Aero Sheene fan thread!

AeroFan_07 · Aug 7, 2017

I know this is a popular jacket around here, however I don't see a lot of posts about it. Perhaps many of us are busy just wearing them. So I wanted to start a new thread devoted to these modified Cafe-Racers, which seem to be all purpose jackets overall. Show us photos of your jackets! What options does your have, what leather and lining? What would you different if you ordered again?

I'll start the ball rolling with the FQHH Size 44 shown below. I'm the second owner of this Sheene. If I were to order this one new I would go with Olive drill collon lining only, and perhpas Steerhide but that's a toss up.

Woodyear · Aug 7, 2017

AeroFan_07 said:
I know this is a popular jacket around here, however I don't see a lot of posts about it. Perhaps many of us are busy just wearing them. So I wanted to start a new thread devoted to these modified Cafe-Racers, which seem to be all purpose jackets overall. Show us photos of your jackets! What options does your have, what leather and lining? What would you different if you ordered again?

I'll start the ball rolling with the FQHH Size 44 shown below. I'm the second owner of this Scheen. If I were to order this one new I would go with Olive drill collon lining only, and perhpas Steerhide but that's a toss up.
View attachment 81334 View attachment 81335 View attachment 81337 View attachment 81338

Not trying to be a smart ass but I believe it's called a "Sheene".

Monitor · Aug 7, 2017

Woodyear said:
Not trying to be a smart ass but I believe it's called a "Sheene".

It's all good but dude... If you've really been around since 2010, you'd know that AeroFan is one member of the forum that you can bet knows what the jacket is called. Just a typo.
I think I've been saying "Vincenza" for half a year.

ProteinNerd · Aug 7, 2017

In all honesty, the Sheene should have been my first, maybe second jacket. Its taken me way too long to get one. Now I've got it, its as good as I had hoped. Such a versatile jacket. I love it.

Cafe Racer base
Smaller August collar
Seal Vicenza leather
1 interior pocket opposite side to the outer chest zip
Handwarmer zips modified to be in the down position when closed
Removed both interior and Exterior kidney panel
Single V Yoke.
Capercaillie Tartan lining

At a real push, the only thing I would do is add maybe 0.5 inch to the length. I don't think it "needs" it at all, I'm just used to longer jackets.

Woodyear · Aug 7, 2017

ProteinNerd said:
In all honesty, the Sheene should have been my first, maybe second jacket. Its taken me way too long to get one. Now I've got it, its as good as I had hoped. Such a versatile jacket. I love it.

View attachment 81350

Cafe Racer base
Smaller August collar
Seal Vicenza leather
1 interior pocket opposite side to the outer chest zip
Handwarmer zips modified to be in the down position when closed
Removed both interior and Exterior kidney panel
Single V Yoke.
Capercaillie Tartan lining

At a real push, the only thing I would do is add maybe 0.5 inch to the length. I don't think it "needs" it at all, I'm just used to longer jackets.

This is amazing, I wouldn't change a thing about it, it's unmitigated, wall to wall perfection.

Monitor said:
It's all good but dude... If you've really been around since 2010, you'd know that AeroFan is one member of the forum that you can bet knows what the jacket is called. Just a typo.
I think I've been saying "Vincenza" for half a year.

Fair enough (but it did happen twice).

Fonzie · Aug 7, 2017

I love my black Sheene jacket, but boy CXFQHH is hard work to break in!

If I ordered it again, I would try the Vincenza or tumbled to make it less painful to break in. I would also add an inch to the side panels and remove both kidney panels (as per my original order that was misinterpreted by Aero or myself, depends how you look at it) I can zip my jacket but it's very tight, too restricted.

I would also get the Olive drill lining as my original request, that was Aero's mess up.

But it's an great jacket and the FQHH is an awesome leather, even though demands commitment and dedication.
Anyone knows how soft can it get? I need some motivation!

Mickiemac · Aug 7, 2017

This is a very nice looking jacket - however I perused the Aero site for this particular jacket and there is no Sheene style listed. Could this be an older model which is now called something else? I would consider getting one of these but it would be helpful to have a style name to reference when placing an order. Maybe this is a custom style and I need to send a request to order a Sheene?

sweetfights · Aug 7, 2017

AeroFan great jacket
can you post the measurements for the 44.
I am interested in the difference between the 42 and that 44

ton312 · Aug 7, 2017

Mickiemac said:
This is a very nice looking jacket - however I perused the Aero site for this particular jacket and there is no Sheene style listed. Could this be an older model which is now called something else? I would consider getting one of these but it would be helpful to have a style name to reference when placing an order. Maybe this is a custom style and I need to send a request to order a Sheene?

I believe it's a Thurston Bros. creation. If I were to do one of these I'd keep it short in length with a premier highwayman collar and leather lined cuffs, cat eye chest zips, no handwarmers. Brown really seems to be the best color for the Sheene.

sweetfights · Aug 7, 2017

Is that midweight vicenza??

Peacoat · Aug 7, 2017

Fonzie said:
I love my black Sheene jacket, but boy CXFQHH is hard work to break in!

If I ordered it again, I would try the Vincenza or tumbled to make it less painful to break in. I would also add an inch to the side panels and remove both kidney panels (as per my original order that was misinterpreted by Aero or myself, depends how you look at it) I can zip my jacket but it's very tight, too restricted.

I would also get the Olive drill lining as my original request, that was Aero's mess up.

But it's an great jacket and the FQHH is an awesome leather, even though demands commitment and dedication.
Anyone knows how soft can it get? I need some motivation!

I think they make them with the 3 oz. FQHH. I don't find that a difficult hide to break in. With wear and time it will soften nicely. Probably comfortable to wear within the first week, and nice and soft after one good season of constant wear.

Mickiemac · Aug 7, 2017

ton312 said:
I believe it's a Thurston Bros. creation. If I were to do one of these I'd keep it short in length with a premier highwayman collar and leather lined cuffs, cat eye chest zips, no handwarmers. Brown really seems to be the best color for the Sheene.

Thanks for the redirection to Thurston - I forgot they were an extension of Aero based on their many unique styles beyond what Aero offers.

AeroFan_07 · Aug 7, 2017

Hey I am also known as the person who mis-spells everything, so my apologies to leave the "e" off the end of the "Scheene" typo, mistake, but my good. If the title could be changed, that would be nice, looks like I can't do it now. Also correct I do not see this under Aero's website, just through Thurston Brothers.

Here's the measurements for the 44 (tag size of mine) which I believe was ordered with slightly longer than usual sleeves:

Pit to Pit - 23"
Shoulders - 19.25"
Torso Length - 23"
Back Length - 27"
Sleeves - 27"
Waist - 21"

Edward · Aug 7, 2017

Mickiemac said:
Thanks for the redirection to Thurston - I forgot they were an extension of Aero based on their many unique styles beyond what Aero offers.

Yes, the Sheene started life as a Thurston custom request to Aero, back in the days before the Premier 30s Highwayman and the Original 59er, when there were folks who wanted a jacket with the simplicity of the Highewayman pattern ,but a much neater fit. I believe baxck in the Lauder-run 'everything goes' era at Aero, there were a few people tried to reverse engineer a Highwayman with custom measurements and variations designed to make it a slimmer fit, but I don't think it ever quite worked - a boxy jacket is a boxy jacket; the Sheene gets the look by starting with something already simple and neat, and adding a highwayman style collar. The other thing people used to do was order the Highwayman several sizes too small, but all that happens then is you end up with a boxy jacket that's several sizes too small..... I think Thurston got it right with the Sheene.

You can buy the Sheene direct from Thurston; I believe though Aero have also been known to add a collar to a cafe racer for direct customers.

The other big difference with the Sheene from Thurston will be length - from memory, all Thurston jackets are ordered 1" longer in the body than the original Aero patterns.

ton312 · Aug 8, 2017

Fonzie said:
I love my black Sheene jacket, but boy CXFQHH is hard work to break in!

If I ordered it again, I would try the Vincenza or tumbled to make it less painful to break in. I would also add an inch to the side panels and remove both kidney panels (as per my original order that was misinterpreted by Aero or myself, depends how you look at it) I can zip my jacket but it's very tight, too restricted.

I would also get the Olive drill lining as my original request, that was Aero's mess up.

But it's an great jacket and the FQHH is an awesome leather, even though demands commitment and dedication.
Anyone knows how soft can it get? I need some motivation!

Dang I forgot how cool your black one was! I love that jacket of yours. It'll never be a lambskin but it will yield. Keep at it!

Fanch · Aug 8, 2017

I have two Sheenes: A russet Vicenza with olive cotton drill lining that is two years old and a black Vicenza also with olive cotton drill lining that is one year old. The russet has zippered handwarmer pockets, and the black does not. If I had it to do over again, I would have eliminated zippered handwarmer pockets on the russet. Neither has an inside pocket, and I would have had one inside pocket without closure on each for my IPhone if I had it to do over again. Both jackets are perfect fits.

The black Vicenza Sheene is unusually special to me since Ken Calder and his lovely wife Lydia drove from their home not too far away to meet me while I was in Invergordon Scotland last year. They even treated me to lunch, and Ken wouldn't even allow me to buy lunch after they made the trip to deliver the black Vicenza Sheene!

The jacket Ken wore is a 1950's half belt he made himself. His trousers were high rise corduroy that is sold by Aero.

AeroFan_07 · Aug 8, 2017

That's awesome Fanch! I recall your story of recieving your new jacket in person by Ken. What a great testimony to thier focus upon customers & relationships!

Fonzie · Aug 8, 2017

Current state of affairs.

p

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

handymike · Aug 8, 2017

Darn it Fanch, that's a tough act to follow....
Here is mine. I'm also the second owner.
It is based on the Board Racer pattern, so it's actually a "seven".

Other than the fit, I think the main differences are the lack of a side panel and a more severe drop in front. It is CXL FQHH, and fully supple thanks to the previous owner. Hard to believe it's less than a year old. (There is hope Fonzie)
The resilience of this hide amazes me. The original owner subjected it to a rigorous water treatment (about an hour in the bath if memory serves).
When it arrived, it was pretty wrinkled. I then took a steamer to it, and did my own HWT on the collar.
If I were to order a custom one, I'd ask for sateen in the sleeves. As the CXL creases in the arms (which are quite slim) the drill lining bunches up and gets uncomfortable.
Also, I'd ask for thinner leather inside the zippered sleeves (gussets).

The CXL is thick and if the sleeves are zipped closed, there is this wad of heavy leather with nowhere to go. I tend to wear them un-zipped, so no worries here.

What does bug me is the short zipper.

My jacket is not a long one (24" down the back), but the zipper starts 3" up from the bottom. I'd prefer if it was 2" longer. So maybe a replacement with a #8 is in the future.
Overall, I love the look, and I don't mind the zippered handwarmers as there is no inside pocket.
I wanted something with a Lewis Leathers Dominator vibe, and this foots the bill.
A great knock-around jacket

handymike · Aug 8, 2017

Yours looks great, Fonzie!

Aero Sheene fan thread!

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