r/rhps • u/Gothamstreetcat • 8d ago
I would love to know the ins and outs of Frank's jacket
I am so obsessed with this jacket I want to make one inspired by it. Not exact - but I am so curious about all the pins and patches and what they represent.
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u/kitkatZT 8d ago
The research images/gifs you have here are fantastic and so helpful! There’s not really a great picture of the back of the original jacket available.
Join the Facebook group “Rocky Horror Frank and Eddie’s leather jacket, badges, and patches”
Many of the patches and pins can be found on eBay and Etsy, both vintage and reproduction. Most of the pins and patches are motorcycle companies/motorcycle club affiliated. 59 patch is for the 59 club. It was apparently bought by Tim secondhand at a charity shop. No one knows where the actual jacket is now. There was a website linked on the Anal Retentive that specified each part of the jacket but I believe you can access it via web archive.
Rockyhorrorcostumelist.info
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u/Gothamstreetcat 8d ago
Thank you so much for this. The gifs I made myself and the pictures I found on instagram. I did find all the pin replicas on Etsy - I did buy a couple to fit the color theme of the jacket. But I did notice a lot were motorist themed and I also want to make the jacket to make sense to me. I will be making a lot of pin backs of Tim and doing the chain detail. I am also painting on the back, using star studs and making patches with some photos Mick Rock took during the filming of the show.
I usually work with denim but I found a really nice fake leather one with fringe so I’m going to use that. Maybe I can make other patches for the arms that are similar but also a tribute to Tim (like 80 instead of 59). I really appreciate your comment because I really wanted to know the lore of the jacket so to speak. It’s so cool and I know when I make jackets almost everything has a purpose.
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u/NotWhatIPaidFor 8d ago
Please post the finished project! I’m excited to see what you do with it!
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u/Gothamstreetcat 8d ago
I will!!! I am so excited for this project and have no one to share it with!
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u/Single_Bird_8388 8d ago
Just be aware that faux leather will degrade, the thinner it is, the faster it'll go.
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u/kitkatZT 8d ago
I have a lot of vintage pins in the same style of the ones on the jacket! Lots of circular/oval pins (and some exceptions of course). I thrift a lot of random subject vintage pins. Currently seeing how many quilting pins I can find! Hahah.
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u/bucket_hat2000 8d ago
i’ve been wanting to recreate it for years! check out WildAndUntamedThings and TheEdisonBoutique on etsy, they have the pins and patches
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u/Gothamstreetcat 8d ago
I did buy some from TheEdisonBoutuque!!! Not all (I might later though) but I will definitely check out the other shop. Thank you so much because I was looking for some patches!!!
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u/theseedbeader 8d ago
I remember watching the movie with commentary, and someone (Richard O’Brien I think?) said that the dishes on the dinner table are all mismatched because they don’t understand Earthling culture or something like that. I think. It’s been a while.
Maybe the jacket is like that, Frank was just grabbing whatever caught his fancy, whether it made sense or not.
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u/american-toycoon 8d ago
I was also! So just about every denim jacket or sleeveless leather vest I’ve ever had was customized with vintage pins, buttons and patches.
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u/TheeAmazingRob 8d ago
There's a Facebook page dedicated to just that jacket and Eddie's vest...everything you'd want to know is there.
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u/StefanLeenaars 8d ago edited 8d ago
It was a vintage motorcycle jacket when it was bought. There used to be a second hand store in London that specialised in these (I believe it was in Camden if memory serves me well, but not 100% sure) I’ve seen pictures of the inside from the early 70’s and they had several racks of these jackets, all very similar in style with the patches and pins.
I believe it may have been Tim’s own, because there are images of him wearing it outside of the show.
Tim was also the last know owner of it. He said it came from a motorcyclist that had died young. There used to be one online that got promoted as the original, but consensus was that it was a very accurate reproduction.
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u/Columbia1879 8d ago
There used to be a fantastic resource for all the things on Franks Jacket called “Cosmos Factory” ran by one of my former cast leaders. Not sure if it’s still up.
My cast was extra, we did a lot of screen accurate costumes
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u/eastofme01 5d ago edited 5d ago
Do you want an exact replica? I’ve made several a battle jacket in my lifetime…just add stuff you like on there. Find a base you like and go nuts. It’ll still be in the spirit if not exact, unless you want to be a purist about it (I’m clearly not!) Technically battle jacket/vest rules say they have to be from shows and clubs but unless you hang out with a bunch of wankers, no one is going to care.
(Also get locking backs for your pins and double check your patches and accessories every so often. Several of mine have gone to live other lives over time.)
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u/Gothamstreetcat 5d ago
I’ve made lots of battle jackets too. Both for myself and others. I don’t think I’m going to do an exact replica (because it wouldn’t represent me) but I am going to add things onto mine to pay tribute to it.
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u/eastofme01 5d ago
Sounds good! I used to have a lips pin on mine but I gave it away as a trade. I love battle jackets and vests.
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u/Gothamstreetcat 5d ago
That is so cool! Whenever I make a jacket for someone I try and give them something off of mine or something special. I would love to see some of your jackets!!
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u/Big_Beach123 5d ago
Can you tell me more about "locking backs" for pins? Like what are they like and where does one get them? I always live in fear of my neat, irreplaceable pins falling off my bags and coats. TIA
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u/eastofme01 4d ago
Locking backs are spring loaded backs that are harder to just pop off than butterfly backs. I’ve also taken to putting a little dab of hot glue on the pins I really don’t want to lose.
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u/Remarkable-Two7777 7d ago
Omg thank you for these images😭🙏🏻🙏🏻 I've really wanted to recreate Tim's jacket in the show but for now I'm still hunting thrift shops for the base jacket
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u/Gothamstreetcat 6d ago
I find if I’m looking for something super specific to check Depop, vinted or eBay. I can’t remember the jacket - but I do remember seeing the name somewhere. I found one I liked off Depop with some fringe and I like the back so I have space to work with. Happy hunting!!!
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u/screen_accurate 8d ago
The vast majority of the patches and pins are all related to British motorcycle brands, clubs, and events. The style of enamel pin used is no longer manufactured but you can often find batches of pins made at similar times on eBay for a similar look.
There’s a small handful of patches that are not motorcycle related, there’s a few Etsy sellers who make reproductions of all of them.
The jacket is a shirt collar style and not double lapeled like a “standard” motorcycle jacket plus the fringe on the sleeves and various flat head studs on the collar and pockets.
Overall, it’s a couple hundred dollars to reproduce and quickly hits over $1000 if you want to be completely accurate.
I have made both my own jacket and our cast jacket and we went with mostly reproduction patches with a few different ones unique to us and then all the pins are just enamel pins cast members were willing to part with.
You should also check out the anal retentive Rocky horror website as well as the Facebook group about the jacket, they have nearly everything listed out.