50s Indy look a like

I just saw this jacket on the Aero site. It called the Longshoreman, inspired by the jackets longshoreman wore in the 50s. I was struck by the similarity to the Indiana Jones jacket in style. Bigger pockets but same basic design, even has the side cinch straps. Probably you jacket buffs have seen it before but it was new to me. Anyone have one?



fedoralover

I believe they're lined with shearling. I did look at them, but thought they'd be too warm.

shamus said:

I believe they're lined with shearling. I did look at them, but thought they'd be too warm.

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Aero will line them any way you want. I got my Cossack halfbelt with just a cotton twill lining. They also installed an interior breast pocket for me. Check the thread I started on it here. I chose this pattern because it was more 30s inspired.

Cheers!

Always kinda liked that one. reminds of Jimmy Cagney in "White Heat".
You can get them from Aero with different linings. I wouldn't let that deter me from getting one.
Here's a link to another one you might like. Its a little more '50's and a lot more motorcycle, but worth a look.
http://www.lostworldsinc.com/Vintage_Americana_Roadmaster_Horsehide_Jacket.htm

Anyone have an Aero "Longshoreman" jacket?

I kind of like the style- curious if anyone else has one and how they like it?
Need to go watch "On the Waterfront" now!

Aero, Cossack, Bootlegger comments

All-

I happen to own a black Aero Cossack in FQHH and a Bootlegger in mid-weight oil-pull horsehide. Here?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s my $.02 about Aero in general, and these jackets in particular.

I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve been very happy with the customer service I received from Aero.

The construction quality is very good. I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve owned Aero?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s for five years now, and I have yet to lose a button or have to trim a loose thread.

IMO, there are several reasons why you should buy a brown one instead of a black one. First, they help you stand out in a crowd. Second, I believe that brown was the dominant color 50+ years ago, so if you want a retro look, go for brown. Lastly, they get the most compliments (and that?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s good considering that I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m an 40 something, bald, overweight, software engineer.)

If you want to have the greatest amount of movement (without going over-sized) pick a mid-weight hide, a bi-swing back, and don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have the cuffs installed.

With regard to the Cossack vs. the Bootlegger, I find my Bootlegger to be much more wearable than my Cossack. As much as I love the Cossack, the combination of a narrow sleeve and no bi-swing pretty much makes it impossible for me to drive a car with it on (all the poundage I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve packed on lately doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t help either.) It doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have enough give in the back and the sleeves don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t slide up my arm when I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m reaching like the Bootlegger?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s do. The Cossack is fine for walking the dog, but lousy is I need to reach for anything.

With regard to the FQHH break-in issue, IMO, it isn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t that big of a deal. Yes, you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ll need to devote a whole season to breaking it in. But I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m a believer that a little hard work makes you appreciate the result that much more.

As for my next jacket, I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m not sure what I want to buy next. At the moment, I really need to lose some weight. As a reward I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m either going to buy an A-2 (so I can look as cool as Paddy), or a FQHH Highwayman in brown.

Paul Vickerman

PS. I also have a Cheyenne in mid-weight oil-pull steer (an eBay purchase.) The leather is beautiful, and it is very comfortable to wear, but I find the alpaca itchy. I prefer to have jackets with a light lining and I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ll wear something underneath if I want.

Paul,
Welcome to the forum! I hope you'll find the Lounge to be the mother lode of information that I have found it to be, and your first post is ample evidence why I believe that. Thank you.

All I can add in response to your comments regarding the Cossack is that my mid weight HH has started breaking in very well and has softened up much more quickly than I thought it would. I now find it to a very comfortable jacket. while I'll admit that I do experience a slight amount of "ride up" when seated behind the wheel, the sleeves fit very well and the cuffs stay put at my wrists easily and I experience no binding across the back. I guess part of this can be attributed to Amanda paying attention to my fears about not wanting the jacket to be tight across the back and perhaps successfully adding enough to the pattern to eliminate the possibility of this happening, and also to my discovering a way to loosen the waist adjusters enough to give me some more room (I flipped the buckles over and threaded the tab through them so that they run under it). It also may be due to my having a slightly more svelt figure, but I digress. I also agree that not adding the knit windcuffs inside the sleeves will help the sleeves stay down. My Barnstormer has them, and until the knits loosened up, they would ride up above my wrist when reaching, and I'd have to tug them back down into place.

I can also attest to the perception that brown stands out much more. It seems that everyone and his dog has a black jacket, and I'm just one more in the crowd! However the reason I chose it was because I already have several brown jackets and wanted something different. That, and to bolster my image as a 50 something, balding, "bad boy" actor.

The mid weight hide is an excellent choice for anyone not needing a jacket to use while riding a motorcycle. It's still hefty and strong feeling, but it doesn't have that bulletproof feel that the heavy weight front quarter probably has. after all, I don't need to worry about skating down the asphalt on my back after taking a spill!

At any rate, great comments overall, and I look forward to reading more from you in the future as I attempt to lose the few extra pounds that I need to drop too!

Cheers!
Mark

What's the web site address for AERO?

Can someone post the Aero website address or link? Pretty Please?:cry:

Any of you Aero buyers ever nervous about ordering a sight-unseen jacket? They look fantastic and I'd really like to get one but I'd be afraid of getting the sizing wrong for such an expensive item. I think if the sizing is off, the look will not work nearly as well.

Mr. 'H' said:

Any of you Aero buyers ever nervous about ordering a sight-unseen jacket? They look fantastic and I'd really like to get one but I'd be afraid of getting the sizing wrong for such an expensive item. I think if the sizing is off, the look will not work nearly as well.

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I was a bit the first time I ordered from them, but no more than I would have been dealing with any vendor for the first time. Amanda and the crew have been doing this for years and know what questions to ask, but It's vital that the size information that you give them is correct. Also, if you have any concerns about specific fitting issues, (sleeve length, long torso, parasitic twin growing out your back, , etc.) you need to make them aware of this and see what they think. If you don't know your own measurements, you can find a tailor near you who should be able to take them for a small fee, if any.

Finally, a good perusal of the threads here should clue you in to the various issues that Loungers have had dealing with vendors on such things. Read and learn.

Cheers!

Longshoreman

I ordered an Aero Longshoreman 2 years ago. Nice jacket but the standard size was too short for me. So I traded it back in for another jacket.
It took me three jackets from Aero to learn what I have to order.

Still like the design and will try my luck a second time. I ordered a Longshoreman in the FQ horsehide which is on sale. Should take 4 weeks.

Vincence