Hi all.. just picked up an immaculate secondhand Eastman Luftwaffe jacket, in black. It must be from some time ago, as I see the new ones all have Ostmann rather than Luftwaffe, but no matter. It doesn't appear that the previous owner ever wore it.
All the political ramifications of this sartorial source aside (I'm not a right-wing Nazi support for the record), this is one well-tailored article of clothing. I was after a vintage-styled jacket that was warm enough to wear during the colder months but not look overtly military. As this style was based on the cyclist jackets available in France at the time, it fit the bill.
In the past I hesitated buying one new, as I'm 5'11'' and 85kg and usually wear a 44 long - however this fits like it was made for me. I've had other 44 length jackets that I've had to send back (such as an A-2) as they looked a bit silly, but this is perfect. Perhaps it has to do with the wide-to-narrow tailoring.
The leather is so smooth that initially I had a hard time believing it was actually leather! This is not a lot of grain. Assuming it is horse, based on ELC's page for the new Ostmann jacket. It is heavier than my horse ELC A-2 Rough Wear.
I got to try it out during a late afternoon trip with the family to insanely-packed Christmas market at Stratford-Upon-Avon. It was about 7C, and I was perfectly fine with nothing but a vest and a light jumper underneath.
The armyscyes are high as you would expect on a vintage-styled jacket, and raising my arms and doing other such tasks doesn't result in the jacket shoulders rising up to my ears. It doesn't feel stiff or confining at all.
It does look a bit like a biker jacket (?!) to those unfamiliar with the styling - as it is black and has the zipps on the sleeves - I've had a few people ask me if I went out and bought a bike, but it doesn't scream Third Reich.
All the political ramifications of this sartorial source aside (I'm not a right-wing Nazi support for the record), this is one well-tailored article of clothing. I was after a vintage-styled jacket that was warm enough to wear during the colder months but not look overtly military. As this style was based on the cyclist jackets available in France at the time, it fit the bill.
In the past I hesitated buying one new, as I'm 5'11'' and 85kg and usually wear a 44 long - however this fits like it was made for me. I've had other 44 length jackets that I've had to send back (such as an A-2) as they looked a bit silly, but this is perfect. Perhaps it has to do with the wide-to-narrow tailoring.
The leather is so smooth that initially I had a hard time believing it was actually leather! This is not a lot of grain. Assuming it is horse, based on ELC's page for the new Ostmann jacket. It is heavier than my horse ELC A-2 Rough Wear.
I got to try it out during a late afternoon trip with the family to insanely-packed Christmas market at Stratford-Upon-Avon. It was about 7C, and I was perfectly fine with nothing but a vest and a light jumper underneath.
The armyscyes are high as you would expect on a vintage-styled jacket, and raising my arms and doing other such tasks doesn't result in the jacket shoulders rising up to my ears. It doesn't feel stiff or confining at all.
It does look a bit like a biker jacket (?!) to those unfamiliar with the styling - as it is black and has the zipps on the sleeves - I've had a few people ask me if I went out and bought a bike, but it doesn't scream Third Reich.