What was the road to your fit nirvana? :)

[Marc mndt]

Yesterday while I was trying to find photos of that gigantic Half-belt someone bought in the size the maker recommended, I stumbled upon a thread from 2012, where another member asks for opinions on how his new Highwayman fits, resulting in two pages of replies about how absolutely perfect it is and how it's exactly as intended.

The jacket is not only quite literally 4 sizes too large but also a good 4" too long in both body and sleeves. OP's fingertips are barely sticking out of the cuffs and the hem is nearly covering his hips.
It's just... Could not possibly fit any worse and yet it received just praise without a single comment that the jacket maybe seems a bit large, let alone how he should immediately return this jacket. Someone said it'll look better once it breaks in.

Later on, the member in question luckily sold the jacket but it's really strange how much things have changed and for the better, at that.

If you guys ever see me wearing something that doesn't fit or has strange/poor design choices. Pleas do let me know. Without honest feedback I won't be able to better next time.

 

[Monitor]

If you guys ever see me wearing something that doesn't fit or has strange/poor design choices. Pleas do let me know. Without honest feedback I won't be able to better next time.

I always did my best to be honest, even if it's things that I know only I personally might dislike (but it has to stand out). I never try to push my idea of what a perfectly fitting jacket should look like but if something is entirely off, I won't keep quiet.

 

[red devil]

Yes the forum has evolved a lot since then and it still is, it is really fun to see new members coming in all the time and adding to the discussions in such an interesting way

As an example of this, I really like how the patterns are now discussed in such details with members taking the time to do outlines, circles the areas to focus on, etc.

If you guys ever see me wearing something that doesn't fit or has strange/poor design choices. Pleas do let me know. Without honest feedback I won't be able to better next time.

You can be sure that I will always be honest with you, although I suspect that you will notice way before I do

I was never a perfectionnist when it came to fit as I was always more interested in exploring different designs first. So as long as it felt ok, I was fine. I do notice though that I am much more educated in regards to fit thanks to all the discussions mentionned above

 

[Ayeteael]

"Overall, i would say that the for me the road to fit Nirvana was realizing that there isn't actually such a thing, and as so i should focus on the jackets themselves rather than how they fit me.
If they fit great it's a bonus, if they don't well, i can still find another reason to enjoy them."

This right here from @Carlos840 is some real enlightenment. The journey is the destination.

 

[handymike]

My road has been long and bumpy. I still haven’t arrived. I thought I had it figured out only to learn that I am still off a bit. If the journey is the enjoyment, I should be ecstatic.

 

[Monitor]

Styleforum has changed a lot, too. They became a lot more conventional compared to how things were a few years back, when we'd make fun of one another but now TFL and Styleforum prefered fit - and style preference for that matter - seems to be pretty much the same.

 

[Dphillip]

Had to have a leather jacket when the first Indiana Jones movie came out 40 years ago. It took me a dozen styles and sizes over the years to realize I’m not going to look the same as Harrison Ford. A few years ago I made a visit to the Schott store in NYC and tried on a few styles and sizes. When I slipped on a 641 horse hide size 40, I heard angels singing and a burst of sunlight landed upon me. Couldn’t pull out my credit card fast enough and haven’t taken the jacket off since. I may not look like Harrison but with that jacket on I feel like I am.
Nirvana, I’m there!

 

[red devil]

My road has been long and bumpy. I still haven’t arrived. I thought I had it figured out only to learn that I am still off a bit. If the journey is the enjoyment, I should be ecstatic.

There is no end to the road, no matter if your priority is fit, design, leather type, etc.

 

[Mich486]

Styleforum has changed a lot, too. They became a lot more conventional compared to how things were a few years back, when we'd make fun of one another but now TFL and Styleforum prefered fit - and style preference for that matter - seems to be pretty much the same.

I think the main reason is that the “youngsters” on forums are at least 30years old these days. Those in their 20s don’t do forums anymore.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Yesterday while I was trying to find photos of that gigantic Half-belt someone bought in the size the maker recommended, I stumbled upon a thread from 2012, where another member asks for opinions on how his new Highwayman fits, resulting in two pages of replies about how absolutely perfect it is and how it's exactly as intended.

The jacket is not only quite literally 4 sizes too large but also a good 4" too long in both body and sleeves. OP's fingertips are barely sticking out of the cuffs and the hem is nearly covering his hips.
It's just... Could not possibly fit any worse and yet it received just praise without a single comment that the jacket maybe seems a bit large, let alone how he should immediately return this jacket. Someone said it'll look better once it breaks in.

Later on, the member in question luckily sold the jacket but it's really strange how much things have changed and for the better, at that.

Yes, I think it's interesting how tastes have changed here. It used to be mainly A2's. Utility jackets were often worn large. Jackets are now worn smaller and shorter. I'm sure in 10 years things will look different again. It's not as if we are actually going to arrive at a final destination.

 

[navetsea]

Yesterday while I was trying to find photos of that gigantic Half-belt someone bought in the size the maker recommended, I stumbled upon a thread from 2012, where another member asks for opinions on how his new Highwayman fits, resulting in two pages of replies about how absolutely perfect it is and how it's exactly as intended.

The jacket is not only quite literally 4 sizes too large but also a good 4" too long in both body and sleeves. OP's fingertips are barely sticking out of the cuffs and the hem is nearly covering his hips.
It's just... Could not possibly fit any worse and yet it received just praise without a single comment that the jacket maybe seems a bit large, let alone how he should immediately return this jacket. Someone said it'll look better once it breaks in.

Later on, the member in question luckily sold the jacket but it's really strange how much things have changed and for the better, at that.

We used to sugar coat more before the like system implemented here, if the person in photo looked happy with his new jacket, most likely the comments are all positive, or people finding something positive on the jacket to praise on, if anthing fails we would still say it would look better once broken in or leather jacket looks worst on the first wear or something like that.

 

[navetsea]

I think the main reason is that the “youngsters” on forums are at least 30years old these days. Those in their 20s don’t do forums anymore.

Quoted for thruth.... many forums are dying replaced by Discord or something like that.

 

[navetsea]

Yes, I think it's interesting how tastes have changed here. It used to be mainly A2's. Utility jackets were often worn large. Jackets are now worn smaller and shorter. I'm sure in 10 years things will look different again. It's not as if we are actually going to arrive at a final destination.

I wonder if there is some connection to people growing awareness of body weight and health, some members here went to a drastic new look after losing extra weight, and thus open doors to a more fitted look, and once a member another member can identify with because of similar built and age wearing something trim and works on them they to want to try too.

 

[navetsea]

If you guys ever see me wearing something that doesn't fit or has strange/poor design choices. Pleas do let me know. Without honest feedback I won't be able to better next time.

You get more honest answer when you look super pissed in your jacket photo. Hard to ruin someone's day when they look happy in their new jacket.

 

[Marc mndt]

You get more honest answer when you look super pissed in your jacket photo. Hard to ruin someone's day when they look happy in their new jacket.

That's a good one. I honestly tried but my smile was unstoppable

 

[Benny Holiday]

I asked Aero what size they recommended when I bought my first halfbelt 16 years ago. I went off my chest measurement only. According to my tailor I'm pretty close to a perfect metric size 92 short; if I was 5' 10" instead of 5' 8" I'd be "just right" he said once with a laugh. I tend to stick with the 40 inch chest & I do tend to watch arm length too these days. Other than that I'm blessed with nice average dimensions.

 

[MrProper]

That's a good one. I honestly tried but my smile was unstoppable
View attachment 301242

What an ugly jacket ... but your smile improves it a bit

 

[Carlos840]

That's a good one. I honestly tried but my smile was unstoppable
View attachment 301242

You are the Yang to my Yin!

 

[Seb Lucas]

I wonder if there is some connection to people growing awareness of body weight and health, some members here went to a drastic new look after losing extra weight, and thus open doors to a more fitted look, and once a member another member can identify with because of similar built and age wearing something trim and works on them they to want to try too.

Maybe. My money is on the idea that members came out of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s when clothing cuts were super wide and hideous.

 

[Mich486]

Quoted for thruth.... many forums are dying replaced by Discord or something like that.

Yes and I think it’s partly due to changing habits, partly due evolving technology and partly to the fact that the amount of information available on internet in 2021 is exponentially larger than what it was in 2005, when I think many of the big forums were born.

Forums are places mostly to ask questions but by now most questions have been asked and answered already. Then there is the aspect of sharing your stuff with other aficionados but for that there are bespoke platforms like Instagram etc that didn’t exist 15 years ago.