How is the length of this jacket?

[APD]

Hi everyone. Feel free to comment below. But also please answer the Google poll itself, which includes the relevant photos featuring a new Horween steerhide jacket I had made. Thanks!
http://goo.gl/forms/VrVCLvQ3r2

 

[APD]

Sorry. New, better, poll: http://goo.gl/forms/y3zfUqKhKa

 

[APD]

Thanks for the poll responses I've received. Keep them coming. So far, everyone who's responded thinks that the jacket body is more than half an inch too short. That's no surprise to me. The jacket was made .75" shorter than I asked. I'd like to think it's no big deal. But finding clothes that flatter the short fit is nearly impossible. And judging from the responses so far, that's not all in my head. It really is too short. It's frustrating.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Who is the maker. If it was made that far off of your specs, why not send it back for either a remake or refund?

 

[APD]

That's a great question. The company, which for the moment I'll refrain from mentioning, offered a refund, but has so far refused to make a new jacket. I want to have at least something to wear after waiting 4 damn months for this thing. And I'd lose over $100 on a refund due to the diminished GBP->USD exchange rate anyway. So I'm keeping it until I find a suitable replacement. It's likely to wind up on eBay.

Who is the maker. If it was made that far off of your specs, why not send it back for either a remake or refund?

 

[APD]

The company has said, twice now, that the jacket will eventually 'relax to the perfect length' for me. That strikes me as obviously false. Is it likely that a heavy steerhide jacket will stretch .75" in length? Is it likely it will substantially stretch at all? Is there a safe method of stretching such a jacket? I suspect a crowd-sourced answer to each of these questions is a resounding 'no'. But I figured I'd ask. What do y'all think?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

With such a silly company response, I would definitely get my money back from them and then let the company deal with such an obvious mistake. Why should they get to keep your money, and you stuck with something that you're not satisfied with..??

 

[APD]

It's true that I'm not fully satisfied with the jacket. Honestly, I'm pissed. But what's the alternative? For years, I've been looking for a classic crosszip with the following features and measurements:
- made with no belt
- high arm holes
- high quality heavy leather and hardware
- Shoulders: 18.25"
- Pit-to-pit: 21"
- Sweep: 18.5"
- Arm length: 25.25"
- Body length: 25.25"

The jacket I received meets all but the last criterion. That's frustrating as hell considering Simmonsbilt - the jacket manufacturer I chose - could easily make another jacket to correct their mistake. But they won't. I'd eagerly send it back for a refund if I knew of any other jacket manufacturer on earth that offers a jacket meeting all these criteria. But I don't. Until I find one, I'd much rather have a flawed jacket than no jacket.

 

[Phil4]

APD, Schott could probably meet your requirement with a custom job. I am roughly the same dimensions as you, and own several Schott jackets. My favorite is my early 70s cafe jacket in size 40, it's not cross zip but has a wind flap, otherwise 18.5 shoulders, 22 chest, higher armholes plus footballs, action back. Don't know the exact length but I need 25.5, 26 on the bike to keep it from riding up too much.

Maybe call them and see if they'd do a cross-zip to your specs?

 

[APD]

APD, Schott could probably meet your requirement with a custom job. I am roughly the same dimensions as you, and own several Schott jackets. My favorite is my early 70s cafe jacket in size 40, it's not cross zip but has a wind flap, otherwise 18.5 shoulders, 22 chest, higher armholes plus footballs, action back. Don't know the exact length but I need 25.5, 26 on the bike to keep it from riding up too much.

Maybe call them and see if they'd do a cross-zip to your specs?

Thanks for that response Phil4. Older Schott jackets are pretty killer. I keep my eyes on eBay. Some of the newer jackets fit alright. But the leather and hardware quality is subpar these days. I've contacted Schott about a custom jacket a couple times in the last few years. Each time, they've responded that their back-log of custom orders is so overwhelming that they're not taking any new orders. In other news, it seems I've devised a simple and reasonably safe way to stretch the length of my jacket. So I might be able to keep it after all. I'll post about it when I get the chance.

 

[Cooperson]

I'd be very surprised if the jacket gained length, in my experience it's more likely to loose 1/2" as creases form.

 

[Phil4]

Thanks for that response Phil4. Older Schott jackets are pretty killer. I keep my eyes on eBay. Some of the newer jackets fit alright. But the leather and hardware quality is subpar these days. I've contacted Schott about a custom jacket a couple times in the last few years. Each time, they've responded that their back-log of custom orders is so overwhelming that they're not taking any new orders. In other news, it seems I've devised a simple and reasonably safe way to stretch the length of my jacket. So I might be able to keep it after all. I'll post about it when I get the chance.

Yes, the new ones don't have the same quality zippers -- those old USA made Talons. I have decent YKKs on one and a "Talon" that's OK on a newer, Asian market Schott. It's too bad that they are jammed with custom orders and can't help you. I've had mixed results calling them about vintage stuff. Also, a couple of the Schotts I have are special market items, rare, and Schott couldn't tell me much about them. Still, my new horsehide Perfecto is quite good quality.

Please do post more about the stretching technique. I've stretched shoes and shrunk jackets in the past. Never figured out how to lengthen one. That would be a cool capability to have.