Freenote RJ-2 to Vest

[Vfit]

Hi all. I purchased a used Freenote RJ-2 in black denim with alpaca lining which previously had the sleeves shortened. I wore it the first half of the winter and absolutely love it, except… the sleeves are too short for me. But I liked the jacket enough to pull the trigger on the same jacket new from Freenote. Now I have two.

Was planning to sell the old jacket assuming there’s plenty of folks with shorter arms, but I got to thinking that a vest would be really useful. I love the torso fit, and the color, and losing the sleeves would make it a little more conducive to travel (bulk).

I’m in Texas, north of Houston.

Wondering if:

1.) you guys have advice about whether this jacket could look right as a vest when it wasn’t originally designed as such? Would it just look goofy?

2.) does anyone know a really good tailor in my area that I could trust to start chopping up a pricey piece like this?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Edward]

One of these?

I could see it having a practical application, if a warm, sleeveless jacket over a flannel shirt or similar works for you. That's a look I could imagine wearing round the house with denim when it gets cold. Whether it would be useful for travel, I'm not sure - I guess maybe as another layer under a big coat? It won't look like a 'vest' / waistcoat at all, always a bodywarmer / sleeveless jacket type of affair, but I could see it working. (It could look very cool over the top of a leather, but I suspect it's not gonig to be big enough for that if it's already a good fit on you as is, arm length aside. Unless you're confident doing it yourself, I'd take it to a tailors and have it done 'right'. If it's something you'd wear regularly, you'll probably get more out of it that way than trying to sell it with arms that have been shortened.

Nice looking jacket.

 

[Vfit]

Yes sir that’s the jacket. Thanks for the advice. Over a flannel with denim is what I have in mind.

I’m definitely not confident chopping it myself. If it were unlined, maybe. But I wouldn’t know what to do with the alpaca to attach it to the arm hole area.

Also, did you notice the back/shoulder is pleated. Wondering if that would look awkward once it’s sleeveless…

 

[MrProper]

View attachment 752202

One of these?

I could see it having a practical application, if a warm, sleeveless jacket over a flannel shirt or similar works for you. That's a look I could imagine wearing round the house with denim when it gets cold. Whether it would be useful for travel, I'm not sure - I guess maybe as another layer under a big coat? It won't look like a 'vest' / waistcoat at all, always a bodywarmer / sleeveless jacket type of affair, but I could see it working. (It could look very cool over the top of a leather, but I suspect it's not gonig to be big enough for that if it's already a good fit on you as is, arm length aside. Unless you're confident doing it yourself, I'd take it to a tailors and have it done 'right'. If it's something you'd wear regularly, you'll probably get more out of it that way than trying to sell it with arms that have been shortened.

Nice looking jacket.

I think most jackets have shoulders that are too wide to look good as a vest. If a tailor makes the shoulders narrower, it might work.
But the jacket has shoulder gussets, right? A vest with shoulder gussets might look strange.
But on the other hand... why not give it a try? Maybe it will look cool after all.

 

[Vfit]

Yeah it does have shoulder gussets. That’s one of the features I think might make a vest look awkward But is so cozy I may give it a try.

Or maybe I’ll see if it sells before Christmas, but if not take the plunge and try the vest idea.

If anyone knows a tailor in southeast Texas that knows what they are doing I’d love some recommendations.

 

[Jonanah]

Personally I think I’d leave it as a jacket for the aforementioned issues with shoulder width and gussets, unless the sleeves are so short as to be unwearable for most of the general population. However, I know Freenote tends to use cuts with longer sleeves, so many might find that a welcome change (myself included)!

 

[Vfit]

That makes sense too. I’m tall ish at 6’1”. The sleeves are probably great for anyone 5’10” ish.

If I knew it would look good as a vest I’d make the plunge because I love the color combo and warmth of the jacket. Seems like a gamble though.

 

[Edward]

Yes sir that’s the jacket. Thanks for the advice. Over a flannel with denim is what I have in mind.

I’m definitely not confident chopping it myself. If it were unlined, maybe. But I wouldn’t know what to do with the alpaca to attach it to the arm hole area.

Also, did you notice the back/shoulder is pleated. Wondering if that would look awkward once it’s sleeveless…

I think most jackets have shoulders that are too wide to look good as a vest. If a tailor makes the shoulders narrower, it might work.
But the jacket has shoulder gussets, right? A vest with shoulder gussets might look strange.
But on the other hand... why not give it a try? Maybe it will look cool after all.

I think that shoulder width is what would make it look like a sleeveless jacket, as opposed to a vest. It can still work imo, but it is a different look.

Probably needs a tailor to take a look at it to see what would work best; it might be they'd remove those gussets for a tidier look.

I guess the other option would be to have someone work up new, contrasting sleeves for it, but that might get uneconomical quickly.

 

[Vfit]

Hmmm. That’s an interesting idea about the new sleeves. I wonder what a leather sleeve would look like? Interesting idea. Thank you for the thoughts.

I think I’m leaning toward listing it for sale given its Christmas season. If it doesn’t sell quickly I can start making plans for a conversion.

Appreciate all the responses and look forward to hearing more. Also, still looking for local recommendations for tailors.

 

[stinkyrawdenim]

Hi all. I purchased a used Freenote RJ-2 in black denim with alpaca lining which previously had the sleeves shortened. I wore it the first half of the winter and absolutely love it, except… the sleeves are too short for me. But I liked the jacket enough to pull the trigger on the same jacket new from Freenote. Now I have two.

Was planning to sell the old jacket assuming there’s plenty of folks with shorter arms, but I got to thinking that a vest would be really useful. I love the torso fit, and the color, and losing the sleeves would make it a little more conducive to travel (bulk).

I’m in Texas, north of Houston.

Wondering if:

1.) you guys have advice about whether this jacket could look right as a vest when it wasn’t originally designed as such? Would it just look goofy?

2.) does anyone know a really good tailor in my area that I could trust to start chopping up a pricey piece like this?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Yikes