Oddly enough, my first leather jacket purchase was a leather sport coat, western style. This would have been the early mid 70's. Don't remember much about it, and it is long gone. My next purchase was a Schott Bros. A-2. Size M, bought off the rack at a Dillard's Dept. Store. Bought it when I bought my first airplane, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. About 1978. The jacket was great, very well made, and heavy! I ended up giving it to a family member many years later, who then gave it away.
Next was a stop at a local Wilson's Leather Store. Bought a "Bomber" jacket, size L. It came with removable Thinsulate lining. The price was $99 (mid 80's). This jacket is still in my closet today, and has literally traveled around the world with me. It is the warmest of all of my leather coats. It is also a bit oversized (L) based on the standards here, but at the time of purchase it seemed to be just right. A loose fit, oversized thru the shoulders. But extremely durable. And, I am not embarrassed to wear it, not at all.
My closet is adorned with jackets from the following:
Cockpit USA (leather & nylon)
U.S. Authentic (leather)
Gibson & Barnes (leather)
Wings USA (leather)
Alpha (leather / nylon / nomex)
Valley Apparel (nomex)
Wilson's (leather)
The people at Leather Cult have been extremely responsive in replying to every question sent to them. How many manufacturers can make that claim? Not that I plan to make a purchase from them, but my curiosity lead me to ask questions about what they can (and can't) do.
No, they are not for everyone. But they certainly are for a segment of the population who perhaps is looking for that bargain basement price on clothing articles. And, clientele not obsessed with the same criteria that most of us are possessed by.
This leather coat thing has reached "near sickness" level with me...just ask my wife!
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