I am totally flabbergasted . . .

Superfluous · Oct 11, 2016

that this jacket has not sold: http://www.goodwearleather.com/pages/sale_star_0002.html

I tried to buy it, but it didn't fit. It is beyond stunning in person, and an outright steal at $950 (without the two year wait).

singer · Oct 11, 2016

That looks awesome. Perhaps it's ~$500 less because it's Italian horsehide (Victoria?) instead of Shinki (and because it's a return, but who cares).

I would consider it, but probably too big. I'm a 39" chest, and the 18" shoulders would be right. But 22.5" pit to pit seems like 1.5" too much. Or are A2s supposed to be looser? I imagine the slim 42 fits more like a 40, and perhaps like a relaxed 38.

Superfluous · Oct 11, 2016

singer said:
I would consider it, but probably too big. I'm a 39" chest, and the 18" shoulders would be right. But 22.5" pit to pit seems like 1.5" too much. Or are A2s supposed to be looser? I imagine it the slim 42 fits more like a 40, and perhaps a relaxed 38.

I usually seek out 22in P2P . . . notwithstanding the stated 22.5 P2P measurement, this jacket was just a hair too tight for me.

bretron · Oct 11, 2016

Serious deal on one of the best A2 contracts (IMHO) by the one who does it best

bretron · Oct 11, 2016

singer said:
I would consider it, but probably too big. I'm a 39" chest, and the 18" shoulders would be right. But 22.5" pit to pit seems like 1.5" too much. Or are A2s supposed to be looser? I imagine the slim 42 fits more like a 40, and perhaps like a relaxed 38.

You DO NOT want an A2 cut or measured the same way as a standard half belt (and certainly not the same as a cafe racer or similar). The perfect fitting A2 (yeah I said "perfect"

) has a modest amount of drape through the torso.

Here's my best fitting A2 (and maybe leather jacket period), a GW Rough Wear 18091:

EDIT: most importantly tho, it's all about the contract in terms of fit. The subject Star is slimmer than say a RW. As such, a wider relative chest will be significantly offset by narrow shoulders, waist and sleeves

devilish · Oct 11, 2016

I honestly think that the wave in expensive repro jackets has peaked? It is becoming harder for everyone to sell these days. Of course there are some exceptions still but in general it has slowed greatly. Time was JC would post 3-4 jackets on the sale page. They'd be gone by the end of the day. Same is true in the classifieds on here and VLJ. Could just be the global economic uncertainty or the pre-Christmas wait before the rush? I think the casual buyer is moving on and real enthusiasts have most of the jackets they want?

Edward · Oct 11, 2016

devilish said:
I honestly think that the wave in expensive repro jackets has peaked? It is becoming harder for everyone to sell these days. Of course there are some exceptions still but in general it has slowed greatly. Time was JC would post 3-4 jackets on the sale page. They'd be gone by the end of the day. Same is true in the classifieds on here and VLJ. Could just be the global economic uncertainty or the pre-Christmas wait before the rush? I think the casual buyer is moving on and real enthusiasts have most of the jackets they want?

I'm not sure how many 'casual buyers' are really all that aware of niche operations like Goodwear. I can see UK buyers being put off at the minute; it's going to be soem time before I buy anything in US dollars again, with the GBP currently at 1: USD 1.25, the lowest it's been in my lifetime that I'm aware of. Unfortunately, that makes this jacket currently in and around GBP780; sixmonths ago, it would have been GBP600. Quite a difference.

I do lean to the view that there are probably nowadays - as compared to when I first got into this stuff - at least two more producers of high-end, vintage-repro jackets than the market can comfortably bear; a proliferation of makers without a market growing proportionately will always slow things down for all.

Also possible that the A2 isn't just quite as sought after at the minute as it has been. Are trends in our niche just moving on to civilian jacket styles being more the thing? I know a lot of us started out here interested in the military styles and motorcycle jackets, then got more interested in the civilian cuts. Another thing is it's been a while since there was a big WW2 picture / tv series featuring the A2, hasn't it? I'm sure there'll be another spike in interest when that happens.

willyto · Oct 11, 2016

devilish said:
I honestly think that the wave in expensive repro jackets has peaked? It is becoming harder for everyone to sell these days. Of course there are some exceptions still but in general it has slowed greatly. Time was JC would post 3-4 jackets on the sale page. They'd be gone by the end of the day. Same is true in the classifieds on here and VLJ. Could just be the global economic uncertainty or the pre-Christmas wait before the rush? I think the casual buyer is moving on and real enthusiasts have most of the jackets they want?

The point of purchasing a jacket like those is for them to last a lifetime and get a lot of wear. When you get one repro from a high end maker you don't really need any more jackets and only enthusiast people buy more than that just because it's a hobby. Few casual people interested in a leather jacket will spend that kind of money and definitely they won't be buying more than one if they decide to do so.

Edward said:
I'm not sure how many 'casual buyers' are really all that aware of niche operations like Goodwear. I can see UK buyers being put off at the minute; it's going to be soem time before I buy anything in US dollars again, with the GBP currently at 1: USD 1.25, the lowest it's been in my lifetime that I'm aware of. Unfortunately, that makes this jacket currently in and around GBP780; sixmonths ago, it would have been GBP600. Quite a difference.

I do lean to the view that there are probably nowadays - as compared to when I first got into this stuff - at least two more producers of high-end, vintage-repro jackets than the market can comfortably bear; a proliferation of makers without a market growing proportionately will always slow things down for all.

Also possible that the A2 isn't just quite as sought after at the minute as it has been. Are trends in our niche just moving on to civilian jacket styles being more the thing? I know a lot of us started out here interested in the military styles and motorcycle jackets, then got more interested in the civilian cuts. Another thing is it's been a while since there was a big WW2 picture / tv series featuring the A2, hasn't it? I'm sure there'll be another spike in interest when that happens.

I started interested in A-2 but then I really lost the interest and went for civilian styles. Nowadays the only military style I would buy again is probably an Eric Hartmann from Eastman or an A-1 from Eastman because they've the original one. I love Good Wear but I can't justify the price and after going trough customs an A-1 it could cost me around 1800$ if not more in total which makes that a no go.

nick123 · Oct 11, 2016

This one would fit!

Lungomare · Oct 11, 2016

Hello,

I am sure, this is the A-2 jacket I got in May this year and did have to send it back because it was a little big for me.

Leather was fine, color and thickness perfect, but I didn't like the smell of this hide ...

Kind regards,

Johannes

Brettafett · Oct 11, 2016

Bretron... Gorgeous RW! How many A-2s you got?

Johannes... Didn't like the smell?
I know you have a number of A-2s, how did this one fit? And... what are the lengths of your best fitting A-2? Thanks

cuchulain · Oct 11, 2016

I wish I liked the A2, so many good ones floating around.

ProteinNerd · Oct 11, 2016

I would have thought the perceived slowdown or loss of interest in jackets would be more due to the Northern Hemisphere only now coming out of the warmer weather?

AdeeC · Oct 11, 2016

Edward said:
Also possible that the A2 isn't just quite as sought after at the minute as it has been. Are trends in our niche just moving on to civilian jacket styles being more the thing? I know a lot of us started out here interested in the military styles and motorcycle jackets, then got more interested in the civilian cuts. Another thing is it's been a while since there was a big WW2 picture / tv series featuring the A2, hasn't it? I'm sure there'll be another spike in interest when that happens.

When the hugely expensive TV series THE MIGHTY EIGHTH finally comes out there may be a resurgence. Any way it's a buyers market for many these days so a good time to take advantage.

bretron · Oct 11, 2016

Brettafett said:
Bretron... Gorgeous RW! How many A-2s you got?

Thx pal! I'm currently at just two; this one and a GW Monarch. Vaguely considering parting with the Monarch for the sizing reasons referenced herein

Sloan1874 · Oct 12, 2016

Was in the Real McCoy shop in Covent Garden today - tried on their Dubow contract in mid-brown. It was v, v nice but oddly enough it ran close to size, which surprised me as I tend to find they tend to run small. Terrifying price, though, just like everything else in that shop - I picked up a pair of engineer boots and asked how much they were. "£1,000" came the reply. So I put them down.

yakima · Oct 12, 2016

The problem (IMHO) with the jacket as posted by the OP is that it is a relatively small size where the description carries an "almost" dreaded word - "long".

If there is one thing an A2 should never be - it is "long"......

A truly fabulous jacket, as long as you have a relatively small chest and are over 6 feet tall.

cuchulain · Oct 12, 2016

yakima said:
If there is one thing an A2 should never be - it is "long"......

I think this is my aversion to the A2, anytime I see them in the wild they belong to someone wearing one 3 sizes too big and it's terribly ill fitting. A properly sized A2 while not my favorite design would likely be a lot more enticing.

Stearmen · Oct 12, 2016

Edward said:
I'm not sure how many 'casual buyers' are really all that aware of niche operations like Goodwear. I can see UK buyers being put off at the minute; it's going to be soem time before I buy anything in US dollars again, with the GBP currently at 1: USD 1.25, the lowest it's been in my lifetime that I'm aware of. Unfortunately, that makes this jacket currently in and around GBP780; sixmonths ago, it would have been GBP600. Quite a difference.

I do lean to the view that there are probably nowadays - as compared to when I first got into this stuff - at least two more producers of high-end, vintage-repro jackets than the market can comfortably bear; a proliferation of makers without a market growing proportionately will always slow things down for all.

Also possible that the A2 isn't just quite as sought after at the minute as it has been. Are trends in our niche just moving on to civilian jacket styles being more the thing? I know a lot of us started out here interested in the military styles and motorcycle jackets, then got more interested in the civilian cuts. Another thing is it's been a while since there was a big WW2 picture / tv series featuring the A2, hasn't it? I'm sure there'll be another spike in interest when that happens.

Not sure how old you are, but in 1985, the Pound hit a low of $1.03. I remembered this because several rich Americans ran over to the UK and bought some Spitfires and Mosquitoes, at blow out prices! I was just thinking the other day, I wish I had a spare $32,000, then I would put it in an account in Pound Sterling, then I could buy a Suffolk Jaguar SS100 kit! Even now, with the fall, I figured the difference in price from last year, would easily pay for the shipping expenses! I am sure, a lot of mail order UK businesses will do well with us Yanks!

ShanghaiJack · Oct 12, 2016

If a gent was a true size 40, that jacket is a perfect A-2 to add to ones collection.
Absolutely stunning.

I am totally flabbergasted . . .

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