What's your grail jacket?

[Rakusak]

View attachment IMG_2925.jpg
My grail jacket: Y2 KB-140. Sadly I got a size 40 and its a bit snug. Will post for sale, as I need a size 42.

 

[ABCD]

Did you get to hang out with him at all? As such prolific collectors of leather jackets, I'm sure you guys had a great time chatting together.

I didn't get to hang out with him like you did, I met him at the Langlitz store in Tokyo where he told me everything about the history of Langslitz. My girlfriend and I visted the Black Sign Main Lodge in Nagoya a couple of days before but he wasn't there at that time.

I'm having Thedi make me a similar custom double rider based on the one with the brown fur collar you had made.

That's so cool, I really love the unique shape of the d-pocket. Here's the link to my short review of the jacket...
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/post-thedi-leather-jacket-photos-here.99138/post-2880911

 

[TacoBael]

I didn't get to hang out with him like you did, I met him at the Langlitz store in Tokyo where he told me everything about the history of Langslitz. My girlfriend and I visted the Black Sign Main Lodge in Nagoya a couple of days before but he wasn't there at that time.


That's so cool, I really love the unique shape of the d-pocket. Here's the link to my short review of the jacket...
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/post-thedi-leather-jacket-photos-here.99138/post-2880911

Thanks for sharing, that offered some great detail and perspective.

Having had the jacket for a while now, is there anything you might alter or you think would work better than what you ended up with? After I get my measurements I will be solidifying the details with him.

So far I was going to put in a lighter lining, as I live in San Diego, and was thinking of putting a zipper on the d-pocket closure instead of the snap button. Maybe a few spots or something on the epaulets.

 

[TartuWolf]

View attachment 745103
My grail jacket: Y2 KB-140. Sadly I got a size 40 and its a bit snug. Will post for sale, as I need a size 42.

Great choice for a grail. Had one for a bit in my size, truly a piece of leather art, but it was a bit too much for me despite a decent fit.

 

[mrpekmen69]

For me it was this jacket:

It does everything i want from a jacket and is the only jacket i want to wear.
I love the visual details and i think the combo of moose body and horse arms is the most comfortable thing i have worn.

Since receiving this Leathertogs i have not wanted to buy another jacket, actually that's a lie, i have thought about getting the LW version of the Death's head cascade, but i know this would be a collector move as i don't like to wear Cafe Racers, i just love the Death's head design.

Sorry out of topic, how do you post these pictures ? I tried to attach but doesn't show like yours. New here

 

[mrpekmen69]

1940s sukajan

 

[Carlos840]

Sorry out of topic, how do you post these pictures ? I tried to attach but doesn't show like yours. New here

I upload the pics on Imgur and copy past the BBcode.

 

[ABCD]

Having had the jacket for a while now, is there anything you might alter or you think would work better than what you ended up with?

Good question. Theodoros is a rider himself and you can tell this jacket was designed for riding. The sleeves are slightly rotated forwards, being in their natural position when you have your hands on the handlebar. This makes the jacket really comfortable for riding, but slightly less comfortable when wearing it casually. This is ok if you're not looking for one jacket that does it all, but if you want the jacket to be more versatile, lower/deeper armholes and wider upper sleeves would be something to consider.

The easiest way to achieve this is by sizing up. But whether or not you actually need to size up depends on your physique.

I have a 43"chest which means I'm in between an American size 42 and 44. In Thedi sizing I'm in between size L and XL. My Thedi jacket is a size L so sizing up would definitely provide more comfort in the arms and chest but since I have an athletic build, size XL will probably be too big at the waistline.

Long story short, I wouldn't alter anything if I had to re-order the jacket today but it is good to know that this is a riding pattern and that you might need to size up for more comfort.

So far I was going to put in a lighter lining, as I live in San Diego, and was thinking of putting a zipper on the d-pocket closure instead of the snap ****on. Maybe a few spots or something on the epaulets.

This is quite a heavy and substantial jacket, not something I'd see myself wearing in warmer climates. You could consider getting the jacket in a different hide like goatskin which will be easier to wear all year through.

I find the snap closure on the D pocket quite useful as I can easily open and close it while wearing gloves.

Great idea to add some spots to the epaulets, that will compliment the jacket's overall 50s style.

@Peacoat why can't we write button (B_U_T_T_O_N) anymore? That's ridiculous. Why do we need such a filter anyways?

 

[Peacoat]

Good question. Theodoros is a rider himself and you can tell this jacket was designed for riding. The sleeves are slightly rotated forwards, being in their natural position when you have your hands on the handlebar. This makes the jacket really comfortable for riding, but slightly less comfortable when wearing it casually. This is ok if you're not looking for one jacket that does it all, but if you want the jacket to be more versatile, lower/deeper armholes and wider upper sleeves would be something to consider.

The easiest way to achieve this is by sizing up. But whether or not you actually need to size up depends on your physique.

I have a 43"chest which means I'm in between an American size 42 and 44. In Thedi sizing I'm in between size L and XL. My Thedi jacket is a size L so sizing up would definitely provide more comfort in the arms and chest but since I have an athletic build, size XL will probably be too big at the waistline.

Long story short, I wouldn't alter anything if I had to re-order the jacket today but it is good to know that this is a riding pattern and that you might need to size up for more comfort.

This is quite a heavy and substantial jacket, not something I'd see myself wearing in warmer climates. You could consider getting the jacket in a different hide like goatskin which will be easier to wear all year through.

I find the snap closure on the D pocket quite useful as I can easily open and close it while wearing gloves.

Great idea to add some spots to the epaulets, that will compliment the jacket's overall 50s style.

@Peacoat why can't we write ****on (B_U_T_T_O_N) anymore? That's ridiculous. Why do we need such a filter anyways?

Agreed.

Evidently the filter was installed in an "upgrade" the last week or so.

I see that Nathan is working on it. Will we have complete resolution? I don't know.

 

[Edward]

Interesting thought. I'm not sure I could commit to a single jacket as just "the one", unless I greatly restricted the rest of my wardrobe in colour and tone. That said, the closest is probably the jacket I'll buy next, hopefully to be ordered in Spring of 2026. My most flexible jacket of them all has always been my Aero Bootlegger in Cordovan. Bought new in the anything goes days in 2010, modified with button cuffs, tartan liner, throat latch, and two inner pockets. Cordovan FQHH. While I've shifted a lot of weight in the last couple of years, I don't think it'll ever fit me again. So the grail jacket is going to be the MkII of the Marlowe Bootlegger. Same pattern again, but sized up to suit how my shoulders have spread in the last decade. Cordovan FQHH again, and hopefully I'll be able to have button cuffs again. I won't bother with the throat latch this time - it was a cute detail, but never used. I'm also going to go with a cotton lining as less prone to mothing. For the sleeves, cotton also. I didn't specify this in 2010, and they came with moleskin. Which is lovely, but surprisingly warm ,such that I'd prefer to leave that for a jacket I wanted to have as more of a colder weather item (it would be excellent for one of the work coats). I'd still want an inner pocket, but only one this time, having experience that two were overkill, largely due to the sheer practicality of that big, deep, exterior ****** pocket that comes as standard.

Of all my leathers, the combination of the Bootlegger design and the Cordovan colour (which works equally well with blacks / greys / navies as it does earthtones) meant it has been my most wearable leather of all of them, worn with everything from jeans to collar and tie with waistcoat and trousers, any sort of cap and fedoras. (That's it back in a shoot I had done in 2011 in my avatar.) There are other jackets I have my eye on that in some context will stand out more or that I might prefer on any given day, but nothing else has come close for me to having the universality of my Bootlegger.

 

[Yango]

I realize there's a thread already for the jacket that got away, but this one's slightly different. What's your grail jacket? By that, I mean the one jacket that would suddenly satisfy your appetite for acquisition and be the leather jacket for the rest of your days? The one that tells you that your days of snooping through the TFL classifieds, eBay, VLJ, etc. are through and have come to a close? The one that emphatically whispers (or yells) that there can be no better jacket?

I'm not sure there is one for me, though a Rainbow Country Ponyboy (@Sagar85) comes pretty close. But for you?

Well, I think you've pretty much described EVERYBODY’s next jacket.

But of course, anyone with a bit of experience, knows that there are no fairytale endings here. The best is only the best until the next best thing comes along.