I found myself in NYC this afternoon with nothing to do for a couple of hours...
In America, we seldom get the chance to try on different makers' jackets in a single day, so I went to a vintage shop, RRL, Schott, Blue in Green, and Self Edge to have a little fun and get my hands on a few.
First, I found a cool G1: Imperial Leather & Sportswear (size 40):
Then I walked over to the flagship RRL store and discovered treasure...
Here is one of Ralph's workcoats (size S/ wish they had a M to try):
It is pretty awesome as the design and dyed-indigo color go, but for $2699.00 I would look elsewhere.
The leather isn't all that great.
They do carry some great vintage jackets though...
Vintage Hercules cross-zip with D-pocket and fuzzy collar:
A very cool 30s-40s halfbelt by M. Bogen Co.:
And, an original version of the Snake Plissken Jacket:
@HoosierDaddy, you are gonna love yours! It is just too cool!!!! (unfortunately, this one was too small for me to zip)
Next was off to Schott:
I found that a 38 and M fit me.
I successfully convinced another guy to go for a Schott G-1 over their version of an A-2.
At Self-edge I got to handle Flat Head and Fine Creek Leathers jackets!
No photos here, but some observations:
Flat Head's Del-Raiser Jacket is an art piece!
They didn't have my size, but I would require a 42 (I'm typically a 38). The shoulders and chest were good with a 40 cafe racer style, but I would need to lose 15-20 lbs to zip that size...
Fine creek was a surprise. I handled the Type II style trucker, and again...WOW!
Both Flat Head and Fine Creek used similar leather (shinki?), but the craftsmanship on the Fine creek was better IMHO. Don't get me wrong... the Del-raiser is gorgeous, but the holes for the stitching were large and the leather looked like the seams weren't finished as well. The Fine Creek was really pretty.
Unfortunately, Blue in Green only sells Toys Mc Coys now. I don't like jackets that are all painted up to replicate wartime jackets, so a pass for me- they sold out of thier A-1s and only offer a painted up N-1 currently.
Happy to answer any questions...
No, I didn't make a purchase.
In America, we seldom get the chance to try on different makers' jackets in a single day, so I went to a vintage shop, RRL, Schott, Blue in Green, and Self Edge to have a little fun and get my hands on a few.
First, I found a cool G1: Imperial Leather & Sportswear (size 40):
Then I walked over to the flagship RRL store and discovered treasure...
Here is one of Ralph's workcoats (size S/ wish they had a M to try):
It is pretty awesome as the design and dyed-indigo color go, but for $2699.00 I would look elsewhere.
The leather isn't all that great.
They do carry some great vintage jackets though...
Vintage Hercules cross-zip with D-pocket and fuzzy collar:
A very cool 30s-40s halfbelt by M. Bogen Co.:
And, an original version of the Snake Plissken Jacket:
@HoosierDaddy, you are gonna love yours! It is just too cool!!!! (unfortunately, this one was too small for me to zip)
Next was off to Schott:
I found that a 38 and M fit me.
I successfully convinced another guy to go for a Schott G-1 over their version of an A-2.
At Self-edge I got to handle Flat Head and Fine Creek Leathers jackets!
No photos here, but some observations:
Flat Head's Del-Raiser Jacket is an art piece!
They didn't have my size, but I would require a 42 (I'm typically a 38). The shoulders and chest were good with a 40 cafe racer style, but I would need to lose 15-20 lbs to zip that size...
Fine creek was a surprise. I handled the Type II style trucker, and again...WOW!
Both Flat Head and Fine Creek used similar leather (shinki?), but the craftsmanship on the Fine creek was better IMHO. Don't get me wrong... the Del-raiser is gorgeous, but the holes for the stitching were large and the leather looked like the seams weren't finished as well. The Fine Creek was really pretty.
Unfortunately, Blue in Green only sells Toys Mc Coys now. I don't like jackets that are all painted up to replicate wartime jackets, so a pass for me- they sold out of thier A-1s and only offer a painted up N-1 currently.
Happy to answer any questions...
No, I didn't make a purchase.
Last edited:
