved beforehand.
Beforehand, you receive an estimate of the research, product assessment, personal guidance and associated costs. Paid work starts only once you agree to the work and costs.
The rate applies to the time spent searching and the advice provided. There is no guarantee that a specific item will be found.
We can work by the hour or within an agreed time block. Before you give your approval, we record the maximum hours or sourcing budget.
The purchase price of vintage items, shipping and any additional costs are not included in the hourly rate.
Custom Made manufacturing prices and Steeltoys product and custom-work prices are agreed separately. The hourly rate applies only to Your Johnny’s personal sourcing and advice; it applies to partners’ work only if expressly agreed.
- Product budget
- The budget for the item itself. This determines what can be found within your search request.
- Search budget
- Johnny’s search and consultation time. We agree on the hourly rate and the maximum number of hours—or the time budget—in advance.
What is not guaranteed?
- No guarantee of a result. A search request is a service based on best effort. Johnny cannot promise that the exact item will be found.
- Finding an item does not mean it has been reserved. A unique second-hand item can be sold, reserved, or removed within a day.
- Searching takes time. You get a second review opportunity within the agreed time budget. We agree on any additional time beforehand.
- The external seller remains the seller. If you buy directly from an external provider, their terms apply, and that party remains responsible for their own delivery.
- Payment is due for time spent in accordance with the agreements made and applicable consumer regulations, even if no purchase is made. You know the cost upfront.
Putting together outfits with what you already own
An inspiration image, your favorite jacket, or a pair of boots can be the starting point. Johnny helps you consider fit, layers, and combinations within your budget.
Vintage, second-hand, new, and custom-made items can work together. If a suitable item already exists, expensive custom work isn’t necessary.
View the vintage examples ↗Details matter too
For any item found, we discuss its condition, size, material, and finish. A photo helps but isn’t proof of quality or material.
Read how Johnny evaluates leather ↗ · And how to care for your leather ↗
For specialized accessories, you can also look at harnesses (Steeltoys website) and leather cuffs and collars (Steeltoys website) at Steeltoys, our specialised independent partner. For bespoke leatherwork, there is Custom Made ↗
An initial question is free. Paid advice starts only after agreement. Costs and separate agreements ↗
Why the search work is worth it
Two things make searching for vintage leather hard: the supply is scarce, and assessing is harder than searching.
- The supply is scarce and disappears fast. A leather jacket in exactly your size, colour and style does not sit on a shelf. Such pieces are unique and can be sold or reserved quickly. Anyone who looks now and then sees most of them pass by before it is found.
- Searching is not the same as assessing. Finding a piece is not difficult. Asking what it is worth, what size it really is and whether the lining will hold up — that is. Read what Johnny looks at ↗
- You don’t have to start over every time. During an ongoing search commission Johnny keeps track of the options and the contact. You don’t have to search again every week and explain what you want.
If an item is easy to find, or direct contact with a specialist is better for you, Johnny will tell you that too.
Why the search work is worth it
Two things make searching for vintage leather hard: the supply is scarce, and assessing is harder than searching.
- The supply is scarce and disappears fast. A leather jacket in exactly your size, colour and style does not sit on a shelf. Such pieces are unique and can be sold or reserved quickly. Anyone who looks now and then sees most of them pass by before it is found.
- Searching is not the same as assessing. Finding a piece is not difficult. Asking what it is worth, what size it really is and whether the lining will hold up — that is. Read what Johnny looks at ↗
- You don’t have to start over every time. During an ongoing search commission Johnny keeps track of the options and the contact. You don’t have to search again every week and explain what you want.
If an item is easy to find, or direct contact with a specialist is better for you, Johnny will tell you that too.
What one hour of search work gives you
- Searching in the agreed channels, on size, colour, material and budget.
- Comparing sizes and, where needed, asking for real measurements instead of a label.
- Assessing photos and descriptions for material, construction, lining and hardware.
- Contacting sellers and makers with concrete questions about the piece.
- Putting options side by side and leaving out the weak ones, instead of showing everything.
- Explaining what an option means for fit, use and lifespan.
Free to read
What Johnny looks at, without you paying anything
Two pages with the knowledge behind the advice. Read them before you decide to hire help — you are free to use them.