Having a half belt made by Aero

Mark-D · Nov 15, 2012

I received the message that Aero no longer will adjust the placement of the sleeve armholes or the shape of the sleeves on their half belts. So from now on they only offer the half belt with low set armholes and wide sleeves.

I am very dissapointed and feel very sorry I waited until recently to try to order a jacket from them. I should have decided to do this a year ago.

majormajor · Nov 15, 2012

Mark-D said:
I received the message that Aero no longer will adjust the placement of the sleeve armholes or the shape of the sleeves on their half belts. So from now on they only offer the half belt with low set armholes and wide sleeves.

I am very dissapointed and feel very sorry I waited until recently to try to order a jacket from them. I should have decided to do this a year ago.

Hey. man. I know how you must feel.

I guess there is a policy of rationalisation taking place at Aero, with Ken having returned, and the company trying to get back to its roots.

This must be frustrating for anyone who has got used to the level of customisation available under Will's administration, but I guess we have to accept that that era has now gone.

So we had got used to a company that had become world-renowned for producing superb "one-off" jackets - fine tuned to the nth degree, to suit the customer. Now, we have a company that is steadfastly gonna produce only what the designer (Ken) decreed in the first place.

Is that a step forward, or a step back?

As a major supporter of Aero, I reluctantly have to say that I think it is a step back. But it is Ken's company. If that is what he feels is right, who are we to disagree?

Their stance is, no doubt, that they offer a return policy. And custom jackets mean custom returns that are difficult to resell. So maybe it is their returns policy that needs modifying, rather than their non-willingness to accept modifications (improvements??) to their designs.

I, for one, had a number of ideas that I wanted to incorporate into my next jacket. I would have prefered to do that with Aero. I'll send them the email in the New Year. I'll let you guys know the reply. Will I have to look for another jacket company? I hope not. [huh]

cuthbert · Nov 16, 2012

majormajor said:
As a major supporter of Aero, I reluctantly have to say that I think it is a step back. But it is Ken's company. If that is what he feels is right, who are we to disagree?

Well, we're their customers...in these years I bought a fair amount of Aero jackets, some of them in the sales, so standard models, but others strongly customised.

The strenght of Aero in comparison with other companies was customisation, if now they lose that advantage what will happen?

schitzo · Nov 16, 2012

Mark-D said:
I received the message that Aero no longer will adjust the placement of the sleeve armholes or the shape of the sleeves on their half belts. So from now on they only offer the half belt with low set armholes and wide sleeves.

I am very dissapointed and feel very sorry I waited until recently to try to order a jacket from them. I should have decided to do this a year ago.

I'm a slim guy myself and I have had a jacket with smaller armholes - a highwayman. Sure it looked good in pictures but it was a real bitch to wear. All I could wear with it was a t-shirt and even then my underarms would overheat - long story short it had to go. Now I have a 50s halfbelt with those low armholes and I gotta tell you I absolutely love 'em. To my eye they don't look at all bad and more importantly they allow you to wear your jacket as exactly that - i.e. a jacket that can go over your t-shirt or sweatshirt or jumper etc.

Personally I think the 50s halfbelt is a fantastic design, perhaps aero's best, and having considered all sorts of alterations and modifications over the past year or so my conclusion is that there is nothing that should be changed.

All the best
Schitz

Mark-D · Nov 16, 2012

Can you post a picture of you wearing the 50's halfbelt Schitzo?

schitzo · Nov 16, 2012

Mark-D said:
Can you post a picture of you wearing the 50's halfbelt Schitzo?

Sure, see pages 1 and 5 here
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...-aero-thread)&highlight=long+and+winding+road
The second lot of pics are after I had the sleeves shortened as originally this was a jacket intended for a dude 2 inches taller than me. It's probably an inch longer in the body than it needs to be but I've been very happy with it. Now that it's completely broken in it is very comfortable

Boyo · Nov 16, 2012

Hey guys..new in town, I too recently stumbled upon this forum, I have enjoyed reading and viewing a great number of posts. I ordered my first Aero yesterday, a 50's half belt. Thanks for letting me in to the fraternity... I would like to keep everyone in the loop as this process continues. ( if you're interested)

schitzo · Nov 16, 2012

Boyo said:
Hey guys..new in town, I too recently stumbled upon this forum, I have enjoyed reading and viewing a great number of posts. I ordered my first Aero yesterday, a 50's half belt. Thanks for letting me in to the fraternity... I would like to keep everyone in the loop as this process continues. ( if you're interested)

Hello Boyo and welcome. Yes of course we are interested and especially in your pictures when it arrives. What colour did you go for? And presumably it will be FQHH, right? From what we know so far, I think you have chosen wisely!

All the best
Schitz

Sloan1874 · Nov 16, 2012

cuthbert said:
Well, we're their customers...in these years I bought a fair amount of Aero jackets, some of them in the sales, so standard models, but others strongly customised.

The strenght of Aero in comparison with other companies was customisation, if now they lose that advantage what will happen?

I'm guessing they'll honour standing orders pre-change in policy - though I think the tartans are now limited to four types. My last conversation with Amanda was that there was a choice of Royal Stuart, Black Stuart, weathered Grant and Black Watch. All pretty nice and enough spread of colours so they'll match the various leathers.

Boyo · Nov 16, 2012

schitzo..Sorry for omitting some important details. I did in fact chose a FQHH in cordovan in size 48. I asked for some additional length (1") on both the body and sleeves as I am 6'1" and 235 lbs. I would love for the jacket to touch the rear pockets on a standard pair of Levi's 501s. Question...Should the false Half Belt be located in approximately the same area as your pants belt or is it traditionally higher??? More towards the lower back. Thanks for the interest and the help.. I will be in touch.

cuthbert · Nov 16, 2012

Sloan1874 said:
I'm guessing they'll honour standing orders pre-change in policy - though I think the tartans are now limited to four types. My last conversation with Amanda was that there was a choice of Royal Stuart, Black Stuart, weathered Grant and Black Watch. All pretty nice and enough spread of colours so they'll match the various leathers.

...that's depressing!What I liked more in the last years was the wide array of tartans.

I got my Happy Days with McQueen tartan, slim built, A-2 type arms and studs under the collar, I assume I'm lucky because I got that jacket.

I also wanted a 30's Bootlegger that I assume now they won't make anymore.

Sloan1874 · Nov 16, 2012

The bootlegger is still there. http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=18
Very few designs have gone since Will departed, the radjacke was replaced when a FL-er claimed ownership of the original commission - thankfully, as it's on my admittedly-long list of 'to buys'...

cuthbert · Nov 16, 2012

Sloan1874 said:
The bootlegger is still there. http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=18
Very few designs have gone since Will departed, the radjacke was replaced when a FL-er claimed ownership of the original commission - thankfully, as it's on my admittedly-long list of 'to buys'...

That's the standard Bootlegger, what I wanted and other people have here is a Bootlegger cut as a 30s half belt.

Sloan1874 · Nov 16, 2012

Ah, it was described as an early 30s model. I've never seen another version on the website, maybe it's one for which the pattern is kept in-house.

Rudie · Nov 16, 2012

cuthbert said:
I also wanted a 30's Bootlegger that I assume now they won't make anymore.

Why not? The Bootlegger and the 30s Half Belt are still made by Aero. A 30s Bootlegger was never a jacket they offered officially, as far as I know. Those who wanted a slimmer fitting Bootlegger just ordered it based on the 30s Half Belt pattern. Do the same and I am sure they will happily make it for you.

schitzo · Nov 16, 2012

Boyo said:
Should the false Half Belt be located in approximately the same area as your pants belt or is it traditionally higher??? More towards the lower back. Thanks for the interest and the help.. I will be in touch.

It'll be notably higher than your belt. When you see pics of well fitted halfbelts the front just about covers the belt, sometimes with a little bit of belt showing. At the back the whole of your belt should be covered

Seb Lucas · Nov 17, 2012

schitzo said:
It'll be notably higher than your belt. When you see pics of well fitted halfbelts the front just about covers the belt, sometimes with a little bit of belt showing. At the back the whole of your belt should be covered

A well fitted half belt should sit well over your belt. My stock 30's half belt sits at least 2-3 inches over. It would look terrible if it were shorter in my view.

HoosierDaddy · Nov 17, 2012

Seb Lucas said:
A well fitted half belt should sit well over your belt. My stock 30's half belt sits at least 2-3 inches over. It would look terrible if it were shorter in my view.

Agree!

Boyo · Nov 17, 2012

Thanks all for clarifying.

handymike · Nov 17, 2012

I like my half-belt jacket to hang just about a half inch higher than the back pocket of my jeans.

Having a half belt made by Aero

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