Beautiful collection of Irvins Windsock! You need to move up here to Scandinavia so you can get more wear out of them
OK, as promised I have made some detail snaps and added some thoughts on the 1940 Pattern Eastman. This is because I have received quite a few PMs from people asking about my jacket, and asking for advice as they are thinking of purchasing one. Rather than send off several PMs about the same thing, I thought I'd post this here for those thinking about picking up a 1940 ELC. Sorry those of you who PMed me have had a wait a little while for this.
I've had the jacket for over a month now and it has been worn over a dozen times (getting chillier here in Norway). It's very much worn in (creased where my body moves) and is very, very comfortable. You'll probably find that the armpit construction (with ventilation holes) is the area where you feel the jacket the most initially, but after half a dozen wearings you'll find this adapts to you and fits perfectly.
In terms of fit, here is some important information. I wear a 40'' shirt and jacket but my Irvin is 42''. This turned out to be the perfect (and I mean perfect) fit for me, the jacket is both comfortable with just a shirt but I have plenty of room to wear a t-shirt, shirt and thick jumper. I nearly went for a 44'' but I am so pleased I didn't as with just a shirt I am certain I would've looked swamped in the thing. This is just my advice, but whatever shirt/dress jacket size you wear go up 2 inches and it should be the best fit.
In terms of length of my Irvin, I am 6' 1'' tall and I had an extra 1 and a half inches added to the length of the sleeves and body. This is more than Eastman's Long sizings which add only an inch to both. For me this extra length is perfect and means the jacket sits around an inch - inch and a half past the bottom of my trouser belt. Remember Irvins were made to be worn with Irvin trousers so they can be short. If you are tallish, not RAF reenacting with Irvin trousers and don't wish the jacket to be too short for everyday wear for goodness sake ask for some extra length. For me the extra inch and a half was just right.
Overall as I have said before I am over the moon about my jacket, everything about it is spot on, and I would heartily recommend a 1940 Pattern Eastman Irvin to anyone wishing to have a great reproduction of the quintessential RAF flying jacket. In all honesty I am so thrilled with it, I would've paid double, it turned out that good.
Here's some detail shots. The flash was used which makes the jacket appear redder than when viewed in natural light.
Oh and by the way, which may interest the chaps here, women go nuts for the Irvin, absolutely completely doolally over it
OK, as promised I have made some detail snaps and added some thoughts on the 1940 Pattern Eastman. This is because I have received quite a few PMs from people asking about my jacket, and asking for advice as they are thinking of purchasing one. Rather than send off several PMs about the same thing, I thought I'd post this here for those thinking about picking up a 1940 ELC. Sorry those of you who PMed me have had a wait a little while for this.
I've had the jacket for over a month now and it has been worn over a dozen times (getting chillier here in Norway). It's very much worn in (creased where my body moves) and is very, very comfortable. You'll probably find that the armpit construction (with ventilation holes) is the area where you feel the jacket the most initially, but after half a dozen wearings you'll find this adapts to you and fits perfectly.
In terms of fit, here is some important information. I wear a 40'' shirt and jacket but my Irvin is 42''. This turned out to be the perfect (and I mean perfect) fit for me, the jacket is both comfortable with just a shirt but I have plenty of room to wear a t-shirt, shirt and thick jumper. I nearly went for a 44'' but I am so pleased I didn't as with just a shirt I am certain I would've looked swamped in the thing. This is just my advice, but whatever shirt/dress jacket size you wear go up 2 inches and it should be the best fit.
In terms of length of my Irvin, I am 6' 1'' tall and I had an extra 1 and a half inches added to the length of the sleeves and body. This is more than Eastman's Long sizings which add only an inch to both. For me this extra length is perfect and means the jacket sits around an inch - inch and a half past the bottom of my trouser belt. Remember Irvins were made to be worn with Irvin trousers so they can be short. If you are tallish, not RAF reenacting with Irvin trousers and don't wish the jacket to be too short for everyday wear for goodness sake ask for some extra length. For me the extra inch and a half was just right.
Overall as I have said before I am over the moon about my jacket, everything about it is spot on, and I would heartily recommend a 1940 Pattern Eastman Irvin to anyone wishing to have a great reproduction of the quintessential RAF flying jacket. In all honesty I am so thrilled with it, I would've paid double, it turned out that good.
Here's some detail shots. The flash was used which makes the jacket appear redder than when viewed in natural light.
Oh and by the way, which may interest the chaps here, women go nuts for the Irvin, absolutely completely doolally over it