New AL Roadster in FQHH Havana Brown

[Harris HTM]

perfect fit and (more than) perfect price. I envy you! And nice workboots by the way!

 

[Monitor]

Yeah! I wanted to comment on the boots but I forgot. Really dig those!

 

[cuchulain]

perfect fit and (more than) perfect price. I envy you! And nice workboots by the way!

Thanks, they're Wolverine 1000 mile boots, again got a great deal on these from a seller from Canada. Very nice boots, they can pull double duty as dressy with Khaki's on casual Friday. My only issue with them is the leather while very nice marks up really easily.

As for the swiped Highwayman design, I would say that all these designs are co-opted from cuts from the 1920's through 1940's and no one is really putting out a completely original design. Most makers likely purchased or just researched and used old templates from decades ago and switched them up a bit. Nothing wrong with it, all the makers state clearly they're paying homage to cuts and jackets from a bygone era. Think Schott Perfecto and the myriad of copies of that design.

I'll eventually own an Aero halfbelt, that's been the jacket I've coveted for years, but needed to test the waters a bit and I know AL is going to provide a quality jacket (they're built on Aero DNA afterall) and for $400 I couldn't pass it up.

 

[cuchulain]

Old argument that leaves out recent history of obvious deliberate deception...

I don't want to get into the politics of it, I'm all for a free market and having more competitors in a market this small and incestuous is a good thing and should only equate to increased quality, customer service, and falling prices. In fact Aero has really stepped up their game with quick turn around times and new designs (free market at work). Any theft should be fought in a court of law. But I understand on this site people have loyalty through years of business with Aero, so I do get it and understand it.

My one niggle about leather jackets like this, is I just don't know if I'm cool enough to pull it off, much easier to wear my unassuming North Face shell.

 

[Sloan1874]

Ah yes, Will was such a master craftsman in his own right:





Perhaps not...

 

[Benproof]

Oh my. Those last two are mega monstrosities.



Cuculain - great jacket. You got the best one from the AL catalogue! Congratulations :cheers:

 

[Monitor]

Do you get directions for the nearest homeless shelter with this one?

 

[Capesofwrath]

Just can’t leave it alone. A new member puts up some pictures of his jacket and for a while its cool, and then the saddos start rehashing old crap and serving it up steaming hot. That caravan has moved on boys.

 

[Monitor]

I kind of laugh. It's true, though. I apologize. It's an ugly jacket, that thing above, but that's entirely irrelevant. Fantastic jacket the OP got there, ace score. Just something to be happy about.

 

[Fanch]

I think everything in this thread was copacetic until one person made the statement "since AL/SB re-worked the Roadster pattern a while ago, it is not a theft of the design anymore but just another interpretation out of the many out there in my eyes."

 

[Superfluous]

I think everything in this thread was copacetic until one person made the statement "since AL/SB re-worked the Roadster pattern a while ago, it is not a theft of the design anymore but just another interpretation out of the many out there in my eyes."

Exactly

 

[Bern1]

To the op, nice jacket and great fit !

 

[cuchulain]

I love the jacket and I understand the issue with Aero, trust me I weighed it all I'm a maximizer with this stuff. At the end of the day someone who made my jacket is a blue collar worker making a buck so I have no issues supporting AL/SB.

I'll buy an Aero half-belt next, it's all good I'll support both companies because they're both keeping jackets like this alive and competition is good, it forces both companies to look to innovate and gain a competitive advantage and when this happens the consumer wins.

Thanks for the input I appreciate all the feedback, this is a great site.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Yep

 

[AeroFan_07]

Perfect Fit! Nice catch for that price as well...

And yes, wear it...read/watch TV/read Fedora Lounge wearing it. Keep it warmed by your body (the 10+ minuite rule for try-on is a good start) and it will indeed break in.

Funny thing for me is that I find thicker, more "stout" jackets more comfortable overall now rather than a "lighter" leather. They wind up really being your second skin. Enjoy it!

 

[handymike]

What's so amazing is that it's easy to tweak a pattern, re-shape a collar, slim the sleeve, etc. to make a different jacket.

 

[ton312]

Some people draw a line in the sand. That's their right and they are entitled to it. But it's your money and you spend it in a way you see best fit. Both companies make great jackets. There's an undeniable and ugly history between the two. It's unfortunate, and likely how splits like this one flourish. Back in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's Wards, Penny's and Sears all had pattern copies for sale simultaneously and the working man bought what he could afford. And I doubt ever a single cry of foul play by the consumer on behalf of the maker could be heard. Nor would the consumers argue with one another. Those men bought what they felt was the best value for their buck. I'm not defending SB or its proprietor. Buy and wear what you like. I very much doubt either company needs a consumer champion as their respective products speak for themselves. I understand why people take exception to SB but I personally wouldn't hesitate to buy another SB jacket. I understand why people love Aero. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Aero either.
OP. Great jacket, Great fit and great price. That's all most folk (myself included!) are after.

 

[Monitor]

...wanted to poorly word something about a difference between copying and literally stealing patterns but the new comment warning popped up so yeah, ↑ this ↑ and nothing more for me to add.

Except for, someone mentioned a blue collar worker making a buck. Sure, that's nice. It'd be nicer if it wasn't on the expense of another blue collar worker on whose stolen work SB blue collar workers are making a buck but hey.

 

[Benproof]

My one niggle about leather jackets like this, is I just don't know if I'm cool enough to pull it off, much easier to wear my unassuming North Face shell.

The images you've shown look good. That should set your mind at ease. Wearing a leather jacket of this design isn't about looking cool - you get to learn it is more practical than a puffa jacket which only ever has one shape for the wearer: round. The colour also helps look more informal. I find that my black jackets always trigger more direct comments from women about looking cool whereas brown or cordovan quietly blends into the leather sofas of pubs and cafes.

You could try spending 5 hours handrubbing mink oil into it albeit handcramp hand oiled gives it a unique look instead of the accelerated buy vintage look that makes it look tired and worn but for a first jacket...Try wearing it open zipped for a more relaxed look. Zipping makes it look too busy sometimes. If you are worried it looks short, turn the collar up and leave unzipped; wear only a striped polo under it (vertical stripes - not horizontal!).

Norm-core looks like Northface puffas are great if you are a teenager, but after a while people you see regularly might wonder if you are ever going to get a leather jacket

 

[cuchulain]

Anyone have a Facebook account? Anyone use or have used a Microsoft Windows operating system? Drive a Hyundai? Use gasoline in their cars? Use networks that deploy Huawei routers or switches, Use AMD chipsets or Western Digital hard drives in their computers? Bank with basically any large bank who stole more money from the US economy than any other entity in the history of the world? Watch and use cable television? Use a cell phone, particularly a Samsung device or their televisions? All of these companies or industries are guilty of some of the shadiest business practices including outright theft, intimidation, forcing the little guy out of business through BS patent litigation they knew they couldn't afford to fight, etc... and yet we use them, no questions asked.

If I had to live my life worrying about potentially supporting a company that uses morally ambiguous business practices I would likely starve to death on the street.

I do get it, some people won't buy an AL, some will, hasn't the topic been beaten to death? I was really just curious about the fit and wanted to show it off a bit, I didn't want to bring the drama. I sleep fine at night, I understand that I can't live my life in a black or white world when it comes to coats, while ignoring the shades of grey in other areas.

I'll let y'all have this topic, I really just wanted to show off my coat lol...