Hogan’s Hero

A Kerouac-inspired collection transcends its roots

May 30, 2007—Like most people, we were skeptical at the news that Hogan had chosen Jack Kerouac as inspiration for the label's first foray into outerwear—didn't those "Kerouac wore khakis" Gap ads sort of corner that market back in the nineties? But then we saw the actual collection and, well, the clothes may well be better than his books (which are hugely overrated anyway—seriously, have you tried reading On the Road lately?). Dubbed the Jack Kerouac Project and undertaken with the full blessing of the Beat icon's estate, the line just went on sale exclusively at Parisian boutique Colette and will hit Hogan's European boutiques next month. (Boys and girls in America, unfortunately, will have to wait until September.) There are six items in all: a classically detailed bomber jacket patterned after the writer's own (left), three calf-leather bags, a high-top sneaker, and a work boot. Worn leather abounds, an obvious nod to Kerouac's rough-and-tumble boho style. Authentic? Possibly not—but then that never stopped anyone from wearing those great motorcycle boots Hogan put out a couple of seasons back, either.

The Jack Kerouac Project by Hogan: jacket, $1,590; bags start at $950; sneakers, $295; boots, $475, available at Colette, 213 rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, 33-0-1-55-35-33 90, www.colette.fr