The Indiana Jones jacket. Much hype, little substance?

No hype with alot of substance.

The Indiana Jone's jacket. Much hype, little substance?

I guess the title got me. My Wested jacket is perfect for me since I live in a very warm state. I still don't know where you can get a custom made leather jacket of this Quality for $250.00.???? Mine is perfect for my needs. No hype with alot of substance.

The Indy jacket is a latter day creation meant to evoke the spirit and flavor of the golden era. I think it would be unfair to judge the Wested Indy jacket against true artifacts from the era or against "accurate" reproduction jackets. It would also be unfair to dismiss this jacket as some kind of 80's mall bomber rip-off with no golden era credibility. Remember we're not talking about some Michael Jackson Thriller jacket. The Wested Indy was designed with care and respect to the era with some great functional touches added to meet the strenuous demands of filming Raiders of the Lost Ark. If you could walk down any American street in 1936 wearing a Wested Indy, do you think you would look like a strange visitor from the future? I doubt it. Anyway as a Wested owner, I honestly don't see how anyone could find fault with the quality or workmanship of the jackets coming out of Wested today and for under $300! Also being from the warmer realms, the jacket's lightweight and excellent ventilation was a real selling point for me. I wear mine like a second skin. The Wested Indy is unique and worthy of respect.

I don't own a Wested (yet) but from what I see and read it seems like good jacket with a more than reasonable resemblance to jackets of the era. And I a real nice price for the quality.

As a side note to something mentioned here about insignia on an A-2, I respect the attitude of not wanting to put them on because you: a.weren't there, b. didn't serve, c. generally feel it not appropriate. For myself I see wearing them as a way of remembering their service and honoring them while at the same time making my jacket look great. I wouldn't go so far as to having another man's name tag though...it's my jacket after all.

This thread really points out some of the qualities of the Lounge members. In other places I'm sure that just the name of the post would be cause for nasty name calling and worse. I like the fact that I can read thoughtful stuff here. We all have our own particular area of interest (o.k., sometimes obsession!) but we can disagree beautifully...:cheers1:

Don't have one

Mainly because that brown color doesn't grab me.
I did start to want one when I saw the fellow in the Packard in Grapes of Wrath. "OK, yes, I can see that working."

Personally I love my Wested horse hide. Light weight (compared to my tank of a motorcycle jacket), durable and surprisingly flexable & supple. Mine is dark enough to work with field adventure gear or a shirt & tie on the town. I can go with the Indy look wearing the fedora or the Red Pollard look wearing a wool Gatsby. It is a very versatile jacket that has enough Golden Era style to make it up to snuff.

Cheers!

Dan

scotrace said:

Mainly because that brown color doesn't grab me.
I did start to want one when I saw the fellow in the Packard in Grapes of Wrath. "OK, yes, I can see that working."

Click to expand...

Peter,
Will work with you on the color

shamus said:

Okay.. one thing up front.

A2's do not have elastic cuffs. They have a wool jersey knit. It has some spring to the knit but it has no elastic in it.

Click to expand...

Ok, I was kind of struggling for the right word. I hate knitted cuffs, they remind me of the sweaters I had to wear as a kid in the 70's... and the jackets! Make me feel like the kid in Everyone Hates Chris.

I love the barrel cuffs on a Wested Raiders epecially with a bit of taper to make them form fitting. If I got them to make a ANJ4 I'd get them to do it without the hidden knitted cuffs.

SHARPETOYS said:

Peter,
Will work with you on the color

Click to expand...

Yes he will. In addition to the different hides, they do the two different shades of brown pertinent to the trilogy as well as black.

Cheers!

Very interesting thread, with thoughtful answers and observations.

I have a Wested goatskin. It is true that it is an "unforgiving" cut. That being said, I didn't expect it to look as good on me as it does, neither did my wife!

I first got it because I grew up watching the IJ films. I loved the look of the jacket, but was never able to get it with bomber-type jackets. When I finally stumbled across the Wested site (thanks to this and the COW board), I knew I had to have one.

Like others, I was dreading the "hey Indy" comments, but to be honest - I haven't got any yet. (however I have received "Crocodile Dundee" and "Sherlock Holmes" comments). I wear mine with and without my various fedoras and it keeps me warm. It has been rather chilly here in London as of late, but my Wested has performed admirably. I have enough room to layer my clothing, and if I add a scarf and gloves I'm sorted. The wind certainly won't penetrate the goatskin. A lightweight toy it is not. The goat is surprisingly heavy. The horsehide jacket is even heavier!

It isn't period authentic, but I have seen jackets from that era with the same elements that are incorporated in the Wested model. I had a tweed (?) type hunters jacket that used to belong to my grandfather that was a similar design to the Wested, but just a wee bit longer, with a belted back.

Regarding period-accurate flight jackets... I would have no qualms wearing one (if I had one). It is obvious that I'm not a WWII vet unless I was cryogenically suspended or I travelled through time. However, I wouldn't wear something modern, as I didn't serve in the Air Force or Naval Aviation. I'd feel a bit like a poseur, as I was actually in the Army. Saddly, we didn't have cool gear per se, unless the M-65 field jacket is cool.

Not only that, I do not like the way current issue flight jackets look.

I have 3 Indiana Jones jackets, 1 in cowhide and 1 in lamb from US Wings and
1 in goat from Flightsuits. I like 'em. Why? because they're different from the
"mall" jackets. When I'm wearing one, I know I'm not just wearing the same
lowgrade, overpriced designer jacket with a four piece back and four piece
sleeves that sits on the department store racks for $500, on sale for $300.
There's just something about the IJ for me that is unique compared to everything else. For one thing, all 3 are made in the USA. (I know Wested is made in England, and that's ok, it's not China) I love checking out the jackets in the malls, and then walking out of the store, knowing what I have on my back is infinitely superior to their offerings, in style, quality, and craftsmanship. When did you last see a goatskin or horsehide jacket at a mall store. I'm not an Indiana Jones wannabe, although I do love the look and do wear numerous fedoras. In fact, I love that look in any of the fedora/leather jacket period movies, Grapes of Wrath, The Natural, China, etc. So slip on an IJ jacket, get a little nostalgia, a little bravado, a little adventure, a little movie history, a lot of uniqueness.

I have a Wested distressed cowhide Indy jacket and love it. I'm exactly with you IndyJim on the cheapo leather jackets sold in Eddie Bauer and Macy's and other stores. It amazes me how many pieces of leather they have to stitch together to make one jacket. I also like the A-2's and have a couple. I can't justify paying the super high prices for the ones that are 100% detailed authentic to the originals. I have an Avirex Horsehide that has the one piece back and 2 piece sleeves and it suits me very well.

fedoralover

Oops, I'm really late for this one, but I've been out enjoying my Wested lol

I've got the horsehide, and I've worn it on all but the coldest days this winter. It's not the best for layering, particularly with the "80s fit", but it has served me well for everyday use. I would not wear it in the field (where I switch to my Orvis), but otherwise yes, I would say that my horsehide Indy is a good, functional jacket, more than a prop.

wemedge

Wested blows my mind!

I had to revive this thread to tell my little Christmas story:

As I've said here before, I've had a Wested Raiders jacket for three years, and I love it: it's great for warmer conditions, and unlike all my off-the-shelf-sized jackets, it fits me *perfectly*. A couple of months ago, to my horror, I tore the large back panel on my car door - proof that lambskin is indeed a lot less tough than goatskin or other leathers!

I emailed Wested and asked about their repairing it. Gemma said they could do it, but she couldn't guarantee that their current batch of dark brown lamb would match the color precisely, and she couldnt' promise it in a hurry, since they were backed up with new jacket orders and film work. I agreed to those conditions (it won't be warm enough here to wear this jacket until the spring anyway), and to her quoted price - 40 pounds, which included the shipping charge back to the USA. I mailed off the jacket, and I hadn't heard back from Gemma since she emailed me acknowledging receiving my jacket. I wrote to her several times, asking how I should pay for the repair (PayPal, their jacket order page, whatever), and got no response. I figured I'd write again after New Years...

Yesterday afternoon - Sunday, Xmas Eve - I come back from hiking with my sister to find a message on my answering machine. It's from my local postmaster, who said that an express package arrived for me, and that since it was Xmas Eve, he'd be happy to meet me over at the post office, unlock the place, and give it to me. (Now mind you, I live in Westchester County, NY - but an odd little hamlet within it that's like the town that time forgot: an ungentrified little blue collar enclave right on the Hudson River that is so small, there's no mail delivery and residents get free PO boxes. It's more like an old-time small town than high-rent Westchester - as you can see!) So, I called him back, and we met at the post office...

As you may have guessed by now, it was my Wested Raiders jacket. The repair is magnificent - the new lamb is slightly thicker and less grainy, but the color is a *precise* match: you'd never know that the back panel was new. And instead of a bill or invoice, the only thing in the package besides the Customs paperwork was a little slip with Wested's logo and contact info marked "With our compliments"!!!!

This shows two things:

1 - Everything that you've heard about Wested's customer service, integrity, and product/work quality is true. Talk about above and beyond the call of duty!

2 - Even a Jewish guy like me can have his own Christmas miracle!

Great Story

Merry Christmas, Dr.

That is what is great about doing business with a small company. I love both of my Westeds and I have had the pleasure of meeting Peter Botwright, who is an absolute gentleman.

It's a shame you don't have before and after photos.

Wow- what a great story! Kudos to Gemma, Peter, and the crew.
I've had my Wested lambskin for a year now and it's like a second skin. I almost never wear it with full Indiana Jones stuff anymore, but it's still the handsomest jacket available in my opinion. I still get compliments for it all the time.

What great customer service!

The Wested is indeed a handsome jacket!

My two cents:

I could care less if the Indy jacket was "historically accurate", "period correct" or whatever.

I wear vintage, or vintage style such as the Indy jacket, because it reflects not so much the past, or period accuracy, but my IMAGINATION of the past, which is very much a projection of my own fantasies and what that time represents TO ME. What I wear reflects how I want the world to see me: Old school, straight shooting, etc.

Or maybe I've had WAYYYYY too much eggnog?

;0


Regards! Vintage

A good story; thanks Doc. Good to know someone still cares! Quite a community you live in up there.

I also own a Wested lamb for about one year and never had any big damage on it though it had to go through more than just everyday street use! I also wouldn't wear it on a real adventure, outdoor/hiking trip or whatever, but if you're not planning to get dragged behind a truck in the desert this is simply a great jacket for field use! And I just have a lambskin!


The jackets sure aren't 100% period-accurate, but due to Wested's great customer service they sure make it more 1930s looking if you want!



Regards,
Henrik

The best quality about lamb is it's ability to conform to your body and be so comfortable. If you are looking for a fitted look, lamb is the skin!
For outdoor adventures I recommend any of the other available hides.

The real Henry said:

The jackets sure aren't 100% period-accurate, but due to Wested's great customer service they sure make it more 1930s looking if you want!

Click to expand...

I am not too sure about that...
I was recently watching an old film (30s?) and one of the characters wore a leather jacket that looked very similar to my Wested! The only apparent difference was a lack of the back pleat.
I will review the movie to be certain but it brought a smile to my face seeing the style in a classic film.