Lewis Leathers / LL Cowhide

[Seb Lucas]

I think that when Monitor uses the word "pattern" he means 'how a jacket fits, how it is designed to work with the body" not what it looks like from a design point of view.

I see. Well fit is subjective and all I have to go by is the look of them... But I suspect a size up on a Dominator could work for me, as Mike says.

 

[red devil]

That's what it is. How come you don't like the patterns? I'm pretty sure nobody on the market makes a better fitting jackets than LL.

I would probably put my money on Langlitz... Funny that both companies acronym is LL. Was a source of confusion early on lol

That being said, I think that the lightning is their most iconic jacket.

 

[Monitor]

I would probably put my money on Langlitz... Funny that both companies acronym is LL. Was a source of confusion early on lol

That being said, I think that the lightning is their most iconic jacket.

No way! You were lucky and so was I with the Columbia I had, but from what I've seen, Langlitz is more miss than hit, fit-wise. The jackets are great but the rounded, sloping shoulders going straight into baggy sleeves often ruin it. People tend to look like they're wearing a leather balloon rather than a jacket. XD Good evidence to that is entire Langlitz product gallery. Gay guys at least figured out the sizing but I dunno, IMO Lewis annihilates Langlitz when it comes to fit.

Photo that doesn't prove anything at all really but I like it so here it is.

 

[red devil]

No way! You were lucky and so was I with the Columbia I had, but from what I've seen, Langlitz is more miss than hit, fit-wise. The jackets are great but the rounded, sloping shoulders going straight into baggy sleeves often ruin it. People tend to look like they're wearing a leather balloon rather than a jacket. XD Good evidence to that is entire Langlitz product gallery. Gay guys at least figured out the sizing but I dunno, IMO Lewis annihilates Langlitz when it comes to fit.

Photo that doesn't prove anything at all really but I like it so here it is.

Ah in this sense, can't argue lol

I was thinking of the way their pattern is constructed, they allow for amazing range of motion, second to none, but it is true I am basing this on the only jacket I have. Let's see how my next jacket fares, I am thinking of a royal blue Columbia with grey mouton

In my experience, the king of fit is actually Theodoros

 

[Tom71]

I see. Well fit is subjective and all I have to go by is the look of them... But I suspect a size up on a Dominator could work for me, as Mike says.

I tend to agree. I have a „Lightning“ in 42 and needed to size up to44 with the „Dominator“. It’s now a rather relaxed fit, but the 42 was just to small in every single aspect.

 

[Carlos840]

I disagree, i'm a 41" chest, wear mostly a size 42 and wear a 42 Dominator.
If you use Aero as your "standard", then maybe yes you should size up. But that's more to with Aero being huge for their tag size that the opposite way around. Aero is the only brand where i have to size down to a 40.

Here is my 42 Dominator:

 

[Seb Lucas]

That looks good but I'd probably want a size larger than that for a relaxed fit.

Not sure the pattern really appeals to me. As for Aeros I have had to size up and wear a 44 just to get a 23.5 inch chest.

 

[Carlos840]

That looks good but I'd probably want a size larger than that for a relaxed fit.

Not sure the pattern really appeals to me. As for Aeros I have had to size up and wear a 44 just to get a 23.5 inch chest.

To me that's already a relaxed fit, any bigger would be oversized...
Don't understand how you measure that, cause my 2 size 40 bootleggers have 24.5" pit to pit and my size 40 Grizzly has 25.5.
My size 42 CR is 24" and even that is large for a size 42! (average for other brands is 22.5 to 23.5)

 

[Colin G]

I recently checked out a lot of LL stuff in person while visiting one of their shops. The shop was very nice but I'd pass on LL.

I was very disappointed in the quality and had built them up in my mind over the years as something great but I was very underwhelmed and thought some didn't fit very well either. The leather was kind of platicky in my opinion. I was most disappointed in the gloves and boots since that is what I was after but the jackets left me pretty cold.

Take this with a grain of salt since this is my personal opinion, but I'd save my cash and keep looking.

RMC was right across the street and was much better quality and I'd buy an RMC without hesitation after seeing them in person and trying. LW and RMC are miles ahead in my opinion. I have owned Schott also and I'd buy a Schott before buying a Lewis jacket.

Again, all my opinion so I hope not to offend any Lewis fans out there.

 

[regius]

I'm not crazy about the Lewis patterns but the cowhide looks great and reminds me of solid vintage leather before the obsession with wrinkly, grainy character took over.

I own four LL: Brown thick HH, black cow, black HH. For me, I’m satisfied with the cow. It reminds me of the run of the mill “calfskin” used on dress shoes (as on my Crocket), it’s uncharacteristic, but wrinkles beautifully in a short time. It also stays black and doesn’t teacore, for me thus the hallmark of 1960-70s punk rock look (ask Ramones or Lou Reed about “hey does it teacore?”).

 

[regius]

To supplement: also loving the brown HH, because the surface coating can be easily sanded down to reveal the lighter matte underneath, which recreates the vintage appearance seen on the leather jacket books, it’s uncanny.

 

[Fanch]

I disagree, i'm a 41" chest, wear mostly a size 42 and wear a 42 Dominator.
If you use Aero as your "standard", then maybe yes you should size up. But that's more to with Aero being huge for their tag size that the opposite way around. Aero is the only brand where i have to size down to a 40.

Here is my 42 Dominator:

Couldn't ask for a better fit. My chest is 42.5" and 38"waist and think the size 44 Dominator/Corsair probably felt more comfortable when on and zipped than maybe anything else I have ever tried on. The only reason I never got around to ordering one is I am no longer young and reached critical mass awhile back with number of jackets owned!

 

[Seb Lucas]

To me that's already a relaxed fit, any bigger would be oversized...
Don't understand how you measure that, cause my 2 size 40 bootleggers have 24.5" pit to pit and my size 40 Grizzly has 25.5.
My size 42 CR is 24" and even that is large for a size 42! (average for other brands is 22.5 to 23.5)

You ask how I measured it? Carrie at Thurston measured it. The Bootlegger sizing is big, I've seen that too and you are right many Aero's are. I've only bought 1930's half-belts. I had a 42 once and it was pretty darn tight.

If you call that fit relaxed then I think an over sized fit would appeal to me more. But maybe it's just the cut of them that seems a bit off. On the positive side, I don't like them enough to pursue the idea.

 

[regius]

Of note is that they have several sheep leathers, one is called Rutland, according to my sample book, it's tougher than the regular black sheep. I'll have to look at it again. I ran the different ones through my sewing machine needle to have a feel of strength....

 

[konadog]

Here's my Corsair in light brown sheep. Had it custom sized from Stronghold. Prior custom jacket I had was an Aero Bootlegger in russet goat from Thurston. Corsair is a size 44 and the Bootlegger was a 40. The Corsair fits way better and truly offers some movement when fully zipped without being too baggy. I have my eye on a Dominator in cow next.

 

[nick123]

I think I need that green sheep Dominator that's been sitting on ebay.

 

[red devil]

View attachment 227445
Here's my Corsair in light brown sheep. Had it custom sized from Stronghold. Prior custom jacket I had was an Aero Bootlegger in russet goat from Thurston. Corsair is a size 44 and the Bootlegger was a 40. The Corsair fits way better and truly offers some movement when fully zipped without being too baggy. I have my eye on a Dominator in cow next.

And this shows why their patterns are good

 

[Monitor]

And this shows why their patterns are good

Was about to say. To me, nobody else makes this classic jacket look and fit as good. Except for maybe Aero with the 59'er.

 

[Mich486]

And I think it also shows how beautiful the sheepskin LL use is.

 

[Tom71]

I disagree, i'm a 41" chest, wear mostly a size 42 and wear a 42 Dominator.
If you use Aero as your "standard", then maybe yes you should size up. But that's more to with Aero being huge for their tag size that the opposite way around. Aero is the only brand where i have to size down to a 40.

Here is my 42 Dominator:

Looks great, Carlos! Ands looks like a very good fit too.