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barnabus

One Too Many
Messages
1,851
Location
Britain's oldest recorded town
Hi everyone,
Here’s a fit check on my FW La Brea.
I’ve had it for a little while now and I’m really happy with it — would love to hear your thoughts on the fit.
Thx
View attachment 778640

The sleeves are too long for my taste, but it's not my jacket so that's irrelevant.

Otherwise it looks like a comfortable fit.

Can I ask, if you're really happy with it, why do you care about other people's opinions of the fit?
 

Ruler1609

New in Town
Messages
28
The sleeves are too long for my taste, but it's not my jacket so that's irrelevant.

Otherwise it looks like a comfortable fit.

Can I ask, if you're really happy with it, why do you care about other people's opinions of the fit?
Thx; simply to get an opinion from a neutral outside perspective
 

nehex

New in Town
Messages
3
Hey everyone, first comment or post ever so hopefully I do it right.

I'm in the process of ordering a custom Sheene in russet Vicenza leather with Thurston bros, and I got the test jacket in size 38 in front quarter horse hide (I have a 39-40 inch chest, 182 cm or 6ft tall, 77 kg or 170lbs) and I think it fits me well.

My main dillemma which I came here to ask advice about, is the excess of leather in the upper back area. Since my mobility is not amazing, I plan the add shoulder gussets to add more mobility (I plan to ride with it) but I'm concerned about if adding even more leather to the upper back area will make it stick out more and look messy.

From your experience, did adding shoulder gussets make the back panel sit more flush or make it stick out more?

Thank you
 

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Eagledog

A-List Customer
Messages
302
Location
Midwest
The body length looks like it will be too long when you are zipped up sitting on the bike riding.
Also the sleeves could be longer. Body width looks about right. I doubt that gussets will change mobility for reaching the bars.
 

nehex

New in Town
Messages
3
Ask Carrie. That is her job. She can give you the best advice.
of course, it's just that i have a lot of questions, and I don't want to bother her too much. And i wanted more opinions specifically on the back area to ease my mind and help me make a decision. right now I'm debating between the following options:
1) just roll with no gussets, the thinner vicenza leather will provide a bit more mobility.
2) shoulder gusset
3) under pit "football" (or both)
4) full bi-swing
It's hard to decide for my first jacket.
 

MrProper

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,140
Location
Europe
Hey everyone, first comment or post ever so hopefully I do it right.

I'm in the process of ordering a custom Sheene in russet Vicenza leather with Thurston bros, and I got the test jacket in size 38 in front quarter horse hide (I have a 39-40 inch chest, 182 cm or 6ft tall, 77 kg or 170lbs) and I think it fits me well.

My main dillemma which I came here to ask advice about, is the excess of leather in the upper back area. Since my mobility is not amazing, I plan the add shoulder gussets to add more mobility (I plan to ride with it) but I'm concerned about if adding even more leather to the upper back area will make it stick out more and look messy.

From your experience, did adding shoulder gussets make the back panel sit more flush or make it stick out more?

Thank you
This bunching at the back will happen with any leather jacket if it’s long enough and tight enough at the bottom. That’s because it rests on your **** and naturally bunches up. The fabric has to go somewhere, and it can’t go down.
So either make the hem a little wider or the jacket shorter.

I’d definitely make the sleeves a little longer if you plan to ride a motorcycle in it. But I’d do that even if you weren’t. The jacket has zippers on the sleeves, which keep them from falling down too far. But you’ll still have some room in the shoulders, so the sleeves won’t ride up right away when you stretch your arms out.

I can't imagine Aero making the Sheene with footballs, even though I personally think that's the best option in terms of mobility.

The exact same measurements for this jacket in Vicenza instead of CXL will probably feel a bit looser on you, because Vicenza is less restrictive. At least that’s how it is for me.

Here's a picture showing the sleeve rolls on Vicenza leather.

1777470931581.jpeg
 

nehex

New in Town
Messages
3
This bunching at the back will happen with any leather jacket if it’s long enough and tight enough at the bottom. That’s because it rests on your **** and naturally bunches up. The fabric has to go somewhere, and it can’t go down.
So either make the hem a little wider or the jacket shorter.

I’d definitely make the sleeves a little longer if you plan to ride a motorcycle in it. But I’d do that even if you weren’t. The jacket has zippers on the sleeves, which keep them from falling down too far. But you’ll still have some room in the shoulders, so the sleeves won’t ride up right away when you stretch your arms out.

I can't imagine Aero making the Sheene with footballs, even though I personally think that's the best option in terms of mobility.

The exact same measurements for this jacket in Vicenza instead of CXL will probably feel a bit looser on you, because Vicenza is less restrictive. At least that’s how it is for me.

Here's a picture showing the sleeve rolls on Vicenza leather.

View attachment 784225
Thanks for the reply. I'll definitely make the sleeve longer, do you think 1 inch longer/less/more?

Also, It would be great to see an example of footballs on a aero jacket, if you have one.

Thank you
 

MrProper

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,140
Location
Europe
Thanks for the reply. I'll definitely make the sleeve longer, do you think 1 inch longer/less/more?

Also, It would be great to see an example of footballs on a aero jacket, if you have one.

Thank you
I don’t know if Aero even makes any jackets with footballs apart from their military jackets. I only have one, and that’s this shearling one.
IMG_7069.jpeg
 

Eagledog

A-List Customer
Messages
302
Location
Midwest
Sit on your bike with your hands on the controls.
Measure the distance from the position where you would like the cuff to end and the actual place it is.
Then add 1/2" - 3/4" more to that length to make up for natural sleeve shortening that happens as creases form.
Best guess would be 2-2.5" longer.
As Mr Proper said the shearling jackets have the football. And they work great! You could do yoga with them...
 

Eagledog

A-List Customer
Messages
302
Location
Midwest
I don’t know if Aero even makes any jackets with footballs apart from their military jackets. I only have one, and that’s this shearling one.
View attachment 784254
The footballs are essential to enable you to reach everything in the cockpit. It would be difficult to reach overhead controls or close the canopy without them. They are a brilliant design feature. It facilitates free movement in all directions without the leather bunching up when you aren't reaching.
 

TartuWolf

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,536
Location
Tartu, Estonia
Got this absolute tank of a (long) pea coat repro by Buzz Rickson.
Here it is with a ton of layering (long sleeve merino, thick denim shirt, thick wool sweater).
Thoughts on the fit? 1-10?
I can definitely concede that it's not a slim fashion fit, but for a vintage/classic fit without looking grossly oversized?
20260430_144903-COLLAGE~2.jpg 20260430_144936-COLLAGE~2.jpg 20260430_145011-COLLAGE~2.jpg
 

Eagledog

A-List Customer
Messages
302
Location
Midwest
Maybe a little bit bulky. Not bad, not outstanding. The thing that has turned me away from pea coats is they are impossible to keep clean in that color. I sold mine and turn to shearling when temperatures cool down. The mobility and warmth is much better. For a wool jacket I wear Weatherwool in the Lynx pattern. That way I don't have to fuss over it with a lint roller. The Weatherwool also has gigantic useful pockets.
If it is comfortable for you and you do not mind the fussy nature of navy blue wool it certainly looks like it will protect you from the elements.
 

Harris HTM

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,511
Location
In the Depths of R'lyeh
Maybe a little bit bulky. Not bad, not outstanding. The thing that has turned me away from pea coats is they are impossible to keep clean in that color. I sold mine and turn to shearling when temperatures cool down. The mobility and warmth is much better. For a wool jacket I wear Weatherwool in the Lynx pattern. That way I don't have to fuss over it with a lint roller. The Weatherwool also has gigantic useful pockets.
If it is comfortable for you and you do not mind the fussy nature of navy blue wool it certainly looks like it will protect you from the elements.
My issue with shearling coats is rain and snow: really fast it feels like being hanged by a wet labrador.
For really cold weather I turn to either N2 or N3 parkas, or indeed heavy wool peacoat.
 

Eagledog

A-List Customer
Messages
302
Location
Midwest
My issue with shearling coats is rain and snow: really fast it feels like being hanged by a wet labrador.
For really cold weather I turn to either N2 or N3 parkas, or indeed heavy wool peacoat.
When it's warm enough for rain I wear the Dehen 1920 raincoat. Wet snow I reach for a ski jacket. Any drenched jacket is a big problem. It can get super heavy in a hurry. I've been drenched on the motorcycle quite a few times in the past. The biggest problem is getting out of the heavy wet gear. It can be an exhausting ordeal peeling the soggy layers off. Fortunately I don't live in Utah with 600" of snow during the winter. Or Buffalo NY with lake effect snow daily. I can easily work around the dozen snowy days each season in my area.
 

Harris HTM

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,511
Location
In the Depths of R'lyeh
When it's warm enough for rain I wear the Dehen 1920 raincoat. Wet snow I reach for a ski jacket. Any drenched jacket is a big problem. It can get super heavy in a hurry. I've been drenched on the motorcycle quite a few times in the past. The biggest problem is getting out of the heavy wet gear. It can be an exhausting ordeal peeling the soggy layers off. Fortunately I don't live in Utah with 600" of snow during the winter. Or Buffalo NY with lake effect snow daily. I can easily work around the dozen snowy days each season in my area.
Yeah I guess it depends on the climate where you live, here in the Netherlands it rains quite often, really annoying also if you wear glasses!
 

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