Half-belt without front pockets?

[ProfG]

Curious if you think the front pockets add or detract from the half-belt style. Thinking of commissioning a JL jacket without them.

 

[Aloysius]

Sounds awful.

 

[codex]

No pockets at all?

 

[AeroFan_07]

No thank you.

 

[Bennarion]

Only a half-belt racer style jacket

 

[Edward]

I understand the thought. For me they serve no practical purpose and might as well be faux, but I still have them on my jackets as otherwise I think they'd look odd. I do plan a hb at some point with A2 style patch pockets, though.

 

[Bfd70]

They are for form not function. They break up the large panel of leather visually

 

[Tom71]

To each their own.

I have toyed with the idea of “cleaning up” my jackets off and on. At one point I tried to get Aero to do a Board Racer without any exterior pockets for me, but Ken flat out refused. I still believe, the idea of a “racing shirt” without any ado makes sense to a degree, but I never followed up.

That said, a Halfbelt is kind off a fixed item and deleting the pockets is seemingly at odds with the basic design features.

 

[lina]

Only a half-belt racer style jacket View attachment 784596 View attachment 784597

Agree. This with a collar would be perfect. Chest pockets but no hand warmers. Aka an Aero Sheene (I believe).
Edit: Aero Sheene with a half belt!)

 

[AeroFan_07]

To each their own.

I have toyed with the idea of “cleaning up” my jackets off and on. At one point I tried to get Aero to do a Board Racer without any exterior pockets for me, but Ken flat out refused. I still believe, the idea of a “racing shirt” without any ado makes sense to a degree, but I never followed up.

That said, a Halfbelt is kind off a fixed item and deleting the pockets is seemingly at odds with the basic design features.

I currently have a jacket with "0" pockets...but it's a Bates and much too small for me.

 

[barnabus]

I currently have a jacket with "0" pockets...but it's a Bates and much too small for me.

View attachment 784656
View attachment 784655
View attachment 784657

It's also awesome and looks like something Bruce Wayne should wear.

 

[AeroFan_07]

I take it you are thinking more of the lower pockets with flaps over than that usually snap or button shut, along with side entry hand-warmer pockets? In an Aero that's a Half-belt Deluxe (or sometimes called the Long Half-belt):

Maybe just try a 30's or 50's Half-belt instead with these pockets that give a little cleaner look:

This is a 1930's Half-Belt, I slightly prefer the pocket angles on this model compared to the 50's Half-belt.

It also has a little more interesting standard back design:

 

[RDS]

I take it you are thinking more of the lower pockets with flaps over than that usually snap or button shut, along with side entry hand-warmer pockets? In an Aero that's a Half-belt Deluxe (or sometimes called the Long Half Belt)

In case there’s any confusion:
Althoughthe main front pocket design is the same the Half Belt Deluxe and Long Half Belt from Aero Leather are two different jacket styles.
As the name might suggest the Long Half Belt has more length in the body than the Half Belt Deluxe (and the 1930’s Half Belt & 1950’s Half Belt as well)
Also, the HBD has stud fastened cuffs, whereas the LHB doesn’t.

Half Belt Deluxe

Buy Half Belt Deluxe on Aero Leather Clothing for £1,170.00

www.aeroleatherclothing.com

Long Half Belt

Buy Long Half Belt on Aero Leather Clothing for £1,170.00

www.aeroleatherclothing.com

 

[Vaggg1]

I don’t think it will look bad, but I would prefer it with pockets.

 

[Salmosalar]

Curious if you think the front pockets add or detract from the half-belt style. Thinking of commissioning a JL jacket without them.

If you are thinking of losing the chest pockets but retaining lower ones in a HB style, this new offering from Eastman might appeal? https://www.eastmanleather.com/the-campaign-jacket/1241-officers-jacket-campaign.html

 

[ProfG]

If you are thinking of losing the chest pockets but retaining lower ones in a HB style, this new offering from Eastman might appeal? https://www.eastmanleather.com/the-campaign-jacket/1241-officers-jacket-campaign.html

No, I am just planning on no pockets at all, other than a chest pocket.

 

[Salmosalar]

No, I am just planning on no pockets at all, other than a chest pocket.

A custom Aero Sheene would most likely be closer to what you need then, which is basically a Cafe Racer with a collar - they can also do a slimmer version based on the Boardracer, which I think was referred to in the past as the Seven, but it does not appear on their website among the standard offerings. I doubt Aero would do a true HB without any handwarmers, so this option seems as close as you could get without going full custom with someone like Johnson Leathers….

 

[Aloysius]

No, I am just planning on no pockets at all, other than a chest pocket.

Sounds like you just want a cafe racer then.

That's not "without front pockets" the way you laid out.

 

[lina]

A half belt with just a chest pocket (or two) would be cool I think. Unlike a CR it would have collars and of course a half belt back.
Seems like it would be not a big deal at all for Aero to delete the hand warmers on a standard half belt, though whether they would or not who knows. But I know that Simmons Bilt will, as I once raised this very option with them and they said no problem.
No doubt other makers you see on TFL would do this slight customization.

 

[ProfG]

Sounds like you just want a cafe racer then.

That's not "without front pockets" the way you laid out.

Sorry, I should have been more clear: I meant without handwarmers. Also, not looking for a CR - I love the big collars on half-belts. Also I don't ride a bike, so I feel self-conscious wearing a CR. Do you think a half-belt without handwarmer pockets will look good?

PS. Is your name a reference to the character Aloysius Pendergast?