Strong enough for a man....or made for a woman?

[Gamma68]

I could deal with a left-side zipper. I zipped the jacket up with no problems. But as a male, I don't think I could deal with wearing a jacket known as the "Cycle Queen."

Maybe I should start a poll for the male members that asks: "Would you wear a HD Cycle Queen jacket?"

 

[Edward]

It's a cross-over front, where the right breast overlaps the left - undoubtedly a women's jacket.

this left vs right side closure connected to gender is so stupid, it made much more sense when it is meant for right handed people or left handed people.

The one context where the general 'rule' on gendered dressing to a side follows instead handedness is in fencing. For a left handed fencer, the jacket zips up on the right side (right breast over left breast), while a right handed fencer will fasten the zip on the "female" side, right breast over left. This is in order that the zip is always on the side of the body that is not facing your opponent, to minimise risk of their blade entering your jacket through the fastening (of course, this dates to the era in which fencing jackets were buttoned rather than zipped, but still matters). Gendering of fencing jackets still occurs - ladies' jackets are cropped at the waist, while men's have a strap arrangement designed to accommodate a crotch box.

 

[Edward]

I could deal with a left-side zipper. I zipped the jacket up with no problems. But as a male, I don't think I could deal with wearing a jacket known as the "Cycle Queen."

Maybe I should start a poll for the male members that asks: "Would you wear a HD Cycle Queen jacket?"

I wouldn't be physically comfortable in it, but I'd find it hilarious to be wearing a jacket called 'Cycle Queen'. That said, I've never given a damn about being perceived as "manly/unmanly" by others, so.... YMMV.

In The Walking Dead, the original comic book version, AlphaMale Negan's leather jacket is clearly drawn fastening to the ladies' side. I don't know if that was deliberate, but I always loved how it cocked a snook at the macho nonsense by it appearing to be a ladies' jacket.

 

[tmitchell59]

Here is a Cycle Queen. I got the impression this was owned by a male. It has no makers label, but certainly a Cycle Queen. Probably 40s.

 

[Gamma68]

^ @tmitchell59, that jacket's in really nice shape for its age. I assume the belt is newer?

What gives you the impression a male owned it and wore it?

 

[rocketeer]

That Cycle Queen looks to fit a womans shape better than a male jacket. Were it a mans, it has a sort of body builders shape to it.

 

[tmitchell59]

^ @tmitchell59, that jacket's in really nice shape for its age. I assume the belt is newer?

What gives you the impression a male owned it and wore it?

I got the impression from the seller. The seller was not the original owner. A story about a man hanging up his riding gear in the 40s. After seeing it I doubt anyone every wore it. No HD label, the lining and build are not like later Cycle Queens. It is like new.

I'm no expert on HD jackets. The belt is old and basically unused also. The later Queens had an attached belt. different linings.

I don't understand female sizing.,so no idea what the size.

I bought because it is so nice.

 

[tmitchell59]

That Cycle Queen looks to fit a womans shape better than a male jacket. Were it a mans, it has a sort of body builders shape to it.

I've had my sister try it on, but did not get any pics. She can wear it. She is petite and in good shape. I've had a smaller male teen try it also. Was actually too big for him.

I'll try to get some fit pics.

 

[Gamma68]

Yes, I can see how Terry's Cycle Queen is more proportioned for a female. I didn't really pick that up in the Cycle Queen I saw/tried on (see first post in this thread). It certainly didn't seem like a woman's jacket at first glance.

Here's a 1955 ad for reference:

 

[tmitchell59]

This is a later Queen. No leather tag, so I call it Steerhide.

Pictures here with measurements.

Different Back design

Here are the numbers for this one

 

[scottyrocks]

Yep. I don't really understand how anyone can find it hard using a left hand zip. Its not like sliding in a bit of metal is a complicated process. Driving on the other side of the road... that's harder.

Yep, my head exploded once while driving in England and simultaneously trying to start the zipper on a left side zip jacket.

 

[navetsea]

Here is a Cycle Queen. I got the impression this was owned by a male. It has no makers label, but certainly a Cycle Queen. Probably 40s.

that looks female indeed, maybe they cut the panel to accommodate breast and higher waistline of female torso I guess. but some shorter male body builder might fit alright in it I think. I only guessing here but the V shape of male jacket is created by wider back panel but straighter front, while female is wider on the front chest and less on the back panel, so even when the sizing around the chest is the same, it won't wear the same I guess. You can see vertical dart on the upper front panel reducing shoulder width and making more room for the breast.

 

[Edward]

Interestingly, Roland Sands Designs introduced a retro-70s style jacket (think: Lewis Supermonza) a couple of years ago, called 'The Clash', which is definitely designed and marketed as a man's jacket, but fastens to the traditional ladies' side.