Leather jacket suggestions

[minisoda]

Hello... new member here that has been lurking for a while. I'm in the market for a high quality leather jacket and have found endless information on this forum, so thank you!

I'm at a crossroads in the process and was hoping to get some ideas:

- There were several Signature Series jackets on US Wings that would have worked, but all are discontinued with no more larges available. From what I can tell, all that's left are the cheaper jackets.
- Love the style of the Aero Highwayman in Vintage Brown. I'd order one tomorrow, but hate the idea of waiting 2-3 months and missing the entire winter season.
- I really don't need anything custom. I'm a 40r suit and don't have any changes that I'd make to the Highwayman.
- Quality and durability of the leather, along with smell (lame as that may sound) are top priorities for me.
- Not afraid of buying a lightly used jacket.

Now for my questions:

- Are there any retailers or other options for buying an Aero Highwayman in 40 "off the rack" and getting sooner than a few months?
- Any other non-custom companies outside of Aero that have a similar style jacket with same high quality as Aero? Schott seems like a good alternative, but I can't find a style I like as much as the Highwayman.

Thanks! Hope everyone is having a great Holiday.

 

[Grayland]

Have you considered Alexander Leather? They have a Roadster model which is pretty similar to what you are looking for. Fairly quick to make/ship from what I've read.

http://www.alexanderleathers.com/vintageclassics/roadster.html

 

[Capesofwrath]

They have some in their outlet sale too very cheap. You might be lucky and find your size there.

 

[Surferbruce]

Check out Vanson, maybe their model F...quality for money i think they're hard to beat. I's also give Insurrection a call and tell em what you want. They won't steer you wrong.

 

[handymike]

Insurrection might even stock a Highwayman in your size.

 

[Sloan1874]

Try Aero's sale page.

 

[scrawlysteve]

If you look at the Alexander Leathers outlet pages you may want to consider going for a 42" as they tend to make a more fitted jacket--but when they return to work (in early Jan.) they will advise you on fit if you send your measurements. They currently show a Roadster in seal goatskin (No 055) in 42" for £250 which is a great price . Their goat is always well reviewed....

 

[ButteMT61]

Try Aero's sale page.

Good idea. As well as classifieds here. Also consider Johnson leathers and a well researched eBay look.

 

[Peacoat]

If you look at the Alexander Leathers outlet pages you may want to consider going for a 42" as they tend to make a more fitted jacket--but when they return to work (in early Jan.) they will advise you on fit if you send your measurements. They currently show a Roadster in seal goatskin (No 055) in 42" for £250 which is a great price . Their goat is always well reviewed....

I agree with Steve that going one size up might be your best bet if you buy used and don't have the benefit of Aero or Thurston Brothers to guide you through the fitting process. My Highwayman is tagged as a size 42, which is my chest measurement and it is my suit size. When I got mine several years ago, the chest was very tight. It fit everywhere else just fine. I stretched it out after a few months so that it became comfortable to wear. I still work on it most every time I wear it so that it doesn't revert to a tight fit.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Sizing a Hwyman is not straight forward. Insurrection recommend going 3 sizes smaller than your suit size. Aero recommends one size smaller. Owners fluctuate between getting suit size and getting it smaller. Establish the measurements you need for shoulder sleeve, pit to pit and length and that should cut through the sizing problems.

 

[minisoda]

Wow, that Alexander Roadster in HH Havana Brown is gorgeous. I haven't been able to get past that one and look through other recommendations yet! Sounds like Alexander may have some in stock that they could ship quickly?

Incidentally, is there a way to change my username to something other than full name if I connected with Facebook? I have scoured the user control panel and can't find it.

 

[Grayland]

If you look at the Alexander Leathers outlet pages you may want to consider going for a 42" as they tend to make a more fitted jacket--but when they return to work (in early Jan.) they will advise you on fit if you send your measurements. They currently show a Roadster in seal goatskin (No 055) in 42" for £250 which is a great price . Their goat is always well reviewed....

I agree 100%. I'm a 40 and would require a 42 in AL. The jacket you mention is a heckuva bargain. I seem to remember someone saying that they would even adjust the sleeve length on their sale jackets.

 

[wquiles]

Man, this forum is "terrible" to one's budget. I need to stay far away from threads like this one

 

[Peacoat]

Incidentally, is there a way to change my username to something other than full name if I connected with Facebook? I have scoured the user control panel and can't find it.

I think once you register your name there is no changing it, but a Bartender could give a definitive answer.

 

[Peacoat]

Sizing a Hwyman is not straight forward. Insurrection recommend going 3 sizes smaller than your suit size. Aero recommends one size smaller. Owners fluctuate between getting suit size and getting it smaller. Establish the measurements you need for shoulder sleeve, pit to pit and length and that should cut through the sizing problems.

I have heard this as well, but I read it with incredulity. Had I gone even one size smaller, my chest and shoulders would not have fit in the jacket.

 

[The Fedorable]

As with the hats and the suits, I'm growing more and more fond of bomber jackets. More or less the Indiana Jones "OMG, LEATHER JACKET!" craze. I'm fond of their versitility. You can go and adventure like Indy, or you can roam the streets like Vito Scaletta.

I currently and proudly own a St John's Bay leather bomber jacket with a removable faux sherling collar, a gift from my father. It's my favorite jacket. Haha.

Anyway, I'm curious about one thing. The cuffs and the waistband. Looking around, I'm finding all knit cuffs and waistbands. If not, the jacket just loses appeal to my eyes because of the different design on outside of the jacket, i.e. the vertical pockets. When my knit cuffs get wet, it just feels nasty. I wear that jacket pretty much every wear.

So my question is this: Where can I find a company that does not charge $250+ for an A-2 bomber jacket with cuffs and a waistband while having the vertical pockets? Best example that I can think of is the A2 flight jacket that Indy wears. My reason for being kind of "roaming about" for the specific jacket is because I work outdoors at a golf course. My dad warned me about that and the jacket itself, so that falls on me.

Like the hats, we all have one for every day and one for dressier attire. I guess I'm going for a work jacket when it comes to being interested in another bomber jacket.

Not that I'm being ungrateful or anything. I'm very thankful that he bought it for me. The plan was that we would split the cost when we learned the jacket was on sale at JCPenny. They didn't have my size in store, so we ordered it and he ended up paying for it as a gift. I'm going to be wearing that jacket for as long as I can still fit the gorram thing. That one I plan to take care of, the other jacket I plan to abuse. Hehe. Just so I can separate my jackets and have one to get down and dirty while having a nicer one for a much less gritty wear.

 

[gtdean48]

US Wings has a few models at $195 = http://www.uswings.com/195.asp
Their Indy jacket has the pockets but doesn't have the knit cuffs & waistband.
JCPenney has that St John's Bay Bomber on clearance for $80. Why not buy another = 1 for work & 1 for play?

 

[The Fedorable]

... Why not buy another = 1 for work & 1 for play?

I've thought about doing that... and I probably should have waited for the price for that jacket to reach $80, but I didn't know it would have gone that low.

Anyway, I work at the course cleaning carts and the driving range. It's a modest job, better than nothing. There are times when I get splashed while washing the golf carts and the knit cuffs just feel unpleasant when they're wet.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I've thought about doing that... and I probably should have waited for the price for that jacket to reach $80, but I didn't know it would have gone that low.

Anyway, I work at the course cleaning carts and the driving range. It's a modest job, better than nothing. There are times when I get splashed while washing the golf carts and the knit cuffs just feel unpleasant when they're wet.

As the guy earlier said; Indy doesn't wear an A2. He has no knitted cuffs.

 

[The Fedorable]

As the guy earlier said; Indy doesn't wear an A2. He has no knitted cuffs.

I feel like I'm somehow misinterpreting something here or I'm not speaking clearly (which does tend to happen a bit with the latter)

Anyway, I'm just looking into a bomber jacket like Indy's. I don't know the exact design name, but from what I've read, it's just a flight jacket. The design is similar to that of an A-2 flight jacket. I don't want the knitted cuffs. At least not for this second jacket. Thought I may have found the only place for below $200 for a jacket with that design. Not a bad price, considering $200 looks to be roughly the normal price for "affordable" genuine leather jackets from what I'm seeing. I could be wrong though.