Unlined leather jackets....info request

[theeggcarton]

Hi all....interested in any impressions of those of you who have worn/own unlined leather jackets? I think that historically many early jackets were unlined...but it seems that very few repros are made unlined.
I am looking at a cafe racer/J-100 that's unlined (hh) and wonder if there are issues with unlined jackets I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance

 

[Carlos840]

From what i have heard, they are hard to put on and off, as the unlined leather is very grippy...
Also the underside of the leather absorbs sweat and humidity a lot, so it might get messy fast if you live in a hot climate and tend to sweat!

 

[Dr H]

My LVC Menlo Cossack (in goatskin) is unlined.
I've not had any problems with it being difficult to put on/take off - quite the reverse.

 

[handymike]

Dr H, that goat Menlo is beautiful!
I bought one, but it wasn't the goat. I eventually sold it on. If I could find one like yours, I'd snap it up in a second.

 

[Dr H]

Thanks HM. John Lever has an identical one, which sold me on it.
I have also bought/sold the steer version - just not the same vibe.

 

[ykurtz]

I have a jacket that is black on the outside and brown rough out (suede) on the inside with no liner. Very comfortable and not difficult to take on/off, etc. It's not a tight fitting jacket, so that helps. I like it; I use it like a windbreaker.

 

[rocketeer]

I wear a rough leather welding jacket in the summer for protection from hot swarf in an engineering environment. Yes it looks like suede in or out. Often I will not wear a shirt underneath it and when nice and sweaty can be difficult to get off. Last summer I bought a more expensive lined version. Bliss
At a militaria show a few years back I tried on an unlined original A2 on and really strained the arm seams:eeek: Nearly ended up buying it if it had torn!

 

[theeggcarton]

Thanks all for the info....jacket in question is Shinki hh. Unfortunately no opportunity to "try before buy" so I'd definitely be taking a risk on wether I liked it unlined.

 

[wanz]

I had an unlined Schott that I sold on. The grip described above was definitely a negative. I wouldn't buy one again.

 

[technovox]

I have a Schott "Restoration Hardware" cafe racer that is unlined. I absolutely love everything about the jacket- the leather and the cut, the color, the patina...everything except for the no lining part. It tends to grip the arms as I put it on and I find that naked leather against the skin doesn't breathe as well. I'm taking it to a tailor to get it lined. I would never order a jacket without a lining.

 

[theeggcarton]

technovox...any info on how difficult it is to line an unlined jacket? Is this a simple and (relatively) inexpensive or a major undertaking?

Thanks
Greg

 

[navetsea]

I think it is very different from one hide to the next, I never see horse suede, but cow has a rough textured suede, I can see how it could make the jacket feel uncomfortable to put on and off, while my experience with goat leather, it has a velvet like suede, no problem at all to be used as unlined jacket.
my jacket has removable liner, and the liner of its sleeve only goes 3/4 way of the jacket sleeve length, so my forearm always in direct contact with the suede, I don't have any problem at all, since this jacket is very snug on me, whenever I want to wear something a little bit thick then I remove the liner, and wear just the leather shell on top of my sweater for example.

If I ever buy an unlined jacket, then I will go to a tailor to make me several bolero kind of cardigan in black fabric, and I will leave it in the jacket to serve as a liner, washable liner.

 

[technovox]

technovox...any info on how difficult it is to line an unlined jacket? Is this a simple and (relatively) inexpensive or a major undertaking?

Thanks
Greg

I thought it would be easy with this one. But, because there is no lining on which to base a pattern, apparently the tailor will have to make up a pattern from scratch. And consequently that will double the cost.
So the lesson is: if there is already a lining it can be relatively inexpensive...no lining- figure twice the cost.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Years back I had an unlined jacket lined inexpensively by using a quality flannel shirt as the liner. My Vietnamese tailor was able to easily adapt the shirt (which was larger than the liner needed to be) and stitch it inside. Looked great. No pattern needed.

 

[tropicalbob]

I had a CR years ago without a liner and found it really annoying to the point where I gave it away. What cracks me up about the Restoration Hardware deal was that they were charging an exorbitant sum and giving the customers less. This, I think, is still true of many mall stores and their "unconstructed" jackets. Just another way to get you to pay more at less cost to them.

 

[Bunyip]

I have a jacket that is black on the outside and brown rough out (suede) on the inside with no liner. Very comfortable and not difficult to take on/off, etc. It's not a tight fitting jacket, so that helps. I like it; I use it like a windbreaker.

What jacket is that Ykurtz? I like the Langlitz Timberline, like a zip off pullover. I'm quite interested in unlined jackets, like the j100 or like without lining. Apparently your sweat cools you down. I imagine it would get pretty salty pretty quickly in certain climates...

 

[technovox]

What cracks me up about the Restoration Hardware deal was that they were charging an exorbitant sum and giving the customers less.

I thought very much the same thing about the Restoration Hardware cafe racer. But then I saw one on ebay at a fraction of the original retail price and won the bid. I was really glad I got it. It's one of the most beautiful cafe racers I've ever owned. The cowhide is extremely soft and supple and has a gorgeous look. And I love the cut of the jacket- the arms are longer than most Schotts I've owned, and I especially like that Buco style back. It fits me perfectly. Way better than any of the vintage Schotts. If it wasn't such an amazing jacket, I wouldn't even bother getting it lined. But to me, it's totally worth it.
I'll post some pics and a write up once I get it lined.

 

[Bunyip]

I had a CR years ago without a liner and found it really annoying to the point where I gave it away. What cracks me up about the Restoration Hardware deal was that they were charging an exorbitant sum and giving the customers less. This, I think, is still true of many mall stores and their "unconstructed" jackets. Just another way to get you to pay more at less cost to them.

Langlitz do an unlined cafe racer called the K-9. $500usd dearer than a lined cascade or crescent. They said the pattern is much harder to do due to the way the seams etc have to be done so it's comfy. Looks cool, but far too dear for me.

 

[tropicalbob]

Technovox -- I think I know exactly what you mean: some things are just worth the extra investment. I look forward to seeing it. What about Seb's idea?

 

[technovox]

Technovox -- I think I know exactly what you mean: some things are just worth the extra investment. I look forward to seeing it. What about Seb's idea?

I actually found a tailor down in LA who lined another Schott/RH jacket and has given me a very reasonable quote. And I'll be down that way soon, so I'll just drop it off.