ALL REPRO R.A.F. Irvin type jackets

[Dav]

A bit of a thread revival
Here's a few picks of my Aero black fleece Irvin
There's been quite a bit of discussion about the outer colour ,but I like it. I do wish they hadn't shaved the fleece though.

 

[Cooper A-2]

Love the quality of make...
awesome! Many thanks for showing us... Great stuff.

 

[Big J]

@Dav, I'm loving that Aero!
For sure, using black fleece was scraping the bottom of the barrel due to desperation during the war, but almost 80 years later it makes for a really cool distinctive repro. Well done Aero. When they actually bother to offer it on their website instead of as a special to VLJ'ers, I'd love one.

As for the color, I don't mind the paler than usual brown, but if it's based on that one photo, I'd be interested to know if that's genuine period color filmstock (and how it distorted colors, whether the camera exposure settings were correct etc) or if it's a B&W photo that's been colorized (and therefore unreliable).

It's a great looking jacket. Shame Ken doesn't want to sell it to the rest of us. I've only got 7 Aero's, so I guess I come way down the list of people who get an invitation...

Guess I'll just buy myself a Goldsmith proto-A-2 repro instead. Oh wait! Aero only offered them to VLJ'ers too!

My Irvin will be an ELC because of this. Maybe two, because as I've said before, I like early and late War versions. But Aero doesn't need my business clearly, so stuff 'em.

 

[Dumpster Diver]

Haha...Repo Irvins, What with the prices these days!!!

 

[Edward]

Haha...Repo Irvins, What with the prices these days!!!

I think that's the issue for many, really. Sheepskins have shot up in price in recent years, which in turn means the jackets are much more expensive, alas.

 

[Edward]

A bit of a thread revival
Here's a few picks of my Aero black fleece Irvin
There's been quite a bit of discussion about the outer colour ,but I like it. I do wish they hadn't shaved the fleece though. View attachment 164871 View attachment 164872 View attachment 164873 View attachment 164874 View attachment 164875

Outstanding looking beast. I am tempted to wonder whether it would be possible to go off book and have the outer dyed black as well. Quite fancy that idea. Seeing these makes a decision harder: I was all set up, once we've moved house, to aim for one of Aero's CC Irvins. Now I want this too....

 

[Doctor Damage]

 

[Monitor]

If anyone can tell me, is $250 a good price for a Cockpit Clothing Co. of Southampton Irvin? Are they good jackets?

 

[Dr H]

That’s never a Cockpit of Southampton, is it? Looks very poor - with contrasting tapes and pockets?!. Possibly Cockpit USA? I’ve had several early Southampton ones (the Aviator jacket) and they were very good authentic replicas (better than Eastman and Aero in my view). One size 42 (1942 pattern) was practically indistinguishable from a lightly worn original.
If you’re not bothered about authenticity then it sounds OK, but you can do much better (even from Cockpit, Southampton)

 

[Monitor]

That’s never a Cockpit of Southampton, is it? Looks very poor - with contrasting tapes and pockets?!. Possibly Cockpit USA? I’ve had several early Southampton ones (the Aviator jacket) and they were very good authentic replicas (better than Eastman and Aero in my view). One size 42 (1942 pattern) was practically indistinguishable from a lightly worn original.
If you’re not bothered about authenticity then it sounds OK, but you can do much better (even from Cockpit, Southampton)

Sorry, I posted a wrong image - Or rather, I just posted a generic image of a Cockpit of Southampton jacket that turned up on Google image search, so yeah, it's possible that's not it at all.
The exact jacket in question is this one. It looks very good IMO and it's encouraging to hear you say they're great jackets, and supposedly this one is 7 lbs heavy which sounds a lot to me for a sheepskin jacket.

It's got all the tags and all so it's definitely Southampton but I never heard about the brand before. Just really like the jacket...

 

[Boyo]

@Monitor .. Buy it...!

 

[Dav]

Looks to be a nice jacket.

 

[Dr H]

The early ones (late ‘80s?) were streets ahead...

 

[RL204]

Sorry, I posted a wrong image - Or rather, I just posted a generic image of a Cockpit of Southampton jacket that turned up on Google image search, so yeah, it's possible that's not it at all.
The exact jacket in question is this one. It looks very good IMO and it's encouraging to hear you say they're great jackets, and supposedly this one is 7 lbs heavy which sounds a lot to me for a sheepskin jacket.

It's got all the tags and all so it's definitely Southampton but I never heard about the brand before. Just really like the jacket...

Did you buy that beauty? Looks really nice. Share some fit pics if you did or pass me the link so I can buy it

 

[Monitor]

Did you buy that beauty? Looks really nice. Share some fit pics if you did or pass me the link so I can buy it

Unfortunately, no, the seller changed their mind about selling it literally half an hour before we were supposed to meet. Apparently, the guys girlfriend suddenly convinced him that the jacket fits him well. Oh well...

I did find a super cheap Schott 618 later on that same day, though.

 

[Art101980]

Just took delivery of a pre war Irvin model from Aero in seal brown
Would post pics but size is apparently too big for the server

Will have a look at signing up to imgur and uploading the shots later

But I do love it

 

[RL204]

Just took delivery of a pre war Irvin model from Aero in seal brown
Would post pics but size is apparently too big for the server

Will have a look at signing up to imgur and uploading the shots later

But I do love it

Congrats on the new beauty of a jacket. Was it a size 44 purchased off eBay? I just lost out on that auction about 3 weeks ago or so.

 

[Art101980]

Congrats on the new beauty of a jacket. Was it a size 44 purchased off eBay? I just lost out on that auction about 3 weeks ago or so.

Alas no, it was a 48 I bought new
I must admit, even when measuring myself I was surprised I was a 48 but I guess for the Irvin style a tad larger is how it should be worn

 

[RL204]

Alas no, it was a 48 I bought new
I must admit, even when measuring myself I was surprised I was a 48 but I guess for the Irvin style a tad larger is how it should be worn

What size do you normally wear? I usually fall between a 42 and a 44 for most brands. The aero Irvin seems to be one of the best looking Irvin jackets in my eyes. I thought a 44 would be adequate for me and not be too loose looking. Hard to tell from measurements online as the thickness of the jacket throws everything off. I always prefer a tailored look as I’m a tall skinny guy.

 

[s4rmark]

If you want it trim specify your actual chest size , as Aero Irvins are on the larger size, as irvins were made to be worn over sweaters and battle dress etc.