Skip to main content

Feel Like a Genius in this Recreation of Einstein’s Favorite Leather Jacket

Not many of us will know what it feels like to be a genius. No offense — it’s just a matter of science. However, thanks to a new release from Levi Stauss & Co., we can know what it feels like to wear a genius’ favorite leather jacket.

Einstein is mostly known for his smarts, not his fashion sense, but he was, in fact, dedicated to his own personal style. According to Levi, the physicist bought the brand’s Menlo Cossack leather jacket in the 1930s and wore it regularly for the next few decades (he really knew how to take care of leather).

Recommended Videos

Levi purchased this exact jacket at auction in 2016, then used it as a blueprint to create a limited run of Einstein Menlo Cossack Jackets. These beauties boast rich, golden-brown leather; angled pockets; nifty cinch straps; and detail brass accents, which all come together for a very bold, boxy fit.

“Ultimately, I think my favorite aspect of the jacket is that it feels very contemporary,”  said Paul O’Neill, head designer of Levi’s Vintage Clothing. “Even though it’s more than 80 years old, it doesn’t feel like you’re dressed up in period design. It feels so fresh and current. It just goes to show how classic the products Levi’s were producing back in the 1930s. They still feel very relevant for today.”

You can not only look like Einstein, you can also smell like him (kinda). When Levi got its hands on the original jacket, the team noticed a faint hint of tobacco leftover from the scientist’s intense smoking habit. To keep this recreation as authentic as possible, Levi asked D.S. & Durga, a New York City perfume house, to craft a fragrance based on this scent. The result is a musky cologne with notes of tobacco, paper, and leather.

“It is based on Einstein’s study,” Paul added. “It is a nod and a wink to the whole story of the jacket, and we want to really invest in this story.” A bottle of this unique fragrance and a “replica of the No. 97 auction paddle that was used to bid on this historic garment” will be included in the purchase of each jacket, according to a release.

There are a couple of caveats through. For starters, Levi only made 500 jackets, so you will have to act fast if you want to score one. Secondly, this little piece of history will set you back $1,200 — a steep price for a leather jacket, but can you really put a price tag on genius…or, at least, looking like one?

Nicole Raney
Nicole Raney is the former Managing Editor of The Manual. You can also hear her on older episodes of The Manual Podcast, a…
Nike’s historic Cortez sneaker gets a modern upgrade- and it’s seriously chic
Nike releases a new Cortez sneaker
red nike cortez perforated sneaker

For generations, Nike’s Cortez sneaker has been the go-to for a comfortable mix of lifestyle and athleisure look. The Cortez silhouette is instantly recognizable and has always been a staple in the Nike lineup. Despite its generational popularity, the updates on the silhouette have been minimal, unlike other Nike models, which have constantly had new iterations. However, now Nike has added a subtle update to this classic design, and it’s given it a chic upgrade. While the shoe’s silhouette hasn’t been altered, small additions and newer details have given the design a fresher look that appears more modern. Coming in a series of new colorways, this new Cortez release is the perfect way to upgrade this classic sneaker.

Nike Cortez’s new “Perforated Leather”

Read more
Style corner: How to wear men’s shorts in style in 2025
Showing off your legs the right way in 2025
Faherty All Day Short stacks

The summer is here. The spring showers have given way to the hot days, and that means it is time to start wearing clothing that protects you from the sweltering temperatures with a new summer wardrobe. And it also means that great summer vacations are on the horizon, and you need something to pack that will look great and keep you comfortable. For us, that means men's shorts are top of the pile for the next 12-15 weeks. Whether we're looking for something to wear around the house, out and about on errands, or something to keep us comfortable while exploring new places outside the office, a great pair of men's shorts is essential for our summer.

But these are not just any old pair of cut-off pants that we can wear. No, we have to put some thought into the shorts. Since I'm a huge fan of talking to people smarter than me to figure out the best way to do things, I reached out to Mike Faherty, co-founder of Faherty, to get some insight on how to wear shorts in 2025.

Read more
Converse High Top Sale: Chuck Taylors and other sneakers starting at $30
The Converse Chuck 70 Seasonal Color on a gray background.

Converse just launched a sale on its high top shoes, which includes discounts on different variants of the popular Chuck Taylor sneakers. In addition to the lowered prices, you can get an extra 25% off for some pairs by applying the code JUNESALE upon checkout. Feel free to look through everything that's on sale, but we've also highlighted some sneaker deals below if you want some recommendations. You need to hurry though -- some styles and sizes are already selling out, so you're going to lose your chance at huge savings if you hesitate.

What to buy in Converse's High Top Shoes Sale

Read more