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New Aero Type III Jean Jacket - Fit advice needed

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15,563
Location
East Central Indiana
I won't be getting dragged in any further beyond this post.

At the end of the day, whilst everyone is entitled to one, all opinions are not equal. Some are informed, some plain ignorant, others deliberately contrarian etc etc

Type 3s when worn well are worn short. Yes, if you want to wear it long and loose you can and nobody can compel you to take on board sound sdvice, but you won't be wearing it well. Do as you please folks. If you want to look like a grandad then go ahead and dress like one! Maybe 'grandad chic' will be the next cool trend ...

Your elite stance certainly doesn't serve you well, but at least you seem consistent...
 

ksozay

One Too Many
Messages
1,071
Location
Seattle
This is how the Type 3 made according to the original pattern (we got to trust Levi’s Vintage Clothing line here) is proposed on the Levi’s site:

6f694f1999b0e4e94dde052040dd47bd.jpg


Everybody than has his own taste in terms of length but the original pattern correctly sized apparently looks like that (the guy clearly isn’t wearing low waisted pants).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

From my perspective, and it isn't worth much, this is a correct "pre-wash" fit. Assuming that both jacket and pants will be washed in the common fashion, there is going to be some tightening up of the sleeves/waist/chest. The length looks right. The billowy fit is what initially looked odd to me.

I have two old Lee 101 denim rider jackets from the 60s. Both are tagged "my size" and both fit tapered enough through the chest/sleeves/waist that I could easily wear as a layer beneath another jacket. The length of the jacket hits me right at my belt. I tend to wear my pants (i.e. waist of jeans) right at my hips. So, not low, not high.
 

TREEMAN

Call Me a Cab
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2,568
Location
USA
I'd bet anything that when it first came out, real bikers made fun of The Wild One, and especially wannabe rebels who aped the look without any understanding of the "true" biker spirit.
Your On !!! What's the bet ???
 

ProteinNerd

My Mail is Forwarded Here
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3,902
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Sydney
My personal belief is that the length of the jacket needs to be proportional, particularly to the rise of the jeans.

I think the issue arises when people want to wear modern lower rise jeans with a historically accurate short jacket, the symmetry is just off, to me anyway.

The jacket should come to the same place slightly below the belt as they used too however with lower rise jeans the belt is now worn lower on the torso, the jacket has to be lengthened to remain in proportion.
 
Messages
17,509
Location
Chicago
My personal belief is that the length of the jacket needs to be proportional, particularly to the rise of the jeans.

I think the issue arises when people want to wear modern lower rise jeans with a historically accurate short jacket, the symmetry is just off, to me anyway.

The jacket should come to the same place slightly below the belt as they used too however with lower rise jeans the belt is now worn lower on the torso, the jacket has to be lengthened to remain in proportion.
^^this!
IMG_9298.GIF
 

Sloan1874

I'll Lock Up
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8,427
Location
Glasgow
Ah, but I've seen people wearing jeans so low on their hips that you'd need to add six inches to the length for a jacket to cover the belt buckle! These people are objectively ridiculous btw, but y'know, each to their own, as nobody really says, or at least thinks, around here.
 

Fonzie

One Too Many
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1,574
Location
Australia
My personal belief is that the length of the jacket needs to be proportional, particularly to the rise of the jeans.

I think the issue arises when people want to wear modern lower rise jeans with a historically accurate short jacket, the symmetry is just off, to me anyway.

The jacket should come to the same place slightly below the belt as they used too however with lower rise jeans the belt is now worn lower on the torso, the jacket has to be lengthened to remain in proportion.

You see, this is how you put your opinion across clearly and without putting down anyone’s personal taste.
Nicely done PN.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Edward

Bartender
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25,081
Location
London, UK
This isn't an argument to win but an opinion to defend. A subtle difference. Not a Type 3 but it's the general gist.

View attachment 113085

Very much the modern fit. Levis and others have definitely lengthened their jackets n recent years, even as they have dropped the waistband (whatever other issues they have, I've found 501s unwearably low waisted since the 90s, ditto all modern Lee styles). Doubtless the two are connected.

I may be wrong, but based on the examples I've seen, I've also always suspected that these jackets got longer with the introduction of the hip-level hand-warmer pockets.

I'd bet anything that when it first came out, real bikers made fun of The Wild One, and especially wannabe rebels who aped the look without any understanding of the "true" biker spirit.

Depends which look (not to mention how you classify "real" bikers; are they the ones who wear colours, or are they the ones that put off new riders by sneering at them for being fake? I've seen a few of those around, sadly.) I'm sure there were many older bikers as looked in askance at some of the younger kids trying to cop Brando's look, though while he was overly clean cut, it wasn't an entirely unseen style on the roads. Arguably more influential, though, in terms of the outlaw lifestylers, were the Beetles, led by Chino (Lee Marvin).

Wild1Life.jpg


iu


iu


Chino was very deliberately based on "Wino" Willie Forkner, leader and founder member of the Boozefighters. While there certainly were bikers who looked similar to Brando (and his look was influential, probably doing more than most to cement the Perfecto look into motorcycling culture), it's obvious that Marvin's look (including the kutte) has had more staying power among one percenter types. It certainly chimed with the early Hells Angels; Sonny Barger, founder of the HA California chapter, was on record saying many times that the Beetles accurately captured the look they were going for in those days. Indeed, legend has it that Barger acquired the striped shirt Marvin wore in the film, and was seen wearing it at many early HA meetings (HAMC being a mere six years old when The Wild One was released in 1953).

This is how the Type 3 made according to the original pattern (we got to trust Levi’s Vintage Clothing line here) is proposed on the Levi’s site:

6f694f1999b0e4e94dde052040dd47bd.jpg


Everybody than has his own taste in terms of length but the original pattern correctly sized apparently looks like that (the guy clearly isn’t wearing low waisted pants).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd be very surprised if that's pre-shrunk. IT's certainly not (individual preferences aside) historically accurate if that's the length it is supposed to end up. Though this does also raise another interesting angle: have they gotten longer by design intent over the years, or is it only because they aren't so commonly made of unshrunk denim any more?

View attachment 113187 That is the way a grand dad in Germany wear his type 3 jacket.

Nice to see one of these in the wild. I love that blue leather.

My personal belief is that the length of the jacket needs to be proportional, particularly to the rise of the jeans.

I think the issue arises when people want to wear modern lower rise jeans with a historically accurate short jacket, the symmetry is just off, to me anyway.

The jacket should come to the same place slightly below the belt as they used too however with lower rise jeans the belt is now worn lower on the torso, the jacket has to be lengthened to remain in proportion.

Seems to me that's what's been happening over time. I can certainly see how those who aren't interested in the vintage look (a more significant proportion of folks in outerwear than anywhere else on the Lounge) would feel more comfortable in a jacket that comes over the belt of modern, low-rise jeans than one which sticks to the original length but leaves a gap. For me, even before I was interested in a vintage look, I think the shorter jackets started to appeal because I never liked a low waist in a jean. Never felt comfortable in them. There used to be a Lee factory in Northern Ireland when I was a teen; 'seconds' where you couldn't find the flaw for half the retail price. Great stuff. Sadly, had one pair and could never wear the damn things because they were just so $%^&ing low. Rise on them must have been ten or eleven inches. Dreadfully uncomfortable.
 

Superfluous

My Mail is Forwarded Here
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3,995
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Missing in action
Based on the title, and my distaste for Type III jackets, I ignored this thread . . . until it exceeded 90 posts, at which point my curiosity was peaked. Some great posts here, and a wonderful debate. I lean towards the pejoratively labeled "grand-dad" school of jacket procurement skillfully articulated by Seb. There is only one correct length for a jacket: the length desired by the owner, that puts a smile on the owner's face and provides the owner with satisfaction when wearing the jacket. All other lengths are either too short or too long. Its that simple. Reminds me of an old George Carlin routine: everyone driving slower than me is an idiot, and everyone driving faster than me is a maniac. The notion that a person should wear a jacket longer or shorter than they personally desire in order to conform to someone else's perception (or "expert opinion") of the "correct" length for the jacket is pure, unmitigated nonsense. Wear what you like. The end.

You will never catch me wearing a jacket that rides the top of my belt, or exposes my entire wrist. I personally do not like the look. More to the point, it looks to me as though the owner purchased the wrong size. Mad love to those that disagree . . . wear what makes you smile, and I will do the same.
 
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Messages
15,563
Location
East Central Indiana
Huh..?? TREEMAN you don't feel lectured? Did you fail to thoroughly read this opinion...or just changed your mind and realized that a statement of personal evaluation is not a lecture.....
...."You will never catch me wearing a jacket that rides the top of my belt, or exposes my entire wrist". I personally do not like the look. More to the point, it looks to me as though the owner purchased the wrong size. Mad love to those that disagree . . . wear what makes you smile, and I will do the same.
 
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scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,178
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
Based on the title, and my distaste for Type III jackets, I ignored this thread . . . until it exceeded 90 posts, at which point my curiosity was peaked. Some great posts here, and a wonderful debate. I lean towards the pejoratively labeled "grand-dad" school of jacket procurement skillfully articulated by Seb. There is only one correct length for a jacket: the length desired by the owner, that puts a smile on the owner's face and provides the owner with satisfaction when wearing the jacket. All other lengths are either too short or too long. Its that simple. Reminds me of an old George Carlin routine: everyone driving slower than me is an idiot, and everyone driving faster than me is a maniac. The notion that a person should wear a jacket longer or shorter than they personally desire in order to confirm to someone else's perception (or "expert opinion") of the "correct" length for the jacket is pure, unmitigated nonsense. Wear what you like. The end.

You will never catch me wearing a jacket that rides the top of my belt, or exposes my entire wrist. I personally do not like the look. More to the point, it looks to me as though the owner purchased the wrong size. Mad love to those that disagree . . . wear what makes you smile, and I will do the same.

I can echo the entire first paragraph. Beautifully put.

The second paragraph, however, I would amend this way: I don't like jackets that ride above my belt line because my tummy gets cold.

Seriously, though, I hate getting a chill up my back. So just over the belt it shall always be. And I don't wear low-rise jeans.
 

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