New Black ELMC Californian...Very Happy!

[westportrich]

Hi Gang, I'm feeling good about my new ELMC Californian. I've spent the last year learning about (mainly from the good folks on this board) and buying leather jackets. Some I liked, others I didn't. I think I've cycled through 8-9 jackets at this point. And I believe I have finally arrived where I want to be...With two fabulous jackets, one Brown Jacket (my Norshor which I've written up here so look it up if you are interested) and one Black which is this fabulous ELMC Californian in Black. The style (Half-belt), weight (mid-weight), and pebbling, etc. suit me perfectly. Just thought I'd share!! By the way, I bought it from Charles at History Preservation...He's good to deal with.

 

[tmitchell59]

Congratulations! This is a great half-belt. I sold a walnut Californian and a Havana Cali. Both were superb jackets. I should have kept the walnut, the Havana was too big. The walnut was as close to a vintage jacket as I have experienced. It moved on since I have several vintage Half-belts.

I presently own a black Windward that I am having trouble letting go of. It is a bit small , but so nice in feel and finish.

Congrats!

 

[Imuricecreamman]

The Californian is prbably my favorite halfbelt design. They also did a fantastic choice on the leather they used IMO as it breaks in looking like a vintage jacket. Terry, you are right in that you should never have sold the walnut one, that had the most fantastic grain and color variations of possibly any jacket I've seen.

 

[Captain Sensible]

Great jacket, I have it in walnut. Beautiful grainy leather. Any pics of how the black looks up close? I have a Windward in black but the leather is smoother, beautiful all the same.

 

[Coke20x]

Congratulations! This is a great half-belt. I sold a walnut Californian and a Havana Cali. Both were superb jackets. I should have kept the walnut, the Havana was too big. The walnut was as close to a vintage jacket as I have experienced. It moved on since I have several vintage Half-belts.

I presently own a black Windward that I am having trouble letting go of. It is a bit small , but so nice in feel and finish.

Congrats!

I have the Windward in Walnut. Absolutely gorgeous but just slightly shorter in the arms than I want it to be. Too fantastic to sell.

 

[ai00344]

Love these! Did you go with the long or standard version?

 

[westportrich]

I got the Regular. I've read people saying the regular is too short...In my view that is not correct. I would only recommend the Long to people who are very tall and very long arms. I don't like overly long sleeves.

 

[ton312]

Fit pics?

 

[HPA Rep]

Hi Gang, I'm feeling good about my new ELMC Californian. I've spent the last year learning about (mainly from the good folks on this board) and buying leather jackets. Some I liked, others I didn't. I think I've cycled through 8-9 jackets at this point. And I believe I have finally arrived where I want to be...With two fabulous jackets, one Brown Jacket (my Norshor which I've written up here so look it up if you are interested) and one Black which is this fabulous ELMC Californian in Black. The style (Half-belt), weight (mid-weight), and pebbling, etc. suit me perfectly. Just thought I'd share!! By the way, I bought it from Charles at History Preservation...He's good to deal with.

Thank you for being our customer and for the kind words. I'm delighted this worked out so well.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I got the Regular. I've read people saying the regular is too short...In my view that is not correct. I would only recommend the Long to people who are very tall and very long arms. I don't like overly long sleeves.

They look great but my view is that regulars and the talls are pretty short in the body. I'm 6 ft 2 (which is not overly tall) but I need to go custom to get a jacket with a torso long enough for my requirements.

 

[Coke20x]

They look great but my view is that regulars and the talls are pretty short in the body. I'm 6 ft 2 (which is not overly tall) but I need to go custom to get a jacket with a torso long enough for my requirements.

I agree with this. I, myself, am 6 foot 3 inches and my ELMC Windward is a 42 long. The arms, for me, are slightly too short.

 

[ai00344]

Having never owned a jacket with a drop front it’s hard for me to judge. The 25” back length on the long version seems perfect but does the additional drop on front make it look too long for someone in the 5’10” to 6 ft range??

 

[HPA Rep]

Great jacket, I have it in walnut. Beautiful grainy leather. Any pics of how the black looks up close? I have a Windward in black but the leather is smoother, beautiful all the same.

Being a natural material, the grain will certainly vary among consignments and jackets, but the one the OP received I personally selected for him as having the best balance of grain among those we had in stock. This is a photo I sent him:

 

[HPA Rep]

I agree with this. I, myself, am 6 foot 3 inches and my ELMC Windward is a 42 long. The arms, for me, are slightly too short.

Had you been our customer, I'd have likely suggested the 42 Extra-Long. Depending on variables, the 42R is good up to about 6' for most buyers, then the long kicks in, but at 6' 3" tall you certainly could fall into that extra-long zone, which is a given at 6' 4" tall. It's also a subjective viewpoint and one must evaluate the shirt-sleeve measure with all other relevant measures.

 

[HPA Rep]

They look great but my view is that regulars and the talls are pretty short in the body. I'm 6 ft 2 (which is not overly tall) but I need to go custom to get a jacket with a torso long enough for my requirements.

Gary Eastman personally wanted the Californian design to be very nippy and shorter, which is maintained in the style to this day. Upon receipt of the very first run for size testing, I hammered away on him that the sleeves should be made a touch longer, but he dissented, though he agreed to make to my spec. for the jackets we purchased. By the time our fall order arrived, Gary had elected to just make them all to the spec. I submitted, which we agreed was the best balance to maintain his original concept while still satisfying the majority of buyers; this is how they remain today and the style is shorter by design and may not be what you prefer.

An interesting note on this issue of length on the Californian is that we had a tall customer who is an actor of some celebrity who got one and he was really leaning toward the regular. He really liked the look of something short and even sent me a photo of him wearing it for my opinion. I totally could see what he liked about that look, especially unzipped, and then I asked if this was just to be fashion look or something functional; the desire for functionality won and he opted for a long.

Fit is always subjective. But having an honest dialogue with a merchant who knows their products extremely well, as well as body types, will make the fitting as good as can be absent in-person exchanges.

 

[HPA Rep]

Having never owned a jacket with a drop front it’s hard for me to judge. The 25” back length on the long version seems perfect but does the additional drop on front make it look too long for someone in the 5’10” to 6 ft range??

Subjective question, I'm afraid. The vast majority of buyers order a regular fitting in the height range you note, but there will always be some who prefer longer even if their height would not normally dictate a long is in order, which is due to the nippy, shorter design intended here by the manufacturer.