I'd like to introduce myself, de-lurk and ask some feedback....
I'm an Aussie living in Tokyo. I have a few jackets... Aero Stockman coat, a Vanson Spokane coat, a Vanson vest and a Lost Worlds Suburban.
All my jackets are size 34. The coats fit "OK" but the sleeves are too long especially for the Vanson coat (which is something like 64cm sleeve length for a 47cm chest width). The Vanson vest fits perfectly on the other hand..trim. The Aero coat has great patina, heavy but softly broken-in horsehide and warm alpaca lining ... but still is too long for my liking in the sleeves. Since it's a "top" coat, I haven't minded the Aero being a bit boxy feeling. The Vanson Spokane is actually more of a long slim design. I plan in selling these in any case because I prefer keeping a single utility jacket rather than coats which tend to be restricted to winter use.
The Lost Worlds Suburban is the kind of all-purpose jacket I'd had in mind for a long while - and the hide, design and construction is about as perfect as anything I can imagine. It's 4oz horsehide. It is stiff but not untameable. I'd imagined it being much worse before I'd experienced wearing the 4oz weight.
I'd also previously tried on a "premier"(STF) fit Aero 30s half-belt in size 34, FQHH. The fit was very trim but no room for layering (just a thin T-shirt) and it would perhaps have been too restrictive for any serious work/movement with the heavy horsehide. The chest was apparently 51cm but a really different overall (slim) cut compared to the Lostworlds Suburban which (according to the measurements I have) has an only marginally bigger 52cm chest. The LW is much bigger fitting everywhere though..big sleeves, shoulders, waist etc. The LW is not a trim fit!
The Suburban as I understand its design though, is intended to be worn "big". How big is the question I have.
Recently I see a lot of people sizing down to wear similar jackets in a trim fit. The Japanese makers seem to be really into this approach. It looks fine ..is it also practical though?. e.g. for casual riding, for movement, for work..?
I noted a couple of members here ended up sizing-down with Lostworlds jackets. I wonder were they glad they did so? I see also some mixed opinions with wearing heavy hides: whether it's better to have a trim fit ...or go with a looser fit.
I'm 173cm... mostly around 63kg.. a slim build.
The LW size 34 Suburban feels comfortable and certainly allows layering. It looks basically as I'd expected fit wise.. but I wonder ...how is this jacket going to be once it eventually breaks in. Is it going to gather up or rather, "flatten" out..? The length is well over the belt.. perhaps a tad long.The sleeves are fine...long enough for riding. The shoulders are roomy but not overly so I guess. They allow for a forward riding reach but puff out a bit when standing.
But my main concern is that I can gather quiet a lot of "slack" if I pull at the waist/chest of this jacket... it's certainly very roomy around the midsection... It sometimes looks as though the stiff leather could end up pushing out a kind of pidgeon-chest looking bulge following along the zip line. Has anyone had such a problem? Is this possibly an indication I should have gone for a size 32 to get a closer fit around the chest/waist?
I'd appreciate feedback and any pointers to how these bigger fitting casual 50s jackets were originally worn. I haven't really been able to track down any good period accurate examples of this type of jacket as they would have been worn by an average-Joe back in the day. I see a lot of big fitting mass produced "mall jackets" for exemplary physiques.. But is that how people wore casual jackets in the 50s?? What about lean built folks? Did they go for a trim fit or easy/loose at that time?
This forum has been a great source of info. Many thanks to all the contributors.
OnG
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
I'm an Aussie living in Tokyo. I have a few jackets... Aero Stockman coat, a Vanson Spokane coat, a Vanson vest and a Lost Worlds Suburban.
All my jackets are size 34. The coats fit "OK" but the sleeves are too long especially for the Vanson coat (which is something like 64cm sleeve length for a 47cm chest width). The Vanson vest fits perfectly on the other hand..trim. The Aero coat has great patina, heavy but softly broken-in horsehide and warm alpaca lining ... but still is too long for my liking in the sleeves. Since it's a "top" coat, I haven't minded the Aero being a bit boxy feeling. The Vanson Spokane is actually more of a long slim design. I plan in selling these in any case because I prefer keeping a single utility jacket rather than coats which tend to be restricted to winter use.
The Lost Worlds Suburban is the kind of all-purpose jacket I'd had in mind for a long while - and the hide, design and construction is about as perfect as anything I can imagine. It's 4oz horsehide. It is stiff but not untameable. I'd imagined it being much worse before I'd experienced wearing the 4oz weight.
I'd also previously tried on a "premier"(STF) fit Aero 30s half-belt in size 34, FQHH. The fit was very trim but no room for layering (just a thin T-shirt) and it would perhaps have been too restrictive for any serious work/movement with the heavy horsehide. The chest was apparently 51cm but a really different overall (slim) cut compared to the Lostworlds Suburban which (according to the measurements I have) has an only marginally bigger 52cm chest. The LW is much bigger fitting everywhere though..big sleeves, shoulders, waist etc. The LW is not a trim fit!
The Suburban as I understand its design though, is intended to be worn "big". How big is the question I have.
Recently I see a lot of people sizing down to wear similar jackets in a trim fit. The Japanese makers seem to be really into this approach. It looks fine ..is it also practical though?. e.g. for casual riding, for movement, for work..?
I noted a couple of members here ended up sizing-down with Lostworlds jackets. I wonder were they glad they did so? I see also some mixed opinions with wearing heavy hides: whether it's better to have a trim fit ...or go with a looser fit.
I'm 173cm... mostly around 63kg.. a slim build.
The LW size 34 Suburban feels comfortable and certainly allows layering. It looks basically as I'd expected fit wise.. but I wonder ...how is this jacket going to be once it eventually breaks in. Is it going to gather up or rather, "flatten" out..? The length is well over the belt.. perhaps a tad long.The sleeves are fine...long enough for riding. The shoulders are roomy but not overly so I guess. They allow for a forward riding reach but puff out a bit when standing.
But my main concern is that I can gather quiet a lot of "slack" if I pull at the waist/chest of this jacket... it's certainly very roomy around the midsection... It sometimes looks as though the stiff leather could end up pushing out a kind of pidgeon-chest looking bulge following along the zip line. Has anyone had such a problem? Is this possibly an indication I should have gone for a size 32 to get a closer fit around the chest/waist?
I'd appreciate feedback and any pointers to how these bigger fitting casual 50s jackets were originally worn. I haven't really been able to track down any good period accurate examples of this type of jacket as they would have been worn by an average-Joe back in the day. I see a lot of big fitting mass produced "mall jackets" for exemplary physiques.. But is that how people wore casual jackets in the 50s?? What about lean built folks? Did they go for a trim fit or easy/loose at that time?
This forum has been a great source of info. Many thanks to all the contributors.
OnG
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk