KBlake
One Too Many
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- 1,866
Could you post pics of this in natural light?
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Five Star Leather Jackets
- Thread starter TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead
- Start date
KBlake
One Too Many
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- 1,866
Update on the sunset remake.
I posted earlier about how I provided a reference image of the front of the FW Sunset with a different back design and 5* got the relative proportions of the pockets wrong. They graciously agreed to remake the jacket with d pocket 2” shorter and handwarmer pockets 1” shorter. I’m happy with the result.
I should have specified exact dimensions for the pocket in advance and appreciate 5* willing to remake it. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible and speak up if anything in the QC photos doesn’t look right. Once your jacket ships you are generally SOL.
I posted earlier about how I provided a reference image of the front of the FW Sunset with a different back design and 5* got the relative proportions of the pockets wrong. They graciously agreed to remake the jacket with d pocket 2” shorter and handwarmer pockets 1” shorter. I’m happy with the result.
I should have specified exact dimensions for the pocket in advance and appreciate 5* willing to remake it. Be sure to provide as much detail as possible and speak up if anything in the QC photos doesn’t look right. Once your jacket ships you are generally SOL.
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Gr8Lakes
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 72
- Location
- Mid-Michigan, USA
Somewhere around two winters ago, I commissioned a jacket from 5*. I initially intended on doing a bit of a review, but life got pretty complex for me, and I spent a lot of time recovering from an illness. I was able to use it for a couple months at the end of last summer, on two wheels, which was it’s intended purpose.
The base model of jacket is the Vintage Cafe Race / Road Master that @MrProper originally specced out for Five Star. It‘ a fantastic pattern, and I think @MrProper deserves a ton of credit for his leg work. Instead of the stock goat I tried their lightweight horsehide in black. I changed the pocket zipper configurations, lining, and specced my desired measurements - lots of them! The stitching is great, and the measurements were closely met. The shoulders are nicely rounded, and the bi-swing works amazingly well. It feels great on, and moves freely and comfortably when I’m riding, and that’s with only 3” ease through the chest.
There’s almost always a “but” when it comes to 5*, and there’s no exception here. But! I have a “but” to accompany my original “but.” Allow me to explain: Three things kinda let me down when I first received this jacket.
The leather thickness on the left forearm is half the thickness of the right. It’s right there in your line of vision, and easy to feel. I wish the sleeves were consistent. The rest of the jacket is pretty consistent weight wise. But the left forearm is a bummer that will live on forever. No correcting that.
The main zipper is a left-handed, or reversed American men’s zipper. While disappointed that I didn’t notice the stock images at first, I’ve overcome that. Nobody will ever notice it, and I’ve grown used to it, so that “but” is a now a non-issue.
The third let down is the most fascinating. I was kinda let down with the boring horsehide. It had some faint zebra stripe type wrinkles in a couple places, but was mostly smooth and lacked character. I retrieved the jacket from one of my bikes’s saddle bags last week and hung it on the back of my bathroom door to allow shower steam to relax wrinkles. (I know, horrible storage practices). As the wrinkles fell out the hide I was AMAZED with it’s texture and grain! Total transformation from what I had at the end of last summer. All I can figure is that it was fresh from the tannery and tightly stretched, and finally relaxed over the winter in the garage. So that “but” is also no longer an issue.
So what I have is a good fitting, easy wearing, lightweight horsehide jacket that I now love the look of. For what I paid (350 all in), it does pretty well. Considering price point, I give it 4 stars out of 5. Consistent leather would’ve been 5.
Oh, and the hide is definitely great at cutting wind. With only a satin lining this jacket is still as warm, at speed, as some heavier cowhide jacket’s I’ve worn. I actually believe I notice a functional difference in it’s wind cutting properties. Something I always dismissed as rhetoric. Wish I still had original QC pictures to show how much the grain has developed, but I can’t find them anywhere. Pics of hide to follow…
The base model of jacket is the Vintage Cafe Race / Road Master that @MrProper originally specced out for Five Star. It‘ a fantastic pattern, and I think @MrProper deserves a ton of credit for his leg work. Instead of the stock goat I tried their lightweight horsehide in black. I changed the pocket zipper configurations, lining, and specced my desired measurements - lots of them! The stitching is great, and the measurements were closely met. The shoulders are nicely rounded, and the bi-swing works amazingly well. It feels great on, and moves freely and comfortably when I’m riding, and that’s with only 3” ease through the chest.
There’s almost always a “but” when it comes to 5*, and there’s no exception here. But! I have a “but” to accompany my original “but.” Allow me to explain: Three things kinda let me down when I first received this jacket.
The leather thickness on the left forearm is half the thickness of the right. It’s right there in your line of vision, and easy to feel. I wish the sleeves were consistent. The rest of the jacket is pretty consistent weight wise. But the left forearm is a bummer that will live on forever. No correcting that.
The main zipper is a left-handed, or reversed American men’s zipper. While disappointed that I didn’t notice the stock images at first, I’ve overcome that. Nobody will ever notice it, and I’ve grown used to it, so that “but” is a now a non-issue.
The third let down is the most fascinating. I was kinda let down with the boring horsehide. It had some faint zebra stripe type wrinkles in a couple places, but was mostly smooth and lacked character. I retrieved the jacket from one of my bikes’s saddle bags last week and hung it on the back of my bathroom door to allow shower steam to relax wrinkles. (I know, horrible storage practices). As the wrinkles fell out the hide I was AMAZED with it’s texture and grain! Total transformation from what I had at the end of last summer. All I can figure is that it was fresh from the tannery and tightly stretched, and finally relaxed over the winter in the garage. So that “but” is also no longer an issue.
So what I have is a good fitting, easy wearing, lightweight horsehide jacket that I now love the look of. For what I paid (350 all in), it does pretty well. Considering price point, I give it 4 stars out of 5. Consistent leather would’ve been 5.
Oh, and the hide is definitely great at cutting wind. With only a satin lining this jacket is still as warm, at speed, as some heavier cowhide jacket’s I’ve worn. I actually believe I notice a functional difference in it’s wind cutting properties. Something I always dismissed as rhetoric. Wish I still had original QC pictures to show how much the grain has developed, but I can’t find them anywhere. Pics of hide to follow…
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Gr8Lakes
Familiar Face
- Messages
- 72
- Location
- Mid-Michigan, USA
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fieldjacketsrock
New in Town
- Messages
- 41
My apologies if this has been answered but how’s 5 stars capeskin leather? Looking to get one of the 1930s model jacket made with capeskin leather.
No. At least the seal colored is thin, feels like plastic. Certainly the worst leather that I got from 5*. But is certainly subjective.
vmbarrera
New in Town
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- 3
- Location
- Houston, TX
Canuck Panda
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,709
Crystal brown goatskin. Marketed as veg tan I believe it's veg retanned.
Has a squeak because of the oil finish.
I still think black premier goatskin with wax press is the best choice from Shawn.
This comes close, but it was same price as the horsehide if I remember correctly, so a bit pricey. It's been a while.
Has a squeak because of the oil finish.
I still think black premier goatskin with wax press is the best choice from Shawn.
This comes close, but it was same price as the horsehide if I remember correctly, so a bit pricey. It's been a while.
KBlake
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,866
I second the premium goat. That being said, I just got something is whisky hh that I am smitten with.
nattevagten
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 326
Anyone ordered a leather shirt (Western shirt) from them? Wonder what's the likelihood of it turning out well...
Honestly, it's all about the measurements and pictures and instructions that you give them. If you are super-super-super detailed and thorough, you will likely get a great end result. IF you leave anything, and I mean anything, to chance, you may well be sad at the outcome. Good luck.
Imuricecreamman
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,598
Find a denim one you like the fit of and send it to Shawn as a template.
I think a slightly oversized brushed cotton or wool shirt-jacket would be better to send as a reference than a denim shirt.
Imuricecreamman
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,598
yup...slightly oversized to compensate for the thicker material.
nattevagten
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 326
Aye, that's a good idea. I was actually looking at the IH deerskin leather shirt they used to make some years ago, but man, just don't see myself buying a shirt for $1,200+. The Aero price is a bit more reasonable at £450 or similar.
The IH was expensive, but I have not seen any deer like it since then.
KBlake
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,866
They did a very nice job with that one!
Hello
I’ve been lurking on here for a while and this is my very first post!
I have been looking for a quality leather jacket, and came across Fivestar. The reason I chose them is because of this thread specifically and like how the jackets look on Ton, Mr. Proper and others.
I went ahead and placed an order for a 1930’s halfbelt in black 2mm steerhide. I went back and fourth with Shawn via email and gave clear instructions. A couple weeks later, he sent me photos of the final product - but was missing the “genuine steerhide” tag as I requested
Anyway I measured multiple jackets I have that fit me well and sent them to him.
Here are some photos:
I’ve been lurking on here for a while and this is my very first post!
I have been looking for a quality leather jacket, and came across Fivestar. The reason I chose them is because of this thread specifically and like how the jackets look on Ton, Mr. Proper and others.
I went ahead and placed an order for a 1930’s halfbelt in black 2mm steerhide. I went back and fourth with Shawn via email and gave clear instructions. A couple weeks later, he sent me photos of the final product - but was missing the “genuine steerhide” tag as I requested
Anyway I measured multiple jackets I have that fit me well and sent them to him.
Here are some photos:
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