Ask a Question, Get An Answer About Outerwear

[Pandemic]

Kind of a dumb question, but …

I’ve spent far too much time looking at cool vintage pics of celebs in N1 deck jackets and have kinda talked myself into one. However, I’ve never seen/felt one in person and live in a pretty warm climate - it barely gets cold enough for a denim or leather jacket most winters, so I’m wondering if I would ever get to wear a deck jacket. So, what temps would you say thy are best for (over a t-shirt)? Would it be too warm for a sunny 55F day, for example?

 

[3.14nche]

Kind of a dumb question, but …

I’ve spent far too much time looking at cool vintage pics of celebs in N1 deck jackets and have kinda talked myself into one. However, I’ve never seen/felt one in person and live in a pretty warm climate - it barely gets cold enough for a denim or leather jacket most winters, so I’m wondering if I would ever get to wear a deck jacket. So, what temps would you say thy are best for (over a t-shirt)? Would it be too warm for a sunny 55F day, for example?

I find it comfortable around 10°C for casual wear but if I'm being active 0°C would probably be the comfort zone.
I guess it depends on how you intend to wear it.

 

[NAB]

Kind of a dumb question, but …

I’ve spent far too much time looking at cool vintage pics of celebs in N1 deck jackets and have kinda talked myself into one. However, I’ve never seen/felt one in person and live in a pretty warm climate - it barely gets cold enough for a denim or leather jacket most winters, so I’m wondering if I would ever get to wear a deck jacket. So, what temps would you say thy are best for (over a t-shirt)? Would it be too warm for a sunny 55F day, for example?

I have a Pike Bros N-1, which I don't think is by any means the best insulated or built model out there but anything more than 2-3 degrees above freezing and it's still too much for me. I'd certainly overheat on a sunny 55F day unless I was pretty much motionless. Your mileage may vary depending on how much you feel the cold but it's far, far warmer than denim.

 

[MrProper]

I have a Pike Bros N-1, which I don't think is by any means the best insulated or built model out there but anything more than 2-3 degrees above freezing and it's still too much for me. I'd certainly overheat on a sunny 55F day unless I was pretty much motionless. Your mileage may vary depending on how much you feel the cold but it's far, far warmer than denim.

I have the same one and wear it comfortably even at 10 degrees Celsius. As you say, it depends on personal preference.

 

[Pandemic]

Thanks all! I love those vintage N1 pics, but it sounds like it is just too warm for the mild climates I’m in most of the time (SE Texas and Western Australia).

 

[MrProper]

Thanks all! I love those vintage N1 pics, but it sounds like it is just too warm for the mild climates I’m in most of the time (SE Texas and Western Australia).

Ironheart make a version without wool lining. That might be something. Or you could go for the super cheap ones from mil-TEC. They're a bit less warm, but still worth it even if you only wear them five times.

 

[Pandemic]

Ironheart make a version without wool lining. That might be something. Or you could go for the super cheap ones from mil-TEC. They're a bit less warm, but still worth it even if you only wear them five times.

I’ll probably buy one on impulse at some point, even if I don’t ‘need’ it. But my interest is really only drawn to the original looking ones in khaki with mouton collars.

 

[The patina]

Hi Folk, I recently bought a Dsquare2 leather jacket from an e-commerce store. Although, as far as I know, Italian fashion brands don't use horsehide in their products, here are some pictures of the jacket. Is this real horsehide or just a fake?

 

[ABCD]

Hi Folk, I recently bought a Dsquare2 leather jacket from an e-commerce store. Although, as far as I know, Italian fashion brands don't use horsehide in their products, here are some pictures of the jacket. Is this real horsehide or just a fake?

I know Dsquared2 has used horsehide for some of their models. If the label says horsehide, it's horsehide

 

[Jon Crow]

Hi Folk, I recently bought a Dsquare2 leather jacket from an e-commerce store. Although, as far as I know, Italian fashion brands don't use horsehide in their products, here are some pictures of the jacket. Is this real horsehide or just a fake?

I've seen similar to this made in Japan and China, both Horsehide and Goatskin, in this colour, doesn't look bad

 

[Faris]

Hello Fedora Folks
Got a full grain sheepskin (made in Korea) with polycotton lining & it feels too light for my liking. Leather is thin (as expected from a fashion jacket) because of large split & I prefer heavier.

I am thinking of either -
1) Switching liner (brushed cotton/flannel, wool or sherpa)
2) Hand waxing (like Belstaff)
3) Oil + Wax
What would you recommend?

Note :- Leather seems semi-aniline (water droplets stay intact on the surface & are absorbed only after rubbing)

 

[jchance]

Hello Fedora Folks
Got a full grain sheepskin (made in Korea) with polycotton lining & it feels too light for my liking. Leather is thin (as expected from a fashion jacket) because of large split & I prefer heavier.

I am thinking of either -
1) Switching liner (brushed cotton/flannel, wool or sherpa)
2) Hand waxing (like Belstaff)
3) Oil + Wax
What would you recommend?

Note :- Leather seems semi-aniline (water droplets stay intact on the surface & are absorbed only after rubbing)

I’d recommend sell it and buy a real leather jacket, instead of sinking more money (paying for a new liner) into a poorly made jacket.

The oil and wax might not even absorb into that jacket. You can try in a hard-to-see spot but it might not work.

 

[tmitchell59]

I'll toss this one in for your thoughts, please. Windward jacket, size 14. Women's jacket, or kid's? I don't see the telltale chest darts in the seller's pictures

It is an adult jacket, not sure why they say size 14. This jacket was made by California Sportswear in the early 50s, I've owned on like it, it was very nice heavy horsehide.

 

[Zoo]

It is an adult jacket, not sure why they say size 14. This jacket was made by California Sportswear in the early 50s, I've owned on like it, it was very nice heavy horsehide.

California Sportswear didn't routinely tag jackets this way, it sounds like?

 

[tmitchell59]

California Sportswear didn't routinely tag jackets this way, it sounds like?

The attached leather tag identifies it as CSC.

 

[Faris]

I’d recommend sell it and buy a real leather jacket

Any recommendations in the 400-500$ range? Haven’t tried horsehide, steerhide & deer skin.

 

[jchance]

Any recommendations in the 400-500$ range? Haven’t tried horsehide, steerhide & deer skin.

What size are you and where do you live?

 

[Faris]

What size are you and where do you live?

Thin & 5’9 - M in normal clothes, S for leather jackets. Living in India, friends & family spread all around the world.

 

[jchance]

Thin & 5’9 - M in normal clothes, S for leather jackets. Living in India, friends & family spread all around the world.

At chest size 36 and preference for brand new jackets like you told me, there aren’t any high quality brands I can recommend at $400-500 range. For used jackets, you can look into vintage or the Japanese market.

Leather jackets are highly durable, and take a long time to break in. Buying new is kind of a waste tbh. It’s much like buying a car—better to buy used to avoid paying for marketing, rent for the dealership, etc.

 

[Aloysius]

Thin & 5’9 - M in normal clothes, S for leather jackets. Living in India, friends & family spread all around the world.

There's almost certainly companies in India that will make you a nicer leather jacket at that price point than we're paying much more for in the West.


Unfortunately, we have no one out there who can give you specific recommendations. Maybe the guys at Thedi could make a recommendation, if you give your background/context? I think they'd realise you're not trying to get a Thedi on the cheap or something; you are a local customer looking for a jacket.

(Theodoros used to manage a Harley Davidson leather factory in India.)