If you could only have THREE ...

[Jin431]

I would suggest the Aero Bootlegger as a good gateway to the world of cross zips. After that any basic two pocket CHP (Langlitz Columbia, Cal LAPD, Vanson CHP2) is the quintessential cross zip without all the adornment.

Agree completely, I started with the bootlegger and now Have a D pocket on order and would love to have a CHP style jacket (straight zip though)

 

[El Marro]

Don’t hold yourself back like that @Jin431. You should have both a straight zip and a cross zip CHP. Perhaps even two of each!

 

[Pandemic]

I would suggest the Aero Bootlegger as a good gateway to the world of cross zips. After that any basic two pocket CHP (Langlitz Columbia, Cal LAPD, Vanson CHP2) is the quintessential cross zip without all the adornment.

I think I first got the bug for a stripped down cross zip after seeing the Schott P213. I didn’t like the leather or the cut, but liked the style so from there I went:

Simmons Bilt Pacific
Aero Ridley custom
Field Leather custom

 

[Jin431]

Don’t hold yourself back like that @Jin431. You should have both a straight zip and a cross zip CHP. Perhaps even two of each!

Oh man that would be so cool to have for sure. I've noticed you have it in both styles and I always like those jackets! might as well go for the whole treatment ala @El Marro.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

 

[dlite90]

Black aero bootlegger
Brown himel Imperial
Brown aero Maxwell for a dressier look than a jacket with zippers

 

[dudewuttheheck]

The first two of the three would be easy choices for me:

1. 1930s-1940s style cross zip sports jackets

2. 1930s-1940s half belt

3 is a bit harder. My Freewheelers Mulholland is not a half belt. It's an Italian collar, straight zip, police/motorcycle jacket. It's not even easy to classify. If I could group it with the half belt and just call that category "collared, straight zip jacket with side adjusters" or something like that then I would do that. If I could do that, then the third category would be trucker jackets surprisingly just because I love my new FW so much.

 

[Carlos840]

I would suggest the Aero Bootlegger as a good gateway to the world of cross zips. After that any basic two pocket CHP (Langlitz Columbia, Cal LAPD, Vanson CHP2) is the quintessential cross zip without all the adornment.

That was literally my exact path...
Like @Hobbes1 i thought cross zips were a bit much, i got a bootlegger, enjoyed it, decided i was ready for more, got a Vanson CHP 2, and it all went south from there.

 

[Dav]

Irvin
Highwayman
A-2
That would do me, all the rest are just for pleasure.

 

[willyto]

If my house cought fire right now and i could only save three jackets it would be:

I'm not sure i would survive the broken heart i would get from seeing the rest of them burn to ashes...

Edit: just re read the Op and realized you are asking about styles, not specific jackets, personally, i am all in on the Cross zip, they are my favourite and i wear them 90% of the time.

That would be IIRC:

- Lost Worlds
- Freewheelers
- The Real McCoy’s

Where is the Himel Chevalier? :O

 

[ericsanpablo31]

I’ll keep these 3
View attachment 293928

which half belt and cafe racer are those?

 

[red devil]

That was literally my exact path...
Like @Hobbes1 i thought cross zips were a bit much, i got a bootlegger, enjoyed it, decided i was ready for more, got a Vanson CHP 2, and it all went south from there.

I did also think that a full on cross-zip was too much initially. But going back to the LW J24 page every so often taught me that there are very tastefully made full on cross-zips that work really well. I would have gone for it directly, but the moose Trojan happened first.
In short, spend some time looking at cool cross-zips and you will realise you can easily wear them

That would be IIRC:

- Lost Worlds
- Freewheelers
- The Real McCoy’s

Where is the Himel Chevalier? :O

If you think about, it the Chevalier is essentially a Leathertogs repro... so I would suspect you would want to maximise variety in such a situation?

Edit: typos

 

[handymike]

which half belt and cafe racer are those?

The Half-belt is a GW Imperial and the CR is a Kehoe.

 

[El Marro]

That was literally my exact path...
Like @Hobbes1 i thought cross zips were a bit much, i got a bootlegger, enjoyed it, decided i was ready for more, got a Vanson CHP 2, and it all went south from there.

It was mine as well. I hadn’t thought of it for a while but I was pretty self-conscious the first few times I went outside in the Vanson. Fast forward a couple years and now the cross zip is just like any other jacket style to me.

 

[Carlos840]

That would be IIRC:

- Lost Worlds
- Freewheelers
- The Real McCoy’s

Where is the Himel Chevalier? :O

Honestly, i rarely wear it.
Brown is really not my colour to start with, and on top of that the Himel really doesn't have the "special" factor that the other three i posted have.

 

[dlite90]

I’m surprised to see no one mentioning car coats (except maybe HoosierDaddy with the Teamster). I may need one when I move back up north.
The Himel Canuck looks really handsome to me.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I’m surprised to see no one mentioning car coats (except maybe HoosierDaddy with the Teamster). I may need one when I move back up north.
The Himel Canuck looks really handsome to me.

Grayland and I both mentioned longer, car coat jackets.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Cross Zip
HWM/Sheene
Utility with removable lining

 

[Berto]

I think I first got the bug for a stripped down cross zip after seeing the Schott P213. I didn’t like the leather or the cut, but liked the style so from there I went:

Simmons Bilt Pacific
Aero Ridley custom
Field Leather custom

SB Pacific in black deerskin is one of my favourites

 

[Pandemic]

SB Pacific in black deerskin is one of my favourites

Well just wait and see what Greg Field is making for me now