New Aero FQHH Half-belt arrived...Breaking in question.

[Nathan Flowers]

I've bumped the file size for .jpg files by a factor of ten, so it should work better now.

 

[Swoosed]

send it back and get what you want. the jacket costs over 1,000 dollars, don't be satisfied with something your not satisfied with. unless you told them to make it to that measurement, it's on them. trust me, I've done this dance before, you love the jacket, it doesn't fit right, but you've waited so long..la bla bla bla, get the thing fixed, you're not going to stretch FQHH an inch, never. it's always going to be tight unless you lose shoulder width. I don't care what the Aero lovers on this forum say, it's not the right .This has been an issue for years. unless you actually TRY ONE ON before you buy it and see if it fits, this will go on forever.

 

[technovox]

Here are the pics.

 

[technovox]

The third pic from left, where the jacket is zipped up, kind of shows how tight it is...
And since there are probably variations of measuring, I included a measure of the shoulder seams.

 

[ButteMT61]

The first and second pics look fine. The third one, well, you're standing in an odd pose. If you go bigger in the shoulders, it looks like it will hang over them. Do you stand like that a lot? I'm serious here - the jacket looks great in the other pics.

 

[wdw]

Yeah, that looks too tight in the third pic. I've never seen creases like that and can't imagine they'd flatten out or disappear, but I prefer a looser fit anyway. But as Butte says, your pose seems to be accentuating that and maybe isn't a natural way to stand.


Hopefully others who've said theirs stretched will be able to say if theirs looked like that to start with. Do you want a skin-tight look or do you prefer to be able to layer even a little?

 

[nick123]

I can see how you feel tight in the upper chest/shoulders, but the jacket looks great all-around aesthetically. If it's really uncomfortable and you won't be able to wear it as you intended then you'll have to swallow that pill and get it remade. I have a feeling sizing up would be beneficial.
Fortunately, aside from this
-everything else looks spot on length-wise
-the guys who made/assisted you with your jacket won't let you walk off dissatisfied
-you look like a badass.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Unless I'm somehow looking at your tape measure wrong...I don't even see a measurement of 18" across the shoulders.
?
HD

 

[ButteMT61]

Unless I'm somehow looking at your tape measure wrong...I don't even see a measurement of 18" across the shoulders. ? HD

The way I measure (top at seams) it's 18”. His way, no.

 

[Insurrection/ThurstonBros]

technovox,

I just logged in to check my PMs and saw your photos. Based on your height and weight, you should be a perfect size 40; however, you do have a large chest. Given what I have seen here, we'd be happy to get you a 42, but my concern is that then we're getting the jacket too large through the upper back and torso. Like others have stated, the fit is perfect for that "slim" half belt look. In short, it would be doable to go up to a 42...

Best,

Wade
Insurrection/Thurston Bros.

 

[HorseHide]

The first and second pics look fine. The third one, well, you're standing in an odd pose. If you go bigger in the shoulders, it looks like it will hang over them. Do you stand like that a lot? I'm serious here - the jacket looks great in the other pics.

Techno, I'm with Butte here (any extra leather might make it look like you're wearing someone else's jacket) but there may be an easy way to resolve this question. You are in SF, no? Go see Alan at Johnson Leathers and let him tell you if he thinks you need a new size (or if there is some other "fix"). I trust Alan's judgment.

 

[pauleway]

I have a 30's HB that fits like yours (in 3rd pic) and I went threw the maybe it will stretch phase. It will not stretch enough and you will wind up not wearing the jacket. Do yourself a favor and take Insurrections offer!

 

[ButteMT61]

I went and tried on the best-fitting jacket I've owned. It does pretty much the same thing if I stand that way. Which I never do. So, in my humble 2¢ worth, it looks great. But if you don't like it, that's all that matters.

 

[lewisskimonster]

The jacket looks fine to me in the shoulders. When zipped up, it looks tight in the chest with your shoulders rolled back. I am currently breaking in a horsehide Buco style jacket, and when I first started wearing it, it was a little tight in the chest, but with breaking time it fits like a glove now.

 

[technovox]

Thanks for all the kind replies and suggestions. To be clear, I love the jacket- the quality has turned out beautifully, and Wade and Carrie at Insurrection have been wonderful and very patient to deal with throughout. And Wade was spot on about the drop front.
Unfortunately, because of my somewhat wide-in-the-shoulders and longer arms, it has always been somewhat of a challenge in getting a good fit. Yes, the third picture is rather un-natural. Honestly, all the pics are unnatural for me, I'm not usually in front of the camera. I just wanted to give an overall sense of the fit, the shoulder tightness, and benefit from everyone's experience here as to the possibilities in a break-in process. All the comments have been very helpful. Because of San Francisco's capricious weather, there's always a lot of layering here, so I'm inclined towards wdw's suggestion and strongly considering a looser fit in a size up.

 

[Seb Lucas]

From the photos the jacket looks perfect, even a touch roomy which is how I like them.

 

[GriffDeLaGriff]

You cant move in a lether jacket as if you were wearing a sweater.

My jackets also do that if I stand like you do.

If you want to stand like that - dont zip up the jacket.

To be 100% here, take a picture with the jacket zipped up front and back and stand normal.
If the shoulder seam is inside the shoulder - its too small.
If the shoulder seam is square to your shoulder - its a perfect fit.

 

[wdw]

The jacket does look absolutely fine from the back. I suppose the acid test is to decide whether or not you'll ever layer with it. If you will, then put that layer on, zip it up all the way, stand like a normal human being and then also reach forward as if you're driving. If you can do that without cutting off your blood supply then it's good to go.

If you can't, then it's time to bite the bullet and move up a shoulder size. Other than that, the answer is not to layer, don't stand like a mannequin and don't eat too many burgers.

 

[schitzo]

if going for a remake I suggest maybe you might want to consider a little bit less on the length also. As a dude who knows better than most around here about jackets that are too long, I can't help feeling yours is a smidge that way. But if you're happy with that length then forget I ever mentioned it.

Good luck!

 

[HighandDry]

I think it looks fine.

If anything, it looks a bit roomy. However, I'm not the one wearing it.