Hi guys, I’ve been lurking here for a while now, reading up on leather jackets, and now I’ve decided to buy one from Aero, and would really appreciate your help making my first ever leather jacket purchase a success!
I’ve seen a good few similar threads, and hopefully learnt from them. It’s a Cafe Racer jacket that I’ve decided I like the look of best, and think would suit my fairly muscular frame (6’1, 225lbs currently, though weight fluctuates a lot). I’m not a fan of black leather, so it’s dark brown or cordovan I’m after.
I can’t help but want to tweak the jacket a bit, and here is what I’m thinking:
There’s a few things I need to decide on, that I’d appreciate advice on:
Thanks in advance for any thoughts or suggestions! -Rich
I’ve seen a good few similar threads, and hopefully learnt from them. It’s a Cafe Racer jacket that I’ve decided I like the look of best, and think would suit my fairly muscular frame (6’1, 225lbs currently, though weight fluctuates a lot). I’m not a fan of black leather, so it’s dark brown or cordovan I’m after.
I can’t help but want to tweak the jacket a bit, and here is what I’m thinking:
- Delete external kidney panel (keep internal panel)
- Add a high yoke with a curve, no western point
- Add 2 1/2 inch leather strip to inside bottom trim of jacket (assuming they’re cool with this. Seems a good idea for durability.)
- Contrast stitching
- 4 pocket version of jacket, with zips deleted from hand warmers. Maybe line the hand warmers with something nice.
- Main zip to reach closer to the bottom, perhaps half an inch off?
- Add an inch to length (or more even), as my torso is long.
There’s a few things I need to decide on, that I’d appreciate advice on:
- Leather choice. I like really dark browns, or dark cordovans. The FQHH CXL looks fantastic, but I’m a bit concerned about people saying it’s stiff to the point it becomes a struggle to put your phone to your ear. I want to wear the jacket a LOT. The lightweight and goat jackets are other options, but they don’t look quite so good in the pics, but do drape well.
- Action back or no action back. I have broad shoulders, but I prefer a cleaner look. Is the bi-swing back likely to really help much? As it ends quite high it’s above the real stretch point which is just below the arm pit.
- Can you add cinches at the sides? Would you? I’ve seen that on other Aero Racers and thought it looked cool, and is functional due to my tendency to fluctuate in weight.
- Wind flap behind the zip? Would you add this? I like it on my other jackets for its fictional value… I don't know if it is really needed here.
- Can you add an interior pocket in the lining with no snap? Rather than adding a leather pocket with a snap on the inside, which will show through to the exterior after wear.
- Lining choice. I’m leaning towards the tartan wool for its thermal values and odour advantage over the cotton drill. I think I’ll have the cotton in the sleeves.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts or suggestions! -Rich