Searching for my first leather jacket……in Japan. Aero? Rainbow Country? (w/ pics)

[ButteMT61]

Sorry, but I they only go up to 44!

That's racist! lol

 

[HorseHide]

Ishmael - If finding the white whale was as easy for your namesake, Melville would have written a magazine article instead of Moby Dick. Your search is over, enjoy! As you might have gathered, while some of us are "absorbing" the $1700 price tag (which is still a cheaper price point than the Japanese Real McCoys), ALL of us are extremely jealous.

 

[oldcrow82]

Ishmael - believe $1700 is a cheap price, ultimately those of us who are doing the mail order, trying to get the fit right by email thing end up spending much more than $1700 to get a fit that good. Im looking at jacket number 3 and i hope this time the jacket will look that good. That jacket is just stunning, from the paneling on the back to the stitching, to the PERFECT fit. Buy it!
My two cents, go with black or I think even more so brown. The jacket will last the rest of your life, neither color will be subject to the ebbs and flow of fashion.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

We don't do fashion here. We do style.

 

[Ishmael]

That's racist! lol

Tell me about it, my big feet are daily the victim of discrimination.

Ishmael - If finding the white whale was as easy for your namesake, Melville would have written a magazine article instead of Moby Dick. Your search is over, enjoy! As you might have gathered, while some of us are "absorbing" the $1700 price tag (which is still a cheaper price point than the Japanese Real McCoys), ALL of us are extremely jealous.

Ishmael - believe $1700 is a cheap price, ultimately those of us who are doing the mail order, trying to get the fit right by email thing end up spending much more than $1700 to get a fit that good. Im looking at jacket number 3 and i hope this time the jacket will look that good. That jacket is just stunning, from the paneling on the back to the stitching, to the PERFECT fit. Buy it!
My two cents, go with black or I think even more so brown. The jacket will last the rest of your life, neither color will be subject to the ebbs and flow of fashion.

We don't do fashion here. We do style.

Horsehide, you've hit the nail on the head. I was looking for a bit more romance. Hoping to woo and be wooed, the long chase on the high seas. Something Melvillean. Well, only to a point, I'm actually more happy to shell out a little more for a jacket that I like and fits me right! Also happy to support a real brick and mortar shop like Mushmans. My grandfather, and now my father, have a real brick and mortar hardware store. Some of you guys may remember what those are? Happy to help keep them going strong, as I truly appreciate the service they provide.

Both the black and the brown are brimming with style. Will be a tough decision. But good to know I can't really go wrong.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

And here are some better shots of me in a “red brown” size 40.

This is great, fits you well. A really excellent vintage-correct repro, but yes Japanese repro maker prices are prohibitive. I have an original very similar Canadian jacket, but with stand collar and 6-panel rather than 5-panel back:

bk

 

[Ishmael]

That's an awesome jacket. I like the 6 panel design.

 

[Ishmael]

The Rainbow Country reproduction is looking more and more like a bargain. I stumbled across an article on the Vintage Engineer Boots blog that mentions an original that went for $3350 and the Rainbow Country repro.

http://vintageengineerboots.blogspot.jp/2011/11/1930s-hercules-horsehide-jacket.html

 

[HorseHide]

The Rainbow Country reproduction is looking more and more like a bargain. I stumbled across an article on the Vintage Engineer Boots blog that mentions an original that went for $3350 and the Rainbow Country repro.

http://vintageengineerboots.blogspot.jp/2011/11/1930s-hercules-horsehide-jacket.html

See? Now you are saving money (when we want something it's pretty easy to convince ourselves of just about anything, isn't it?)!

 

[IXL]

Maybe we all need to organize a group buy of these jackets. It could involve a road trip to Japan for a proper fitting. I'm sure we could end up with great jackets for a total cost each of around $7,000.00 or so.

 

[IXL]

With friends like you, who needs enemas, huh?

You need to buy one, too.....

 

[Edward]

You've got a custom maker in the neighborhood, the jackets you picture yourself wearing all seem to fit like a glove and you've the body to wear it. You need help how? LOL! No really, they look great on you. Order one in black, one in Brown and be happy... for now.....

Worf

Yes.... I'm a big fan of Aero. I have seven of them (mostly bought used). In terms of design, that Rainbow Country jacket in the OP is the equal of any of them. I'd certainly onsider buying one (assuming I had the funds) if I was visiting your neck of the woods. I especially like the red buffalo. If I was on the market for a jacket and these were available locally to me at the same price (or less) than an Aero, it'd be an easy decision to make. You can't knock being able to try on the jacket and see how it fits, and walk away with it the same day. That's a rare pleasure in the high end leather jacket game, IME. I'd suggest buying either the black or ne of the borwns in this, then maybe saving up and buying either the brown or the black in an Aero later on. (Actually, if you want to do that and want to go with goat, buy the black Rainbow Country, as Aero are only able to get the goat hide in seal and russet).

 

[Ishmael]

See? Now you are saving money (when we want something it's pretty easy to convince ourselves of just about anything, isn't it?)!

Easy indeed. And all the support on here only makes it that much easier.

Maybe we all need to organize a group buy of these jackets. It could involve a road trip to Japan for a proper fitting. I'm sure we could end up with great jackets for a total cost each of around $7,000.00 or so.

I couldn't tell if your comment was serious or in jest? But I would be very happy to help anyone planning on coming to Japan (well the Tokyo area at least). And, I've done a few proxies in the past, and would be willing to do so again. Just a thought. Also, if someone did come this way, I think you could come in well below $7,000, depending, of course, on when you fly, where you stay, how much you drink, and how many jackets you buy. One thing to consider is that most shops only carry up to size 40, at least in this jacket (there are definitely large sizes in other jackets). They can order 42 & 44. I would have to check on sizes larger than that.

Yes.... I'm a big fan of Aero. I have seven of them (mostly bought used). In terms of design, that Rainbow Country jacket in the OP is the equal of any of them. I'd certainly onsider buying one (assuming I had the funds) if I was visiting your neck of the woods. I especially like the red buffalo. If I was on the market for a jacket and these were available locally to me at the same price (or less) than an Aero, it'd be an easy decision to make. You can't knock being able to try on the jacket and see how it fits, and walk away with it the same day. That's a rare pleasure in the high end leather jacket game, IME. I'd suggest buying either the black or ne of the borwns in this, then maybe saving up and buying either the brown or the black in an Aero later on. (Actually, if you want to do that and want to go with goat, buy the black Rainbow Country, as Aero are only able to get the goat hide in seal and russet).

Thanks. Very much appreciate the advice. You make a good point about Aero not doing goat in black. If I were to get a second after the Rainbow Country, I would forego goat and go for brown FQHH. So perhaps black would be the best choice this time around.

 

[fukigen]

The jacket is great and perfect fit as they other fellows already said.
I am especially surprised with the arm length.

I go every year in Japan visiting relatives, and always spend a few days visiting Tokyo.
You can find very nice clothes there, but as I am totally out of japanese standard sizing (1m90), it is quite difficult to find clothes I can wear overthere, especially shirts/jackets arm length (sometimes chest size as well) and shoes (try to find size 12 in Japan ) .

Also thanks for the addresses, I was going to ask. especially the picture in the shop makes me want to visit it.
I checked the website and had a look at the prices.... gosh!! I think I will go for a GW order instead... but still I will certainly go and look for the shop in Saitama, not too far from where I go in Japan.

and welcome to the FL

 

[Ishmael]

U might wanna try real McCoy? I especially luv their 40's style jacket ,joe McCoy "yardbird" it's kind of like modified version of halfbelt
http://www.realmccoys.co.jp/blog/shop/cat24/
https://www.realmccoys.co.jp/catalog/products/list.php?category_id=2

Hope that helps u

I've been looking further into the Real McCoys jackets that Mrbuco recommended. They look excellent, and I will have to give these a shot as well, hopefully over the weekend. Both are very similar to the Rainbow Country jackets, but are about $400 more and have "clean backs" (not sure what the proper term is for this). The horse is sourced from Poland on these, whereas I think the Rainbow Country is from Japan.

Joe McCoy Wayward: 1930s Sport Jacket

Joe McCoy Yardbird: 1940s Sport Jacket

The jacket is great and perfect fit as they other fellows already said.
I am especially surprised with the arm length.

I go every year in Japan visiting relatives, and always spend a few days visiting Tokyo.
You can find very nice clothes there, but as I am totally out of japanese standard sizing (1m90), it is quite difficult to find clothes I can wear overthere, especially shirts/jackets arm length (sometimes chest size as well) and shoes (try to find size 12 in Japan ) .

Also thanks for the addresses, I was going to ask. especially the picture in the shop makes me want to visit it.
I checked the website and had a look at the prices.... gosh!! I think I will go for a GW order instead... but still I will certainly go and look for the shop in Saitama, not too far from where I go in Japan.

and welcome to the FL

Thanks for your kind comments. Indeed, I was also pleasantly surprised. I don't have super long arms, but at 6'1" with even normal sized arms shirt sleeves often fall short here. Shoes, on the other hand, are always too short (also size 12). I normally just get laughed out of shoe shops like a clown. Very happy the Rainbow Country jacket has sleeves long enough!

 

[Edward]

Thanks. Very much appreciate the advice. You make a good point about Aero not doing goat in black. If I were to get a second after the Rainbow Country, I would forego goat and go for brown FQHH. So perhaps black would be the best choice this time around.

If you're open to the horse, you'll love Aero's brown FQHH when eventually you do got for it. I've never encountered an Aero hide I didn't like, but the way the horse ages is particularly stunning.

 

[dmdmorris]

You realize this forum is like asking a group of alcoholics if they want 1 more shot! Lol "Just Buy it "

I'm thinking maybe we should start an AA type group for jackets lol

"Hi, my name is Dave and I have a problem......."

Dave

 

[ButteMT61]

You realize this forum is like asking a group of alcoholics if they want 1 more shot! Lol "Just Buy it "I'm thinking maybe we should start an AA type group for jackets lol"Hi, my name is Dave and I have a problem......."Dave

You sir, make me look recovered in comparison! lol

 

[dmdmorris]

I know I know you're right! Please help me. (No really don't having way too much fun).

Although, I have made myself I promise that any new jacket I buy means that I MUST sell a jacket.

Dave

 

[HoosierDaddy]

You sir, make me look recovered in comparison! lol

Yeah..recovered in your case means bodily reupholstered in HH again.