Let's see your Aero 1950s half belts

[Prodigal_Jess]

Trying to decide on the best pattern for my first Aero jacket and now looking at half belts. Still like the look of the Sheene, but want to consider a few styles. Let's see what you have. Looking for pics of jackets but also fit pics, front and back, so I can see how they look on different bodies. Thanks guys. Dig ya later.

 

[zebedee]

1950s HB is a boxier style, but it will go with anything. I got mine in seal goat and omitted the chest pocket. Went with button cuffs. Good all-rounder jacket.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Also the Bootlegger is a 50-half belt with a cross-zip front. Incidentally, that is the jacket I am wearing in my avatar, which I'll discuss in a moment.

Here's some nice half-belts and more ordering information: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/aero-leather-help.112543/#post-3047722

Heres' the "oddly heavy" Bootlegger that I have actually owned twice. "The Fedora Lounge effect" in full force. Almost 11 lbs, but sleeves were too short and it was difficult to wear.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/aero-oddly-heavy-cordovan-bootlegger-size-44.103053/

 

[Prodigal_Jess]

Thanks to everyone who's posted. I'm trying to determine the style I would like and also that will work with my body type. Still trying to lose about 10 lbs, but mostly more of an athletic build. I think the Sheene will be a good fit and seems to be similar measurement numbers to my Schott 613. But I'm also looking at the 30s and 50s half belts because I like how they drape, and the cafe racer, because it's a sheene without the larger collar. Not sure how I'd feel about a cafe racer collar...

Still leaning most toward the Sheene. I like the clean look of the back without an external kidney panel and I like the lack of side straps, which strike me as more decorative than anything. From what I've read, cinching them up just makes the jacket bunch up in an unappealing way.

Income tax refund will be back in 3 weeks. I have some truck repairs to do and should buy some precious metals, but really tempted to blow it on a jacket. Just not sure what I'll do if I can't find a style or fit that I like with Thurston Brothers. Once I start the process I can only exchange or store credit, from what I understand.

I was considering taking a trip out there to try on a bunch of stuff and maybe make a purchase in person, but I've since heard their brick and mortar store is no more. Drag city, dad....

Anyway, first world problems. Keeping my eyes on the 'bay and the classifieds in the meantime. God bless, my dudes.

 

[Bfd70]

Sounds inevitable that you’ll have to become a full fledged member of tfl and buy and sell a few dozen jacket searching for the “right one” only to decide that it was the 1 st jacket after all or that you really don’t like leather jackets at all.

 

[Prodigal_Jess]

Sounds inevitable that you’ll have to become a full fledged member of tfl and buy and sell a few dozen jacket searching for the “right one” only to decide that it was the 1 st jacket after all or that you really don’t like leather jackets at all.

I keep looking at my Schott and going...maybe just get another 613 (or 618HH) in a 42...but then I see that gorgeous Chromexcel leather from Aero and the lust sets in...

 

[Edward]

1950s HB is a boxier style, but it will go with anything. I got mine in seal goat and omitted the chest pocket. Went with button cuffs. Good all-rounder jacket.

Yes, somewhere in between a 30s Halfbelt and a Highwayman in terms of fit. Good call on the button cuffs. I like the look of engineer cuffs with a Highwayman, but on the halfbelt styles for me the button cuff just feels more fitting. The button cuff jacket I've owned I've always been much more inclined to wear with a collar and tie than I would the HWM. Not that it can't be done, but it never felt quite right somehow. In a way I can't quite articulate, I think the cuffs are a big part of my perception on that.

 

[zebedee]

Yes, somewhere in between a 30s Halfbelt and a Highwayman in terms of fit. Good call on the button cuffs. I like the look of engineer cuffs with a Highwayman, but on the halfbelt styles for me the button cuff just feels more fitting. The button cuff jacket I've owned I've always been much more inclined to wear with a collar and tie than I would the HWM. Not that it can't be done, but it never felt quite right somehow. In a way I can't quite articulate, I think the cuffs are a big part of my perception on that.

I got button cuffs on my Highwayman, too. I prefer them to the straight cuffs.

 

[Edward]

I got button cuffs on my Highwayman, too. I prefer them to the straight cuffs.

Oh, that's interesting - I've never seen that done before on a standard Highwayman.

 

[zebedee]

Oh, that's interesting - I've never seen that done before on a standard Highwayman.

I get button cuffs on everything except Café Racers (failing that, strap cuffs). I don’t get on with the straight-line cuffs and feel that button cuffs just look and wear better on shorter jackets. As they’re more formal, they go with collared shirts better. This is also true of the Rogue Territory Supply Jacket (very useful) - without button cuffs, I’d not wear it to work.

The exceptions for me are longer jackets (something like the Stockman which doesn’t normally have them and doesn’t need them) and I had them omitted on my SB Klondike and strap cuffs instead of buttons on an SBV2 (shawl collar: SB puts the straps upside down compared to a Thedi - this means you can adjust them more easily: same with their side adjusters, which pull forwards [both seem equally period-correct, there’s not a ‘proper' facing]). The Klondike is quite formal-looking and can easily be worn to work and I have a loop and button closure on the chest pocket, which I didn’t ask for but find useful.