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Thurston Italian Vicenza Horsehide Full Grain Veg.-Tanned Horsehide for Aero Jackets

Messages
17,508
Location
Chicago
Any with zip sleeves? It's a feature on my Bootlegger that I'm glad that I added. The sleeves are slimmer with the zips and kind of adds a slightly more MC flavor to what I consider a much less hardcore jacket than the normal MC example.
HD
My bootlegger is modeled very much like yours HD. Zip sleeves and I added zips to the hand warmers that close toward the hem. CXL Cordovan Steer. I've always admired the fit of your jacket. Ordered 10/8....still anxiously waiting....
 

RMF308

One of the Regulars
Messages
104
Location
Seattle
My bootlegger is modeled very much like yours HD. Zip sleeves and I added zips to the hand warmers that close toward the hem. CXL Cordovan Steer. I've always admired the fit of your jacket. Ordered 10/8....still anxiously waiting....

I have a Premier Bootlogger with zip sleeves as well. I think it gives the style a much more motorcycle jacket vibe and it makes the sleeves very sleek and narrow. Mine is Brown FQHH (extra dark requested) with brass zippers, and weathered green lightweight wool. Carrie posted some pics of the jacket a few weeks ago at:

Post #2794
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/thre...bros-official-affiliate-thread.70770/page-140
 
Messages
17,508
Location
Chicago
I have a Premier Bootlogger with zip sleeves as well. I think it gives the style a much more motorcycle jacket vibe and it makes the sleeves very sleek and narrow. Mine is Brown FQHH (extra dark requested) with brass zippers, and weathered green lightweight wool. Carrie posted some pics of the jacket a few weeks ago at:

Post #2794
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/thre...bros-official-affiliate-thread.70770/page-140
RMF. That is an absolute beauty. I'm dying to see my jacket posted in the TB thread. Not many mods but I think (hope) I've finally found my Aero!
 

RMF308

One of the Regulars
Messages
104
Location
Seattle
Thanks very much! I'm quite happy with it. The Premier slim fit version fits my body perfectly although I'm pretty narrow at 5-11, 165pds, and a 39 chest. Carrie suggested a size 40 with a little extra length in the arms. Other than the zip sleeves, the only other options on this one is an inside button pocket, and an additional inch added to each side cinch straps.
 
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Carrie @ Thurston Bros.

Sponsoring Affiliate
Messages
4,899
Location
Seattle, WA
Thanks very much! I'm quite happy with it. The Premier slim fit version fits my body perfectly although I'm pretty narrow at 5-11, 165pds, and a 39 chest. Carries suggested a size 40 with a little extra length in the arms. Other than the zip sleeves, the only other options on this one is an inside button pocket, and an additional inch added to each side cinch straps.

Enjoy the jacket...the Premier Bootlegger is a favorite of ours! Think about a Vicenza Premier Bootlegger for your next jacket :)

Vicenza Bootlegger.jpg
 

ChiTownScion

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,247
Location
The Great Pacific Northwest
The A-2s coming through have been stunning...the Vicenza is just about the perfect A-2 leather!

Some might say that it's almost too perfect.

We're having this discussion in another thread, authenticity vs. pure fashion aesthetics. The Vicenza leather is definitely NOT what a jacket thrown by a quartermaster sergeant to an aviation candidate in 1942 would have boasted. There was a war on, after all.

But in saying that, I think that it's a testament to the timeless design of the A-2 jacket itself that in whatever camp you see yourself (fashionista or wannabe flyboy), the jacket will look terrific. That we have so many choices in leathers, knits, zippers, and other detail designs..... that makes it the best of all worlds. That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it.
 
Messages
10,181
Location
Pasadena, CA
My gripe with defending modern top-shelf A-2's (and any WWII Mil repop) has always been that these new models may be accurate, but they're also about 10x nicer than anything someone got on a base. Nothing wrong with that as long as the "it's the most accurate" crowd can concede this point. I'll take a modern A-2 with it's awesome hide and knits over what was likely "good enough" in 1943 - assuming I'm paying the modern price and waiting the modern wait.
 

Sloan1874

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,427
Location
Glasgow
I've just sold on an original Cable A-2, and the thing that struck me was rough it was: the collar shape was 'there, or there about'; the zip tapes had been stretched to fit the jacket, the hanger was off by about an inch, and the finish overall was, er, not really - the refurb that Aero did for me actually did it a service it probably didn't deserve! I guess the ones we see are the best surviving examples and the rest were probably treated as being 'disposable'.
 
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ChiTownScion

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,247
Location
The Great Pacific Northwest
You have to stop to consider that the folks who were making these jackets back in the day were doing separate piecework in an assembly line manner. I'm under the impression that Aero currently takes years to train a skilled jacket maker. In contrast, quality took a second seat to "cranking 'em out, " as many as they could, for the war effort- and material shortages were common. As Brother Sloan suggests, a jacket that was off was likely tossed as soon as the war was over: it had served its purpose and other civilian clothing options existed once the guns fell silent.
 

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