An estimated 1970s European 'Raglan-Sleeve Black Moleskin Zip-Up Jacket'.
Here we present a piece that challenges traditional workwear: unorthodox, and refined.
The black moleskin jacket can fairly be called the very emblem of French vintage.
This piece, however, is something quite different from "that" workwear.
Raglan sleeves, a zip-up front, the shape of each pocket and the use of snap buttons: to anyone familiar with French workwear, these details will feel decidedly out of place.
A piece whose appeal lies in a design that wears a classic air yet carries a somehow modern nuance.
On the left chest is a single flap pocket closed with a snap button, with a fine balance of practicality and design.
Worth noting, too, are the hand-warmer pockets at either side of the hem.
The way the corners are cut away and the cutting itself are distinctive; the hands sit comfortably, and they are entirely practical for everyday use.
The front closes with a zip.
Inside the neck there are traces of where a label was once sewn, but sadly it is now missing.
The "raglan sleeves", which give the arms a greater range of movement, are another welcome feature.
Even worn oversized, the cloth follows the line of the shoulder as it falls, so it keeps a clean silhouette.
This piece is made in "Moleskin", one of the great staple cloths of French vintage.
As the name suggests, it is said to take its name from a cloth that recalls the skin of a mole.
Once you touch it you will understand: it is smooth to a degree you would hardly expect of cotton, and the cloth has real weight.
The secret lies in "the weave".
Moleskin is a cloth made in a "satin weave".
Satin weave is counted as one of the three basic weaves, built on a repeat of five or more warp and weft threads; the floats are long, so that only the warp or only the weft appears on the face.
It is dense, thick, supple and smooth, with a strong sheen.
It was precisely because moleskin is so densely woven, so substantial and so supple that it was chosen as working dress for people who laboured in harsh conditions.
It is cut generously from black moleskin, scarce and rare even in French vintage, and the cloth has a soft, springy feel that loses nothing by comparison.
The colour is a matt black with a slight fade.
A deep black with a subtle fade, it strikes a fine balance between ruggedness and a vintage nuance.
Its matt texture, holding both strength and quiet, lends the whole outfit calm and dignity.
Its well-worn feel gives an easy, lived-in look and a masculine composure.
Together with its workwear-inspired design, it makes for an outfit that is simple yet has depth.
A versatile colour that goes easily with any other and works in every season.
Its appeal is a "calculated roughness": suited to everyday wear, yet a step apart.
The size label cannot be confirmed. This corresponds roughly to a Japanese "S ~ M".
Judging by the measurements, it runs small, so it should fit a smaller frame without any trouble.
It looks right whether worn true to size or oversized.
There are signs of use, such as marks, scuffing, loose threads and a missing label, but no significant damage that would affect wear, so it can still be worn for a long while.
A moleskin jacket with such an "unorthodox" bearing, outside the bounds of French workwear, is very rare indeed.
A piece with real presence, one that gives depth to an outfit and brings out the character of the wearer, so if you have been looking for one, do not let this opportunity pass.