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Aero custom order help: First buy, CR

Wardo1974

A-List Customer
Messages
330
we are just trying to help you save time and money........plus you did ask for advice.....

Thanks sir, I appreciate it. But I was looking for ways to get a nice fit on a CR, not a different style. I've been looking at jackets for almost a year and keep coming back to the CR. I'm just struggling with fit ideas.

If I could try these on in person I surely would! Nothing like this locally for me.
 

breezer

Practically Family
Messages
806
Location
Scotland
I sympathise - when I have bought Aero jackets in the past I pop down to the factory and try them on..........I would not commission an expensive custom jacket without trying on a few different sizes......and even then its no guarantee the jacket you will get will fit like you had hoped.
 
Messages
11,164
Location
SoCal
I would start by putting on a good fitting T shirt. Measure the shoulder seams. Take it off, and measure the pit to pit. Then use a soft tape measure to measure around your waist (actual waist). Then same around your belt. Have someone measure from the collar seam down to just past your belt in back. These give you a really great starting point for the numbers. @Carlos gets great fits! Maybe PM him about tolerances for jackets vs t shirts. Aeros aren’t always the “neatest” fit, so that plays too. There are lots of cafe racers on the 2nd hand market- great ones from the 70s, this is also a less expensive way to experiment once you get your sizing right. I have struggled with this style for sometime, so I empathize with you.
581B5F6A-3A8C-40DD-8656-E2734BAF480F.jpeg
I don’t have “taper”, so a Board Racer is probably a better fit for me.
 
Last edited:

Mich486

One Too Many
Messages
1,690
If I were in Canada and needed custom I’d give a hard thought about getting a Kensington from Himel bros. I know it’s more expensive but... it’s nicer too.
 

Seb Lucas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,562
Location
Australia
Handymike is right, it is - in the first instance - all about your measurements, not the jacket. Ton is able to dial in the fit because he has worked out that a 26 inch back, 23 pit to pit and 26.5 sleeves (or whatever it is) works for him.

Once you know your key measurements, it is actually hard to get the wrong size in a jacket. Warning - jackets are hand made items and made to half inch tolerances. So if you order 23.5 you may get 24 or 23. Aero is fairly precise but just saying it is a thing with hand made clobber. Half an inch may not make much difference.

A denim jacket may be a good place to start developing your ideal jacket measurements. Body measurements are not useful. Find a jacket that does fit as you like it and determine your key measurements.

Remember labeled sizes are not reliable at all. I fit a size 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, depending on the pattern or maker.
 
Messages
11,164
Location
SoCal
E8778770-72D1-45CD-BE15-A3AFA06A6D57.jpeg
So here’s a cafe racer with the same measurements:
Shoulder 17.5”
Chest: 20”
Bottom: 19.5”
C0EFA71C-C37A-47F7-A5F2-A9E10D84C35C.jpeg
Should fit perfect- just like the shirt, but I really need a size down for that “neat fit” we all see.
Just an example...different style jackets require you to figure out how you want the fit...tricky without a fit jacket or try-on.
This CXL Aero is 17.25” shoulder
Chest: 20”
Hem: 19”
93139ECA-0714-4B9D-B6A9-691F2C33D5D5.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Messages
17,508
Location
Chicago
Thanks sir, I appreciate it. But I was looking for ways to get a nice fit on a CR, not a different style. I've been looking at jackets for almost a year and keep coming back to the CR. I'm just struggling with fit ideas.

If I could try these on in person I surely would! Nothing like this locally for me.
I think you’d be far happier with the standard CR over the board racer. The board racer is too narrow in the shoulders and too tubular in the body. Standard CR and you can tweak the design elements to that of a BR. Collar style, sleeve zip position, back config, etc. I think the board racer is an an undercover premier pattern. Your struggles here sound exactly like those I had with my premier HWM (sz. 44”). Crazy tight arms and shoulder, tubular torso...NFG. Better suited for skinny folk.
 

Wardo1974

A-List Customer
Messages
330
I would start by putting on a good fitting T shirt. Measure the shoulder seams. Take it off, and measure the pit to pit. Then use a soft tape measure to measure around your waist (actual waist). Then same around your belt. Have someone measure from the collar seam down to just past your belt in back. These give you a really great starting point for the numbers. @Carlos gets great fits! Maybe PM him about tolerances for jackets vs t shirts. Aeros aren’t always the “neatest” fit, so that plays too. There are lots of cafe racers on the 2nd hand market- great ones from the 70s, this is also a less expensive way to experiment once you get your sizing right. I have struggled with this style for sometime, so I empathize with you.
View attachment 281269
I don’t have “taper”, so a Board Racer is probably a better fit for me.

Thanks for those measuring ideas, I'll see how that works for me.
 

Wardo1974

A-List Customer
Messages
330
I think you’d be far happier with the standard CR over the board racer. The board racer is too narrow in the shoulders and too tubular in the body. Standard CR and you can tweak the design elements to that of a BR. Collar style, sleeve zip position, back config, etc. I think the board racer is an an undercover premier pattern. Your struggles here sound exactly like those I had with my premier HWM (sz. 44”). Crazy tight arms and shoulder, tubular torso...NFG. Better suited for skinny folk.

Thanks. I agree. The Board racer measurements from what I see are really narrow shoulders. That's the opposite of what I'm after.

I like the CR look and fitment when it's right. I don't want a skin-tight "neat" fit though. I want a little room in there to put on a hoodie or something, not just a t-shirt. I want it to drape on me the way it does on you. Just a proportional fit, not with overnight arms or shoulders, if this makes sense.

All this talk makes me wonder if a 44 with specs for wider arms and shoulders and a bit larger P2P might be what I need. I assumed though this is simply a 46.
 

MrProper

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,343
Location
Europe
If you order directly from Aero, it is best to indicate your body measurements on a photo. If you have a well-fitting jacket, take photos of it with a tape measure so that Aero can see how you measured (important for the sleeves).
Then there will very likely come out a 46 with a shorter body and sleeves and tapered to a 44.
 

Jin431

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,912
Location
Bay Area CA
Well, here is the 44 I sold. You can see in the pic, it's tight through the shoulders and isn't even zipped. And even unzipped, it didn't drape on me well, as you can see. Looked good at the back though.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...-size-44-450-usd-shipped.101833/#post-2723424

I remember this from a while back, really looks tight on you man.
If you don't mind adding a few extra hundred dollars, maybe get a brown pigment shinki(the current brown is a lot darker than mine)jacket from Greg at fields Leathers. You can get a fit jacket.

IMG_1503.JPG


IMG_1507.JPG


go with another style of jacket - one more suited to your physique.........Jin's jacket above is one of the best I've seen on this site. The cafe racer is a very hard look to pull off......

Thank you, sir. Appreciate the kind words.
 
Last edited:

Psant25

One Too Many
Messages
1,607
Thanks. I agree. The Board racer measurements from what I see are really narrow shoulders. That's the opposite of what I'm after.

I like the CR look and fitment when it's right. I don't want a skin-tight "neat" fit though. I want a little room in there to put on a hoodie or something, not just a t-shirt. I want it to drape on me the way it does on you. Just a proportional fit, not with overnight arms or shoulders, if this makes sense.

All this talk makes me wonder if a 44 with specs for wider arms and shoulders and a bit larger P2P might be what I need. I assumed though this is simply a 46.
Sorry if I missed this but have you tried vanson? I think bison trading has them. A stock vanson model B is one of my favorite fitting jackets. I have a trim athletic build and that jacket fits me better than 10-12 custom builds i have done with JL and aero. And you can always use it as a fit jacket and go custom if you want to make any tweaks.

i am 5 ft 11 inches 170 lbs 40 chest and wear a model B size 40
 

Julian A

New in Town
Messages
1
I remember this from a while back, really looks tight on you man.
If you don't mind adding a few extra hundred dollars, maybe get a brown pigment shinki(the current brown is a lot darker than mine)jacket from Greg at fields Leathers. You can get a fit jacket, and no customs fee

View attachment 281355

View attachment 281356



Thank you, sir. Appreciate the kind words.
I remember this from a while back, really looks tight on you man.
If you don't mind adding a few extra hundred dollars, maybe get a brown pigment shinki(the current brown is a lot darker than mine)jacket from Greg at fields Leathers. You can get a fit jacket, and no customs fee

View attachment 281355

View attachment 281356



Thank you, sir. Appreciate the kind words.
I remember this from a while back, really looks tight on you man.
If you don't mind adding a few extra hundred dollars, maybe get a brown pigment shinki(the current brown is a lot darker than mine)jacket from Greg at fields Leathers. You can get a fit jacket, and no customs fee

View attachment 281355

View attachment 281356



Thank you, sir. Appreciate the kind words.

Quick question, How can you get a jacket with no customs fees from the UK? I'm in the States and have been considering ordering one of his jackets but customs fees put me off, when I could just order an Aero direct with Thurston Bros and avoid extra charges.
 

trainspotter

A-List Customer
Messages
467
Quick question, How can you get a jacket with no customs fees from the UK? I'm in the States and have been considering ordering one of his jackets but customs fees put me off, when I could just order an Aero direct with Thurston Bros and avoid extra charges.

I believe anything below 800$ is not charged custom duty in US. I am not sure, but I believe Aero declares jacket price as item cost in customs form(customs demands CIF which includes jacket + Freight + insurance costs). Currently, a stock aero is around 600pounds which translates to US$793, so technically you may not be charged customs on a stock purchase. But all custom orders will exceed $800 and again not sure, but duties should be charged on the USD amount above $800, which should be minimal
 

Pandemic

One Too Many
Messages
1,503
Location
In The Flat Field
I remember this from a while back, really looks tight on you man.
If you don't mind adding a few extra hundred dollars, maybe get a brown pigment shinki(the current brown is a lot darker than mine)jacket from Greg at fields Leathers. You can get a fit jacket, and no customs fee

View attachment 281355

View attachment 281356



Thank you, sir. Appreciate the kind words.

Every time I see this pic I am in awe and feel an urgent need to sell things in order to buy a CR next!
 

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