unwearable jacket, ideas please?

[Mark]

I recently contacted Jules (via FL post/member) who specializes in leather repairs/alterations to see if he can do something with my Bill Kelso Aeronaut A-1 in their Liberty HH. Purchased this beautiful jacket a few years back but quickly realized I did not like the Dumbo ear style collar. I have had three alterations done on the collar by three different people. The results ranged from dreadful to ok but still not desirable (total time away, 2 years!). Jules initially seemed a good possibility judging by comments here. Sadly Jules felt this was almost, if not impossible to do anything with that would give a good, acceptable result. So I am left with a beautiful piece of Russet Liberty HH that I cannot wear. I cannot conceive of just binning it or even giving it to a charity shop. So my question is, does anybody have any ideas? Has anybody been in a similar situation and what did you do?

many thanks for any help/ideas.

 

[Aloysius]

Dumbo ear style collar? Can you give us some more background about what you’re talking about?

Without seeing anything it seems like this was a very ill-advised course of action…

 

[jeo]

Depending on how much leather is left on that collar. Post pictures please.

 

[Aloysius]

I just searched the Kelso Aeronaut. It’s a shawl-collared cossack jacket.

Now I’m just left totally confused. Why did you buy a shawl-collared jacket if you don’t like it? What are you trying to do with the collar–have it recut into a shirt-style collar? I don’t see how any of this could work.

Why didn’t you just sell it when you realised you didn’t like a shawl collar?

 

[Mark]

Dumbo ear style collar? Can you give us some more background about what you’re talking about?

Without seeing anything it seems like this was a very ill-advised course of action…

I think the collar is called a shawl collar. I do have pics but I think most folks know what the collar looks like on an Aeronout A-1. It was a mistake on my part to buy it for sure. Thanks

 

[Mark]

Depending on how much leather is left on that collar. Post pictures please.

Will post tomorrow. thanks

 

[Mark]

I just searched the Kelso Aeronaut. It’s a shawl-collared cossack jacket.

Now I’m just left totally confused. Why did you buy a shawl-collared jacket if you don’t like it? What are you trying to do with the collar–have it recut into a shirt-style collar? I don’t see how any of this could work.

Why didn’t you just sell it when you realised you didn’t like a shawl collar?

Hi, I brought it because I liked the look of it on others (here at FL) and it looked cool on the web site. However, it did not look good on me and to make matters worse my wife felt it looked "girlie"! I was led to believe it could be altered to a more regular style collar. Thanks

 

[El Marro]

You were led astray.

 

[ton312]

Best case is probably something like a cafe racer, stand collar without any means of closure. It could never be made into a shirt style collar.

 

[ChewingWax]

I’m looking forward to seeing this altered collar.

 

[Aloysius]

I’m looking forward to seeing this altered collar.

I’d like to see it too but it feels a bit morbid to look at someone’s misfortune.

 

[ChewingWax]

I’d like to see it too but it feels a bit morbid to look at someone’s misfortune.

A little, but he’s asking for ideas so it’s not entirely out of morbid curiosity.

 

[zebedee]

Sell it or return it to the manufacturer and ask if the collar can be completely replaced. Perhaps a material/knit stand-collar could be installed, but I don't think a shawl collar lends itself to much re-shaping/cutting.

 

[Fonzie]

You could get someone to make a shirt style collar in a nice mutton color that would go well with the rest of the jacket and corduroy underneath , so it won’t matter the leather matching.

Five star could be a budget option, but others like Thedi could do it nicer, albeit pricier.

 

[jeo]

Sell it or return it to the manufacturer and ask if the collar can be completely replaced. Perhaps a material/knit stand-collar could be installed, but I don't think a shawl collar lends itself to much re-shaping/cutting.

Oh yeah option number one here for sure. I’m assuming they can match the leather. If BK refuses then OP needs to find another solution. Depending on how much leather there is, it can potentially be turned into an LVC Einstein type shawl collar or any other smaller shawl collar. I doubt a mandarin collar would look good and there’s probably not enough leather for anything else. Needless to say it will never look as good as the way it came from BK.

 

[Aloysius]

Mouton is the ticket.

 

[Canuck Panda]

I recently contacted Jules (via FL post/member) who specializes in leather repairs/alterations to see if he can do something with my Bill Kelso Aeronaut A-1 in their Liberty HH. Purchased this beautiful jacket a few years back but quickly realized I did not like the Dumbo ear style collar. I have had three alterations done on the collar by three different people. The results ranged from dreadful to ok but still not desirable (total time away, 2 years!). Jules initially seemed a good possibility judging by comments here. Sadly Jules felt this was almost, if not impossible to do anything with that would give a good, acceptable result. So I am left with a beautiful piece of Russet Liberty HH that I cannot wear. I cannot conceive of just binning it or even giving it to a charity shop. So my question is, does anybody have any ideas? Has anybody been in a similar situation and what did you do?

many thanks for any help/ideas.

Mark I assume the jacket collar has been separated already right? That's why its not in a sell-able condition?
If you haven't had any work done just move it on. If it's in the mid of getting some work done, there is still a way to fix it.
Get Andy to make and send you a point collar in the same russet HH. So it matches. Then ask your local machinist to set the new point collar in place. It would also be easier if Andy can do the repair, not sure if he does that. Do the math to see if shipping a whole jacket back and forth works out or not. Just a collar is faster.
My SBV2 jacket was originally with a rounded type collar, but I didn't like it then, so I requested custom dress collar. You won't be able to use the existing rounded collar, you need a new point collar to set into the same place. Like this, and there will be a notch.

 

[ProteinNerd]

I agree with @zebedee. Can you send back to Bill Kelso to have it reverted back to its original form then sell it...if thats worth the effort?

 

[navetsea]

wear it with the collar popped up perhaps it looks more like band collar jacket, or pop up the rear and let the gravity do the front part naturally, even shawl collar benefit from broken in look when they look broken in and not like plastic baby bib, it would look a lot more natural at least on my fabrics cossack it looks nicer once I wear it a lot.

 

[Mark]

Best case is probably something like a cafe racer, stand collar without any means of closure. It could never be made into a shirt style collar.

Jules felt a stand up collar would require too much alteration compromising the structure of the jacket, something along those lines.
Thanks