Johnson Leather M200 in Horween Vermont Leather

[mowgli222]

@Cooperson... I am hoping it is an easy fix.. However I am not yer sure as I have not talked to Alan and don't have a clue what it takes to take the sides in..

 

[trapp]

It's not major surgery on this jacket. See the two side panels (one on each side under the arms?). On Alan's jackets, he can take those panels in a bit to snug up the fit from the chest down. Alternatively, if someone puts on weight and grows out of a jacket, he can give you extra room by putting in larger panels. Taking it in is easier (and cheaper) since they're just trimming down the existing panel. Either way, since this is a custom job, it likely won't be a big deal. These are considered standard alterations on his jackets.

I have a few JL jackets, including two M200 variants, that are approaching the day when I'll probably have to get larger panels put in - probably after THanksgiving

 

[Jägernaut]

Why are you selling?

 

[mowgli222]

Just checking to see if it was going to be easier to sell this and get another one in the same style without the wind flap and a trimmer body..

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

 

[trapp]

Hm, maybe you'e giving up on this jacket too soon? If you haven't already, you might want to send the photos of you wearing the jacket to Johnson Leathers. Explain your concerns and see what they say. Without a doubt, it will be much less expensive to modify this jacket than to start over. I would continue pursuing this route unless the people at JL tell you that your desired modifications simply can't be done (which would surprise me).

It's pretty much a given you won't get anywhere near your money back on the secondhand market. I believe if you get 50% back you'll have done very well - and I think it's way too early to take such a hit.

 

[IXL]

Mowgli, I think you should keep it, but if you want to take a 50% hit on it, I'm a size 40 and I'll take it off your hands.

 

[mowgli222]

@trapp.. Thank you for your thoughts. I think I am still going to get it altered by Alan. I am just testing the waters here.. Modifications (windflap, taking the body in) do cost money and I am just trying to see if it is going to to cost me less to sell it and start over.

 

[trapp]

Sounds good.

Given this is a recent custom job, you should probe to see how much of the modification cost might be absorbed by JL as part of the custom process. I certainly don't know. But it's possible he might charge you little or nothing for the slimming. The windflap is a different issue since you forgot to specify. The main thing is to get the photos in his hands, express your thoughts, and see what they come back with.

Your modifications will likely cost money, but I will be surprised if it's very much. I'll eat my shoe if it's as much as the hit you'll take by starting over.

 

[Grayland]

JL charged me $65 to remove a windflap.

The bottom of the jacket looks pretty trim when zipped up- trim enough that it wouldn't zip up if you put on 5-10 lbs of "holiday weight". Be careful that you don't slim the back/midsection too much. When I first started buying nice suits and sport coats, I insisted that the tailor take them in quite a bit through the sides. I ended up with some coats that looked pretty feminine due to the hour glass effect. I no longer have them taken in as much and they look much better.

If your jacket were shorter (waist length), it would be easy to accommodate the V-shape and have the jacket hug your torso. Since the jacket is a little longer, it gets into your hip area and (on a slim guy like you) needs to be wider to fit around your rear end.

Adjustable straps at the waist might've been an easy fix, although maybe it's too late for that now.

In a perfect world, I'd want it slimmed a tad, but it really looks good on you. When zipped up, it's about perfect, but looks slightly loose unzipped. The sleeves look nice and slim and the armholes are high and don't seem to suffer from batwing effect. What's that old saying? "Perfect is the enemy of good enough."

 

[technovox]

I probably shouldn't reveal this, but I've removed a windflap or two with a pair of scissors. Looks fine. Didn't pay a thing! (Of course, that was on a few vintage cafe racers that didn't cost very much.) I know, I know. Blasphemous! But now they have more "character!"

 

[trapp]

JL charged me $65 to remove a windflap.

The bottom of the jacket looks pretty trim when zipped up- trim enough that it wouldn't zip up if you put on 5-10 lbs of "holiday weight". Be careful that you don't slim the back/midsection too much. When I first started buying nice suits and sport coats, I insisted that the tailor take them in quite a bit through the sides. I ended up with some coats that looked pretty feminine due to the hour glass effect. I no longer have them taken in as much and they look much better.

If your jacket were shorter (waist length), it would be easy to accommodate the V-shape and have the jacket hug your torso. Since the jacket is a little longer, it gets into your hip area and (on a slim guy like you) needs to be wider to fit around your rear end.

Adjustable straps at the waist might've been an easy fix, although maybe it's too late for that now.

In a perfect world, I'd want it slimmed a tad, but it really looks good on you. When zipped up, it's about perfect, but looks slightly loose unzipped. The sleeves look nice and slim and the armholes are high and don't seem to suffer from batwing effect. What's that old saying? "Perfect is the enemy of good enough."

Good advice. I'm going to have to remember that quote!

Still, I think it will look a lot neater with that 'tad' taken in at the sides. They know what they're doing at JL and as long as they have his hip measurements it shouldn't be hard to nip it in a touch at the midsection and still leave plenty of room at the bottom for the hips.

Technovox, that's barbaric.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I probably shouldn't reveal this, but I've removed a windflap or two with a pair of scissors. Looks fine. Didn't pay a thing! (Of course, that was on a few vintage cafe racers that didn't cost very much.) I know, I know. Blasphemous! But now they have more "character!"

Yeah, I've done that. Minor self-help surgery on jackets is okay.

 

[mowgli222]

Here are a couple more pictures that I took today in evening sunlight. .. For anybody interested in this particular leather, these pictures show the color and the grain a little better than the earlier ones which were taken very early in the morning and with a different camera.. Also the sleeves were not zipped up for the pictures and appear a little long.

Adding one with the hands at the sides.

 

[nick123]

I really don't think you need to take it in. Fit looks perfect.

 

[trapp]

The leather looks so nice. Also, the fit looks better in these photos than in the first ones you posted. How does it feel to you after wearing it a bit longer?

It might be easier to judge the back if your hands were at your sides in the last pic, but in general I think the jacket looks really good as is, with room to layer. I love the length - perfect street jacket.

 

[mowgli222]

Added a picture with the hands at my side. Actually I just wore the jackets to get some more pictures to send to Alan as I am still debating what to do.. Even if I am keeping the jacket, the wind flap would bother me too much if I wore it as it is.. So that will have to go before I start wearing it..

 

[trapp]

Hard to tell, but the bottom rear strip or mock kidney belt looks a little shorter in height than the stock m-200. Did you request that? It may just be an illusion due to the added length. Either way, for a non-riding jacket, I prefer the overall proportions on yours.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Perfect fit and length. Not too neat or too loose. If all my jackets fit like that I'd be content.

 

[Peter Mackin]

I wouldn't change a thing on this jacket,,it looks great,if it's bugging you,sell it & have a new one made from scratch.

 

[mendelboaz]

Fit looks absolutely perfect, love the color and grain on that leather!