London winter: how warm a leather?

[Sir Jacket]

Loungers: rather belatedly, I'm trying to decide on a leather jacket to order that will keep me toasty through the winter in London. I only recently seem to have conceded to myself that ordinary leathers are not actually very warm; no wonder I feel warmer in my peacoat!

My question is what leather jacket or coat London loungers have found suitable for the season? Shearlings? Blanket-lined FQHH? Mouton collars?

What wasn't warm enough? What was too warm?

I am drawn to, for example, a pre-war Irvin but note that you can't wear the sheephide in the rain. Other considerations include an Aero Thunderbay and a mouton-collared halfbelt. I do like the idea of something I can just pull over another layer – a shirt.

Of course, who knows how long you'll need a layer in winter at all the way the weather is heading.

 

[Carlos840]

This is such a personal matter, i dont think we can be much help.

I tend to run very warm, so for me a regular leather jacket with cotton lining is all i need.
Depending on the weather i will wear cotton, merino or cashmere jumper underneath.

A jacket with a wool tartan linnin would be nice for freezing weather, but i think shearling would be overkill, especially if you use the tube to commute. I have a shearling jacket and haven't been able to wear it in years, its just not cold enough.

Saying that, some London loungers use shearling. It would kill me!

Also, climate warming will actually cool Europe down, so who knows...

 

[Sloan1874]

Got to say, I've never worn anything warmer in London than my FQHH LHB with a standard wool lining and just layered jumpers under it. Up here, however, it's shearling all the way now...

 

[Justhandguns]

With the warming of the globe, I don't think you need anything like an Irvine or B-3 in London. I was still wearing my J-100 yesterday..... You certainly do not want to have a sauna every time you go in to the Tube. For colder days, I can still bear it with my Vanson (Comp leather + fleece lining). I would think an FQHH with wool lining would be good enough. A peacoat for sure is warmer because most leather jackets do not have thick linings inside the sleeves, you can loose a lot of heat from your arms while you body core is warm.

 

[Peter Bowden]

I find a moleskin lining to be a good compromise between cotton and alpaca when teamed with a heavy weight hide .I have alpaca lined jackets and find them too warm once I have walked a couple of miles in temperatures much over 50F.Really nice tho' if it is colder than that and with a significant wind chill.Moleskin is really nice to the touch and feels cosy straight away especially when you pull the arms on.I live about 50 miles from London so the temperatures are pretty much the same.Also worth considering a corduroy lining.Mouton collars are wonderful too but best kept dry if you can....

 

[Benproof]

My.....if you haven't figured it out by now, it ain't happening period

Telling myself that more than anything. I think a straight forward steerhide with tartan cotton is fine...until stepping inside an overcooked central heating building and it becomes unbearable. I'm constantly putting on/putting off. On the motorcycle, even layering under triple thermal layers and 1.2mm cowhide can be too cold for a single breasted opening with the icy wind gushing in. Hit rain and it's cold but hey ho that's life on the road. The Furygan thermal lined vests are great for doubling warmth with little compromise on arm movements.

Generally streetwear, alpaca lining and nubuck lining with storm cuffs and the tab covered standing collar works best for winter walks. I'm not a fan of leather mall jackets and the overdressed look. It makes a huge difference wearing tight flannel lined or tweed, as well as double breasted instead of single. Orchard USA) raw buffalo hide is completely overkill - it's like a furnace. I think it was designed for some kind of New York snowstorm or something which we don't see here. Schott cowhide is as good as Aero for warmth; Lewis Leathers - great for looks although pretty useless for warmth. The mouton collar thing isn't anymore effective than a storm collar trapping air static. They're great although women can't stop eyeing them competitively.

 

[bn1966]

D-1 shearling works for me

 

[Sir Jacket]

Hm, this partly just an excuse to get a mouton collar, because after trying on the M-422A at Real McCoys I decided I really want one.

What more convincing argument against global warming do we need than that it risks rendering leather jackets extinct!

 

[willyto]

I was in London recently and at maximum temperature of 7ºC I was only wearing an undershirt, a shirt and a vintage leather jacket with tartan wool liner but I tend to run very warm. Didn't need anything else. This is the liner:

When I was in Prague last December I was wearing only an Aero Leather A-1 with cotton liner with an undershirt and a henley underneath, basicaly what I'm wearing on my avatar with the jacket over. When I start walking I get very very warm.

 

[Justhandguns]

Hm, this partly just an excuse to get a mouton collar, because after trying on the M-422A at Real McCoys I decided I really want one.

What more convincing argument against global warming do we need than that it risks rendering leather jackets extinct!

We are still fine in the UK, imagine people in the sub-tropics.... I know a few fellow jacket collectors in Hong Kong who only got a few days each year to show-off their collections.

 

[Carlos840]

We are still fine in the UK, imagine people in the sub-tropics.... I know a few fellow jacket collectors in Hong Kong who only got a few days each year to show-off their collections.

All the current research points towards Europe actually getting cooler.
Climate warming would affect the gulfstream, meaning no more warm air for us.

Jacket away my european friends!

 

[galopede]

I'm just hoping we get a few weeks of decent cold weather so I can wear my Gloverall duffel coat! Had it for years but hardly worn it as it is so warm!

Gareth

 

[Sir Jacket]

We are still fine in the UK, imagine people in the sub-tropics.... I know a few fellow jacket collectors in Hong Kong who only got a few days each year to show-off their collections.

This is what we should be telling the UN.

 

[bn1966]

Today the ELC Irvin type works for me

 

[Edward]

All very much depends on the individual. In the recent, unseasonably mild, weather we've had in London, I was wearing leather with a satin or cotton lining. Today, I'm wearing an N3B, but I would be as good in shearling. The tube is the tube; no matter what you wear, it'll be too hot down there, year round.