Jackets You Regret Buying vs. Ones You Got Out of Your System

dudewuttheheck · Feb 6, 2021

I just published an article that was sort of inspired by this thread.

https://almostvintagestyle.com/2021...et-my-first-leather-jacket-and-why-i-sold-it/

It's about my first real leather jacket I bought - my Diamond Dave J-100 and all the things I did wrong when buying it. I'm sure a lot of us can relate to some of the mistakes I made. I kept making some of them for a while.

ProteinNerd · Feb 6, 2021

There are 2 I regret buying in the size I did. If I purchased the correct size, I'd still have them today.

The first was my FQHH Brown Teamster which was 1 possibly 2 sizes too big. (Size 40)

The other a Brown Steerhide BR, 1 size too small at Size 40.

Curse Aeros ridiculously confusing size protocol. I know there is a post explaining it but you shouldn't need to decode sizing like this imo.

2 jackets, the same "size" - 1 too big, 1 too small, neither fit....go figure.

jglf · Feb 6, 2021

dudewuttheheck said:
I just published an article that was sort of inspired by this thread.

https://almostvintagestyle.com/2021...et-my-first-leather-jacket-and-why-i-sold-it/

It's about my first real leather jacket I bought - my Diamond Dave J-100 and all the things I did wrong when buying it. I'm sure a lot of us can relate to some of the mistakes I made. I kept making some of them for a while.

Aero A2 and highwayman in heavy steer. The former fit me like the blueberry girl from Willy Wonka and the latter like a lead lined box at 7.5lb. I go for patterns that fit my silhouette now vs what I think looks the best in pictures.

JMax · Feb 6, 2021

ProteinNerd said:
There are 2 I regret buying in the size I did. If I purchased the correct size, I'd still have them today.

The first was my FQHH Brown Teamster which was 1 possibly 2 sizes too big. (Size 40)
View attachment 307670

The other a Brown Steerhide BR, 1 size too small at Size 40.
View attachment 307671

Curse Aeros ridiculously confusing size protocol. I know there is a post explaining it but you shouldn't need to decode sizing like this imo.

2 jackets, the same "size" - 1 too big, 1 too small, neither fit....go figure.

That BR looks pretty damn good to me. Felt too tight around shoulders?

dudewuttheheck · Feb 6, 2021

@ProteinNerd The BR does indeed look pretty good as @JMax said. Slim for sure though, so I can see why it would not be comfortable.

@jglf I had a similar experience with my Aero A-1. Funny that you say that because I also compared myself to Violet from Willy Wonka as well

navetsea · Feb 6, 2021

PN's BR looks pretty perfect on pic, still remember the thread about it vs his CR, think this one looked better in picture, but only the wearer knows better when wearing it throughout the day

ProteinNerd · Feb 6, 2021

JMax said:
That BR looks pretty damn good to me. Felt too tight around shoulders?

dudewuttheheck said:
@ProteinNerd The BR does indeed look pretty good as @JMax said. Slim for sure though, so I can see why it would not be comfortable.

Yeah It looked great but was just too tight a fit for the thick Steerhide and the bugger just wouldn't stretch out even a bit. It was especially tight though the upper back and shoulders even when unzipped, it just fought my every movement.

Here it is from the back, might give a better perspective.

Here is my Vicenza size 42....I think it still looks like a good fit but its much more liveable.

Marc mndt · Feb 6, 2021

dudewuttheheck said:
I just published an article that was sort of inspired by this thread.

https://almostvintagestyle.com/2021...et-my-first-leather-jacket-and-why-i-sold-it/

It's about my first real leather jacket I bought - my Diamond Dave J-100 and all the things I did wrong when buying it. I'm sure a lot of us can relate to some of the mistakes I made. I kept making some of them for a while.

I must say, I was shocked to see such sloppy stitch work on the chest pockets. It's not even sloppy, it looks like the job of an amateur. I don't understand how diamond dave was a thing at one point. I'd rather have a well constructed jacket made from cowhide than a shinki diamond dave.

I just Google Diamond Dave and this was the first hit, someone posted this on vlj.

First rate workmanship!?

dudewuttheheck · Feb 6, 2021

@ProteinNerd OK, that definitely looks sprayed on so I can absolutely see why it was not comfortable. That size 42 also looks really good so definitely the right choice.

@Marc mndt Yeah it was pretty bad. It bothered me the entire time I had the jacket. I fully regretted not going with Himel or RMC. I wish I had known about Thedi back then. That could have been a good option.

JMax · Feb 6, 2021

ProteinNerd said:
Yeah It looked great but was just too tight a fit for the thick Steerhide and the bugger just wouldn't stretch out even a bit. It was especially tight though the upper back and shoulders even when unzipped, it just fought my every movement.

Here it is from the back, might give a better perspective.
View attachment 307685

Here is my Vicenza size 42....I think it still looks like a good fit but its much more liveable.

View attachment 307686

Oh yeah. More obvious from the back. The 42 looks great too.

El Marro · Feb 6, 2021

Marc mndt said:
I must say, I was shocked to see such sloppy stitch work on the chest pockets. It's not even sloppy, it looks like the job of an amateur. I don't understand how diamond dave was a thing at one point. I'd rather have a well constructed jacket made from cowhide than a shinki diamond dave.

I have a Diamond Dave A2 in brown Shinki that I purchased from him off of eBay back in 2016. It was a custom jacket that had been returned by a customer who wasn’t happy with the fit so I got a good price on it.
Construction on my jacket is first rate and the Shinki hide has a wonderful supple feel to it. I spoke to Dave on the phone when I purchased this jacket and I was impressed with his enthusiasm and passion for collecting and re-creating vintage flight jackets.
I know from reading TFL and VLJ that others have not had such a positive experience doing business with Diamond Dave but I am quite happy with my jacket.

Marc mndt · Feb 6, 2021

El Marro said:
Construction on my jacket is first rate and the Shinki hide has a wonderful supple feel to it.

I also read people on VLJ really love their DD A2's. He must have done something right

I was just judging by Jake's photos of his particular jacket. Maybe his was just a really bad example. n=1

dudewuttheheck · Feb 6, 2021

Yeah mine had a lot of mistakes on it. I know others on here mentioned that their DD jackets weren't super well made either.

Carlos840 · Feb 6, 2021

Marc mndt said:
I also read people on VLJ really love their DD A2's. He must have done something right
I was just judging by Jake's photos of his particular jacket. Maybe his was just a really bad example. n=1
View attachment 307863

That's not too bad, one of my DD has this superbly cut belt loop:

jonbuilder · Feb 6, 2021

ProteinNerd said:
There are 2 I regret buying in the size I did. If I purchased the correct size, I'd still have them today.

The first was my FQHH Brown Teamster which was 1 possibly 2 sizes too big. (Size 40)
View attachment 307670

The other a Brown Steerhide BR, 1 size too small at Size 40.
View attachment 307671

Curse Aeros ridiculously confusing size protocol. I know there is a post explaining it but you shouldn't need to decode sizing like this imo.

2 jackets, the same "size" - 1 too big, 1 too small, neither fit....go figure.

I understand your frustration but I do not consider Aeros sizing ridiculous. They are reproducing vintage jackets based on original vintage jackets taken apart to reconstruct the original patterns to obtain adequacy. I agree with their MC and civilian utility jackets, Aero is not reproducing an example of one particular jacket but creating an example of a style as if they were making the jacket during the time period the style they are coping were being worn. Aero's model is to size the jacket to the time period. If one is buying new in the US there is a US dealer in Seatle that will fit an Aero jacket to your liking and send you test fit jackets. Aero is will to accommodate the fit to some degree just not outside their idea of an Aero jacket.

El Marro · Feb 6, 2021

dudewuttheheck said:
Yeah mine had a lot of mistakes on it. I know others on here mentioned that their DD jackets weren't super well made either.

I have definitely seen those reviews. I also recall reading that Dave did not always respond with the best attitude when confronted with customer complaints or issues. I think that attitude has led to the reputation problem as much as any quality issues with the jackets themselves.

dudewuttheheck · Feb 6, 2021

El Marro said:
I have definitely seen those reviews. I also recall reading that Dave did not always respond with the best attitude when confronted with customer complaints or issues. I think that attitude has led to the reputation problem as much as any quality issues with the jackets themselves.

Yeah I remember hearing about that as well. If you are already known for quality issues, being known for not handling those quality issues well is only going to make things worse.

@Carlos840 yup your experience was one that I was thinking of when I mentioned other members here.

jonbuilder · Feb 6, 2021

I have been searching for an original Trojan nightrider jacket for going on twenty years. I have not run across one until recently. I tried to scratch the inch with a Lost World reproduction but the lost World did no work out for me. I sold it and had no regrets. I recently purchased a white original Trojan Sportswear from Tenso Inc who soured the jacket from Yahoo Japan. The jacket I received has major tears in the leather and leather rot that was hidden in the photos and not mentioned in the description. This is the first jacket I truly regret buying. I have no return option but have filed a dispute with Paypal and anticipate PayPal fil decide in my favor. I still do not have to own a Trojan Sportswear out of my system. I do not have another twenty years to search, I will be 90, so at this point, I going to take the example to Johnson Leather to copy for me.

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