Irvin/B3/A2 inspirations... Burberry aviator jackets

[Spitfire]

my comment - very short: .....:eusa_doh:

 

[dr greg]

the eyes have it

. (For those not familiar with Von Dutch, his real name was Kenny Howard and he was the father of automotive pinstriping. He taught the rest of the world how to do it. His logo was the Flying Eyeball, the white bloodshot eyeball with two yellow wings. )

I always thought the flying eyeball was a Rick Griffin thing......and that jacket would only worn by people prancing about in nightclubs...I wouldn't want it on crawling around under a truck trying to fix a busted exhaust in the middle of nowhere on a rainy night.....

 

[Silver Dollar]

It sure does look alot like the Rick Griffin eyeball but it's definitely the Von Dutch logo. You're right about the people in night clubs. That's the kind of thing I was talking about. Some guy uses the Von Dutch name, doesn't give the Howard family squat and then the trendy with the pouty looks have to have the name on everything they wear or else they can't be seen in public.

 

[normanf]

I received it today and its a polyester-cotton combo. The shell imitates the look and feel of cowhide leather and the faux shearling lining is quite warm - nearly as good as the real thing. Its a dark brown, almost black and has a glazed finish. My only quibble with the jacket is that sleeves aren't shearling-lined. But for the price, its a good-looking knock-off of a 1940s real shearling fur jacket.

Purists will object to the material choice but the style really can't be argued with.

 

[kyboots]

Welcome Tenn.

Welcome Tennessee. Glad to see someone close to home ! John

 

[Edward]

I received it today and its a polyester-cotton combo. The shell imitates the look and feel of cowhide leather and the faux shearling lining is quite warm - nearly as good as the real thing. Its a dark brown, almost black and has a glazed finish. My only quibble with the jacket is that sleeves aren't shearling-lined. But for the price, its a good-looking knock-off of a 1940s real shearling fur jacket.

Purists will object to the material choice but the style really can't be argued with.

You are, of course, obliged to post pics now....

 

[aswatland]

Purists will object to the material choice but the style really can't be argued with.

Are you sure about that? The jacket does not seem to be based on any particular WW2 flying jacket. It's an odd mixture with naval style pockets, 1970s thick ribbed knits, a small Irvin style collar with a strap and yet it's lined with fake shearling rather than being made from shearling throughout.

Personally its not to my taste but each to his own.

 

[Papa M]

It sure does look alot like the Rick Griffin eyeball but it's definitely the Von Dutch logo.

Yes it's the Von Dutch trademark alright. Rick Griffin grew up admiring Hot Rod culture and was influenced by Von Dutch artwork.

Griffin, of course, went on to take the style into realms unimaginable by most folk. He was a genius. Whilst his comic art was superb we should not ignore the fact that he was also a Fine artist and remarkably talented illustrator.

 

[Papa M]

Hello everyone, first time posting here !

I was looking for opinions and I thought I could earn lots of good ones among the Fedora community. What I like with these jackets is that it feels like a modern view of classics jackets.

Welcome Mimaximax.

And thanks for presenting us with an interesting topic.

Having worked for many years with the "Sapeur" community of Congolese musicians with their outrageous designer clothing I guess I can approach your jackets with a slightly more open mind than many of our Fedora friends.

I wonder if the jackets would have received a more favourable response had they been modelled by more rugged and manly models rather than typically effete and camp looking Catwalk boys.

As you eloquently say - it's a modern view of a classic jacket.

Having in the past owned £1000 leather jackets by Versace and Armand Basi I will admit that these days I prefer to have "reasonably priced" leather jackets based on traditional classics.

We might sneer and balk at the idea of paying £2000 for one of those Catwalk items. But we tend to forget that many people are baffled by the fact that we would pay £500 for an Eastman, Aero etc. Even more absurd to the majority is the idea that we might own and cherish literally dozens of jackets when the average person would be quite content with one or two.

 

[mimaximax]

I was wondering the same about the catwalk thing.

I'm not willing to wear it everyday ; I usually wear military cotton jackets or trenchs. This jacket is quite heavy and must be warm. So I was thinking about putting it on my shoulders, in town mostly, when the weather looks appropriate, in order to feel comfortable in a great looking jacket that can resist time and fashion trends, thanks to his classic fabric inspirations.

I will look for more infos about the lambskin durability issue (help welcome). I have no intention to put water, oil or mud on such a high priced jacket. I'm careful with my clothes but I always want to feel at ease.

 

[aswatland]

So does this mean you have splashed out over £2K for this lambskin jacket? If so perhaps you could post some pictures of it and your wearing it.

 

[JoeNiblick]

I looked at the website, and it just says "shearling," not lambskin... So that may not be an issue.

It strikes me that if the guys on here think it's over-priced, that's really saying something!

It does look a little flashy, but we're not talking about Middle America here, we're talking about Paris. I think you could totally pull it off!

As far as value, if you're shopping at Burberry, is that really an issue?

 

[aswatland]

I looked at the website, and it just says "shearling," not lambskin... So that may not be an issue.

It strikes me that if the guys on here think it's over-priced, that's really saying something!

It does look a little flashy, but we're not talking about Middle America here, we're talking about Paris. I think you could totally pull it off!

As far as value, if you're shopping at Burberry, is that really an issue?

The current price for this shearling jacket is £2,295. This may be good value to you, but you can buy a robust, authentic AN-J4 from Eastman for £599, a fraction of the price and get a styish jacket which will last for years.

http://www.shopcreator.com/mall/eastmanleather/products/product-81113.stm

I fail to see how any one in their right mind would spend £2,295 on this jacket. Were it to be re-sold would it attain anything like the purchase price?
It's simply a vastly overpriced fashion garment.

 

[normanf]

Perhaps. But I find the pockets with the slash handwarmers on the side practical. Granted, its not what a particular WW II flight jacket should be but if a civilian version was to be made, it might look something like it. And the different look still somehow manages to recall the way people used to dress in an earlier era.

I find myself liking it. Others may differ.

 

[normanf]

Good point, Andrew!

A B-3 can be had for a fraction of the price. I paid $400 on the Bay for a B-3 made by Sawyer Canada for Tilley Endurables, the world famous hat and travel goods retailer. Its a very good jacket and will last me a lifetime.

 

[Smithy]

I fail to see how any one in their right mind would spend £2,295 on this jacket. Were it to be re-sold would it attain anything like the purchase price?
It's simply a vastly overpriced fashion garment.

I agree totally with Andrew here.

And I would suggest to the original poster that if he doesn't want a strict reproduction of a wartime jacket by the likes of ELC but something more "civilianised" then perhaps one of Cirrus' Irvin/B-3 inspired jackets may not only be cheaper but possibly even more durable and fit the bill. They offer quite a range from sheepskin jackets to 3/4 and full length coats:

http://www.flyingjacket.com/cirrussheepskinf.html

 

[captaincaveman1]

Good point, Andrew!

A B-3 can be had for a fraction of the price. I paid $400 on the Bay for a B-3 made by Sawyer Canada for Tilley Endurables, the world famous hat and travel goods retailer. Its a very good jacket and will last me a lifetime.

Even less if you're a cheap ba***rd like me. lol lol

Hardly historically accurate but still a super-warm B-3-inspired Schott jacket: 150 dollars

For us yanks, 2400 pounds converts to 3400 US dollars.

 

[dr greg]

the look

I think this is a classic case of the argument over form vs function. I have a couple of 'dress' leather jackets that I would wear to dinner in a decent restaurant for instance, where I wouldn't look right in an old bike jacket. So I dress according to the environment, but I wouldn't buy a leather jacket that looked like I just crawled out of a steampunk spaceship if the thing was so delicate that a passing drinks waiter might tear it with his elbow, anymore than I would buy a pair of cardboard cowboy boots.
Fashion is a fickle mistress however and there are those who want a particular look regardless of the authenticity thereof, which is fine, the transitory and ephemeral nature of the nightclub existence means that whatever you wear will be forgotten very quickly in direct proportion to the currency thereof...which is why most people on this forum tend to favour classic styling...but we were all young once and no doubt ancient fashion fauxs-pa haunt us all.

 

[JanSolo]

This really is an interesting thread. And I have to admit that the shorter of the two jackets doesn't look too bad. Although it might only work if your whole wardrobe consists of upmarket designer wear. Imagine that jacket being worn by someone less tall and less skinny wearing trainers and bell bottom jeans.....there you go!

But I really wonder who actually makes the jacket for Burberry. Sewing sheepskin requires a skilled machinist and totally different sewing techniques including a special shaving device. I bet those jackets aren't made by Burberry.

 

[Silver Dollar]

That's really a very good looking jacket. I'm sure it's warm as blazes. For the price, you can't beat it with a stick. I like it. :eusa_clap