Avoid the pattern entirely. I've only seen 1 or 2 ever posted here that look (to my eye mind you) good. I think the A-1 somehow is better. Put that money toward something that accentuates your physique, rather than burying under a bunch of folded leather. I'm sure I'll get blasted for saying it but I've never understood the fascination with this pattern. It simply is not flattering toward the male physique. It's actually quite the opposite. Zero taper, narrow shoulders and ballooned waist, compliments of huge patch pockets and an elastic waist. Its hard for me to get the appeal.
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Aero Real Deal A2 fit pic
- Thread starter Bigbenbs
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Bigbenbs
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I've always been attracted to a certain extent by the "casualness" of the design. But it's true, I guess, now that I think about it, that it's generally a less flattering design. Perhaps that's why it's sort of know as a "Dad" jacket (what my wife called it - also, I am a dad, so that would literally be an accurate descriptor of whatever jacket I wear). But if men tend to have less flatterable forms as they age, then a less form fitting jacket like the A2 would naturally become more appealing. But I also know a lot of trimmer guys who love them too. So I'd be interested to hear the counter arguments.
ProteinNerd
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I agree with @ton312 I personally have never understood the love of the design.
Elastic waist that causes the stomach area to balloon out, huge patch pockets that draw further attention to the stomach....it’s like someone purposefully designed it to NOT flatter the average male physique....
Elastic waist that causes the stomach area to balloon out, huge patch pockets that draw further attention to the stomach....it’s like someone purposefully designed it to NOT flatter the average male physique....
El Marro
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I have to agree with pretty much everything Ton and PN said about the cut of the A2, and yet I still like them for some reason.
Yours looks good to me in every photo except the last one where it looks like it is pulling up in the rear causing the leather to balloon out. I have an A2 just like this! It looks fine if you pull the back down when you put it on, but after a minute or two of moving around naturally it rides up on its own and creates this balloon effect. For that simple reason alone I never wear that jacket. A shame because it is made from some of the most beautiful grainy russet horsehide I have ever seen. For that reason I hold onto it and hope that someday I will come to like the way it fits. It’s been two years now and I still don’t like it...
I would recommend that you move this one along. One thing I have found to be true, both from my own experience and reading that of others on the lounge, is that your first impression of a jacket is not going to change with time. If you have doubts about the fit, the feel, or the look of a jacket the first time you put it on then they will stick with you.
Yours looks good to me in every photo except the last one where it looks like it is pulling up in the rear causing the leather to balloon out. I have an A2 just like this! It looks fine if you pull the back down when you put it on, but after a minute or two of moving around naturally it rides up on its own and creates this balloon effect. For that simple reason alone I never wear that jacket. A shame because it is made from some of the most beautiful grainy russet horsehide I have ever seen. For that reason I hold onto it and hope that someday I will come to like the way it fits. It’s been two years now and I still don’t like it...
I would recommend that you move this one along. One thing I have found to be true, both from my own experience and reading that of others on the lounge, is that your first impression of a jacket is not going to change with time. If you have doubts about the fit, the feel, or the look of a jacket the first time you put it on then they will stick with you.
Dont ever confuse being a dad with being someone who has forgotten what it means to take care of them self and become anything less than your younger self. I'm 45, been a father for 8 years and am in the best shape of my life. Including my years as an NCAA DI athlete. If wearing a "dad" jacket is ok with you, might I suggest some matching trousers?
Awkward male "front butt" not included.
I think A2's are pretty hard to get right and for every 10 photos I see only about 5 or 6 look good to me. It's not always what you think that works - a roomy one can suit a trimmer man and visa versa, but much depends on the cut and the pattern and some degree of luck.
The one you posted looks slightly off but with wear will probably look good if slightly roomy.
The one you posted looks slightly off but with wear will probably look good if slightly roomy.
TheMarriedHermit
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The Mitt Fit aka the Roomy Romney, demonstrated in a Saturday Night Mormon Fever aka the Low-Voltage Travolta pose. The white shirt and the tie express his upper class-ness; below the belt he's a "regular guy" who buys his "blue jeans" at Walmart. Straight outta Utah.
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Seconded. I've had to bite my lip a thousand times on this forum, seeing how popular the style is but yeah, I completely agree.
I don't think I've seen more than two A2 jackets that looked good on someone. Not bad sort of good. Otherwise, it's the only jacket I can think of that instantly annihilates whatever effort a wearer might've invested into trying to look fit and makes you at least 20 years older. And fat. All I see is an excessive amount of ballooning leather being bunched up at the waist with that ridiculous elastic band... Same for the sleeves. Gigantic, misshapen, puffy tubes just pulled together at the cuffs like a potato sack. There's a perfect example of what I'm talking about in the 599th page of WJAYWT thread.
I guess it's made like that for a specific purpose but in my opinion, it just doesn't work outside the cockpit.
To answer @Bigbenbs question, it looks like you're wearing an A2. Which is what anyone who is wearing an A2 looks like. There are no good or bad fitting A2's. It's just what it is and whether you like it or not is entirely up to you. But right now, yeah, you're wearing an A2.
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Bigbenbs
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I'm looking for counter factual pictures but am, to my own surprise, not really finding many.
Here's one thread where the a2 style seems to work. And I can definitely see a place for a jacket that in my wardrobe. He apparently added some extra length which might decrease the ballooning a bit.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/eastman-roughwear-1401-a-2-jacket-holy-grail.84433/
Still, on the whole though, I do think I'm convinced that the a2 is less flattering than many other cuts.
Bigbenbs
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That picture is so weird it almost looks doctored.
Also, my point was not necessarily that I want to wear jackets that globularize my form, but rather that I can appreciate the popularity of such jackets among those whose physique might have...softened...with time.
TheMarriedHermit
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I like an A-2 & think it's a jacket design classic that's spawned lots of off-spring (on my 2nd one now..Monarch contract from ELC). Have had lots of compliments when wearing them (or maybe that was people feeling sorry for me 
)
That said I agree it's not the most flattering of forms for many males.
I like an A-1 & have one of those too..think it has less of a 'military' vibe.
Early moto jackets, such as the 40's French ones float my boat as do the Buco types that can be very flattering.
)That said I agree it's not the most flattering of forms for many males.
I like an A-1 & have one of those too..think it has less of a 'military' vibe.
Early moto jackets, such as the 40's French ones float my boat as do the Buco types that can be very flattering.
Don't sugar coat it... just say it straight man!
ProteinNerd
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I’m definitely not an A2 guy but from what I understand the 38-1711-P type A2 is one of the slimmest patterns. There may be others but I’d look there first.
It looks best on a slim frame, no doubt about that. When I first started posting here, I wasn't a fan of A-2s as I couldn't see the appeal of such a simple design, but then I tried one on at Aero and realised it was a shape that really suited my shape - done properly it's simplicity is stylish, flattering and easy to wear (not something you can say for every leather jacket).
This isn't to say that every A-2 works for me, you have to try a few on because even if they superficially look similar, different contract fits vary widely.
Personally, I love my new Good Wear Dubow A-2: it's an early contract, so it's slim fitting and really comfortable, with a high-collar, tapered sleeves. I know what suits me (unlike Mitt!) and I love the russet colouring, though I'm seriously considering a dark seal version. I don't think I need more than two, though...
If I was the OP, I would speak to Aero directly to get a handle on which of the contracts would suit them best.
This isn't to say that every A-2 works for me, you have to try a few on because even if they superficially look similar, different contract fits vary widely.
Personally, I love my new Good Wear Dubow A-2: it's an early contract, so it's slim fitting and really comfortable, with a high-collar, tapered sleeves. I know what suits me (unlike Mitt!) and I love the russet colouring, though I'm seriously considering a dark seal version. I don't think I need more than two, though...
If I was the OP, I would speak to Aero directly to get a handle on which of the contracts would suit them best.
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Ah thanks man. That’s big praise after your previous post.Yours fits well, tho. I wanted to get one after you posted pics of your A2. Or you just wear it well.
This guy wears it well, too.
