Sizing Recommendation for Aero Battle of Britain Jacket

[Allister]

Hello everyone,

I am excited to announce that I finally have the means to get an aviator jacket made! I want to go with Aero's Battle of Britain model, and have been in communication with their customer service for a few weeks now. I would love to ask some advice before I place the order, since this is a sizable amount of money and I will be sad if I order the incorrect thing.

The smallest size advertised is a 34", and as I am smaller than that, their representative initially cautioned me that this was likely to be too big on me, and that even with a sweater on under the jacket, it may not really fit. I had supplied my measurements and while it wasn't an enormous difference, it seems like it was going to be significant enough she was gently trying to discourage me from this.

Then she comes back: she spoke to the production manager and there actually was a pattern for a 32" jacket! I was all set to get that order going, but she came back again and after talking more with the production manager, and it sounds like they didn't want to promise the pattern was going to produce the quality jacket everyone would want. So now she suggests I just order the 34".

My question is, should I hope for the best and go along with this as they are the experts, or should I trust her original warning and err on the side of caution? The representative has been so helpful and communicative but it's a lot of money and before I actually place the order I wanted to see what the fine folks here might think of this situation. I would appreciate any advice either way. Thanks so much! Do I request they try making the 32" even though they are not sure about it?

For reference, I'm about 115 pounds and my measurements are chest (relaxed)-31.5"; chest (expanded)-33.25"; stomach-28; waist (over belt)-31"; sleeves-22"; pit-to-pit-18.75"; shoulders-19"

Edit: it has come to my attention that some of these measurements, while undoubtably close to correct, are not 100% accurate. For additional reference, I usually wear a size XS or S t-shirt, my Gramicci surplus safari shirt is a S, and my Patagonia Nano Puff is an XS. This will be my first leather jacket so I don't know that I have anything to measure for comparison purposes. Thank you to everyone for your valuable advice!

 

[MrProper]

Do you have measurements for a jacket that fits the way you want it to? Personally, I don't think the measurements differ that much. In fact, my CXL jackets have the same measurements as my shearling jackets. I only have half an inch more in the length because the fur raises the jacket.
I think jacket measurements are easier to compare than body measurements.
I give Aero my desired jacket measurements and they then see which size comes closest to these measurements (P2P). From there they lengthen, taper, widen... whatever is necessary to get as close as possible to my measurements.

 

[Eagledog]

Maybe look at another brand in a children's large. The length of the body and sleeves will likely be way too long in the 34.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Hello everyone,

I am excited to announce that I finally have the means to get an aviator jacket made! I want to go with Aero's Battle of Britain model, and have been in communication with their customer service for a few weeks now. I would love to ask some advice before I place the order, since this is a sizable amount of money and I will be sad if I order the incorrect thing.

The smallest size advertised is a 34", and as I am smaller than that, their representative initially cautioned me that this was likely to be too big on me, and that even with a sweater on under the jacket, it may not really fit. I had supplied my measurements and while it wasn't an enormous difference, it seems like it was going to be significant enough she was gently trying to discourage me from this.

Then she comes back: she spoke to the production manager and there actually was a pattern for a 32" jacket! I was all set to get that order going, but she came back again and after talking more with the production manager, and it sounds like they didn't want to promise the pattern was going to produce the quality jacket everyone would want. So now she suggests I just order the 34".

My question is, should I hope for the best and go along with this as they are the experts, or should I trust her original warning and err on the side of caution? The representative has been so helpful and communicative but it's a lot of money and before I actually place the order I wanted to see what the fine folks here might think of this situation. I would appreciate any advice either way. Thanks so much!

For reference, I'm about 115 pounds and my measurements are chest (relaxed)-31.5"; chest (expanded)-33.25"; stomach-28; waist (over belt)-31"; sleeves-22"; pit-to-pit-18.75"; shoulders-19"

31.5“ chest and pit to pit 18.75“ is a contradiction. Is the later of a jacket you own or how did you measure that? Also 19“ shoulders seem off too, that‘s what I get in my bigger jackets and I am 40“ chest, 165 lbs. First lesson here, imho, is maning sure you got your numbers right. Measuring yourself can go all sorts of wrong. I recommend measuring a jacket you own and that has the dimensions you would like on your leather jacket.

 

[Aloysius]

Maybe look at another brand in a children's large. The length of the body and sleeves will likely be way too long in the 34.

Aero themselves have a children's line. Maybe the biggest child size with length added would actually work.

 

[Eagledog]

Great idea. Since Aero has children's they should be able to fit any size.

 

[Allister]

Do you have measurements for a jacket that fits the way you want it to? Personally, I don't think the measurements differ that much. In fact, my CXL jackets have the same measurements as my shearling jackets. I only have half an inch more in the length because the fur raises the jacket.
I think jacket measurements are easier to compare than body measurements.
I give Aero my desired jacket measurements and they then see which size comes closest to these measurements (P2P). From there they lengthen, taper, widen... whatever is necessary to get as close as possible to my measurements.

Unfortunately, I don't think I have such a jacket to measure. The only ones I have are thin cotton or a puffy winter coat. I don't think that either would be realistic for comparing measurements for this purpose.

 

[Allister]

31.5“ chest and pit to pit 18.75“ is a contradiction. Is the later of a jacket you own or how did you measure that? Also 19“ shoulders seem off too, that‘s what I get in my bigger jackets and I am 40“ chest, 165 lbs. First lesson here, imho, is maning sure you got your numbers right. Measuring yourself can go all sorts of wrong. I recommend measuring a jacket you own and that has the dimensions you would like on your leather jacket.

It's certainly possible that the measurer (not a professional, but a hobbyist seamstress) made an error. I will also say that the official Aero measuring guidelines we initially followed differed a bit from the later in-email directives, so perhaps she tried to reconcile two figures with little success. It was all foreign for me so I just took her word for it...and Aero's customer support had provided figures for the 32", suggesting that if I was at least close to those figures, it should work well enough.

I don't have a similar jacket to measure, should I consult a professional for a more accurate measuring?

 

[Eagledog]

Thurston Bros has a stock RAF shearling 36 on their web.
Write those measurements down and go to a store or motorcycle shop with leather jackets and find something close to it. See how that fits. Then size down if you need to. The RAFstyle jacket isn't that critical a fit. You need a bit of room so you can layer with anything you might be wearing. But you need to make sure your arms don't dissappear inside the sleeves. It's not a style that you can push the sleeve up. And you also don't want the hem down to the top of your legs.

 

[Aloysius]

Tbh with my experience with Irvins both from the war and repro, I would say it’s a good thing if it’s at least a size big. I regret going only one size up!

 

[Eagledog]

Totally agree with making sure it has enough room to toss on over anything you may be wearing. Rather than something with a snug fit, where you need to change what your wearing to fit the jacket.

 

[MrProper]

I don't see it quite like that. There's a fine line between something fitting underneath and too big. I think something can look too big even more quickly on shorter people than on taller people. And we all want to look good in what we're wearing, right? Otherwise we could just throw on a fur.

Unfortunately, I don't think I have such a jacket to measure. The only ones I have are thin cotton or a puffy winter coat. I don't think that either would be realistic for comparing measurements for this purpose.

To be honest, I can't imagine that your measurements could be right.
If the thin fabric jacket fits you really well, then its measurements are better than nothing. You could use these as the inside measurements of the shearling. Assuming your jacket has a P2P of 18, then take the measurement 18.5 - 19 for the new jacket. the shoulder, measured from seam to seam, may not need to be altered at all.
Why don't you post a wearing picture of the fabric jacket and pictures of the jacket with measuring tape. Maybe we'll be able to help you with some advice.

 

[Leather_nube]

I don't see it quite like that. There's a fine line between something fitting underneath and too big. I think something can look too big even more quickly on shorter people than on taller people. And we all want to look good in what we're wearing, right? Otherwise we could just throw on a fur.


To be honest, I can't imagine that your measurements could be right.
If the thin fabric jacket fits you really well, then its measurements are better than nothing. You could use these as the inside measurements of the shearling. Assuming your jacket has a P2P of 18, then take the measurement 18.5 - 19 for the new jacket. the shoulder, measured from seam to seam, may not need to be altered at all.
Why don't you post a wearing picture of the fabric jacket and pictures of the jacket with measuring tape. Maybe we'll be able to help you with some advice.

That’s good advice!

 

[f2002q]

With shearling, you have to try one on and see how it fits. The Irvin jacket is supposed to fit a little large. Obviously within reason, but you want the sleeve and body length to be right. The good thing about Aero is that if they recommend a size after you measured yourself (3 or 4 times), send them pictures, etc. they will make it right. It will just take time and possibly some expense. For example, you will pay duties on the jacket when it comes in. If you have to send it back, technically, you can get your duties back but it is a LOT of paperwork, so you just have to eat that cost.

The other way about it is to go through Thurston Bros. They will send you a fit jacket and you take pictures and send it back to them. They will tell you what measurements to get and they are pretty spot on. It's a little more expensive, but there are more checks in the process.

I've ordered shearling both ways, and for the first one, I would recommend using Thurston Bros. especially if you have a real custom size or don't fit into a regular size.

 

[Eagledog]

I always think of this as being an outdoor work jacket for cold windy days. Something I would wear while working on my plane in the hangar or outside on the flight ramp. Something to wear while running errands on the motorcycle during the winter season. Afternoon hiking with my bird dogs. I would prioritize mobility, and temperature regulating comfort as the most important jacket attributes. Utility first. Everything else a distant 2nd.
If I was a Confederate Air Force reenactment worker at an airshow event, maybe mobility wouldn't be as important. Just make sure you don't end up with something too small and restrictive. The classifieds are full of straight jacket fitting jackets. They languish as unworn closet queens for years before being sold...
Sometimes the fur coat fit is best. A shearling is just a fur coat worn inside out.

With shearling, you have to try one on and see how it fits. The Irvin jacket is supposed to fit a little large. Obviously within reason, but you want the sleeve and body length to be right. The good thing about Aero is that if they recommend a size after you measured yourself (3 or 4 times), send them pictures, etc. they will make it right. It will just take time and possibly some expense. For example, you will pay duties on the jacket when it comes in. If you have to send it back, technically, you can get your duties back but it is a LOT of paperwork, so you just have to eat that cost.

The other way about it is to go through Thurston Bros. They will send you a fit jacket and you take pictures and send it back to them. They will tell you what measurements to get and they are pretty spot on. It's a little more expensive, but there are more checks in the process.

I've ordered shearling both ways, and for the first one, I would recommend using Thurston Bros. especially if you have a real custom size or don't fit into a regular size.

 

[Aloysius]

The other way about it is to go through Thurston Bros. They will send you a fit jacket and you take pictures and send it back to them. They will tell you what measurements to get and they are pretty spot on. It's a little more expensive, but there are more checks in the process.

They’ll just try to get you in the slimmest thing possible.

 

[PilotJens]

Maybe you can go to a local department store like Zara or h&m and try out some faux shearling jackets to get a feel for it .I have a Zara faux Shearling jacket that looks like a Schott B3 and you can take these dimensions loosely.