Jackets You Regret Buying vs. Ones You Got Out of Your System

[dannyk]

I regret the Aero STF Bootlegger I bought. It didn't fit right from the jump, I was immediately turned off by the straightjacket feeling of the Horsehide, and it just wasn't comfortable or enjoyable to wear. I should have returned it to Thurston, but I sheepishly kept it. I thought going custom would be fun, but I too have learned that I prefer buying off the rack. I don't have a body type that requires a custom fit, and I don't enjoy the process of agonizing over every minute detail. It does not spark joy. Now, I wear the BL sparingly and can only get rid of at a $500+ loss. I keep it as a reminder to avoid the custom jacket rabbit-hole.

Same brother, I have never had a custom although have gone down the path of emailing back and forth and measuring and measuring again etc...When I realized its cheaper and just easier for me to OTR in almost all styles.

 

[jeo]

I don’t regret buying a jacket- it’s all part of the journey of finding out what you like and don’t.

^100% agree with this.

I don't regret buying anything, but rather my only regrets are when it comes to the details of the custom purchases I've made. For instance, I regret getting contrast stitching on my Himel Frobisher. Although I didn't think so at the time, but I regret not getting my Imperial in a different leather.

 

[Will Zach]

@dudewutheheck, I am wondering whether your impressive weight loss might change your perspective on some of those jackets, in particular CRs, which look best on slim guys. Are you not tempted to try on a Speed Master in the Desolation Row store? The one in Blue Shinki is amazing...

 

[Jin431]

I regret the Aero STF Bootlegger I bought. It didn't fit right from the jump, I was immediately turned off by the straightjacket feeling of the Horsehide, and it just wasn't comfortable or enjoyable to wear. I should have returned it to Thurston, but I sheepishly kept it. I thought going custom would be fun, but I too have learned that I prefer buying off the rack. I don't have a body type that requires a custom fit, and I don't enjoy the process of agonizing over every minute detail. It does not spark joy. Now, I wear the BL sparingly and can only get rid of at a $500+ loss. I keep it as a reminder to avoid the custom jacket rabbit-hole.

Was the STF BL too small?

 

[Ayeteael]

Was the STF BL too small?

Ya. When Thurston sent me the fit jacket, they sent a Sunburst instead of the BL. I pointed this out and they responded the fit would be the same and they didnt have a BL in stock. The Sunburst fit but i was skeptical it would accurately translate since the crosszip design is so different. Suffice to say, when the BL came it was so tight i could only zip it with a tshirt. Since it was a custom order, i assumed i was SOL and resigned myself to wearing it with a T. I know now i should have exchanged it.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Good post, that Aero A-1 really was horrible!

Haha yeah it really was. My worst jacket purchase.

Why do you think button front doesn't work on you? How is it different from a zip closure, considering you don't wear your jackets closed?

I think part of it is that the button front means the actual material is wider than with a zipper, so it looks more oversized when unbuttoned. That's all I can think of.

Hehe funny but true. Do you think it looked like a marshmallow because the pattern just doesn't suit your build, or didn't you get the measurements right? I think 2 inches less shoulder width and p2p would make the jacket look totally different.

No, the jacket actually felt really tight in the chest and back when buttoned up. So no, it was not too big. It was a size 40 and I had a 42" chest at the time.

 

[Jin431]

Ya. When Thurston sent me the fit jacket, they sent a Sunburst instead of the BL. I pointed this out and they responded the fit would be the same and they didnt have a BL in stock. The Sunburst fit but i was skeptical it would accurately translate since the crosszip design is so different. Suffice to say, when the BL came it was so tight i could only zip it with a tshirt. Since it was a custom order, i assumed i was SOL and resigned myself to wearing it with a T. I know now i should have exchanged it.

Man, that sucks that it didn't work out for you. I'm sure the choice of CXL made the fit worse considering how the leather is. Have you fully broken in the jacket? My fit jacket was a premier highwayman, it wasn't the best comparison too and it was too big on me. I ended up getting a 1 size smaller than the fit jacket, on hind sight I would have gone with a 38 chest/shoulder with 36 waist/hem to get a more tapered fit.

 

[Ayeteael]

Man, that sucks that it didn't work out for you. I'm sure the choice of CXL made the fit worse considering how the leather is. Have you fully broken in the jacket? My fit jacket was a premier highwayman, it wasn't the best comparison too and it was too big on me. I ended up getting a 1 size smaller than the fit jacket, on hind sight I would have gone with a 38 chest/shoulder with 36 waist/hem to get a more tapered fit.

Nah, jacket is still crazy stiff. Need to chop some wood or do yardwork in it to break it in. Thurston seems to be an excellent company and many members rave about them, but the whole point of using them is to dial in fit. It makes no sense to me that they would send a fit jacket that isn't the model you're ordering. Kind of defeats the purpose of using them. But, you live and learn!

 

[Jin431]

Just goes to show how much little wear it gets huh. Hope you feel better about the fit after you eventually break it in.

 

[TheDonEffect]

Having had a few suits custom tailor made, and seeing how much trial and error there is with it, I was a bit leery with buying a semi-tailored jacket online, especially since I have an awkward shaped body (5'9, 220lbs). That said, things off the rack tend to fit me fairly well once I figure out which brands work for me, and in terms of suits really only need thing I need to change is the sleeve and pant length. At this price point, why not just send a denim fit jacket (vs cloth since the denim will give you a sense of thickness) and then allow some minor adjustments like sleeve length.

 

[nick123]

No regrets. If I thought of the money I’ve thrown away at jackets I’d be living in a world of despair. I know several times I’ve bought when I really should have used the money towards something better, or saved. Awful feeling for sure. But in the end, I see this as a journey, so in the grand scheme of things, and the jacket buying’s really just an extension of some other underlying compulsive/impulsive brain chemistry going on, and it’s certainly a healthier outlet than turning to drugs, or something damaging.

 

[jonbuilder]

Because I buy pre-worn jackets, if one does not work either fit wise of just because I do no enjoy it due to the look or feel, I move it along without any measurable financial loss, sometimes maybe $40 or $50 to the upside. No loss no foul. I will buy vintage collectible jackets on the large size, but I do not buy jackets I can no wear. Sometimes I just want to experience a jacket. I have a feeling there are jacketeers out there, Terry comes to mind, who buy jackets they can not possibly wear due to size just to experience the jacket.

 

[AeroFan_07]

^^ I have done this as well - full confession there. Just not doing it anymore.

Dude - your photography is awesome! You have the ability to take a jacket that really isn't exceptional in terms of fit or the jacket itself and still rock it quite well. Again, the weather and your creativity, eye for good light, color, and just great taste in "functional style" all pays off very well here.

I cannot honestly say that I have not "regretted" very many jacket purchases, other than some cash loss. At least I got to experance something new & different with each one. The couple I am most satisfied with were the ones I got cheaply enough and were able to give away, free, to somone who had a need. Those are ones I will never regret.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

@dudewutheheck, I am wondering whether your impressive weight loss might change your perspective on some of those jackets, in particular CRs, which look best on slim guys. Are you not tempted to try on a Speed Master in the Desolation Row store? The one in Blue Shinki is amazing...

View attachment 277417

Yeah that jacket is amazing and maybe with my weight loss, a cafe racer would work for me. That blue is gorgeous, but just a little too much for me right now, which I know is rich coming from a guy who just got a purple jacket

^^ I have done this as well - full confession there. Just not doing it anymore.

Dude - your photography is awesome! You have the ability to take a jacket that really isn't exceptional in terms of fit or the jacket itself and still rock it quite well. Again, the weather and your creativity, eye for good light, color, and just great taste in "functional style" all pays off very well here.

I cannot honestly say that I have not "regretted" very many jacket purchases, other than some cash loss. At least I got to experance something new & different with each one. The couple I am most satisfied with were the ones I got cheaply enough and were able to give away, free, to somone who had a need. Those are ones I will never regret.

Thanks for the kind words. I just give attention to every aspect of my outfits, have a good camera, someone to take my photos, and I know enough about lighting to at least get decent shots. With that said, there are people who can do so much more with photography than I can.

I suppose I can say I can't truly regret any of my jackets because I have learned from all of the purchases. I like that perspective of at least getting experience with all of them, even if they don't all work out for you.

 

[red devil]

Yeah that jacket is amazing and maybe with my weight loss, a cafe racer would work for me. That blue is gorgeous, but just a little too much for me right now, which I know is rich coming from a guy who just got a purple jacket

This is perfectly understandable, this blue is indeed mroe vibrant than you purple jacket (doesn't take anything away from the prugna of course). I would say go for it, it is the next step... but I am biased lol

Edit: forgot to mention that I have seen this blue CR while visiting Desolation Row, that shade of blue is really nice in hand.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

This is perfectly understandable, this blue is indeed mroe vibrant than you purple jacket (doesn't take anything away from the prugna of course). I would say go for it, it is the next step... but I am biased lol

Edit: forgot to mention that I have seen this blue CR while visiting Desolation Row, that shade of blue is really nice in hand.

Yeah this is one I would like to see in person first. I would also want matching blue boots. Unfortunately I did not see this jacket either time I've been to Desolation Row.

 

[red devil]

Yeah this is one I would like to see in person first. I would also want matching blue boots. Unfortunately I did not see this jacket either time I've been to Desolation Row.

Clinch roam trainers in blue?

Otherwise I personally like to match it with Burgundy as well, as per the leather bits on that trainer

Edit: I will post that question in the footwear thread, it seems like a good discussion for there

 

[Will Zach]

This is perfectly understandable, this blue is indeed mroe vibrant than you purple jacket (doesn't take anything away from the prugna of course). I would say go for it, it is the next step... but I am biased lol

Edit: forgot to mention that I have seen this blue CR while visiting Desolation Row, that shade of blue is really nice in hand.

Me too, I even took a picture in it at Desolation Row, trying to find it now.

Got it, from last year. Not the best advert for the jacket with camera case on my right hip, but you get the idea, lol:

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Clinch roam trainers in blue?

Otherwise I personally like to match it with Burgundy as well, as per the leather bits on that trainer

Edit: I will post that question in the footwear thread, it seems like a good discussion for there

I like those trainers, but I think I would go with some blue leather.

Me too, I even took a picture in it at Desolation Row, trying to find it now.

Got it, from last year. Not the best advert for the jacket with camera case on my right hip, but you get the idea, lol:

View attachment 277874

Yeah and the red trousers make it even more extreme looking.

 

[handymike]

Kinda like a bomb-pop!