Help me determine my size in the FW La Brea

[Marc mndt]

@Marc mndt @dudewuttheheck how do you guys measure your chest? 109cm and 41.5 inches given your fit in 40 and 38 respectively, I highly doubt it…

Edit:typo

 

[Carlos840]

Thank you for this!! Great info and advice!

Keep in mind that isn't a fail safe process.
I bought a Freewheelers SanMateo, on paper all the numbers where perfect, but the pattern just didn't work for me and i couldn't wear the jacket comfortably, i had to sell it.

 

[Kenan]

Keep in mind that isn't a fail safe process.
I bought a Freewheelers SanMateo, on paper all the numbers where perfect, but the pattern just didn't work for me and i couldn't wear the jacket comfortably, i had to sell it.

That’s why I’m still calculating the numbers and asking around for intel, so it can be as safe as possible. I get it won’t be a hundred percent safe, but I reckon I can get close to it.

 

[58panheadfan]

@Kenan You got many good inputs from very knowledgeable people here (one cool part of this forum here). If you still have your doubts carry your „La Brea Project“ to grave. Only way to blow away your doubts is, as mentioned @Carlos840 try them on! If you are not able to do this, it will always an (expensive) game in the end. If you order a size 40“ and for some reason you are not 100% happy with it, you ponder if size 38“ would be the right size or vice versa. Therefore my 2cents… let it be, if you are not be able to try that particular Jacket on. Otherwise it could be it shows up in classified section and belive me a reselling at 40% off of RRP would be a „good“ deal for the new owner but not for you. Therefore clear your mind and forget your „La Brea Project“. Otherwise l wish you good luck!

 

[born113]

find a dealer who will show you photos of a jacket in stock measured the same way you measure for comparison. This way you know 100% what you are buying.

From the total majority of sellers of jackets and shirts, I cannot get a neck measurement even in words and especially in a photo. Many even sincerely did not understand why I was interested in this. In half the cases when I asked about the mass of clothes, the correspondence with me stopped completely
In short, you can strive for anything, but sometimes you have to take risks.

 

[Kenan]

@Kenan You got many good inputs from very knowledgeable people here (one cool part of this forum here). If you still have your doubts carry your „La Brea Project“ to grave. Only way to blow away your doubts is, as mentioned @Carlos840 try them on! If you are not able to do this, it will always an (expensive) game in the end. If you order a size 40“ and for some reason you are not 100% happy with it, you ponder if size 38“ would be the right size or vice versa. Therefore my 2cents… let it be, if you are not be able to try that particular Jacket on. Otherwise it could be it shows up in classified section and belive me a reselling at 40% off of RRP would be a „good“ deal for the new owner but not for you. Therefore clear your mind and forget your „La Brea Project“. Otherwise l wish you good luck!

You’re right and I appreciate all the help I’ve gotten from all the knowledgeable members here! It’s truly awesome that a forum like this exist

 

[58panheadfan]

That’s why I’m still calculating the numbers and asking around for intel, so it can be as safe as possible. I get it won’t be a hundred percent safe, but I reckon I can get close to it.

You know yourself best, if you're satisfied with a jacket that meets your expectations at 80-90%, then you're fine. But if you're looking for the perfect jacket, don't do it without try them on...

 

[58panheadfan]

You’re right and I appreciate all the help I’ve gotten from all the knowledgeable members here! It’s truly awesome that a forum like this exist

I agree! I would have been more than happy if I had been able to benefit from this know how +25 years ago. I had to learn a lot the hard way. e.g. Rakuten Ichiba was only available in Japanese back then...

 

[Kenan]

You know yourself best, if you're satisfied with a jacket that meets your expectations at 80-90%, then you're fine. But if you're looking for the perfect jacket, don't do it without try them on...

It’s the hunt for the “perfect jacket” which is fun right! Only way for me to try it on would be to fly to Japan. Maybe I should make a trip out of it, but then it would have to wait for a while

 

[Kenan]

I agree! I would have been more than happy if I had been able to benefit from this know how +25 years ago. I had to learn a lot the hard way. e.g. Rakuten Ichiba was only available in Japanese back then...

And you didn’t have chrome to instantly translate the website either! That must have been a challenge! You do have an amazing collection though, so maybe learning the hard way actually helped a bit in the end

 

[58panheadfan]

It’s the hunt for the “perfect jacket” which is fun right! Only way for me to try it on would be to fly to Japan. Maybe I should make a trip out of it, but then it would have to wait for a while

Japan is always worth a trip! Or expense is no object, then do it like in the casino "black or red" - "top or flop"!

 

[Marc mndt]

Only way for me to try it on would be to fly to Japan.

You could also join the next TFL meetup

 

[Kenan]

You could also join the next TFL meetup

That would be so fun man! Also easier than flying to Japan

 

[58panheadfan]

And you didn’t have chrome to instantly translate the website either! That must have been a challenge! You do have an amazing collection though, so maybe learning the hard way actually helped a bit in the end

Thank you Sir! For sure, luckily my brother lived in Japan and speak the Language... on the other side the "hard way" means buying/selling >300 pair of "made in japan" Jeans, >150 Leather Jackets from nearly all leading manufacturers today and same number of Boots/Shoes... on the other hand it brings you experience (we'll leave it open whether you're satisfied). In the End I mostly buy local these days: I am fortunate to have vmc and deecestyle in zurich. I can try on many things there and the bottom line is, I don't pay more than if I ordered the goods in Japan.

Edit: Sorry for my vaunt

Edit: And yes it was a pleasure to wear "made in japan" selvedge jeans knowing that only a handful of other people in europe even knew something like that. But "sadly" this feeling is gone

 

[TheBigEraser]

For sure, luckily my brother lived in Japan and speak the Language... on the other side the "hard way" means buying/selling >300 pair of "made in japan" Jeans, >150 Leather Jackets from nearly all leading manufacturers today and same number of Boots/Shoes... on the other hand it brings you experience (we'll leave it open whether you're satisfied). In the End I mostly buy local these days: I am fortunate to have vmc and deecestyle in zurich. I can try on many things there and the bottom line is, I don't pay more than if I ordered the goods in Japan.

Edit: Sorry for my vaunt

Lucky you have VMC! Such a great store. Spent 5 hours, scored some TWC and FW garments, and had really good conversation with Freddie and Fabian when I was there last December.

 

[Kenan]

For sure, luckily my brother lived in Japan and speak the Language... on the other side the "hard way" means buying/selling >300 pair of "made in japan" Jeans, >150 Leather Jackets from nearly all leading manufacturers today and same number of Boots/Shoes... on the other hand it brings you experience (we'll leave it open whether you're satisfied). In the End I mostly buy local these days: I am fortunate to have vmc and deecestyle in zurich. I can try on many things there and the bottom line is, I don't pay more than if I ordered the goods in Japan.

Edit: Sorry for my vaunt

You should have all that knowledge from experience written down somewhere. Time to write a book because you are like a amekaji sensei haha

You are pretty fortunate with those stores. VMC looks like the coolest store ever! Shame they don’t have a web shop honestly.

 

[58panheadfan]

I was always on the hunt for the "holly grail jacket" I still haven't found it and had to realize that I probably won't find it in this life either. I'm happy with what I have today though... I hope @Kenan will find your jacket too and hopefully it will be the "La Brea".

 

[58panheadfan]

Lucky you have VMC! Such a great store. Spent 5 hours, scored some TWC and FW garments, and had really good conversation with Freddie and Fabian when I was there last December.

Cool In fact, VMC is the place to be. Fredy is very knowledgeable and one of the longest staff members at VMC although he wasn't working there when I first shopped at VMC in 1989.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I measure my chest under my pits at the widest part. I think a lot of my chest measurement comes from my back which is probably true for many people. Keep in mind thay half measurements of jackets aren't perfect. I also am just used to having to size down due to how wide my chest is and how short my height is.

 

[58panheadfan]

You should have all that knowledge from experience written down somewhere. Time to write a book because you are like a amekaji sensei haha

You are pretty fortunate with those stores. VMC looks like the coolest store ever! Shame they don’t have a web shop honestly.

VMC is really a cool store and worth a visit. As I mentioned before, it is a privilege to have a shop like this nearby where you can smell, touch and try on clothes. The range covers the niche of the niche, such as goods from Japan by at last & co, adjustable costume, freewheelers, rmc, warehouse to name just a few. And the bottom line is, the prices, even if they seem expensive, are not more expensive, if I order the goods in Japan and have to pay shipping and customs tax as well.