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Iron Heart brown horsehide riders jacket (ihj-129) fit check

tapatio

New in Town
Messages
8
Hello loungers. Long time reader but first time poster here.
I got stung by the leather jacket bug a couple of years ago when I got my first one: a Schott 530 cafe racer.
Since then I’ve don’t a lot more research and read the forums and got the the point where I feel ready to get my next piece.
I wanted it to be brown and have a collar. I’m a tall, slim guy and like the general silhouette of the cafe racers and single riders.
After much consideration I found myself deciding between ordering custom through Thurston or getting this Iron Heart jacket from Berkeley Supply.
After trying it on at the store and feeling like it was a really good fit I’m feeling more inclined to get this jacket that fits week and I can walk out of the store with on the same day as opposed to waiting for months and taking risks with the fit.

My issue now is that after trying the jacket in sizes 38 and 40 both look, to me, like they fit well and I’d like to read some of your thoughts?

Does the 38 look ok or too small? It would be a tshirt fit. And I can feel the jacket under my arm pits if I take a really big deep breath.
IMG_8693.jpeg

The 40 has enough room for a light sweater and I feel great freedom of movement.
IMG_8696.jpeg


The person at the store was pushing me a bit more towards the 40, suggesting that once the sleeves crease and come up a bit it will still look ok, plus having room for a sweater will increase the range of wearability. I’m nervous about going too big since I feel like my schott café racer looks a bit baggy on me and I don’t want to repeat the mistake of going too big. But I also don’t want to make the mistake of going too small…
 

Will Zach

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,870
Location
SoFlo
40 looks like a great fit. I would be nervous if I felt the 38 under my armpits - it may loosen with time or it may not. I'd go with a 40 - it looks great. Can you post pics of the back and side?
Edit - I realized these were taken in the store, so you may not have other pics. Never mind.
 

tapatio

New in Town
Messages
8
40 looks like a great fit. I would be nervous if I felt the 38 under my armpits - it may loosen with time or it may not. I'd go with a 40 - it looks great. Can you post pics of the back and side?
Edit - I realized these were taken in the store, so you may not have other pics. Never mind.
Despite my best efforts to research this leather (knowing that the jackets are made by FourSpeed for Iron Heart) there was no information about how it would age, break in, stretch, etc. So, like you, I concluded that going with the 38 was more risky…
In the end I thought the large looked like a good fit and based my choice on comfort and wearability.
 

cbez

One Too Many
Messages
1,820
Location
CA
The horsehide is the same as mine. Quite comfortable and forgiving. Breaks in with a nice spidery grain

Topcoat is somewhat on the fragile side
1000025218.jpg
 

DogFacePonySoldier

Familiar Face
Messages
58
I say 40 as well. I am new to this fashion scene and also have a hard time envisioning future break in periods of leather and denim.

My first jacket i bought because the fit was just right off the rack instead of meticulously researching even though it’s just a wee bit too hot for the jacket and could have waited.

In my research travels the advice of going slightly larger as oppose to smaller usually fits, the digging in the pits would’ve drove me mad.

You Made a good decision plus it looks great and will probably drape nicely.

Plus if it’s a little too big maybe that’s some motivation to get bigger muscles for a better silhouette and also get the additional health benefits.
 

trainspotter

A-List Customer
Messages
471
6’1 and 180lbs.
Chest 39 usually wear medium shirts
33 in iron heart jeans
32 in naked and famous
33 in Levi’s
Thank you so much. This really helps

Would it be possible for you to share the actual measurements of the size 40? I am leaning towards a 42 but the sleeve and shoulder measurements at IH site seem ridiculously long(even for a 40)

Cheers
 

tapatio

New in Town
Messages
8
Thank you so much. This really helps

Would it be possible for you to share the actual measurements of the size 40? I am leaning towards a 42 but the sleeve and shoulder measurements at IH site seem ridiculously long(even for a 40)

Cheers
Sure, happy to help.
Keep in mind that there can be small variation between jackets, with that said, here are the measurements of my size 40:
Back length 26”
Sleeve length 26”
Chest p2p 21 or 21.5”
Shoulder 10”

IMG_8804.jpeg
View attachment IMG_8805.jpeg
IMG_8803.jpeg
IMG_8802.jpeg
IMG_8806.jpeg
 

trainspotter

A-List Customer
Messages
471
Sure, happy to help.
Keep in mind that there can be small variation between jackets, with that said, here are the measurements of my size 40:
Back length 26”
Sleeve length 26”
Chest p2p 21 or 21.5”
Shoulder 10”
Thank you. The pics really help. I guess I need a 42, or a 44 - I prefer a 23" P2P. Still not sure about the shoulder measurement though. I think its too big for a 42 :)

Cheers
 

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