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

[dudewuttheheck]

In the thread on selling regrets, I noted that I still have not regretted selling any of my jackets, but there were jackets that I regretted buying. I was wondering how many others have had similar experiences.

However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was a distinction between truly regretting a jacket purchase vs. making a purchase of a jacket that you ended up selling or not wearing much, but you were glad you actually bought it after reflection. If you buy a jacket that you like and wear for a while and then eventually move it on or you gain or lose weight and then it doesn't fit, or eventually you move away from the style, I don't know if that is actual regret. Regret is when the customer service is terrible, you don't like the jacket from the get go, or you truly wish you had bought a different jacket instead. I think there is a very interesting dichotomy between regretting a purchase and being glad you got it out of your system.

For example, I don't regret buying my Diamond Dave J-100 jacket. Yeah, maybe I could have saved up and bought a better jacket earlier on, but this purchase did several things for me. Firstly, it got the cafe racer out of my system early on. I'm glad I didn't spend RMC or Himel money on a cafe racer now that I really don't care for cafe racers at all now. Also, it truly made me realize how much I care about construction quality. It was not a well finished jacket and I'm glad I got to experience how much it annoyed me. Finally, it helped truly get me to fall in love with Shink horsehide. I still adore this leather today and I'm glad I got to experience it early on with this jacket.

I also don't regret my Himel Grizzly purchase. I sold that jacket because it no longer fit and even though I wouldn't buy it again, I am glad I owned that jacket for the time I did have it.

On the other hand, I do have purchases I do genuinely regret. For example, I regret buying the IH x Alexander J-100 in black goatskin that I owned for less than a week. I didn't like the jacket at all on me. I didn't like how it fit (I gave them body measurements, not the measurements I wanted the jacket to have) and I really did not like the leather once I got it. I never even took a picture of myself in this jacket.

There is even a Good Wear jacket in my past that I regret buying. I was just a pain for John. I should have known I was too fat for this jacket, but I had him shorten the sleeves and sell it to me anyway, but it didn't fit at all. I regret this more for the fact that I probably set back someone's actual order by the time he wasted on me.

In addition, I regret my Himel Bros. cossack jacket purchase. I should have known that a button front leather jacket was not going to work on me. Plus, It was too wide in the chest even when I first got it. I loved the leather and details of that jacket, but I never truly loved it on me. That was a bad purchase.

You can really see how large it is in these last two photos:

I do love cossack jackets, but I so vastly prefer how my Ooe Yofukuten moleskin jackets look on me:

I do not regret my RMC red silk A2 jacket obviously because I loved it for years and only sold it due to sizing issues. I do regret a previous RMC A2 jacket that I bought because it never looked good on me and I only bought it because I could get it fairly cheap. I knew it wasn't the jacket I wanted.

Red Silk A2:

The RMC Roughwear A2 I do regret buying:

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I very much regret the purchase of my Aero A1. This wins the award for worst fitting garment I have ever owned. I loved the Badalassi, but I really wish I had just bought the Hooch Hauler that I had on my mind at first. Go with your first answer, people. This jacket was a huge mistake. No doubt about it.

I really looked like a human marshmallow in that thing.

I even regret the purchase of my brown Freewheelers Mulholland a bit. The Mulholland is an amazing jacket, but I was already losing weight when I bought that jacket. I should have known 42 was not going to fit me in the long run and it didn't. 42 was the last of my size in that limited edition jacket so I bought it, but I knew it was too big from the get go. I should not have bought that jacket. I do not regret the black one though because that one did fit me at the time I purchased it and I got it before I made the decision to lose weight. Plus, I was able to trade that for a size 40 pretty easily so it all worked out.

Not a terrible fit at first:

But by this point, it was WAY too large and I knew that would happen

By contrast, here's how the new size 40 black Mulholland fits:

If only I had jumped on a brown size 40 Mulholland earlier...


There are a few others I could describe, but I've talked enough. I'd like to hear everyone else's thoughts on this.

 

[Carlos840]

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

 

[Marc mndt]

I should have known that a button front leather jacket was not going to work on me.

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?

 

[Monitor]

I've no business in this thread as I don't really buy anything new but other than Lost Worlds, of course - and for the reasons not related to the quality of the product but rather the quality of the person behind it (or there lack of) - I've no regrets toward those few jackets I did buy brand new. I bought a few Aero and Schott jackets, one Vanson and I think that's about it? But anyway, they were all nice and I never felt like regret buying any of 'em.

On the other hand, I never felt happiness I thought getting a brand new jacket will bring, as well, though and neither of these ever significantly topped whatever used I'd get, which is why I'm probably never again buying anything bespoke ever again. To me personally, it's just not worth it.

So nah, I'm good.

And yeah, I also think that Cossack fits you as good as anything else. It's a really nice jacket!

 

[Marc mndt]

I really looked like a human marshmallow in that thing.

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.

 

[Monitor]

In all reality, can you not look like a marshmallow in an A1/2 style jackets? The elastic cuffs and hem pretty much guarantee the look, to some degree, at least.

 

[Marc mndt]

In all reality, can you not look like a marshmallow in an A1/2 style jackets? The elastic cuffs and hem pretty much guarantee the look, to some degree, at least.

I think the urban hippie doesn't look like a marshmallow in his real Mccoy A-1

 

[Mich486]

Every jacket purchase is a bit of a learning experience. No big regrets apart from the fact that going custom for me as never worked out particularly better than OTR, in fact it’s probably been worst.

I too like the fit on the Himel button front on you in those photos. It gives off a relaxed vibe that makes it look like you are wearing the jacket rather than the other way round.

 

[Sloan1874]

I had a cherry/cordovan Highwayman that just didn't suit my body shape. No matter what, it just felt as it hung on me. Thankfully, I was able to sell it on for the same money I paid, but it took a lot to admit the thing didn't look good.

 

[dannyk]

Both of these G-1s. The first is an original 60s-Vietnam G-1 and the second is an early 2000s cowhide civilian G-1.

I bought the early 2000s for a song and dance as up until then all my jackets had been cross-zips and I wanted to branch out and since it was cheap I said this is a good start. I pretty much hate this jacket, but said it’s not really a G-1, let me find an actual G-1 to really test the waters. Now the 60s G-1 is a much better constructed jacket and the fit really isnt that bad at all, but I still don’t like the style. So even though my first instinct was I don’t like this style regardless of construction/fit, my dumb ass said let’s try it again! So now both will be going up for sale. Sometimes better construction or decent fits just don’t matter if you don’t like the look of them. Also sorry for my boy Charlie’s excitement for being photographed he had to be blacked out a bit haha. Also the last photo is the same as the first two which is the 60s G-1, I uploaded and re-uploaded the photos a couple of times and it just kept wanting that one away from the others so I gave in and said fine.

 

[Marc mndt]

Both of these G-1s. The first is an original 60s-Vietnam G-1 and the second is an early 2000s cowhide civilian G-1.

I bought the early 2000s for a song and dance as up until then all my jackets had been cross-zips and I wanted to branch out and since it was cheap I said this is a good start. I pretty much hate this jacket, but said it’s not really a G-1, let me find an actual G-1 to really test the waters. Now the 60s G-1 is a much better constructed jacket and the fit really isnt that bad at all, but I still don’t like the style. So even though my first instinct was I don’t like this style regardless of construction/fit, my dumb ass said let’s try it again! So now both will be going up for sale. Sometimes better construction or decent fits just don’t matter if you don’t like the look of them. Also sorry for my boy Charlie’s excitement for being photographed he had to be blacked out a bit haha. Also the last photo is the same as the first two which is the 60s G-1, I uploaded and re-uploaded the photos a couple of times and it just kept wanting that one away from the others so I gave in and said fine.

View attachment 277274 View attachment 277278 View attachment 277279 View attachment 277280 View attachment 277272

Great photo's though!

 

[dannyk]

Great photo's though!

Thanks! Part of a series we did with our doggos and a photographer we know. Well the posed ones. The first photo was from Erie County Fall Fest. That was from my time working as Chief of Staff for an Erie County Legislator. We had this beautiful park in our district that over the years had fallen into disrepair. We decided to do something about it and got millions approved through hard work and a media campaign to fix it up. Also got a dog park approved for a section of it. The guy my fiancé and I are with is our County Executive. I worked on two of his campaigns, one as an intern and one as a volunteer as I worked full time in the position I just mentioned. Through building that relationship we were able to bring back what we called Fall Fest. The park used to have a Fall Fest and many big events but as the park fell into disrepair the festivals stopped. We had live music, a pie contest, face painting for the kids, costume contest, food trucks, craft vendors, park Rangers doing guided tours, doing a wood branding demonstration, wagon rides, fire department taking people up in the lift just a ton of family events; and both years were a ton of fun and really enjoyable to see your hard work pay off. it was great. This was the second year when the dog park got approved but was not and still is not open yet still under construction. But in honor of it we made it dog friendly and asked people to bring their dogs. Then, I won’t post all of them but these are a few others from the actual photo shoot.

and most importantly now I know I don’t like G-1s! Hahah. Anyone in the market for 36-38 G-1s??? I know a guy.

 

[jonbuilder]

Both of these G-1s. The first is an original 60s-Vietnam G-1 and the second is an early 2000s cowhide civilian G-1.

I bought the early 2000s for a song and dance as up until then all my jackets had been cross-zips and I wanted to branch out and since it was cheap I said this is a good start. I pretty much hate this jacket, but said it’s not really a G-1, let me find an actual G-1 to really test the waters. Now the 60s G-1 is a much better constructed jacket and the fit really isnt that bad at all, but I still don’t like the style. So even though my first instinct was I don’t like this style regardless of construction/fit, my dumb ass said let’s try it again! So now both will be going up for sale. Sometimes better construction or decent fits just don’t matter if you don’t like the look of them. Also sorry for my boy Charlie’s excitement for being photographed he had to be blacked out a bit haha. Also the last photo is the same as the first two which is the 60s G-1, I uploaded and re-uploaded the photos a couple of times and it just kept wanting that one away from the others so I gave in and said fine.

View attachment 277274 View attachment 277278 View attachment 277279 View attachment 277280 View attachment 277272

I like the picture with your dogs

 

[Pandemic]

Schott that I bought during their Covid sale. It was well made and had some nice construction details the smaller outfits don’t do, but the leather looked more bronze than brown. The fit was good and really helped me understand what I wanted in a jacket. The style just wasn’t me. I’m tall, slim athletic with an inverted triangle torso - yet it always made me look like I had a beer belly when unzipped. Thankfully I was able to sell it for what I paid, so no regrets at all.

 

[dannyk]

I like the picture with your dogs

Thanks!

 

[ton312]

The only thing I tend to regret is not listening to the little voice inside my head that says something probably won’t work and doing it anyway. Generally applies to pre-owned stuff. I never regret trying a new style. Part of the fun lies in trying new styles, hides, etc...And you can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs.

 

[handymike]

I don’t regret buying a jacket- it’s all part of the journey of finding out what you like and don’t. I’ve tried many, and like @Monitor most have been second hand. The only one that really lost me money on the resale was an Aero. I do have 3 hanging in my closet that don’t fit and are falling apart, but those are also some of my favorites to look at and dream of re-making someday. There have been some misses along the way... I’ve really struggled with the Racer pattern- but I found one that feels right...I learned that while I love the Thedi style cross-button, I never felt comfortable wearing it. And now I also realize that any collar less than 3.5in is too small for me , so now I’ve narrowed down my vintage searches to 40s or 70s. All good...

 

[El Marro]

Cool thread topic Dude, and aside from the A-1 I don’t see a single jacket that didn’t look good in your collection.
I have a few regrets but I would say it is more to do with buying the wrong size than buying the wrong jacket. My first A2 was a Gibson and Barnes horsehide historical model that was at least two sizes too big. Ditto my first custom Aero, a Teamster that I insisted should be a size 46 despite Carrie’s attempts to steer me towards a 44. I think part of the problem was that I thought I was bigger than I really am and also the fact that I am always more nervous about a jacket being too small than too large.
As @Mich486 pointed out, I think I have had better results buying off the rack that I have going custom.

 

[Ayeteael]

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.