From 2001-2004, I had a shop on 9th, just a stone’s throw away from Tompkins Square Park. Back then, I was preceded in reputation by my ‘captain’ jacket. It wasn’t authentic military, but vintage ladies department store and because of that the cropped beauty fit me like a spandex dress. Man, did people ever love that jacket. Strangers would stop me on the street and say stuff every single time I wore it. One day, I was outside the store taking a breather. I noticed a forty-something year old guy was on the approach. Ill-suited glasses, a baseball cap with some aquatic logo embroidery and a burgundy Jansport over both shoulders.
“Great jacket.”
“Thanks, man.”
“I like that the sleeves are kinda short.”
“Yeah, the wonders of Florida thrift never cease.”
He scanned all twenty-four gold buttons for a minute and then added, “It reminds me of a jacket I had back in 1784.”