Aero 50’s midnight blue ass kicker Halfbelt

[ProteinNerd]

 

[BotanPhotography]

So good!!!

Man I was considering a Hooch Hauler in Cordovan and I can’t commit to it because of how good the blue looks on you

 

[sweetfights]

It is indeed all of those things. It’s blue/grey/black and most certainly some green. You can see the blue in this shot on the sleeve. It has many of the chameleon type characteristics of cordovan/burgundy.
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Honestly the best midnight blue batch I have seen in CXL

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Honestly the best midnight blue batch I have seen in CXL

Absolutely agreed. I don't even like Chromexcel, but I like this. That's how awesome this batch is.

 

[ton312]

Absolutely agreed. I don't even like Chromexcel, but I like this. That's how awesome this batch is.

Now THAT is high praise! Supposed to get 6-10” of fresh white powder tomorrow. I look forward to getting the shovel out and breaking this jacket in!

 

[willyto]

Please, please keep this one and wear it to death. We want to see how it develops.

Go out and shovel like with the dneim one the other day.

 

[J Leather Investigater]

A long wait that proved to be well worth it! This might get a little long, I’ll try to keep it short! First off, my sincere thanks to Aero, who have yet again brought a huge smile to my face. This jacket was made by Julie, the undisputed master Jedi of machinists at Aero. I believe she has made all but one of my jackets. Her work, as usual, is flawless.

After buying and really enjoying the fit of two different jackets I wanted to mash them together and create a real workhorse feeling utility jacket. The first was psant’s brown zip sleeve HWM and then this vintage excelled 50’e era HB (the original ass kicker) I purchased from robinray.
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I really liked the feel of both of these. Particularly the vintage jacket, which was a true Halfbelt but with the adjusters placed at the waist. The wheels were turning!

My original idea was to take the zip sleeve HWM and move the belts up 5”, remove the waist band, storm cuff and throat latch. The more I thought about it, the less convinced I was that it would yield the result I wanted. So it occurred to me that an extreme waist taper on the 50’s HB would be the better route. Plus I get to keep the actual false belt which the excelled had (and the adjustments straps where I wanted them anyway). I went with a standard size 40” and cut 2” off the waist. Which is probably very close to what the standard HWM does.

I also subtracted 1” of body length from my typical 50’s pattern spec. From 27” to 26”. I likely wouldn’t be able to zip it if it were any longer, and I think it was a good call for the overall look (as long as it doesn’t shrink) I’ve got the belts cinched in pretty tight in these pics. Still trying to find the sweet spot. One thing to note, the 50’s HB has zero front drop. It’s almost as if the finished jacket is cut at the hem with a table saw.

Lined in brown cord, sleeves in OD with OD knits, throat latch and my go to back config. silver nickel zips with the same puller. I do plan on finding something to personalize the chest pull.

This s my 3rd Aero in midnight blue. The hide this go round has much more green than the last batch I had, and much more everything than the first. It’s a lovely dark evergreen. It’s definitely blue but there is a really strong green undertone. It’s a beautiful chameleon. I think with some wear it will really be special. I plan to be the person to give it that wear...FOR ONCE! I wanted to get some outside shots but it’s just too damn cold. Now commence the selling it when jokes and have a great weekend y’all
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That color!!! Thumbs up

 

[willyto]

By the way, with the corduroy liner it must wear warm and stiff! Will be tough to break in.

 

[ton312]

By the way, with the corduroy liner it must wear warm and stiff! Will be tough to break in.

Yeah I love the cord liner! It’s toasty without adding too much bulk.

 

[nick123]

Well done Tony. Already feel the pit in my stomach predicting the for sale ad. Please keep this one; you won’t do much better.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Now THAT is high praise! Supposed to get 6-10” of fresh white powder tomorrow. I look forward to getting the shovel out and breaking this jacket in!

Yeah if I could get CXL in midnight that looked exactly like yours, I might actually buy it.

Definitely excited to see how this ages and hope to see the pull up effect show some brighter, green-blue areas as it creases.

Also, that corduroy lining is beautiful and a great choice of liner. I love how corduroy feels. I'll have to keep that in mind for future jackets as well.

 

[BotanPhotography]

Yeah if I could get CXL in midnight that looked exactly like yours, I might actually buy it.

Definitely excited to see how this ages and hope to see the pull up effect show some brighter, green-blue areas as it creases.

Also, that corduroy lining is beautiful and a great choice of liner. I love how corduroy feels. I'll have to keep that in mind for future jackets as well.

It’s a shame that the Cordovan and midnight blue colors are such a roulette.

 

[ton312]

Well done Tony. Already feel the pit in my stomach predicting the for sale ad. Please keep this one; you won’t do much better.

This is going to be the only one that stays. I got a back story in it. It’s mine for life.

 

[AeroFan_07]

^^ That's the Spirit!!

 

[AeroFan_07]

It’s a shame that the Cordovan and midnight blue colors are such a roulette.

Perhaps not so much. I only have had one cordovan that I really did not care for - it was everything but basic "brown." otherwise, the Horween production method really almost adds to the unique character of the jacket made with either one. Heck even the black Highwayman on my back as I type this has some brown undertones peaking through, and it's so very different with each batch too. Kind of makes it a little more of an adventure -seeing which hide and color you wind up with. It is, alas - an expensive sport or wager indeed.

 

[nick123]

This is going to be the only one that stays. I got a back story in it. It’s mine for life.

I do hope so. We’d love to hear the story if it’s deemed okay to share...

 

[ton312]

I do hope so. We’d love to hear the story if it’s deemed okay to share...

Nothing too crazy but suffice it to say there was a strong desire to deliver on Aero’s part, as I’m sure there is with every jacket. I haven’t taken it off since it arrived. This one has to see me to the other side (or at least to age 65)!

 

[willyto]

You don't need to share it here every time you do it but would be amazing if you did let's say a photo every week and then when you show the evolution we can see how it developed from week to week for months or a year.

I may start doing that with some pieces. Just for fun.

 

[Edward]

@willyto An 'evolution' thread would be interesting. I think we've had one or two individually over the years, but a central thread where folks can post that month to month for specific gear would be interesting.

They make a great jacket. Tough, crazy beautiful leather, fits well. Some of the patterns have its problems but ultimately, you know you're getting a lifetime piece that's built like a tank. I've discovered that it's crucial with Aero not to baby it. Actually, the sooner you turn it into a beater and literally something for when you want to keep your other jackets safe, the more it'll grow on you.

I think the key is finding which patter works for you - quite a range of different cuts, and thus looks. Funnily enough, I never thought the standard HWM would work for me til I took a punt on one of the trainee jackets way back in, I think early 2012.... Notably, whereas my halfbelt styles work well with both jeans and collar and tie, I think the HWM is a very denim / workwear jacket at its best, but it did prove to me that it's well worth trying a range of stuff to see what does and does not 'work' for me. Another reason the factory is such a joy to visit!

Yeah I love the cord liner! It’s toasty without adding too much bulk.

I should think it would be more durable than the wool, too?

It’s a shame that the Cordovan and midnight blue colors are such a roulette.

there's always going to be a level of variation with a product like that - that's the nature of organic raw materials. Another good reason to visit the factory if you can, though.... When I had my Dustbowl made, I had been on the waiting list for a few months and was able to time the visit for the week before it went into production. I actually went through the available hide with Murray, and we picked out the one that got used on my jacket. Some day I'd love to buy an off-the-rack jacket, that would be fab. Maybe one of the Waterfront jackets.... I have one in the original green. Wish I'd bought a size or so bigger for more layering options in it, though I won't be partying with it unless I can get another green one. Thinking of getting a red one with a warmer lining too. Great look when you want an alternative to leather...

I'm really attracte to both that blue CXL and the blue Vicenza. I think the latter in an Aeromarine and the CXL in an Elvis or a King of the Road would be something.

 

[El Marro]

It’s a shame that the Cordovan and midnight blue colors are such a roulette.

I don’t think it’s all that bad actually.
It’s certainly true that some batches of the midnight blue are much more vibrant and colorful than others. I own a teamster made from the first batch and it is a somewhat dull gun metal gray compared to some of the more recent jackets we’ve seen. Having said that, there is nothing wrong with it and it is quite unique when compared to most other hides.
When it comes to Cordovan I don’t think I have ever seen a bad hide. The only time I have seen people disappointed with their cordovan jacket is because they were afraid of the color was too reddish. In that case one would be better off ordering a brown jacket I think.