Introduction and Fit Pics of Vanson Jacket

[OldePro]

Hi all, long time lurker, but I've just started posting on here.
I'm always in search for the right jacket or outerwear in general that can be worn on and off the bike. I ride and build vintage harleys as a hobby and I work in the jewelry industry by day, so yeah...I'm always looking at things for design inspiration.

so....I bought this Vanson Panther jacket from the classifieds here and I've already re-listed it as I feel that it just doesn't fit right for what I was expecting.

It's a size 40 and I wear a size 38 suit jacket if I'm just wearing a dress shirt, and size 40 if I'm layering a sweater or vest underneath. The jacket feels like it has too much material in the front areas of the shoulders, but maybe this is a case where the leather just needs to soften, relax and mold more to the body? This leather is fairly shiny and stiff for now, so I'm not sure if I'm seeing that as the issue or if the fit is just 'off' for my body. In the pics, I'm just wearing a t-shirt under the jacket for reference. With a vest or sweatshirt it definitely fits a bit more snug, but just wanted to see all of your thoughts. Ideally this would be worn a bit more casually than primarily on the bike. When I'm riding, it's primarily on choppers, upright bars on all my bikes, no cafe racers or anything hunched over.

thanks and looking forward to your opinions!

 

[ton312]

Welcome OldePro! Man I think the fit on that looks really friggn' good! Pictures don't always tell the whole story but I can't see anything wrong with that fit!

 

[jacketjunkie]

IMHO, To me that looks like a perfectly fine fit. You don't want your jacket to fit skin-tight, it's no latex suit and shouldn't fit like a superhero costume that shows off pecs and abs, especially not a casual style as the Enfield. You only wear a t-shirt under the jacket on these pictures, if you go any tighter you won't be able to put on a sweater under that.

 

[OldePro]

Welcome OldePro! Man I think the fit on that looks really friggn' good! Pictures don't always tell the whole story but I can't see anything wrong with that fit!

Thanks Ton! its the larger folds/wrinkles that are getting me for now, but again, I'd imagine that over time they'll settle in a bit more and look less drastic.

 

[OldePro]

IMHO, To me that looks like a perfectly fine fit. You don't want your jacket to fit skin-tight, it's no latex suit and shouldn't fit like a superhero costume that shows off pecs and abs, especially not a casual style as the Enfield. You only wear a t-shirt under the jacket on these pictures, if you go any tighter you won't be able to put on a sweater under that.

thanks JacketJunkie. I'm hoping with time it may break in a bit more as well.

 

[ton312]

Thanks Ton! its the larger folds/wrinkles that are getting me for now, but again, I'd imagine that over time they'll settle in a bit more and look less drastic.

Absolutely they will. Man a brand new (or nearly so in this case) Vanson is insanely stiff.

 

[Monitor]

IMHO, To me that looks like a perfectly fine fit. You don't want your jacket to fit skin-tight, it's no latex suit and shouldn't fit like a superhero costume that shows off pecs and abs, especially not a casual style as the Enfield. You only wear a t-shirt under the jacket on these pictures, if you go any tighter you won't be able to put on a sweater under that.

Signed and seconded.

 

[TREEMAN]

Good fit.......

 

[AeroFan_07]

Welcome, seems a little baggy to me, but a very nice jacket overall...

 

[JMax]

Everything looks solid to me, including sleeve length for riding a chopper. It is a personal preference, but this is the “loosest” I would wear a riding jacket...or it’s perfect to add one good layer underneath. Never hurts to have one or more that can be layered under. And then others that can only go on with a t-shirt.

 

[Fanch]

First of all welcome the the Lounge where we enable other members to buy waaay more jackets than will ever be needed. Your fit looks great and think if you sized down you would look and feel like the Michelin Man.

 

[navetsea]

if the shoulder and the neck hole fits the rest is just the shape of the jacket, if the shoulder is droopy or the collar is loose then the jacket is too big that's how I see it.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

looks like an overall good fit to me. Great jacket and welcome!

 

[AeroFan_07]

Ok, so I'll take a little more time with the response now. In no way trying to be critical, and I really want to welcome you to the Lounge, while offering fair warning, that your wallet and spare time allotment may suffer from being on here!

It's my take on fit jackets that you would want it as it's to be worn on a bike (if motorcycle intended). That means zipped up, sleeves zipped, and with the average amount of under-layers that you intend to have on. Having an un-zipped photo can help too, however it's no secret that for me, my jackets are always zipped up, very rarely do I ever un-zip a jacket unless I am taking it off. Just the way I was raised (thanks Mom )

That said, and my anal ways exposed, try wearing a hoodie with everything together and see how that looks. To me you have a lot of room in this Vanson, which isn't typical as per my experience with Vansons. Due (primarily) to this site, my buying habits and sizing traits have changed, and I do not often allow for much layer-room in jackets now. Which is why I freeze to some extent as well.

Biggest question - are YOU satisfied with it? If so...great!

Silly examples of my anal ways: (one of these is too short for me)

 

[Bfd70]

The right side? (Hwy?)

 

[ton312]

Ok, so I'll take a little more time with the response now. In no way trying to be critical, and I really want to welcome you to the Lounge, while offering fair warning, that your wallet and spare time allotment may suffer from being on here!

It's my take on fit jackets that you would want it as it's to be worn on a bike (if motorcycle intended). That means zipped up, sleeves zipped, and with the average amount of under-layers that you intend to have on. Having an un-zipped photo can help too, however it's no secret that for me, my jackets are always zipped up, very rarely do I ever un-zip a jacket unless I am taking it off. Just the way I was raised (thanks Mom )

That said, and my anal ways exposed, try wearing a hoodie with everything together and see how that looks. To me you have a lot of room in this Vanson, which isn't typical as per my experience with Vansons. Due (primarily) to this site, my buying habits and sizing traits have changed, and I do not often allow for much layer-room in jackets now. Which is why I freeze to some extent as well.

Biggest question - are YOU satisfied with it? If so...great!

Silly examples of my anal ways: (one of these is too short for me)

View attachment 103336 View attachment 103337 View attachment 103338 View attachment 103339

Randy that LW j23 is without question the nicest jacket I've seen you display here. You could've been born in it. It simply doesn't get better than that. Period.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Bfd70 - yes that Highwayman. It'll be up in the Classifieds this weekend.

Tony - Thank you! It's indeed fitting very well, just have to keep patient as it's resisting break-in to a great extent.
Sure liking your new bootlegger there! Hope it's getting acquainted to you as well!

 

[Peacoat]

Fit pics with the jacket unzipped aren't helpful, but yours does look the treat from what I could see of it.

 

[VansonRider]

Please post some zipped and layered pictures. I agree with the above post that it’s more helpful to post shots of how you’re planning on wearing it.

I have a few Vansons, most are warmer weather jackets, and the sport rider style, vented etc. The hot weather summer jackets I have in a 40, pretty skin tight but fits a T-shirt or a thermal for cooler riding.
For colder weather I went up to a 42”. It’s an 80’s model that has two main zippers and with the tighter one closed I can layer a thick sweater. The loose one lets me really pile on for COLD riding. Below freezing riding.

Anyway, to me that looks a tad loose, like my sized up jacket. I like my Vansons tight, on a long ride they almost hold me up!

If you are worried it feels a little loose now, try sizing down one. True, it will break in, but it will break in looser. I used to live in Mass. and I drove to the factory and sized down till I couldn’t zip up the jacket, then I went back up a size.

 

[oskar]

The fit isnt perfect, but sill good