Can I have your opinion on an Aero Board Racer I just got from the Blue Label page?

[redsox78]

Thanks for the replies guys, I will get fit pics tomorrow when the light is better. A few things...

Yes, of course I knew it was mismatched, but it is really hard to judge from the Aero pics on their website how much until you get it in person, and I also wasn't sure about the fit given it was CXFQHH. My real question I suppose was "is this *bad* mismatching which makes the jacket a bad one?", which most of you don't seem to think it is. What I was really fishing for some someone to point out to me I was being silly and as good leather jackets go it is a good one.

So, you've all made me feel much better about it , especially Carlos840 with his most recent message...

I'm going to decide for sure tomorrow. Actually, the main thing that s bugging me is that there is a couple of scars / nicks on the sleeve, that bugs me more than the mismatching now (though a bit of me things this is just one of the things about CXFQHH)...



But I'm leaning towards two thoughts - because i love the fit.

Man, please don't be offended by this but if you truly do see anything wrong with that jacket, leather just isn't for you. . .

First, not offended at all, that's a good comment! As I said, until I just noticed those flaws on the sleeve (outside), I had basically said to myself "stop being so silly!". So that plus...

As I type this reply I think I have come up with the perfect TFL solution: keep this jacket and order another one in blackened brown Vicenza. Problem solved!

Is the answer I am leaning towards. I can keep this one, and not feel conscious about "looking after it" (yes, wear it like I stole it), and still get another, ideally black Vicenza.

 

[ksozay]

Ultimately, it really depends on your brain. If you can't wear this jacket without always wondering what it would have been like without the issues, you're going to spend 3x in the long run trying to chase the perfect jacket. And I use 3x conservatively... That said, if you're able to see the beauty in the unique elements of that jacket, you will learn to love it. Especially based on the fit. I have some exceptionally beautiful jackets that don't fit quite right and they don't get worn and ultimately sold. But the marbling, grain, little nicks and scratches - are all things I've learned to love and appreciate as a jacket that I identify as "mine".

Let's be honest, there is no path to resolution here that will lead to you NOT buying another jacket. It's a disease and an easy one to catch. My favorite jacket at the moment is an AERO CR FQHH black. It's not the most beautiful jacket I own. But the fit of the FQHH after it warms to my body heat is like wearing an old pair of jeans. I'd seriously never take that thing off, if it was practical not to do so. Remember that.

Best of luck!

 

[redsox78]

Just a final thing, before fit pics tomorrow (while I sleep on it). I really couldn't ask for a better fit (for me), which I think means that the minor flaws should be ignored, given it is also with me right now and £150 less than a custom build. Plus, it'll cost me £20 to return, so it is really £170 more for a custom fit (and a wait of a few months of course). Right now I'm actually leaning towards keeping and wearing it the way it was designed to be worn

 

[Powerband]

I think you are leaning toward the better direction: keeping it.

My Blue Label has a couple of small flaws like yours, but I’m wearing it like I stole it, and that comes with a liberating sense of ownership, to toss it in the ground, lean against any wall surface, drag it along with me like a beat-up armor. Those few minor flaws? Nothing compared to the scars it will earn as it ages with me. I like this jacket more than the “perfect” jackets in the closet.

 

[Peacoat]

I see little wrong with the panels, but if they bother you, do as @Mark said above. It is a great looking jacket.

 

[nick123]

The knicks and mismatching will haunt you until a dog pisses on it and then you will fall in love with it.

 

[Powerband]

And what nick123 means by “dog piss” is patina. [emoji846]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sloan1874]

I think wear it good and hard. After a couple of months, the leathers will start to match and the various scrapes etc will give it a completely different look.

 

[ProteinNerd]

Sloan is spot on, wear it rough and you wont notice the panels in a few months and you’ll look back and be happy you saved 170 quid. Just don’t baby it.....

 

[Monitor]

First, not offended at all, that's a good comment! As I said, until I just noticed those flaws on the sleeve (outside), I had basically said to myself "stop being so silly!". So that plus...

Figured my post came off a bit rude but that seriously wasn't my intention. Meant to say... I'd find similar imperfections on all my jackets that would haunt me to no end. Like, to the point that the jacket was actually making me miserable instead of happy and it would eat at me until I nearly gave up on wearing leather altogether.

Eventually I just somehow got over it but if I didn't, I'd be perfectly willing to accept the fact that leather simply isn't for me.

And it happened when I realized that I was having some kind of grievance with literally EVERY jacket I ever had.

My point is, if this, let's call it a relatively small issue bothers you enough to make a thread, something "worse" might seriously make the whole affair really depressing - like finding that little scar you posted above. And it won't go away, even though people tell you how you'll forget about it after wearing the jacket for a while.

My advice? Wear that beautiful jacket and NEVER inspect it for damage again. Ever! And just freaking enjoy it. Otherwise it will make you really miserable.

Those little scars are certainly not something you want to see on a brand new jacket but... It happens. Often. On almost every jacket. Again, if it's not an actual rip, best not think about it.

 

[bn1966]

I'd be more than happy with that jacket if the fit was good

 

[TREEMAN]

The jacket looks great !! It's unique and when it breaks in.............delicious !!

 

[OldOilPull]

it's not a bug it's a feature!

 

[BobJ]

Those "mismatched" panels will match like twins with wear and patina.

Those little scrapes will disappear in a snowstorm of new ones.

The jacket is beautiful, and you're a lucky lucky man if it really does fit you perfectly.

 

[El Marro]

redsox78,
I was half joking when I suggested purchasing another jacket to remedy your doubts about this one, but I see that you are truly a kindred spirit after all. The only thing better than one awesome jacket is two awesome jackets!
Monitor,
That is brilliant advice to enjoy our jackets and never ever inspect them for damage or defects! We would all be much happier here if we could stick to that idea.

 

[mygar]

I bet there is a good chance that a custom ordered jacket wont be perfect either... just saying.

But if you are the obsessive compulsive type (i mean we all kinda are on this forum i bet.. lol) only you will know if you continue to obsess over them.

I have 2 very nice jackets... and no they both are not perfect..

 

[navetsea]

even when the color is perfectly matched when new, just by wearing it depending on which side it is exposed to the sun, it might develop uneven color later on, personally I see different fading part as character of the jacket, mismatching pocket placement for example is another totally different story.

 

[seres]

Those small blems and slightly mis-matched panels are nothing. It will pick-up more scars as soon as you wear it outside the house. Beautiful jacket! Wear it with pride!

 

[redsox78]

I have come to a conclusion...it;s a keeper so much so, rather than 'baby' it I have worn it to work in the rain this morning, with my backpack. (gotta get that CXL more flexible ). As people have said I am not inspecting anymore. A useful comment above was to point out that it is perfectly possible to order a custom made, and that also have a flaw that you spot, and then while I am sure Aero would sort it, you've waited months, then maybe have to wait longer...and the whole thing puts one off in the first place.

Also, the blemishes I showed above are clearly natural scarring - the best way I can describe it is where the very top surface was a bite or scar, so all the topcoat could do was fill that in with colour, not smooth it over. They are not serious gouges or deep, and as most of you have said there will be plenty of others I cause.

Anyway, fit is the thing. I can't seem to get any decent lighting - and I am terrible at taking pics of myself with my phone - but here is a first attempt (still with raindrops!). Two things, one I probably could get away with the next size down (this is a 44") in chest and width, but at the same time I dont want to only be able to wear a t-shirt with it, and the CXL is still very stiff/flat so hasn't really moulded yet. My test for "fitted, but not too tight" is that I do not have to force the zip and with this I do not, but it is still close fitted. Second, I struggle to get jackets with arms that are not too long, for me - again this has only been with me a day - the arms are just about spot on (I am wearing a hoody underneath here, so it pulls the arms up a tiny bit).

 

[Carlos840]

That's a very nice fit.

The way i see it, this jacket came pre scratched, meaning you can wear it rough straight out of the box!
Instead of the usual "baby it for a month, scratch it stupidly, feel horrible about ruining a jacket, and then realize you should stop worrying about it and wear it hard"

In a year you won't even think about it anymore. (well, you might be thinking about your next one, black? Tumbled? Vicenza?)