Car coats - are they out of fashion now?!

[JackBroChill]

I’m finding that the look just doesn’t work well on me, so I’ll soon be putting two up for sale on the classifieds.

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Will definitely be keeping an eye out if you do post these! That Y’2 is gorgeous indeed, shame the brand never seems to fit me. Their indigo looks lovely.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

It's not my style, personally. If I wanted a long coat, I would reach for wool, not leather. Still, I regularly see people, including young adults, wearing them—so they can’t be that out of style. I see them more in the alternative and punk crowd than the mainstream.

 

[El Marro]

That Y’2 is gorgeous indeed, shame the brand never seems to fit me. Their indigo looks lovely.

But just think of how much money they are saving you!
I too seem to fall just outside the size range of most of their offerings. So far that has helped me avoid temptation because I am a big fan of their work..

 

[JackBroChill]

But just think of how much money they are saving you!
I too seem to fall just outside the size range of most of their offerings. So far that has helped me avoid temptation because I am a big fan of their work..

That's one way ot look at it!

I only have a limited experinece with their stuff but it seems like the 'right' size is just too tight in the chest/shoulders and going up to be able to actually move in it makes the length/sleeve get out of whack where it just doesn't look good anymore.

Which is a shame since they are among the best values of any major Japanese leathermakers, and put out a LOT of interesting and varied deisgins. Oh well, I shall focus on the money I'm saving....

 

[Edward]

For a long time I really wasn't interested in a leather this length. Trenchcoats, looong, yes. Short leathers, yes. But not these. Of course, as always happens, over time things I'd previously ruled out can grow on me. I took to the idea of one of these slightly longer leathers after watching one character wear one in a way I really like in Man in the High Castle - the alternative history drama on Prime. Set in the early Sixties, though an early 60s that is still very 50s in men's fashion terms. I did have my eye on one from Hercules to experiment with the length, though alas they didn't survive the pandemic. Wested do a nice version of their Doctor Who coat (they made the one Christopher Ecclestone wore in 2005, I believe), though since they closed the physical store it can be hard to tell from the website what they're like (as a rule of thumb, I find Wested very ,very good with the jackets they made the original for, and a bit hit and miss for jackets they copy). I might eventually just pull the trigger on an Aero. My cut off, though, like Aero's, remains really 1959 - not interested in a later style / cut for myself.

 

[NamoAmituofo]

My coat arrived - washed in bathtub last night and with the warm temp it almost dried already. What leather you reckon this is? Suede or rough out? Fit pics to come later.

 

[Robson]

Aero Teamster

 

[ChewingWax]

Flamingo Downtown Car Coat. Bought it off of Clurman’s clearance page in 2002. It’s made of Buffalo hide and the panels are a bit mismatched grain wise, which is why I guess it’s not branded as Lost Worlds, but it is impeccably made and a great long coat. I wear it regularly if not very often. It’s a core addition to my collection.

 

[NamoAmituofo]

Aero size S is deceptive for this one. I can easily fit a 40 chest suit jacket under it and button up. Admittedly at 5’11 I’d like the sleeves to be a tad longer but I can live with them as they are.

Will be a functional coat as I carry a 5KG backpack with laptop etc for work everyday and all my wool coats get killed from the abrasion of this heavy bag.

 

[NamoAmituofo]

Flamingo Downtown Car Coat. Bought it off of Clurman’s clearance page in 2002. It’s made of Buffalo hide and the panels are a bit mismatched grain wise, which is why I guess it’s not branded as Lost Worlds, but it is impeccably made and a great long coat. I wear it regularly if not very often. It’s a core addition to my collection.
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The grain is incredible!!

 

[NamoAmituofo]

I've been hesitant to post my version of a car coat in that the definition of the term has been a wildly moving target for a long time. In my view a car coat covers mien heinder and beyond that doesn't have a whole lot of distinguishing characteristics.

Last year I bought a Lost Worlds leather pea coat from another TFL inmate. That jacket was made for a tall man and at 5'10"; I'm not.

I had the sleeves shortened and cuffs installed and left the length in the body of the coat such that it would be my version of a car coat and it turned out to be just right. I'm having a black 1" thick mouton ruff made for it and at that point I'll be done.

I posted a pic of it here months back and will post another for the heck of it.

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Now that’s what I call a badass coat!!

 

[GHT]

There was a thread some time ago about a 1930's Anderson, ah, found it.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/vintage-andersons-1930s-car-coat.100098/

 

[Trouser Bark]

Now that’s what I call a badass coat!!

Thank you, Sir! At close to ten pounds she's a big girl but that's noticeable only when you initially put it on or as you're looking for a place to put it once you've taken it off. While worn the weight disappears and it makes me feel like I'm wearing a coat of armor. The horse hide is only partially broken in so it's a little stiff and a lot squawkier than the dozen or so other leather jackets in my care. I absolutely love the jacket. It, and a 50 year old Vanson white label Model A get worn constantly and the others hang out jealously in the darkness of my closet.

 

[Trouser Bark]

Thank you, Sir! At close to ten pounds she's a big girl but that's noticeable only when you initially put it on or as you're looking for a place to put it once you've taken it off. While worn the weight disappears and it makes me feel like I'm wearing a coat of armor. The horse hide is only partially broken in so it's a little stiff and a lot squawkier than the dozen or so other leather jackets in my care. I absolutely love the jacket. It, and a 50 year old Vanson white label Model A get worn constantly and the others hang out jealously in the darkness of my closet.

Dammit, Janet! It's a coat; not a jacket!

If there were an aspect that merits mention it would be that the early car coats were looong. If you've ever owned one of the longer versions you know that they're often filthy along the hem as a coat of that length scrapes around on the floorboard as soon as you get in the truck. I have a few variants and the one that's probably the most practical length comes to mid thigh. The reason is that it's long enough to cover the entire car seat when you sit down and short enough that it doesn't drag on the floor.

The shorter versions (like my Lost Worlds pea) all share a trait that requires a little getting used to and it's that when you sit down you sit on the hem and you'll often feel like you need to pull it the rest of the way down (not possible) or pull it up such that you're not sitting on it... which also wouldn't work that well. Eventually you get used to sitting on the hem but you still notice it.

It eventually becomes less of an issue but it takes a while.