Any new Christmas gifts?

[ButteMT61]

Did anyone get any new gear for Xmas?

 

[The Good]

I did; a Raiders of the Lost Ark jacket by Wested, their goatskin model:

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy208/TheAntiquarian/Photoon2011-12-27at1629.jpg


http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy208/TheAntiquarian/Photoon2011-12-27at16292.jpg


http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy208/TheAntiquarian/Photoon2011-12-27at16302.jpg


http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy208/TheAntiquarian/Photoon2011-12-27at16312.jpg


http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy208/TheAntiquarian/Photoon2011-12-27at16322.jpg


Does it fit OK? I want some opinions on the fit, if the general consensus is that it doesn't, I'll try to exchange it. It's size 40r, and I wear a 39r suit jacket.

 

[mrc]

My wife surprised me with this beautiful, completely custom, cafe' racer for Christmas! I couldn't be more happy. This is the type of cafe' racer that I've always dreamed of having and, after showing my wife an amalgamation of about four cafe' racers in the Rin Tanaka books, she designed this for me. I'm the luckiest husband in the world!

 

[The Good]

Congratulations Mrc, that's a nice jacket! On another note, the Isle of Man's flag reminded me of Sicily's at a first glance; the three-legged triskelion symbol. All of the patches on the jacket have great detail.

 

[HighandDry]

Mrc, very nice. Did Insurrection do it?

JB, from the pics, the jacket seems to be pretty baggy to me.

 

[mrc]

Mrc, very nice. Did Insurrection do it?

Thanks H&D! Yes, the jacket is Insurrection's house brand, a Pacific Cycle Leathers jacket, that is patterned after a late-'60s Brimaco cafe' racer. The zippers are YKK (with a double-ended main zipper, just like the vintage Brimaco jackets!). Carrie, bless her heart, did the stripes on the sleeves as well as the patches, and now I have the jacket that I've always wanted. The cowhide on these jackets is amazing. It's at least 3.0 oz., but softer and more supple that Vanson's competition weight cowhide. I've tried on both this style jacket and the longer Vanson Comet jackets that Insurrection carries, and I was surprised that I like Insurrection's jackets even more than Vanson's jackets. The fit is just better on me.

 

[Equality 7-2521]

Mrc, very nice. Did Insurrection do it?

JB, from the pics, the jacket seems to be pretty baggy to me.

I'm by no means an expert but I would agree with this. The sleeve length looks good but the body seems a bit large on you.

 

[CeeDee]

My wife surprised me with this beautiful, completely custom, cafe' racer for Christmas! I couldn't be more happy. This is the type of cafe' racer that I've always dreamed of having and, after showing my wife an amalgamation of about four cafe' racers in the Rin Tanaka books, she designed this for me. I'm the luckiest husband in the world!

Very nice cafe' racer! You are a lucky guy to have a wife who will get you a jacket like that for Christmas.

 

[aswatland]

The jacket appears to be one size too large. It seems to droop off the shoulders. The sleeves are a little long as is the body of the jacket.

 

[The Good]

Well, I am a bit underweight (and I do have small shoulders), and I'm currently trying to work out (bulk up about five or ten pounds). Also, taking into consideration that leather shrinks a bit in rain, would it be a bad idea to keep the jacket? This is something I plan on wearing for decades if it lasts, I suppose I can "grow into it."

 

[ButteMT61]

My 2¢. Get one that fits.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I agree with ButteMT61. It's a Wested - from personal experience, it is unlikely to last for decades, so it's even more important you get one that fits. Easier to change a jacket than rebuild your body. Maybe find a short jacket you like and measure it so you can give Peter better sizing.

 

[kimhellen88]

Congratulations Mrc, that's a nice jacket!

 

[Philalethes]

Also, taking into consideration that leather shrinks a bit in rain...

Is it true that leather shrinks in rain?

I think that leather only shrinks after it is wet if it is placed near a heat source when drying.